Snake Holidays This Month Nurture Understanding, Quell Fears
This is the Year of the Snake, and July 16 was World Snake Day. July 29 brings another snake holiday, Nag Panchami. I'm going to tell you a little bit about both of them, but first let me tell you why I'm calling attention to these particular holidays.
Garden Plans Must Adapt to Uninvited Guests
The garden box was going to house three tomato plants, but when I saw all the poppy volunteers, I realized there was only room for one.
Catnip—A Surprisingly Useful Herb
Catnip has long been known to have medicinal benefits for humans, mainly as a soothing tonic when made into a tea, but new to me are its insect-repellent properties, which may explain why natural selection favored cats that like to roll on it.
July Celebrations: Blueberry time, Nation Founding, Saving Snakes, and More
To the Ojibwe people of central North America, the full moon on July 10 is the Blueberry Moon. Also occurring this month, which is still the Year of the Snake: two snake holidays.
Morning Rituals
These days my morning routine often comprises thinking about all the things various experts have recommended to do before breakfast, then getting dressed and eating breakfast.