Word of the Week

by Leslie Cox; Monday; May 19, 2025

This week’s word is “phenology”.

Phenology is the scientific study of the variations in seasonal climate patterns and how they affect the annual life cycles of animals, plants and other living things.

snow hats on cyclamen

Quote of the Week

by Leslie Cox; Sunday; May 18, 2025

The road to success is always under construction.

 ~ Lily Tomlin

Clearing for woodshed

 

Did you know?

by Leslie Cox; Monday; May 5, 2025

Did you know….

                         ….the glue once for binding books came from bluebell flower bulbs?

These flower bulbs contain muselage and inulin, naturally occurring starchy substances in nature. The glue was made by simply crushing clean bulbs which produces a sticky paste-like substance.

It is also said the Elizabethans used “bluebell paste” to stiffen the fabrics used to make their collars and ruffs.

Quote of the Week

by Leslie Cox; Sunday; May 4, 2025

We are watching for May—for the young year’s queen,
With the daisy stars on her robe of green,
And the buttercup and the primrose pale—
The opening page of a Summer tale.
The proud trees sway with their promised bloom,
And fill the air with a faint perfume;
And Nature has woven a garland gay
To crown the head of the coming May.
Beautiful queen of the realm of flowers,
Scattering sweets in this world of ours,
Bidding the brown, unsightly soil
Wake to life with a happy smile…

~ Lizzie Marshall Berry (1847–1919), “May”

The Mandarin peony

Word of the Week

by Leslie Cox; Monday; April 28, 2025

Duchess in herb gardenThe word for this week is “acnetis”.

I personally think this word is very appropriate as gardeners are engaging in their spring garden chores. Such a busy time of the year filled with a myriad of tasks which all demand almost immediate completion. One of the possible results of all this work is acnetis

This word indicates the part of one’s body which is impossible to reach in order to scratch an annoying itch.

Appropriately, acnetis is derived from the Greek word “aknestis” and surprise of all surprises, this word means “spine” in Greek.

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