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Are Maple Seeds Edible? The helicopters, also called whirligigs but technically known as samaras, are the outer covering that must be removed when eating seeds from maple trees. The seed pods under the covering are edible. After peeling the outer covering of the samara, you’ll find a pod containing the seeds. When they’re young and green, in spring, they’re said to be most tasty. Some info calls them a spring delicacy, as they normally fall early in that season....

The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcintus) is nocturnal, which means it does most of its foraging at night. Its strong legs and claws are built for tearing apart termite mounds and digging burrows that can reach 15 feet (4.5 m.) long. They eat bugs, grubs, and worms, but the claim that they carry and spread leprosy is largely unprovable and unfounded. One of the reasons getting rid of armadillos is so difficult is that they aren’t territorial....

How to Get Rid of Bamboo Eliminating bamboo plants starts with a shovel. The creeping rhizomes and roots of bamboo are virtually immune to the herbicides people normally use on unwanted plants. In order to start to get rid of bamboo, you must physically dig up the offending clump. Make sure you remove as many of the roots as possible. After this, you are NOT done in your efforts to control bamboo spread....

Life Cycle of the Parasitic Wasp Female parasitic wasps have a long pointed structure at the end of their abdomen. It looks like a stinger, but it is actually an ovipositor. She uses it to pierce pest insects and deposit her eggs inside. When the eggs hatch, they feed inside the host insect for a short time and then they cut a hole to escape. The wasps can repeat this cycle several times a year....

Growing Tomatoes in the Shade Although it’s not easy to grow a garden in the shade, tomato plants are fairly adaptable. Many varieties of tomatoes for shade gardens will produce quality fruit, but gardeners often experience smaller yields. Cultivating more plants can help overcome this obstacle. Higher rates of diseases can also be experienced when growing tomatoes in the shade. Trellising and pruning tomato plants increase air circulation. This helps dry moisture on the leaves and stems, which makes the foliage less inviting to disease....

What Causes Yellowing Leaves on a Bird of Paradise Plant? There are few bird of paradise plant problems that initiates should be aware of, but yellowing leaves on a bird of paradise plant is among the most common. This condition is typically caused by improper growing conditions, so let’s explore exactly what it takes to keep your plant green and happy. Lighting When growing outside, bird of paradise plants prefer full sun to light shade....

When to Pick Black-Eyed Peas Originating in subtropical Asia, black-eyed peas are actually legumes rather than peas. They are a common celebratory feature of many New Year’s Day meals in the southern United States. Although a popular crop in that region, black-eyed peas are actually cultivated around the globe, yet many of us only know them as the dried white bean with a black ‘eye.’ Black-eyed peas can actually be harvested as either a fresh snap bean about 60 days post germination or as a dry bean after about 90 days of growing time....

About Black Vine Weevils Black vine weevil host plants include over 100 different species, but they favor the following above all else: Yew Hemlock Rhododendrons Azalea Mountain laurel Euonymus Japanese holly Grapes Liquidambar These 1/2 inch (1 cm.) long beetles look much like the strawberry root weevil but are twice their size; they may be impossible to distinguish from other members of their family with the naked eye. However, if you’ve got damaged yews nearby, the chances are good that you’re dealing with black vine weevils....

What are Blister Mites? The most common types of blister mite pests are pearleaf blister mite and appleleaf blister mite. The mites may also attack various plants such as cotoneaster, hawthorn, quince, serviceberry, and others. The family of eriophyid mites also includes close cousins such as citrus bud mites, citrus rust mites, pear rust mites, redberry mite, tomato russet mite, and peach silver mite. Symptoms of Blister Mite Damage Blister mite pests enter the tree in late summer or early fall, overwintering until spring when they become active and feed on tender leaf tissue – especially when the weather is cool....

About Blue Star Juniper Try growing juniper ‘Blue Star’ as either a shrub or a groundcover if you live in an appropriate region. It’s a lovely little mound of a plant with delightful, starry needles in a shade somewhere on the boundary between blue and green. According to information about Blue Star juniper, these plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The foliage is evergreen and the shrubs grow into mounds some 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm....

