Steel Magnolias of The Eastside
Centennial “Star” Magnolia tree
Steel Magnolias Bloom in Ohio
Centennial Star Magnolia blooms their star inspired flowers, before its leaves.
Making its arrival in Ohio in late winter/early spring.
The star shaped flowers have 12 to 18! petals.It was introduced in 1966 to celebrate the the centennial anniversary of the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, MA. Where hybridization happened.
It's a cross between Magnolia stellata and Magnolia kobus.
These flowers are popular in floral arrangements.
The Star Magnolia greatly helps the pollinator posse. As well as good protection for birds to nest
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Thyme: A Fairy Habitat
A fun holiday spin on thyme.
There is no better herb that you could purchase for culinary, medicinal or to ward off unwanted pests.
Thyme is a perennial herb that has been used since ancient Egyptian times.
Since it's beginning this herb has had many uses. Including, as a cure for poison, a pain reliever a sign of courage and farewell and a home for fairies.
I'm not sure about fairies, but it is wonderful for keeping pests away from your beloved spring bulbs!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Butterfly Beautiful
Butterfly fun facts.
Butterflies have superior vision.
Butterflies are too cold to move past 55 degrees fahrenheit.
They only have tongues, no mouths.
However, I believe. If butterflies could talk. I bet they'd say "return my hour"
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Bumblebee French Kissing
A bumble bee’s tongue.
What do you call a bumble bees tongue?
A proboscis.
This is a complex bee part.
It’s a combination of a “tongue proper”.
Which is a hairy tongue, like little feathers. Designed to allow nectar to literally absorbs onto their tongues.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
The Pollinator Posse
List of pollinators.
When I say pollinator, you think what?
It’s alright if you don’t know. Let’s review!
Honey, native and bumble bees
Butterfly
Moth
Bird
Hummingbird
But, also…
Ants
Flies
Beetles
Bats
Plus other insects!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Garden Companions
Parasitic wasps and companion planting.
Think the “rule of three”.
Produce, flower and herb.
Each group, makes a companionship in the garden.
In relationships, sometimes we need a good friend.
Enter the beneficial bugs and pollinators.
Sweet alyssum, leafy greens and dill are a great trio of garden pals. When the aphids start causing trouble. Their dear friend, the parasitic wasp comes to the rescue. Not chemicals!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Bee’s Purple
What is a bee’s purple?
A bee sees blue, green, violet, purple and “bee’s purple”
What is a “bee’s purple”?
This is a combination of yellow and ultraviolet light.
It’s hard to be able to imagine how a bee can see such vivid details, we cannot.
With a sight 5x better eyesight than humans. A bee’s perspective is quite different.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Why Bees Don’t See Red
Why a bee cannot see the color red explained!
Bees have 3 color receptors. Ultraviolet, blue and green.
Bees can see a red wavelength in orange and yellow.
How can they not see that bright and bold red flower?
Because bees don’t have a red color receptor.
Red is literally unseen by a bee!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Native Ohio Bees
Native bees to Ohio
Native bees are always more important than the non-native honeybee
Why…
Native bees are responsible for most of the pollen spreading.
How many native bees are in the “Buckeye State”?
Over 400 native bees are in Ohio!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Without The Color
Seeing nature without color
When you remove the color what do you see?
Beauty
Light
Dark
Life
The wonder of nature continues.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Orange Nature
Orange meaning in nature.
This spring make sure to splash your garden with some orange.
A garden filled with orange inspires creativity, optimism, happiness and excitement.
Don’t allow the impatience of orange, to discourage your enthusiasm for your garden.
Have the patience to wait for each seed to grow.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Extra Oregano
The folklore on orenago.
According to Greek mythology. Oregano was created by Aphrodite as a symbol of joy and happiness.
In Middle Ages oregano was considered highly powerful to ward off the worst evils!
More recently oregano was thought to strengthen the love of newly married husbands.
Only has it been used as cooking herb for about 400 years.
Today oregano is a holiday staple spice
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Charms and The Grasshopper
The brown grasshopper
My Good Luck Charm
Grasshoppers have always amused me in nature.
Did you know that seeing a brown grasshopper is considered especially lucky?
The next time you see a brown grasshopper let it remind you that no matter what happens in this world, there is always hope!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A Monarch’s Winter
Where the Monarch migrates in winter.
Did you ever wonder when we discovered where the Monarchs settle in Mexico for winter?
Were you ever curious who brought this haven for the Monarch to the world?
Catalina Trail.
She's the founder of Monarch roosting sites.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Sage Advice
The meaning and history of sage.
Early Romans held the plant as sacred.
It was a representation of wisdom and excellent memory.
Sage prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine which the brain needs to store memory!
So, the folklore tied to sage has some wisdom.
My Sage advice is this herb lives up to it's hype and delicious in stuffing!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Butterfly Colors
Butterfly symbolism.
A black and blue butterfly can mean many things...
Transformation
Hope
Change
New Beginnings
Spiritual Reminders
Then, I think my position on nature is clear. A butterfly means whatever it means to you. Because, there's nobody who can tell another how they should interpret nature!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Celebrating Soul
Reflection through nature.
Today is a day to celebrate the soul.
Who you are.
Where you’ve been.
Where you’re going.
Who you will be thankful to...when you get there!
Feed your soul with lots of extra love today.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A Sunflower Love Story
Sunflower mythology.
Are sunflowers really a symbol for unrequited love?
So, The story goes...
Clytie, a water nymph fell madly in love with Apollo. The Greek Sun God.
Apollo made all the girls mad, as he drove his golden chariot around!
Being rejected by the sun god. Clytie became obsessed.
Forgetting to eat or drink for days of searching for the god.
She was transformed into a sunflower.
Destined for eternity to follow the sun as it ran across the sky each day!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Butterfly Seeks Zinnia
Butterflies and zinnias.
Did you know that butterflies adore the Zinnias?
What does a butterfly look for in a Zinnia?
The bright yellow center of the tallest flowers.
Zinnias are the perfect flower for butterflies to munch.
Do you notice how clear the ring of nectar?
Butterflies like easy access to the flower's nectar.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Scarlett Flame’s
Red zinnia meaning.
What does a red zinnia mean?
Stead beating of a heart.
Steadfastness which is the quality of being unwavering.
"No side wins without steadfastness in the face of adversity."
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
