Consider the hummingbird for a long moment. Brian Doyle begins his essay Joyas Voladoras with this act of attention—because, indeed, the hummingbird rewards a slower kind of looking. The phrase joyas voladoras, Spanish for “flying jewels,” is a historical nickname given to hummingbirds by early Spanish explorers. It’s a fitting name for a creature that embodies a streak of living color. … [Read more...]
June 3, 2025 By
The Silent Explosion: A Springtime Tribute to Flowers
“Once upon a time there were no flowers at all.” —Loren Eiseley Imagine that. A planet green, but without bloom. No petals, no pollen, no bursts of color to herald the seasons. Just a long, monotonous hush in the history of plant life. Until, somewhere near the end of the Age of Reptiles, as Eisley so beautifully described it, there occurred “a soundless, violent explosion.” It wasn’t fire … [Read more...]
April 14, 2025 By
Rain Chains, House Finches, & the Secret Lives of Garden Fixtures
Given the abysmally rainy spring we’ve had, it seems only right to tell you about our rain chains. Maybe you didn’t know we sell them here at Kalleco. Maybe you don’t even know what they are. Let’s start there. Rain chains are functional beauty. They’re a funny thing. I’d never even heard of them until I became a homeowner, and even then, I didn’t quite “get it.” Now I do. They’re a perfect … [Read more...]
