Now You, Too, Can Admire The Tree Privet!

Known by scientists as the Ligustrum robustum (Roxb.)Blume, the Tree Privet can be enjoyed by all . . . if not in your gardens, right here online!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Here For All To Enjoy Is An Early Summer Flower!

Please meet the Ilium giganteum Regel Giant . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

"When Is A Leaf Not A Leaf?" Have you figured it out yet?

When is A leaf not A leaf? (Must be spoken to be a successful riddle!) Give up? "A" leaf is not "A" leaf when it's "B" Leaf (belief)! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022 Note: This riddle must be spoken in order to be successfully "riddling"! N.B. With many thanks to Raffi who got Marash Girl started "riddling" all those many years ago!!!

Since Summer Has Arrived, And Leaves Are All About . . .

Please allow Marash Girl to ask you the following question . . . or riddle, should you choose to see it that way! "When is a leaf not a leaf?" (Must be spoken to be a successful riddle!) Check in tomorrow for the answer!

Have You Ever Met The Milk Thistle?

Have you ever met the Milk Thistle, better known in the scientific world as Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L.? If you've never met her before, please pause now and greet the Milk Thistle!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

"What blade can never be sharpened?"

"What blade can never be sharpened?" Give up? Want the answer? Here goes . . . "A blade of grass can be cut, but a blade of grass can never be sharpened!" [Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022]

And As This Is Now The Fourth Day Of Summer . . .

As this is now the fourth day of summer, Marash Girl is inspired to ask her readers the following riddle . . . you'll see why when you figure out the answer. "What blade can never be sharpened?" [Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022] Check in tomorrow to see if you've arrived at the correct answer!

A Walk In The Park A Fortnight Ago . . .

A walk in the park a fortnight ago, and look who came out to greet Marash Girl!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

"What did the horse in Holyoke, Massachusetts, call the farmer who lived on the farm next door?"

Okay, so "What did the horse in Holyoke, Massachusetts, call the farmer who lived on the farm next door?" Figured it out yet? No? Well, here's the answer! The horse on the farm next door to the farmer in Holyoke, Massachusetts, called the farmer his neighbor, of course! [Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022]

An Original Riddle Inspired By The Farms Of Western Massachusetts!

What did the farmer in Holyoke, Massachusetts, call the horse on the farm next door? Or rather, let's put it another way: what did the horse on a farm in Holyoke, Massachusetts, call the farmer who lived on the farm next door? (Check in tomorrow for the answer!) [Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022]

"When is a joke not funny?" Figured it out yet?

A joke's not funny when the joke's on you! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

Welcome the Mandeville laxa (Ruiz & pav.) Woodson Chilean-Jasmine!

Admittedly, this flower is a lot prettier than its name!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Yet Another Riddle!!!

When is a joke not funny? Check in on Monday for the answer!

Marash Girl Welcomes The Oriental Iris To Her Humble Front Garden!

Please meet the Oriental Iris (Iris orientalis Mill.), an iris which made its way all the way from the orient to the gardens of New England!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

When is a lock not a lock?

Have you figured out the answer to this riddle yet? If not, read on . . . Riddle: When is a lock not a lock? Answer: A lock is not a lock when you see it! (i.e., when you "c" it.) When you "c" it, a lock becomes a . . . . CLOCK!!!! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

Another Riddle For You . . . Let's See If You Can Figure This One Out!

When is a lock not a lock? Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022. Check in tomorrow for the answer!

Yet Another Riddle For You!

"When can a loon fly high in the sky?" Above Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

When is an apple tree a crab apple tree?

When is an apple tree a crab apple tree? Have you figured it out yet? An apple tree is a crab apple tree when it gets up (or rather grows up) on the wrong side of the bed . . . the flower bed, that is! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

Here's a riddle for you!

When is an apple tree a crab apple tree? Check in tomorrow for the answer! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

Cheer Up, All Ye Who Pass!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Cello Concert In The Park!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

This Flowering Dogwood Brightens The Local Park

Cornus florida L. LC Flowering Dogwood

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Allow Marash Girl To Introduce You To The Iris pallida Lam. . . . The Sweet Iris?

All Iris are not alike, even though they may look alike! And an Iris with the same name may not be the same color!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Please Welcome The Hesperis matronalis L. Better Known As The Dames Rocket!

Please meet the Hesperis matronalis L., better known as the Dames Rocket . . . and NOT the same flower as the flower you met yesterday!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 Wait . . . Don't go away yet! Look at this!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 And this beauty!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 Above Photos by MarashGirl©2022

MEET THE PURPLE DAMES ROCKET!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

And Allow Marash Girl To Introduce You To The Japanese Spiraea!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 Above please view the Spiraea japonica L.f., better known as the Japanese Spiraea!

This Buckley Crimson Clematis Views The World Through the Slats Of An Old Wooden Fence . . .

How do you view the world?

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

And Here In All Its Glory Is The Blood Iris (Iris sanguinea Donn ex Hornem, According To Botanists)

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Say Hello To The Dames Rocket (Hesperis matronalis L.), If You Dare!

You may think you have alreadu met this dame, but have you met a dame that is white with five petals? A Dame's Rocket has four petals, while Phlox has five! Just count those petals!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Quince? Really? Awww . . . You Mean To Say Cydonia oblonga Mill., Right?

Photo taken mid-May by MarashGirl©2022

Have you ever met the Cyanus montanus (L.) Hill Perennial Cornflower?

Here's your chance!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 And here are three of them!

“So polite 😇 … waiting for treats 😄”

Photo by Nisha!

And Before The Month Of June Arrives, Please Enjoy The Flame Azalea!

The Flame Azalea, known by botanists as the Rhododendron calendulaceum (Michx.) Torr. Flame Azalea, graces the gardens of the Boston suburbs during the month of May! (And possibly the early days of June?)

