Have you been to the Mary DeDecker Native Plant Garden?
Although the spectacularly precipitation-filled winter did not erase the effects of many consecutive years of drought in California, still, the Dedecker Native Plant Garden had its own show of blooms this year. The pinks and purples of lupines and penstemons shown through in spring and became a flush of golden yellows of rabbit brush and goldenrod by autumn. More than 40 species, native to the Eastern Sierra, of flowering herbs, grasses and shrubs were planted in beds surrounded by a natural vegetative community of perennial shrubs including, big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens). The amount of water this past year likely revived many species
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However, a one-time visit may not afford you the same viewpoint of the garden like Steve has from, for example, being able to witness almost the whole of the monarch butterfly’s life cycle happen on a narrow-leaf milkweed plant (Asclepias fascicularis). But from the moment you plant your feet on the garden grounds, you may get an “ineffable sense of grounded-ness.” Take a stroll along the trails that wind through the garden and cross a bridge over the waters passing the water birches (Betula occidentalis) and desert olives (Forestiera pubescens) along the edges of the creek. Learn about the local native flora, all in one easily accessible location. Sit upon a bench to rest a spell, enjoy the mountain views or take a walk through the mind. Enjoy nature because it’s the easiest thing you can do besides breathe. While you’re at it, smell the sagebrush in the air. And if you happen to see him, share your musings with Steve and perhaps, he might share some of his own. Here are a few topics: balanced asymmetry in nature, the flock of Phainopepla that kept company with him all summer and cobalt milkweed beetles. Who knows, you might find yourself falling in love with the place, just like
Marigolds “Marigolds,” written by the author Eugenia W. Collier, begins with the main character, Elizabeth. The story is told in first person, being told by Elizabeth when she gets older. “Marigolds” takes place in Maryland during the Depression. The reader can tell it is the time of the Depression because in the story it says, “The Depression that gripped the nation was no new thing to us, for the black workers of rural Maryland had always been depressed.” Both the setting and time in this short story are important.
Jim is an innocent young man, living on the coast of Queensland. In this peaceful town, everybody is happy and at peace with themselves and with nature. The people enjoy the simple pleasures of life - nature, birds, and friendly neighbourly conversations. Their days are filled with peaceful walks in the bush, bird watching and fishing. Jim and his friends especially enjoy the serenity of the sanctuary and the wonders of nature that it holds.
The Chaparral biome is most common in latitudes of 35 degrees North and is seen most often in Southern California. Chaparral plants have special adaptations that help them deal with the unique climate. In addition there are specific characters of a Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral community that would help in their identification. Both of these topics, secondary succession, endangered plant species, and the importance of habitat preservation will be discussed.
The Great Basin of North America and Wyoming specifically, is known for its arid and semi-arid environment, as well as prolonged and sometimes severe droughts. Drought is the prolonged and abnormal deficiency of moisture with the concomitant decline in runoff to a level significantly lower than usual (Guldin 1989). The history of droughts in Wyoming has been uncertain in the past, but recent studies of tree rings in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming have given insight to droughts as far back as 1260A.D. (Gray et al. 2004). Looking at tree ring records in Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) trees, Stephen Gray and his colleagues discovered that droughts which have been experienced in Wyoming since the 1750's, are weak in severity and length when compared to those since. The most severe drought period in Wyoming’s history occurred from 1262 to 1281. The droughts of the 1930’s and 1950’s, which have been used as benchmarks for all other droughts in the United States in recent times (Woodhouse et al. 2002), are ranked 149th and 28th respectively in comparison (Gray et al. 2004). The five top ranking droughts for 10, 15, and 20 year periods are all prior to the 1800’s, with the four driest single years being 1263, 1274, 1278, and 1280 (Gray et al. 2004). This indicates a change in precipitation patterns in the Big Horn Basin area of Wyoming since the 18th century, as all recent droughts have been mild when compared to those of Wyoming’s past.
In Thomas King’s A Seat in the Garden, I found it intriguing that at the end of the story the big Indian remained in Joe’s garden despite everything that he and Red had done to try to get rid of him. Additionally this is because in the type of story that King is parodying, that of the innocent whites being hounded by a relentless Native spirit, said spirit is typically dispersed through either destruction or appeasement. However, in King’s story, as evident by Joe’s multiple failed attempts to wack the big Indian with a shovel, destruction does not work and, as evident by the fact that the big Indian remains after Joe and Red built the bench, neither does appeasement. This, in turn, implies that, unlike in the story that King is parodying, the big Indian will continue to haunt Joe and Red.
