Wild About Utah: Long Billed Curlew

The Cyrano de Bergerac of the bird world is the long-billed curlew. Its bill is 9 inches long and curves downward at the tip. This 19-inch bird is the largest shorebird of North America. The long-billed curlew is cinnamon brown above and buff brown below. It is similar in size to a marbled godwit, but the bill of the godwit is shorter and turns up.

Like Cyrano, the long-billed curlew is shy. They arrive in Utah in mid-March, seeking open fields and grasslands away from trees, posts, power poles or any other perches of use to predators. They can been seen walking through fields, probing with their bill for worms, insects, spiders and even berries.

In breeding season the male repeatedly flies high, then glides downward, calling all the while.

Like other shorebirds, their nest is just a shallow scrape on the ground, lightly lined with grass. Typically 4 eggs are laid. Both sexes incubate the eggs for about 2 weeks. The down covered young hatch with their eyes open and feed themselves. Two to three weeks after the chicks hatch, the female departs. Dad stays with his chicks until after they fledge when they are about 35 days old. Soon thereafter curlews flock up to migrate south. In mid July, they fly to California or Mexico, where they frequent coastal mudflats eating crabs and other aquatic life.

The long-billed curlew was once much more common. Market hunting in the 19th century and habitat loss more recently have reduced their numbers, but they persist in parts of Utah.

This is Linda Kervin for Bridgerland Audubon Society.

Long-billed Curlew in Flight
Cresent Lake NWR, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Credits:

Photos: Courtesy Fish and Wildlife Service Online Digital Media Library
Text: Lyle Bingham, Bridgerland Audubon Society

Wild About Utah is a weekly nature series produced by Utah Public Radio in cooperation with Stokes Nature Center and Bridgerland Audubon Society. Archives of the program can be found at www.wildaboututah.org.

Earwigs!

Photo Credit

During our weekly staff meeting here at USEE, we have an agenda item entitled "Nature Reports". During this time, we go around the room and discuss anything interesting we've seen or experienced in the natural world. Not only is it a good way for our staff to bond a bit, but it also tends to bring up some interesting questions.

This week, Alaina, one of our Interns noted that she's seen many earwigs in her garden and yard. I too have had a lot of earwigs in my garden, as has Jason. We started talking about the origin of the name earwig and realized there were a lot of "urban myths" about it. I don't think I've ever met someone who doesn't dislike the little critters, and part of that may come from their unfortunate name. Here are some of the origins I have heard....

* They crawl into your ears at night and nibble away at your brains
* They crawl into your ears and lay their eggs
* They are attracted to the smell of ear wax
* Their wings are shaped like ears
* They like to get into ears of corn (Nicole suggested this one...)
* They'll pinch you (doesn't have anything to do with ears, but it adds to the dislike of earwigs I think)

After looking at a couple websites, I found that all of this information above was basically false. The BBC Science and Nature website gives the following information, so maybe we should show these guys a bit more respect. Its not their fault they got the name earwigs rather than cute-cuddle bugs or something non-chill inducing.

Common earwig
Forficula auricularia Despite its name and threatening appearance, the common earwig is a harmless and interesting creature.

Note:
The name earwig is derived from the old English 'earwicga' which means 'ear beetle'. It was once commonly believed that earwigs would burrow into people's ears at night and lay eggs in their brains. In fact the story still circulates as an urban myth. Earwigs are not parasitic and would rather lay their eggs under a stone. The human ear, though about the right size for an earwig, is not an ideal resting place. So if one were to crawl into someone's ear it would not be typical behaviour but the actions of one very confused and lost earwig.

Statistics:
Earwigs are 8-18mm long.

Physical Description:
A small smooth elongated brown insect with a pair of pincer-like appendages at the end of its abdomen. They have a pair of fan-like hindwings that are normally folded away behind the thorax and hidden under their short leathery forewings. Males and females can be distinguished by their tail pincers, which are more curved in males than females.

