Nature Articles

Environment » Nature | By Flora Richards-Gustafson @ Tuesday, 22nd September 2009 @ 4:19 PM

Since the 1970s, the power of hurricanes has increased by about 70%. We can't change what unusually powerful hurricanes like Ike, Katrina, and Rita have done, but we can learn from the lessons they taught us. LESSON 1: BE PREPARED IN ADVANCE It takes time to prepare for an emergency. If you live in a place that's prone to hurricanes, disaster preparations should be made far before the news reports that a storm is heading your way. Think through your disaster plan with your ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Tristan Andrews @ Thursday, 17th September 2009 @ 10:02 PM

Anglerfishes are famous for their unusual predatory technique. Their first spine have been developed into a fishing pole with a little bate in the end. The fishing pole is actually named "illicium" and the bate is named "esca". The esca is a fleshy growth found at the end of the illicium. When a predatory fish notices the esca, it thinks that it is a suitable prey. It swims close to the esca, and is rapidly overtaken by the Anglerfish before it gets a change to swallow the esca. ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Tristan Andrews @ Tuesday, 15th September 2009 @ 9:17 PM

Adding live plants to an aquarium does more than just improve aesthetics - plants provide shelter, food for vegetarian fish, and prevent green water. Plants also soak up carbon dioxide, waste products, contribute oxygen to the water, and promote the growth of algae, tiny worms, rotifers, and protozoa, providing live food for the fish. Lighting is important if you want your plants to grow successfully. They need 12-14 hours of light each day, just like in nature. Opinions vary concerning ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Tom Jones @ Friday, 11th September 2009 @ 6:33 PM

Nature has given numerous things that can be of great use to humans. These can be procured in direct and indirect form, depending upon the utilisation of nature's gift in our modern day life style. Flowers are one of finest creations of nature. They make people realise the essence of emotions. Of all creations, flowers do stand out as one thing that promises happiness to their admirers. Flowers are of varied colours and forms. Depending upon the ambient condition, the growth of the ... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Wednesday, 9th September 2009 @ 12:54 AM

Many people think of renovations being done solely to homes. Are you aware you can renovate your lawn as well? Most lawns will live long healthy lives when maintained properly but sometimes they will start to show traffic patterns, pet burns, alien grasses and pesky weeds that you simply can't get rid of. This is when it is time to renovate your lawn to bring new life to it. Aerating Your Lawn Lawns that are so compact that grass cannot grow needs to be aerated. Aerating is a ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Ki Gray @ Tuesday, 8th September 2009 @ 10:45 AM

There are many greenbelts in and around the creeks in Austin, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt is one of the most well-known. The greenbelt begins at the south shore of Lady Bird Lake and continues all the way to Loop 360, with starts and stops along the way. Most of the greenbelt is adjacent to the creek itself and Barton Springs while it meanders through the Zilker Park area, and one of the best places to swim under the trees and among the rocks and trails is called Campbell's Hole. more...

Environment » Nature | By Billy Kite @ Sunday, 6th September 2009 @ 5:39 PM

For the adventurous individual who seeks excitement outdoors, whitewater rafting is a perfect opportunity. It is not for the faint of heart, and as with all extreme sports, the proper equipment is necessary. However, there are numerous options when it comes to what you will be taking down the river. One of these options is that of the inflatable raft. Inflatable rafts are much like their solid counterparts in the regards that they do not have a hull. This is what characterizes a raft. Ho... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Saturday, 5th September 2009 @ 7:50 PM

Many gardens begin to rot before they even begin producing vegetables. The reason is because they do not have enough drainage and the roots literally rot away. Following a few simple rules can help you avoid root rot in your garden this spring. Build Your Own Garden Bed Building your won garden bed is simple and not really expensive. You will need to determine the size of your garden. If it is going to be large, you may want to try another method for drainage. You will need enough ... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Saturday, 5th September 2009 @ 7:38 PM

Bermuda grass has become one of the most popular grasses in recent years. It grows well three seasons out of the year and forms one of the loveliest lawns that are also easy to care for. As you might have expected, it grows widely in the Bermuda Islands but originated in Africa. It is a perennial grass, like most grasses, that is capable of creating turf by spreading rhizomes and stolons. Typical Uses for Bermuda Grass This grass is a favorite with grounds keepers of sport fields b... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Saturday, 5th September 2009 @ 6:21 PM

Buying a new lawn mower can be a trying experience at best. There are so many things to take into consideration that most people simply purchase the first one they look at. If you follow some of these tips for choosing a lawn mower, it will help you make an informed decision and get the best product for your money. Check Out the Engine One of the most important things to consider when you choose a lawn mower is the engine. You want to choose an engine size that is appropriate for y... more...

