THE WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY For the chicory plant, any part of Oakland County that does not come under the mower’s blade or is not bathed in herbicides becomes the “Wilder Side of Oakland County”. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is one of our most common, easily recognizable and delicately beautiful roadside weeds of mid-summer. But … Continue reading Chicory: More Than a Roadside Weed
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY As the month of May faded, frisky fawns frolicking in meadows drew attention away from emerging spring wildflowers. But by the middle of June, the fawns will retreat into the protective shelter of woodlands where they will continue to learn the ways of the wild under the watchful eyes of … Continue reading Who’s Doing the Tall Bloomin’ of June?
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY Three weeks have raced by since the position of Planet Earth in relation to the sun signaled the autumn equinox; except during much of this week, we have been bathed in sultry summer-style heat with the mercury soaring into the 80s. Some of nature’s creatures became briefly “confused” and were … Continue reading Our Wilderness of Little Things
Wilder Side of Oakland County “Wherever I go, I see little bits of nature, little bits of animal behavior. And nobody else is watching…” Those are the words of iconic conservationist Jane Goodall in her 2018 interview titled, “Living with Chimps” that appears in the BBC publication, Science Focus. I had just finished reading the … Continue reading Green Dinosaurs and Orange Meadowhawks: Secrets of Springfield Oaks
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY They are wild and free. They choose where to grow. They need no care from us, just a bit of respect to survive. Some are native species, others invasive or naturalized, but the wildflowers of our July roadsides share common traits. They thrive in disturbed soils and open areas and … Continue reading Roadside Wildflowers of July
