black swallowtail caterpillar: i will be a butterfly

Don’t let the name mislead you; these plants do not possess the ability to spell magic. It is just their dark, amazing appearance and the name of these varieties “black magic.”

These little breeders have been having a banquet on some of my Dahlias. They go for the soft new shoots and nascent flower stems which must be easy to get their teeth into. For some reason they have been quite selective on the plants they choose (As has been the spray I have used in a prophylactic manner). I hope the rest of the summer is black fly free but you never know.

Do you have dark succulents and wondering how to ensure they stay that way or maybe even get a shade darker? Follow these tips on How to Keep Black Succulents Blacker!

My grandparents’ neighbor had a corkscrew weeping willow tree, and I was convinced it was something out of a fantasy world. How else do you explain the long, weeping, twisted bra

You must be wondering, “How to Create a Black Magic Garden?” Step into the shadows and discover how to create a magical garden that’s as dark as it is, with a touch of gothic flair and an irresistible aura of mystique.

Discover the mesmerizing charm of these stunning Black and Blue Butterflies adorned with elegant shades of black and blue.

There’s no denying it—bold and moody interiors are in right now. From maximalist looks to newer decorating trends like the whimsigoth aesthetic, it’s evident that people are itching to create dramatic spaces in their homes. The newest dark and moody trend to take over the design world is just as sleek as it is modern—all-black bathrooms.

Did you just see a fuzzy red and black ant scurrying across your yard, driveway, or pine straw? Then you just saw a velvet ant – they’re closely related to ants but are actually wasps. There are many species of velvet ants in South Carolina, but the species Dasymutilla occidentalis is probably the most common and most often seen.

This looks a lot like bird poop; however, it’s just a camouflage tactic of the giant swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio cresphontes). This species is often called the “orangedog” as they feed on members of the citrus family throughout their larval stage.

If you too are facing the problem of your Basil Leaves Turning Black or Brown, then you are at the right post! Here are all the details on why it happens and how to keep this herb plant thriving.

When I have garden tours, everyone asks what “that silvery-green tree by the vegetable garden” is—even many experts—because you don’t usually see it looking like a tree.And even though I know somebody changed its name, at first I answer, “Salix rosmarinifolia…I mean…” then stop myself, and get it right.The reason you won’t see this looking like a 15-foot-tall, 20-foot wide small tree is that as with other “shrubby” willows, regular rejuvenation pruning is usually practiced.“Will get leggy unless cut back hard periodically” is the kind of advice you’ll find in refer

HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A YEAR HAS PASSED since the first WordCamp New York City, which I was proud to co-sponsor to try to express some of the gratitude for what the blogging platform called WordPress has given me–and by extension to you, too, dear readers, since without WordPress I could not invite you into my garden and communicate with you this way. A Way to Garden is built on WordPress, as is the blog network I started late last year, The Sister Project.