Lori Vanover

1 week ago | birdsandblooms.com | Lori Vanover

Italian immigrants brought broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica) to America in the early 1800s, and gardens haven’t been the same since. And that’s a good thing. Can you imagine life without broccoli? If you want to grow this vegetable, you need to harvest the heads at the right time or the heads of broccoli might flower. Read on to learn why your broccoli is blooming. Broccoli Planting AdviceStart seeds indoors five to seven weeks before the last frost.

1 week ago | birdsandblooms.com | Lori Vanover |Kirsten Schrader

What Does a Horned Grebe Look Like? “Can you identify this bird?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Tommy Sharp of Crossville, Tennessee.

1 week ago | birdsandblooms.com | Lori Vanover

EyeWolf/Getty Images Bronze Birch Borer: Tree Damage and Treatment EyeWolf/Getty Images Published on Apr. 15, 2025 Learn how to identify the bronze birch borer insect. See the tree damage signs to look for and the recommended treatment.

2 weeks ago | birdsandblooms.com | Lori Vanover

What Is Avian Influenza? Avian influenza, or the bird flu, is an extremely infectious respiratory disease that affects all domestic poultry, including laying hens, broilers, and turkeys, as well as waterfowl and game birds. It can spread quickly within flocks causing severe disease and death. Ken Keffer, co-owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited Store in Bloomington, Indiana, says, “Avian flu isn’t new. Avian influenzas were first identified in Europe in the 1870s.

1 month ago | birdsandblooms.com | Lori Vanover

How to Grow a Dieffenbachia PlantElizabeth Fernandez/Getty ImagesDieffenbachia seguineScientific name: Dieffenbachia seguineCommon name: Leopard lily or tuftrootLight needs: prefers bright indirect light, but tolerates medium and lower-light conditionsWater needs: water when top few inches of soil are drySoil needs: well-draining soilZones: 10 to 12, or grow indoors as a houseplantMost people know dieffenbachia as an easy-to-grow, popular houseplant.