Gardening news from around the web

10 Made-in-the-Shade Ideas for Covered Outdoor Spaces

(BPT) - Homeowners across the country are going undercover. It seems no matter where you live, the growing popularity of covered outdoor spaces is evident in backyards from Buffalo to Bakersfield. …

Refresh your shade garden: Transform the outdoors with impatiens

(BPT) - Gardening enthusiasts, rejoice! The long-awaited moment has arrived — gardening season is officially here. As green thumbs eagerly prepare to embark on their outdoor endeavors, …

Green goodness: 4 reasons to love homegrown produce
(BPT) - Are you one of the 185 million Americans who garden? If not, it’s time to consider joining the crowd. Gardening can be an incredibly rewarding hobby, especially if you grow your own …
Antoni Porowski's tips for creating a yard-to-table garden
(BPT) - Have you ever grown salsa in your garden? What about potato salad? You can, with spring’s hottest culinary trend called "yard-to-table." It brings farm-to-table home and is about …
From watering via ice cubes to spritzing with hydrogen peroxide – 4 misguided plant health trends on social media
The internet is full of advice on just about everything, including plant care. As the director of a plant diagnostic laboratory and expert on plant medicine, I help people manage their plants’ health
How to transform your backyard into a PGA TOUR-level lawn
(BPT) - Throughout the year, golf tournaments captivate audiences excited to watch the pros do what they do best: play golf! As viewers tune in to see their favorite athletes compete on pristine golf …
6 tips to take your spring DIY projects from weeds to blooms
(BPT) - The spring is a great time of year to start tackling the DIY projects you’ve been putting off all winter. If you plan to roll up your sleeves this season, you're part of a growing …

7 Tips for Spring Yard Prep

(BPT) - After winter's last gasp, spring is just around the corner. That means it's time to get out into the yard and tackle some spring cleaning. With a little DIY prep work now, your yard will be …

Cherry blossoms – celebrated in Japan for centuries and gifted to Americans – are an appreciation of impermanence and spring

Cherry blossoms mark the beginning of spring. Various festivals are regularly organized in California, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., to celebrate the bloom of cherry trees. …
11 Data Buildings Would Surround Linton Hall Neighborhood in Bristow
Amberleigh Station residents oppose the data center park that would surround them on Linton Hall Road in Bristow. 
NASA Scientist Warns Bristow-area Residents Will Hear New Data Centers
High-density data centers currently planned for the Bristow area would result in area residents hearing a disruptive 'hum' 24/7, said NASA scientist Dr. John Lyver and the HOA Roundtable of Prince William County.
Prince William Supervisors Propose Water Study on Effects of Future Land Use Proposals
A resolution calling for a study of the potential effects of planning initiatives on the Occoquan reservoir will be presented, August 2.
NPCA: Proposed Data Centers in Northern Virginia Threaten National Parks, Drinking Water
The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and CEA Engineers release analysis showing negative impacts data centers could have on waterways and national parks in Prince William County.
Fairfax Water Urges Prince William County to Request Study on How Development Would Impact Occoquan Reservoir, Drinking Water
Prince William County's plan for data centers and more industrial uses on previously rural land could harm the Occoquan Water Shed and thereby the region's drinking water. 
'Civil War' Documentarian Opposes PW Digital Gateway Near Manassas Battlefield
Documentarian Ken Burns urges Prince William Supervisors to protect landscape around Manassas National Battlefield.

Why do flowers smell?

Imagine walking through a tropical forest as a sweet scent wafts through the air. A little farther down the path, the putrid stench of rotting flesh makes you catch your breath. Upon investigation, you find that both odors originate from flowers – but why do flowers smell like anything at all? ...
Lifestyle news
New research reveals self-care savvy cities (and what we can learn from them)
Hers conducted a nationwide survey to see how Americans rate themselves in youthfulness, body positivity, emotional stability, and more.
Housing and food are health care: How new Medicaid rules in 8 states stand to help the most vulnerable
Foothold Technology analyzed resources from the CMS to see how states are addressing health-related social needs.
Across the country, Amish populations are on the rise
The Daily Yonder reports that as the Amish population in America grows, Amish communities — and their rural neighbors — are finding ways to adapt.
Republicans double down on school vouchers by taking fight to rural members of their own party
The Daily Yonder reports that for years, rural Republican state legislators have bucked the party's support for funneling public funds into private schools through education vouchers, but now Republican leaders are ramping up pressure on these holdouts.
How to stop catastrophizing
Rula shares tips for breaking the cycle of catastrophic thinking.