Environment » Nature | By Sarah Clements @ Friday, 4th September 2009 @ 8:52 AM

When trying to optimise growth in fruiting and flowering plants, it is all too easy to focus on the wrong growth factors. The obvious point at which most gardeners start is with the nutrients, feeds and additives that they are giving their plants. It does seem logical that many growth issues would stem from incorrect feeding, but more often than not it is the actual growing environment that has the greater impact on growth rates. There are a range of environmental factors that affect plan... more...

Environment » Nature | By Sarah Clements @ Friday, 4th September 2009 @ 8:52 AM

Taking and propagating cuttings from successful fruiting and flowering plants is a great way of maintaining healthy plant stock without constantly having to fork out for new seeds. It allows you to select your best performing plants and effectively clone them. Cuttings contain the same genetic make-up as their parent plant and will display the same growth traits as they age. This is great if you have one tomato plant that yields a lot more fruit than the others as you can take cuttings from this... more...

Environment » Nature | By Knight Pierce Hirst @ Thursday, 3rd September 2009 @ 8:21 AM

According to evolutionary theory, sheep get bigger in order to survive winters and to reproduce; but this isn't the case on a remote island in Scotland. There the wild Soay sheep have gotten smaller over the past 25 years. According to a study published in the journal "Science", climate change has made the Scottish winters shorter and thus baby lambs don't need to put on as much weight in the first few months to survive. As these smaller lambs grow into sheep and mate, environm... more...

Environment » Nature | By Aydan Corkern @ Monday, 31st August 2009 @ 3:46 PM

When a hurricane hits water comes from everywhere. Flooding your home damaging your things and it can destroy everything you own. It can damage the foundation causing it to sink, crack, and can cave-in your home. Wiring can get damaged and beams can become broken. Water could be standing in your home soaking everything and ruining whatever the water had gotten to. Furniture will be damaged or ruined. These storms can and will do a lot of major damage to many areas of your home if not destroy it... more...

Environment » Nature | By Flora Richards-Gustafson @ Thursday, 27th August 2009 @ 6:32 PM

Loss of life, pets, property, and business are just a few of the tragedies that hurricanes leave in their wake. The following tips will help you prepare for hurricane season. HAVE A PLAN: Know what to expect. Sit down and develop a plan with your family and/or employees. Consider these questions in your plan: 1. What are the hazards in your community? Could nearby bodies of water flood? Are there trees that could fall? 2. What is the safest area of your building in the event... more...

Environment » Nature | By Mike Freemen @ Sunday, 23rd August 2009 @ 2:22 PM

The growth of the synthetic grass industry can be correlated to increased awareness of its many functions. From professional soccer fields, to simple backyard landscaping in residential neighborhoods, artificial grass has replaced many real grass lawns across the globe. To supply its different uses, a variety of synthetic grass types now exist within the market. Artificial grass was originally used for sports fields. Technological breakthroughs in turf production have bettered the qualit... more...

Environment » Nature | By Dominic Donaldson @ Friday, 21st August 2009 @ 9:05 AM

Encouraging children to take interest in nature can often be quite difficult, investing in an outdoor classroom for a primary school or nursery can mean that the children are more intrigued by learning about nature because they're surrounded by it. Whenever the temperature rises, children would rather be outside than in a classroom; an outdoor classroom means that you can keep pupils in an educational environment while allowing them to get some fresh air. Initially the thought of tak... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Monday, 17th August 2009 @ 5:10 PM

Grass plugs are literally small plugs of specific grass that are planted in the ground and spread fairly quick. This is one of the easiest ways to fix bare patches in your lawn without the worry of straw and wire mesh. It is fairly simple to plant and usually roots itself within seven to ten days. Here are some tips to using grass plugs to fix your lawn. Choosing your Grass Plugs You will want a grass plug that grows quickly and spreads easy. There are a number of different grasses... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Thursday, 13th August 2009 @ 6:10 PM

Many people plant flower gardens only to have them die out or their growth stunted by weeds. In some cases the flowers are planted to close together for the roots to get the nutrients they need. Here are some tips on growing a lush flower garden to go with your lush lawn. Clean up any Winter Debris Although you may rake and pick up your leaves in the fall and think you have it all completed, there is always additional leaves that tend to sneak into your gardens during the winter. Y... more...

Environment » Nature | By John Smith @ Thursday, 13th August 2009 @ 6:10 PM

Simply because plants and trees grown in the ground does not mean all soil is perfect for planting. Some plants need much more of one important component that the soil may not have. For instance if your soil is high in phosphorus, you will need a fertilizer that increases the nitrogen and potassium in order to decrease the phosphorus. Your local farm bureau agent can assist you on this aspect of fertilizing. What your Soil Needs All soil needs three common nutrients; nitrogen, pho... more...