Hobo spiders can be hard to distinguish from other species, even for experts, since their appearance can be so varied. Hobo spiders and brown recluse spiders are often mistaken for one another, which is perhaps the reason for their undeserved reputation as poisonous spiders. The hobo spider has a body that is roughly 1/2 inch in length, with legs that are usually no more than 2 inches long, occasionally reaching as much as 3 inches....

Varieties Scale range in size from one to five millimeters and, in certain life stages, can be difficult to see without magnification. Male soft scale appears grayish to white and can look similar to mealybugs. Soft scale damages the plant by sucking sap from the plant. It also leaves behind a sticky excretion called ​honeydew. The hard scale does not leave this excretion. Both types appear as tiny roundish discs along the stems and on the undersides of leaves and can sometimes be mistaken as leaf nodes along the stem....

Like a cactus, African milk tree lives a long life and grows vigorously—approximately 1 to 2 feet a year up to 9 feet tall. But when grown indoors, this plant will only grow to about half of its maximum height. Only North American gardeners in states with arid climates—where the temperatures at night stay above 50 F (parts of Texas, California, Florida, and Arizona)—can grow African milk tree outdoors. For these lucky few, the plant provides a dramatic landscape addition not often seen in gardens throughout the United States....

The flowers, which are actually sepals that grow together in a floral formation, are often hidden by the leaves. Their intoxicating fruity perfume will let you know the shrub is in bloom. The leaves are also fragrant if crushed, and the bark has a distinctly camphor or juniper-like scent. All parts of the plant were traditionally placed in drawers and closets to keep linens and clothing smelling fresh. More recently, the plant has become popular for use in potpourri....

Fuzzy pale yellow-green flowers (catkins) appear in early spring with the leaves. They turn into small light brown fuzzy capsules that contain many small fuzzy seeds. The leaves turn yellow in the fall and once they’ve dropped, the twisted twigs become even more apparent, which lends the tree special winter interest. Plant a corkscrew willow any time during the spring or summer. Moist soil and ample space are prerequisites, as it is tall and easily reaches a spread of 20 feet, sometimes even more....

Crocosmia grow from corms planted in the spring after the last chance of frost. Their red, yellow, or orange blooms are displayed on long, arching stems. The blooms open one at a time from the bottom of the stem. Their grass-like foliage adds billowy movement to the garden and is attractive all season. This showy plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies with its pigment-rich blooms and makes a gorgeous contribution to cut flower arrangements....

Cyclamen persicum, the florist’s cyclamen, is usually grown in pots indoors. It goes dormant for the summer, but with proper care, it will regrow and rebloom in the fall. Exactly when cyclamen goes fully dormant depends on its growing conditions. Warm temperatures propel it to dormancy, but if you keep your home cool your plant might not appear to go fully dormant. Instead, it might just lose some leaves and not look its best or bloom for a couple of months....

As a member of the rose family, the firethorn shrub has thorns similar to those found on a rose bush. These shrubs can be planted in the spring or fall and are very fast growers. They are evergreen in warm climates and semi-evergreen in colder climates. Light Firethorn can be grown in full or partial sun. However, those grown in full sun will produce more berries than those grown in partial sun....

Flower of Bristol plants can grow tall, giving them a tendency to droop over during the height of the growing season. To avoid drooping, provide support with stakes or surround the perennial with low-lying plants like peonies. These plants are disease- and pest-resistant and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Light For the best show, grow the flower of Bristol plant in full sun. The sunnier the spot, the more flowers your plant will produce and the bushier it will become....

Light In order to keep its golden-yellow foliage bright and vibrant, the golden goddess philodendron requires bright, indirect light. An east or west-facing window is perfect for these climbing plants. Avoid locations that receive direct afternoon sun as the leaves are susceptible to scorching. Soil As an epiphyte, the golden goddess philodendron requires a potting medium that is airy, rich, and moist but also well-draining. A combination of equal parts indoor potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark is ideal....

Their trailing habit and prolific blooms make them excellent candidates for container gardens. Million bells plants are also somewhat drought-tolerant, so you can include them in a rock garden where they will appreciate the sharp drainage conditions. If you use million bells as a ground cover, keep in mind that the plants seldom spread more than 2 feet, so plant enough to ensure adequate coverage. Light Million bells flowers grow best in full sun....

The Spiraea genus as a whole has a few distinct identifying physical features. Each is deciduous, mostly with narrow, oval-shaped leaves called lanceolate. They all have many tightly clustered flowers with five sepals and five petals. These similarities are often as far as it goes when it comes to the genus. This is great news for designers and gardeners looking for variety in their landscapes. Light To achieve the best bloom production and foliage coloration, ensure that the shrub gets full sun....

Tall fescue is known for its fast, upright, clumping growth habit that is sometimes known as “bunchgrass.” Although tall fescue grass possesses small rhizomes, it spreads by vertical shoots called “tillers” that grow from the base of the plant or by seed distribution rather than by creeping. When it dominates a mixed-grass lawn, it may appear as isolated, awkward-looking clumps rather than in a uniform mat like other grasses. Tall fescue is a tough grass that is a good choice for play areas, though it may require reseeding when bare spots occur....

Winter aconite thrives on neglect and requires little to no maintenance once planted. It is virtually pest and disease-free, deer resistant, and can tolerate various light levels. Once established, winter aconite may self-seed and naturalize over time. Light The winter aconite can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, from partial shade to full sun. However, growth will be most vigorous in a location that receives at least five to six hours of direct sunlight daily....

Zygopetalums are highly fragrant with perfumes ranging from chocolaty to spicy and peppery. Other scents are described as similar to hyacinths or freesias. With proper care, these sturdy orchids will bloom up to four times a year for a period lasting three to four weeks. Flowers are 2 to 4 inches in size and appear in shades of purple, burgundy, green and white with spotted and patterned petals and lips....

General Tips for Berry Container Growing Success Most berries will need large pots, both to accommodate the roots and to balance the mature-size top of the plants. Large pots with large plants can get very heavy. If you think you will be moving the containers, either indoors for the winter or around the patio, place them on a sturdy plant dolly. Of course, they will also need plenty of drainage holes....

When a man named Wilbur Scoville first devised a means to test the heat of a pepper in 1912, his hottest entry then came in at 20,000 units. At the time, this seemed plenty hot when compared to the Scoville rating of 0 units for a sweet bell pepper. However, decades of plant development have now created peppers with much greater spiciness. Most people regard a Cayenne pepper, at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units to be incredibly hot, but there are also peppers so hot they earn Scoville ratings in the millions....

Tips to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter Ventilation is key to prevent moisture buildup. Don’t waste your time and energy trying to shoo them indoors during rain or snow.