| | Published December 6th, 2023
| A naturalist's reflections on November and December
| | | By Toris Jaeger | | |
Traditionally, November is the month of being thankful for all of life's gifts. We are thankful for life, freedom, health, family and friends. We are thankful for a career that sustains financially and makes us happy. We are also thankful for the gifts of Mother Nature!
Clean air, water, land and the contributions of the flora and fauna in the ecosystems of chaparral, grasslands, Oak woodland, wetlands, riparian, mountains and desert and ocean.
Each ecosystem has an animal and plant that needs it.
Let's hope that in the near future we can be thankful for a world with no war and guns killing people and wildlife.
December is the month of giving: We give gifts to our families and friends, and kindness and patience are our great gifts. We can also give back to Mother Nature by planting trees and plants that attract the pollinators, bees, birds and butterflies. We can pick up litter that will eventually find its way into our creeks to flow into the ocean.
We can also help by removing non-native invasive plants.
At the top of the list, French Broom, Vinca, Star Thistle, Spurge, Orem, Horse weed, Hemlock, and Chinese Parsley. These invasive plants should be pulled up by the roots before they put on seed, and should be placed in your green waste bin.
Some great Natives you may want to plant are: Ceanothus, the Salvias. Manzanita, Toyon, Twin Berry, the Honey suckles Yarrow, and the other Ribes. The Native Milkweeds, Narrowleaf and Showy.
Let's do what we can to work with Mother Nature to heal the Earth. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA