Bright, beautiful Birkin is a highly popular, compact Philodendron with a classic look perfect for small spaces in a home or office. Like other Philodendrons, Birkin is a great beginner plant that requires minimum care. Mine sits happily on a windowsill in my home office and has never given me a minute of trouble. Its … Read more
Ctenanthe species (pronounced ten-AN-thee), Never Never Plants, or Bamburantas are lovely members of the Prayer Plant family, native to Brazil. Like all Prayer Plants, they raise their leaves at night like praying hands and lower them during the day in a fascinating process called nyctinasty. My Ctenanthe setosa is young, so it’s only about 8″ … Read more
Think ladybugs are just tiny, harmless specks of cuteness in your garden? Think again! These vibrant, spotted creatures, beloved in children’s tales and seen as lucky charms, are actually nature’s stealthy little predators. With a backstory that’s more superhero than sidekick, ladybugs hold secret identities that are far more fascinating than their whimsical appearance lets … Read more
Imagine a winter evening in an Amish home – the air is crisp outside, but inside, there’s a warmth that goes beyond the physical. In the modern world where high-tech heating solutions are the norm, the Amish community, known for its simplicity and aversion to modern technology, has its unique ways of staying warm. Today, … Read more
The “skinny house”, or “pie house” as it is referred to by locals, has taken Tik Tok by storm recently. Located in Deerfield, Illinois this uniquely shaped property recently sold for $295,000! Take a look at this slice of history for yourself. 3-Feet of Quirky Living While the front of this house looks like your … Read more
Croton varieties flaunt their vivid yellows, oranges, and reds in an array of leaf shapes. My Gold Dust Croton (Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gold Dust’) is a speckled variety that brightens up my office windowsill with a pop of color. This fun plant displays random yellow spots on its dark green, ovate leaves as if yellow paint … Read more
When observing the land and trees absorbed by the invasive kudzu vine in the Southeast or fields covered by Himalayan Blackberry on the West Coast, it’s easy to see why environmentalists dislike aggressive non-native plants. The sheer enormity of them makes stewards of the land feel they must wage a war to defend the native … Read more
I have many favorites in my houseplant collection, but my pink-striped Lilac Tradescantia tops the list. It’s lovely to look at and one of the easiest plants to care for, making it an excellent choice for beginning and seasoned gardeners alike. Lilac is a small-leaved, trailing Tradescantia that grows 6 to 8 inches high and … Read more
What if you were in the heart of the Arctic, where the temperature plummets to 50 degrees below zero? Your survival depends on finding shelter, but trees are scarce, and the only abundant resource is snow. It seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Using snow, something inherently cold, to stay warm. Yet, humans have mastered this art … Read more
Imagine this: You’re wrapped up in a blanket, watching the snow gently fall outside, when suddenly – bam! The house goes dark. The serene snowscape outside has brought with it a less welcome companion: a power outage. A winter wonderland quickly turns into a chilling predicament. As the temperature outside drops, so does the comfort … Read more
