Book Review: Bees
Karen Meyers Shirley Raines’ book, Bees, introduces young readers to the lives and importance of four different kinds of bees. Written for children ages 5-8 years old in grades K-2, the book…
Book Review: Bees
Bees,by Joyce Markovics, presents basic information about bees suitable for children in grades 3-4. It covers topics from life cycle, pollination, and honey production, to communication in the hive, threats…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Goatsbeard ( Aruncus dioicus)
Karen This shrub-like herbaceous perennial, also known as bride’s feather, is native to North America, northern Europe and Asia where it grows in moist woodlands. It is a member of the…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Butterfly bush is a flowering shrub with arching branches and native to central China. It belongs to the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae, that also includes mullein(Verbascum), twinspur (Diascia), and Nemesia. The…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis aka Alyssum saxatilis)
A native of central and southeastern Europe, basket-of-gold is an evergreen perennial and a member of the cabbage family, Brassicaceae , that also includes broccoli, stock and candytuft. The bright…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
This short lived perennial is native to southern Europe and North Africa but has naturalized in much of Europe where it is grown as an annual. It is a member…
Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
Ajuga reptans is a low growing evergreen herbaceous perennial native to Europe where it grows in woods and poor pasture land. It is a member of the mint family, Labiatae,…
Book Review: Attracting Native Pollinators
As gardeners we appreciate the value of pollinators. Without them we would not have many of the flowers, vegetables, and fruits that we enjoy in our gardens and on our…