Field Notes for June 2025

 Welcome back to Field Notes!

June 1, 2025

After six weeks in Alaska, I'm back in our landscape and it is beautiful! Lots of perennial and annual flowers are in bloom. Many plants are establishing themselves (second year "creep"). Native bees and hummingbirds are visiting the flowers and loving it. Birds are foraging for grass seeds on the ground, as well as eating at the Bird Buddy feeder.

Flowers in the rock garden are thriving

Perennials and annuals bloom by the front path

June 3, 2025

Admittedly, there is a lot of weeding and grooming to be done in the landscape. Some of the grasses have already gone to seed and turned golden brown. The planting beds, on close inspection, are a wild tangle of perennials, annuals, and some invasive weeds and vines. Weeds have popped up in the paths that wind through the property (zoom in on the photo to see the weeds that have cropped up since I left for Alaska in April). It's taking me awhile to sort it all out!

The path to the lower yard is filled with weeds

Weeds are also lurking in the wild tangle of plants

June 6, 2025

This year's crop of baby birds has been feeding at the Bird Buddy feeder. You can tell them by their  diminutive size and the occasional bit of down mixed in with their feathers. The neighborhood cats have taken notice, so I shoo them away whenever I see them.

 

Several of this year's baby birds

June 9, 2025

Sunday at the Farmer's Market in Montclair Village! This time I picked up peaches and blueberries for fresh fruit desserts, greens for salads, and stir fry veggies for a chicken stir fry with udon noodles. The creative juices start to flow when seeing all that delicious produce, and it's fun to interact with the growers in their booths.

Enticing booths at the Montclair Farmer's Market on Sundays

Fresh vegetables ready to become masterpieces

Fresh produce for the week

Here in the Bay Area, we have many Farmers' Markets available through the Pacific Coast Farmer's Market Association (PCFMA) and the Urban Village Farmers Market Association (UVFMA). See you there!

June 12, 2025

I'm in the midst of learning about heucheras, because my Heuchera maximas are a hot mess! Those in the front planter seem to be growing out of control, and the leaves are covered with some kind of damage. Research indicates it could be caused by a leaf fungus or rust, possibly caused by over crowding or poor drainage. Organic methods are available for controlling leaf damage, but I suspect the plants need to be thinned for better airflow.

Heuchera with dead or necrotic leaves

I started by trimming damaged leaves from several heucheras. With the leaves cleared away, I got a better glimpse of how the plant grows. An above-ground stem spreads out from a central root and produces leaves. A week after thinning several plants, new leaves have started to emerge.

New leaves from the above-ground stem

I also learned that for ongoing maintenance, the roots need to be thinned every 2-5 years. The stems can be potted in soil to root new heuchera plants. The spent leaves can be cleaned up in spring or fall. I also learned that "Alum root" is one of the common names for heuchera, because the root can be used like alum as a mordant for dyeing fabric.

                                  

June 14, 2025

Sometimes in the garden of life, you have to take action. You might need to pull weeds, manage pests, trim a plant that has grown out of scale, or remove a tree that has become diseased. Today my husband and I exercised our first amendment right to free speech by joining the No Kings Protest in Oakland. It was a non-violent, family-friendly march through downtown Oakland to speak out about overreach and threats to our constitution and democracy.

No kings in our garden

The crowd was estimated to be about 10,000 strong, and as diverse as our nation. Families with children, gray haired seniors, teens and college kids, First Nations people, immigrants from around the globe (recent as well as descendants of the Pilgrims), LGBTQ+ community, veterans, labor and workers of all types (including those struggling to find work). Real Americans, exercising their rights and doing their duty to protect them.

Signs of the times

March down Broadway in Oakland, CA

June 18, 2025

I recently read Forgotten Murders from Alaska's Capital, by Betsy Longenbaugh (Epicenter Press, Washington, 2022). Longenbaugh describes ten murders from the first half of the 20th century, which occurred when Alaska was still a territory or on the cusp of statehood (January 3, 1959). The book is well researched and the stories well told, providing a glimpse into the people drawn to early Alaska. True crime isn't for everyone, but I found the stories and people quite fascinating, and appreciated Longenbaugh's empathy for the victims and their families.

Former Juneau criminal reporters Betsy Longenbaugh and Ed Schoenfeld give "Death with Dessert" presentations in Juneau throughout the year, and walking tours in the summer. 

