This time of year blog writing is all about color. Trees, bronzed and burnished by the sun, are semi-permanent fixtures of this autumnal show, but how often do you really look at trees other times of the year? When trees are showcased in the media, it's their ability to resuscitate our damaged atmosphere most often highlighted. I'm a child of the 60s and 70s, and I remember ecology, a word which has evolved into other terms like sustainability or "being green." For our own breath of life, trees are our most important resource, but humans cut down old-growth forests in record numbers throughout the world unabated for a time. Over my lifetime, I've noticed much of the clear cutting has slowed, and there is a renewed respect for trees on much of the planet. In the last four decades we've developed an appreciation for how trees help us breathe, but...

Easy on the eyes with a cool, come hither attitude, it's easy to fall for fall. October is one of the best months of the year in Oklahoma, and this year, we welcome the cooler weather with open arms and hearts. Fall is friendly with pumpkins, mums and ghosties calling "Boo" in the night. I suggest placing pumpkins, gourds, or winter squash where you have bare spots, and it will instantly brighten your fall border. As you can see, three is thrice as nice. So, just go do it. If you live in Guthrie, try Terra Cotta--on the main drag into town--for all things fallish, and try not to think about the cost. In Edmond, I suggest the little corner market at 5th and Broadway. They will load your pumpkins into your car with a smile. Spray the bottoms of the pumpkins with some type of clear sealer, and they...

In Edmond, Oklahoma, there are several parks. One is Mitch Park, best known for fields where the ping of softball on aluminum bat can be heard most weekends spring and fall. But, the park contains secrets within its walking trails behind the backstop. City planners created a prairie within the open spaces, and the birds and other creatures don't seem to mind sharing their urban habitat. Why doesn't the city on its website, highlight the diversity of wildlife and wildflowers living within the park instead of merely the covered picnic areas? It's not the only walking park within the city, but its complicated, five-mile, network of trails make it my favorite. Last week, I noticed the liatris was blooming brighter and more profusely than it had in years so I grabbed my little Nikon Coolpix P300 and shot a few pics the next day. Diva was home from school, and...

I was working in the garden last Saturday pulling out weedy grasses and deadheading annuals for a last show when the teens decided to come outside. My son, ASW, wanted to know if there was breakfast made. It was Noon. Diva, home from college, looked like a princess awakened from a long slumber. My youngest, Bear, stood at the edge of the garden staring at me as she often does. It could be disconcerting, but I know she is just thinking. Bear thinks a long time before she speaks, but when she does, it's usually profound. Diva and Bear were set to attend the state fair and wanted money among other things.They also awaited their friend while she got permission from her parents. I stood in the middle of the side bed hip deep in weeds. I fielded everyone's questions, and ASW went back inside while Diva and Bear remained...