• flowers,  Metro Parks,  nature,  Plants

    Live this day in peace…

    February 17, 2026

    It was a cool and humid morning when I left for the coffee shop. And, when I returned home the wind began blowing and a mist is now falling. It looks like the foothills are already starting to receive snow and I understand the mountains are already receiving snow. We are about 50% below our average snowfall in the mountains so this is a welcomed gift. The only thing on my calendar today is a noon zoom meeting. I have eggs boiling now to make tuna salad today. It is simple to make and I enjoy it especially on toasted sourdough bread. May we live this day in peace and serenity. May we be a shining light in somebody’s life today. Our world needs it!!

    The best I can come with in identifying this plant is a allium ampeloprasum. It is a member of the onion genus Allium. It is commonly known as wild leek or broadleaf wild leek. Its native range includes southern Europe, southwestern Asia and North Africa, but it has been cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. Allium ampeloprasum has been differentiated into five cultivated vegetables: leek, elephant garlic, pearl onion, kurrat, and Persian leek. I took this image in 2008 at Inniswood Gardens.

    POD (Pen of the day): Blue Marbled Pelikan M205 with Pelikan Edelstein Topaz ink.

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  • Cactus,  Plants,  quotes

    The point is…

    November 25, 2025

    I see that the life of this place is always emerging beyond expectation or prediction or typicality, that it is unique, given to the world minute by minute, only once, never to be repeated. And this is when I see that this life is a miracle, absolutely worth having, absolutely worth saving. We are alive within mystery, by miracle.

    Wendell Berry

    Cactus are adapted at living in very dry environments and because of this show many adaptations to conserve water. The cactus spines prevent cactus from losing water by reducing air flow around the cactus which can help reduce evaporation. The trapped air around the cactus can also create a buffer zone with slightly more moist air. In areas of fog cactus spines can also help collect dew, which will drop onto the dirt near the cactus and be absorbed by the roots. Cactus spines help preserve water by providing a bit of shade. Since a given cactus can easily have thousands of spines, the little bits of shade adds up. One of the most obvious benefits of cactus spines is that they keep predators away. Lots of desert herbivores love chomping on cactus just to get at the water stored inside so the spines can reduce this. The point is they help the plant survive in its harsh environment. And, the point of this post is… life is a miracle and worth saving!

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  • flowers,  insects,  Plants,  wasp

    Pollinators

    August 23, 2025
    This image is of a Xerochrysum bracteatum, commonly known as the golden everlasting or strawflower

    Bees are known to be good pollinators and they have the distinction of having a spelling contest named after them. However, not many people are aware that wasps are also pollinators but they do not have a spelling contest named after them. Wasps look much like bees, but are generally not covered with fuzzy hairs. As a result, they are much less efficient in pollinating flowers, because pollen is less likely to stick to their bodies and to be moved from flower to flower. Wasps are omnivores and eat other insects, invertebrates, and nectar. Wasps prey on other insects to give to their larvae. Adult wasps only eat sugars, though. Wasps get hydration and sugar from drinking the nectar from flowers or fruits. As they drink the nectar from flowers, they passively transfer pollen between flowers. The parasitic forms of wasps lay their eggs on or in other insects or invertebrates, and they become the hosts. Enough about pollinators. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    Emotional and Spiritual Heart Disease

    August 11, 2025

    The real epidemic in our culture is not just physical heart disease; it’s what I call emotional and spiritual heart disease; the sense of loneliness, isolation and alienation that is so prevalent in our culture because of the breakdown of the social networks that used to give us a sense of connection and community.

    Dean Ornish, March 1996

    I find it interesting that Ornish wrote the above quote over 20 years ago in the forward to a book titled Kitchen Table Wisdom, which is a wonderful book I’m presently reading. And, this epidemic he talks about has continued to grow. His quote has caused me to reflect on how my friend Jeff and I seem to be creating a community and a place for connection at the coffee shop without intentionally doing it. He and I sit in the small alcove that has four chairs and a small table. Without intending to, we have created an inviting, and I believe safe, environment for people. More and more people now walk by and say good morning while on their way to work, school or grabbing coffee while walking their dog. I’m happy to say some have begun to sit down and join us, which has created wonderful friendships. And when people see this it invites even more people to connect and a community forms. The circle grows. It’s letting me know people want a sense of connection and community and will step into it when given the chance and feel safe enough.

