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 […]
BUD WORMS – YUCK !
The Tobacco Budworm This is a familiar garden pest we encounter every season. It is a caterpillar that loves many of our favorite plants. It is also an agricultural pest of both tobacco and cotton. In our gardens it feeds on the flowers of geranium, petunia, snapdragon and nicotiana – sometimes even […]
Ligules and Stipules Oh My !
Ligule The word ligule comes from Latin “ligula” which means strap. It is a thin outgrowth at the junction of a leaf and leafstalk. Ligules occur only in some grass species. Basically, it acts in a passive way in protecting the culm and leaves that it encloses. It protects the leaf from the entry […]
MY NEIGHBORS’ UGLY BUILDING !
What can I say. Some views are detrimental to your mental health ! What should I plant on my rooftop to block the view of that ugly building ? – this is something I have heard countless times. Now … Throwing a plant in a pot and hoping it works – doesn’t work. […]
DODDER
Ah yes… summertime ! Warm sunny days, light breezes and DODDER !!! A tangle of dodder ! What is it? Cuscuta (dodder) is a genus of over 201 species of yellow to orange parasitic plants that look like angel hair pasta! It is in the morning glory family – the Convolvulaceae (morning […]
THE APHIDS ARE COMING !
What are they ? Typical green aphid with live birth young Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long, slender mouth parts that they use suck out plant fluids. They tend to feed in dense groups on leaves, buds, stems, or flowers. Some species feed on only one type of plant, while others are […]
MINI DAFFODILS !
Wow ! THE SPECIES Daffodils are a group of flowering plant in the Amaryllis family. They are one of the most carefree of all spring-flowers. Growing almost anywhere, they are not bothered by deer or rodents. Blooming reliably for generations, they return every spring in greater numbers! Flowers come in many […]
AQUILEGIA
So very pretty ! Used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK COLUMBINE It is a spring favorite of many gardeners – and tough as nails ! The entire group has lovely flowers with an amazing variety of color choices. Aquilegia (also known as buttercups) has about 60–70 species. These are mainly found in meadows, woodlands, and […]
CINERARIA
An electric blue if I’ve ever seen one ! Thank you Shutterstock! The name Cineraria falls under the Pericallis genus, which includes the daisy. Composed from the Greek – peri meaning around and kallos meaning beauty. It is a member of the Aster family (Asteraceae), closely related to ageratum, gerbera daisies, straw […]
