definition of a weed

The definition of a weed is “a wild plant growing where it is not wanted”. Dock is considered a common roadside weed, but because it often stands a good foot or two taller than all the other roadside weeds, it easily visible. Each of those little heart-shaped leaves is actually a flower. In late summer, they start turning various shades of pink, orange, and brown. For this these reasons, its height and its color, I find dock quite fetching. I have only ever photographed dock in autumn or winter. So I thought I would give the summer green version it’s moment in the sun, so to speak. If I like seeing dock along our roadsides, it is a still a weed?

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

an early molting season

Apparently, our resident geese are molting. This felt unusually early, so I just looked it up it is only a couple weeks early. Birds molt in the summer when there is an abundance of food and mild weather because molting requires a tremendous amount of energy and leaves the birds exposed and vulnerable. As I mentioned earlier, we have two large geese families right now, with teenage goslings. It’s interesting that the parents are molting while raising the meeps. On the one hand, it makes sense because they are more or less grounded anyway as they keep guard of their charges. On the other hand, they have a super important job right now–keeping guard of their charges–so I would think they would want to be in peak physical condition. Clearly, this is a rabbit hole I must go down today!

Canada goose wing feathers 

On impermanence

Sometimes bad things happen to good flowers through no fault of their own. A gentle reminder that life is not fair. It is fragile. And can be cut short at any time. Make the most of very day, reach for the sun, and if you are lucky you may get a chance to bloom.

lanceleaf coreopsis flowers (Coreopsis lanceolata)

family feuds

We have two families of Canada geese making residence in our yard this summer. Both families have goslings–one has 7, the other has 5. The goslings are already in that awkward teenage phase. So ugly-cute it is adorable. The two dads fight like Montagues and Capulets. Mostly they steer clear of each other, but every once in a while one or the other delivers a hissing warning and lands a good swipe. Hence, two lost flight feathers in the grass this morning. Look at that precision engineering!

Canada goose flight feathers (Branta canadensis)

consolation prize

I missed photographing spruce tip season this year because I was too busy with my book launch. Which is a shame because I was wanting to pickle some this year. You can use them anywhere you’d use capers: garnish the top of grilled fish (especially nice on salmon); chop them into a tuna salad, egg salad, or potato salad; pop them on deviled eggs; chop them into green or bean salads; mince them into salad dressings; add a couple to a sandwich; or sprinkle a few on some crème fraîche to garnish a soup. These young spruce cones, although similar in their new-growth green color that I love so much, are my consolation prize. Alas, there will be another chance for spruce tips next spring.

white spruce cones (Picea glauca)