The saying goes that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you’ve seen a toad ambling around your garden, beauty may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Many people consider these bumpy, jumpy, lumpy-looking creatures downright ugly. Yet toads are incredibly beneficial, and having one or two in your garden
Take Another Look at these Snail Eaters Read More »
Did you catch the spring spectacle of male turkeys gobbling and strutting their stuff to attract the attention of hen turkeys? Males often court in groups, with the dominant male gobbling, spreading his tail feathers, drumming / booming, and spitting. In my neighborhood there’s a huge flock with a least a half dozen of them
Those Wild Turkeys Read More »
Tuesday, September 22 is the autumnal equinox, astronomically the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. From this point until the first day of winter, days will get shorter. The time of the year usually ushers in cooler weather, which is a good reminder to start cleaning up the garden. Referred to
End of Season Clean up with the Equinox Read More »
Summer is here and so are yellowjackets – those one-half to one-inch-long bright yellow wasps with black strips and their signature “narrow” waist. Yellowjackets prey on other insects and scavenge on human food and garbage. They will fiercely defend their nests – in holes in the ground, inside wall cavities or hanging gray paper-looking ones,
Watch Out for Yellowjackets! Read More »
In Marin, flies are often a nuisance during summer and fall, and some species enter our homes. Here are the most common: Filth-breeding flies like house flies and blow flies develop in compost, animal waste, dead animals, and garbage. These flies are commonly contaminated with bacteria, including those associated with food poisoning and can spread
Flies can be a Nuisance Read More »
Home composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden—and the environment. By turning kitchen scraps and yard trimmings into rich, nutrient-filled compost, you reduce the amount of waste going to landfills, improve your soil naturally, and help plants thrive without relying as heavily on commercial fertilizers. It’s a win for
Compost Smarter: Keep the Good, Keep Out the Rats Read More »
Here in Marin, we’re fortunate to have ready access to wonderful, healthy produce. And it’s even better if you can step into the garden and pick your own! Before harvesting, check out those leafy greens, or your apple, pear, lemon or lime trees, and look for the telltale signs of leafminers, the twisting trails (or mines)
Did you eat your fruits and vegetables today? Read More »
It’s summertime, a busy time for travel. One thing you don’t want to experience on your trip is bedbugs – those small, wingless insects that feed on blood, causing itchy bites, and generally irritating their human hosts. While the EPA, CDC, and the USDA all consider bed bugs a public health pest, bed bugs are
Don’t bring Bedbugs Home with you! Read More »
During this time of year, many insects, including ants and termites, search for new places to establish colonies. When conditions are right—warmer temperatures, brighter sunlight, and light winds—winged insects leave their original nests. This mass flight is known as swarming, and the winged insects are called swarmers or alates. Although dramatic, swarming itself is short-lived
Is that an Ant or a Termite? Read More »
Have you ever seen these critters in your rose garden? Or worse yet, do you have any of these symptoms that they’ve been there? Roses with petals that resemble Swiss cheese? Young buds and stems that have holes or are broken just below the bud? Meet the really bad guys of the rose garden –
These are Nasty Rose Pests Read More »
