Want to add some natural insect control to your yard? Think amphibians. This group of creatures include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are among the most beneficial creatures you can find in your garden. Most, like tree frogs, start life in water and then move to land. Some, like the California newt, remain in …
It’s fall, and there are plenty of leaves on the ground. Before you rake, mow, and blow this year, think about leaving some behind. Insects rely on fallen leaves and other organic debris to cover and insulate them from the elements over winter. In addition, the annual dropping of leaves by trees is nature’s method …
Fall is for planting! And no better time to add some native plants to your garden. Why natives? There are lots of reasons including conserving water, reducing chemical usage (no pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers are needed with natives) and encouraging wildlife. Want a colorful garden and don’t think you can do it with mostly natives? …
Do you cringe when you happen upon an eight-legged creature scurrying across your front porch? If it’s a spider, you’re in good company. Fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia, is one of the most common phobias around. It may come from concern about being bitten by a deadly type or simply the idea of the …
October is Bat Appreciation Month. So, why would a whole month be devoted to these odd-looking creatures? It has nothing to do with Halloween or vampires. It’s more about getting to know these mysterious flying superheroes that help our environment, and aren’t as scary as you might think. Often having the undeserved reputation of nighttime …
If you notice a quarter of a tomato plant missing overnight, but you can’t figure out what’s causing it, look closer! A master of disguise, the tomato hornworm may be the culprit! These are enormous caterpillars – up to four inches long! Their striping pattern makes them hard to spot despite their size. One tell-tale …
You’re likely familiar with the smallest of all birds – the hummingbird. Found only in the Americas, these tiny aerial acrobats are important pollinators AND insect eaters, doing their part as flying pest controllers! They can use our help by providing them with the basics – shelter, water, and food. September 3, 2022 is National …
Flies that find their way into the kitchen, or buzz around the barbeque are common this time of year. These irritating pest flies include the house fly, face fly, stable fly, and blow flies. They breed in animal and food wastes and decaying organic material, where they can pick up bacteria and viruses that may …
With the bounty of flowers blooming this time of year, you’re likely to spot one of the most helpful little critters in the garden, though you may not recognize it as such. What appears to be a small bee hovering like a tiny helicopter over a blossom but looks and may even sound like a …
Did you know you can unwittingly expose pollinators to harmful pesticides? Some plant growers still use strong insecticides when growing their garden plants. Neonicotinoids, commonly referred to as “neonics,” are very toxic to pollinators, beneficial insects, and aquatic invertebrates, and are the most widely used class of insecticides in the world. The active ingredients in …
