Table of Contents
What Is a Gourd and Can You Eat Them?
Article by Alexanda Kelly with input from UGA Extension Specialist, Timothy Coolong, PhD
Gourds are everywhere during the fall—from our front porches to our craft rooms—but are they edible?
Gourds are hard-shelled, non-edible fruits related to pumpkins and squashes. There are 975 species of gourds, with common types including bottle and snake gourds. Gourds are mainly used for decoration and are not suitable for consumption.
Let’s Talk About The Agriculture of Thanksgiving
Written by MC Halbrook Glynn & McIntosh County
Thanksgiving truly kicks off the winter holidays and spending time with families. We wanted to take a moment to share some cool facts about some of the more popular foods that are consumed around the holidays.
*Historically, this holiday has taken advantage of the Native American community. To honor their traditions, we want to share some Native American dishes that you could cook this Thanksgiving! You can download your recipe cards here.
The Best Time to Mow Your Lawn, According to an Expert
Article written by Arricca Elin SanSone with input from Tim Waltz, UGA Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Mowing your grass is one of those yard chores that has to be done, no matter what the weather. But does when you cut it matter? It turns out there actually is a best time to mow your lawn.
How Does Frost Kill Your Plants?
Written by: Erica Van Buren with input from UGA Climatologist Pam Knox
“A freeze occurs starting at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If it only lasts for a short time, it might not cause much damage to crops, but if it lasts several hours, it can affect tender leaves and flowers. A killing frost is commonly seen at 28 degrees Fahrenheit. That is when the liquid inside a plant becomes ice, and since ice is less dense than water, the water in the plants expands and bursts the cells of the plants, destroying them.”
Tent Caterpillars: Pests that defoliate trees
Tent caterpillars are distributed widely in tropical and temperate regions. These caterpillars, Malacosoma spp. (Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae), get their Latin name from “malakos,” meaning “soft,” and “soma,” meaning body. The common name of the tent caterpillar is derived from the tent-like silk structure built by larvae on tree branches.
Let’s Talk About Bats!
Check out this very informative presentation on bats by UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources Facebook post.
Invasive Species: Chinaberry
(Melia azedarach)
Invasive hardwood tree, grows up to 50ft tall
Leaves are dark green and shiny, alternate on the branch and twice-compound
Flowers in spring-summer in fragrant clusters; small but showy and white or purple
Fruit appear in summer but persist in clusters on the tree through winter. They are rount, tan, and <1 inch in diameter