Distribution:
They are found all over Europe but have been introduced to many other parts of the world.

Habitat:
Earwigs can be found in damp crevices in houses, gardens and woodland.

Diet:
They feed on decaying plant and animal matter and other insects. (Though, I know they eat my garden plants, and Colorado Extension will verify that as well.)

Behavior:
Earwigs rest during the day inside damp crevices such as under bark or in hollow plant stems. They are scavengers and emerge at night. Their pincers can give a small nip to a human but they are normally used to scare away predators and to help them tuck their wings away.

Reproduction:
The female lays eggs under stones and in crevices and will stay with her eggs guarding them. From time to time she will gently clean the eggs with her mouthparts to prevent fungal infection. She will continue guarding her young, which look like miniature versions of their parents, until they have grown large enough to fend for themselves.

USEE at the SLC Farmer's Market

-by Alaina Caudillo

On a beautiful morning this last Saturday, July 18, Jason, Andree’ and I attended the Downtown Farmer’s Market promoting our programs and events. No, we weren’t selling home-grown vegetables. Our goal was to inform teachers, educators, and the public about Environmental Education in Utah. There are many great opportunities to enrich professional development in a variety of ways such as becoming a member with USEE, becoming a Certified Environmental Educator, attending Monthly Green Bag presentations, or signing up for the E-newsletter to stay up to date on Environmental Education events here in Utah. There are many benefits of membership with USEE including discounts on Green bag presentations and our Annual Conference showing your support for Environmental Education and many more.

We also promote and encourage community discussion groups and at the farmers market we highlighted Menu for the Future. Menu for the Future addresses key issues involving our relationship with food examining topics like the history of agriculture in this country, healthy choices, and even global perspective such as hunger and fair trade. You can find USEE, and other non-profits, about half way down 300 West by the dog park and the bicycle collective valet parking in upcoming weeks on the 1st of August and September the 19th.

For information on how you can be involved or start a discussion group with other interested citizens, contact USEE @ (801) 328-1549 or sign up for the E-newsletter:

Help Utah’s Black Bears- Clean up Your Campsite!

Photo Credit

By Alaina Caudillo (USEE Intern)

It started on July 1st, only two weeks ago. The first Black Bear of the year was shot and killed by a citizen at a campsite after following his nose to some tasty food scraps, most likely left behind by previous campers. This is the time of year when the weather is warm and more people are getting out into Utah’s mountains to recreate and enjoy time with their families and friends.

In the past two weeks, four other Black Bears have been killed; three of the five incidents involving campsites. Bears have an extremely strong sense of smell, and are drawn to things like soap, perfume, and food items and their residues such as grease from your hamburgers, and fish heads or skins. By keeping our campsites cleaner and properly storing food, either in bear containers or suspending items 12 feet high from a tree, we are doing our part to protect these magnificent animals.

Keeping things tidy upon your departure from designated camping and hiking areas also helps to protect other Utah families that camp after you, from these unexpected visitors. Listed below are some tips from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources about staying safe in bear country.

• Don’t leave food and scented items, such as deodorants and tooth paste, out where a bear can get them.
• Keep your campsite and cabin area clean.
  
• Don't toss food scraps and other trash around.
• Don't keep any food in the same area where you're sleeping.
• If an item has a strong smell to it, consider leaving it at home.
• Never feed a bear.
• Black bears can be discouraged by a counter attack so fight back if a scuffle ensues.

For more info about black bears, click here.

USEE Visits the Great Salt Lake Institute

Photo: Issac Hall sampling from a paddle board in the GSL

By: T.J. Adamson (USEE Intern)

Do the brine shrimp really look like Sea Monkeys? How does the Great Salt Lake harness sunlight? How much salt is really in the Great Salt Lake?

