Author: Michael Stevens

My life partner, Tarn, is the consummate gardener. She loves doing the the little stuff with which I have less patience. Transplanting, pulling weeds, pruning, and dead-heading blossoms are all elements of her delight....

We put a lot of energy in the garden surrounding our home. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables are like friends inviting us to get our hands dirty. The remnants of our ever shrinking lawn...

I value the time I spend sitting on our front porch. It is a good place to practice settling my mind. Today a few swallowtail butterflies decide to drop in for a visit. One...

“This is just small potatoes.” That is what a young man told me in response to my suggestion that he think about the wildflowers his electric scooter was destroying. I was walking in a...

The lake’s mood is quite blustery today. The wind sweeps her hand over the surface, sending waves of silvery ripples across the deep blue that makes Crater Lake famous. Bands of bright water shimmer...

The sandy soil of our high desert habitat does not seem like it would be very hospitable to flora species. But given the right amount of moisture, the desert blooms in beautiful carpets of...

As it is my karma to be a Dharma teacher, I do the best I can. I teach the same thing in a variety of ways and hope it is of some benefit. Nevertheless,...

The clouds have parted a bit and blue sky peeks through alternating grey and white cotton balls. Our silver-tip maples sing the song of wind as rustling leaves wave to the space around us....

We are enjoying a walk-about through a dry river bed that snakes its way through the high desert. Spring moisture has helped the wildflowers put on a show. Although not a super bloom, we...

When our country was engaged in what we refer to as the Revolutionary War, an untrained militia were issued firearms with which they could fight the battle. When the war was over the soldiers...