My Apologies to the Skunk Community

...k: raccoon and skunk diets overlap considerably. Both are highly adaptable urban foragers. In the case of our raised beds, both the skunks and raccoons are digging for figeater beetle larvae (Cotinis mutabilis). These huge larvae must be a delectable treat, the equivalent of a raccoon and skunk sushi party. Maybe I should overcome my squeamishness and join in the nightly feast. A plate of Cotinis mutabilis larvae ceviche could just be the next hip...

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Saturday Tweets: Trade Your House For an Entire Medieval Italian Village

...Simple (@rootsimple) April 6, 2015 Six ways local officials can encourage urban farming: http://t.co/ysRVP84REp — Root Simple (@rootsimple) April 11, 2015 Cover Crops Have Got It Covered Part IV: Planting and Managing Cover Crops in Vegetable Gardens http://t.co/a1nF2Xg3SD #aaatopblogs #feedly — Root Simple (@rootsimple) April 11, 2015 Bicycle Powered Chili Roaster http://t.co/c2wgqEeOTs via @Natural Building Blog — Root Simple (@rootsimple) Apri...

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What does the loving landscape look like?

...first, was transformed by nature into a sort of secret park known only to urban explorers–and then, beginning in 2006, was refashioned into a much loved public attraction by a team of architects and designers. If you can get your hands on Walking the High Line by Joel Sternfeld, it’s well worth a look to see how nature had gained a strong foothold in on the train tracks before the designers moved in, even though she had to work high in the air on...

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So Cal Alert: Polyphagus Shot Hole Borer

...two or three feet. That’s no quick sprinkle with a hose! Visit the Inland Urban Forest Council to download a PDF about how to properly water your trees. Also, we might suggest that this is a great time to install a laundry to landscape graywater system. Many thanks to our excellent arborist, Nick Araya of Tree Care LA, who came out yesterday to look at our drought-stressed avocado tree (no beetles yet, thankfully!) and gave me the 411 on the Poly...

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