Blog: On Patrol

Just a bunch of cowboy stories.

Blog

How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest

Wasps begin scouting for new homes in early spring. They like sheltered places with easy access to food, like under a branch of a mature tree, or—unfortunately for them and you—the eaves of your house. Paper wasps build their nests from plant fibers supplemented with mud and secretions from their bodies or other plants. Wasps Read more…

Case Study: Woodland Restoration in Stone Ridge, NY

The intermediate area between forest and yard, called an edge habitat, is typically infected with invasive vines and shrubs. This type of environment harbors disease carrying pests like fleas and ticks. Barberry, wild raspberry, poison ivy, grapevines, and other invasive plant species quickly overwhelm trees and make the ground impassable for us. Mice, which carry Read more…

A Brief History of Invasives

For 10,000 years, plants insects and animals here in the Hudson Valley region evolved together. They had an intricate interdependence. A few hundred years ago the first invaders, (Europeans) introduced new plants from other areas of the world, either purposely or as stowaway’s on ships. Indigenous insects, caterpillars and other wildlife did not evolve with Read more…

Winter

We haven’t had much of a winter till recently with this cold snap. Snow? Our driveway wasn’t plowed once all winter, and March is right around the corner. What does that mean for the spring and summer growing season? Will tiny red Poison Ivy sprouts start popping up early? Will that extra couple of weeks Read more…