Category: The Great Outdoors
-
Hummingbird Moth
The first time I saw it, I wasn’t sure I wanted to stick around. Flying insects sometimes come across as bullies, willing to defend their space with actions causing me discomfort, let’s say. Dr. Katie Kilmer, an associate professor of biology and environmental health at Missouri Southern State University, assures me hummingbird moths do not…
-
September
Midway through summer, wind and rain visited my home during the night. Had I been nervous about a storm, I would have been nervous for my tomato plants. I have two, 2’ x 8’ elevated garden beds tucked around the corner of the back of my house. They are my secret garden. Secret, except my…
-
Household Chemical Collection Center
Last year was a time of deep, deep, deep cleaning at the Johnson house. Imagine finding aged chemicals older than you. Camping fuel? Fertilizer? We had it all. But what do you do with it all, right? For those residents of Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk and Webster counties, you make an appointment at the Household…
-
Lightning Bugs = Fireflies
According to Dr. Katie Kilmer, assistant professor of biology and health at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, lightning bugs/fireflies are specialized predators and feed on other insect larvae, snails and slugs. “They are important to help maintain a balanced ecosystem,” she says. Medically speaking, “lightning bugs create their light using two chemicals, luciferin and…
-
Strawberry Blonde Calendula
I have not been successful in identifying this insect. The flower, on the other hand, is a strawberry blonde calendula. Seeds were purchased from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Flowers are mixed in with both the flower garden and vegetable garden. Bees like them, but so do green worms. The plants do not seem to do…
-
Goodbye, Shishito Pepper
For some time, I had been watching with anticipation a large lipstick pepper turn from green to red. Within a few days of full color, all that was left in its space on the plant was the top and stem. Poof. Poof and it was gone. I ruled out squirrels because they don’t seem to…
-
Baby American Robins
Received a call a couple weeks ago from the guy who is going to help with some landscaping updates in the ol’ yard. With alllll the garden-loving rain, I wasn’t expecting to hear from him in May. But there we were, talking on the phone. He said he was ready to begin working the. next.…
Homegrown Journal 