ScienceAlert - Australia

An Australian researcher is developing a new natural insecticide from spider venom that is deadly to insects yet harmless to humans, animals and the environment.

Spider man in the hunt for a safer insecticide

Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh,PA,USA

George Griffith’s fingers won’t always be stained purple from packing hundreds of water lilies for shipment each spring.
And the 74-year-old designer won’t always be able to slog into his ponds in hip waders to examine his Chinese lotus, grown from 2,000-year-old seeds.

Lotus flowers from 2,000-year-old seeds will be among stars at benefit

BBC News - UK

A Devon woman is recovering after a bite from exotic spider turned her thumb black and swelled her arm.

Black widow bites in Devon garden

Seattle Times - United States

Recently, Snohomish County released an article on bats and rabies. This is a good idea because we should do everything we can to prevent the spread of rabies, and bats are the No.1 carrier in Washington state. But to be fair, bats are not rabies-infested fiends.

Be kind to bats

Washington Post - United States

If you live in the southern part of Northern Virginia, I’ve got news for you: You’re now in North Carolina. If you live in Maryland, you’re now in Virginia. No, your state boundaries haven’t been redrawn. But something else has — a map of plant hardiness zones in the United States.

Climate Change Redraws the Map for Gardeners

Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA

Five hours since he rose from bed and walked the 47-acre acre farm to see what needs to be done, Patrick Meyer is giving directions to three farmhands who are picking Italian kale and pulling radishes.
It’s only 9:30 a.m. at Stoney Plains Organic Farm, but it’s unseasonably warm and Meyer tells the workers to quickly get the goods washed in icy well water and then packed in a cooler for the next day’s 78-mile trip to Pike Place Market.
In 24 hours the vegetables, along with 30 more products, will have gone from the dark, mineral-rich rocky ground outside this small, working-class community to Stoney Plains’ covered booth across from Beecher’s Handmade Cheese in the Seattle landmark.

Prodigal son returns to organic farm that’s a Market fixture

BBC News - UK

A tropical glasshouse is opening to visitors for the first time at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire.
The building is the garden’s largest new attraction since it opened in 2000 and it is already home to thousands of palms, orchids and giant leaves.
Guest of honour is the New York-based architect, Welsh-born John Belle.

Garden opens new tropical house

WEAU-TV 13 - Eau Claire,WI,USA

If you’ve been boating or driving along the Mississippi River, you may have noticed trees missing their leaves. Now at least one federal agency is concerned.
Some green tourists from the east have invaded our forests along the Mississippi and the Army Corps of Engineers is worried.

Insects Threatening Trees Along Mississippi River

Staunton News Leader - Staunton,VA,USA

FISHERSVILLE — Nothing can keep Andre Viette and his family out of the garden. Not even a hurricane.
When the nationally renowned horticulturist moved to the Shenandoah Valley in 1976, he wanted to do more than build a nursery operation that would distribute the family’s award-winning hybrid daylilies and other plants to gardeners and retail operations across the country. He wanted to create a destination where visitors could not only purchase plants but spend a leisurely day strolling through beautiful gardens and come away with a head full of ideas.
With the help of his family, he has certainly succeeded.

Viette Farm an icon as annual Daylily & Wine Festival nears

Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck - Bismarck,ND,USA

It was 75 years ago today that a cross-border symbol of peace was dedicated.
The International Peace Garden opened June 14th, 1932 on the US-Canadian border north of Dunseith.
And today, thousands of people turned out to celebrate the milestone.
An international tug of war was part of the day’s festivities. The Canadian side won the battle at the dedication 75 years ago, and they took the title again this year. So they’re now 2-0.

Peace Garden Celebrates 75 Years