A Celebration of Herbs

Television bores me. 

So, I read. 

Or listen to audio books while I craft. 

I have dozens of nature related books at my disposal,

but I do like to be entertained with a good story,
and I have discovered

the most delightful author, Susan Wittig Albert. 

Her vast knowledge of herbs is threaded
throughout intriguing mysteries

 based on a single character, China Bayles, and her surroundings.

In a nutshell, China Bayles was a high-powered attorney in the city

who realized it wasn't the life for her. 

She quit her job,

cashed in her retirement,

and purchased an herb store in the small fictional town of Pecan Springs, TX.

The chosen titles for her books reflect the herb she has spun her tale around.  One example of the many titles offered is:  Lavender Lies.  I especially enjoyed reading the books in order, beginning with the first one, Thyme of Death.  My library didn't have access to them all, so I had to skip a few here and there.  I've copied many a recipe for yummy treats, bath and beauty recipes, and other 'green' and natural concoctions.

Susan goes beyond writing fun to read books full of interesting facts. 

She has a newsletter, All About Thyme that exceeds all expectations,

has published the China Bayles Book of Days, which I've just acquired from the library, and hosts an on-line book club.  She co-authors another series of mysteries with her husband, and has developed yet another series that I have yet to venture to read based on the Beatrix Potter books, called Cottage Tales.  If you visit her website, you will discover many more interesting  things about Susan.
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Ant Farming

Because it is THAT time of year, I am duplicating a previous post for

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 My favorite flowers of all,

the spring ephemerals!

One of the phenomenoms surrounding these alluring

harbingers of spring

that intrigues me the most

is a symbiotic relationship called myrmecochory,

or "Ant Farming".

Ants are attracted to the seeds of certain species of spring bloomers because the seeds bear small protruberances called elaiosomes.  These elaiosomes contain fatty food, attractive oils, and possibly sugars, and are considered to be a tasty treat if you are an ant.  The ants carry the seeds into their nests, sometimes as far away as 70-75 yards, where they dine on this gourmet meal.  But the seed shells are too hard to penetrate, and are cast off in an unused tunnel.  Here, protected amid the nutrients in the soil, the seeds will germinate.

Among the species of spring ephemerals that encourage ants to collect their seeds are:

violets (Viola sp.)

 

Wood Anenome (Anenome cinquifolia)

Hepatica (Anenome Americana)

 

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) 

Ground beetles and crickets also disperse trout lily seeds. 

 

Purple Trillium (Trillium erectum)

 

Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)

as well as Bloodroot (Sanguuinaria canadensis)

and Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum).

I recently came across this post about the seeds of the Bloodroot.

CHECK IT OUT!

(Photos compliments of Little Sister, the "Holly" in KaHolly, my mentor.)

"Just what makes that little old ant, think he can move a rubber tree plant.........." 

Most of this information was gleaned from my favorite book of all - The Secrets of Wildflowers by John Sanders

Decisions, Decisions!

This poor little kitty

wasn't too sure

what to wear today.

For more interesting Camera Critters, click HERE!

Happy Birds

Early last summer, I had a surprise visit from an Orchard Oriole, quite uncommon in my neck of the woods.  In an effort to entice him to stay, I quickly put out some treats - namely orange halves and jam.

To contain the jam, I grabbed the closest container, the lid to an empty carton of milk still sitting by the sink, and secured it to a wooden compost bin on the perimeter of my yard.  It was the perfect size for a teaspoon full of jam.

Sadly, the oriole move on.  But much to my delight, the song sparrows and robins cleaned out the proffered sweet treat on a daily basis.  It became, and still remains, a morning ritual to carry my little teaspoonful of jam out to the compost bin to fill the tiny dish.  I swear they wait for me because no sooner do I turn to step away then they are sampling the day's tasty treat!!  Until I set up my summertime feeding stations, I also offer dishes of water and other treats on this pseudo-tabletop.

Moral of the story:  It doesn't take much effort to have happy birds!

Calcium Supplements Aren't Just for Humans

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Did you know that our feathered friends need calcium in their diet, too?  And that you can provide it for them with very little effort?

 "A dry chicken eggshell is about 78-94% calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Calcium carbonate gives shells hardness and strength."

You can supplement calcium by offering dry, sterilized, crumbled chicken eggshells (or crushed oyster shells which can be found at your local feed store) mixed in with mealworms, birdseed, suet, or simply spread on the ground, a rock, a platform feeder.  As a matter of fact, if you are supplying mealworms, your birds will need a calcium supplement because mealworms deplete calcium!

Spring is an essential time of year to begin offering eggshells as an assist to breeding females to ensure strong and healthy eggshells.  Throughout the summer, providing eggshells benefits both young and adult birds. "Calcium deficiency can cause developmental problems in growing birds. Lack of calcium can cause weak bones in adults."

To learn more, visit:  http://www.sialis.org/calcium.htm.

Click here for more nature notes!

Tree Swallow Housing Shortage

If you reside in the more northern climes, you still have time to treat the Tree Swallows to affordable housing!  Numbers are declining slowly as they lose their habitat to man and bird alike.  As cavity nesters, tree swallows can be found near water and prefer pileated woodpecker holes.  But between habitat destruction and the influx of starlings and house sparrows, their housing market is compromised.

Here is just one example of a set of plans to build a tree swallow house:

(http://www.coveside.biz/)

Use any wood which resists weathering for building nesting boxes.  A natural log effect can be achieved by using bits and pieces of wood with bark still intact.  These mill-slabs can be fouond in most sawmills, lumber yards, and firewood lots.  Slabs are usually cheaper than rouogh or dressed lumber.

The recommended minimum height above ground is 7 feet (2.1 meters)

 on a pole or in a tree in open areas near sight of water.

If you wish to paint your boxes, avoid bright colors.

Tree swallows are gregarious,

and an acre of land can accomodate up to 8 nesting pairs.

Their houses can actually be placed 10 feet apart.

A tree swallow usually lays 4 - 6 eggs, with an incubation period

of approximately 14 days.  The young leave the nest in about 16 - 20 days.

In my area, the tree swallows arrived mid-May of last year. 
My houses are going up next weekend just in case they are early.
I can't wait until I hear their sweet little chatter.

My favorite part about the return of the tree swallows? 
Being out in my kayak during the wee hours of the morning
while they swoop and circle around me catching their breakfast!

Click HERE for more interesting Nature Notes!

Thank you to Rambling Woods for this meme!

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Mourning Cloak

You know it's spring when you spot a Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)!

Mourning Cloaks spend their winters frozen in"cryo-preservation" in tree cavities,

 beneath loose tree bark or in unheated buildings.

Wherever they can fit to protect themselves from the winter winds,

 they will almost always survive.

During the early spring months, they will seek a mate,

lay their eggs,

and then, unfortunately, they die.

They are thought to be the longest living butterfly

with a lifespan of 10 - 11 months.

For more interesting Nature Notes, visit Rambling Woods.