Light: Full sun. Soil and Water: Average garden soil, but it must be well-drained. They do not do as well in a rich soil because they will become leggy and then the stems will not be strong and straight – the plants will fall over/flop. They do grow better when mulched. After planting, water deeply […]
It has been bitter cold here in central Illinois. When I went out to check my small greenhouse this morning at 8AM, it was 7°F with a wind chill of -11. Wow. A typical January day out here in the Midwest. But the sun is shining, the sky is a brilliant blue and cloudless, so […]
Cleon encouraged me to write this blog. Normally we are private people. We enjoy sharing our birding experiences with all of you and I did share with you our ant-nests-in-the-bathroom-wall story, but we do not share our day to day lives or intimate details. Probably a generational thing. We are older and we feel differently […]
Northern Flickers are in the Woodpecker Family, and I count us as quite fortunate to have a pair of them living in our yard. And sometimes there are four! It always surprises me how big these birds actually are. As I explain in the free download available on this website (click here: American Robin download), […]
This is a great place for watching Sandhill Cranes – up close and personal! And take a good look because there will probably be a few Whooping Cranes mixed right in. Wheeler NWR is one of my favorite places for birds. Cleon and I have been here before and have always seen quite a few […]
I wondered if she was even alive, The little bird perched inches from my face. I almost missed her as I walked past the towering, tangled rose bush That separates our yard from the farm next door. But my eyes caught her, nestled in the briars, A fresh young robin, short and plump. Speckles on […]
I flee my house so I can breathe in the night and listen to the leaves rattle. Walking thru the whispering streets I find myself atop a hill overlooking the lights of the city. I stand there, a solitary pillar, gazing out and letting my mind go numb. Intruding lights threaten me as I […]
Cleon and I spent an afternoon on this refuge. Our bird list is not long, but what sightings! Birds we rarely see. And one I not only never saw, but never thought I would see. This is a newer refuge than Sabine. Cameron Prairie was created in 1988. Its mission: “Manage, protect, and perpetuate coastal […]
Late in August a frequent customer came in to the Native Plant Center. I was all set to commiserate with her about what a rough summer it had been for gardeners and gardens alike – too hot and humid, no rain – when she exclaimed, “My garden was so alive this summer!” I was confused […]
Journaling is something I have thought about doing for quite a while. My first journaling workshop was out at our conservation area, in the fall and we took our little watercolor paint trays and pads out to the woods to paint. I have yet to use that watercolor tray again. So, maybe watercolors weren’t my […]