You can identify soldier beetles by their yellowish to tan color, along with a large black spot on each wing. Otherwise known as leatherwings, the colors of soldier beetles vary depending on the part of the country in which they live. Are Soldier Beetles Good or Bad? The soldier beetle life cycle begins as a larva that hatches from an egg in the fall. These larvae are predators and will eat the eggs of many garden pests, as well as damaging larvae and soft insect bodies....

Cottage Garden Info Cottage gardens are similar to Colonial gardens and are designed much the same way using many of the same types of plants. The most popular flowers found within an English cottage garden would be: Hollyhocks Delphiniums Daisies Herbs – mint being one of the most popular With their mystical charm and abundance of scents, English cottage gardens exhibited a style that evolved through the necessity of the times....

How to Ripen Squash Using a sharp, sterile knife, go ahead and remove all the squash fruits from their vines, leaving an inch or two (2.5-5 cm.) of stem on each one. Gently and thoroughly wash them in mild soap and water and rinse them well. Also, a great way to make sure they don’t carry any mold or bacteria into the ripening process is to dip them into some cool water that has a bit of bleach....

Columbine is a perennial wildflower that commonly grows in woodland environments and typically isn’t well suited for growing indoors. A columbine indoor plant may not live long and will probably never bloom. If you want to try your hand at growing container columbine inside, though, the following tips may help. Caring for Columbine Indoor Plants Plant columbine seeds in a pot filled with a mixture of half potting mix and half garden soil, along with a generous handful of sand to promote good drainage....

If you don’t have the room to grow these plants in a flower bed, you can still grow Iceland poppy in a pot. Growing Iceland poppy as a houseplant isn’t really feasible, but you can easily grow them in pots outdoors. Indoor Iceland poppy culture is too difficult and not recommended. Iceland Poppy in a Pot There are several important things to know about Iceland poppy care in order to be successful....

Recognizing Fusarium Rot of Iris Iris basal fusarium is favored by warm, humid conditions. The disease generally attacks the roots first, and then enters the base of the bulb. It can also enter the bulb through cracks or wounds. Iris basal rot is spread by contaminated bulbs or soil, as well as splashing water, wind, insects, or garden tools. The first signs of iris fusarium rot are generally stunted growth and yellowing leaves, often with lesions at the base....

Protection from cold temperatures is one of the most important aspects of jasmine plant care. Growing jasmine vines can create a perfumed shield over arbors, trellises and fences. The bush types are excellent landscape specimens with starry pink, white, ivory or even yellow scented blooms. Jasmine Plants Jasmine plant care may require a bit of effort, but the results are well worth the work. Not all jasmine plants are fragrant, but the most common and hardy do produce a sweet, carrying fragrance....

What are Kissing Bugs? Kissing bugs (Triatoma spp.), also called conenose insects, are easy to recognize by the 12 orange spots around the edges of their bodies. They have a distinctive, cone-shaped head with two antennae and a pear-shaped body. These insects feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals. They don’t inject the disease organism when they suck blood but, instead, excrete it in their feces instead. Humans (and other animals) infect themselves when they scratch the itchy bite....

Grocery prices are going up. It’s something we can’t escape from, and probably a trend of the future. But you can cut those bills in half if you grow a kitchen garden. A kitchen garden bed is one of the better ways to ensure fresh produce, know what is going into your food, and enjoy the great outdoors. What is a Kitchen Garden? Our grandparents had great kitchen garden ideas....

Kiwi Plant Care and Support In addition to kiwi pruning, your vines will require additional kiwi plant care. Many kiwi vines die in the first year because the soil is too wet. Water deeply in the absence of rain, and allow the soil around the crown to dry out before watering again. Kiwi plants are sensitive to fertilizers, so use them in small amounts. Fertilize them the first year with a light scattering of fertilizer around the base of the plant monthly from spring until midsummer....

Kura Clover Uses Kura clover plants are not very well known in this country. It was used in the past as a nectar source for honey production. Currently, its use in grazing is on the top of the list. Kura clover plants are native to Caucasian Russia, Crimea, and Asia Minor. However, it is not cultivated very much in its countries of origin. Kura plants are perennials that spread by underground roots, termed rhizomes....

What are Bee Hazard Warnings? The western honeybee is the top pollinator in this country. This bee is credited with most of the pollination activity required to produce up to one-third of the nation’s food supply. Over 50 major crops in America are dependent on honeybees for pollination. The need is so acute that agricultural companies rent honeybee colonies for pollination. Other types of bees also help with pollination, like bumblebees, mining bees, sweat bees, leafcutter bees, and carpenter bees....

What is a Plant Sucker? You’re probably thinking, “What is a plant sucker?” Essentially, a plant sucker is an effort by the tree to grow more branches, especially if the tree is under stress, but you have taken perfect care of your plant and it wasn’t under any stress. Besides, that does not explain why your tree has suddenly switched varieties. Chances are, your tree is actually two trees spliced or grafted together....

About Scented Geranium Plants Many people consider the various scented geranium types to be herbs. They produce flowers, but the real reason to grow them is for attractive and scented foliage. The aroma comes from oil produced at the roots of leaf hairs. Each variety has a unique smell, including aromas reminiscent of lemon, rose, mint, and even coconut. Scented Geranium Varieties The options for aromas are nearly endless with these species of scented geranium: P....

Can protecting and planting trees help reduce climate change? The answer is yes, but not a resounding yes. A combination of reforestation and afforestation would be needed, together with a reduction in use of fossil fuel. Read on for more information. Trees and Climate Change How can planting trees help to reduce climate change? To understand this, you need a basic understanding of what causes climate change. Humans have released large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere through burning coal, oil, and gasoline....

Macaw Palm Info The macaw palm, Acrocomia aculeata, got its name because its nuts are consumed by the hyacinth macaw, a South American parrot. The tree is also called the grugru palm or the coyol palm. A fermented beverage called coyol wine is made from the tree’s sap. Macaw palm plants are slow growing as seedlings. However, once they get going, they can reach 30 feet (9 m.) tall within five to ten years and can potentially reach 65 feet (20 m....

Making a ditch for drainage can enhance the appearance of your yard, even when your ditch is nothing more than a dry creek bed. Drainage Ditch Plans Check permit requirements in your city and county; there may be rules about redirecting water, especially if you live near a creek, stream, or lake. Make sure your drainage ditch won’t cause problems for neighboring properties. Plan the course of the ditch, following the natural flow of water....

Why a Dove Tree Isn’t Flowering A dove tree is a big, vital tree, up to 40 feet (12 m.) high with a similar spread. But it is the blossoms that make this tree so appealing. The true flowers grow in small clusters and have red anthers, but the real show involves the big, white bracts. Two bracts subtend each flower cluster, one about 3-4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm.) long, the other twice that long....

Among the most common problems found in sandboxes are insects. The specific types of insects can vary greatly. Regardless of the type, bugs in sandboxes are a major concern. Bugs in sandboxes can quickly ruin a much anticipated day of play. Various types of stinging insects, such as wasps, may be attracted to sandboxes. Several species of ants may be found as they tunnel throughout the box. These cases are especially troublesome as they are likely to bite or sting children while they play....

About New York Fern Plants Ferns are the classic shade plant, perfect for those areas of the garden where other plants just don’t thrive. Growing New York ferns is a great option, as the plants are easy to maintain, come back year after year, and will spread to fill out space. These ferns produce trailing rhizomes, which help send up new fronds so that you get more each year. Thelypteris is the marsh fern family of plants....