Last weekend, the garden woke to 29° F. It was quite a shock to the garden, but the gardener was secretly relieved at the first freeze. Between two motorcycle trips, a train trip, moving my mother to her new home in an independent living facility, and selling her house--insert sigh--I am exhausted in the purest sense of the word.

It's Red Dirt Ramblings blogiversary! Let's celebrate! Oh, happy day! It's Red Dirt Ramblings' tenth blogiversary! My first post, Why a Blog? was published on October 7, 2007. It seems like a lifetime ago, and yet, also, only like yesterday.  I remember my hands shaking as I hit the publish button for the first time. This little blog and writer have come a long way since then so I think we should celebrate. Don't you? (more…)

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about love and late-summer flowers. I'm not sure what brought on these musings, but I think it may have something to do with turning the big double nickel last week. I'm a late-summer flower myself. I'm also helping my mother sell her home and move into independent living, letting my children grow up and turning my mothering to Monarch caterpillars. I've watched the devastation of two hurricanes in the news with alarm, resignation and then love and admiration for those who helped. Plus, I finished listening to the S-Town podcast and read Y is for Yesterday (A Kinsey Millhone Novel), by Sue Grafton, on my birthday. Whew! I have a lot going on. Please bear with me as I sort out my thoughts. It's good this blog is called Red Dirt Ramblings, especially today. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and wander with me, okay?...

Sunflower with Monarch butterfly. I can't remember when I started raising Monarch caterpillars. I'm thinking maybe five years ago, and I'm no expert, but I've learned a few things. Raising Monarch caterpillars takes time First, raising Monarch caterpillars from egg to butterfly is a huge commitment of time, energy, and milkweed. Second, If you want to save the Monarch butterfly, plant milkweed. And, don't just plant one plant in one area. Plant at least three or four plants in several areas throughout your landscape. Learn about the different types of milkweed available in your area, including natives. Plant natives, but also, if you live in Oklahoma or further north, plant some Asclepias curassavica, tropical milkweed, too. Further south where tropical milkweed overwinters, you'll need to cut it back to keep the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) infestation down. If you live further south, here's more information about tropical milkweed. I'm not wading into the tropical milkweed controversy...