Weed patrol: Beggar-tick

I looked for ragweed. And didn’t find any in the spot that was infested last year. Or anywhere else. Yet. I looked for nightshade. And found plenty in the usual spots. Those bright red fruits made it easy to spot, but they plop out everywhere when you pull it up. I didn’t have to look […]

Skunk week

It seems like Skunk Week around here. The skunks have come by so often, they don’t even look up when I take a picture.

Squirrel Corn

The latest addition to the critter feeders is a hanger to put dried corncobs in. This is my most successful attempt so far to get the squirrels to leave the birds more sunflower seeds. In the mornings, I often see squirrels having a leisurely breakfast, but after I fill the bird feeders, they still go […]

Thanks, Earl! You’re a swell guy

Bad weather gets oversold around here — yeah, yeah, I know, better safe than sorry and all that — but this is ridiculous. I managed to get wet yesterday, but that’s about it for Hurricane -> Tropical Storm -> Big Fat Wuss Earl. It didn’t even knock over this watering can. My cat does more damage. […]

Nothing but a tomato

It’s been a great week to be a growing tomato. Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain, rain — Hey, the sun is out! Oh my god (yes, I’m spelling it out) look how big that tomato is! It’s at least twice the size of all the others put together. Can I help it if I’m […]

Wild harvest

Poor old Sonny the Sunflower! Somebody knocked him over and chawed his face off. Maybe the raccoons are peeved that the bird feeder is empty at night.

Rain blahs

It’s raining today, but it’s not even interesting rain. It’s just cold and gray enough to drive the cat inside for a lap, so that’s nice. And it makes the pears look like they’re going to be sweet and juicy, so that’s nice. But nice is boring.

Squash to bee

The bees in the squash have horns to toot: The first squash has set fruit. So cute!

The temptations of ripe tomatoes

Whatever you may think of what I write, Kindly do not attempt to fling tomatoes.

Return of the Wool Carder bee

Another bee that I’ve been looking for has turned up: the Wool Carder bee. They’re called Wool Carders because the females gather the fuzz from hairy leaves to line their nests. Like the honeybee, they’re not natives, but an introduced bee from Europe. Unlike the honeybee, they tend to stick to Old World flowers. Mine […]