Arts and Crafts Ideas for Garden Exploration Can I teach art lessons to kids even if I’m not artistic? Yes! You don’t have to be an artist or even very creative yourself to combine art activities with nature. The final project doesn’t necessarily have to look like something you can identify, a famous painting, or even similar to another parent or sibling’s that’s also participated. The point of these art lessons for kids is to be child created and nature involved....

What is Asparagus Rust? Asparagus rust is a fungal disease that attacks the bushy green tops of asparagus plants. If the disease is allowed to continue, the roots and crown of the plant are affected and the plant is severely weakened. As a result, asparagus spears are smaller and fewer in number. Plants that are severely affected may die during hot and dry summer weather. Additionally, asparagus rust disease stresses plants, making them more susceptible to other plant diseases such as fusarium rot....

Astragalus Benefits Also called Huang Qi, Bei Qi, Ogi, Hwanggi, and milk vetch, Astragalus root has been used for a number of illnesses including: AnorexiaBlood sugar controlCancer therapyDiarrheaFatigueFibromyalgiaHeart DiseaseHepatitisUpper respiratory infections Also believed to stimulate the immune system, improve kidney function, and prevent senility Astragalus root is one of the 50 fundamental Chinese herbs. Clearly more studies are needed to prove the usefulness of this herb in Western medicine. NOTE: Before using Astragalus herb plants or commercially prepared Astragalus supplements, it’s advisable to consult healthcare providers....

Balsam Fir Tree Info Balsam firs look very similar to spruce trees. You can tell the difference by the way the cones grow. Balsam fir cones stand straight up on the branches, while spruce cones dangle. You will never see a balsam fir cone on the ground because the cones break up into small pieces when they ripen. Balsam trees are commercially significant because of their use as Christmas trees. Historically, the trees were important for their resin, which was used to treat lung ailments....

What is Begonia Aster Yellows Disease? Aster yellows disease on begonias is caused by a phytoplasma (formerly referred to as a mycoplasma) that is spread by leafhoppers. This bacterium-like organism causes virus-like symptoms in a huge host range of more than 300 plant species in 48 plant families. Symptoms of a Begonia with Aster Yellows The symptoms of aster yellows vary depending upon the host species combined with the temperature, age, and size of the infected plant....

How to Get Rid of Invasive Plants Yard management includes keeping weeds and invasive flora out of the garden beds and lawn. This can be tricky on some plants due to underground stolons, deep taproots, and the ability to spring back from even a tiny bit of plant material. Natural invasive plant control methods include hand pulling or digging up the offensive specimen. Mechanical removal is often the simplest and doesn’t require a permit, special training, or chemicals....

What are Blueberry Bud Mites? Blueberry bud mites (Acalitus vaccinii) are tiny arthropods that live and feed inside the fruit buds of both huckleberries and blueberries. These tiny creatures can be found through most of eastern North America extending from the ocean provinces of Canada to southern Florida and into Texas. Mild winters in the southern areas of its reach result in the most severe infestations. Identifying Blueberry Bud Mites Blueberry bud mites are white and only about 1/125 inch (0....

About Blushingstar Peach Trees Blushingstar peaches are one of the classic examples of white-fleshed stone fruit. The trees are fairly unfussy provided the soil drains well and resistant to one of the most common fruit tree diseases – bacterial spot. Best of all, they can produce in just 2 to 3 years. Some tips on how to grow Blushingstar trees will send you on your way to enjoying this outstanding fruit....

What Causes Kale to Bolt? When you see your kale plant flowering, it’s essential to remember kale is a biennial. Like many two-season plants, kale spends its first season growing vegetatively. Once the kale plant is exposed to wintry weather, it’s programmed to flower. Most biennials do this in their second year. So what causes kale to bolt in its first year? The simple answer is human eagerness. As a cool-season crop, we are eager to get this biennial into the ground as early in the spring as we can....

What is a Bottle Tree? The bottle tree has a link to African beliefs and practices. It was thought the bottles trapped evil spirits that were killed when the sun’s rays pierced through the glass exterior. The practice moved to the United States southern region, where, originally, they were made from blue Milk of Magnesia bottles hung on a dead crape myrtle tree skeleton. Modern versions may feature brown or multicolored bottles ranged around a spoked pole....

