The Original Mystery Plant
Dr. John Nelson
      The Mystery Plant is for the fiddler crabs, sandpipers, snails, and everybody and everything else that lives in or enjoys our beautiful coastal estuaries. It's a plant of open salt flats or meadows landward of the beach, places that tend to be frequently flooded by salt water during high tide, and drained when the tide goes out.
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Riverbanks creates a kaleidoscope
Stopping to smell the flowers
Arlene Marturano
      The most spectacular display of fall color is as close as Riverbanks Botanical Garden. The garden shows visitors ways to use foliage, flowers, and fruit for seasonal color. On my recent visit, the color purple stood out in regal splendor. I was greeted by a purplish- pink haze from the silky panicles of sweet grass, Muhlenb ergia capil- laris.
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Early fall color could be sign of tree distress
Contributed by the Tree Care Industry Association
      In many parts of North America, people will soon enjoy fall foliage, which is one of nature's finest shows. Color- changing leaves make for a beautiful display, but early changes in leaf color can be a sign trees are stressed and susceptible to insect and disease attack.
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