A lot of the time invasive plants don’t make native bugs and birds happy! And they crowd out natives. There’s a lot of wildlife even in a suburb, I went out with Merlin’s bird call identifier a few mornings ago and it overheard 32 different birds species, with me standing still in my own back yard in the most densely populated zip code in Memphis.
My standard rule-thumb for “smart enough to be an interesting friend” is that they “get” puns and similar jokes. But “comes up with interesting paradoxen” is another way.
I love this relationship, Caufield drives the questions but there’s so much coming the other way that he may not realize until way down the road in his life. I had a few teachers like this and I wish I’d realized how much they’d pushed me while they were still around to thank them.
One of the benefits of not living in a homeowner association is the ability to NOT run over the wildflowers with a lawnmower despite how tall they get. I have these weird purple flowers with tiny “brush heads” that are just now starting to bloom. They have large ovular variegated leaves that lay flat against the ground like plantain. Haven’t been able to find them on the internets – but after a few years of not mowing them – they’ve started spreading all over the yard.
When they took out the strip of woods by a street I used to live on, they named it “Arboro Place.” Worse, when they razed an area of beautiful big oak trees, they named the subdivision “Royal Oaks.” Those examples happened years ago; most recently, they razed another nice wooded area, and named it “(something) Preserve.” Absolutely NOTHING was preserved. Ugh.
Meh, the woods might have invaded a flowery meadow; starlings and sparrows that people might consider native to America are imports; no telling what invasive species may become part of the scenery in the future.
rheddmobile over 1 year ago
A lot of the time invasive plants don’t make native bugs and birds happy! And they crowd out natives. There’s a lot of wildlife even in a suburb, I went out with Merlin’s bird call identifier a few mornings ago and it overheard 32 different birds species, with me standing still in my own back yard in the most densely populated zip code in Memphis.
Erse IS better over 1 year ago
My standard rule-thumb for “smart enough to be an interesting friend” is that they “get” puns and similar jokes. But “comes up with interesting paradoxen” is another way.
pschearer Premium Member over 1 year ago
The rainbow in the water spray is a nice touch.
starfighter441 over 1 year ago
I wonder if that is a Boston Terrier at the end of the lead.
Bilan over 1 year ago
How do we know the flora that was here when we arrived is native and not something invasive that drove out that which was really native?
hartphelt over 1 year ago
Mrs Caneteaude? Love it.
markkahler52 over 1 year ago
The dog from Zack Hill?!
mfrasca over 1 year ago
Life in the Edgelands.
Winkster over 1 year ago
Is Canetaude pronounce like, “cane toad?” Another invasive species. As are most humans, come to think about it…..
sandpiper over 1 year ago
From time to time, Caulfield does make one think about the world in a different way. Yes, sassy some times, but usually accurate.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 1 year ago
Some people are too smart for their own good.
Hydrohead over 1 year ago
And when Caulfield meets that person, he will probably marry them.
MichaelAxelFleming over 1 year ago
Yes, Caulfield, you are invasive!
wireknot over 1 year ago
I love this relationship, Caufield drives the questions but there’s so much coming the other way that he may not realize until way down the road in his life. I had a few teachers like this and I wish I’d realized how much they’d pushed me while they were still around to thank them.
poppacapsmokeblower over 1 year ago
Everything we do is invasive. We’re akin to feral hogs.
Bill Löhr Premium Member over 1 year ago
Not everything non native is invasive.
Bill Löhr Premium Member over 1 year ago
Grass lawns use more resources to maintain them than any other plant in the country. ( https://youtu.be/UG-7Bz5R8MU )
The Wolf In Your Midst over 1 year ago
Is there a trap-and-release program for suburbanites?
RoboZsaZsa over 1 year ago
Mrs. Cane Toad?
oish over 1 year ago
One of the benefits of not living in a homeowner association is the ability to NOT run over the wildflowers with a lawnmower despite how tall they get. I have these weird purple flowers with tiny “brush heads” that are just now starting to bloom. They have large ovular variegated leaves that lay flat against the ground like plantain. Haven’t been able to find them on the internets – but after a few years of not mowing them – they’ve started spreading all over the yard.
MichiganMitten over 1 year ago
There’s an Arbor Trail in Northville. Clue or just random?
William O'Connor Premium Member over 1 year ago
Caneteaude looks to be pronounced Cane Toad, which was introduced to Australia and is an invasive species. There’s a nice symmetry there.
Ray Helvy Premium Member over 1 year ago
It seems like it should be, “Is anything not invasive in suburbs that used to be woods?”
Solarbear Premium Member over 1 year ago
When they took out the strip of woods by a street I used to live on, they named it “Arboro Place.” Worse, when they razed an area of beautiful big oak trees, they named the subdivision “Royal Oaks.” Those examples happened years ago; most recently, they razed another nice wooded area, and named it “(something) Preserve.” Absolutely NOTHING was preserved. Ugh.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member over 1 year ago
In response to his last question, people.
DaBump Premium Member over 1 year ago
Meh, the woods might have invaded a flowery meadow; starlings and sparrows that people might consider native to America are imports; no telling what invasive species may become part of the scenery in the future.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 1 year ago
And humans are the most invasive species of all.