How to Grow Wildflowers

GROW WILD! INDIGENOUS PLANTS DEFINED ~ a plant that lives or grows naturally in a particular region without direct or indirect human intervention. When it comes to sowing wildflowers, the most common misconception is that you can wander out onto your lawn, shake one of those pretty cans of wildflower seeds into the wind, and nature…

Bug Hotels

I bought this bowl at a sale. I loved how it looked and the price made it irresistible, but I never quite knew what to do with it. One Christmas I filled it with ornaments and pressed it to the wall. Taking it down (and putting it up) was a bit of a tricky challenge,…

Five Fast Facts about Bumblebees

There are over 255 different species of bumblebees in the world. The largest is the Bombus dahlbomii which can grow up to 4 cm (1.6 inches) long. The smallest is the Perdita minima who measures in at less than 2 mm.Unlike honeybees, bumblebees do not die after stinging. Bumblebees flap their wings 130 times per…

Ode to the Toad

To attract toads to your space simply provide cool, damp spots by using shade-loving lush-leafed plants such as hostas, lungwort or brunnera.

Coffee Plants Didn’t Count on Humans

Ever wonder why Nature put the caffeine in the bean? Here’s why.

Cycle of the Bumblebee

Unlike hives of honeybees the bumblebee enters winter in a hive of one. And it isn’t so much a hive as it is a hole.

Roses Love Alfalfa

Alfalfa is to Roses what Kale is to Humans. Ridiculously good for whatever ails you. Alfalfa is a common forage crop rich in nitrogen and other trace nutrients. You can purchase alfalfa in pelleted or meal form from any livestock feed store in 50 lb (22.6 kg) bags for a very reasonable price. You can…

Five Gusty Gifts Hurricanes Give

When you find out a hurricane is roaring your direction your first thought is unlikely to be, “Bring on the gifts!” However, there is usually a brilliant life giving reason behind every natural climatic event, and hurricanes hand out several unique botanical gifts. Unfortunately, these “gifts” are often served up with a huge side order…

How Many Aphids Can One Ladybug Eat?

One lone ladybug can consume 60 aphids a day making them a most welcome asset to anyone’s garden.

Never Dump Your Fishing Worms in the Forest. Here’s Why

When I was about seven years old we were staying at a campground that sold red wigglers for fishing. Being a rather strange and oversensitive child (who grew into a strange and sensitive adult) I spent the money my parents gave me for chips and a pop on a Styrofoam packet of worms instead. I took…