Signs of Plant Poisoning in Cows Not all plants poisonous to cattle will be lethal or make animals severely ill. It’s important to be on the lookout for any signs that your cows may have gotten into some toxic plants. Some are subtle, while others may be obvious: Not eating at all or as much as usual Losing weight An overall unhealthy appearance Muscle weakness Failure to grow or develop normally...

Are There Flowers Bees Don’t Like? If you are searching for flowering plants that repel bees, or flowers bees don’t like, you may be disappointed. There aren’t too many. In fact, most flowers go to great lengths to make themselves attractive to passing bees. Bees are essential for pollination. Without pollination, flowers don’t produce the seeds that will grow into next year’s plants. Flowers need bees to survive. That’s why you’re unlikely to find many, if any, flowering plants that repel bees....

Don’t rush to give up on sweet, healthy honey just yet though. Chances are good that the honey you enjoy is fine. Let’s learn more about what makes honey toxic and toxic honey plants. Can Honey Be Poisonous? Poisonous honey is not something new. In ancient times, honey from toxic plants nearly destroyed armies fighting battles in the Black Sea region of the Mediterranean, including the armies of Pompey the Great....

What is Pre-Seeding? Pre-seeding is when you plant seeds for your spring garden in late fall or early winter. In essence, you plant the seeds for next year’s garden the year before. When you pre-seed your garden, you are allowing Mother Nature (rather than the nursery industry or your own judgment) to have control over when the seeds germinate. This results in earlier seed germination in the spring, but also in healthier plants better suited to outdoor weather....

Why are Primrose Leaves Turning Yellow? Yellowing primrose plants can be attributed to a few causes. One common and easily treated problem is improper watering. Primroses need moist but not waterlogged soil. Make sure to water them regularly, but plant them in soil with good drainage to ensure they don’t stand in water, which can cause root rot and yellowing leaves. By the same token, don’t let the soil dry out, as this can cause yellow, brittle leaves....

Propagating Passion Flower Seeds Passion flower seeds are best germinated while fresh, or straight from the fruit. They do not store well and will usually go dormant for up to a year. To break dormancy and improve germination for seeds that have been stored a while, you can simply take a piece of fine sandpaper and lightly rub one or both sides of the seeds. Then soak the seeds in lukewarm water for about 24 hours....

Growing a Pussy Willow Tree One of the first trees to break bud in late winter or early spring, learning how to grow pussy willows provides the garden with unique interest from the furry catkins, which are soon followed by whiteish yellow flowers, when much of the landscape still sleeps in dormancy. For optimum results when learning how to grow pussy willows, pay attention to the location where it is planted....

Looking for an ornamental grass that offers unique interest? Why not consider growing rattlesnake grass, also known as quaking grass. Read on to learn how to grow rattlesnake grass and take advantage of this fun plant. Quaking Grass Information What is rattlesnake grass? Native to the Mediterranean, this ornamental quaking grass (Briza maxima) consists of neat clumps that reach mature heights of 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.). Tiny blooms shaped like rattlesnake rattles dangle from slender, graceful stems rising above the grass, providing color and movement as they shimmer and rattle in the breeze– and gives rise to its common names....

Aporocactus Rat Tail Cactus Facts Rat tail cactus is a trailing plant that sends out long stems with short, fine spines. The overall color of the plant is green when young but the stems age to an almost beige color. Flowers are rare but when they arrive, they are a glorious bright pink to red hue. Blooms are up to 3 inches (8 cm.) long, tube-shaped, and arise on mature stems....

Crepe Myrtle Bark Shedding – A Perfectly Normal Process A lot of people plant crepe myrtle trees and then start worrying as soon as they find that the bark is shedding from a crepe myrtle tree in their yard. When you find bark coming off a crepe myrtle, you might think it is diseased and be tempted to treat it with a pesticide or antifungal treatment. However, you should know that peeling bark on crepe myrtle is normal....

