HEATHER HALL

AZ Animals • 23rd March 2023

Parlor Palm vs. Bamboo Palm: Which One Is Right for Your Space?

A Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a tropical perennial evergreen. It has slender stems and long arching fronds and grows up to 3-6 feet tall indoors. While it can be grown outdoors in warmer climates, it’s most commonly kept as an indoor houseplant. It makes for a great low-maintenance indoor plant. This is mainly due to its minimal light requirements and its ability to thrive without much fertilizer or water.

The Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) is also known as the Reed palm or Cluste

AZ Animals • 17th March 2023

What Is a Group of Crows Called?

An American crow is a species of bird that belongs to the Corvidae family. It is native to North America and is one of the most common birds in the United States. But I bet there are a few things you don’t know about the American crow. Let’s find out!

What Do They Look Like?

The American crow is a black bird with brown eyes and glossy feathers that can be found throughout Canada and the United States. It can be recognized by its loud, distinctive call, which is referred to as a “caw.” It is so

AZ Animals • 17th March 2023

How to Grow Spinach: Your Complete Guide

Planting spinach is easy and rewarding. It is a cold-tolerant leafy green, making it an ideal vegetable to plant in the early spring. Spinach is also one of the few vegetables that can withstand colder temperatures. It can even thrive in the winter in some areas! Planting spinach will provide you with a nutritious harvest of delicious leaves throughout the growing season. Here is our complete guide to get you started!

Spinach is a cool-season vegetable that can be grown in many different climat

AZ Animals • 13th December 2022

10 Types of Bats in the U.S. That Are Endangered

Bats are a keystone species, meaning that they have an outsized impact on their environment relative to their abundance. They help maintain healthy ecosystems by controlling insect populations and aiding in the pollination of plants. In addition, many bat species serve as indicators for the health of ecosystems. If bats are declining, it is likely due to wider environmental issues that should be addressed. In the paragraphs below, we will cover ten bats in the U.S. that are endangered. This incl

AZ Animals • 6th December 2022

Meet The 5 Cutest Hamsters In The World

It is safe to say that one hundred percent of hamsters are cute. With their adorable little ears, innocent eyes, and soft fur, they are a thousand percent cute. And they seem like the perfect pet. But there are many things you should take into consideration before bringing a hamster home.

Hamsters need a safe and quiet area. A stressed-out or anxious hamster can get really sick. Hamsters are not active during the daytime, so they aren’t the best pets for children or adults who want a pet to pla

AZ Animals • 26th November 2022

Meet The 8 Cutest Pitbulls In The World

Pitbulls are crossbreeds of dogs that mix the features of a bulldog and a terrier. Originally bred in England in the 19th century, they were called Bull and Terriers. They were meant to herd animals, manage livestock and protect the farm. Unfortunately, some pit bulls were used for fighting, which has thankfully been banned.

In the 20th century, pit bulls became popular as family dogs; for a good reason, they are highly social and loyal animals. Today we also see them used as K9 police dogs, th

AZ Animals • 15th November 2022

Types of Wolves

• There are about 300,000 wolves left in the world
• There are two types of wolfs; grey and red.

The canid family contains thirty-five species, eight of which live in North America. Scientists have broken the canid family into three categories; wolf, coyote, and fox. Wolves are the biggest-sized members of the canid family and are the species from which our domesticated dogs descended.

How Many Types of Wolves Are There?

There are two species of wolves in the world; the red wolf and the gray

Barn Owl Garden • 14th November 2022

Firewood: A Complete Guide

Firewood is a popular topic in Illinois. Many people here heat their homes entirely with wood heat. But, if you are new to firewood, it can be daunting to get started. There are so many questions when you first begin. How much is a cord of wood? How do I properly dry and stack firewood? How do I know how much firewood I will need? What about the types of wood; which are best to burn? We have created a guide to answering these firewood questions and many more.

What is a Cord of Wood?

The histor

AZ Animals • 13th November 2022

16 Plants That Attract Butterflies

Attracting butterflies to your garden is a worthy goal. After all, butterflies offer a wide variety of benefits to your garden. They are excellent pollinators and help your fruits, vegetables, and flowers reproduce. Bees, wasps, beetles, and moths are also excellent pollinators. Butterflies are a sign of a healthy ecosystem in your garden and an essential member of the food chain. Butterflies are eaten by spiders, lizards, mice, and other creatures.

To be attractive to butterflies, plants need

Barn Owl Garden • 11th November 2022

November: Barn Owl Monthly To-Do List

We are deep into the autumn season here in Illinois. We hope you thoroughly enjoy pumpkin patches, warm beverages, and hot soups as much as we do. While other parts of the country have put their gardens to bed, we still have a few more chores to finish before winter. In this month's gardening checklist, we will go over what to do for your lawn, bulbs, annuals, perennials, roses, trees, shrubs, and indoor plants. Let's get started!

