5 Old Foods To Throw In The Garden Instead Of The Garbage About two months ago, we were FINALLY getting our seedlings put into the garden. (It snows in May in Colorado, so we get started later than most folks.) On one of the many trips inside the house to fetch a tool I’d forgotten, I noticed an old potato sporting many eyes in the pantry. Normally this all-seeing potato would probably have ended up in the trash, but since we were in the process of gardening anyway, this time I decided to plant it. I didn’t read any books or how-to guides for growing potatoes from, well, other potatoes. I just cut it into five sections, dug five holes and plopped ‘em in. And now we have 5 healthy potato plants growing away in our garden! This got me thinking about other “spoiled” or “unusable parts” plants that can be re-born in the garden. Love This? Thanks for subscribing! Read on to discover more foods that should be planted, not tossed, when they begin to sprout because of age. 1. Image credit: energyandintensity via Flickr 2. 3. 4. Image credit: slgc via Flickr
ISU Forestry Extension - Trees of Iowa: An Interactive Key This interactive dichotomous tree key was developed to help identify the most common trees in Iowa. The key is based on vegetative characteristics such as leaves, twigs, fruits, and bark. It is not a complete key. It does not include all trees grown in Iowa. The proper use of the key may be compared to the use of road signs where a choice of two directions must be made at each intersection. If at the end, the solution does not match the specimen, one can usually identify a point in the process where the choice of direction was in doubt. Acknowledgements: Some of the pictures on these web pages are from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service Trees and Shrubs Pocket Guide, The Sibley Guide to Trees, and Forestry Images.
9 Easy Garden Plants For Hardworking People It’s a common dilemma … you love the looks of a flourishing garden, but don’t have a lot of time or energy to put into keeping it up. You’re too busy with the demands of job, caretaking, and just plain living. The good news is that gardening can be a lot simpler than you think. It’s mainly a question of choosing the right type of plants. Here are 9 shrubs, flowers, and vegetables that will require minimal care. Green Plants Image credit: katerha via Flickr Shrubs Busy people tend to be impatient people, so you may wonder why we mention shrubs. Vines Vines are another choice which will provide you with both privacy and beauty. Succulents Love This? Thanks for subscribing! Succulents are beloved of busy indoor gardeners, due to their appealing appearance, low maintenance, and limited need for water. Flowers Image credit: botheredbybees via Flickr Bulbs Plant bulbs in the fall and fugeddabout ‘em. Perennials (Day Lilies) If you’re looking for a hardy perennial, the day lily is for you. Edibles Herbs
20 Houseplants To Clear Toxins From The Air In Your Home! Bringing a bit of nature into your home does more than brighten the atmosphere. Introducing houseplants into various rooms in the house can help reduce the chance of getting seasonal sicknesses (such as the common cold), remove airborne contaminants (volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), reduce the chance of headaches, lift your mood, decrease your blood pressure, reduce allergies, improve sleep and much more. The 20 plants listed below are specifically known for their air purifying properties. And while an open window may feel like all the fresh air you need, did you know that everything from toilet paper to common household cleaners can contain chemicals and release toxins like formaldehyde? Or that VOCs like benzene can be released into the air by everything from the paint on your walls, to the printed material found in your home? So why not breathe a bit easier and enjoy the beauty of a new houseplant at the same time! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Love This? Thanks for subscribing! 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
NASA Has Compiled a List of the Best Air-Cleaning Plants for Your Home Many of us spend most of our time indoors, so it’s important to cultivate a space that’s a healthy one. A simple—and beautiful—way to do this is through houseplants; they add some green to your home while being an effective way to purify the air. NASA hardly seems like the organization that would give us insight into these types of plants, but in the late 1980s, the US government agency collaborated with the Associated Contractors of America (ALCA) to come up with a list of the most beneficial flora for your home. Their informative Clean Air study found that some plants, more than others, could naturally filter harmful chemicals and help mitigate the effects they have on humans. So, what are the best air-cleaning plants? The Florist’s Mum and Peace Lily took the top spot. Love the Garden created a helpful infographic that will tell you which house plants are best and what chemicals they filter: With some help from these plants, your air can be cleaner and healthier:
How to Buy The Right LED | Lightbulb Reviews The guy standing in the lightbulb aisle at the home center was helpful this time. He knew plenty about LEDs, even which dimmers worked with them. But it turns out he didn’t work there. He was an electrical engineer just passing by. That’s too bad, because there are a few things you need to know before you choose an LED. In “How to find an LED lightbulb that fits your fixture” we offered ways to make shopping easier. Don't mix bulb types A combination of bulbs—CFLs, halogen, incandescents, and LEDs—should not be used in a multi-bulb lighting fixture, especially if it’s an enclosed fixture. Pick the right dimmer This is when you might start to miss incandescents, but most were phased out and are no longer available.
4 Drought Friendly Medicinal Herbs For Your Garden It’s wonderful to grow your own herbs, but if you’re environmentally-conscious and have a busy schedule like me, you’ll want ones that need minimal watering and attention. I’ve compiled four of my top drought-tolerant medicinal herbs for your garden. Here are my picks: Feverfew (Tanacetum spp.): Feverfew is fairly easy to grow from seed and can be grown indoors or outdoors in pots or in your garden. Love This? Thanks for subscribing! The aerial parts of the plant (those parts that are above the ground) are used in herbal medicine as a proven remedy for migraine headaches when taken regularly as a preventive measure. Photo Credit: Juniperus Communis via Wikimedia Commons Juniper (Juniperus communis): There are 170 different species of juniper. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): You can easily experience the beauty and healing properties of lavender by using in food and body care. It grows best in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Dr.
Plants That Are Dangerous For Pets Spring has finally sprung — but some of the flowers and plants growing in your garden or blooming in your vases could cause serious harm to your pet. As a veterinary toxicologist for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and a gardening enthusiast, I often give advice on planting pet-safe gardens — and with the planting season in full force, it’s important for all dog and cat owners to be extra vigilant about keeping dangerous plants out of their homes and gardens. If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested a toxic plant, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888-426-4435 and contact your veterinarian. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Lilies You may be tempted to decorate your home with a beautiful bouquet of lilies, but doing so could spell trouble for your cat. Daffodils Sago Palms Love This? Thanks for subscribing! Sago palms (Cycads, Macrozamia and Zamia spp.) are often outdoor ornamental plants in warm climates or houseplants in cooler climes. Tulips Begonias
Spring Cleaning: Hacked! (Infographic!) It’s not just a pretty title… it’s a way of life! (Or at least a whole bunch of great ways to clean house!) Everyone loves spring. Everyone loves when things are clean. Most people, though… not such a big fan of spring cleaning. And who can blame them? Interested in sharing these great tips on your blog or site? <i>Click image to see a larger version</i></br><a href=" alt="spring cleaning hacked infographic" src=" width="695" />Spring Cleaning: Hacked! SSF Team What a relief....you made it through the entire post! Latest posts by SSF Team (see all)
7 Home Maintenance Troublespots to Take Care of Today Okay, okay, I admit it. I didn’t follow my own advice. The signs of potential trouble were there, yet I chose not to take them seriously. Love This? For quite a while, I’d been finding it more and more difficult to turn my key in the front door lock. My son was still outside, so I passed him a pair of pliers through the window; though he was able to force his key to turn, we knew it was only a short-term solution. Door that no longer works quite right. By Laura Firszt, Networx.