What Is Astragalus

Let's just be honest: It was cold this week. (We just won't think about that distant part of the cycle right now.) This positive thinking might not have warmed my frozen toes or made my car door usable again, but it did offer a mental reprieve from the...

Complementary therapies are things like herbs, Reiki, massage, chiropractic adjustments and homeopathic remedies. To prepare a remedy, its mother tincture, a solution of plant, mineral or animal extract that gives the remedy its name, is diluted one part...

The toxic berries and plant parts may produce adverse effects in humans and animals.Winterberries provide winter-long interest in the garden and make beautiful cut stems, but they also contain an alkaloid nearly identical to caffeine in coffee.

I'm constantly mulling over possibilities in my mind, from the contemplative (“What if I was from a different country?”) to the ridiculous (“How awesome would it be if I had three arms?”).

Here in Ohio, I harvest Angelica archangelica in the fall to make use of the root, though some folks still candy the leaf stems. Growing Ashitaba Ashitaba is hardy to zone 4 and likes well-drained soil in full sun to part shade.

Assassin bugs are wonderful beneficial insects that consume a wide range of pest species in the garden and should be encouraged. While the immature nymphs of assassin bugs and leaf-footed bugs look quite similar, several clues helped pinpoint the proper...

Digging in your garden too soon or in the wrong conditions results in two things: frustration for you and poor soil structure. If there is no spring or give to the soil, it's probably still frozen and too cold to work.freestar.queue.push(function() {...

The roots of a diseased plant will appear brown or black with evidence of water soaking.Unfortunately, the conditions required for seed germination also create favorable environments for the growth of fungus, as both seeds and roots must be kept moist...

Just make sure that the compost you apply to your gardens is safe.International Association of Certified Home Inspectors There are many commercial compost bins available from garden centers or from mail order suppliers.If you do buy commercial compost...

One solution is to brine the turkey, which I am doing. The interest in heritage turkeys is just one step away from backyard chickens.What are heritage turkeys, and why would we want one?For one thing, they are “green”, that is, they are sustainable.

I always keep dry laurel leaves in a glass jar for spicing my winter meals: sauerkraut or dry beans in a casserole, sauerkraut stuffed rolls, marinated sauce for meatballs, beef belly sour broth, Christmas pork dishes and pickled sweet peppers.

Three stalked plants are given for luck, five stalks are said to represent wishes of wealth and seven stalks are thought to bring and keep good health. Better known as Dracaena sanderiana, this plant is a fixture in many households.Connoisseurs agree...

Don't plant overused species and space related specimens far apart in your yard. Don't plant the same veggies year after year. If an area has many species, the distance between specimens of the same species increases, and insects and diseases can't hop...

It was commonly done in Medieval times, long before technologies existed to permit persistent, large-scale plantings. This allowed fallow land to rest, but kept more land in production.

Okoume is widely used for veneers and is often processed into plywood.A paddler is pulling a wooden sea kayak out of the water.Okoume heartwood is typically a lustrous pinkish-brown to light red with a fine, uniform texture.

I covered our small pond and waterfall with a sheet of netting to keep the leaves out, and we're planning to pack away the patio furniture sometime this weekend. Or maybe I should just wait for a car with an open window to stop on our corner.

The sky's the limit—but let's leave the coconuts behind. I'm not entirely sure why that is, but little things, like buying a new item of clothing or making a new friend, often serve as some of my greatest sources of happiness.

Some are even bi-colored and have variegated foliage. Water sparingly and only at the base of the plant to prevent fungal diseases such as leaf spot and root rot. It grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and warmer.

Soil pH varies widely in any given region, so soil should be tested before planting. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 with the number in the middle (7) representing a point where the number of hydroxide ions and hydronium ions is equal.

These soil critters work double-duty: As the soil organisms break down the mulch, it will enrich the soil. Mulch According To Climate In cold, dry climates, deep mulch will help to insulate the soil from fluctuating and extreme temperatures and help to...

The rolled fiberglass (the pink stuff found in many homes today) was an R15—well below the recommended minimum. I was curious to see how the insulation could be contained, knowing that spray foam expanded once sprayed.

Even though we already know what's inside the sturdy shipping box, opening the lid and revealing the tiny chirping lives inside is more exciting than opening any gift. The Australorp will feather out with black iridescent feathers, and the Black Sex Link...

It also has the highest number of calories per unit area of any plant.Sugar cane is comprised of stalks, leaves and a root system. The length and diameter of the joints and stalk vary by sugar cane species.

Colorado State University's website suggests planting vinca if you want to deter deer.Vinca serves well in the borders of other flowering plants and in containers. From white to shocking pink, the varieties range in height from 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall.

It has a buttery, nutty taste that is somewhat milder than that of traditional ghee. It is made up almost entirely of hardened vegetable oil and is free from any milk products.It is ideal for various forms of cooking, such as baking, sauteing and deep...

One particular use of this grain that generates a great deal of controversy is growing it primarily to attract and feed deer. For large deer populations, plots of at least 5 acres are recommended.Cow corn and field corn are the best types to grow for...

This includes species like the well-known century plant, Agave Americana, which may live as long as 30 years or more -- but never a whole century -- before flowering. Dependent on the species, the majority of cacti flower on a regular basis.Another significant...