Category Archives: Critters

Book Review: A Sane Approach to Critter Issues

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Mary Schier

Like many northern gardeners, I’ve battled critters pretty much as long as I’ve gardened. At my old house, the issue was raccoons, who had a cozy home in the storm sewer under our street. At my current house, we’ve dealt … Continue reading →

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Critter Control, Part 2: My Bad

Posted on November 12, 2008 by Mary Schier

Today I completed a really unpleasant, but totally necessary job. I disassembled and moved my compost pile in an attempt to get rid of habitat that I suspect has been attracting undesirables to our yard. For several months, bunnies have … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Critter Control, Part 1: The Beaver

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Mary Schier

As has been blogged about elsewhere, a beaver family has taken up residence in my neighborhood. At first, I found the beavers fascinating, watching them swim in the pond and seeing their dam get built, and then rebuilt after the … Continue reading →

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Invasion of the Green Bugs

Posted on September 18, 2008 by Mary Schier

Anyone know what kind of bugs these green guys are? They pretty much destroyed the flower head of this sunflower, and I have seen the bugs in other gardens, too. I checked the Minnesota Extension insect site and my guess … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Plant Problems | Leave a comment

I Spotted a Monarch

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Mary Schier

I did not have my camera with me, but I spotted a monarch in my front garden yesterday afternoon. It’s perhaps the third one I’ve seen this year, compared to dozens in a normal year. The prevailing theory about the … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Critters, Nature | 7 Comments

Butterfly Numbers Down?

Posted on August 16, 2008 by Mary Schier

A surprise encounter with the fellow at left and a recent post on GreenGirls, the Star-Tribune’s entertaining garden blog, got me thinking about butterflies and caterpillars recently. The Green Girls note that butterfly numbers appear to be down in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters | 3 Comments

Suffering from Zone Envy

Posted on May 3, 2008 by Mary Schier

Since envy is one of the seven deadly sins, is zone envy a particularly egregious offense for gardeners? If so, I am guilty after a trip to Chicago this weekend. I went to help my daughter, a student at Loyola … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Garden Travel, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Garden Invasion Averted!

Posted on October 12, 2007 by Mary Schier

I have just dodged a garden bullet. Earlier this week, I wandered into a nursery having a big plant sale. I was specifically looking for a plant with variegated foliage to brighten up one of my backyard beds. This has … Continue reading →

Posted in Critters, Gardening Know-How, Groundcovers, Perennials | Leave a comment