June 20, 2025 🌷

Today is the summer solstice, and the longest day of the year! Soak in the sun (or whatever weather comes your way), and enjoy the long days of the new season!

June 23, 2025

According to the Audubon Society, California is one of the most diverse birding states in the country, and home to nearly two-thirds of all North American bird species. Over 600 bird species have been recorded in the state, and 450 of them are commonly observed. California is also home to 175 Important Bird Areas (IBAs); one of only 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots; and a critical link along the Pacific Flyway—a migration route used by millions of birds each year.

California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) at the feeder

The Audubon Birds of California website is a great resource for birders in California. Some of my favorites include:

• Audubon Magazine - lots of great articles, including "10 Ways to Take Better Smartphone Photos" (I definitely need this).

• Audubon App - downloadable from the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play. Would be interesting to compare with the Merlin Bird ID App.

• Guide to North American Birds - try out their filters to find your bird and learn more about it (for example, the California Towhee).

• Bird Friendly Native Plants - find native plants that benefit birds in your zip code. Create a bird-friendly habitat right in your own back yard.

Dye Project: Pyracantha

I tried a solar dyeing project using berries collected from the Pyracantha or Scarlet Firethorns  (Pyracantha coccinea) in the lower yard. The pomes have an orange-red skin with yellow flesh surrounding the seed; ripen in the fall; and are eaten by birds. Pyracantha originated in Spain and is considered invasive in California, but has grown on our property for decades. The pomes germinate after winter rains, and the seedlings wither and die with summer heat. Note that there is a native version that grows in Southeast Alaska and Western Canada.

Solar dyeing with Pyracantha pomes - day 1

I harvested 598 grams (21.1 ounces, or 4 cups) of pomes for the project, and then rinsed them in water to remove dust and small insects.

Pyracantha pomes

For this project, I used two cotton dish towels that had been prepared as described in Preparing your Fabric (Scour, Mordant, Brighten or Sadden). The towels had been scoured, mordanted with oak gallnut extract, and brightened with alum and soda ash.  The weight of fabric (WOF) was 154 grams, or 5.4 ounces. The WOF% was 388% for the 598 grams of pomes. Dyers typically recommend equal weights of fabric and plant material for solar dyeing (or double the weight for berries), so we're well over that. I added three teaspoons of alum and boiling water to the jar, and then layered pomes and dishtowels and topped off the jar with more boiling water. Optionally you can test the pH of the dye bath (mine had a pH of 2, which is quite acidic).

Dyeing with Pyracantha pomes - day 14

I steeped the dishtowels in the pyracantha dye bath for two weeks, making sure to rock and rotate the jar daily to distribute dye and pomes evenly.

Lovely raspberry pink color after squeezing out excess dye

A pale blue color emerged after rinsing the fabric

As with previous solar dyeing projects, I squeezed out excess dye and rinsed the fabric. Initially, the color was a lovely raspberry pink, but after I had rinsed the fabric thoroughly, the color changed to a very pale blue! 

After waiting two weeks to help set the dye, I washed the fabric with a mild textile soap (like Synthropol or Professional Textile Detergent) and hung it to to dry. The result was a light shade of blue, which has continued to lighten over the weeks to a pale grayish-yellow. This not not surprising since berry-based dyes are not colorfast and are known to fade quickly over time.

Summer Watch

I'm back in the Bay Area after six weeks in beautiful Southeast Alaska! The contrast is remarkable. In Alaska, we were experiencing a very cool, slow spring, with summer a long way off. Now back in the Bay Area, spring has run its course and is ready to launch into summer. Perennials and annuals are in full bloom, the trees have leafed out, and the temperature highs range from the mid-60 to mid-70℉.

Beautiful morning light and flowers foretell summer is coming

We're on summer watch in anticipation of the summer solstice in several weeks. Some weeding and trimming are needed in the landscape, and I have a list of  seeds and starters to plant in containers and the raised bed. These activities are a pleasure when the weather is so beautiful and the days are so long. Summer is not all work though—expect a lot of lounging on the patio, firing up the grill, and goofing off!