Uva, Richard H., Joseph C. Neal, and Joseph M. Ditomaso. Weeds of the Northeast. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1997. 102-103.
All dramatic productions feature the elements of drama. Following a viewing of the scene ‘Someone’s crying’ from the 1993 movie ‘The Secret Garden’ three of the elements of drama have been assessed. Role, character and relationships have been utilised in ‘The Secret Garden’ to create anxiety and suspense, enticing the viewer to solve the mysteries the Secret Garden presents. The protagonist in the scene is a young girl, around the age of ten who during the night leaves her room to explore her residence. The protagonist narrates the scene; she begins by stating that the ‘house seems dead like under a spell’. This makes the viewer anxious and fearful for the safety of our young protagonist. The protagonist is brave. She pushes open a door and
John Green, a well-known American author, vlogger, actor, and editor, once said, “That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereals based on color instead of taste.” Everyone is born different, but there are always those people who just look better than others, or in other words, more popular, and most people just try to hang out with them. However, there are also people like John Green who do not care about being popular. He once stated that it is “ridiculous… that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty”, which really means that he has never been popular and thinks kissing up to popular kids is just obscured. However, being unpopular
Brink, André. A Dry White Season. First Perennial ed. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2006. Print
Belvedere meaning “beautiful view” in Italian is a word that many people correlated with the style and design of the Italian Renaissance gardens. The sight of these gardens were truly remarkable in a time where design would settle for nothing less of such. Throughout the report many things will be brought to light in relation to the Renaissance gardens. This report will include many sub-sections that will pertain to the design of these gardens. These sections include, the history of the Renaissance gardens, their influences, the garden’s features and the multiple purposes of the different gardens from the Renaissance. Although each section will prove to be different from the one before it, it will be seen that they all link to one common
The plants and herbs that have been chosen are fragrant, textured or edible. Some are a combination of these criteria. In order to prevent sensual overload I have alternated between the three. This will help set a pattern and allow the visitors to know what to expect and how to experience each. For example, at the beginning of the path there will be basil, an edible herb usually used for seasoning. Around the stones and tree, jasmine will be planted, which has a very soothing and strong scent. After leaving the stones towards the creek, there will be lamb’s ear, which is very soft, followed by another edible plant.
Alice Walker’s " In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" written by Alice Walker makes reference to the black women's struggle, with all the injustice and savagery they were subjected to. They were looked at as nothing more "the mule of the world," looked at through the lens Jean Toomer the debauchery of heart and mind is not, and never was limited to the black women, or any sole minority. The fact is, even those enforcing the deprivation of creativity and spirituality in others are subjected to the same in their lives. This is more evident today than in my grandmother's day, although the bereavement doesn't appear as drastic today because now we live in a time of "equality," where every individual is presented with the same demands and depraved ideals for a successful life.
Fortunately, I wake every morning to the most beautiful sun lit house. I sit on my porch sipping coffee, while I drink in an atmosphere that steals my breath away. Rolling hills lay before me that undulate until they crash into golden purple mountains. Oh how they are covered in spectacular fauna, ever blooming foliage, and trees that are heavy with pungent fruit. Green it is always so green here at my house. Here where the air lays heavy and cool on my skin as does the striking rays of the sun upon my cheeks. I know in my soul why I choose to be here every day. Pocketed in all the nooks and crannies of these valleys and hills are stately homes, rich with architecture resplendent. Diversity is the palate here; ...
During my trip to the Arboretum I thought a lot about the importance of the desert. I thought about how complex and beautiful it is. It is a landscape that I do not think many people view as beautiful. I know that when I first came to visit Phoenix I thought the desert was quite ugly. It wasn’t until I made an effort to find its exquisiteness that I did. Participating in activities like visiting the arboretum and taking day trips to Sedona and Tuscon have helped me to see the magnificence of a cactus existing in the sand with no water for weeks at a time. This one thing amazes me so much. The blooming flowers on a cactus are breathtaking to me. I think the contrast of cactus flowers and the vastness of the sand in the desert is what makes it so striking.
I used to go there to be alone or to dream with my eyes open admiring the blue sky or the clouds. I liked to go there to lay down on the grass, listen to the wind, kiss the flowers and watch the leaves moving. It was hard to go up the hill to get there, but I wanted to see everyday my seven trees, to see how the color of the leaves changed and to feel the softness of the grass.