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Known for its wide open spaces and expansive plains, Wyoming also has more than its share of hot springs. Yellowstone National Park holds the most dramatic of the springs, but most are too dangerously hot for soaking. Wyomingites and visitors alike love the great outdoors and you will find no dearth of campsites scattered around the state. Whether you want to pitch a tent by a lake or park your RV in a place with a mineral pool, your love for camping and hot springs can be combined in Wyoming.
Estero Bay Preserve State Park protects more than 10,000 acres of water, inlets and islands along 10 miles of Estero Bay. The park, 17 miles southeast of Fort Myers on Florida's Gulf Coast, was the first aquatic preserve established in Florida, and is one of the state's most productive estuaries. The park's two trail systems provide access to a range of landscapes home to a variety of wildlife.
You can use Roundup garden sprayers for many garden chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. The pump-action sprayer uses pressure to disperse the contents of the tank. An attached hose and adjustable nozzle make it easy to direct the tank's contents where you need them.
Spend time on the water off the coast of Orange County, California, and you'll definitely see marine mammals and if you're lucky, a whale and perhaps her baby calf. Get your camera focused for the minute the whale comes up to catch a breath and prepare for the extension and slapping of its tail fluke. Catch a ride out of either Dana Point or Newport Harbor -- these two marinas serve whale watchers in Orange County.
More than 200 species of bird flit through the temperate rainforest covering Washington's Olympic Peninsula. The Olympic National Forest comprises more than 600,000 acres on the peninsula surrounding Olympic National Park. You'll find a wide variety of campsites where you can park your RV in the forest, ranging from developed campgrounds to dispersed sites in terrain ranging from oceanside to mountain vistas.
Miniature garden is really all the rage these days. Learn how to put together a nice miniature garden with help from an experienced gardener in this free video clip.
In the United States, the area known as the Midwest encompasses 12 states -- Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. This region has no mountain ranges, and the land is generally flat. This region experiences the country's greatest extremes between high summer temperatures and low winter temperatures, and the growing season is about four to five months long. The area falls within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 6 and American Horticultural Society heat zones 2 through 8. The USDA zones indicate lowest minimum temperatures within a certain…
For plants with sculptural qualities, look to agaves (Agave spp.), sometimes called century plants because they live for a number of years, flower, and then die. Around 200 species form a family of their own, the Agavaceae. Native to the U.S., south to Mexico, the Caribbean and northern South America, there are colors, sizes, and leaf forms to satisfy almost any garden need. Hardiness spans U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10, depending on the species.
Cacti are xerophytes, plants of the rose family that have developed extreme adaptations that give them the ability to live and thrive in severe drought conditions of the desert. Originating in the West Indies, cacti are the largest group of xerophytes in the American Southwest with hundreds of species growing in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Adaptations developed for living in the desert deal primarily with the plants' ability to collect and store water for long periods.
The end of July brings the hottest weather of the summer across most of the U.S. Vacationers flock to mountain lakes and forests to escape sweltering temperatures in low-lying cities. The same holds true in Arizona, with a favorite getaway region in the pristine forests and sparkling lakes of the White Mountains in the eastern portion of the state. The Apache-Sitgreaves Forest, White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation and mountain towns provide campgrounds, cabins and comfortable accommodations to suit your needs for a late July vacation.
Some home gardens face outward, welcoming the world. Others face inward, offering a sanctuary for private relaxation and quiet enjoyment. Ancestors of the modern courtyard garden include medieval castle herbal gardens and the Mediterranean-climate sheltered outdoor rooms of Mexican haciendas and Italian villas. Even small spaces with variable sunlight and shade suggest the possibility of creating a courtyard garden. Use existing resources, bargain-hunting and ingenuity to transform a previously useless area into a courtyard oasis.
