In 2021, the average weekly screen time for children rose to 5 hours and 33 minutes. In the age of ‘iPad children’, it’s more important than ever to ensure your child has physical activities and outdoor hobbies to engage in. Considering trying out gardening with your little one? Read on as we provide the dos and don’ts to make your child’s outdoor time safe, happy, and filled with fun (more fun than an iPad screen!). Benefits Of Gardening With Your Little One Are you unsure whether your child will take to gardening? Here are some reasons why it’s worth putting […]
Author: James Johnsen
Using Plants to Increase Your Home’s Humidity
Do you live in a place that has a cold temperature all year round, or in a region that has a dry climate? If yes, it’s likely that you’re constantly coping with health symptoms and conditions due to the low humidity levels in your home. Dry air causes a host of health issues ranging from sore throat to respiratory problems, and now, recent research shows that diseases transmitted by saliva-coated viruses can remain infectious for more than two hours if they are in dry air. “It shows that this type of virus can hang around for quite a while,” said the study’s […]
Discovering & Growing Woodland Wildflowers
There are many plants we can talk about this time of year, so let’s take a moment to enjoy the early-season natives that are filling the forests with color. Their appearance is brief, but these beauties are a great source of joy after a long winter. One of my early childhood memories is traveling to our family cabin in spring and seeing carpets of trilliums covering the forests along the highway. I encourage you to explore your local forests and look for woodland wildflowers. And guess what? You can grow these plants at home too! What Are Woodland Wildflowers? This […]
Spring Gardening: Managing Invasive Species
Hiking is one of the best ways to see native plants. Still, as you explore the woods, you may encounter invasive species that are overtaking the existing natives. These invasives can spread to your property and cause problems, especially if you have any wooded areas near your home. Let’s take a moment to examine these plants and how to manage them. What Is An Invasive Species? You may have heard this term before, but what does it mean? An invasive species is a living species that is non-native to a specific region and causes harm to the environment. Invasives can […]
Easy Ways To Create A Mindful Garden From Scratch
Gardening is a wonderful way to enhance your well-being while connecting with nature. Not only is it a great way to get some fresh air and exercise, but it can help you to relax since caring for live plants can relieve fatigue and stress. Moreover, it can be an excellent mindful activity since gardening requires focus, and you need to be physically present for it. In an interview with The New York Times, English psychiatrist Sue Stuart-Smith explains how gardening, which enables people to work with nature’s energy, can be a form of meditation. “People often describe losing themselves in the […]
Cicada Emergence 2024: Protecting Your Garden & Landscape
Have you ever heard the buzz of cicadas on a hot summer afternoon? Their distinct sound carries across the landscape as a reminder that summer is upon us. These insects will be even more prominent this summer in certain parts of the country. Let’s dive in and learn about these fascinating insects and their effect on the landscape. What Are Cicadas? Cicadas are a group of insects with over 1,300 species across the globe, with most of them living in tropical areas. They’re also closely related to leafhoppers and aphids. In the Midwest, we have nearly a dozen species of […]
How To Create A Rain Garden
Picture this: it’s a hot summer day, and you’re heading to the garden to water your plants when suddenly, a rainstorm arrives, and you don’t have to water them anymore. For many of us, that’s a dream come true. However, the excess water from these rain events can end up on roads and sidewalks, causing less water to be absorbed by the soil. As the water runs along the road, it may pick up pollutants and other debris, which may end up in lakes and rivers. A great way to reroute some of this water is creating a rain garden, […]
Bee Gardens: Cultivating Pollinator Paradises
A bee garden featuring wildflowers, native grasses, and herbs serves as a biodiverse haven for nurturing bee populations. Nectar-rich wildflowers like bloodroot and Virginia bluebells offer a colorful feast for bees, while herbs like sage, thyme, and oregano also provide abundant nectar and pollen for these vital pollinators. Interspersed among them, native grasses like little bluestem and switchgrass provide essential habitat and nesting sites. Together, these elements create a thriving ecosystem where bees flourish, pollinating crops and wild plants alike. Remarkably, a single bee lawn in Minneapolis, featuring a mix of flowers, was found to attract over 50 species of bees. And, […]
8 Unusual Fruits To Grow
What’s your favorite fruit? This question suggests apples, grapes, oranges for many of us, but how about Goumi or Jostaberry? Jung offers an assortment of popular and lesser-known fruits. While some of these are less common, their unique qualities make them a tasty and low-maintenance addition to the landscape. Let’s dive in! Currant Currants are like gooseberries, with many of the same growing requirements and uses. And while they’re self-fruitful, 3 to 4 plants are ideal for a family. You can grow red, black, or white currants. Still, red is the most popular for gardeners, especially ‘Red Lake.’ Black currants […]
How to Introduce Youth to Gardening
Cultivating plants can help enhance the long-term health of elementary school kids, by teaching youngsters the origin of their food and how to grow it according to an education initiative and program called Texas Sprouts. Exposure to outdoor gardening, nutrition information, and cooking classes resulted in a lower probability of pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions. By teaching kids how to grow and prepare their veggies, their intake of healthy greens is increased. Introducing children to gardening has many positive effects – encouraging healthier habits and better lifestyles, as well as health improvement, lower obesity rates, and the prevention of chronic diseases. Here are simple […]