About Me
Hi, I’m Ann. I grew up on a small hobby farm on a lake in Minnesota. I loved the animals and didn’t mind those chores at all, but when it Continue Reading →
My 14 Favorite April Blooming Native Illinois Wildflowers
April was a busy month for first time bloomers. Just as the pollinators emerge from the cold winter, these flowers are here to welcome them. And even if you aren’t a bee, you have to love the beauty that comes every spring. Continue Reading →
Easy DIY Natural (And Permanent) Plant Markers
So wanting plant markers, but hating the look of plastic, I decided to try another more permanent and natural material – rocks! Continue Reading →
How I Turned Earth Day Into My Earth Life
Every April 22nd, the news fills with stories about Earth Day and why it’s important to protect and restore our environment. That’s great, but one day a year is nothing, we all need to live Earth Lives. Continue Reading →
Book Review: “The Nature Of Oaks” by Douglas W. Tallamy
Every once in a while, a book comes into your life at the perfect time. For me that was “Nature’s Best Hope” also by Doug Tallamy. That book brought so Continue Reading →
My March Blooming Illinois Native Plants
March is such a hopeful month. So many signs of life starting to emerge and shake off the last cold dreariness of winter. It’s also the month where a few Continue Reading →
Happy Pi Day – Vegan Blueberry Maple Cardamom Ginger Pie
Celebrate Pi (Pie) Day with a “vegan, blueberry, maple, cardamom, ginger pie.” Continue Reading →
How Procrastination Saves The World
Today was an exciting day! You’ve probably heard a million times not to do fall “clean up” and to wait until later in the spring to cut down last year’s Continue Reading →
How To Stop Birds From Hitting Your Windows
There is nothing worse than the sound of a bird hitting your window and then finding the poor thing gasping on the ground — or worse, not gasping. There are Continue Reading →
Invasive Bush Honeysuckle – How To Eliminate It and Why
An escapee from the landscape industry, the invasive bush honeysuckles (Lonicera Spp.) are taking over much of Illinois (and the US). It’s degrading habitat for wildlife and reducing diversity of Continue Reading →