Mother Nature's Garden
Latest Mother Nature's Garden
Remembering Anne Mason Field and yellowroot
For many years, I hiked local trails with my friend Ann Mason Field. We followed the cycle of the seasons by celebrating the first skunk ... Read more
3 weeks ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Groundnut: The plant with a crumpled red velvety blossom
I confess that I’m often overcome by the sheer number of yellow flowers that appear in late summer. There are more than 50 species of ... Read more
1 month ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
The oxeye daisy is a weed, but an interesting one
Wander around the edge of the woods near the office at Holliday Lake State Park, and you’ll likely find several oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) blooming ... Read more
4 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Mountain Laurel is putting on an exuberant display
“…but the typical mountain laurel overshadows all, dominates the scene, defies descriptive effort, lays a hush on the tongue and thrills the soul with the ... Read more
5 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Discovering the harbinger-of-spring
While there are plenty of interesting plants in our area, sometimes I like to go hiking in an entirely different area, one known for having ... Read more
6 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
In search of the southern grape fern
I’ve always been fascinated by ferns. They’re old. So old that ancestors of modern ferns were here long before the dinosaurs. Ferns just seem to ... Read more
8 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Nature provides its own valentines
According to the calendar, it’s the shortest month, but, in reality, it never seems to end. February is fickle. It can be cold, wet and ... Read more
8 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
COLUMN — A walk in the woods
This time of the year, when the forest is a study in brown, beige and gray with a few green accents, I like to walk ... Read more
9 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
It’s never too late for a walk in the woods
It’s the first week in December, and the weather is still pleasantly warm. Even so, I’m surprised at the number of plants that are blooming, ... Read more
10 months ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Bald cypresses are an atypical conifer
The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) was first described in 1640, and ever since then writers have been impressed by its ability to create a dramatic ... Read more
11 months ago by Staff Report.
A cool find on a hot day
Last summer I spent far too many hot, humid days mucking about in several swampy areas at Holliday Lake State Park. I wandered around one ... Read more
1 year ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Goldenrod provides late summer color
Several years ago, I went with a friend to a business luncheon where there was a beautiful floral arrangement with bright yellow flowers in it. ... Read more
1 year ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Uschi goes on a trail walk at High Bridge
Hello, fellow wildflower lovers. It’s me Uschi. Several months ago, I went with my mom on a trail walk, met a woman named Uschi, and ... Read more
1 year ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Stalking the hoary yellow puccoon
Sometimes a plant just shows up in an unexpected location. Sometimes you walk by that location over and over, but not at exactly the right ... Read more
1 year ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Incised fumewort is problematic
I went to Powhatan State Park last week, walked the usual trails and searched for Dutchman’s breeches, which I didn’t find. When I got home, ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Speedwell, a beautiful weed
Hiking in late winter or very early spring requires an open mind about the plants that can be found. Sure, there are always Christmas ferns, ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Hiking can be a voyage of discovery
Spending time outside, whether gardening or hiking, is just plain good for you. Hiking and walking have been called moving meditations because they enable people ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
New apps for field work
Not too many years ago, hiking meant carrying a heavy backpack filled with my favorite field guides – some for plants, some for mushrooms and ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
The aftermath of finding a rare plant
A good part of last year was spent hiking with a list of plants that needed to be documented in various counties. For example, common ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Torrey’s mountain mint: A rare find
It’s been so hot and dry that I decided Oct. 4 would be my last major hike before the skunk cabbages emerge in late December. ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
A tale of persistence and what grows in the swamp
While mucking about in a swampy area at Holliday Lake State Park last month, I stumbled upon an odd looking little plant that I had ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Long-lobed arrowhead: An uncommon plant
In the early days of the commonwealth, the naming of rivers was arbitrary. Settlers along a particular waterway named it whatever they pleased. For example, ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
The difference in buttonweed
It’s been so hot that my hikes have been reduced to half-hearted slogs up and down the back roads near my farm. No enthusiasm and ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Wood Betony: an interesting hemiparasite
There are some native plants that I just can’t keep straight in my head unless I see the leaves and the flowers together. Wood betony, ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Slipper Orchids: Love and obsession
Wildflower people are both incredibly generous and seriously obsessive. This spring I’ve been the recipient of untold generosity. It’s common knowledge that everyone loves lady’s ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
The thrill of the find
In my ongoing rambles in the woods, I visit new places every year, but I also return to the same areas over and over every ... Read more
2 years ago by Dr. Cynthia Wood.
Lyre-leaf sage: An assertive native
Walk across any unkempt lawn (mine!), waste area or woodland clearing this month and you’ll find basal rosettes of dark green and purple leaves that ... Read more