The warm winter we experienced in 2012 has made the season of pollen it earlier and harder than ever.  It seems like everyone is dealing with scratchy throats, dry or watery eyes, and a cough that just won’t seem to go away.  Pollen counts have been recorded at record highs in various parts of the nation this year so be sure to stock up on your choic of allergy medicine to get through this very pollinated season!

Rabbits. Bunnies. Cottontails.  What ever you call them, however cute they are, they love to munch on our gardens.  It always seems that the more work you put into the garden, the more pesky these critters become.  Here are a few tips that can keep your garden standing tall throughout this growing season!

The Standard Fence:

Chicken wire is the most effective method.  The fence needs to be at least two feet high to keep them from climbing over and should also be securely planted into the ground.  Rabbits natual instincts tell them to dig, so take some time to install the fence properly.

Other Repellents:

Human Hair and dried blood sprinkled around the perimeter of the garden produces a scent that will deter any adorable bunnies that are looking for a mid afternoon snack.  Soaking old corncobs in vinegar is another well known method for rabbit prevention. Also, while it might seem obvious, a dog could be one of the most effective measures.  Even if your pooch isn’t outside 24/7 his scent will linger longer than you think.

While all of us here in the Midwest kicked back and enjoyed the weather this winter, we weren’t the only creatures enjoying this luxury.  The unusually mild temperatures may have allowed many of the previous years’ insects to ride out the few cold nights and survive into this year.  Not only that, the warm spring may have opened the door for bugs that normally survive multiple generations - such a aphids and spider mites- to increase their population even more than normal.

For all of you planning to increase the beauty of your landscape this growing season why not attract a few friendly critters in the process? 

The first step to creating a successful butterfly garden is to do some serious research about which butterflies are native to your area.  You should also consider the size you wish the garden to be.  The area could be as small as a box outside your window or as large as a fenceline in your backyard.

After you have an understanding of the native butterflies, a little more research should be done as to which plants will attract the desired butterflies.  Some of these will be annuals and some perennials so planting at the right time will be important.  Any perennials should be planted near the back of the garden and annuals should be planted in front in order to ensure easy planting year after year!

To learn more about butterflies and plants native to your area check out the Butterfly Site.

“The American Way” used to mean working long hours and giving it your all.  While many would still argue that this is the case, some would also say it is the epitome of laziness.  Well for the second group of thinkers the Robo-mower will prove your point.

The robo-mower allows homeowners to stay out of the heat and firmly planted on their couch for days on end.  Simply push the power button and the mower will do its work.  The robo-mower even comes standard with an anti-theft alarm and blades that stop spinning as soon as the machine tilts.

With the monsoon that has recently swept through the greater Kansas City area expect all of your trees and flowers to be in full bloom in the upcoming weeks.  Tulips are usually the first sign of spring and one organization is using these beautiful flowers to represent the change to an entire neighborhood.

The Southtown foundation began Tulips on Troost in an effort to exhibit the power of neighborhood beautification in some of the city’s most historic areas.  The goal of the project was to reach 1 million tulips planted on Troost avenue in Kansas City, MO by 2010 and now the goal is to reach 3 million tulips planted!

To learn more about the Tulips on Troost mission check out their website!

If you have ever noticed a large circle of dead grass surrounded by mushrooms in your lawn, or maybe on your local golf course you are most likely looking at a fairy ring.

The name fairy ring comes from an old folk tale where people believed that circles of mushrooms were a result of fairies dancing in a ring.  When talking about lawn care, the best known fairy ring fungus is named Marasmius oreades. The body of this fungus is contained underground and it grows in an outward circle.  As it grows, the mycelium uses up all of the nutrients in the soil, causing the grass to turn brown.  Mushrooms will then sprout up just behind the line of the mycelium.

Fairy rings made by fungi like Marasmius oreades are called “free” rings. They will continue to grow outward until a barrier is reached. Sometimes the barrier is another fairy ring! Rings can grow into each other’s territory and die as each reaches the other’s “dead zone.”  One ring formed in France by the fungus Clitocybe geotropa is almost a half mile in diameter. This ring is thought to be 700 years old.

The mowers were rated by the following criteria:

1. Versatility of functions
2. Maneuverability
3. Ease of start-up and maintenance
4. Power to get over hills and obstacles
5. Bag capacity
6. Noise and emissions
7. Height adjustment

Taking all of these items into consideration, the Number One Mower of 2012 according to 10 Rate is:

Honda HRX2172VKA

To see the rest of the top 10 mowers of 2012 visit 10 Rate’s website

What do you call an animal that can never see where its going but everyone else knows where it’s been?

A mole!

Some of you may have experienced the detrimental effects that the odd looking animal named the mole has created. Many homeowners and golf courses struggle to stop the animal in its tracks due to their winding paths and small size.

Contrary to popular belief, moles are not rodents, but are actually insectivores (similar to hedgehogs).  They can grow to about 8 inches and are entirely blind.  As they burrow, they sometimes damage plants, but the major problem with moles is the mounds and ridges that disfigure lawns. As they tunnel just below the surface, moles raise the sod up with their front digging feet, looking for food or new tunneling sites. They can push up surface tunnels at the rate of a foot per minute if the soil is loose. They prefer loose, moist soil shaded by vegetation.

While spring signals the return of insects in the Midwest, thank goodness we don’t have to deal with spiders that look like the one above.

Like something out of a horror movie, this bird-eating spider was captured in the Australia.  These spiders have been known to capture frogs, salamanders, and in this case small birds.  So next time you scream and run from the spider you claim was “huge”…. well keep this one in mind.