Nature

I have made several attempts at growing tomatoes.  It seems that everyone ELSE I know doesn't have a problem, but we all agree that the season (especially THIS year) is much too short to grow an abundance of tomatoes to can, eat fresh and make salsa and sauces.  I came across Topsy Turvey, a unique twist on how to grow tomatoes that just might make the difference.  Have you used it?

When Spring hits in the Northland we're always excited to see it "green up".  Buds on the trees and  green grass (sprinkled with dandlelions), but there is a plant that is causing some havoc in the area that you should be aware of called Garlic Mustard.

If you couldn't make the original "Dig in the Downtown Waterfront" planting date (June 5), you are in luck!  Because of snow, oops, (that delayed Spring cleaning in downtown Duluth), I mean rain, the date to plant the annual flowers has been moved to Thursday, June 6 and volunteers are welcome and needed!  Grab your planting gloves and join in on the fun!!

As a child growing up in Wrenshall I did a lot of agate picking.  My parents started me out at the young age of three, agate picking in the various gravel pits in our area.  I'm not sure if a permit was needed then, but as I was checking out the Carlton County Transportation website, I came across the information I felt I should share with other "rock hounds".

Longer hours at the Lake Superior Zoo means more time to visit over 250 different species of wildlife, including brown bears, lemurs, lions, kangaroos, tigers and more!

I was invited to go fishing the St. Louis river with my friend Rich and his dad yesterday morning, and it would be my first time up the river since the historic 2012 June flood.  The damage along the riverbank was unbelievable.  There were mudslides, islands washed away, and trees toppled into the river all along the way.

This Memorial Day weekend, Cathy and I both went camping to separate locations.  My family decided to join some friends and go camp in the rustic northwoods.  Cathy and her husband went and parked their RV in a casino parking lot.  Ok, so it's a "campground."    Check out the pictures and the drastic differences, it'll make you smile.

Memorial Day weekend is here and a lot of people are heading out to the campsites.   This year is our first extended weekend camping as a family which has really complicated my usually short list of things to pack for myself.

I've never liked the smell of mosquito repellent like Off or Skin-So-Soft.  I never thought the Citronella candles worked very good and short of fumigating with a canister of insecticide fog like they use to do at the drive-in movie theaters, what's left to try?  DIY Mosquito Trap!

It's spring!  We're starting to see buds on the trees and the grass is greening up (our neighbor has mowed his lawn twice already....he's retired).  But, with the sure signs of summer around the corner also comes weeds!  With the weeds, questions.  How do I get rid of them?  Will they come back?  How long until it's safe for my pets to walk on the lawn again?!?!  If you use this inexpensive conco

After nearly 50 structures were burned in the Wisconsin wildfire, authorities late Wednesday night announced that the fire is 100% contained.

With the warmer weather (and NO SNOW), we can now start thinking about those starter plants.  My friend Jackie has her tomatoes and strawberry plants already started in a cute little greenhouse on her deck.  Inside her home she has fresh herbs that will be replanted and moved outside eventually.  I am in awe of her gardening knowledge!  If you are seeking that same knowledge, these classes with t