High above busy streets, roof gardens are islands of green, cool calm, providing additional home space for entertaining, puttering or relaxing in a beautiful garden environment. Roof gardens in city areas help reduce temperatures and air pollution levels, but plants may have to cope with full sun and strong, drying winds. Plant drought-tolerant shrubs that can cope with air pollution and select varieties that will provide year-round interest and color. Brooklyn is suitable for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 7 shrubs. Gardeners should check local ordinances and the weight-bearing capacity of the roof and use containers that are…
Clove bush, also known as clove currant (Ribes odoratum), is native to North America and thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. It is a deciduous shrub that bears fragrant yellow flowers in spring and edible black berries in the middle of summer, with reddish-purple leaves in the fall. The clove bush is related to the black and red currant and is a snap to care for.
Not all critters crawling around garden plants and squirming through the soil are harmful. Some insects and worms have beneficial roles in gardens. You should recognize these helpers to ensure you don't mistakenly kill them. Convergent lady beetles, commonly called ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens), are desirable insects, and species of nematodes, such as roundworms (Steinernema and Heterorhabditis spp.) and earthworms (Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubellis), provide benefits to garden soil.
Although you may associate mistletoe with holiday decorations and kissing traditions, it is actually a parasitic plant that lives and feeds on many trees, including the desert willow (Chilopsis linearis). Also known as the desert catalpa and the trumpet flower tree, this native of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 and 9. Identifying and controlling mistletoe can help you keep your desert willow tree healthy.
Santa Barbara, California, is home to some of the best surfing and paddleboarding action along the West Coast, according to the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission. Former surfing champions and legends such as Pat Curren and Shaun Tompson call the area home. They surf such legendary breaks as Rincon Point, known as the Queen of the Coast among surfers. When you'd like to change gears, head for the hills to the east of the city, where the Los Padres National Forest rolls out over 1,200 miles of trails in 875,000 acres of pristine terrain. You'll also…
An attractive bed doesn't require much more than a shovel and time to create if you use a simple double digging technique. Digging the soil to double the length of a shovel blade, or double digging it, loosens the top 12 inches or more of soil and allows you to fully incorporate beneficial amendments. The process results in a well-aerated bed of loose, friable soil that results in deep rooting and healthier plants. Prepare and dig beds at least three months before you plant so the amendments have time to work in and improve the soil.
Sea glass offers up a variety of beautiful and unusual ways to decorate the spaces in your home that shouldn't be ignored. Find out about beautiful and unusual ways to decorate with sea glass with help from a florist, interior decorator and party planner in this free video clip.
You can sharpen your garden pruners in a couple of easy ways right at home using the right tools and just a little bit of time. Sharpen garden pruners with help from an experienced professional gardener in this free video clip.
Drawing a realistic coral reef on canvas might be easier if you have a visual aid to work off of. Draw a realistic coral reef on a canvas with help from an experienced artist in this free video clip.
Garden peach sangria will no doubt be a hit at any party or gather you go to. Get a great garden peach sangria recipe with help from a professional sommelier, beverage director, and wine educator in this free video clip.
Potato bag gardening is a lot easier than you probably think it is. Learn about potato bag gardening with help from the operator of a nursery in this free video clip.
When planning a landscaping project one of the things you have to consider is the environmental impact. Learn about landscape planning and environmental impact with help from a landscaping industry expert in this free video clip.
Pickling cucumbers are a very specific variety and are small enough to fit in a jar. Learn how to garden pickling cucumbers with help from a board member of the Ocean View Farms Organic Community Garden in this free video clip.
Garden guacamole requires a few key ingredients, like peppers and scallions. Get a garden guacamole recipe with help from the writer of a weekly food column in this free video clip.
When you send someone an instant message, you may think the conversation is private. Unfortunately, that privacy only depends on whether someone else really wants to know who you are or what you're saying. Messages on most systems are traceable, and while your digital "footprints" may not include your real name or street address, they may include other information that identifies you.
