Author Archives: dirtynailz

This is the Pawcatuck River, which flows out to Little Narragansett Bay. The removal of the Kenyon Mill dam at this site in Richmond, RI in 2013 was part of a larger effort to remove several colonial era dams to … Continue reading →

This tool is called a “nut wizard.” I have been eying these for a while, because we have oaks and we all know what they produce. I just want to get the acorns off the lawn and out of the … Continue reading →

I love the wild asters at this time of year, so much, in fact, that I brought a few inside. I have a teeny tiny vase that I bought on Cape Cod last year, and I enjoy filling it with … Continue reading →

We’ve been in our new house for more than a year, and I have added several trees to our already wooded landscape. The Japanese maple in the photo was a housewarming gift from friends, right after we moved in the … Continue reading →

This photo, taken very early on a recent morning, looks like it could be any number of places, but it was taken in southern Rhode Island. Fall arrived last week, bringing with it my favorite hiking opportunities. I enjoy looking … Continue reading →

This plant is Lion’s Ear, or Leonotis Leonorus. Originally from South Africa, it’s a fast-growing, tropical shrub that will reach 3 to 6 feet and attract pollinators like crazy. I bought mine on a whim a couple of weeks ago … Continue reading →

Late summer brings back memories of peaches. We used to buy them in baskets back in Canada, and my sister still does. The ones she buys in Quebec are grown in Niagara, Ontario, which has a warmer climate than most … Continue reading →

With summer winding down, I thought I would share some photos from the vacation I took with my dog, Fidgit. It wasn’t anything earth-shattering, but we spent time outside, the thing she and I both enjoy most of all. Fidgit … Continue reading →

The clethra is blooming now in Rhode Island. Commonly known as summersweet or spice bush, Clethra Alnifolia is a lovely native shrub that grows in sun or partial shade, in wooded and semi wooded areas. It is hardy in Zones 3 … Continue reading →

We were hiking the Zealand Falls trail in New Hampshire and this plant, with its bright pinkish-purple flowers, caught my eye. I stopped to look at it closely, and realized that it was an orchid. Regular readers of Digging RI … Continue reading →