Learning to See the Beauty of Nature in Our Gardens
Donna Donabella is a self taught gardener who has gardened in central NY State for 25 years. Although her day job has been in public education for 27 years, her passion lies in all types of gardening. Donna's journey through life has been enriched and influenced by her gardening experiences which she shares on her blog Garden's Eye View. Donna has recently started her own garden design business, Purple Door Garden Designs.
“Oh, Spring! I want to go out and feel you and get inspiration.” -Emily Carr Signs of spring are showing up weekly in my wildlife garden. Bluebirds are nesting, the swallows have returned, bumblebees have awakened and the wildflowers are beginning to bloom like this bloodroot. But the very special sign I look [...]
“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” ― Robert Lynd March 20th came cold and full of snow. That week we received an additional foot of snow to add to all the other feet of snow that fell this very white winter. But this was spring. [...]
“Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings.” ~Victor Hugo I enjoyed participating in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) recently. And with the winter weather, I did not anticipate seeing many birds, [...]
Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. ~ William Wordsworth Like many gardeners, I am fascinated with nature. What is that high up in the tree singing gleefully? Is that a rat snake or a garter snake over by the pond? How many different bees visit my flowers? [...]
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Thich Nhat Hanh I found this quote around the dawn of the new year, and was immediately taken with it. Do you ever read a quote and then are instantly inspired? Well this is one that has profoundly affected me to my very soul. It [...]
Winter has been playing in my wildlife garden already. The sudden cold gales blow in off the SE end of Lake Ontario and drift quickly across the land turning the sky to a gunmetal gray with a blue tinge. We are swallowed whole by the swift snow as it piles onto every stem, seed head, [...]
A warm early spring brought out the snakes around the pond in record numbers. I did some research and learned quite a bit about the Eastern garter snakes that were visiting. I expect to see them in spring and sometimes in the garden in summer, but we have never seen them in fall especially when the [...]
Sitting in the garden, quietly reflecting can bring about many surprises. Recently one of those surprises was caught out of the corner of my eye. As I was sitting looking about at nothing in particular, I spied a very bright green something moving about on the arbor. Of course I had to check it out, [...]
The control of nature is a phrase conceived in arrogance, born of the Neanderthal age of biology and the convenience of man. ~Rachel Carson Lately I have been dealing with invasive plants in my meadow, and while it is time consuming and can be quite the battle it seems you can at least make [...]
“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” - Albert Schweitzer When I started gardening for wildlife, I was excited to see each new species. We moved around the food chain from mammals to birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, birds and so on. And as [...]
Or the Tale of the Supposedly Lovely Meadow Plant Common Teasel Isn’t this a lovely green plant? Interesting, thorny and thistle-like with nectar for pollinators. Used in flower arrangements once dried. Wouldn’t you love to see this in your garden or meadow? NO! Don’t do it. If you find it, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS…. [...]
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