I see a fair amount of wildlife where I live. Hawks hunt from high above and a murder of crows keep watch over the neighborhood. I even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring overhead from time to time. There are deer, rabbits, the occasional fox or opossum—all manner of birds and beasties. What … Continue reading What We Don’t See
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Welcome, Summer—And the War on Weeds
Spring departed with summer’s arrival at 10:57 a.m. on the 21st. The first day of summer is always a little sad for me. I celebrate spring and am sorry to see the ever-changing awakening of the garden come to an end. But the sadness is fleeting. Summer has its own charms and, truth be told, … Continue reading Welcome, Summer—And the War on Weeds
Gray Skies
If ever there was an in-your-face reminder that we’re all connected through the world around us, I only need to look up to see it. Gray skies—and not the “it’s going to rain” kind—lend an eerie feel to the day. The sun is up there somewhere, oddly illuminating the haze. And there are clouds moving … Continue reading Gray Skies
This Is Why We Wait
The general consensus around these parts is that planting in the garden is done after Memorial Day. It’s a “just in case” kind of thing most years, but in springtime in the Berkshires, you never know what weather Mother Nature is going to toss in the mix next.Case in point: this spring. We enjoyed an … Continue reading This Is Why We Wait
This Is It
I walked out the back door this morning and all I had to do was breathe to know that the lilacs have begun to bloom. It’s a fragrance I wait for each spring, one I wish stayed around longer. Cut branches will fill the house with their scent. I’ll enjoy each and every breath, indoors … Continue reading This Is It
Maybe I Should Build an Ark
It’s been raining now for days on end. While the sun does peek through on occasion, the ground is too wet to dig in. I know this because in the past I’ve given in to the urge to work in the garden beds too soon after a heavy or extended rain. While it is possible … Continue reading Maybe I Should Build an Ark
Oh, My Aching . . . Everything
I put it off, knowing a day or two (or three) delay wouldn’t change what needed to be done. Finally, today, I grabbed loppers and pruners and doused myself with bug repellant and headed out into the garden to tackle the row of lilacs and the branches damaged by winter’s last hurrah. By the end … Continue reading Oh, My Aching . . . Everything
In the Aftermath
The snow from our March blizzard has nearly all melted, but inevitably there’s that stubborn section on the north side of the garage that takes forever to melt. Between its position and the accumulation of snow from the garage roof, there’s always a large pile of compacted snow there. What I’ve discovered as the mounds … Continue reading In the Aftermath
Hello, Spring!
It’s finally here. Spring arrived yesterday at 5:24 p.m. EDT. Today was the first full day of spring, and it dawned sunny and warm, and oh, does it feel like spring! My first impulse was to get out in the garden and start spring cleanup. Unfortunately, most of what I need to is buried beneath … Continue reading Hello, Spring!
Goodbye, Winter!
And this is it. At 5:24 p.m. March 20, 2023, we bid a not so fond farewell to Old Man Winter. To say the least, I’m not a big fan of winter, even mild ones like this one. I miss my garden, I miss the daylight, and I like to be able to leave my … Continue reading Goodbye, Winter!
Pen, Paper, Plant 