How Much Light Does a Boston Fern Need? Boston fern light requirements vary depending on the time of year. The plant benefits from bright, indirect light during fall and winter. A location where the plant gets at least two hours of indirect sunlight per day, preferably in the morning or late afternoon, is ideal. Boston fern light conditions must change when sunlight is more intense in spring and summer. During the sunny time of year, the fern needs a semi-shady location, such as a window with a northern exposure....

Bracken Fern Information Bracken fern uses may be somewhat limited in the garden, but once you’ve found the right spot and the proper use for them, they are easy to get started. Growing bracken fern in gardens is often not a good idea because it can usually outcompete other plants growing in the same area. Bracken ferns in gardens and other areas are attractive plants with delicate-looking fronds. Plants normally reach from 3 to 4 feet (1 m....

Brahmi Plant Information What is brahmi? It’s a low growing, creeping herb that reaches a maximum of about 6 inches (15 cm.) in height and grows outward in a sprawling pattern. If left to its own devices, it can spread rapidly. Brahmi plant care is pretty easy and forgiving. It prefers part to full sun and will grow in a wide range of soils. As long as it gets sufficient water, it can thrive in rock, sand, or mud....

Brocade Geranium Info Brocade geranium plants (Pelargonium x hortorum) are zonal geraniums that are more commonly grown as accent plants for their colorful foliage rather than their brightly colored, classic geranium blooms. Like all geraniums, their flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while the plant’s natural scent deters deer. The truly outstanding characteristic of brocade geranium plants is the unique variegation of their foliage. Below are several of the highly sought-after varieties of brocade geranium and their unique color combinations:...

Bulb Gardening Year-Round To plant a year-round bulb garden, do a little research to find out which bulbs flower in which season. You’ll also need to consider your growing zone. Where a bulb is not hardy in winter, you’ll need to dig it out at the end of fall and overwinter indoors for the next year. For instance, dinner plate dahlias, with their stunning and large blooms, flower in late summer and fall....

Bunny Ears Cactus Information Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys) originated in Mexico and is a denizen of arid, desert-like areas. Growing bunny ears cactus is as simple as mimicking its native regional conditions. So if you have a dry, low humidity home and plenty of sunny exposure, bunny ears cactus plant might be the perfect plant for you. Bunny ears forms a 2 to 3 foot (61-91 cm.) tall plant with a spread of 4 to 5 feet (1- 1....

How to Stop Hot Pepper Burn Due to their chemical properties, oils float and don’t dissolve in water. Running water over hot pepper on hands only serves to spread capsaicin. The key to stopping the heat and providing relief is to break up or neutralize the oil. Here are some common household products which can reduce or eliminate hot pepper on hands or skin (Don’t use these remedies in or near the eyes):...

California Barrel Cactus Information The California barrel cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) goes by several common names, including Arizona barrel, red barrel, miner’s compass, and compass barrel cactus. However, all these names refer to the same cactus, a native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts in the American southwest. California barrel cactus plants grow very slowly, starting out stout and spherical and eventually lengthening into cylinders, sometimes reaching up to 8 feet or roughly 2....

Mites on Camellia Leaves and Buds Mites are tiny insect pests that live on leaves and are so small that they are difficult to see in passing. You’ll do best to use a magnifying glass, not just the naked eye. You may also be able to diagnose mites from the dusty, gray appearance of the leaves. Mites on camellia leaves can be camellia bud mites or other types of mites, like spider mites or camellia gall mites....

We as a species have been watching our environment and its denizens for as long as we walked upright for the first time. Much can be inferred from animal and plant behavior. The weather sayings from our fore-parents had meaning to them at the time, but can also translate to present day predictions. Wonder why leaves turn upside down before it rains? There is likely some ancient weather lore referencing that exact occurrence....