Page 15 - News

Hands repotting a tall cactus in a terracotta pot on a windowsill with other small potted cacti and gardening tools.

What Does a Lateral Shoot on a Cactus Mean?

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

When a cactus suddenly starts producing a lateral shoot, many people wonder whether it signals a problem or is simply...

Small bird with blue head and yellow body flying above wooden plate with sliced papaya, banana, and sauce outdoors

How to attract Great Kiskadees to your garden with a bird feeder

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

People hoping to attract birds to outdoor spaces soon find that a bird feeder on its own is not always...

Person arranging two grey plastic chairs beside a wooden table on a wet patio with plants in the background.

Garden equipment: materials that withstand frost, rain and sunshine

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Frost, rain and sunshine can quickly weaken certain garden equipment. Before buying, it is worth checking how well it will...

Underwater scene showing a starfish next to an open mussel with a worm inside on the ocean floor.

How Starfish Digest Food Externally and Hunt Shellfish

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

A starfish may look far too slow to hunt, yet its digestive system conceals a remarkable tactic. When faced with...

Close-up of red ants on soil with a small garden trowel, a jar labeled "Gedek," and a notebook with sketches.

How Biochar Changes Ant Behaviour in Soil

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

At first, biochar can appear to be a straightforward solution. Plant waste is converted into charcoal, added to soil, and...

Person enjoying the scent of colourful flowers in a terracotta pot on a sunny balcony table.

Freesias for a fragrant balcony: fewer pots, more summer scent

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Does that sound like wishful thinking? It does not have to remain that way. Many city dwellers cram their balconies...

Soldier in vintage uniform holding a rifle in dry grassland with a group of emus and a small shed behind.

The Emu War: How Australia’s Soldiers Took on Birds

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Machine guns, thousands of rounds and trained soldiers seemed more than enough to deal with a flock of birds. Yet...

Flamingo adults and chicks wading in water, with some flamingos flying in the background at sunrise or sunset.

7 Fascinating Facts About Flamingos

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Flamingos are birds belonging to the Phoenicopteridae family, readily identified by their long legs, elongated necks and adult plumage, which...

Man kneeling on grass edging a flower bed with gardening tools and a cardboard box nearby in a sunny garden.

Lidl garden edging for a professional-looking front garden under £6

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

A compact front garden, a short evening after work – and suddenly the whole space looks as though it belongs...

Fish underwater spitting water at insect resting on mangrove leaf in a sunlit aquatic environment.

How the Archerfish Shoots Water at Insects

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

It lives underwater, yet it can strike an insect resting well above the surface. The archerfish turns its own mouth...

Older man pointing at tree while younger man holds child on his shoulders in garden with book and magnifying glass on table

Manuel Sobrinho Simões and the False Araucaria

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Pathologist Manuel Sobrinho Simões recalls the first photograph of himself carrying his son Manel on his shoulders. "It was the...

Woman sitting on picnic blanket petting a golden retriever in a sunny park with people in the background.

Five Ways You and Your Pet Can Get Healthier and Happier Together

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

This article was produced with a little help from my pets. Whenever my concentration drifted or I began to feel...

Person sitting on a rug indoors, tending to a potted plant surrounded by various houseplants and gardening tools.

What your love of houseplants says about your personality

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

For some people, the first thing you notice when you walk in is neither the sofa nor the wall colour,...

Young boy kneeling and hugging a golden retriever in a sunlit garden with parents sitting on the porch.

World Dog Day: Health benefits of living with dogs

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

On World Dog Day, marked on 26 August, science offers fresh reasons to view the relationship between people and dogs...

Hands placing a wine cork into a terracotta pot with seedlings and gardening tools on a wooden table outdoors.

4 Ways to Use Natural Corks in the Garden

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

In spring and again towards the end of summer, potted plants need particular care. Water collecting at the bottom of...

Close-up of a green caterpillar eating on a leaf with a small bird flying nearby in a forest setting.

How the Hemeroplanes triptolemus Caterpillar Creates a False Snake Head

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

When a Hemeroplanes triptolemus caterpillar is disturbed, its body proportions shift within seconds and markings resembling snake eyes become visible....

Hedgehog beside purple flowers and garden stones in a sunny garden with colourful blooms and a small wooden shelter.

Not seen a hedgehog for years? Aubrieta turns your garden into a hedgehog paradise

Gareth Whitfield • October 3, 2026

Not seen a hedgehog for years? One simple, hardy perennial can turn your garden into a small paradise for these...

Two men sorting through a pile of soil and debris in a yard with a "Free Fill" sign nearby

Free soil fill: the garden bargain that can cost thousands

Gareth Whitfield • October 2, 2026

At first, it sounded almost too good to be true: lorry-loads of free soil, a plot that needed levelling and,...

Person planting young green herbs in a garden bed with gardening tools and a watering can nearby.

Peppermint: a natural repellent against slugs in damp gardens

Gareth Whitfield • October 2, 2026

A waterlogged garden during persistent rainfall can become a real challenge for anyone growing plants at home, as it encourages...

Scientist examines crocodile fossil with cartoon dinosaur looming nearby in a prehistoric jungle setting.

Tainrakuasuchus bellator: Brazil's Triassic Predator Before Dinosaurs

Gareth Whitfield • October 2, 2026

Around 240 million years ago, long before dinosaurs came to dominate land environments, a sharp-toothed predator with bony plates protecting...

Person spraying a liquid weed killer onto weeds growing between stone patio slabs in a garden.

Washing-up Liquid and Vinegar: The Kitchen Trick for Weeds in Joints

Gareth Whitfield • October 2, 2026

Anyone with a block-paved drive, a slabbed patio or a gravel path will know the issue: no sooner has the...