Author Archives: dirtynailz

HerbDoc has been doing battle with yellow jackets: I reluctantly took the hummingbird feeder in about ten days ago.  It hangs under the eaves on my second floor deck and had been invaded by some very aggressive yellow jackets.  They … Continue reading →

I like using soaker hoses in my vegetable garden. They deliver the water where it’s needed with minimal waste, and they don’t splash water on the leaves – an invitation to disease.  When we moved about a year ago, I … Continue reading →

I am evaluating the tomatoes I grew this year, and having already gushed about “Orange Russian” in a previous post, I will now turn my critical eye toward two more cultivars. Both of these are new to my garden. One … Continue reading →

I was wondering whether any of you has used a product called “Superthrive.” (And no, I am not working for the company that makes it!) I’ve been using it for several years, and have been getting good results. It’s not … Continue reading →

This summer, I have been experimenting with new cultivars – both ornamental and vegetable.  Below are my reviews of one of each: Achillea Paprika: This was purchased to attract hummingbirds. I planted it in a large, tall planter on our … Continue reading →

I was outside a few days ago working in my vegetable garden, and bumble bees were hovering nearby.  Those bees  got me thinking about honeybees, and I realized that I hadn’t seen many honeybees this season. Then I read in … Continue reading →

HerbDoc plays host to a robin family! It was only a common robin (Turdus migratorius) that built her nest in my clematis trellis, but I learned so much about bird behavior from her.  About five weeks ago, I noticed a … Continue reading →

I debated about posting this, but after consulting with fellow bloggers, I decided to go for it. Below is the potato I dug in my garden. Mother Nature sure works in mysterious ways.

Herbdoc has seen some interesting insects around her garden this summer: It certainly has been a banner year for insects here in Rhode Island! Here are three I recently found in my yard. Black Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) – … Continue reading →

Recently, I told you about the monarch caterpillar that had pupated among my string beans. I considered myself lucky to have found the chrysalis, but did not dare hope to catch the emergence of the butterfly. I was away for … Continue reading →