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Making a Paper Garden Most parents are already brainstorming craft projects by late summer. You will need plenty of supplies and ideas to keep antsy little ones busy. Much of what you need can easily be saved, like acorns, twigs, pressed flowers, popsicle sticks, and anything else. Paper flower crafts may also need colored construction paper and paper plates. Paper garden crafts could feature paper plants or simply cut outs from seed catalogs or magazines....

Why Does Parsley Turn Yellow? If your parsley plant suddenly looks peaked, you may be searching for the answer to the question, “Why does parsley turn yellow?” Parsley leaves yellowing may be the result of a number of factors. Let’s take a look at some of the most common: Leaf spot fungus– A fungal infection called leaf spot may quite possibly be the culprit, resulting in parsley leaves yellowing. Both sides of the leaves are afflicted with yellow specks, which gradually turn dark brown with tiny black pin spots in the center and a yellow outer border....

What is Dogscaping? There is hope for those that love both their dogs and a nicely maintained landscape. Pet friendly backyards are a new trend in landscaping. You’ll find that designing a landscape for dogs is fun and satisfying. The goal: develop a garden that is beautiful AND has room for your dog’s habits and activities. You both can be happy! The first step when designing a landscape for dogs is observation....

The pineapple flowering houseplant is a bromeliad and requires similar care. Care for the variegated pineapple is the same as an edible pineapple, but don’t expect fruiting overnight. Both types can take up to five years to produce fruit. Pineapple Bromeliad Varieties Bromeliads are a family of sometimes stemless, sometimes epiphytic plants. They may also be grown in an almost soil-free environment made up of other materials such as sand, peat, and bark....

How to Grow Pineapples Pineapples are a tropical herbaceous perennial belonging to the bromeliad family. They grow to about 5 feet (1.5 m.) in height with a 3 to 4 foot (1 m.) spread. The idea that pineapples are an exotic, decadent fruit isn’t farfetched. They were first introduced to Europe in the 1700’s where they were delicacies of great value sought after only by the very wealthy. Growing pineapples really is very simple....

Can you grow your own dog food? You can, but take time to learn about the best plants to grow for your dog. The following information should help. Vegetables Dogs Eat Plants toxic to dogs are always something you want to avoid. But you probably didn’t know there are actually a number of healthy fruits and vegetables for dogs that you access, or grow, all the time. Here are some great choices to grow in your garden if you’re not already:...

Making a Cactus Container Garden The huge variety of cactus that are suited to container growing is astounding. There are big specimens, diminutive types, and even many that cascade over container walls. Cacti are succulents and fit well with other types of succulents such as jade plant or aloe. The fun thing about a cactus garden in containers is that there are no rules as long as all the plants have the same care and lighting needs....

Propagating Scented Geraniums Propagating scented geraniums is surprisingly easy and requires very little expense and no fancy equipment. In fact, some gardeners have good luck by simply breaking off a stem and planting it in the same pot as the parent plant. However, if you want to be more deliberate with a higher chance of success, here are simple steps for growing scented geraniums from cuttings. How to Root Scented Geranium Cuttings Although these adaptable plants may take root any time after spring, late summer is the optimum time for rooting pelargonium cuttings....

There are many hardy fruit trees, but even the hardiest can be hurt by sudden drops in temperature. When they are dormant, the damage is usually minimal, but as soon as the sap starts flowing and budding begins, the tree is at its most vulnerable. Using frost shields for fruit trees can help prevent or minimize damage. How to cover fruit trees from frost? Preventing frost damage to fruit trees takes a few items and some preparation....

What are Purple Hull Peas? Purple hull peas are a member of the southern pea, or cow pea, family. They are believed to be native to Africa, specifically the country of Niger, and most likely came over during the era of American slave trading. As their name suggests, the pod of purple hull peas is of course, purple. This makes it very easy to spot for harvest among the green foliage....

Rockery Garden Design Many gardeners prefer to construct a rockery in autumn, and then plant it in spring so the roots have time to establish before hot weather. You need several large rocks to serve as anchors for your rockery. Collect the rocks yourself, or purchase them from a rock dealer, quarry, or landscape company. If possible, use interestingly shaped rocks that are native to your area. Rocks with lichens or moss add texture, color, and a feeling of permanence....

Rosemary Lavender Sage Thyme If you live for fresh herbs in your cooking, you’ll want to know about managing rosemary beetles or if you are in a particularly homicidal mood, how to kill rosemary beetles. What are Rosemary Beetles? It’s always helpful when dealing with an adversary to read up on your foe. Gather as much knowledge as possible before deciding on your battle strategy. First, you need to know what rosemary beetles are....

What You Need to Make a Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder Family friendly activities that also have beneficial impact on the local fauna are hard to find. Using bottles to feed birds is an upcycled way to keep birds hydrated and fed. Plus, you are repurposing an item that otherwise has no use except the recycle bin. A soda bottle bird feeder craft is an easy project in which the whole family can participate....

Southern Pea Blight Information This is probably the most common blight on southern pea. It is caused by a soil borne fungus which develops quickly in moist, hot situations where temperatures are over 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 C.). It is harbored in plant debris from the previous year. The one thing all the pea blight diseases have in common is moisture. Some occur when temperatures are warm and wet, while others need it cool and moist....

Spore Collection Techniques The reproductive bodies of fungi, mushrooms’ purpose in life is to produce spores, or seeds. Each type of fungi has a different spore type and releases them in unique patterns dependent upon the form of the underside of the mushroom cap. Gill mushrooms are the easiest from which to harvest spores, but with some experimentation, all types can be harvested. Intrigued? So how to harvest mushroom spores, then?...

Don’t panic carnivores! Super Bowl vegetable dishes won’t be the only things on the menu. How about pickled jalapenos to go on those grilled burgers? Keep reading to learn more Super Bowl feast ideas. Super Bowl Sunday from the Garden? In our household, every year, there’s one guy who must bring his “famous” chicken wings and another couple that has to bring their BBQ ribs. This starts the menu out with some significant protein, but what about those who want to lighten things up or avoid meat entirely?...

What is Subterranean Composting? Like it sounds, subterranean composting is a method of decomposing organic materials by burying them in the ground. Not only do these methods allow gardeners to keep their compost out of sight, but there are additional advantages to composting in the ground: Less work – No need to make compost in one place, then transport it to where you’ll need it. With an in-ground compost system, the decomposed organic materials are right where you want them....

Vegetable Gardening in Ireland Microclimates on the Emerald Island can vary from region to region, but generally the weather is moderate. Temperature extremes aren’t an issue for vegetable gardening in Ireland, but abundant rainfall and soggy conditions are problems Irish gardeners must overcome. Not surprisingly, the most common vegetables found in Ireland gardens are cool season crops. These include broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, parsnips, and scallions. Cucumbers and tomatoes are popular summer crops....

What Were Ancient Vegetables Like When humans first walked this earth, many types of plants our ancestors encountered were poisonous. Naturally, survival depended upon these early humans’ ability to distinguish between ancient vegetables and fruits as to which were edible and which were not. This was all well and good for hunters and gatherers. As people began to manipulate the soil and sow their own seeds, life changed dramatically. So did the size, taste, texture, and even the color of ancient vegetables and fruits....

What are Chayotes? Chayote, as mentioned above, is a cucurbit, namely a squash vegetable. The fruit, stems, young leaves, and even the tubers are eaten either steamed or boiled in stews, baby food, juices, sauces, and pasta dishes. Popular in Central and South American countries, chayote squash was introduced into the Antilles and South America between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with the first botanical mention in 1756. Primarily used for human consumption, the stems of chayote squash are also used to make baskets and hats....