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Birds & Other Wildlife

How To Make a Stone Birdhouse

Published on December 6, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Decorative stone birdhouses and a bluebird.

Make a decorative stone birdhouse for your garden with these step-by-step instructions. With the right adhesive, it can last outdoors for years. To make nesting boxes suitable for wild birds, see … [Read more...]

How to Clean Animal Bones for Display

Published on November 23, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Groundhog bones being cleaned with bleach solution.

Ready to clean animal bones? This tutorial provides a clear, step-by-step process for bleaching and whitening bonesโ€”a final step in preparing degreased animal bones for display. For more posts on … [Read more...]

How to Make a Butterfly Water Feeder

Published on August 11, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Homemade butterfly feeder hanging from a tree branch in the garden.

While butterflies rely on water from puddles and ponds, a simple waterer like this can also help. Made from a repurposed grapevine wreath, it's pretty yet cheap and easy to create. Not sure which … [Read more...]

60 Plants Butterflies Must Have to Survive

Published on July 24, 2020Last updated November 18, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Butterfly in garden.

We know itโ€™s important to provide flowers that attract butterflies, but thereโ€™s another important element that is often overlooked: the baby nursery. Without the specific plant species needed, … [Read more...]

Easy DIY Ant Moat For Hummingbird Feeders

Published on June 1, 2020Last updated October 5, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Hummingbird approaching moat at feeder that prevents ants from getting in the sugar water.

If you have ants raiding your hummingbird feeder, this simple DIY moat will prevent them from ever reaching the sugar water. Iโ€™ve been using mine for a while now, and it completely solved the … [Read more...]

Make a Chickadee Nesting Box (Free Plans)

Published on May 13, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Chickadee perched on a branch.

Build a chickadee nesting box with these free plans. The hinged roof makes cleanup easy, so you can reuse the box year after year. I also have plans for making a wren nesting box and bluebird … [Read more...]

Welcome Beesโ€”But Don’t Forget These Other Pollinators

Published on May 12, 2020Last updated October 6, 2021 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Lizard in the garden.

In recent years we have seen a greater awareness of the importance of pollinators like birds, butterflies, and bees. But what about all the other pollinators that form our ecosystems? Find out what … [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).
Join me as I share creative + frugal home & garden ideas with a dash of humor.
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