If you haven’t seen them already, be on the lookout in the next several days for Naked Ladies, also known as surprise lilies. They’re a bit ahead of last year in our neck of the woods in Cedar Rapids, but generally make their annual appearance in late July or early August. The “surprise” comes, as […]
Stirring up a hornet’s nest: what to do
Dawn Lively had a conundrum. Some type of buzzing, stinging insects had moved into a clothesline pipe near an area of the yard that she and her husband often used. Homeowners might attack any type of stinging insect with the deadliest force possible, but Dawn was looking for a more natural approach, especially if the […]
Swallowtail update: so then this happene...
Just one day after posting about my backyard buddy, the black swallowtail caterpillar stopped moving. Hours later, it formed a silken “harness” and began its metamorphosis on the way to becoming a butterfly by forming a chrysalis. Related: How to tell apart swallowtail and monarch caterpillars I understood that swallowtails like to wander far from […]
Battle of the cats: differences between ...
After successfully growing just one milkweed plant in my backyard last year, I was excited to have dozens dotting the yard this summer. But sadly, the plants remain pristine, with no sign of the munching monarch caterpillars that use milkweed as its sole food source, and the reason I wanted the plants to thrive. See […]
Iowa gives axe to Forestry Bureau; tree ...
Tree advocates in Iowa are calling for action after the Iowa Department of Natural Resources decided to cut its Forestry Bureau. The groups point out that the decision will not only potentially hurt Iowa’s woodlands and small business owners, but the state’s air and water quality, pollinator habitat and more. Read on for the statement from […]
Behind the scenes at the Iowa City Farme...
IOWA CITY – For years, I’ve written about farmers markets, but until Saturday, I had never experienced the vendors’ side. Thanks to my sister’s internship at Morning Glory, a Community Supported Agriculture farm near Mount Vernon, Iowa, I had the opportunity at the Iowa City Farmers Market. Donna Warhover, who operates the farm with her […]
Good Neighbor Iowa points to high cost o...
By Cindy Hadish/for Radish Magazine The “perfect” lawn, free of weeds and thick with grass, grows with hidden costs. Scientific studies show that pesticides – those weed killers, insecticides and fungicides applied to many lawns – are linked to a variety of chronic illnesses, neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders and childhood cancers, such as leukemia. Additionally, […]
Scenic Byway offers glimpse into life of...
(Editor’s note: Check with the establishments on updated hours/closures when planning your trip.) By Eden Ehm Stretching across east-central Iowa, the Grant Wood Scenic Byway (GWSB) is named for the region’s ties to Grant Wood and art culture. The byway corridor is where Grant Wood grew up, went to school, led his Art Colony, gathered […]
Photos: Freedom Festival Parade 2017
CEDAR RAPIDS – Perfect parade weather greeted spectators and entries this morning for the 2017 Freedom Festival Parade. With 80 floats, musical units and other entries, the parade lasted more than an hour, making its way through New Bohemia and Czech Village, as parade-goers stood shoulder-to-shoulder lining Third Street SE and 16th Avenue SW. The […]
Return of the Japanese beetles and how t...
It’s like clockwork: my raspberries finally ripen and the Japanese beetles return. The beetles are known to devour hundreds of varieties of plants, turning leaves into skeletal “lace,” and raspberries – including the actual berries – appear to be among their favorites. Related: Japanese beetle watch begins I’ve tried picking the beetles off individually and […]