Imaginative Small Gardens

Time for another antique gardening book review, this time Imaginative Small Gardens by Nancy Grasby (Hearthside Press, New York, 1963). Grasby (1900-1990) was born in Australia, moved to the United States to study landscape design at University of California, set up a landscape architect firm in New York, and published Imaginative Small Gardens from her experience. My copy of the book was previously owned by two gardening sisters, Martha Fuller and Irene (Fuller) Baird, and left for us when we bought their house in Southern California. Martha and Irene were childhood friends of my Grandma Char and her three sisters (Mary Bina, Rachel, and Blessing) when they all lived in South Dakota. Later they continued the friendship after everyone moved to Southern California. Our last antique gardening book was The Complete Book of Garden Magic.

The Introduction indicates that the book is for beginners, and focuses on properties up to 100 x 75 feet, of which the garden is a smaller part. Grasby dedicated the book to Lester Rowntree, which immediately captured my interest (recall Plant Hunters: Lester Rowntree). Part I of the book provides information about planning, construction, drainage, soil, and hardscape, and includes multiple planting plans. Glossy black and white plates give examples of landscaping treatments, and drawings illustrate the various plans. The book also provides a list of design principles for working with a smaller lot, such as:

• A long narrow strip of land can be made to seem shorter by breaking it into smaller areas or by introducing different levels.
• A small property can be made to look larger by running a diagonal axis from one corner to another.
• The garden plan should take into account the approach from the street, as well as the view from inside the house.
• Path widths should be in scale with the property. Four feet wide is the ideal for main paths, with a three feet minimum for any path.
• Plantings should be in scale with the house.
• A formal arrangement of plants and paths can work well in a small garden, with the right scale of plants.

Part II of the book describes how to select plant material for color, fragrance, foliage, and durability. Grasby recommends some plants in various categories, such as trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, and flowers/bulbs. She provides both common and species names, and indicates they are only examples, with many more species available for specific climates and planting conditions. The book focuses on plants for Midwestern, Southern, and East Coast gardens, but Grasby makes a point to include plants for California and the West Coast as well.

Sample garden plan for a long, narrow Brownstone backyard
(This book is in the public domain in the United States of America)

The garden plans and their explanations were especially interesting, describing goals, challenges to overcome, and design principles to follow. My favorite plan is for a square garden, which can be planted in several ways (such as for flowers, herbs, or fruits and vegetables). A portion of the planting area is positioned on an axis, which does seem to make the garden look larger. Click on the photos to better see the detail.

Square garden designed for flowers

Square garden designed for herbs

Square garden designed for fruits and vegetables

The back matter includes a reference section and a comprehensive index. Library recommendations include Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston Mass.), which is now published in separate volumes by category. Other titles include the Sunset Western Garden Book (Lane Book Co., Menlo Park, CA); Garden Design by Sylvia Crowe (Hearthside Press, Inc.); and T. H. Everett's Lawns and Landscaping Handbook (Everett Book No. 302, Fawcett Publications Inc., Greenwich (Conn.).

I recommend this book for anyone interested in small garden design, garden history, and women landscapers. The design information is current and relevant (Grasby refers to Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, and recommends plants that are in keeping with the garden's region and climate for best results). In closing, I learned that in 1938, Grasby was an apprentice to Lester Rowntree on a plant collection trip to Mexico (which satisfied my curiosity about why Grasby dedicating the book to Rowntree)!

Field Notes for May 2025

 Welcome back to Field Notes!

May 1, 2025 🧁

Today is the first anniversary of my retirement. Here are a few of my favorite things about retirement:

• Enjoying the birds and critters that visit our wildlife garden.
• Following my interests and passions.
• Researching and writing what I want.
• Striking a balance between structure and leading an unbusy life.
• Enjoying time with my family and friends.
• Taking hikes with the Over-the-Hills Gang.
• Going thorough all our stuff, reassessing, and decluttering. Letting go feels great!

Retirement is fantastic, and I don't miss work at all. I must admit to anxiety about the current political administration. Luckily, I have more time to keep up on the news, face it with historical knowledge and experience, assemble, and use my voice to speak up.

May 3, 2025

Today kicks off the Jazz and Classics Festival here in Juneau, Alaska. The festival is a bright spot on the calendar, after the long, dark winter. Musical venues and workshops are planned for May 3-17, all over Juneau. Some are free, others require tickets, and all focus on beautiful music. We already have tickets to see "Everlasting Classics" with Zuill Bailey & Bryan Wallick and "Strings at the Shrine" with the JACK Quartet. Several free "Brown Bag" and "Rush Hour" concerts are also available!