Katherine Kosiba started a new chapter of her life in 2001. She retired from her career as a project manager for Aetna Inc. and moved from the insurance industry’s mecca in Hartford, Connecticut, to the town of Colchester, 20 miles away in the same state. Kosiba settled in a home perched on nearly two acres of a once-thriving apple orchard that had been neglected for 25 years. Kosiba went to work with a plan to transform the property into something that would encourage small visitors by land and air. In 2012, it is a thriving wildlife garden. “I get a…
Water conditioners help homeowners deal with the problems of hard water. When water contains too much dissolved calcium and magnesium, these minerals can coat your body during a shower and stop soap from lathering correctly. Hard water also interferes with the cleaning action of detergents in your laundry machine. Water conditioners remove these minerals, and some units also catch iron. The water conditioning system must attach to the main water line of the house if you want every tap to produce softened water.
Ceramic garden stools are decorative pieces of furniture that you can use in a number of ways. They are often used as traditional garden stools but can also be used as end tables or even displayed as works of art. Colorful and sometimes intricately designed, they add a touch of distinctive style to any space. Carefully study your ceramic garden stool before purchasing it to ensure you are getting a high-quality piece. Like all ceramics, your stool may be subject to cracks, flaws and other problems that may not make it worth its price.
The peppery taste of radishes adds natural flavor to a variety of foods and dishes. They can be sliced and eaten raw or used as an ingredient. Growing your own allows you to have fresh radishes all year long. A versatile vegetable, radishes can be grown in any climate -- as long as they are provided with at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
Mud bricks are building supplies made of raw, earthen material. Composed mostly of water and soil, a mud brick will hold together, providing a basic building block for construction. However, if you live in a damp or wet climate, it is important to ensure that mud bricks hold up during periods of rain and humidity. Mud bricks made from soil containing clay will have a natural waterproof quality that also controls and combats humidity. While it may take a few trials and errors to get the right mixture, it is possible to make your own mud bricks for a wet…
It has been discussed and debated -- by those who keep coral reefs in a tank aquarium as a hobby -- whether it's necessary to feed the coral. Most of the time, the zooxanthellae found living in the polyps of the coral provide all the food and nutrients needed. However, additional feeding and care of the coral may be required to support its full life cycle and encourage growth.
Cucumber gardens can yield some of the most productive vegetable gardens. Roland E. Roberts at Texas A & M University notes that crop rotation is important in both commercial and home gardening and can result in increased crop production. Conversely, not rotating crops can have a detrimental effect on the life and health of crops. Rotating crops has the effect of preserving nutrients in the soil.
Lasagna gardening, or "sheet composting," is a simple organic gardening method that requires no digging or tilling of existing soils. Instead, you build a lasagna garden by layering different organic materials, such as vegetable trimmings, cardboard and plant clippings, that will quickly decay into soft, nutrient-rich soils in which virtually any plant will do well. While many tout the benefits of this method, there are some disadvantages to trying your hand at lasagna gardening.
Staggered shelves offer an artistic shelving solution when compared to traditional shelves. This type of shelf arrangement adds visual appeal to a functional area. By staggering the shelves, short items fit next to tall items on the same shelf. Staggered gardening shelves allow a gardener to arrange short plants next to taller plants. A variety of gardening tools also can line the shelves. These types of shelves are built with ends and pieces of wood or with premade shelves.
A garden gully provides a drainage course for water while also adding an attractive touch to the garden. You can create a completely utilitarian gully to guide rain water away from existing beds or you can use one for aesthetic purposes. Place the gully in areas where water naturally collects or flows. Utilitarian gullies can follow a straight course, while ornamental versions should mimic the curved and winding shape of a natural stream bed.
A well-maintained, climate-controlled attic provides useful storage space and will save you in heating and cooling costs for the rest of your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect their attics and don't realize the many problems -- humidity, leaks, heat loss, mold -- that an attic space can bring.
For many gardeners, the insects and birds that visit their flower gardens are as important as the flowers themselves. If you include night-blooming plants in your landscape, you'll attract many beautiful night-feeding moths. These insects find flowers by scent, so their preferred flowers are at their most fragrant in the evening. Some moths hover while feeding, like hummingbirds do, while others perch on a flower cluster while feeding. You'll want to include flowers that attract both types of feeders.
