Sansevieria is an awesome plant and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, making it perfect for indoor growing. If you want a plant-it-and-forget-about-it houseplant, then this is the one for you. The common names for Sansevieria are rather tongue in cheek – mother-in-law's tongue and snake plant. I mean, really, who came up with … [Read more...]
When To Put Out Your Hummingbird Feeders in Spring
The first hummingbirds start migrating northward in early spring, showing up in southern Texas, Louisiana, and northern Florida in late February and the first week of March. It takes a little while longer for them to start showing up in my garden, but they usually show up just when the red buckeyes are in full bloom. This tends to be around mid- to … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Protect Yourself from Mosquitoes
Warm weather is here and the mosquitoes are already biting! With diseases like West Nile virus and Zika that are transmitted by mosquitoes, you’re going to need some protection. Mosquito Protection The first step is to avoid getting bitten -- wearing long sleeve shirts and pants are a great idea towards avoiding contact with mosquitoes. There are … [Read more...]
The Meaning of Rose Colors: A Valentine’s Day Guide
Valentine's Day is nearly here! For those of you looking to send some roses to your Valentine, be sure that the color of the roses you send give the right message. Here's a quick guide to the meaning behind the colors of roses. When in doubt, I say always go with red roses - they are the perfect Valentine's Day flower - although purple is … [Read more...]
Restore metal outdoor furniture to “like new”
A few years ago, I bought a really cute patio furniture set which was composed of a small metal table and two matching metal chairs. I put them on the front porch under the arbor. They were great for sitting and drinking a cup of tea and watching the hummingbirds feed at the cross vine. When I moved into my new house, I put them on the lawn in … [Read more...]
A Good Bug with a Bad Sting: The Assassin Bug
Have you seen one of these in your garden? I don’t know how I never noticed these little insects during the many years that I have been gardening, but they just never registered on my radar. A friend recently posted about being stung by one of these, and that very same day, I realized that I had taken a photograph of an assassin bug … [Read more...]