Helping people enjoy the natural world around them
(Well, all trips come to an end, and as I now post the last entry, I say farewell to Costa Rica -- for now....) This was our first "proper" trip to a place south of Texas (a couple cruise vacation stops don't count, now matter how adventurous we may have been).
Read MoreIn the mountains, birding started at 7am. But here in the tropics, the heat means an earlier start and we have now set a record -- present and accounted for at 6am!
Read MoreNight in the tropical wet forest (a climate just a few inches shy of being a full-fledged rain forest) differs from the cloud forest not only in temperature and air moisture but also in sound. Mountains feature subtle insect sound, while in the tropics, it's a cacophony. Insects sing through the night and birds call well before the sun rises and temperatures rise. But of all these calling creatures, I found the geckos most intriguing.
Read MoreRaúl, our naturalist guide from the previous day, pointed out a particularly melodic trill from the Clay-colored Robin. Based on the song, one would understandably expect to see a stunner of a bird especially since it is the national bird of Costa Rica, yet the species is quite true to its common name with dull, brownish coloring, but at least sporting a regal shape.
Read MoreI had no idea what the problem was until lovely husband inquired "Did you just swallow that moth I brushed out of my way?"
Read MoreAt long last, after years of thinking about it, we've arrived! One night in Santo Domingo just north of San Jose at the Hotel Bougainvillea with 8 acres of gardens featuring native plants.
Read MoreLight on words, heavy on images for this post. Some snaps from our recent trip to Utah - 5 days spent within 2 hours of Salt Lake City. Stunning place with such diverse landscapes, flora and fauna!
Read MoreShe’s curvy, a little plump but firm, glossy and warm after a day of sun bathing. High-paid executives may seek out the trophy wife, but for the gardener it is the tomato that fills our dreams.
Read MoreI'm able play dress up (or more accurately, dress down) and pretend at my little urban farm in Brooklyn, growing some of my own food, and nurturing my ever-increasing respect for those who actually farm for a living.
Read MoreWhile it may not be as exotic as an outback excursion to Kenya or similar far-off land, the salt marsh is an ecosystem just as robust.
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