Environmental Archives - gardenmyths.com

Can Monarchs Smell Milkweed From 2 Miles Away?

Monarch butterflies and milkweed plants share a special bond. Monarchs rely on milkweed to lay their eggs and feed their caterpillars. For gardeners and conservationists wanting to support these beautiful insects, understanding how monarchs find milkweed is key. A common claim pops up: Can monarch butterflies smell milkweed from 2 miles away? Let’s explore what science says about this remarkable relationship.

Monarch landing on the pick flower of a milkweed — Monarch landing on Swamp milkweed (*Asclepias incarnata*), source: Depositphotos

Key Takeaways

Monarchs do NOT smell plants 2 miles away.
They use sight and smell to find milkweed 100-200 feet away.
Monarchs do use their feet to taste plants once they land.

If you like this post, please share .......

Native Garden Myths

There is a trend towards a more native gardening style and in general that is good for the environment and wildlife diversity. However, this has led to a number of myths about this style of gardening and many people are now over-hyping its benefits. What does science tell us about native wildlife gardens?

closeup of a meadow with grasses and white daisies — Wildlife garden, source: Depositphotos

If you like this post, please share .......

GMO Houseplant Purifies Air – True or Scam?

The company Neoplants has been in the news a lot lately because they promoted a new genetically engineered houseplant that is claimed to clean the air in your home. In their Neo Px white paper they say, “we created a bioengineered plant system that can effectively fight air pollution”.

What is the true story?

Key Takeaways

GMO pothos houseplants have been developed that are more efficient than non-GMO plants at removing VOCs.
The new GMO plants are not yet efficient enough to make a difference in your home.

Is this the future of clean air? source: Depositphotos

If you like this post, please share .......

Does Gardening Harm the Environment?

As gardeners we think that our hobby is good for the environment but a new study finds that it is more harmful to the environment than conventional agriculture. If we follow the science, it would be better for climate change if we stop growing our own food.

girl holding large tomato, in front of a desolate background — Does gardening harm the environment?, source: Depositphotos

If you like this post, please share .......

GMO Myths – Understand the Truth About GMO Plants

GMOs are very controversial for two reasons. Firstly, there is a lot of misinformation out there and secondly GMOs are not well understood by the general public. Rather than discuss the topic in detail I have decided to focus on some of the common myths. I will present a number of GMO myths and if the reader is interested in more detail they can look at the references.

If you have formed an opinion on GMOs based what you have read on popular web sites and in newspapers, you have probably reached the wrong conclusion. The anti-GMO movement is strong and based almost entirely on emotion and fear. Science does not back up most of their claims.

GMO Myths - Understand the Truth About GMO Plants — GMO Myths – Understand the Truth About GMO Plants, source Antoine.Couturier

If you like this post, please share .......

Miyawaki Forest – Do Mini-Forests Really Work?

Miyawaki mini-forests are becoming more popular and even my own town has put one in. Is this another environmental fad or does this type of reforestation work? Let’s have a look at the process and the science to see if the Miyawaki method is a better way to build forests.

Dark forest with the name Miyawaki Mini-forest — Miyawaki Mini-Forest, source: reNature

If you like this post, please share .......

Lomi Electronic Composter – Are The Claims True?

The Lomi electronic composter by Pela is one of the more popular kitchen units offered today. They have great marketing that promotes the the machines benefits. It is good for the environment, it produces “strong” fertilizer, it reduces the amount of kitchen waste and it even composts some types of compostable plastic.

This post will look at some of these claims to see if they are true.

Lomi Electronic Composter - Are The Claims True? — Lomi Electronic Composter – Are The Claims True?, Source: Lomi, used with permission

If you like this post, please share .......

Till vs No-Till – Which Is Better For Your Garden

I started gardening a long time ago and at that time tilling was standard practice. Most gardeners did not have a tiller so they did it by hand with a shovel. In some circles the idea of not tilling started to make waves. My first introduction was Ruth Stout’s no-till garden. Just cover everything with straw. Better for the soil and a whole lot less work. No-till became more popular in agriculture in the mid 1990 but few gardeners followed suit. Even today, many gardeners have never heard of the technique and continue the practice of spring tilling.

No-till is claimed to be better for soil and the environment since it releases less carbon dioxide into the air.

I have been promoting this idea in gardening circles for 15 years or more and slowly the idea is catching on with gardeners, but it might be time to take a step back and have a close look at the claimed benefits of no-till because science now has a lot more data on this.

Till vs No-till - Which Is Better For Your Garden — Till vs No-till – Which Is Better For Your Garden

If you like this post, please share .......

When Should You Do Spring Garden Cleanup?

In years gone by it was common to clean up the garden in fall. It does result in a neat clean looking garden, but then we learned that all kinds of beneficial insects overwinter in that messy looking stuff on the ground, so we started to do cleanup in spring instead. To understand why, read this; Spring Cleanup Advice – Do it Right .

Now things have changed again. We are being told not to cleanup until temperatures are consistently above 10 C (50 F) to allow insects time to leave their winter protection. If you look at the recently circulated meme below, you have to wonder if this recommendation is valid. Does it really have to be 10 C? I see all kinds of insects when there is still snow on the ground. And what does “consistently ” mean? Is that nighttime or daytime temperature? Is it a daily high or low? How much harm will you do if it is only 9 C (48 F)? Is there any real science that supports this idea? Let’s find out.

When Should You Do Spring Garden Cleanup?

If you like this post, please share .......

Important Non-Bee Pollinators in Your Garden

A diverse array of pollinators supports the countless species of flowering plants that fill up our gardens, agricultural fields, and natural ecosystems. Unfortunately, bees tend to get all the credit and concern. Read on to learn about the non-bee pollinators that work their magic on the plants in your garden.

If you like this post, please share .......

Is Organic Food Better Than Non Organic?

Is organic food better? I know you have heard the marketing. It is more nutritious. It is healthier. It is better for the environment. But is any of that really true? How much of this is marketing hype by both companies and pro-organic groups, and what is the real science behind organic food.

Let’s get the facts about organic food.

Is Organic Food Better Than Non-organic Food?, source: Super Market News

If you like this post, please share .......

Plants Don’t Produce Oxygen (O2) From Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Everyone is aware of the high carbon dioxide levels in the air and its contribution to global warming. And many of you have heard that plants can convert this CO2 into oxygen. Plants are important in controlling the CO2 level, but they don’t convert CO2 into O2.

Did you know that plants also take in oxygen and produce carbon dioxide, just like animals?

All of this is a bit academic, but very interesting if you really want to understand plants.

Plants Don’t Produce Oxygen (O2) From Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Photo source: Science Sparks

If you like this post, please share .......