What Is Balsam

This ornamental tree is native to cooler climates and is commonly selected for use as a Christmas Tree. The cones measure 2 to 4 inches in length and feature seeds that aid in tree production.

On a balsam pinecone, the bracts are shorter and hidden beneath the scales.Fraser firs typically reach heights of 80 feet, while balsam firs are shorter, at 40 to 60 feet. The bracts, specialized leaves associated with the tree's reproduction, are longer...

Balsam fir trees often grow more shallow roots than Douglas firs, making them more likely to fall over in strong winds. They may not look different to the untrained eye, but the trees have some significant physical differences and different uses by humans.Douglas...

Photo courtesy Ken Colwell This week, the world lost a very special lady, a lady who faced many of life's hardships and yet always seemed to present herself with grace and gentleness.

The evening air was thick with Kentucky's characteristic summer humidity, and as I put away the last dishes of our evening meal, watching the last bits of sun paint the sky with a swirl of pinks, purples and blues, I savored a brief moment of peace.

However, unless you are building your huegel on top of a particularly pernicious grass, such as Bermuda, this step is not essential and you can build your bed directly on top of the lawn.

Eventually, the ice, snow and chill will all recede, and the mild temperatures and widespread green of spring will approach and take its place. (As was the imminent discovery that my car's driver's side door was frozen solid—it finally thawed Thursday...

One of the complementary therapies our mom uses is homeopathy. However, because the American Medical Association considered homeopathy a brand of quackery and discouraged its physicians from practicing it, homeopathy gradually fell from favor.

Caffeine is the primary toxic ingredient in winterberry, and symptoms can be unpleasant. 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...

I think this sentiment is especially applicable to farmers, homesteaders and rural dreamers alike. It may not necessarily be a concrete one, but where else do ideas begin if not with thoughts and dreams?

Sometimes it's a new supplement. Richo has extensive instructions on how to grow it on his website . It is said that there are great benefits to eating a leaf steam each day. Growing Ashitaba Ashitaba is hardy to zone 4 and likes well-drained soil in...

This afternoon, while inspecting my late-summer garden, I came across several small, vividly colored insects on a winter squash blossom. Leaf-footed bugs are a confirmed garden nuisance in many regions of North America, including portions of California...

Frozen soil feels very solid and does not give way under foot. Determining if the soil is frozen is paramount to your garden's success.Just walking across your soil or patting it with your hand will give away whether it is still frozen or not.

The lower portion of the stem may become slimy and black. Seeds that have already germinated develop brown water-soaked spots.Seeds may be infected as soon as moisture penetrates the seed coat or later as growth begins.

OMRI Listed products are allowed for use in certified organic operations under the USDA National Organic Program.I don't want anyone to get the idea that I am anti-compost - it is a valuable asset to soil conditioning.

That is because they are slower to develop, which gives them stronger bones and organs before developing muscle, just as our turkeys did 50+ years ago. One of those practices is seen in the increasing number of backyard chicken pens, giving gardeners...

You may not believe it, but I still have laurel dry leaves from my store! The store was on a low populated street, inhabited mostly by elderly people and each day, the only "big" sale was at noon, when the children from the school nearby were coming or...

This high-humidity houseplant can grow to heights of nearly five feet.Dracaena sanderiana is considered non-toxic to humans.The ASPCA's Poison Control Center lists lucky bamboo as a toxic substance to dogs and cats.Although Dracaena sanderiana is considered...

Fountain boils it down as the degree of variation in a system in any defined area, from a home landscape to a continent."How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?" Charles de Gaulle lamented, reflecting the big issue that many human...

Each plant species leeches something from the soil while giving something else back. However, modern farmers and gardeners often turn to the wisdom in ancient farming practices. This philosophy fuels the idea of sustainable farming and gardening, where...

Okoume peels and slices easily and evenly, and this combines with its good acceptance of glue to give it wide use as veneer and in plywood.Outside of its native range, most Okoume is sold as veneer or plywood.

We live too close here. Now if I could just get that rooster to help… << More Dirt on Gardening >> The tomatoes have been ripped out (they did eventually succumb to the late blight that plagued gardeners up and down the East Coast), the cuke vines have...

We're not meant to be creatures of strict, inflexible habit, which is why newness is so exciting. I've found that sentiment to be true in other areas of life, too: Novelty and pleasure often go hand in hand.

Fungal diseases, which are often caused by overly wet soil or letting water sit on the leaves of the plant, can also harm bougainvillea. They are not friendly to the touch, however, as they have sharp thorns.

This method works well but takes time to have its affect. These ions have a positive electrical charge and the chemical symbol H+. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a base because in solution it dissolves to form Na+ and OH- ions.The pH scale was developed to...

Garden mulch is a layer of organic material that is spread on the ground to protect or improve soil. Apply a layer of mulch that is 1 to 4 inches thick—less in wet/warm areas and more in dry/cold areas.

(Check with your local utility company and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Energ y to see if your project qualifies.) There are DIY options for spray foam, but we opted to get recommendations and quotes from local service providers...