   Enjoying life's abundance: rhubarb, asparagus, coffee & rye bread P.S. Chickadees vs. Bumblebee Queen
So, this week I've been watching two chickadees and a Bombus vosnesenskii queen (the yellow-faced bumblebee) going in-and-out of the chickadee's birdhouse. I'll keep you posted! June: definitely the Chick-a-dees; the parents are busy all day long and the peep-peeping is getting louder. They'll be fledging soon and I hope to catch them at it this year.  This oxalis/pink wood sorrel came from my maternal great-great-grandmother. Apparently, it is extremely hardy--still, I am proud to have kept it healthy and blooming for the last 40 years, including a dozen Arctic winters.
Curious about why the shamrock became a symbol of Ireland? ********************************************************************************** SHAMROCKS VS. OXALIS: WILL THE REAL SHAMROCK PLEASE STAND UP by Andrea Forsberg, Flowerworks History of the Shamrock This iconic Irish symbol began its journey to fame with the Celtic druids who considered the number 3 to be a perfect number, associating it with the three realms of sea, sky, and land, as well as the division of soul in the spirit, mind, and body, and the ideal of love, wisdom, and truth, among others. It was first recognized as a symbol related to the Celtic goddess Ana, representing her place as maiden, mother, and crone. During the 5th century, St. Patrick often used the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity as he spread the Catholic faith throughout Ireland. The shamrock made an appearance on St. Patrick’s coppers, otherwise known as halfpennies, in 1675. By the 19th century, the shamrock became a symbol of Irish rebellion when the English forbade the “wearin’ o’ the green.” Those who wore it anyway faced death. The original shamrock is believed to be the white clover (Trifolium repens), native to Ireland but found growing in yards across America. Oxalis, the False Shamrock The plant typically sold as a potted shamrock plant is Oxalis regnellii. This small plant is loved for its clover-shaped leaves in various colors and the delicate flowers that bloom from fall until spring. Its delicate leaves fold up at night and reopen with the return of sunlight. Oxalis is a member of the wood sorrel family. Although both shamrocks and Oxalis have three leaves, they are from different plant genus, and the leaves and the flowers are shaped differently. True shamrocks are members of the clover family Trifolium repens. Oxalis plant species are extremely prolific and can be found throughout the world, with the most diverse plant being in South America and Southern Africa. While there are many different cultivars of Oxalis, exotic varieties make the best house plants. Oxalis may not be the original shamrock, but this beauty has captured the hearts of all of us looking to bring the luck of the Irish into our homes. Mid-summer notes: We've got chickadees nesting in our nest box. Chickadees only have one brood per year, so a second family made use of our bird box :^) They have been keeping their parents busy and we have enjoyed the peeping. Our garden thrived throughout our cool wet spring and we've been enjoying daily salad greens with lettuces, arugula, sorrel, kale, and chard. We are planting seeds and starts this week for our fall salad munching.   Our wild backyard featured volunteer poppies, borage, and glorious 10' tall foxgloves this year. Loving the lavender...mmmmmmm  Today is Lughnasadh, the beginning Gaelic harvest festival which historically was observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. I will be celebrating by tidying up my garden boxes, harvesting the last of my spring kales and Swiss chard, and replanting for the fall season. Where did July go? Our mornings included drinking coffee on the patio and enjoying our resident Spotted Towhees, Bewick's wrens, and hummingbirds--(not so much the antics of the voracious and vociferous fledgling crow who continues to create endless ruckus). Sláinte!    Photos: August calendar by Linnea, super-tiny cilantro flowers (whose centers turn into amazingly large coriander seeds!), and our manzanita (Arctostaphylos) Towhee playground
 Tracey’s Rhubarb Cake
Step 1 Preheat Oven to 350 F. Grease and flour 8x8 square baking dish. Step 2 In large bowl mix: 3⁄4 cup white sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1⁄2 tsp salt 1 cup white flour 1 cup ww flour Stir in: 2 beaten eggs 1 cup sour cream Then fold in: 3 cups chopped rhubarb Spoon into baking dish, it is thick! Step 3 In small bowl stir together: 1⁄2 cup brown sugar 1⁄2 cup softened butter 1 tsp cinnamon 2 T of ancient seeds or chopped nuts 1⁄4 cup rolled oats 2 T rye flour Spread mixture over top of cake Step 4 Bake at 350 F for about 50 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean) Enjoy!  I am excited to share the link to my article, published Spring 2019 in Pacific Horticulture.
With everyone quarantined and staying at home, this is a wonderful opportunity to dig into your soil and to nourish your relationship with the flora and fauna in the neighborhood. Now, get outside and enjoy that spring sunshine!  Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds
Small changes in the way you buy groceries and products, drink coffee, and garden will yield great rewards for your local ecosystem, as well as promoting fair-trade farmers across the world. Nurture Nature.  These are not exactly the kind of backyard birds that most of us get to see, but I do love the Cape Dorset Inuit Art calendars and notecards. It feels like autumn here in Seattle, and even though we most likely will have another round of warmish weather, it is the time of year when people are getting busy raking and tidying up for winter. This year, I would like to invite you to consider taking a less vigorous approach to cutting back your grasses and raking and composting leaves and fallen branches. Check out these tips from Audubon on how to enhance your backyard this fall to encourage more wildlife action. Backyard birders: be sure to sign up for Project Feederwatch, This year's poster is a limited edition poster of backyard Hawks and Falcons of North America. If online learning is one of your passions, I suggest one of these Cornell Lab of Ornithology self-paced courses. Or, for a free quick fix:, check out their videos. Wishing you lots of daydreaming and playtime in your backyard and neighborhood this fall!  |
AuthorTracey Byrne~ 
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