Category: Environment

Take time to choose plants which fit conditions

By Nancy Kreith Taking time to select plants for difficult growing conditions helps long-term success Difficult growing conditions leave gardeners stumped when selecting plants. These planting areas may include alkaline soils, dry shade, over a septic tank, a large local deer population, and more. Always consider the existing site conditions

Reader’s Commentary: Initially resisting response, file essentially important

By Vince Smith,Big Rock, Ill. Although occasionally offering my own personal thoughts and perspectives to this publication and its readers, I generally try to avoid attacking other contributors who of course have their own views which sometimes differ markedly from my own. Even recently, with great effort I resisted the

Mustard seeds for jet fuel will improve technology

Last of two parts The first part is at thevoice.us/transition-wild-mustard-flower-seeds-to-safe-jet-fuel The Honeywell Incorporated has produced an article about mustard seeds that are being processed for jet fuel. This innovative ingredient has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions According to Honeywell, “Longer-term, efficiencies in operations will drive the future, from

Increased numbers of Monarchs return from Mexico

By Kay Shipman More monarch butterflies spent the Winter in Mexican mountain forests compared to the previous year, Mexico’s Commission for Protected Areas reported recently. Known as the eastern monarch population, the monarchs that overwinter in Mexico migrate north through Texas and the Southern Plains, up through the Northern Plains,

Inaugural Aurora Pollinator Festival this month

Bees, butterflies, and other animals that pollinate plants and crops in Illinois are vanishing from ecosystems at an alarming rate. Phillips Park Zoo is helping to solve the problem by launching several new initiatives to protect precious pollinators, including expanding pollinator habitats, installing research gardens, and as host to the