Learning more about regional gardening tasks and creating an October to-do list can help growers stay focused, even as the activity in the yard begins to slow. South Central Gardens in Fall October can be one of the most enjoyable months for gardening. Without the heat and humidity of summer, growers may find a sudden renewed interest in working outdoors. While gardening in fall often does not consist of too much planting and seed sowing, there are some crops that will continue to thrive late into the season....

While climbing is the main purpose of tendrils, they may also have some negative consequences as well. Given that there are downsides to tendrils on vine plants, should tendrils be removed? What are Tendrils for? There are two types of tendrils: stem tendrils like those found on passionflowers or grapes and leaf tendrils such as those found on peas. Stem tendrils grow out of the stem and leaf tendrils are modified leaves that emerge from a leaf node....

Why Protect Amphibians in the Garden? One in three amphibian species, including frogs, toads, and salamanders, are on the red list of endangered species according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Amphibian friendly habitats in the garden are a small but important way to help reverse this trend. Some added benefits of amphibians in the garden include: Beautiful chirping sounds that signal spring and sound throughout the summerNatural pest insect controlAn all-around healthier local ecosystemCute garden residents...

What are Rose Chafers? In identifying the rose chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus syn. Cetonia aurata), one will note that it is a tan, long-legged, slender beetle from 5/16 to 15/32 inches long (8-12 mm.). As you can see, this beetle is smaller than the Japanese beetle and does differ in appearance. They are, however, alike in the appetite and the damage they do. The adult rose chafer’s main diet is flower blossoms, especially those of peonies and roses....

Due to their popularity, lilies are often some of the first flowers introduced by those wishing to include the element of fragrance into the ornamental border. Though lilies do vary subtly by species, most produce large showy blooms on tall upright stems. Rubrum lilies are an excellent option for those wishing to enjoy a profusion of fragrant blooms late in the growing season. What is a Rubrum Lily? Hardy to USDA growing zones 5 to 7, Rubrum lily bulbs produce large clusters of dark pink flowers with even darker colored pink spots....

Saffron Crocus Growing Conditions Saffron has been a popular spice since ancient times. It has an important place in the cuisines of Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean cuisines, and was a common barter spice brought to new lands by Spanish and other explorers. The spice is pricey but you can grow your own and harvest the flavor and color rich styles from the centers of your flowers. That is, of course, if you have the proper saffron crocus growing conditions....

Choosing Ohio Valley and Central Region Shrubs There are several criteria to consider when selecting central region or Ohio Valley shrubs. Shrubs can vary in their mature size, light requirements, and soil conditions. Some produce beautiful, seasonal flowers and others retain their foliage in the winter. When choosing shrubs for Central U.S. and Ohio Valley regions, also take into consideration how tall and wide the shrub will grow. Some shrubs will stay small or can be pruned to maintain their size while others grow quite large....

Lasagna Compost Garden The simplest way to take advantage of the debris in your landscape is to compost it. Basic compost rules require nitrogen and carbon as the basis of the organic materials. When aerobic bacteria and generous amounts of worms get to work on these materials, they turn it into a nutrient rich source of soil for the garden. Therefore, the easiest use of lasagna composting is in the compost pile....

What is Souring of Fruit? Fruit souring in plants is a very common problem and appears frequently in citrus, figs, and grapes. It’s caused by a variety of soil-borne yeasts that gain entry through the skins of ripening fruits, where they feed, resulting in the fruit’s fermentation. Wounds may be so small that they’re difficult to see with the naked eye, but soon water-soaked spots appear and spread across the infected fruit’s surface....

The typical South African gardening style combines native plants with edible and exotic specimens. The seasons are opposite to many western countries, with typical fall and winter the warmest and wettest months, while the months of summer are cooler and dry. South African gardens must take into account when rainfall will occur, and how to protect plants from May to September when the chance of rain is minimal. Gardening in South Africa Because the weather is so warm consistently year round, you can garden in any season....