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Jill Staake

Jill lives in Tampa, Florida, and writes about gardening, butterflies, outdoor projects and birding. When she's not gardening, you'll find her reading, traveling and happily digging her toes into the sand on the beach.

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens in Hawaii

Take a photo tour of the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens and nursery in Hawaii, and learn...

Musical Notes Clerodendrum

Add some harmony to your gardens with Musical Notes Clerodendrum, a tropical plant that can...

Easy DIY Fall Leaf Jewelry

Bring the seasonal colors with you wherever you go by making this simple fall leaf...

Nene, Hawaii’s State Bird

A close relative of the Canada Goose, the Nene is the rarest of all the...

Ohia Lehua, a Legendary Plant of Hawaii

Sacred to Pele, colonizer of lava flows, and backed by a beautiful legend of lovers,...

Rosinweeds in the Wildflower Garden

Attract bees and butterflies by growing native rosinweeds in your garden or wildflower meadow.

Malaysian Orchid (Medinilla myriantha)

A large tropical plant with orchid-like tendencies, Malaysian Orchid makes a great houseplant with proper...

Queen Lily Ginger (Curcuma petiolata)

Grow long-blooming Queen Lily Ginger outdoors in warmer climates or in containers further north.

DIY Candle Holder Dragonfly Craft

Diffused light sets off the simple silhouettes of this DIY candle holder dragonfly craft.

Witches’ Butter Fungus (Tremella mesenterica)

Look for Witches' Butter after heavy rains, when it looks like bright yellow jelly emerging...

DIY Bug Box Plastic Canvas Craft

Create a DIY bug box for collecting caterpillars or lady bugs with this plastic canvas...

Watering Can Planter Project

Showcase a small plant inside or out with this DIY watering can planter project.

Clothespin Flowers Craft

This inexpensive craft requires only a few supplies, so you can make plenty of clothespin...

DIY Lantern Moth Jars

These easy DIY lantern moth jars will light up your garden during long summer evenings.

Add a Green Rose to Your Garden (Really!)

Love growing roses? Give your rose garden something unique by adding the Green Rose ‘Viridiflora’.

Easy DIY Garden Kneeling Pad

This DIY garden kneeling pad is larger and easier on the knees than many sold...

What Do Butterflies Eat?

You know they drink nectar from flowers, but how exactly do butterflies eat? Find out...

Drought-Tolerant Landscaping Tips

Drought-tolerant landscaping, also known as xeriscaping, can be colorful and interesting. Get some tips to...

Louisiana Iris

Louisiana Iris is native to the southeast U.S. and thrives in wet locations.

Muscovy Ducks

Bigger than mallards and unusual in appearance, Muscovy ducks are common in Florida and some...

Try Bath’s Pink Dianthus for Fragrant Flowers

This dianthus variety has beautiful silvery green foliage topped with delicate fragrant flowers in the...

Signs of Spring: Viburnum and Dogwood

Blooming trees and shrubs like native viburnum and dogwood are one of the great pleasures...

Signs of Spring: Forsythia and Redbud

Enjoy blooming branches against a blue spring sky with forsythia bushes and redbud trees.

Add Fragrant Stock to Your Flower Garden

Welcome the scent of spicy stock to your cool season flower garden.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

This South American whistling duck is expanding its range north, and there are many places...

Parade of Winter Florida Ducks

Many Florida ducks, like Florida residents, are only here in the winter. Here are a...

Winter Dormancy and Chilling for Plants

Shivering in the cold after the unusually warm fall? Be thankful for cold weather that...

Easy Audubon DIY Bird Ornament

Use free images from Audubon's Birds of America to create this inexpensive and simple DIY...

Top Hat DIY Plant Gift

Wrap a plant for a festive holiday present with this DIY plant gift that looks...

Growing Heliconias Indoors and Out

Bring a touch of the tropics to your home by growing heliconias indoors all year...