We’re deep into winter and I’m kind of happy to report that it’s cold! Every summer when it gets so unbearable I think to myself, how can it possibly ever get cold. Well, here we are. Cold, for me at least. Not cold to others who I see intentionally hanging around outside with barely a thing on.
As usual, we seem to be in a perpetual drought. Now, a severe drought according to the US Drought Map. And, oddly, it seems spring is on the way as the daffodil leaves are already beginning to show themselves. But, I am more than happy to stay indoors in front of the wood stove going out only occasionally to dump some compost or fill the bird baths or what not. I suppose at some point I’ll have to rouse myself up and do all that gardening stuff I’d so voraciously planned way back in September?
The highlight of the month was reading a blog post by my favorite prairie ecologist, Chris Helzer, about a few gripes he has. They were all good but as sometimes happens, I couldn’t resist leaving a comment pertaining to one of his gripes and to my amazement and joy, he replied! (He very rarely responds to comments). This particular gripe was about people known in the restoration world as “Native Plant Purists” and it refers to those who promote the idea that you should only plant native plants in your yard. And, who look down on those that plant non native plants such as daffodils, zinnias and other common landscape plants. Now, I must admit I’ve never really met a person that falls into that category but I suppose they’re out there.
Anyhow, my comment made reference to some ecologists in my area that suggest planting native plants that aren’t local native plants (as in originating within say 50 miles) can negatively impact rare, local and wild native plant communities. He responded by basically saying that because the climate and environment is changing so fast, it’s better to focus on boosting overall biodiversity than trying to save every species down to a specific gene pool. Which makes sense I think, though I’m no ecologist. He ended by saying there are lots of people (I assume he’s referring to ecologists) saying we should be looser with how we move genes around because things are changing so much. But, then he admitted he doesn’t know the answer. So, I guess the takeaway here is learn as much as you can and then do the best you can given the situation? Well, anyway, I said I feel better about my bergamot, mountain mint and bluestem from Minnesota and zinnias are looking better and better.
As usual, I have all kinds of things I’d like to go on about such as the possible link between fruit flies and sourdough and my adventures in veganism and my phobia of certain bugs I won’t mention and why I have that phobia and oh, yes, fig jam. Did you know figs have a good amount of calcium? And, I still have plenty of jars of fig jam (I made from figs from my fig tree) which I’ve been putting into all kinds of things like salad dressing, banana bread, oatmeal, stir fries, casseroles and soup.
And since I haven’t been out much, I tend to take photos of things inside the house such as this tiny wasp about the size of a mosquito.
I usually don’t like to write a post until I have a magical moment. Yesterday, was the last day I thought that would be. It was just about as dreary as could be. The morning air smelled like a paper mill but then around 5ish I looked out and everything had this eerie glow so I went out with my camera.
Wishing you a magical moment.
The Dirty Sneaker 