Earth Snake

"When not hiding under logs and other debris, earth snakes burrow amid leaf litter with the aid of their rather pointed snout."

By Andy Wood

A new trend is growing in communities across our nation with more and more people turning to gardening as a means to reduce food costs, and for some, home gardening can provide assurance of pesticide-free fruits and vegetables. There are lessons a simple garden can offer.

Andy Wood is education curator of Audubon North Carolina and author of "Backyard Carolina," a collection of his WHQR commentaries. Andy reminds us that this President's Day weekend is also the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. To get involved in this citizen science project, go to birdcount.org.