Connecticut Green Living

There are creeps then there are plant creeps. A plant creep wants to upset the environment, ultimately usurpring economic stability on a region. Lawn Love has come out with a list showing we are ranked fourth for invasive plants. The top five in order are California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and North Carolina. (Note: our geographical proximity to New York and Massachussetts obviously means greater overlap in areas such as northwestern and southeastern Connecticut .) The breakdown is as follows: No. 4: Connecticut | Overall score: 65.87 Number of Invasive Plant Species ( National Invasive Species Information Center ): 47 | Rank: 10 Number of Invasive Plant Species Reported ( University of Georgia ): 702 | Rank: 18 Percentage of Sunshine: 58% | Rank: 29 Average Monthly Inches of Precipitation : 3.6 | Rank: 17 National Association of Exotic Pest Plant Councils Membership: 0 (No) | Rank: 1 UConn has put out a helpful list of reported invasive plants. Listed by common nam...

My late mother was fond of saying she must come to terms with having lost most of her classic beauty. Yet even on my last visit with her, at age 78 she was still turning heads. I have enjoyed a fair amount of continuing interest even at 62, but as of last Thursday night that quickly changed. I am generating interest, but of a different kind. I can read the stares. 'Who beat her?' 'What's wrong with this woman?!' Sometimes, I am wearing my mask so people cannot see my broken nose or most of the huge purple bruise from the eye socket down to the nose. I have never enjoyed mask-wearing more than I do now. Sometimes I talk about it. Other times I address questions, such as the boy who asked his mom, "Why is that lady wearing a Band-aid on her nose?" I turned and told him. I have also offered the story when I see The Stare because I want to offset their impression. Other times, I have seen this as an interesting social experiment. Far more interesting than the ...