Walden West ~ November My decision to visit the place I dubbed ‘Walden West’ each month in 2022 may be the first New Year’s resolution I’ve actually kept. In the beginning, I had few expectations and no plan; I only intended to visit on a monthly basis, recording whatever seemed interesting. I certainly didn’t expect … Continue reading Walden West ~ December
By mid-to-late November, Walden West remained dry, and the butterflies that provided so much delight during October’s visit were gone: vanished as completely as the spiders that preceded them in leave-taking. In their wake, a few flowers lingered, as well as a pretty mushroom that signaled our recent rains. Blue Mistflower can spread aggressively, and … Continue reading Walden West ~ November
Walden West in October Attributed to everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Valerie Jarrett, the well-known phrase — “You can have it all: just not at the same time” — seems first to have appeared in print in Betty Friedan’s 1963 book The Feminine Mystique. In time, a corollary emerged: “You can do it all: just … Continue reading Walden West ~ October Fauna
In October, Walden West’s vernal pool looked almost exactly as it had in September. A few more leaves had fallen from the trees, and most of the surrounding growth showed insect damage, but no visible water had collected. On the other hand, my feet could feel what remained invisible to my eyes. Enough rain had … Continue reading Walden West ~ October Flora
Climbing hempvine ~ Mikania scandens By the time August ended, the area around Walden West had become overgrown and overrun with biting flies: so much so that swatting and sweating through the late summer heat were a considerable part of the day’s fun. That said, there was no overlooking the climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) that … Continue reading Walden West ~ August
Lagniappe 