Plant Specialists has been creating spectacular rooftop retreats in Manhattan for over 51 years – that’s a lot of gardens ! Here are a few tips that we consider with every garden that we design. If you are looking for good terrace design – consider these, then call Plant Specialists ! Tip 1 […]
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Husbandry
Husbandry in Ants Husbandry is the practice by many ants to farm, care for, tend to, and otherwise raise other insects like humans do with livestock. It’s a really amazing product of evolution ! They also perform a rudimentary farming by collecting fungi for food which they feed little bits of leaves ! […]
PARTHENOCARPIA
What is in a name ? Parthenocarpia is a scientific word derived from classical Greek – Parthenos (virgin) + Karpos (fruit). It refers to fruit that can grow and mature without any viable seeds inside. Fertilization triggers the formation of an embryo (inside the seed). In plants this releases hormones which are responsible for […]
Good Gourd!
Pumpkins Squashes and Gourds !!!! Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) is a genus of herbaceous vines native to the Andes and Mesoamerica. They are grown worldwide for their edible fruit and seeds. We grow many of these in our customers rooftop gardens! The five domesticated species are Cucurbita argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. […]
CELLS
Plant vs Animal cells Plants, like animals, have eukaryotic cells – meaning they possess a defined nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Although they share many common features, they have 2 main differences. First, plant cells have a cell wall that surrounds the cell membrane – animal cells do not. This allows them to form an […]
Hardiness
Salt and Ice When you add salt to ice it melts. Why? The melting occurs because the salt molecules sneak in between the water molecules and this increases the distance between the water molecules. By making them farther apart than it would at that temperature they now behave as a liquid. Sugar has a […]
ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE
ANTHRACNOSE This is a fungus that infects a wide variety of ornamental trees and shrubs. Commonly affected plants include Japanese maple, dogwood (both shrubs and trees), oak, oak leaf hydrangea, Boston ivy, willow, and sycamore. Ornamental pink willow is very susceptible It is also a very common disease of commercially grown fruit […]
THE TENT MAKERS
TENT MAKERS Summer has come to an end and some of us are looking forward to a cooler seasonal change. Especially the tent making caterpillars !!!!! Really scary picture of a tent caterpillar nest ! LIFECYCLE This is a specialized sub group of butterflies and moths, the young (caterpillars) of this […]
OH NO ! STINK BUGS !!!!
THE ADULTS Common brown stink bug This crop pest of China was introduced into Pennsylvania by accident in 1998, and has spread throughout the Northeast. The name “stink bug” refers to glands on the abdomen. When disturbed or if crushed the insect will release a potent and unpleasant odor – like potent skunk […]
