Hi River Roaders, It’s been two years since our area has had over an inch of measurable snow. I was delighted to read a headline on a local newscast that the recent snow had overperformed forecasts. It’s the first time I had heard the phrase in the context of weather. It works. Let’s take a … read more

Hi River Roaders! Gardeners pay attention to weather. We monitor rainfall (this year is six inches down compared to average), temperature (over two degrees warmer than average year-to-date) and humidity (will it be comfortable to work in the garden today). Gardeners also pay attention to what’s happening on the ground. We see the results of … read more

Hi River Roaders, This month’s blog gives a tip of the hat to an early Robert Burns song. Many of the Grounding Blogs focus on “what’s blooming now,” and feature bright-colored flowers. May in our shade garden is different. Gone are the blooms from the spring ephemerals that use the sunlight before being shaded out … read more

Hi River Roaders! It’s been awhile since my last Grounding blog post, and it feels good to get back to it. This month, we’ll take a look at what’s blooming on our grounds right now. I’d also like to invite folks to participate in wildflower walks every Sunday after service, weather permitting. Just meet on … read more

Hi River Roaders, I’ve always viewed our building as a sort of modern Stonehenge, with dramatic light patterns that change through the year. I’ve also wanted to document the patterns during the Summer and Winter Solstices. This month we’ll look at light patterns from December 20 and 21. Our Sanctuary was empty on the 20th, … read more

Hi River Roaders, There’s no way a photograph can truly capture what our eyes see. This is especially true in the fall, when the sun shining through brightly colored leaves provides brilliant highlights and deep shadows. Here are some photos from October – some on sunny days but most taken on a recent foggy morning. … read more

[content warning: this blog post contains 2 images of dead birds. If you anticipate this causing you trouble, please stop reading after the image of the American strawberry bush.] Hi River Roaders, The best nature studies include humans as an integral part of the environment. This month we’ll take an introspective look at how we … read more

Hi River Roaders, Fall officially begins on September 20, but meteorologists and naturalists view September 1 as the start of fall. At the risk of being accused of alliterative abuse, let’s take a look at some flyers, fruits, and flowers of fall. A pearl crescent butterfly nectaring on blue mistflower. I was really excited to … read more

Hi River Roaders, I hope you’ve been able to stop by this summer and check out the pollinator garden on our front plaza. Last spring, the Grounds Committee planted it with milkweeds and mints, and almost every time I’ve watched it on a sunny afternoon, I’ve seen a monarch on the milkweed. The monarch population … read more

Hi River Roaders. A little over a year ago, Jan planted a wildflower garden by the front plaza. The plants are all quite happy, especially with the added sun exposure provided by the tree removal and this year’s abundant rain. The garden is now in full bloom, and the location by the driveway allows great … read more