These Native Plants Aren’t Weeds

The first time I met Neil Diboll, he set his front yard on fire. On purpose. It was part of a lesson that Mr. Diboll, a prairie ecologist and nurseryman, was eager to share about native plant communities. The prairie species that had replaced his lawn were adapted to fire, he informed me, because regular…

This Impressive Cake Has Many Layers

In 1976, Johnny Cash released a song called “Strawberry Cake.” It was a bit of an outsider tune, not altogether popular. But to me, it falls well within the canon of simple yet great Americana storytelling. In an interview, Cash talks about walking past a man sleeping on a New York street while on his…