2025 Jazz & Classics Music Festival

May 6, 2025

Lots of rain and a few sunny periods have initiated the Western Toad (Bufo boreas) mating season at Fish Creek on Douglas Island. My brother Dave has been visiting the pond almost daily for the past few weeks and documenting the progress. Mom and I joined him on one of his excursions. In a shallow end of the pond we found quite a number mating toads, mating hopefuls, and long strings of eggs floating in the water.

Mating toads and streams of eggs

May 9, 2025

Every once in a while here in Juneau, Alaska, the clouds lift and a moment of sunshine appears. The rain is always welcome and supports the beautiful green forests and surroundings, but a glimpse of the sun brings a little joy!

A moment of sunshine between downpours

This is the usual view!

May 11, 2025

Happy Mother's Day! Mom, Dave, and I joined the Mother Day's celebration at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum, to view the garden and to listen to local musician, Tom Losher, on piano. The garden is just waking up, with primroses featured in full display. We visited the Jensen-Olson garden in spring two years ago (see the Jensen-Olson Arboretum post), and then in fall last year (see Field Notes for September, the September 11, 2024 entry).

What's in Bloom at the Jensen-Olson Arboretum

Primula (P. cachemiriana)

View of Pearl Harbor

While at the arboretum, Mom, Dave and I hiked through the forest out to Point Caroline. The deep forest, with mossy understory reminded me of our youth. Growing up, the forest behind our home was the playground for the neighborhood kids. We ran and played free all summer, with getting home for dinner on time being the only requirement.

Hike through the forest to Point Caroline

Point Caroline

Intrepid hikers

We took a drive, stopping at Eagle Beach, Eagle River, and Mendenhall Glacier. When leaving Eagle River, we spotted a bear and watched him from the side of the road as it enjoyed a meal of dandelions and other vegetation. What a thrill! We enjoyed dinner at the Canton Asian Bistro Restaurant, and then drove through town to see the cruise ships and up Blueberry Hill for a birds-eye view. We enjoyed being together and celebrating our mom on Mother's Day!

View of the Chilkats from Eagle River

Black bear munches its way through a salad of dandelions

Share the road (photo by Dave Harris)

View of Juneau, Alaska from Blueberry Hill

May 13, 2025

My husband and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary today - long distance. We've been travelling along the bumpy road of life together for quite a few years now. I'm grateful for his humor, creativity, kindness, and many other endearing qualities, which help smooth the way. When I return to Oakland, we'll celebrate together at one of our favorite restaurants!

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!

May 15, 2025

Mom, Dave, and I attended the "Strings at the Shrine" concert at the Shrine of St. Therese. The shrine is located 22 miles north of Juneau, Alaska on a small island in a group of majestic spruce trees, with views across Favorite Channel. The grounds include trails, a labyrinth, gardens, and an outdoor columbarium.

The JACK Quartet played two pieces—"String Quartet in Four Parts" (John Cage, 1912-1992); and the world premiere of "Never and Always Becoming", String Quartet no. 9 (John Luther Adams, 1953-). Both pieces are quite modern, and I was glad for the overview before the program started. The explanation helped me to hear the musical representation of nature, such as the moods of the four seasons and the turbulent dust storms of the Peruvian desert. Audience reactions to the concert ranged from "that was interesting" to "I'll need to wrap my head around what I heard" to "that was terrible".

The Shrine surrounded by trees

Views of the trees from inside the Shrine

After the thought-provoking concert, we drove further out the road to Eagle River, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dandelion-loving bear. We saw several young deer foraging in the woods instead (they were wary of us, and moved into the trees to graze). We worked our way back via Leena Loop, Engineer's Cutoff, Dredge Lake, and viewed Mendenhall Glacier from the car. A wonderful evening!

May 17, 2025

Dave and I joined the Capital Killers True Crime walking tour, led by former Juneau criminal reporters Ed Schoenfeld and Betsy Longenbaugh. We met the group at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum for an overview, and then set out in the rain to visit key sites around town. During the tour, Longenbaugh and Schoenfeld brought to life historic cases in Juneau, Alaska from the first half of the twentieth century. Juneau’s most famous murderer is Robert Stroud, a.k.a. the Birdman of Alcatraz, but there are so many more!

