In the flower garden, the most likely victims of lace bugs are azalea bushes, particularly those growing in sunny locations. The adult bugs and their larvae feed on azaleas and other flowering plants and shrubs throughout the growing season, using their sharp mouthparts to pierce plant foliage and suck the juices from leaves. Damage from lace bugs is primarily cosmetic and does not seriously harm plants. Typical signs of damage include:...

Yes, you want to display all the decorative pumpkins that you can get your hands on, but you also want to try some DIY Halloween decorations for October and put out your Christmas decorations as soon as December strikes. (Most people agree that you should decorate for the holidays right after Thanksgiving, after all.) And then there’s November: While those who celebrate might put out special decorative accents for the week of Thanksgiving, there’s not a month-long theme to decorate around during the 11th month of the year....

There certainly are plenty of white-flowering plants you can use to create an all-white garden, but it can be a little tricky to create a combination you like. You never really notice how many shades of white there are until you start grouping the plants together. Options for Combining Whites and Colors Most white flowers are not pure white; many contain subtle undertones of yellow, pink, green, or blue. You will have to experiment with the plants and hold them next to each other to really appreciate the subtle color differences....

Determining a Chandelier Size Before following the guidelines below remember that the style and visual weight of the chandelier will also affect the size you should get. A visually heavy light fixture can be a little bit smaller while a visually light fixture can be a little wider. A simple way to determine a chandelier size is to add the dimensions of the room together in feet and then convert the answer to inches....

First Things First What kind of plumber do you need? Not all plumbers are created equal—many specialize in a specific type of project. Some base their business on service calls (think snaking a drain or unclogging a toilet) while others prefer to install new plumbing as you would need in a remodeling job. In almost every state, plumbers require a specialty license and have different designations based on their amount of experience....

The lovely, fragrant flowers of the mock orange are said to resemble orange blossoms, which is how the shrub got its common name of mock orange. They are rich with nectar that attracts butterflies and other pollinators. Here, we feature five varieties that vary in size and climate tolerance but share the fabulous floral appeal of all mock oranges. They can be planted in groups to form a loose privacy hedge for summer, and their blossoms are often used as cut flowers....

These aromatic flowers brighten gardens from early summer until frost. While bountiful, these marigolds are not aggressive or invasive. Although native to Mexico and Central America, this plant is usually known as the African marigold because it was through African ports that plant traders first brought the plant to Europe. Plant seeds or seedlings in the spring after the danger of frost has passed to enjoy a bounty of blooms in just two months....

Dill’s feathery foliage can be quite ornamental, which makes it a nice addition to flower beds, where it will attract pollinators and butterflies, especially the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly. It blends well with other plants, whether used as foliage or for a bright spot of color—just be sure to keep its self-sowing habit in check by deadheading flower heads before they go to seed. Although it has a delicate appearance, dill is actually a fairly cold-hardy plant....

Half-inch leaves of Dwarf Birch are thick and leathery upon rather hairy twigs. Flowering in May, the male catkins can be as long as a full inch, while female catkins are smaller. Each flower is either male or female, while both sexes can grow on the same plant. Seeds ripen in July, producing narrow-winged seeded fruits, allowing pollination by the wind. Light Dwarf Birch prefers full sun, but it will grow in part shade where it can receive direct sunlight for two to six hours of the day....

This tree contains small amounts of cyanogenic glycosides (cyanide) in the leaves, leaves, and seeds, which can cause health problems in animals or people who consume plant parts in large quantities. Poisoning to pets and humans is rare, but do not plant these shrubs where grazing animals such as horses, cattle, or goats might have access. Plant dwarf flowering almond shrubs in moist, rich soil in full sun to part shade....

Planted in spring or early summer, this slow-growing, low-maintenance deciduous tree will eventually grow cup-shaped white flowers with showy orange-yellow anthers that develop in the early summer. Its foliage of dark-green leaves transforms into gorgeous autumnal hues of red, orange, and burgundy as summer turns to fall. As its leaves shed, a flaky, multi-colored, and pretty patchwork bark is exposed that gives the tree some winter interest. The bark peels away in strips of gray, reddish-brown, and orange....

Miltonia orchids produce leaves and flower spikes from pseudobulbs which makes them good candidates for growing as potted specimens. These orchids, unlike many others, grow year round and do not go dormant unless exposed to high temperatures and bright sun for extended periods. They flower at different times throughout the year depending on species with the Miltoniopsis genera producing blooms similar in shape and color to pansies. A common name for this subgroup is the “Pansy Orchid’....