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

When is it impossible to tie a ribbon in your hair?

Have you figured it out yet? When is it impossible to tie a ribbon in your hair? (Drum Roll!) The answer? It's impossible to tie a ribbon in your hair when the ribbon is ribbon candy! Original Riddle by MarashGirl©2022

Marash Girl Just Met The Purple Toothwort! Would You Like To Meet Her As Well?

She's a lot prettier than her name!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

A Look Back At That Not So "Common" Periwinkle - Vinca minor L. Common Periwinkle In May!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Meet This Spring Flower: Calibrachoa parviflora (Juss.) D'Arcy Seaside petunia Solanaceae

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Ornithogalum umbellatum L. - Star of Bethlehem

Marash Girl should have waited until Christmas to share this beautiful flower with y'all. . . but she couldn't wait! So here it is! The Star Of Bethlehem!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

TULIPS GATHER TO CELEBRATE SPRING ALONG THE CHARLES RIVER

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. DD Cherry plum, myrobalan -- Sound scary? Don't be scared! Take a look!

Whoops . . . or is it the Choisya ternata Kunt - Mexican Orange Blossom?

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Meet the Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Asch. - August-lily Asparagaceae

More simply known as Hosta, this plant graces many a New England garden in spring!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

A Goose Along The Charles River Pauses For Marash Girl On A Sunday Afternoon In Watertown . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

How Did The Chaenomeles Speciosa (Sweet) Nakai Chinese-Quince Find Its Way To The Suburbs Of Boston?

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 Or could this be a Flowering Dogwood? Or possibly the Alpine-rose known as the Rhododendron ferrugineum L. LC?

A Red Tulip All the Way from Bologne?

A Red Tulip All The Way From Bologne Flowers Along The Shores Of The Charles River On A Sunday Afternoon In May

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 Possibly the Tulipa agenensis DC. or, translating into English, the Red Tulip of Bologne!

Solomon's Seal Graces Marash Girl's Front Garden!

See below the Polygonatum multiflorum (L.) All. ... better known as Solomon's Seal!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

The Japanese Flowering Cherry Blooms Throughout New England!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

The Eastern Redbud Adorns New England Gardens In May . . .

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

What school teaches you absolutely nothing? The answer?

Riddle: What school teaches you absolutely nothing? Have you figured it out yet? (Drum roll, please!) Answer: A school of fish! BrotherJames©2022

A Riddle from Brother James . . .

What school teaches you absolutely nothing? Riddle By BrotherJames©2022 Check in tomorrow for the answer!

From Aleppo To The Shores Of The Charles River . . . Love Knows No Boundaries!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Have you ever tasted an Asiatic Apple?

Yesterday you may have met the Asiatic Apple Rosaceae popularly known as the crab apple! If not, see below!

Photo Taken On May 2 by MarashGirl©2022

Did you know that crab apples can be eaten?

Yes, crab apples can be eaten when they become crab apples (although Marash Girl doesn't believe that these apples can be eaten by crabs). Haven't tried eating the flowers yet . . . especially on Friday The Thirteenth!

Above photo of Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill. DD Crab apple Rosaceae (or, as another website identifies the flower, Malus × spectabilis (Sol.) Borkh. Asiatic apple Rosaceae) taken by MarashGirl©2022

Meet the Doronicum pardalianches L. - The Great Leopard's-Bane

Meet the Doronicum pardalianches L., better known as the

Photo by MarashGirl©2022 The Great Leopard's-Bane decorates Marash Girl's front yard! You may not be able to pronounce it, but please do enjoy it! (Could it be the bane of every leopard's existence?)

"OUR BODIES ARE RESPECTED!"

Unknown Photographer These courageous women spent Mother’s Day advocating for abortion rights at the U.S. Supreme Court. One such demonstrator, Maryland State Delegate Charkoudian, writes the following. "I am devastated and outraged by the draft SCOTUS opinion to take away women’s control over our own bodies. The possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned had already fueled our work to expand and protect reproductive healthcare access here in Maryland...Last month the Maryland General Assembly passed the Abortion Care Access Act to ensure that women have enough practitioners trained and licensed to provide abortion care. It also removes financial barriers by requiring Medicaid and private insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost-sharing or deductibles. Maryland Governor Hogan vetoed this bill, but the Maryland General Assembly promptly overrode Hogan's veto. Now, Hogan refuses to release the $3.5 million needed to implement the training program created by the law. I joined with over 80 of my colleagues to call on Hogan to release these funds."

Say Hello To The Hybrid Violet!

Please allow Marash Girl to introduce you to the hybrid violet - better known in the scientific world as Viola melissifolia Greene Violaceae!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Coccocypselum hirsutum Bartl. ex DC. Yerba de guava Rubiaceae

Bet you can't pronounce the name of this beautiful spring flower! Let's hear you try: Coccocypselum hirsutum Bartl. ex DC. Yerba de guava Rubiaceae!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

Newton Flags Its Support For Ukraine!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

And In Celebration Of Mother's Day . . .

Known as the Lesser Celandine, many a garden in New England celebrates Mother's Day with this flower!

Photo By MarashGirl©2022 The FicariaVernaHuds, better known as the Lesser Celandine, blooms in celebration of all mothers!

Photo By MarashGirl©2022

Meet The Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. Daffodil

Meet the Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. Daffodil. Put more simply, meet the newest addition to Marash Girl's front yard garden . . . the daffodil!!!

Photo by MarashGirl©2022

So This Is What Phlox Looks Like On A Sunday In May In New England. . .

Meet Phlox subulata L. Moss phlox Polemoniaceae...also known as Moss Phlox!

Photo By MarashGirl©2022