When the Mockingbird Sings

Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) range from Canada to South America. They sing a varied song that often mimics the noises in their surroundings. These may even include songs on the radio or musical instruments. The song is a way of both attracting a mate and marking...

Tractor Safety

Last week the son of a neighbor was riding his ATV down the road in front of the house at a very high rate of speed.  He had two friends on the back and one friend on the right fender and they all seemed to be enjoying the speed.  I, on the other hand, almost had a...

Weed Executioner

Weed Executioner. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Gardeners have fought weeds as long as gardeners have planted gardens. All weeds are not created equal, however, and all weed killing products are not created equal. The first choice you must make is whether to use a...

Natural is not necessarily safe

There has been a lot of press lately towards using “natural” products to treat illnesses, kill pests, and fertilize plants instead of “synthetic” chemicals. The assumption has been if it is natural, or organic, it is safe. This is not necessarily so for several...