By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul Every spring, after the last of winter’s snow has completely melted and as I start the wonderful, dirty work of turning the soil of my vegetable beds, I find myself gazing often to the just-greening-up ground […]
Tag: By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul
Column, The Outside Story
Snowy owls erupt in number
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul Here’s a quiz for Harry Potter fans: What kind of owl played Hedwig in the movies? If you guessed a snowy owl, you’re correct. With their bright yellow eyes, bulky-looking bodies, and white feathers that cover […]
Column, The Outside Story
Gentians provide fall color — and bumblebee food
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul The deep purple caught my eye, an unexpected color amid the autumn-hued palette of gold, red, and orange. I stooped to look more closely, thinking perhaps someone had dropped some manmade thing on this grassy, well-traveled […]
Column, The Outside Story
Common grackles show their colors
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul The grackle appeared early last spring, the day before I put the feeder away (so as not to tempt the bears who would soon be awakening from their winter dens). In the dim light of a […]
The Outside Story
Feeding deer does much harm, little good
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul A few winters back, a doe frequented our compost heap. The garden fence around it proved an inadequate barrier, as she simply hopped over it to nosh on the rotting shards of jack-o-lanterns and the latest […]
The Outside Story
Sundogs, halos and glitter, Oh, my!
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul Had a unicorn pranced across the trail in front of me, I wouldn’t have been surprised. It was one of those sparkly winter days, when snow drapes fir trees and glints across the landscape. I was […]