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What are Soldier Flies? What are soldier flies? These relatively large insects resemble black wasps, and yet they’re perfectly harmless to human beings and other mammals. They don’t have mouths or stingers, so they can’t bite or otherwise hurt you. The fly portion of this insect’s life is spent flying around and mating, then laying eggs and dying within two days. They don’t like to go in houses, they help to keep away the common housefly, and they prefer spots that humans shun such as manure piles and outhouses....

What is Southern Blight on Carrots? Carrot southern blight is a fungus (Sclerotium rolfsii) that is associated with warm temperatures following heavy rains. While a fairly minor disease in the home garden, southern blight is a more major problem for commercial growers. This is because the fungus affects a diverse group of crops (over 500 species!), especially those grown in tropical to subtropical regions and survives for long periods in the soil....

About Southwestern Shade Trees When you are looking for southwestern shade trees, you’ll need to identify trees that can tolerate the long hot summers of your region. Ideally, you’ll want to select easy maintenance trees that have few pest or disease issues and are drought tolerant. Fortunately, types of shade trees in the Southwest are many and varied. Some provide filtered shade while others offer complete sun blocks, so know what kind of shade you want before you shop....

What are Botanical Gardens? Gardeners and students of plant life recognize the diverse appeal of botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are more than display areas and sites of great beauty. The McIntire Botanical Garden gives the definition as, “…a collection of living plants and trees for display, research, education, and conservation.” As such, botanical garden information encompasses learning and teaching, data gathering, study, and preservation of collections from every corner of the globe....

Strawberry Begonia Houseplant Little room is necessary for growing strawberry begonias. This tough, little plant sends out runners similar to a strawberry plant, hence the common name. Strawberry begonia plants may have solid green foliage or variegated leaves edged with cream colors. The leaves have a heart shape. You may have heard of the strawberry begonia houseplant and wonder, are strawberry begonia and strawberry geranium the same? Info about the strawberry begonia plant indicates they are....

This does not mean that there is nothing that you can plant there. Knowing a little about street strip ideas, plant needs, and salt-tolerant plants can help you with what to plant between the sidewalk and street. Street Strip Ideas – Plant and Shrub Choices The answer to, “How does road salt affect plant growth?” is that the excess salt creates an imbalance in the water in the plant cells....

About Swallowtail Butterflies Swallowtails belong to the Papilionidae family of butterflies. Several species are native to and common in the U.S. The swallowtails are among the most spectacular of butterflies with their characteristic “tails” reminiscent of swallows. Since they are so attractive, many people want to bring more swallowtails to their gardens. To get more in your backyard, choose appropriate host plants for swallowtail butterflies. These are the plants on which particular species lay their eggs....

About Tiger Baby Melon Vines If you are wondering why they call this melon ‘Tiger Baby,’ just take a look at its outside. The peel is a dark gray-green and covered with rich green stripes. The pattern resembles the stripes of a young tiger. The meat of the melon is thick, bright red, and deliciously sweet. The melons that grow on Tiger Baby vines are round, growing to 1.5 feet (45 cm....

Basic Orchid Care for How to Make an Orchid Bloom Light for Getting Orchids to Bloom For most houseplant orchids, the lack of light is the number one reason that the orchid won’t flower. Orchids are deceptive when it comes to light because the leaves of the plant can look healthy and green while, in fact, the orchid plant is getting too little light to truly thrive. If you are trying to make an orchid rebloom, the first thing to try is moving the plant to a brighter location....

Swaddled Babies Orchid Info There are ten species in the genus Anguloa, all of which hail from South America. Care of swaddled babies is similar to other orchids but relies upon mimicking the plant’s native region. Most growers find that a greenhouse and high humidity are the keys to care of swaddled babies. Swaddled babies orchid is one of the largest plants at nearly 2 feet (61 cm.) in height. The name refers to the appearance of a tiny baby swathed in blankets in the interior of the flower....

The most popular garden fruit trees are typically the fastest growing, lowest maintenance choices. That’s why a list of the top 10 backyard fruit trees is a great place to begin your search.

Is the Fuchsia Hardy to Your Area? With so many types from which to choose, it can be difficult to determine if you have a hardy fuchsia or a semi-hardy one that acts as an herbaceous perennial, dying back in winter with new growth in spring. Additionally, a hardy fuchsia plant in Dallas may not be hardy in Detroit. Before you learn when to transplant hardy fuchsias, make sure the plant is hardy or semi-hardy to your area....

Transplant Shock from Repotting When a plant suffers from wilted leaves after repotting, along with a host of other symptoms, it’s usually caused by the way it was treated during the transplant process. One of the worst culprits is repotting the plant at the wrong time. Plants are especially vulnerable right before they begin to bloom, so always avoid transplanting in the spring. Other causes for transplant shock from repotting are using a different type of potting soil than the plant previously lived in, placing the transplanted plant under different lighting conditions after transplant, and even leaving the roots exposed to air for any length of time during the transplant process....

Symptoms of Alternaria Leaf Spots on Turnips Alternaria leaf spot of turnip shows up on leaves first, displaying small, dark brown or black spots with a yellow halo and concentric, target-like rings. The lesions eventually develop a thick buildup of spores and the centers of the holes may fall out, leaving a shot-hole appearance. The spots also show up on stems and blooms. The infection is frequently introduced on infected seed, but once established, it can live in the soil for years....

Ulster Cherry Information Ulster sweet cherries are similar to the popular Bing variety. They are dark, deep red in color and have a very sweet flavor. The variety was created as a cross between Schmidt and Lambert cherries. These cherries are perfect for fresh eating and snacking but also for making wine and juice. The Ulster variety was designed to produce an abundant amount of large, sweet cherries, like Bing, but to be more crack resistant....

Can You Grow Vegetables in Coffee Grounds? It’s true fellow coffeeholics! You can use coffee grounds for vegetables. Our morning elixir is not only a morning perk but can be beneficial to our gardens too. So how are coffee grounds good for vegetables? I’m sure many of us consider coffee to be acidic but that is actually a fallacy. The grounds are not all that acidic; in fact, they are close to pH neutral– between 6....

Are Goats Good for Controlling Weeds? Goats have been used for centuries in different cultures as meat, for their milk, and as four-legged brush clearing machines. Goats will eat almost any vegetation and have a capacity to digest even plants with stickers and thorns. Goats will even eat poison ivy and many other pest plants. Goats in the garden are a win-win solution as long as you don’t have prize roses or other vegetation nearby that these animals might find tasty....

Common Non-Organic Gardening Issues To put it bluntly, the only real difference between these two gardening methods lies in how fertilizer, pest control, and mulch are applied in the garden. Other than that, they’re basically the same. Fertilizer With fertilizers, organic approaches seem to fare better with fruits and vegetables, not only because it provides the best flavor but for the simple fact that people (and wildlife) are consuming them, making organic a healthier option....

Vegetable Garden Books to Munch on This Fall We think it’s time to talk about books on vegetable gardening that have been published recently. There’s always something new to learn about growing vegetables and there’s nothing more comforting on a cool day than thumbing through books on vegetable gardening as we wait for the next spring planting season. So, if you’re into growing vegetables and need some current vegetable gardening info, read on....

If you’re pregnant, folic acid is critical for prenatal wellness and prevention of birth defects. Folic acid helps prevent defects of the spine, including spina bifida, and may reduce the risk of cleft palate. Although more research is needed, studies suggest that a deficit in folic acid may be associated with autism. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor to prescribe a prenatal vitamin, as diet alone may not provide sufficient levels of folic acid....