What Are Boxelder Bugs and What Do Boxelder Bugs Look Like? Easily recognized, boxelder bugs are black bugs marked by bright red stripes. Adult boxelder bugs measure about ½ inch (1.5 cm.) in length. Freshly laid boxelder bug eggs, which are laid in spring, are yellow, turning reddish-brown as the nymph inside the egg gains maturity. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, boxelder bugs are most prevalent during hot, dry summers followed by warm, mild springs....

What is Boxwood Basil? As its name suggests, a growing Boxwood basil plant looks much akin to boxwood. Ocimum basilicum ‘Boxwood’ is a highly ornamental basil. This compact, round, bushy basil looks fabulous as a fragrant edging around the garden, in containers, or even trimmed into topiaries. Boxwood basil grows between 8 and 14 inches (20-36 cm.) wide and tall. It is suitable in USDA zones 9 to 11. How to Grow Boxwood Basil Like other basil varieties, Boxwood is a tender annual that likes both warm air and soil....

Bromeliad Plants The unusual appearance of the bromeliad would seem to indicate that the plant is high maintenance and requires special gardening skills. The plant is prized for its thick foliage that grows in a natural rosette. Near the end of its life, a bromeliad plant may produce an inflorescence, or flower. whose form and color vary widely among each variety. The wide leaves are sword shaped or scoop-like and grow around a central “cup....

What is Mayhaw Brown Rot? As mentioned, brown rot of mayhaw is a fungal disease cause by two fungi in the genus Monilinia, usually M. fructicola but less often, M. laxa. A healthy mayhaw with brown rot will undoubtedly survive, but it is still best to control the disease as soon as possible since if left unchecked, losses of up to 50% may occur. The fungi responsible for this disease are spread by the wind or on nearby plants that are also susceptible and infected....

Sadly, bee populations are declining. Bees are becoming few in numbers. The way things are heading, bees and prairies may someday just be things we see in our daydreams. However, like Emily Dickinson’s one bee, each one person who takes steps to help our pollinators is also helping our prairies and the future of our planets. Honeybee decline has made many headlines in the past few years, but bumblebee populations are declining too....

Burro’s Tail Information Burro’s tail is a heat- and drought-tolerant plant well suited for warm to temperate regions. The thick stems appear woven or plaited with leaves. The succulent is green to gray-green or even blue-green and may have a slightly chalky look. Try a burro’s tail houseplant or use it on the patio or a full sun garden bed. Burro’s Tail Houseplant The misnamed burro’s tail cactus produces long, sweeping stems that are arrayed with thick, fleshy, green leaves....

Are Succulents and Cacti the Same? Desert plants come in all kinds of sizes, growth habits, hues, and other characteristics. Succulents also span the visionary spectrum. When we look at a cactus vs. succulent plant, we note many cultural similarities. That is because cacti are succulents, but succulents are not always cacti. If you are confused, keep reading for basic cacti and succulent identification. The quick answer to the question is no, but cacti are in the group succulents....

Fertilizer Content Information Fertilizer is good for plants. However, too much of the wrong nutrient can have adverse effects and too much fertilizer can burn roots and shoots. Reading the fertilizer content will give you a clue to how much of each macro-nutrient is contained in the formula as well as any other nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium. The analysis or grade on a fertilizer label gives the ratio of each macronutrient in the product, represented by a 3-number ratio (NPK)....

Landscaping Around Utility Boxes If you have plans to live off the grid, they’re a fact of life, and they, unfortunately, aren’t usually designed with aesthetics in mind. The best you can do is try to live in harmony with them. The very first thing you need to do when landscaping around utility boxes is to call the company that installed them. These boxes are serious business, and there are often restrictions about what you can do near them, like bans on permanent structures and distances before you can plant anything....

Can You Cut Back Hostas? Can you cut back hostas? Yes, there’s no law against pruning hosta plants, and if you decide to undertake the task, your garden will thank you. For example, you can begin cutting back hosta plants if you don’t want the hosta flowers. It may seem odd to snip off the flowers from an ornamental, but keep in mind that the glory of hostas is their foliage....