Hurricane season brings a humbling reminder that, despite our technologies, most of nature remains unpredictable.

Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth.

Devising a vocabulary for gardening is like devising a vocabulary for sex. There are the correct Latin names, but most people invent euphemisms. Those who refer to plants by Latin name are considered more expert, if a little pedantic.

The further we distance ourselves from the spell of the present, explored by our senses, the harder it will be to understand and protect nature's precarious balance, let alone the balance of our own human nature.

Because we can't escape our ancient hunger to live close to nature, we encircle the house with lawns and gardens, install picture windows, adopt pets and Boston ferns, and scent everything that touches our lives.

Despite the hurricane, we believe that the back-to-school season could be one of the best in years with particularly strong sales in the month of September, especially later in the month when weather is expected to be especially favorable.