It had been a long time since our last rock hunt. Sunday morning started slow, just the way we like it—sitting in the front yard with coffee in hand, watching the cardinals splash around in the bird bath while Scooter the cat lurked nearby in the tall grass, doing her…
Author: Dene
Brock's Fish Camp
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The First Half of Life
It’s hard to believe, but after 35 years of marriage, we’re embarking on a new chapter of our journey. For the past few decades, life has been a beautiful whirlwind—raising kids, building careers, and chasing the busyness that often comes with living in today’s world. Now, with our children grown…
Along The Pathway
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Skywatcher: A Rusty Thermometer, A Forgotten Story
We were headed out to the cabin one Saturday morning, winding through the quiet roads near Sawyer, Oklahoma, when a simple green sign caught our eye. It was posted at the corner of a weathered storage lot — “Storage Sale Today.” Around here, sales like that are few and far…
Just My Nature
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Adding Annual Plants To The Shade Garden
Gardening in the shade has always felt a bit like painting with a limited palette—but as any good artist knows, that’s where creativity really shines. This past weekend, I finally had a chance to dig into my shade garden and add a little seasonal flair with some annuals and one…
Just My Nature
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The American Beautyberry – Understory Shrub
In a woodland shade garden, understory shrubs play an important role in filling the space beneath taller trees while adding structure, texture, and seasonal interest. These bushes are naturally adapted to lower light conditions and help create a layered, natural look. Native understory plants like American Beautyberry, oakleaf hydrangea, spicebush,…
Just My Nature
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Building My Woodland Shade Garden in Southeast Oklahoma
One of my favorite ongoing projects on our property is the slow and steady transformation of a small woodland area into a shade garden. This stretch of woods once served as the dividing line between what used to be two separate properties. When we acquired the land, this wooded section…