Articles written by Karen Bledsoe - Page 11

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About me - Karen Bledsoe

Dr. Karen E. Bledsoe teaches biology at Western Oregon University, where she specializes in science education for adult learners. A lifetime gardener, she naturally gravitated toward botany in college, and earned a master's degree in botany from Oregon State

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Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) Great plants for clay soil: 2 of 2
If you're gardening on heavy clay soil, you may start to wonder if the words "clay" and "soil" really belong together. When wet, the sticky stuff clings in masses to your boots, is slippery underfoot, and turns into a hopeless mire after every rain. When it dries out, clay lives up to its name by baking hard as bricks under t... More..
Hobbies & Games > Hobbies & Games (Other) How to find and identify agates: 2 of 2
"Child finds precious stone in bucket of gravel!"Maybe you've seen headlines like that and wished you could find gemstones yourself. There is one kind you can find easily, if you know where to look. Finding semi-precious agates may never make you rich, but agate-hunting can be a rewarding and colorful hobby.WHAT AGATES AREAga... More..
Home & Garden > Vegetables & Herbs Business review: Nichols Garden Nursery for vegetable and herb seeds: 2 of 2

Tucked between Albany and Millersburg, Oregon, just a little south of the paper mill and other industrial complexes, lies a little red barn-like building housing a sweet surprise. Pull off of Old Salem Road into the gravel parking lot, open the door, and ahhhh! What a sweet, spicy, herbal aroma! You've found Nichols Garden Nu... More..
Home & Garden > Weeds & Pests Keeping the birds away from fruit and vegetable crops: 2 of 2
Birds are the gardener's friend, as they feast on the insects that can pester our crops and gobble up weed seeds. Birds can also be the gardener's irritation if they peck holes in the tomatoes or strip a blueberry bush clean. With a little forethought, it's possible to have your birds and your tomatoes, too. By all means, att... More..
Home & Garden > Home & Garden (Other) Cleaning terra cotta pots: 2 of 2
Terra cotta pots and planters are attractive decorative features in the garden. Their natural earthy color blends well with plants, so they never overwhelm the plants they hold. The pots range in size from tiny palm-sized seedling containers to behemoths requiring a hand truck to move. While they're often more expensive than ... More..