Did you know that you can get tetanus from the soil? If you're like me, this is a surprise to you. I always thought tetanus came from being punctured by a rusty nail. Not so according to the National Coalition for Adult Immunization. Apparently tetanus bacteria lives in soil, dust and manure. If you have a scratch on your hands and are working in the garden, you have the chance of contracting tetanus. I'm not telling you this to make you worry, just to make you aware. If you can't remember the last time you had a tetanus shot, talk to your doctor. Mine was proactive and asked me on my last visit so I'm good to go for ten more years. So check your medical records or ask the doc. It can't hurt. Of course the alternative is to always wear gloves in the garden, but there's always that pesky weed laughing at you when there are no tools in sight...

Bling bling - took me awhile to understood what that meant. I was reading an article recently about lawns and pesticides. The reason for the pesticides was to eliminate unwanted "weeds" like clover and dandelions in the grass. Clover is actually a good thing. Yes it spreads in the lawn. But it provides nitrogen to the lawn so you don't have to fertilize as much. It also makes your grass look green in the cooler months when everything else is brown, and it stands up to doggy urine. It's better for the environment and your health than all the chemical fertilizers and weed controls, and it isn't invasive. So you have a little clover in the lawn - sit back and enjoy.