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This week (April 15-21, 2012) is National Environmental Education Week (EE Week – a sister program of Earth Gauge), the nation’s largest environmental education event held each year the week before Earth Day to inspire environmental learning and stewardship among students and the public. This year’s EE Week theme is Greening STEM: The Environment as [...]

Growing native plants that provide edible fruit can be a fun way to explore new culinary options. Chile pequin peppers grow in many parts of the country and are used to spice Southwestern food. Native fruit trees such as plum are available in some plant nurseries, as are Eastern and Texas persimmons. Varieties of prickly [...]

Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste left outside wash down storm drains and into local waters. Pet waste can harm water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, making the water unsafe for drinking. Bacteria and nutrients from pet waste can turn fertile waters green from weed and algae growth, making the [...]

Did you know that yard trimmings and food make up 27 percent of the waste going to landfills in the United States? Putting yard and food waste in a compost pile instead of a trash can lowers the load in our landfills and creates rich organic material that can enhance plant growth and reduce the [...]

Birds are on the move!  Migratory birds are traveling from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America to the U.S. and Canada, where they feast on abundant insects and plant foods during spring and summer.  How do they know when to leave and where to go? Birds that migrate short distances – such [...]

Ah-choo! High pollen levels throughout much of the country mean that millions of Americans are sniffling, sneezing and itching. Spring allergies are usually caused by tree pollen, while grasses are generally the culprit during late spring and summer. Weather and environmental conditions affect the severity of your allergy symptoms. Pollen moves around less when conditions [...]

Although the drought in Texas and other states in 2011 meant fewer wildflowers bloomed to produce seeds last year, many native plants have a trick up their stems: they produce seeds in plentiful years that  “sit out” lean ones. These seeds can go dormant or lower their metabolism until conditions improve. Fall and winter rains [...]

Installing a rain water gauge on your property will help you determine how many inches of rain have fallen.  Knowing the average weekly precipitation amount helps gardeners apply the correct amount of water with automatic irrigation systems.  Drought stress can hurt landscape plants, but over-watering can also kill plants by depriving the roots of oxygen. [...]

Drought is expected to hang around in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and many other states into 2012 according to federal experts.  But gardeners can do many things to help out their outdoor greenery, including watering roots deeply, mulching to insulate the base of plants and replacing water-hogging plants with drought-tolerant options native to their region. [...]

Mulch is any covering placed around plants. Mulch conserves water because and prevents erosion by slowing runoff and permitting your landscape to better absorb and retain water from winter rains. Mulch also suppresses weed growth, shelters the soil from temperature extremes and improves appearance of your landscape. Viewer Tip: Apply a two- to three-inch layer [...]

Forests in Central and Eastern Texas have been hit hard by the driest year on record. The drought may also change vistas for decades to come. Some native trees and bushes are doing fine, but others such as Ashe juniper and redberry juniper appear to be dying in the Texas Hill Country. Because these trees [...]

November 13-19 is the National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week.  This year’s theme is “The Adventure in Your Community.”  Geography is all around us and varies from region to region in the United States.  Did you know that geography and weather are very closely linked? Explore some of the connections below. (Click on images or [...]

Did you know that toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home? They account for nearly 30 percent of your family’s water use indoors! Viewer Tip: If you are searching for ways to save money on your water bill, look for the WaterSense label at your local home improvement store. [...]

Tired of bagging up leaves each fall? A more eco-friendly option is to compost fallen leaves and other organic matter from your own yard. It’s cheaper than buying compost and provides a nutrient boost for flower plots and your lawn. Viewer Tip: Composting is simple: combine organic matter in a pile that attracts bacteria to [...]

About 80 percent of the United States’ pumpkin supply is available in October, but pumpkin makes an appearance year-round in pies, breads and other foods. Weather can have a big impact on the yearly pumpkin harvest. Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage [...]

Wild birds primarily feed their young insects, which prefer to live on native plants that they evolved with rather than exotic plants.  Adult birds also rely heavily on native plants for food, shelter and nesting sites. Viewer Tip: Consider adding native plants to your yard during fall planting season.  For example,  the shrub American beautyberry [...]

Thanks to ragweed, fall is hay fever season for many Americans. Common ragweed occurs all over the country and is in full bloom in Texas in August and September.  It is often confused with tall goldenrod, a showier native plant across much of the United States. Viewer Tip: The “rag” in ragweed comes from the [...]

Although we tend to use more water outdoors during the summer months, up to 70 percent of the water we need at home is used indoors. Viewer Tip: Weather keeping you inside? Keep these water-saving tips in mind: Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the [...]

With much of Texas in a drought and hot days ahead, consider helping your plants through the sweltering summer season. Plants can cool off by shedding water from leaf surfaces through evapotranspiration. But even evapotranspiration might not protect them from unusually hot weather. Viewer Tip: If you have been careful to fill your sunny spots [...]

How many gallons of water can you save in a day?  Saving water at home can be as easy as turning the water off while brushing your teeth, which saves up to eight gallons of water per day – and almost 3,000 gallons for the whole year.  That’s enough water to run an Energy Star [...]