EcoMetro

“Say, was you ever bit by a dead bee?” -- To Have and Have Not , 1944 It’s just a matter of a few months until things start growing like crazy again and lawn care resumes after a wet winter break. Wait – did I say lawn care ? I meant lawn combat . According to the Lawn Institute in Pleasant Hill, Tenn...

Fruit-bearing trees that are neglected will probably become diseased and produce a meager crop of undersized fruit that is out of reach. I should know. When we bought our house six years ago -- which we chose mainly for its oversized (for close-in Portland) back yard -- we became the proud owners of...

We’re past the solstice and that’s good news to me because short days make me want to hibernate. Don’t get me wrong, there’s something lovely about the sparseness of this season and the rich, earthy color palatte that has nothing to do with showy flowers. We also get a chance to read the outline and...

Fall is a time when many people are outside, “cleaning up” their yard in preparation for anticipated harsh weather ahead. It’s also the perfect time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, garlic and ornamental bulbs. When you’re not admiring the gorgeous colors and scents of autumn, get out the rake* and...

If you’re like me, you groan every time you open your snail mailbox and find another catalog. “They’re cutting down trees for this trash,” I lament. It’s approaching an environmental nightmare, with around 20 billion catalogs reportedly mailed in the U.S. annually that destroy 15 million trees and consume...