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However, these organic flower garden treatments sometimes come with a premium price tag. This may discourage flower gardeners from using natural pest deterrents—after all, we usually don’t eat our flowers, so why does it matter? There are many reasons to grow flowers organically, including the need to foil recalcitrant pests that seem immune to the expensive ready-to-use products sold on store shelves. Even the dyed-in-the-wool organic flower gardener who generally avoids pesticides can appreciate the ability to formulate homemade garden remedies to control stubborn perennial insect pests....

Capture the Firefly Catch giant fireflies with the flashlight firefly game. These giant fireflies are kids. The rules are simple. One or more children designated as fireflies each get their flashlight. They flash the light on the flashlight once about every 30 seconds while the other children who aren’t fireflies try to capture them. Tag Flashlight tag is one of the oldest, best known and loved flashlight games. Think tag and hide-and-seek in the dark....

1. Colorful Cabinet Colors Designer Julia Miller predicts that fresh cabinetry colors will be making waves come 2022. “Neutral kitchens will always have a place, but colorful spaces are certainly coming our way,” she says. “We will be seeing colors that are saturated so they can still be paired with natural wood or a neutral color.” However, cabinets won’t just look different in terms of their hues—Miller shares another change to keep an eye out for in the new year....

USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: Red, gold, green, and purple foliageSun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Any well-drained soil USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 7Color Varieties: Green, purple, yellow, or variegated leavesSun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Any well-drained soil USDA Growing Zones: 4 to 8Color Varieties: White, pale pink, or red flowers; green, reddish, and purple foliageSun Exposure: Full to partial sunSoil Needs: Any well-drained soil...

In the following gallery of pictures, you’ll discover markings, information, and trivia about various types of popular ducks from around the world. Scientific Name: Anas americana The American wigeon is a beautiful dabbling duck with a heavily speckled head. Males have a white forehead and wide green stripe behind the eye, while females are generally plainer. Both genders have a distinctive light blue bill with a black tip. These ducks, while widespread, can be wary, though they do mingle in mixed flocks with mallards and other duck species....

Taxonomy and Structure This is where things get confusing. Laelia was traditionally a member of the Cattleya alliance, along with the closely related Sophronitis genera. These plants were differentiated on very small anatomical differences and used to create some of the most famous hybrids in the orchid world, such as the Brassolaeiliacattleya. In 2006, however, based on gene studies, the decision was made to sink the Laelia into the Sophronitis genus....

The Wisconsin-based Ariens brand, which touts itself as the “King of Snow,” has been producing snow blowers, tractors, and other outdoor equipment since 1933. To see how accurate their self-professed title is, we picked up the Ariens Deluxe 28 and put it to work plowing the heavy early-season snowfall at our home high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Keep reading to see how the snow blower performed on our medium-length, steep driveway....

Asphalt shingles are durable for the price, affordable, and come in many different textures and colors. The most common styles of asphalt shingles are the “strip” shingle or the “laminated” shingle. Although fairly durable, asphalt shingles are still subject to damage, and your roof should be checked after major hail or wind storms. Additionally, you should always make sure that your roof is properly ventilated. Asphalt Shingle Cost The average cost of asphalt shingles runs around $1 to $6 per square foot for materials....

How Trees Help Birds Trees are critical for birds in many ways, and they meet all birds’ basic needs for survival. Food: Trees provide sap, buds, nuts, and fruit for birds, as well as hosting insects in bark and leaves. Water: Leaves collect water that small birds can drink, and many birds will rub against wet leaves to bathe. Shelter: Thick branches and leaves provide shelter for birds in all weathers, and many birds roost in trees....

Kids and parents will love the Backyard Discovery Skyfort II Wooden Swing Set for the hours of engaging fun it provides. Designed to accommodate up to nine children at a time, the playset features activities to entertain and challenge a diverse age group. To really get the full scope of this product—and see if it’s worth the investment—we gave it to one of our testers who has two sons, a toddler and a 5-year-old....

Encouraging Barn Owls to Nest Many farmers and backyard birders welcome barn owls because these birds are efficient hunters that prey almost exclusively on small rodents such as mice, voles, rats, shrews, and gophers. With hungry barn owls and owlets in the area, less money, time, and effort will be needed for rodent control. Furthermore, because these raptors are primarily nocturnal, they rarely bother livestock or pets. They will not hurt crops or gardens, and they don’t require feeders or expensive seed....

Not only should subflooring provide a flat, level surface for the finish flooring, but it must also keep moisture in check and insert a thermal break to control temperates in the basement. If the basement does happen to flood, the subfloor should be able to dry out easily and quickly. Is the solution to the moisture problem to add a high subfloor? Not usually, since basement ceilings tend to be low....

Trees in the genus are often used as specimen trees or shade trees that line urban streets. The linden’s canopies create deep shade with branches covered in densely bright green leaves with an asymmetrical heart shape. The real aesthetic draw of these lovely trees is their sweet-smelling white flowers that bloom every spring. The flowers are a matter of controversy, though, as research shows some Tilia spp. are toxic to bumblebees while others are not....

Berry plants tend to be small enough to look appropriate in any size yard. Most have attractive leaves and flowers––and, of course, the glossy, colorful berries are a great attraction too. Berries require minimal maintenance, as they are rarely affected by serious pests and diseases, and a good annual berry pruning routine will keep them healthy and shapely. The biggest chore for berry growers will be protecting the fruit from the birds and other passing critters....

These plants can grow up to five feet in size and have aggressive runners that can choke out native plants if not kept in check. However, this same destructive behavior makes them wonderful plants for creating dense garden beds. The blue spur flower features deep green foliage and sends up stalks with six to eight deep blue-to-purple flowers. Before planting, be sure to check your area to ensure it is not an invasive pest concern....

Most ageratum plants need deadheading to keep blooming, but ‘Artist Blue’ plants don’t need to be trimmed back, as the new flowers will cover the old ones. Pentas are easy to start from cuttings that you save at the end of summer. If you live in a frost-free zone, expect your pentas to maintain their vigor for about three years before becoming woody and lanky. At this point, it’s time to remove them and start with fresh plants....

Other water conserving features you may find in succulents are narrow leaves, waxy leaves, a covering of hairs or needles, reduced pores, or stomata, and ribbed leaves and stems, that can expand water holding capacity. Their functioning is fascinating, but most are also quite attractive, too. They are perfect for dry climates and periods of drought anywhere, but many are not cold hardy below USDA zone 9. Even so, they can be grown as annuals or over-wintered indoors....

Codenames: Duet is a cooperative game in which players work together, rather than against one another, in order to win. Intended for two or more players and recommended for ages 11 and up, this is a strategic word game that revolves around a secret mission. Assessing aspects like design, versatility, and replay potential, we put Codenames: Duet to the test to see how well it could keep us entertained. Read on to hear our final verdict....