Juneau-Douglas City Museum (Creative Commons, noehill)

We returned to the museum for a debriefing with delicious cookies, and then Dave and I spent some time in the museum to see the Tlingit art, gold rush, and natural history exhibits, and then walked downtown to pick up some fresh oysters at Alaska Probiotics. We spent a great afternoon delving into local true crime stories. Mom, Dave, and I attended the Longenbaugh and Schoenfeld's presentation "Death with Dessert: A Tenakee Shooting", which took place in Tenakee Springs in 1906, Alaska (see Field Notes for April, the April 23, 2025 entry).

May 19, 2025

My brother Dave (a retired marine biologist) has been monitoring the Western Toad (Bufo boreas) mating event at Fish Creek on Douglas Island for the last month or so. This photo captures the latest status. According to Dave, the white spots are eggs that died, with a fuzzy fungus around them. Some eggs are still relatively undeveloped. Others seem to be in the process of developing tail fins, which are characteristic of the tadpole phase. Click on the picture to expand and see the details.

Toad egg development after 12-13 days (photo by Dave Harris)

May 21, 2025

We recently had a whole day of beautiful weather (with days of rain forecast to follow)! I leaped at the opportunity to take a solo drive all the way out to the end of the road (about mile marker 54). I made a few stops along the way out and back, with quite a few "turnouts" to enjoy the view.

Chilkats from Amalga Harbor

Mountain view from way out the road

The islands of Sunny Cove

My wildlife list for the day includes a young bear foraging along the road; an otter dashing across the rocks to the water (heckled by ravens); lots of eagles, Canadian geese, seagulls; and whales sounding way out in the channel.

Herbert Mountains from Eagle Beach

Chilkats from Eagle Beach

The labyrinth at the Shrine of St. Therese

A glorious day of flora, fauna, and spectacular mountain views!

Hiking through the forest

Dandelions among the rocks

May 24, 2025

Dave and I spent a couple of hours hiking along the EVAR (Emergency Evacuation Access Road), at the Mendenhall Wetlands near the Juneau International Airport. The wetlands are an important stop-over place for migrating birds and a great place for bird lovers. Here are a few shots from our outing. The temperature has warmed slightly and vegetation is really greening up!

Mendenhall Wetlands along the EVAR

Dave on the EVAR

Shelter for bird lovers along the EVAR

Later in the day, we met up with Mom and went to Mar y Sol for delicious Mexican food and great conversation!

May 26, 2025

We attended TrollFest, an art and musical extravaganza, with three bands and a media-presentation of Ray Troll's awesome art. Troll has been designing tee-shirts, illustrating books, and writing fish and bone songs from his base in Ketchikan, Alaska for the last forty-plus years.

TrollFest in May 2025

Fans and family of all ages came out, from Alaska and beyond, to celebrate all things Troll. The Heists (a bluegrass band) and Whiskey Class (an indie rock band) got things started, and then the Ratfish Wranglers belted out their their iconic songs, including "Fish Worship", "Ain't No No Nookie Like Chinookie", "Ammonite", "Shake that Halibut", "Rockfish Recompression", "Time Traveling with a Shovel", and "Spawn Till You Die". 

TrollFest art

Ratfish Wranglers

Intrepid TrollFest fans

Troll is a believer in science, truth, art, and family and those values shine throughout his work and legacy (see his TrollFest program to learn more). What a great night!

May 28, 2025

Travel day! Today I'm flying back to Oakland, California, after a six-week stay in Juneau, Alaska. I'm looking forward to seeing my husband, son, Aunt Char and Cousin Chris, and friends, as well as my home and garden. I've enjoyed my time in Alaska—staying in my childhood home, working on projects, and enjoying its beauty, plants, wildlife, and people—and look forward to return visits in the future! 

Alaska Airlines ready to fly

May 30, 2025

Good morning from Oakland, California! We're in the midst of a heat spell here in the Bay Area, with today's high forecasted for 76℉. The garden has really taken off with late rains and warmer temperatures, and is filled with lovely native flowers and grasses. It's wonderful to be back with my husband and son, and to see my home and garden after being away for six weeks. But I already miss my mom, dad, and brother, and the misty beauty of Southeast Alaska!

Morning coffee in the garden