The Nor’easter of October 2011 hit our town pretty badly. Actually, it was just a small snowstorm, not too heavy, not long-lasting. But the trees were not ready for it. It was only the fourth time that there was snow before Halloween in NYC since the civil war! Add to that that the trees now “think” …
Category Archives: natural world
Arrived!
I harvested the last potatoes yesterday and got two surprises. First, when I pulled the straw away, there was this: The first time  I noticed this dark, crumbly soil, I thought there was something wrong with it. Did some sort of cement get into it? What insect does this? Is it good? Then I realized. A …
Garden on June 1, 2011
Under threat of thunder and hail, a bear and a tornado. Schematic overview (green = planted)
Yikes!
Considering Our Shade
out of our living room window Considering… that the house does not benefit a whole lot from being shaded by the trees to the south in Summer, that we could grow a more successful garden where it already is and expand it even more that we would make room for fruit, nut and coppice trees, …
Nasty Critters
First Tomato
This should have been a joyous day, a glorious day. Instead there was cussing. I don’t often cuss, so it was shocking. What happened? The chipmunks got to the first tomato of the season. THE first tomato. The ICONIC tomato. The one you take a picture of: Its good side Its chipmunk side They also …
Fun with the Hive
I wrote last time about my concern that my colony is behind. At my last inspection they still hadn’t drawn out (built wax comb onto) enough frames to warrant the second brood box. Still, my inspection indicated that the queen would soon run out of immediately available space to lay eggs. In the summer a …
This Year’s Robins Nest
Every Spring, since we’ve been here, we’ve had a Robin’s nest near the house. That’s why we call the place Robin Hill – plus it has a little bit of Robin Hood in it. Year One (2008) they chose the rafters of the carport and Year Two they chose the nook next to Year One’s …
Vote For My Ocean Hero!
My friend, Laura Medrano-Hernandez, has been nominated for the Ocean Hero Awards and I’m voting for her. Oceana, which organizes the awards, was founded in 2001 and is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Their website is a gem, with tips for play, research, activism and (if you’re so inclined) shopping (with …