Lori Norris

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Lori Norris

  • Trees
    Trees By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022

    What Tree Has A Long Black Bean Pod?

    What Tree Has a Long Black Bean Pod?. Trees often bear decorative fruits in the form of long, dangling dark-colored pods. These fruits can sometimes be a nuisance in the landscape, littering flower beds and grass with discarded pods, while others pod are persistent and stay on the tree for a long period of time. Pods often serve as food for wild birds and animals. Some are even useful to humans as food or other purposes. Nearly all trees that form seedpods are members of the Fabaceae family.

    By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022

    Diseases Of The Pyracantha

    Diseases of the Pyracantha. Pyracantha (Pyracantha spp.), also called firethorn, is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. They are evergreen shrubs with glossy green leaves and masses of yellow, orange or red berries. They have sharp thorns, and are often planted as a deterrent along fences or around windows. The flowers are small and white, and the fragrance is sometimes described as musky. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, and the fruit attracts birds. Pyracanthas may suffer from a number of diseases, but there are resistant cultivars on the market, so research purchases carefully.

    By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022

    Growing Apricots In North Carolina

    Growing Apricots in North Carolina. The range for growing apricots (Prunus armeniaca) is limited. While most grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, they are fussy about their growth requirements. North Carolina falls in USDA zones 6b and 8a, but possesses little of the ideal climate for optimum apricot growth. Apricots bloom very early, but average last frost dates in North Carolina fall well into mid-spring. Apricots prefer more temperate, drier climates, while summers in North Carolina are often hot and humid. Careful selection of apricot varieties is key to successfully growing them in North Carolina.

    By Lori Norris November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022

    Do Ferns Like Sun Or Shade?

    Do Ferns Like Sun or Shade?. Ferns are often thought of as lush plants that grow only in shady, moist conditions such as forest floors. Generally, this is an accurate assessment. However, ferns are resilient and can grow in a variety of light and soil conditions. While many ferns require at least some shade, others do well in bright sunlight. Some adapt well to indoor conditions and make popular houseplants. Surprisingly, there are even desert ferns that withstand full, hot sun and dry soils.

    By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022

    Which Fruit Will Not Ripen When Picked?

    Which Fruit Will Not Ripen When Picked?. As fruits ripen, they become sweeter as starches are converted to sugars. The process is stimulated by the phytohormone ethylene. Some fruits will continue to ripen after they are harvested, such as bananas and pears. These fruits are called climacteric. However, some fruits stop ripening when they are removed from the plant, and these are called non-climacteric. They are not induced to further ripen by ethylene and will begin to deteriorate, so they should be placed into cold storage as soon as possible.

    By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022

    Sweet Onion Varieties

    Sweet Onion Varieties. Sweet onions (Allium cepa) aren't as pungent as other onions due to their low sulfur content. They are thin skinned and juicy due to their high water content, and this makes them fragile and more perishable than other onions. All onions are either short day, intermediate day or long day. Short-day onions start forming bulbs when the day length reaches 10 to 12 hours and are best when planted in the south for the largest bulbs. Long-day onions start forming bulbs when the day length reaches 14 to 16 hours and are best planted in the north. Intermediate-day onions form bulbs at day lengths of 12 to 14 hours and grow best in the central U.S. Onions are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 10.

    By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022

    The Effect Of Carbide In Fruit Ripening

    The Effect of Carbide in Fruit Ripening. When a fruit ripens, many biochemical changes occur. The most obvious of these is the color, aroma and firmness of the fruit. Although illegal in many countries, calcium carbide (CaC2) is used to accelerate the ripening process. This allows growers to pick fruit sooner and to handle fruits when they are green and less susceptible to bruising or damage. Calcium carbide combines with moisture in the air to release a gas called acetylene, which acts the same way as the natural ethylene fruits produce when ripening.

    By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022

    Wild Thorny Bushes

    Wild Thorny Bushes. When walking in the forest or any natural or wild area, you're likely to come upon some plants with thorns. You may have discovered this by accidentally brushing up against one and getting scratched or poked, or you may have seen the thorns and steered clear. Thorns may be present on the stems or leaves of a plant, and they are a natural defense mechanism the plant uses to keep its enemies at bay.

    By Lori Norris September 6th, 2022 Read More