Site Discussions

Wonderful! How I treasure our time in your Autumn Natural History class at Antioch. We talked about writing, but you did it.

Hi Chris Branson - That’s exciting news - that you want to be a part of the GIMBY “Glad In My Back Yard” Project”  Please reach out to Andrew Drummond at his Ski Shop called Ski The Whites : 211 Main St, Jackson, NH 03846 Phone: (603) 383-3142 See you in the trees!

The information in this article was very helpful to me - my squirrels get botflies and it’s really difficult to see them covered with warbles.

I am not an arborist or carpenter, just a 22 year old office intern. I came across this article by chance and found it delightful and interesting! I had no idea trees were capable of this. Thank you for the concise explanation :)

Thanks for posting this.  I recently acquired an old double bladed axe whose head had gotten rusty and has been painted.  Once I get the handle out, I will use electrolysis to clean the head.  I plan to reinstall the same handle, as it’s in good shape other than being grimy.

I have an extensive collection of “clay babies” found here in WA state.

Hi! Just wanted to say I love your article, very interesting and relatable. Slugs are my favorite animal in the universe and sea slugs. They recently discovered two sea slug species that could detach their body from their head and survive, it’s the only animal in the world!!! But amazing article!

My comment is anecdotal, but over the last 10-12 years I have seen snowshoe hare tracks in our home Sentinel Mtn. range (Adirondacks) decline from abundant to zero. During the last 2-3 years Marten and Fisher tracks are significantly less numerous. I rarely see either and over 40+ years living in the range and hiking my trail system almost daily have encountered rare bobcat sign

What a lovely article. How wonderful to have such history in your own backyard. I’d be out there all the time watching the wildlife!

I spotted a single nighthawk plankton feeding overhead last week, in the Memphremagog watershed.

It’s going to be so beautiful in the spring!

I’m sorry to hear of your husband’s passing (I did not know him), but I am glad that you are still spreading hope and joy with your work. Inspiring creativity and curiosity is so important, and your strength in sharing about your loss reflects your purity of heart and intention. I hope you continue to explore and find joy as joy presents itself in whatever form that may be. The loss of a loved one never leaves our hearts, but we can only hope to see the joy that is available periodically throughout the day, however quickly it may pass. Blessings to you.

My husband and I are interested in growing native plants. I found fox grapes on a weedy cemetery chain link fence. The Nashua Public Library has a great free seed swap area with a cabinet of locally donated seeds.  Can fox grape plants be grown from the seeds of the grapes?

Hi Brett,

Enjoyed your homemade charcoal article. I’m wondering if there is a practical application for an inexpensive home set up that’s eco-friendly. Do you know of any commercial grade, small scale charcoal making apparatus that could easily set up in one’s backyard? Making your own charcoal really is the final frontier. Do you think there’s a market for making your own, and if not, what barriers would you be facing like environmental challenges, local and state regulations, etc?

Thanks so much,
Jeff

Just an idea: collect a hundred emerald ash borers and put them in a blender with cup of water.  Puree at high speed. Add a nutrient solution that will support viruses and bacteria.  After an appropriate time, dump this into a big tank ot nutrient solution, then dilute with water and spray from the air a 50 acre plot that has no EAB so far.
Then see if that holds the EAB at bay.  If so, repeat where there are big stands of ash that are not yet affected.

Beech leaf disease showed up on many of our trees this year in Halifax, Vermont.

What a fantastic article.

On 07/8/24 at 0750 hrs I was walking along the path at Cedar Beach Long Island and for the entire hour I was walking a steady stream of dragonflies (after researching I believe they were farmers) were migrating eastward. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It was really amazing to witness.

Thank you for this article. I saw these birds this spring on the edge of Shelburne Pond in VT. Not being a birder, I was leafing through Sibley in the shorebird section. I had no luck. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

This is interesting. I would like to know more about the effective use of the “root burritos” for protecting/preserving a tree while re-landscaping with stone.