by Stephanie Suesan Smith | Sep 20, 2010 | native pollinators
Monarch butterfly on asters in the wind, Danaus plexippus, Aster oblongifolius Butterflies are not as efficient at pollinating plants as bees, but they pollinate many species of plants. They are also prettier than most bees. While the Monarch Butterfly is...
by Stephanie Suesan Smith | Sep 15, 2010 | entomology, native pollinators
Bumblebees are one of nature’s reminders that we humans do not know as much as we think we do. According to our laws of aerodynamics, bumblebees should not be able to fly. Obviously, we have overlooked something, as fly they do. Newer research shows...
by Stephanie Suesan Smith | Sep 13, 2010 | native pollinators
The decline of the honey bee is in the news. It is a serious concern. However, there are other plant pollinators. Some of them are also endangered. Some of them are not. Honey bees, as we know them, are not native to North America. They were...
by Stephanie Suesan Smith | Sep 6, 2010 | Asparagus
Green and blanched asparagus spears Asparagus is delicious. They are also expensive. The ones you get in the store have been transported long distances and are not at all like the ones you get from your own garden. While asparagus has a reputation of being hard to...
by Stephanie Suesan Smith | Sep 4, 2010 | diseases
Powdery Mildew is a catch-all term for a variety of fungal infections in plants. Everything from crape myrtles, roses, lilac, phlox, fruit trees, and vegetables may get it. Some plants weather the problem, some plants are seriously injured and die. It is easier to...
