Blog archives
Nature stories in our blog
Japanese beetle control: Grubs in lawn
August 3, 2011
Japanese beetles are destroying plants all over Racine, Wisconsin. The other 10 months of the year, they are white grubs in the lawn.
Hummingbird moth: Hummingbird Clearwing sphinx moth
July 24, 2011
Too big and long to be a bumble bee, too small to be a hummingbird, this hawk moth is Hemaris thysbe, and it’s astonishing to see.
Swim with dolphins? Film 'The Cove' shows them killed
July 22, 2011
Flipper dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry and an Oceanic Preservation Society team secretly film the annual killing of 23,000 dolphins at Taiji, Japan.
Butterfly Weed good, Milkweed Bugs bad
May 3, 2011
Butterfly Weed was a beautiful host to Monarch Butterflies in our flower bed — until it was destroyed by Milkweed Bugs.
Genesis, creation and evolution: Science finds snake's legs
February 10, 2011
A 95-million-year-old snake fossil in Lebanon reveals lizard-like leg bones. Did Bible authors know snakes didn’t always slither on their bellies?
Blizzard of 2011: Snow storm video (Racine, Wisconsin)
February 3, 2011
A YouTube video summary of the Blizzard of 2011, as we experienced the snowstorm here in Racine, Wisconsin.
Blizzard of 2011 - Racine, Wisconsin: First video
February 2, 2011
Our first peek out the window at the results of the Blizzard of 2011 in Racine, Wisconsin.
Leaf collection? Mulch leaves into lawn, garden beds
October 11, 2010
Fall leaf collection in Racine is bizarre. Dead leaves feed the worms, amend and inoculate the soil. Mulch them into the yard — not the pavement!
Hang on, little tomato
July 23, 2010
We had a lot of rain in our backyard tomato garden, and more is on the way. This reminds me of a Pink Martini song.
Hair soaks up oil spills: MatterOfTrust.org
May 3, 2010
Hair soaks up oil from oil spills, and MatterOfTrust.org invites donations of hair, fur, and nylons from hair salons, pet groomers — anyone and everyone.
Wisconsin has statewide tornado drills today
April 23, 2009
In southeastern Wisconsin, our mock warning runs from 1:20 to 1:25 this afternoon.
House plants: Will fragrant hoyas fill our home with Froot Loops® perfume?
April 14, 2009
The Hoya obscura is said to be an especially fragrant houseplant. We should find out soon.
Etymology of 'Lent'
February 25, 2009
It’s related to ‘length’, as in the days getting longer in the spring.
Hummingbird babies webcam
February 6, 2009
Live Ustream webcam showing hummingbird babies in Sunnyvale, California.
Playing in the dirt
May 30, 2007
A roundup of our spring backyard gardening activities here in Racine, Wisconsin.
'An Inconvenient Truth': The movie about Al Gore, global warming
April 27, 2007
There’s too much hagiography of Al Gore, but this is still a very worthwhile movie about the very survival of our planet.
Spring is sprouting
March 22, 2007
We’re going to try to grow many of our backyard plants from seed this year.
NOAA Weather Radios with SAME technology
February 9, 2007
One of these radios could save your life, or the lives of your loved ones.
About earthworms and soil
December 3, 2006
Underneath my yard, I’m hoping to cultivate a healthy population of these amazing animals.
Hummingbirds in Wisconsin
November 1, 2006
I did some reading, hung a hummingbird feeder, and sure enough — a hummingbird came to our window.
'Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill': Mark Bittner's feral parrots
October 15, 2006
A fascinating study of San Francisco’s conure parrots and a man who developed a close friendship with them.
You've got weather
August 24, 2006
I recommend using Weather Underground and My-Cast to stay updated on weather conditions.
Movie review: 'Step Into Liquid' (2003)
August 11, 2006
This so-so surfing documentary showcases the sport at several unusual locations.
Tomato hornworm caterpillar? No, tobacco hornworm
July 27, 2006
I was very honored to have this visitor devouring our tomato plants — until I discovered what it really was.
Yew shrubs: Toxic taxus, poisonous plants!
July 11, 2006
The plant is exceptionally toxic, with one mouthful able to kill a horse or cow within 5 minutes.
We are gardeners, and it is good
June 2, 2006
We have been reading a few gardening books, and now we’re planting some things in our yard.
Charlie don't surf
May 3, 2006
Creeping Charlie or Ground ivy, a.k.a. Glechoma hederacea, is a lawn weed that can drive a homeowner batty.
This is for the birds
April 28, 2006
Moving from apartment to house has made it possible for us to attract a much wider variety of birds to our backyard.
