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The Dirt

It’s Spring. Oh, so Ephemeral!

The Beauty of Spring by Sandy Swegel Spring Equinox is officially upon us. All the joys of the season abound. Birds singing, Crocuses blooming, Baby lambs gamboling in the fields outside of town. Yet one of the dearest and most fleeting of Spring delights is the annual blooming of the spring ephemeral wildflowers. This is a great […]

Saving the Monarch—one yard at a time

How You Can Save the Monarch by Sandy Swegel Native plant advocate Doug Tallamy tells a wonderful story about how the Atala butterfly was saved from the brink of extinction. “…the Atala butterfly was thought to be extinct in the 1970s. Then landscapers started placing the insect’s food source, a native plant called the coontie, […]

7 great reasons to put up some bat houses this weekend.

Help House the Bats by Sandy Swegel Need a project this weekend while you’re waiting for winter to finish? How about building a bat house, or just installing one in the eaves of your house. This is an excellent weekend project and there are lots of great reasons for sharing your property with bats. 7. […]