The pods split open at maturity to reveal the seeds within. A cotton-like fluff is attached to the seeds, allowing them to be spread by the wind. When the stem of showy milkweed is broken, a milky sap runs out of it, accounting for the common name “milkweed.” The leaves are large and up to 8 inches long, oval, bluish-green, and have prominent veins. Showy milkweed resembles common milkweed, but it can be distinguished from the latter in two ways:...
The Tilia tomentosa, commonly referred to as the silver linden tree, reaches heights between 50 and 70 feet. Its growth rate is moderate—not particularly fast or slow at a rate of about 2 feet per year. These deciduous trees are noted for being drought-tolerant, relatively pollution-proof, and hardy enough to survive cold weather conditions. They’re part of the family of linden (or basswood) trees and are also referred to as lime trees in Britain....
Yaupon holly is free of many problems plaguing other hollies, with good resistance to most diseases and pests. Potential diseases include leaf spot, leaf rot, tar spot, and powdery mildew. The shrubs have occasional issues with leafminers, spider mites, whitefly, and scale. Light Yaupon holly tolerates full and partial sun. However, growth in full sun will yield more berries. Soil The yaupon holly prefers sandy soil but grows well in diverse soil compositions....
Garden strawberry is an easy-to-grow perennial fruiting plant that will reward the home gardener with ample harvests for many years. It has a low-growing and spreading habit, with plentiful deep-green, ridged leaves, and diminutive white flowers. The fruits grow from the ends of delicate leafless shoots. Individual plants are not particularly fast-growing, but they quickly spread outward with runners. With favorable conditions, each strawberry plant can produce up to one quart of strawberries per season....
Light Lavender plants grown in full sunlight is the best way to guarantee a lot of buds and big, full bushes. Soil Lean soil (soil without a lot of organic matter mixed in) will encourage a higher concentration of oils (and good smells), so go easy on the organic matter and fertilizer. Lavender plants prefer well-drained soil that is on the drier side, so if you’re using a traditional potting mix, be sure to add in some sand for drainage....
Surge weed contains a toxin in the milky sap that can be released when the stems are broken, so wearing gloves when handling it is advisable. Identifying Spurge Weed Spurge weed is usually considered part of the Euphorbiaceae family, and is a relative of the rubber tree and the castor bean. However, it is sometimes classified as part of the Chamaesyce family, referred to as Chamaesyce maculata, and this may cause confusion....
The plant has naturalized into surrounding areas, displacing native plant communities, and has led to a decline in wildlife habitat and water quality. Common tansy is a prolific seed producer, so deadheading the flowers before the plant goes into seed will help you control its spread. If you have common tansy growing on your property, it is best to eliminate it. The leaves of the common tansy are toxic to humans, cows, and horses....
PVC Conduit and Fittings Like PVC plumbing pipe, rigid PVC electrical conduit comes with a variety of union, transition, and bend fittings that make it easy to join lengths of conduit together and connect the conduit to electrical boxes, junction boxes, and other PVC components. Standard rigid PVC electrical conduit is known as “schedule 40 PVC conduit.” It comes in 10-foot lengths and in diameters of 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, 1-inch, 1 1/4-inch, 1 1/2-inch, and 2-inch....
Choosing a Basket Size Tiny hanging baskets might be cute, but they’re finicky. A large basket holds more soil and, therefore, holds more moisture for a longer period of time. It also retains more nutrients, which benefit the plants within the basket. Choose the largest basket that can be safely secured to your home for the best outcome for the plants. Rather than have several smaller baskets, arrange the plants in fewer large ones....
Start With the Right Size of Box Choose a moving box that’s large enough to accommodate your lampshades—plus a little room for paper or other packing material. Securely seal the bottom of the box with packing tape. If the box is a lot bigger than the shade, make sure you line the bottom with packing paper or towels or other soft material to provide a cushion. If the shade fits into the box perfectly, there’s probably no need to add cushioning....
Almost everyone will receive a bad Christmas gift at least once. But seriously? Who would give such a thoughtless thing during a joyous occasion? How could the person possibly think you’d want this gift? Your feelings may be unjustified. After all, it’s just a gift, right? It could be your anticipation of receiving the perfect gift you’ve been hinting about for weeks that creates your dissatisfaction with the present, or it may be that the person is clueless when it comes to knowing what to give....