MULCH: It is time to add two to four inches of mulch to your bed

AZ Animals • 31st October 2022

7 Plants That Keep Ants Away

• Many strongly scented herbs are excellent at keeping ants away. Having houseplants around with aromatic oils can deter ants from venturing any further into your house.
• Using plants to keep ants away is a natural alternative to chemical insect repellants or traps.
• The whole plant can be used to keep ants away. You can also choose to use crushed leaves, flowers, or essential oils to deter ants.

Many people prefer a natural method to deter ants and other insects. Sometimes using harsh chemi

AZ Animals • 31st October 2022

Anthurium Magnificum vs. Crystallinum: Is There a Difference?

• Anthurium magnificum and Anthurium crystallinum look very similar. The main differences are in the petiole shape, the scent, and the color of new growth. Plus, one is terrestrial, and the other is epiphytic.
• Anthuriums are members of the Araceae family and have huge leaves, up to 19 inches long!
• The main difference is that anthurium magnificum has quadrangular winged petioles, and anthurium crystallinum has smooth circular petioles.

Anthurium is a genus of over 1,000 species of flowering

AZ Animals • 29th October 2022

10 Houseplants That Are Nearly Impossible to Kill

• Plants that are adaptable to many light and watering conditions are nearly impossible to kill
• Plants that are nearly impossible to kill are great for beginner gardeners
• Many beautiful plants that are easy to grow are impossible to kill. Some of them will even flower indoors!

Adding houseplants to your home can easily add instant color and a calm homey feeling. But if you are new to growing plants, you should start with something easy to grow while learning the ropes. All of these plants

AZ Animals • 22nd October 2022

8 Houseplants That Grow in Water

• Many houseplants are easy to grow or propagate in water.
• After your houseplant forms roots, you can keep the plant in the water permanently or move it to a pot with soil.
• Propagating houseplants in water is an excellent way to get free plants to share with friends and family or increase the size of your plant collection.

There is something so exciting about growing a houseplant directly in water. Many houseplants love moisture and will happily grow in a vase of water. You can choose to p

FreshPatio • 6th October 2022

30 Corner Garden Ideas for Every Outdoor Style

The corner of the garden often remains unlandscaped and forgotten. Rather than leave the corners empty and dull, fill them with beauty and joy. A small corner garden can easily be the highest point in the yard, making it an excellent focal point. We have plenty of designs to show you, whether a fenced yard, a house’s corner, or an open backyard. Prepare to be inspired!

What a beautiful backyard setup! A unique round patio design was created in the corner. Then a pergola was installed above it t

AZ Animals • 3rd October 2022

Rose Of Sharon vs. Hardy Hibiscus

• Rose of Sharon, rose mallow, althea, and hardy hibiscus are all common names for the same plant.
• The botanical name for this plant is Hibiscus syriacus.
• Hibiscus syriacus is very easy to grow and reaches an impressive size of 10×12 feet.

The hibiscus syriacus is a deciduous flowering bush with many names. It is called rose mallow, althea, rose of Sharon, and hardy hibiscus. It is an easy-to-grow bush that is nearly invasive in some areas. This plant grows to an impressive size under the

AZ Animals • 28th September 2022

Daffodil vs Tulip: What Are Their Differences?

• Daffodils and Tulips are both spring flowering bulbs that are winter hardy.
• Daffodils come in yellow, white, and pale orange. Tulips come in various colors, including pink, purple, red, and multi-colored stripes.
• Deer, elk, and rabbits will not eat daffodils because they are toxic, while tulips are a favorite food of wildlife.

Tulips and Daffodils bloom during the early spring and are some of the first flowers to peek up through the snow. They are excellent for naturalizing in large numb

21st September 2022

10 New Plants to Create a Multi-Season Hummingbird Haven

Is there anything more entertaining than watching the aerobatic antics of hummingbirds?

Whether they’re visiting for a sip of sugar water at the feeder, zooming through the garden (where you’ll often hear their whirring wings before you see them), or engaging in an aggressive chase with a rival, hummingbirds provide hours of enjoyment. (Who needs Netflix when you can watch your own nature show in the backyard?!)

These tiny birds, though, have voracious appetites: one hummingbird visits an aver

AZ Animals • 20th December 2021

Top 8 Deadliest Cats

• Most predatory cats catch their prey less than half of the time, the deadliest cats have a higher success rate.
• Domesticated house cats make it surprisingly high on the list!
• The most deadly cat on this list is also one of the smallest, making it a fast hunter.

Cats are some of the most effective predators in the world. The fact that so many unique species spread across the earth is the result of over a dozen migrations across the Bering Strait stretching over millions of years is a demo

AZ Animals • 6th December 2021

The 10 Best Animals to Keep as Pets

• You probably expected dogs and cats to be on the list, but snakes and lizards make surprisingly great pets.
• Many small pets like hamsters are nocturnal, making them a bad choice for young children.
• Some pets have complicated habitat requirements and should be carefully considered before purchase.

There are many benefits to owning pets. Whether you hope to teach your children responsibility, are looking for companionship, anxiety relief, or seeking out a new hobby, owning a pet is remarka