Monthly Archives: September 2009

Saving Geraniums

Here’s more practical gardening advice from our friend and colleague, HerbDoc: A check of the calendar indicates that October 4th is the date of the Harvest Moon this year.  It always reminds me that frost is imminent and that all … Continue reading

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The Heavy Artillery

So you’re minding your own business, and one day you see little black spots on your house, and on your car. You try washing them off. You try to scrape them off, but they won’t budge. You, my friend, are … Continue reading

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Coming in From the Cold

With nighttime temperatures in coastal Rhode Island dipping into the 40s, all but a very few houseplants need to come inside now for the winter. Tropical plants do not grow in 60 degrees or lower and temps in the 40s … Continue reading

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The Asian Longhorned Beetle Marches On

This month, the Asian longhorned beetle was discovered outside the eradication zone in Worcester, Mass. and the surrounding area. A resident found one of the insects in the town of West Boylston, and officials say the beetles have probably been … Continue reading

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Do You Know This Man?

He’s “The Man in the Red Suspenders,” former host of “The Victory Garden” television show, and former “Horticulture” magazine editor. His name is Roger Swain, and if there are icons in our “hort world” he must  be one of them. … Continue reading

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Nitrous Oxide Eats Ozone!

Here’s a new issue for us to ponder in our quest for improved sustainability and environmentally-sound gardening and farming practices. It was recently reported by NOAA scientists that nitrous oxide has become the largest ozone-depleting substance emitted by human activities. … Continue reading

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The Worms That Eat Rhode Island

Most of us pay little attention to earthworms, those productive and beneficial animals that play a unique and important role in conditioning the soil. Unfortunately, even though earthworms generally go unnoticed and are not viewed as garden pests they are … Continue reading

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A Fish for Whom He Loves

When I went for my morning walk today I was thinking about how I missed all the birds and then I heard the “chewk-chewk-chewk” of an osprey. I looked up and there were two birds circling overhead so I looked … Continue reading

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Saving Seeds

Here’s a timely post from our friend and gardener extrordinaire, HerbDoc. This is the time of year that I begin to think about saving seeds for next year. It’s one way to save a little bit of money and promote … Continue reading

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First Bees, Now Bats

Have you noticed fewer – or  no – bats in your area this summer?  I’ve been hearing and reading a lot about bats lately, and the news is horrendous. Bats by the hundreds of thousands are being wiped out by … Continue reading

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