Author Archives: Roger Gosden

About Roger Gosden

A British/ Canadian/ American scientist specializing in reproduction & embryology whose career spanned from Cambridge to Cornell's Weill Medical College in NYC. Married to Lucinda Veeck, the embryologist for the first successful IVF team in America. They retired to Virginia, where he became a master naturalist and writer affiliated with William & Mary. He also writes on Substack at What’s Hot in Fertility? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Gosden

Clover isn’t a weed

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Roger Gosden

You know spring has arrived when the aisles of big-box stores are filled with sacks of grass seed, lawn fertilizers, and garden poisons. The suburban obsession with green lawns is not ancient; probably inspired by the manicured landscapes of grand … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | Tagged lawns, white clover | 3 Comments

What is Pollution?

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Roger Gosden

I prevented our dogs from wading at Jamestown Beach today. The rising tide carried a floating mat of yellow scum. I suspected pollution, which made me wonder about the meaning of the word. Pollution is as hard to define as … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Islands | Tagged Bass Rock, hair, James River, Michaelangelo's David, pollution | Comments Off

First swallow of spring

Posted on March 20, 2023 by Roger Gosden

On the last day of winter, I saw my first Tree Swallow of the year. It flew beside the James River in the direction of Jamestown Island. Sociable birds with an iridescent sheen that babble and chatter all day, these … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding | Tagged bird migration, Tree Swallow | 1 Comment

Spring offensive

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Roger Gosden

On this somber first anniversary of the war in Ukraine and anticipating a spring offensive, I expected to read historical reflections in the media about the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet tanks and troops in 1968. So I am filling … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged Alexander Dubcek, Czechoslovakia, Horni Pena, Prague Spring, Ukrainian war | Comments Off

Cocky Coyotes

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Roger Gosden

Two fully-grown coyotes crossed the road in front of us at 10 AM today before I turned into Jamestown Beach. A patrolman told me he had seen others. The boldness of these sleek canids in shaggy coats the color of … Continue reading →