In the American southwestern deserts, winter is the time for monsoons, when much of the precious little rainfall occurs. If the storms are plentiful, it gives promise for a remarkable spring wildflower bloom. Fall rains benefit the woody perennials, while winter and early spring rains […]

From the nursery I returned with what one day I would eventually portray as an elegant, pine green Juniper Bonsai. However, at the time, the tree did not bring me an ounce of joy, as all that was on my mind was the passing of […]

Sweet Peas by Donna Williams I am struggling to paint a bouquet of sweet peas. Picked this morning from my back garden, straight cat-tongue-hair stems that hold lacy light blossoms, self-possessed yet playful. The perfume, the perfume! Alberta honey and a daughter’s love. I mix […]

Whenever I’m in the forest I like to imagine that I’m a centimeter tall. I’d probably turn over acorn shells to use them as rafts or make a friend with a banana slug. I’d probably spend most of my time by the banks of trickling […]

“Kalo is our oldest brother. An ancient ancestor.” I remember hearing this from my favorite professor at the University of Hawaii, Maui Campus. Kalo. Taro. Poi- that sticky purple stuff you feel obligated to scoop on your plate at every luau. From that day, my […]

I was an avid gardener as a kid. I helped out at the local community garden every Sunday from 6th grade up to 9th. While I was there, I would help other people with their plots, as I was too young to have one of […]

Desperate circumstances led Elizabeth Blackwell (~1700-1758), a Scottish botanical illustrator, to create A Curious Herbal, a gorgeously illustrated book of 500 medicinal plants. Blackwell’s husband Alexander had landed in debtor’s prison in London, and Elizabeth had to support both herself and their child–as well as […]

Oryza Sativa. In other words, rice. While its Latin name is relatively new to me, rice is not, and far from it. For nearly one hundred years, my family has associated with that crop which has sustained us, our nation, and the world. From men […]

I suppose, to translate this into terms humans might be able to understand, the best way to explain my existence is to say that I stretch. I am a vine so my tendrils snake out ever further, looking for fresh new branches to cling onto, […]

I think I am probably dealing better with quarantine than most people. I am very happy staying at home most days. Grocery shopping is not my favorite thing to do on a good day so the less of that the better. What I do love […]