Some of the world's most ferocious predators — natural-born killers such as cougars and bears — are sort of gardeners in disguise, according to a new study from the University of Alberta. Continued: Social … [Read more...]
STATE CHAMPION TREES
Champion trees are titled the largest of their kind. You can see over 25 different Virginia Champion Trees throughout the arboretum, designated by a blue award ribbon. Read more: … [Read more...]
Year of the Gladiolus
Gladiolus are as American as apple pie. Generations of gardeners, from Maine to California, have tucked these summer-blooming bulbs into their gardens in spring and been delighted by the gorgeous flower spikes that appear just a few months … [Read more...]
Blackberry Lily, Belamcanda chinensis or Iris domestica
Blackberry lily, also referred to as leopard lily and several other common names, is a short-lived perennial native to eastern Russia, China and Japan. The dried rhizome has long been used medicinally in Eastern Asia for a variety of ailments. Read … [Read more...]
Heat and Drought Tolerant Plants
Sandy Feather, extension educator in Allegheny county, has prepared this list of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials that don't just survive but will thrive in our long, hot summers. Read more: … [Read more...]
Powdery mildew in the flower garden
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many different plants in the flower garden. Continued: … [Read more...]
What is a harmful algal bloom?
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae — simple plants that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds. The human illnesses … [Read more...]
Who Are The Pollinators?
Although birds, bats, and other creatures are also pollinators, insects are the animals that do the bulk of the pollination that affects our daily lives. Some of these insect pollinators will be familiar (bees and butterflies), but you might be … [Read more...]
Underfoot: Mock Strawberry or Indian Strawberry
I guess that most people usually expect to read about strawberries in the spring and summer. This small, low-growing perennial strawberry may just be creeping near the edges of your yard right now. Read on: … [Read more...]
Fireflies: A Beneficial Insect
Whether you call them lightning bugs or fireflies, you must admit light-producing insects are fascinating. These light producing insects are not a true fly nor a true bug. They are actually beetles in the family Lampyridae. There are approximately … [Read more...]