Search / 63 posts tagged Backyard Science

How Backyard Astronomy Is Changing Backyard astronomy is changing. Technology is becoming a part of astronomy, and for many good reasons. Today’s backyard astronomy with telescopes, is much different not than it used to be a few decades ago. Join me as we take a look at astronomy with telescopes today.

(Nearly) Wordless WednesdayIn my fantasies, our lawn is an untamed woodland where anything grows, just as long as I don't have to weed it, water it or nurture it in any way. In this wilderness, ladybugs play out their metamorphosis and birds come back each sumer to nest, singing a song of farewell before they leave for their migratory responsibilities in the fall.

If you know the what type of dragonfly is in the photo, please add a comment (update: a comment indicates it is not a dragonfly but a Great Spreadwing Archilestes grandis damselfly - I really enjoy getting feedback like this. It appears the most common way to differentiate the two is how the wings are at rest but the Spreadwing is an exception).

Not having a garden in my backyard doesn’t mean I didn’t do my share of gardening this summer. I spent several rainy mornings with my knees in the dirt, fingertips stained with mud. On hot days, the sun looked over my shoulder, leaving a ring of red in a spot revealed by my outstretched arms, a smiley

Filed under: backyard science, gardening and plants, nature It's been all over the news for about six months now: there is a bee shortage. While this probably means catastrophic things for our planet in general terms, more specifically, it leaves us with a lack of honey for cooking and body care products, and less beeswax than we'd like to make lip balms and other lovelies.

Make a terrarium with your childby Bethany Sanders on Jul 21st 2008 3:00PMFiled under backyard science, kids, gardening and plantsGot a kiddo who's driving you stir crazy on a rainy day? Or maybe you just have a budding botanist in the family. Either way, this kid's terrarium from National Geographic is sure to be a hit with kids of all ages.

Filed under: backyard science, recalls and safety, Don't-it-yourself If you're reading DIY Life, chances are you like to make things. Perhaps you build large structures, or maybe you enjoy sewing. I hope you can keep your creativity from overflowing into the pipe bomb arena, though.

(Nearly) Wordless WednesdayI planted several columbines in the plot along our back door years ago, after first admiring their perennial goodness in other beds. The way they seemed to take over a garden, propagating and proliferating, sending shooting stars forth from clover-shaped leaves, each flower a rocket on a skinny stalk that defied gravity by keeping itself stiff.

Mystery insect found in Museum garden This mystery bug has not been seen in the UK before and has made the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Garden its home. The tiny bug is baffling insect experts at the Museum who are still trying to identify the mystery newcomer.

I finally gave up. Every year I tried to plant vegetables in my tired plots. Too lazy to add new soil or build some raised beds, I defined insanity by plunking down fistfuls of cash for hearty starts budding with promise.And every year the same thing happened.