Columbine is a native wildflower to North America and is in the same family as the buttercup. Its name comes from Latin meaning dove like (Columba) and eagle (Aquilegia its scientific name). Symbolism of the flower ranges from foolishness to seduction. It is that...
We asked Rebecca Bessert to enlighten us on our newest ingredient, apricot seed oil, in our new body oil. This wonderful summer fruit brings back memories of my grandmother’s trail mix, which was primarily composed of dried apricots. The fresh fruit is great because...
This swallowtail butterfly greeted me this a.m. in my backyard. There are over 550 species of swallowtail globally and roughly 30 in the US. They are the largest butterfly species in North America. Their name comes from the forked wings that resemble swallows. Their...
Why have I only now truly appreciated the flora and fauna around me? Take hummingbirds for example, all the years living and traveling in other countries and I am just now truly in awe of them in my backyard when clearly they were more abundant in Latin America. The...
Native to the Midwest, anise hyssop is a member of the mint family. Bees and butterflies are hovering over my anise hyssop that is flourishing in this heat wave. Aromatic of licorice and anise, it was planted in the 1870s to attract honeybees. Historically it has been...
