Category Archives: general nature
Four o’clock flowers are beautiful and hard to remove
When I was in graduate school I lived in a hillside apartment that had beautiful four o’clock flowers in the front yard. They came in different colors, mostly bright pink to magenta, and they self-seeded themselves every year. I liked … Continue reading
Sericea lespedeza has good points as well as bad ones
Most of our land is not prime farmland. Some places have problems with soil moisture, fertility or erodibility. We can’t grow row crops anywhere we want, and we usually can’t afford to fertilize places that may not provide a return … Continue reading
Old Woodsman fly dope brings back memories
When I was a kid, I spent numerous hours fishing with my grandfather. Some of the places we went were havens for mosquitoes, blackflies, ‘no see ums’ and deerflies. Grampa always had the perfect tonic for them. It was called … Continue reading
In the wrong hands ATVs can be environmental menaces
I still remember seeing my first 3-wheeler ATV. It was in 1973. It could go anywhere through tight places, but it was hard to steer. You had to lean the opposite direction. The 4-wheeled variety didn’t come on the scene … Continue reading
Signs of summer
How do we know when it’s summer? Each locale is different, but certain sights, events or smells remind us of different seasons, and summer is no exception. For me, once I see the smoke of the wheat fields, I’m satisfied … Continue reading
Putting up hay brings back memories
It was hot sticky dirty work. In rural areas it was also one of the few ways teenagers could earn spending money in the summer. Those who have put up hay in the heat know what I’m talking about. Baling … Continue reading
Virginia creeper is another aggressive native vine
Last week I profiled trumpet vine, a ridiculously aggressive woody vine. This week belongs to another nemesis, and it’s also marketed as an ornamental. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is that vine many people confuse with poison ivy. It has leaves … Continue reading
Some native plants sound good but have huge downside
I walked around my yard recently and realized certain plants are taking over my landscaping. Most of the culprits are woody vines. Most are also native species and natives are all the rage right now. Just because a plant is … Continue reading
Plants define our environment
I’ve lived my life in basically three different regions. My first 22 years were spent in northeast Maine. I’ve lived my last 22 years in northeast North Carolina. In between, I lived in north-central West Virginia. Certain plants endear me … Continue reading
Homemade sauerkraut is hard to beat
Local cabbage fields are nearing harvest or have already been cut. Many would have been harvested sooner if fields hadn’t been so wet. I always look forward to fresh cabbage. It’s so versatile. One of my favorite cabbage dishes is … Continue reading
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