Walking the river trail several weeks ago, Katie and I were startled to come upon a tree full of blossoms, an oasis of fragrance and tender life along the still-gray river path. According to Gary at Pleasant Avenue, the tree is an apricot (Prunus armeniaca). I have spotted several other apricots in town since, and [...]
Archive for the ‘The Buena Vista Chronicles’ Category
Posted in Botanical Glossary, Photography, The Buena Vista Chronicles, Wildlife on May 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Oregon Grape
Posted in Botanical Glossary, Foraging, Photography, The Buena Vista Chronicles on May 20, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Mahonia repens
I took this picture of an Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens) with its holly-like leaves and distinctive yellow blossoms during a recent trip to Durango. This plant will bear sour but edible fruit later in the season which resemble but are not related to grapes.
Common Flicker Spotting
Posted in The Buena Vista Chronicles, Wildlife on April 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
My Mom recently sent me my childhood copy of The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds. Inside the back cover, “Dustin Urban” is penciled in my hesitant, 6-year-old lettering. I have memories from my toddler years of approaching birds at the feeder in our Maine yard. I would spend what seemed like 15 [...]
Spring Is on the Way
Posted in The Buena Vista Chronicles on April 25, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Considering that I haven’t posted about nature in a bit, I thought I would give a quick update about the onset of spring here in BV. Last weekend I was fortunate enough to spend both beautiful days outside, on the river and on the rock.
On Friday afternoon a group of us ran the fractions from [...]
The Real Dirt on Farmer John
Posted in Food, Gardening, Reflections and Musings, The Buena Vista Chronicles on April 11, 2008 | 1 Comment »
I watched this film for the first time last night and was truly inspired. What an incredible window this provides on the devastating impact the ‘green revolution’ and agribusiness have had on family farming in this country. It broke my heart to watch that old man with tears running down his cheeks recounting how he [...]
Pinon Pine- Juniper Woodlands
Posted in The Buena Vista Chronicles on February 21, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I can summon the common name of most every tree occurring in the forests of Maine. Immediately surrounding the home in which I grew up there are, among others, maple, oak, poplar, beach, cedar, hemlock, blue spruce, fir, hackmatack and the state tree, white pine. Naturally there is more than one variety of [...]
Finding a New Place on the Earth
Posted in Botanical Glossary, The Buena Vista Chronicles on February 18, 2008 | 2 Comments »
I spent Sunday afternoon across the river sitting with two dear friends. We did something profound; we sat and observed our world. We watched the gorgeous interplay of the sun and clouds which blew out of the Northwest. We observed the trees and rocks and earth around us. We marveled at the sheer diversity [...]
