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Birds & Other Wildlife

Why Hummingbirds Are Avoiding Your Feeders

Published on May 11, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Hummingbird avoiding sugar water feeder

Wondering why nearby hummingbirds aren't visiting your feeders? This checklist looks at why they might be avoiding your yard—or choosing a neighbor’s instead. By understanding what they need, you can … [Read more...]

What I’m Reading: Gardening, Nature, & Life Stories

Published on April 26, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Garden and Nature book covers.

If you’re looking for gardening and nature books that explore how the outdoors shapes our lives (and vice versa), this is a growing list of titles I’m reading, enjoying, and recommending, covering … [Read more...]

Tips for Creating a Wildlife Pond & Garden

Published on April 15, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Wildlife pond in urban garden with dragonfly.

Wildlife gardening can transform even a modest urban space into a thriving habitat. In these videos, UK ecological gardener Chris Baines shares how he created his own wildlife garden and pond decades … [Read more...]

Where Native Bees Spend the Winter (& How Gardeners Can Help)

Published on April 11, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Spring garden plants with a native sweat bee.

Ever wonder where bees disappear to in winter—and how they reappear like magic in spring? This gardener’s guide to native bees reveals where they really nest (hint: not in hives) and how you can help … [Read more...]

Garden Trends That May Do More Harm Than Good

Published on March 4, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Collage of bee hotel, monarch caterpillar and adult butterfly, and assorted native and non-native flowers.

Well-meaning garden trends aren’t always harmless. See how, despite our best intentions, hand-rearing monarchs, bug hotels, and guerrilla seed sowing can cause bigger issues. To avoid unnecessary … [Read more...]

Hummingbirds Through the Seasons (A Guide For Gardeners)

Published on January 26, 2025Last updated March 30, 2025 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Collage with hummingbird hovering over summer and winter gardens.

From spring migration through summer breeding in our gardens to the return journey south in fall, there are plenty of things gardeners can do to help hummingbirds thrive. If you are eager to know … [Read more...]

DIY Bee House Using Scrap Lumber

Published on September 12, 2024 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

Turning scrap lumber into a bee house

Use this tutorial to make a simple bee house for wood-nesting bees in your garden. It uses leftover scraps of untreated 2x4s for an eco-friendly way to help native bees. We also have free nesting … [Read more...]

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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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