Growing up, we had a fascination with these huge bugs we nicknamed potato bugs, though they're actually called Jerusalem crickets. It's a bit of a mystery how they got their name, as they're neither true crickets nor are they...
Widely found across North America, the tomato hornworm, also known as Manduca quinquemaculata, poses a significant threat to various crops like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and even tobacco.
These pests are voracious eaters, devouring whole leaves, small branches, and occasionally...
Trees are incredibly resilient and versatile, offering shelter to us and numerous other species. However, young trees require some time to become robust and resilient, and they benefit from our assistance during their initial growth stages. An age-old technique...
Just the other day while I was trimming the grass in my backyard, something unusual caught my eye right by our ornamental crabapple tree. When I took a closer look, what I saw could have been ripped right from...
Growing vegetables is generally a labor of love, with gardeners investing a lot of effort to keep their plants healthy and thriving. Discovering a disease in your crops can be quite a shock—unless, of course, you're growing corn. In...
When you think about garden critters, it's common to picture birds, butterflies, and various insects first. However, you might be overlooking one particularly endearing guest: the garden toad. These creatures might not win a beauty contest with their unique,...
The wolf spider, scientifically known as Hogna aspersa, is a sizable creature often reaching up to 2 inches in length. This striped, furry hunter is prevalent throughout many parts of the United States, with over 125 species identified.
Although these...
Mosquitoes are universally disliked, and rightly so. They can quickly ruin any outdoor gathering faster than you can light a citronella candle. Moreover, many bug sprays, especially those containing harsh chemicals, can be harmful to both humans and the...
Have you ever noticed those strange, frothy blobs clinging to the stems and leaves of plants in your garden or local park during the warmer months?
As a kid playing outdoors, you may have encountered these bubbly masses and heard...
There's nothing more frustrating than tending to your tomato plants and daydreaming about perfect sandwiches or fresh caprese salads, only to discover large, unsightly cracks on your nearly ripe tomatoes. This often happens seemingly overnight, especially after heavy rainfall,...