John Raby
@johnraby61.bsky.social
Gardener, baker, storymaker in my 5th decade as a writer for The Associated Press. I am a native of Southeast Michigan and currently live in West Virginia USA (gardening zone 7A)
Just wow. Taken tonight. 📷 🌱
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Just wow. Taken tonight. 📷 🌱
This maple tree in the first photo blocks the sun for a few hours in the back garden but I sure don’t want to mess with it, as shown by the red fall colors.
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
November 3, 2025 at 5:49 AM
This maple tree in the first photo blocks the sun for a few hours in the back garden but I sure don’t want to mess with it, as shown by the red fall colors.
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
Here’s one from last year still on the shelf! Great for washing dishes or in the bath. Lasts a long time. 🌱
October 24, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Here’s one from last year still on the shelf! Great for washing dishes or in the bath. Lasts a long time. 🌱
I present to you perhaps the world smallest watermelon pick tonight from the garden before the big freeze.
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I present to you perhaps the world smallest watermelon pick tonight from the garden before the big freeze.
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
Picked my loofa before tonight’s hard freeze. 🌱 The fun part is still ahead with taking off the husks, shaking out billions of seeds and washing the goo out of those that are barely ready.
October 24, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Picked my loofa before tonight’s hard freeze. 🌱 The fun part is still ahead with taking off the husks, shaking out billions of seeds and washing the goo out of those that are barely ready.
The aforementioned zucchini bread. Two chocolate chip loaves and one blueberry (my fave). 🧑🍳🌱
October 14, 2025 at 3:08 AM
The aforementioned zucchini bread. Two chocolate chip loaves and one blueberry (my fave). 🧑🍳🌱
Love being able to pick zucchini in October. Gonna make some chocolate chip zucchini bread that the kids will devour in no time. 🌱
October 11, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Love being able to pick zucchini in October. Gonna make some chocolate chip zucchini bread that the kids will devour in no time. 🌱
I picked the last of the potatoes from the garden the day before fall arrived, and tonight I finally got around to making them in the air fryer with olive oil, salt and garlic. 👨🍳🌱
October 7, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I picked the last of the potatoes from the garden the day before fall arrived, and tonight I finally got around to making them in the air fryer with olive oil, salt and garlic. 👨🍳🌱
Hadn’t seen any visitors in almost 2 weeks. Then these two beauties showed up today. It was more like a pit stop because fueled up and were on their way.
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
September 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hadn’t seen any visitors in almost 2 weeks. Then these two beauties showed up today. It was more like a pit stop because fueled up and were on their way.
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
Every day, I wonder whether it might be the last time I see a butterfly this year before the great migration.
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
September 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Every day, I wonder whether it might be the last time I see a butterfly this year before the great migration.
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
Finally got around to cutting the watermelon I picked from the garden before the recent cold snap hit. 🌱
September 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Finally got around to cutting the watermelon I picked from the garden before the recent cold snap hit. 🌱
A cantaloupe picked today from my garden. 🌱
September 3, 2025 at 1:33 AM
A cantaloupe picked today from my garden. 🌱
Visits like this is why I can never get any work done. 🌱😍
August 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Visits like this is why I can never get any work done. 🌱😍
Finally was able to get a video, photo _ something! _ of a hummingbird on the Mexican sunflowers.
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
August 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Finally was able to get a video, photo _ something! _ of a hummingbird on the Mexican sunflowers.
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
The way the sun angle made my Mexican sunflower glow today. 🌱📷❤️
August 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The way the sun angle made my Mexican sunflower glow today. 🌱📷❤️
This beauty spent the better part of the afternoon on the Mexican sunflowers today. 🌱
August 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This beauty spent the better part of the afternoon on the Mexican sunflowers today. 🌱
All that glitters in my garden is gold 🌱
August 19, 2025 at 2:41 AM
All that glitters in my garden is gold 🌱
This morning’s pleasant surprise at the mailbox flowers. There’s not many more of these left because they’re going to start migrating. 🥹 🌱 🦋 📷
August 16, 2025 at 2:30 PM
This morning’s pleasant surprise at the mailbox flowers. There’s not many more of these left because they’re going to start migrating. 🥹 🌱 🦋 📷
In case anyone wants to see the video. It wouldn’t let me post it earlier for some reason.
August 15, 2025 at 12:21 AM
In case anyone wants to see the video. It wouldn’t let me post it earlier for some reason.
Just saw these two beauties on the same flower. 🌱 🦋
August 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Just saw these two beauties on the same flower. 🌱 🦋
My favorite mailbox visit just now. I could spend all day doing this. 🌱 🦋
August 13, 2025 at 9:54 PM
My favorite mailbox visit just now. I could spend all day doing this. 🌱 🦋
A grass skipper butterfly (Atalopedes campestris) strikes a pose on my Mexican sunflower. 🌱
August 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A grass skipper butterfly (Atalopedes campestris) strikes a pose on my Mexican sunflower. 🌱
The Crape Myrtle is popping at my house. 🌱
August 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The Crape Myrtle is popping at my house. 🌱
Today’s mailbox visitors. My heart is so full. 🌱🦋📷
August 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Today’s mailbox visitors. My heart is so full. 🌱🦋📷