Wildlife watch: Elephant hawk-moth

Rarely seen, the mole (Talpa europaea)  has the most gorgeous crushed-velvet fur, huge shovel-like paws, a bright pink snout, and tiny eyes. It lives underground, using its paws to dig tunnels and hunt for earthworms and other soil invertebrates, such as carrot fly larvae. You’re most likely to see molehills than the moles themselves. These are heaps of soil which moles push to the surface from shallow tunnels. However, most mole tunnels are deeper underground. They vary in depth, with the deepest tunnels used in times of drought. Each tunnel system has at least one nest chamber, used for sleeping and breeding.

One day, your brassicas are swaying happily in the breeze, and the next, out of nowhere, you’ve been invaded by the worst—cabbage moths and worms! They sneak up on you, camouflaged and relentless. But before your harvest becomes a lost cause, here are ways to get rid of them!

The name ‘caterpillar’ comes from the old French word chatepelose, which means ‘hairy cat’. Caterpillars are the eating and growing stage of butterflies and moths. Many are green but others are intricately patterned, which makes them straightforward to identify.

Encountering a wasp nest on your property can be quite alarming. These nests, often built in hidden or hard-to-reach places, can pose a significant risk, especially if you or your family members have allergies to stings. A wasp nest is typically constructed from paper-like material that wasps create by chewing wood fibres mixed with their saliva. Knowing where these nests are most commonly found can help in planning an effective wasp nest removal strategy.

The Summer Olympics are here, and for the ninth time, Ralph Lauren has dressed the U.S. competitors in his All-American designs, including jeans, a navy blazer with white and blue piping that’s emblazoned with the iconic Polo logo, a blue and white striped shirt, and a navy knit tie for a timeless—and truly American—look.

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When you spot ants in your house, it's crucial to act swiftly to prevent an infestation. These tiny invaders can quickly become a significant nuisance, making it essential to address the issue promptly. First, identify where the ants are entering your home and locate their nest if possible. Ants often follow scent trails left by other ants, so finding their entry points is the first step towards eliminating them effectively.

An increase in development and urban sprawl has created a need to develop more wildlife-friendly landscapes. All wildlife need food, shelter (cover), water, and space to survive. A rain garden can fulfill some of those needs by providing habitat typically lacking in an urban or backyard environment. A rain garden is a landscaped depression designed to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs and roads and runoff from compacted turfgrass. See HGIC Factsheet 1864:Rain Garden Plants: Introduction for additional information on rain gardens.

Nothing provides quite the same stunning impact in a floral arrangement as big, beautiful, blooming hydrangeas. Hydrangeas of all colors—blue, purple, white, pink, and red—make their glorious show in Southern gardens in the spring and summer, whether growing lush as a leafy bush, looking charming in a container pot, or of course, dotting the house in vases after being snipped (or picked up from your local flower shop).

As we enter the dog days of summer, many of us are buzzing about with trips to the beach, firing up the old grill, and celebrating our country’s independence. In between our attempts to pack as much into the warmer months of the year as we can, consider growing a plant that symbolizes the peak of the season like no other, the sunflower (Helianthusannuus, annual). Though considered in some circles a somewhat pedestrian plant that befits only the beginner gardener, there are many reasons why growing sunflowers are a boon to your garden. Learn all about how and why to grow annual sunflowers below.

Buying or selling property can be a complex process, and finding a reliable conveyancing solicitor is crucial to ensure a smooth transaction. 

The speckled bush-cricket is a small, bright green cricket that gets its name from its all-over covering of black speckles. It has short wings, long, thin antennae and a dark orange stripe on its back (the male has a thicker stripe than the female). The female has a long, curved ovipositor (egg-laying tube). The speckled bush cricket cannot fly, but gets around by jumping, using its powerful back legs.