Beginning and seasoned reef aquarium hobbyists alike often grow mushroom corals in their aquariums. These brightly colored aquatic organisms thrive in a typical reef aquarium environment and do not require special care. Mushroom corals reproduce quickly, to the point that they can crowd out other species. When this occurs, you should remove the excess growth as soon as possible. You can also breed additional mushroom corals by removing some from your tank and placing them in a separate tank. Removing mushroom corals requires a pair of scissors or a knife, while surgical forceps are recommended for removing larger corals.
Lilies are a mainstay of water gardens. Surface aquatic plants, they lend an almost fairy-tale quality to any pond or container. They are also a key element of a water garden ecosystem. Algae, or algal, blooms are part and parcel of water gardening. Steps can be taken to control algae growth.
Many different types of animals, like bears and penguins, live in the arctic. Draw animals in the arctic with help from an artist in this free video clip.
Gravel gardens are a bold alternative to dirt or undergrowth. They offer a low-maintenance solution ideal for hardy plants and areas where water usage is an issue. Unfortunately, an uneven gravel garden quickly turns into an eyesore. Water collects in pockets, making it difficult to walk through after heavy rains and interfering with the even distribution of water to plants and flowers growing in the garden. Leveling the gravel will take care of this problem and return the space to its beautiful and functional beginnings.
Often, desert regions have salty soil because of the high concentration of sodium in water.These regions tend to have a clay soil make-up, which prevents salts from easily passing though, thus contributing to the high concentration of salts. This results in dehydration in plants. Symptoms of plant dehydration include wilting, discoloration and defoliation. To help plants produce healthy growth, gardeners must lower the salt in their desert soil. Altering fertilizing practices prevents additional health problems for plants.
Roblox is a free-to-use website that lets you play and create custom games online. You can create a nearly unlimited variety of levels, including desert levels. Making a desert in Roblox is a matter of knowing how to build levels, but is also requires you to know what you want your desert to "feel" like.
Gardeners grow grapevines for their fruits, whether those grapes are bunching types or muscadines. Both bunching grapes and muscadines are used to make jams, jellies and even regional wines. Grapes of both types require regular trimming and training to produce high-quality grapes. Pruning is vital to success in gardening with grapes -- basic triming allows light to penetrate otherwise densely leafed vines, promoting larger fruit development. Before attempting to trim existing grapevines, it's important to know a little about them so you can continue to train them properly.
A successful home garden starts with the preparation that creates a healthy and suitable environment for your growing plants. Row planting is a common method for planting seeds or starter plants. Before you start digging your rows, you need to know how deep to dig and how far apart to space the rows so the plants are able to grow properly. Well-prepared soil is also key in order to dig proper rows for a thriving garden.
In the 1950s, the well-equipped suburban gardener chose a steel garden cart as a stylish and maneuverable alternative to the heavy old wheelbarrow. Unfortunately, the wheels of early carts often were placed too far back and they tended to lurch forward and dump their loads prematurely. Today’s carts are built out of thick rust-proof plastic and engineered with better-placed wheels. Like their predecessors, however, too many heavy loads or unexpected sideways lurches can break a wheel. Fortunately for the mechanically challenged, changing a garden cart wheel is still a simple matter.
Flowers of sulfur refers to sulfur that has been purified and shaped into flakes or pellets. The flakes may be combined with wax and formed around a wick, or the pellets may be placed in heatproof tins with rolled-paper wicks. When burned in an enclosed area, these candles fill the air with sulfur fumes, killing all insects in the area. As less messy and less troublesome means of fumigation have been developed, flowers of sulfur candles have become less common.
Streetlights, landscape lighting, even lighting from windows, cars and billboards all add up to a blanket of light surrounding our planet. What some call "light pollution" can adversely affect trees and plants. A single streetlight aimed at a tree can disrupt its entire life cycle. Herbaceous, flowering plants and the insects and animals that pollinate them can also be affected by night light.
Selecting seeds that are native to an area helps to prevent problems. The Great Basin Desert is the largest desert in the United States as well as the only northern desert, consisting of regions in Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Oregon. This northern desert has cooler temperatures, higher elevations and more evenly distributed precipitation than a southern desert. Native seeds form hardy, drought-tolerant plants.
