This is the season of misty mornings. The air is heavy with moisture that settles into the fields and forests as the sun rises. As this veil of dew comes […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The Fort Hill Cottonwood Speaks
Resting on her side, a tree downed by a storm still has a story to tell
EASTHAM — The road to Fort Hill winds through low, rolling fields. Just before it climbs the last hill to the parking area overlooking the inlet, it passes something that […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
In the Province Lands Dunes, Listening
On being where the wind gives voice to the world
I began the day with the intention to be silent. There was no one to speak to other than myself. The kettle on the black cast-iron burner whispered a low […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
The King and Queen of the October Meadow
The reasons why goldenrod and aster make a perfect combination
When October rolls in and the sun is a low, luscious gold, the nights rich and cool and purple, two flowers bring us the colors of how October feels. Sunny […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
Look Closely: Now Comes Our Moment of Fall Color
In swamp maples and marsh grass and tupelos, the Outer Cape’s true colors are revealed
I was driving the other day on a back road, winding my way out toward the ocean, and I saw something I’ve seen many times before. But on that day, […]
SURFING
Practicing the Art of Failing
When experience is the way to success, failure becomes an absolute necessity
I’ve always been uncomfortable with failure. As a child, I established, through some association, the belief that trying something and not achieving the expected outcome was a bad thing. I […]
ENVIRONMENT
Leaf Disease Arrives in Provincetown’s Beech Forest
Effects of tiny nematode that has ravaged vast stands are seen here
PROVINCETOWN — The Beech Forest off Race Point Road is a unique part of the Outer Cape: a rare, gentle, and unlikely ecosystem that stands in contrast to the hardscrabble […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
Turning the Corner to Fall
Grackles and goldenrod announce the shift we feel within
The wind blew, and summer was gone. This is how it happens. One day, a day on either side of the middle of August, something changes. The air feels different. […]
SURFING
Why I Stopped Wearing a Wet Suit
Deciding to say yes to experiences that are uncomfortable
It was a sunny, warm day in mid-May — my first real beach day of the year. I decided to spend a good chunk of the day in the warm […]
ON THE LANDSCAPE
Swimming in the Rain
A storm washes away a dusty tiredness, the raindrops awakening the universe’s workings
The air feels suddenly heavy. There’s more energy and weight in it than there was only moments ago. My eyes strain their tiny radial muscles to adjust to the sudden […]
BACK TO THE GARDEN
Conifers Are the Heart of the Year-Round Garden
The conifer bed is an exercise in the appreciation of subtlety
Flowers get a lot of attention, and for good reason. They are wondrous, wild, living bursts of color. They are also fleeting, with some blossoms lasting only a day. Deciduous […]
BACK TO THE GARDEN
When Dirt Is Your Canvas, Start With a Big Idea
Rules that lay the groundwork for designing the space you seek
Late summer and early fall are good times to plant. Which means now is a good time to start thinking about that garden bed expansion or adding the new plantings […]
BACK TO THE GARDEN
In the Hidden Gardens of Eastham, Places for Pollinators
Alongside show-stopping hydrangeas, a plant-animal spectacle
Gardens are extensions of their caretakers’ personalities and interests, but often they are mostly hidden from view. Last week, I had the good fortune to attend the Eastham Garden Tour. […]
BACK TO THE GARDEN
The Most Enduring Gardening Decision
Trees provide structure, watching over us as we make memories
Take a moment and let yourself drift back to a memory. Can you recall a place where, long ago, you took shelter in the shade on a sunny day — […]
BACK TO THE GARDEN
Before You Garden, First Nurture Your Soil
On welcoming fungi, worms, and bacteria into your dirt
We often think of our gardens as a collection of plants. They are leaves, stems, forms, and flowers, all interacting with the wind, rain, and sun. They are colors and […]