Excerpt from current newsletter: PNPS
Notes 2009
Quarter #1
Blue-Eyed Grass
by Jean Aron
It was not very big, not very showy, and could easily have
been overlooked. It actually may have been mowed a few
times as quack grass. I had seen blue-eyed grasses only on
rare occasions in a few Pennsylvania wild places, out in the
woods or fields. It is not very common. Imagine my delight
then, on a warm June day, when I discovered it growing right
here in my own yard. The newest of several wild neighbors
to move into my urban "wildlands", as a result of a hefty cutback
in grass-cutting activity, only partly because of high
gasoline prices.
Our lot is just ½ acre, which is more than the usual size
for this ¼ acre lot neighborhood, but not really large. Even
with limited space, I decided to encourage native plants in
my yard. While we are not "certified" organic, we don't use any
serious pesticides in our garden, and we enjoy sharing space
for wildlife – bunnies and squirrels mostly – and many types
of birds that come to our feeder or to bathe and drink at our
small garden pond and waterfall. I call the pond area our "nook"
or our "bird sanctuary", or sometimes "the Peace Place".
Several edge areas of the yard, as well as the "nook", are
looking unkempt these days. Our neighbors who keep "military"
lawns probably view them with scorn. They don't
know the joys of a diversely balanced natural yard.
A robin has built a nest in a honeysuckle bush directly in
front of my window. As I sit and type, she sits and warms her
eggs. I should be treated to a good show in the next few
weeks – and without leaving my desk. From time to time she
flies out quickly to the pond for a bath and a drink, or to the
other trees for a snack – maybe a few gypsy moth caterpillars, I hope.
(continue this article)
PNPS
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2009
Quarter #1
2008
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2007
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2006
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2005
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2004
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2003
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2002
Quarter #4
Quarter #3
Quarter #2
Quarter #1
2001
Quarter #4
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