Many strange things are happening during this very mild winter. Down here by Lake Roosevelt there is no snow. The grass is starting to grow. Sweet pea leaves have stayed green all winter. Some insects were flying even though I thought they held off until temperatures were in the 50s. One effect that caught my… (read more)
This Spring I had a big breakthrough in nourishing my grape plants. I sprayed a mix designed for foliar feeding on my vines just after the first few leaves emerged. The intent was to increase the vigor of the plants but just as much to reduce the number of leafhoppers on the vines. They have… (read more)
the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. Buttercups, Arrow Leaf Balsam Root, Oregon grape, forsythia… the signs of Spring’s arrival are hard to miss. Yellow flowers bloom early. Normally people just recognize the changes of the season without much fuss. Plants flowering one species after another is… (read more)
…What I came to say was Teach the children about the cycles. The Life Cycles. All the other cycles, That’s what it’s all about, and it’s all forgot. — Gary Snyder, “For/From Lew” Today is the Equinox. By the time this magazine is ready, Easter will be over. The Full moon will be passed. Earth’s… (read more)
I became more intensely interested in Indian Hemp after hearing Bill Layman talk about how strong it is during a presentation on the fishery at Kettle Falls. The J-traps that hung in the falls to catch salmon could hold 250 fish, many weighing 50 pounds each. That’s 6 tons of fish. Add several strong men… (read more)
Wolf Lichen Sometimes my wife, Cheryl, kids me about staring at the ground. Admittedly I do that often. Until a recent snowfall, we were experiencing an open winter. There was no snow on the ground but lots of other things were visible. One of the most prominent that caught my attention was a particular kind… (read more)