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  • musings,  Plants,  quotes

    …it’s the right choice

    July 31, 2025
    Two portraits in one

    There comes a time in the spiritual journey when you start making choices from a very different place . . .And if a choice lines up so that it supports truth, health, happiness, wisdom, and love, it’s the right choice.

    Angeles Arrien

    If you notice she does not include monetary wealth or anything that has a physical presence in her list. Everything she lists has an intangible value. And, in my world her list does not have a monetary value to them. I believe this is one of the reasons this quote resonates with me and one of the major reasons our world is in a state of decline. Which begs the question within me; What would our world be like if more people lived their spiritual journey?

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  • nature,  Plants,  quotes

    This is a simple fact

    July 28, 2025

    Many do not have enough
    Because a select few have far too much.

    The people are difficult to control
    Because there is someone trying to control them.

    The people are poor and starving
    So they have little to lose in revolting.

    The subjugation of the poor naturally
    leads to the overthrow of the rich.

    This is a simple fact.

    Tao Te Ching (75) By Lao Tzu Rendered by: Julian von Bargen, John Braun, Jr., David Warkentin

    Teasels are one of those plants the invasive human considers to be an invasive plant. Man considers them invasive because they are capable of crowding out native plant species. Which begs the question, “Who is the native plant?” Seems they are native from somewhere and long before man. They have a purpose in life just as everything. The roots and leaves are used to make medicine. People apply teazle to the skin for wound healing, arthritis, and scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis). Anyway, in my eyes they provide beauty, photo opportunities, and their seeds are an important winter food resource for some birds, notably the European goldfinch.

    As you can see I am slowly reading through a translation of the Tao Te Ching that is touching me at my core. It was written in the 4th century BC and the words are just as prevalent today. It is central to both philosophical and religious Taoism. I found that if I took the above refrain and substituted nature for people it rang just as true for me. Looks hot everywhere so I hope you are staying cool!!

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  • flowers,  Plants,  quotes

    I did return…

    July 26, 2025
    Venti Dahlia

    If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.

    Rachel Carson

    I hope you are having an enjoyable Saturday morning. After my quiet time, I enjoyed a bowl of yogurt and granola then met Eric for coffee and conversation. It is a great way to start any day. This dahlia is from my return excursion yesterday evening at the CSU Flower Trial Gardens. Nature is such a creative artist. There is so much mystery, awe, and wonder to experience when we look closely as the child we are.

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  • computer,  flowers,  Plants

    Out for delivery…

    June 19, 2025
    Foxglove

    Well, I ordered a new Macbook to replace my 7 year old one. I received an email this morning saying it is out for delivery today. I am going to back up and transfer the data myself so if I’m silent for a couple of days it’s cuz I’ve probably encountered a pilot error (Maybe two).

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  • flowers,  Plants

    Fallen in Love

    June 18, 2025
    Cashmere Sage

    Yesterday afternoon we had a monsoon rain and pea sized hail. After everything settled down, the air smelled wonderful. I then made a trip to the CSU Flower Trial Garden and may have fallen in love with a new flower. Please enlarge this image to check out the tiny hair follicles and this plant’s beautiful color. Cashmere sage is a perennial flower grown for its clusters of flowers. These showy lavender-pink blossoms are arranged in tight whorls on slender stems, and appear in summer over soft green, broad leaves. Google says the tiny hairs can deter insects and other animals from eating the leaves by making the plant less appealing or hindering their movement. The fuzzy texture created by the trichomes can help shade the leaves and reduce water loss from the plant’s surface. In some cases, the hairs can help absorb and retain moisture from the air, especially in dry environments. Who would have known? I’ve learned something new!

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