Because it tastes so much better! Not only that...

I spent the bulk of this summer researching the effects of pesticides on children, and the health benefits of eating organic and non-processed foods. Things are much more dire than you would like to believe. Want to know more? Check out my new webpages: Go Organic and Pesticides, which I hope that you will find enlightening; included are hot links, resources, and my lastest infographic: "Pesticides are Not Healthy for Children or Other Living Things".

What can you do? Vote with your dollars!  Download a copy of Environmental Working Group's 2015 EWG Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce here. Please advocate for non-toxic pesticide alternatives, sustainable farming, and food labeling, and shop at your local Farmers Market or co-op regularly.

Another excellent resource is "What's On My Food" by Pesticide Action Network. This is also available as an app–how handy is that?

See you at the Farmers Market!

Things have been quite exciting in our backyard, with visits from some spectacular-looking insects. First, the dragonflies-who are exciting to watch as they patrol throughout the gloaming. Next, our bees continue to draw out honeycomb, which they are loading up with pollen and nectar from our thyme, mint, yarrow, borage, and lilac. The photo of the exquisite tiny jewel-like beetles was taken by our gardener, Marisa of Chrysalis Garden Care, so beautiful! Finally, we have been enjoying watching swooping swallowtail butterflies soaring up and over our backyard several times each week.

"New" butterfly sighting: okay, go ahead and laugh, but yesterday I was charged by a "pugnacious and territorial"* butterfly as I was heading out to the alley on our garden path. It turns out that the Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta males are known to rush intruders, including humans, before flying off erratically. Who knew?

*as described by James & Nunnalle, in Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies

What can you do to protect honeybees and all native bees and pollinators?
Do not buy flowering plants that have been treated with neonics
Support local & organic beekeepers
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Free Posters courtesy of Nora Wildgen at BeeSwell

Perhaps the butterflies read Pacific Horticulture?

We were delighted to have this Lorquin's Admiral Limenitis lorquini make a visit to our backyard. It fluttered between our Stewartia and the Washington Hawthorne, apparently just basking in the sunshine. The adults sip flower nectar from plants (including California buckeye, yerba santa, and privet) and also enjoy feasting on bird droppings and dung (hmmmm, I wonder if the dairy manure compost we just brought in attracted this one?).

I do not know if any eggs were laid or if this was just a visit; regardless: it was a welcome sight and a relief from all the Cabbage Whites.

Bring on the native butterflies!

A colleague of mine, in a conversation we were having regarding empathy and how to nurture conservation awareness in children, recently asked "How would you go about trying to encourage more unstructured outdoor play at home–and, what is Biophilia?"

As far as what kids can do outdoors at home, I would say: "send them out to play and see what happens"...

Of course, it helps to have lots of "loose parts" around for kids to build and experiment with, like in a sandbox or with rocks, and sticks and chunks of wood. Kids also need to dig holes and to play in water-so all of these things are good places to start if you've got little ones. Older kids could have fun exploring the wild patches in the alleys, pocket parks, and parking strips, and can be encouraged to do a bug or bird count. Ask them to find out which bugs visit which plants, and also if they can spot the different kinds of native bees and honeybees visiting flowers.

Garden: inside: make sprouts! outside: give your kids a little plot of earth or a couple containers to plant a garden in (but it needs to have good rich soil to start with or they will be discouraged!), and go on a trip to a nursery to choose seed packets together. If there is a tree, let them climb it, and if it's big enough for a tire swing (that will keep them busy for hours). Forts are awesome, but a tent or teepee also makes a special hiding place. A sheet or tarp strung off a fence or hung over a clothesline (or two chairs) creates an instant shady and cozy space.

Sprinkler? turn it on, and don't forget to have buckets and squirt-guns available.

I would also have on hand some scientific tools: a magnifying glass, binoculars, and a clear jar that can serve as a bug keeper. (Sprout jars are nice as they have different size breathing holes).

Toys to get them started being physical: sidewalk chalk, jump-ropes, hopscotch, and my favorite: hula hoops.

Biophilia goes hand-in-hand with my other passion: Bibliophilia!

I recommend the "Fun with Nature" take-along guides by North Word Press in Minnesota, there are 12 of these books, and all are full of facts and awesome activities. Artist/naturalist Claire Leslie Walker's book, "Nature All Year Long" is also a favorite, and has seasonal projects (and might inspire some nature journaling). My daughter loved the Golden Field Guides, and actually wore them out! The "One Small Square" books by Silver & Wynne are also good, as they get kids looking closer: explore, dig, look, observe and investigate every inch of each small square of habitat.

The UW Arboretum gift shop has a small but quality selection of children's nature books for sale, as does Seward Park's Audubon Center, and you can also find these titles at the University Bookstore. You might want to head over to the UW Horticultural Gardens for a wetland walk and visit the Story Program at the Elisabeth C. Miller Library too.

Thank you for asking~