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Nature and Nurture

The Flower Killing Moon

When you see that beautiful full moon in May – know that it is a Flower Moon. It occurs at the time in spring when flowers pop up everywhere. David Grann writes on page one in his book Killers of the Flower Moon, “In April, millions of tiny flowers spread over the blackjack hills and… click to read about the Flower Killing Moon in eastern North Carolina

Rain Gutter Gardening at Big Mill Bed & Breakfast

I heard about this new gardening idea – it is called the Rain Gutter Grow System (RGGS). Being a real southern farm girl, I love farming and gardening. Once I read about this innovative growing system, I couldn’t wait to start. Basically the Rain Gutter Grow System is a self-watering container gardening system “on steroids.” … To see Chloe’s Rain Gutter Garden click here:

Welcome Home to Our Purple Martins

Folks in eastern North Carolina love Purple Martins and I am one of those folks. My dad taught me to treasure these special birds. Every spring he watched for his Martins to return. And now I do the same thing. In March, a Purple Martin scout would come and sit on the bird house –… Click to read more about these spectacular birds.

Fossil Hunting and the Fossil Museum in Aurora, N.C.

Dig for Fossils in Aurora, North Carolina Big kids and little kids like to dig in the dirt. When I was growing up on the farm here in eastern North Carolina, if we dug deep enough we could find a fossil. It was so exciting to get those remnants from the past and to know… Click to read more about Fossils and the Fossil Museum in Aurora, NC

Fun Things to Do With Edible Flowers

Did you know that some flowers can be lunch? I grabbed my Edible Flower book and wandered around the yard, tasting. I eat whatever is in the yard that I KNOW is edible, including  pecans, blackberries, mulberries, blueberries, tomatoes, wild cherries, figs and cucumbers. Now I have added Edible Flowers to my “Okay to eat”… Click to see what edible flowers grow all around you.

Chloe’s Easy Homemade Suet Recipe

Big Mill B&B birds need special foods in the cold winter.  I was snowed in so I created this easy, new Suet Recipe with foods I had on hand in the pantry. The birds LOVE it! And children love helping you make it. There are two items you really need: grease (either lard, bacon fat… Read more about Chloe’s Homemade Suet

Contented Cows at Simply Natural Creamery

All the cows at Simply Natural Creamery dairy in eastern NC  have a name – and they are all women. This wonderful North Carolina dairy and creamery produces some of the BEST ice cream around. And to think – it was started as a project for the children of the owners. Neil Moye bought three… Read more about Cupcake and her life at Simply Natural Creamery

5 Birds That Help Protect Your Garden

We all know that birds add beauty and intrigue to our garden; that’s exactly why we add bird feeders and houses to our yards in the first place, but the truth is that the benefits the feathered creatures bring go far beyond aesthetic appeal. Birds play a great role in preventing insects from eating and… Read more

How to Save Flower Seeds

It’s time to save seeds for next year’s flower garden.  These datura or Devil’s Trumpet seed pods will dry out and turn brown. That is the time to harvest them. Georgia O’Keefe liked Devil’s Trumpet or Jimson weed as it is often called. ~~~~~~~~~~~ To everything there is a season. It’s late September and, like… Read more

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco Center

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park is a fascinating world of birds There are more than two thousand birds from six continents in Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park located in Scotland Neck in eastern North Carolina. It is truly a bird watcher’s paradise!  In fact, it features the largest collection of waterfowl in the world.  Founder Mike Lubbock… Read more