Author Archives: dirtynailz

It’s hard to believe this is Connecticut, just over the Rhode island border. Check out the old hemlocks leaning into the gorge. The light is magical. In fact, the entire place is. Here’s another view of the dramatic gorge, bathed … Continue reading →

I was working diligently at my kitchen table this afternoon and the tree swallows I thought had already departed for southern climes descended on our neighborhood. I watched them for a few minutes  as they demonstrated their excellent flying skills. … Continue reading →

Here’s the neighbor’s wildflower meadow right now. Feast your eyes on the huge perennial sunflower flopping over into someone else’s yard. They don’t seem to mind. This plant is helianthus giganteus, and giganteus it most certainly is. I have tried … Continue reading →

I love cutting flowers in my garden and bringing them indoors. I also enjoy experimenting with different colors and textures. The above photo is an example of what I think is a most fortuitous combination. It’s just two flowers: Tithonia … Continue reading →

Warning to Auntie Beak and other arachnophobes: this post is about spiders. I had an unusually high number of butterflies in my garden recently. They were mostly “American Painted Ladies.” Of course we also had, and continue to have monarchs … Continue reading →

HerbDoc has an interesting – and kind of funny-looking –  weapon in the fight against deer and horse flies: (Do we gardeners hate these insects? Oh yes, we do!) The deer flies and horseflies have been horrendous this year. We … Continue reading →

As promised, I am ending my series of posts on the White Mountains with a look at some of the plants we encountered above and just below the tree line. We were there in late August, so we missed the … Continue reading →

After one of the most uncomfortable,  sleepless nights I have ever experienced (long story) we set off early the next morning to hike the traverse to the Mizpah hut. Please see my previous post for Day One. As you can … Continue reading →

I have just spent a few days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. A friend and I backpacked to two Appalachian Mountain Club huts: Lakes of the Clouds and Mizpah. In the photo above, you can see the Lakes … Continue reading →

  Herbdoc has a great idea for a cool-looking herb garden: This woven cornucopia has been my favorite hanging basket this year. It draws attention and sparks conversation because of its unusual shape, and since it hangs just outside the … Continue reading →