The Great Outdoors

It’s time to think spring. Fall is the time to plant tulips, daffodils, crocus and other spring flowering bulbs. Use these early bloomers to welcome spring to your landscape. You’ll appreciate the color and cheery blooms after another long ... Read more

The 2021 Old Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a warmer than usual winter throughout the majority of the U.S. with uncommonly chilly temperatures (mostly) limited to the western states and Maine. ... Read more

Whether it is the hot weather, the age of your landscape or simply the need for change; a late summer makeover can help you increase your landscape’s beauty. Put the “wow” back into your garden with a few new plantings, garden art, or other simple ... Read more

While summer slowly fades, cool weather and fall colors are just around the corner. Now is a great time to start fall gardening projects, admire the best of late-summer blooms, and prepare your yard for the winter months. Here are five things ... Read more

Butterflies were numerous then, in summer and into the fall, when my brother and I were boys. Butterflies were common and numerous. My brother and I each had a net on a pole, a butterfly net, and we chased butterflies, often. Those we caught, and ... Read more

What kind of bird is this, a friend asked, showing me a picture she had of a brown thrasher. I doubt my friend would have asked me the name of that bird many years ago. It was a common summer bird in Iowa where I grew up and in most of the other states of ... Read more

Pollinators are responsible for about 75% of the food we eat. The European honeybee is the most well known but our native bees are also critically important. ... Read more

Whew! It is hot outside! If you find yourself retreating to the pool or near an A/C unit, do not forget, your plants are also waiting for a cool drink of water. Here are some summer gardening tips to keep your plants happy and healthy all summer long. ... Read more

I saw a firefly, one firefly, early one morning, before dawn, near the end of last month. It was the first, and only, firefly I’ve seen this summer. I used to see dozens, hundreds, of fireflies every night in summer when the weather was fair. ... Read more

It was late evening, after dark, and I was going to bed. But, before going to bed I decided to get a drink from the kitchen. Going through the dining room on the way to the kitchen I turned the dining room light on and looked at the bird feeders outside ... Read more

So, you filled your shopping cart and gardens with lots of new shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Now what? Keep your plants looking their best with minimal effort so you can enjoy them and your summer even more. ... Read more

Lush green plants add a calm and fresh vibe to your home or office. If you have ever stepped foot in a greenhouse, you know that being close to greenery can immediately make you feel more at ease with your surroundings. ... Read more

Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the year, and this year was no exception. ... Read more

This is the time of the year when you may start to notice nests and dens occupied by young wildlife around your home. If you do, help keep wildlife wild by remembering the following if you encounter a young animal alone: ... Read more

Amid a global pandemic, we urge you to find peace in your garden. With panic-buying in full force, sometimes it’s difficult to find the basic foods we want or some of us are avoiding going to the grocery stores all together. All of this has led to ... Read more

A mink bounded across the road in front of my older daughter and plunged into the marsh at the edge of our pasture a few days ago. My daughter was walking along the side of the road with our dogs when the mink crossed their path. ... Read more