The hallmark of a witch’s garden is that traditionally, it isn’t really a garden. There were certain herbs that a person might have kept near the cottage door, as they were in regular use. But certainly, when witchcraft carried a death sentence, you wouldn’t cultivate plants that could land you on a pyre. Instead, the witch’s garden was […]
Purple People Eater Brugmansia … Last inside bloom of the winter
A Purple People Eater Brugmansia doesn’t know when it’s time to sleep. The last bloom of the winter, indoors.
The 1925 Tri-State Tornado: In search of the scars from the worst tornado in U.S. history and finding them closer than I expected … A tale told by a tombstone
The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 spent most of its duration along country roads. A look at how rural communities were torn apart.
This Old Gothic House II: What are ghosts, what type of ghosts are there, and what types of ghosts do I live with?
It’s now October 31 … has been for about nine minutes. Tonight is Halloween. Covid is on the upswing in our town, as well as the towns we venture off to for supplies. Otherwise I’m at home, or in the country, away from people. It’s a good time to take an inventory of the ghosts […]
A Field Guide to ghosts on Long Island’s North Shore along Rt. 25A, where you find more hauntings per mile than just about anywhere else
If ghost stories are to be believed, then Long Island must be one of the most haunted regions in the country. This fifty mile drive averages about one ghost every two miles. And this isn’t close to a comprehensive list. Officially the main road is called New York State Route 25A, but it goes by […]
The difference between Halloween and Samhain is in the stars and on the calendar
When you begin looking at the sources for Halloween, you’re inevitably drawn to Samhain. But the waters of history are truly murky here. I set out to track down whether Halloween is indeed descended from Samhain, what connection with the two actually reflects ancient practices, and what when in the year did it occur? The […]
