The Ant Rant

September 12, 2024 The Ants Go Stinging One By One, Hurrah, Hurrah?? Ants exploded out of the gravel and dashed in all directions. In no time many scurried up my glove and onto my skin, blasting formic acid from bottom of their butts. Trying to solve an irrigation problem, I had disrupted an ant colony. […]

Place based, Kids and Curiosity

August 28, 2024 For eight years, several times each summer, children from the nearby KidsCo summer camp have been visiting FECO. When we see them march around the corner we rush up to the shed to greet them. They range from five to 12 years of age. They are delightful. Often the older kids help […]

Not to Whine over the Columbine

April 24, 2024 “I can do this. I’ll take a seed tray of Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) home and watch over it,” I announced to the native plant nursery co-chair at Magnuson Park. It was late November, when we propagate native plants by seed. The nursery leader makes a delicate, moist seed-potting medium. You push […]