Once a month, the USEE staff has been visiting various organizations around the community that are involved with environmental education. The goal is to keep in touch with our connections, learn more about their operations, tour their facility, and discuss ways that we can help each other out. For this month’s field trip we checked out the Great Salt Lake Institute (GSLI). Andree, Nicole, Alaina and I meet with the coordinator Jaimi Butler. Jaimi received a college degree studying brine shrimp and birds. After working at the brine shrimp factory, she now in charge of operating the GSLI and is involved with many projects. We sat down with her as she told us all about their work and what they are doing.

The Great Salt Lake Institute, not to be confused with Friends of Great Salt Lake, is fairly new and located in the heart of Westminster College. They are funded by a verity of grants and receive much of their support form the college. GSLI’s mission is to be dedicated to education, research, and stewardship of the unique ecology and history of the Great Salt Lake. They are not an advocacy group, rather an educational institution that furthers research and creates public awareness. Their goal is to provide a better understanding of the GSL and its relationship to ecology and the environment. GSLI seeks partnerships with public and private groups such as colleges, universities, industry, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to engage in collaborative research efforts.

The GSLI is also working to promote science and environmental education of K-12 students by encouraging student and teacher involvement. They provide lesson plans and project opportunities to educators and link many of the research activities to current curriculum. This is a great resource for any teacher or non-formal educator. Their website offers a wonderful database of free lesson plans, activities, and projects that are open to anyone interested in teaching or learning about the Great Salt Lake. Their website provides a wide selection of lesson plans that are included in following categories: “Land Form Lessons”, “Lake Effect Lessons”, “Brine Shrimp Lessons”, “Salinity Lessons”, “Sand Lessons”, “Lake Lessons”, “Water Lessons”, “Salt Lessons”, “Ecosystem Lessons”, “Tributaries of the Great Salt Lake”, and “Seasons Lessons”. As a free resource, I would defiantly check it out. Visit www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org and click on the Outreach tab, then the gsl lesson plans tab.

Students of Westminster College also play an active roll. GSLI provides many opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarships in working with the GSLI. The director of the GSLI Bonnie Baxter, PhD, and Associate Director Brian Avery, PhD are both professors at the college that teach in the science and biology departments. Throughout the years, they have focused much of their research towards studying the Great Salt Lake. Currently, they teach and mentor undergraduate students interested in biological science and ecosystems.

Currently, Jaimi is putting the final arraignments together for the “Camp Great Salt Lake” summer camp. This three day camp is designed to give high school students a “true” college experience. Participants stay in the dorms and spend a few days as scientists. On the first day, students travel to the lake and take a tour on paddle boats that are fully equipped with of research equipment. They collect samples and learn about the many functions of the lake. Day two is spent in a lab at Westminster where they conduct basic experiments with their findings. On the final day they revisit the lake to see and apply what they have learned. The summer camp is open to high school students that are at least fifteen years of age and five teachers. It runs from July 12th through the 14th and cost students $150 and the teachers are paid. Scholarships are available for the students that attend. To apply, visit their website at www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org or contact Jaimi at jbutler@westministercollege.edu.

We learned a lot about the Great Salt Lake Institute. If you are interested in participating in or contributing to their studies, they have a free membership directory available online. You can also keep informed by becoming a fan on their Facebook page. For more information or follow their contact information provided below or visit their website where you will find a wealth of information, resources, a blog, and upcoming events.

The Great Salt Lake Institute
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
www.GreatSaltLakeInstitue.org

Coordinator: Jaimi Butler
jbutler@westministercollege.edu.
Director: Bonnie Baxter, PhD
bbaxter@westminstercollege.edu
Associate Director: Brian Avery, PhD
bavery@westminstercollege.edu

Watering the Lawn

Photo Credit

Is your lawn starting to look a bit dry? Ours is. At my house, we constantly struggle to decide the watering schedule for the lawn. We don't want to waste water, but we feel that we need to keep our yard looking presentable as well.

For the months of July and August (in Northern and Central Utah), the Utah Division of Water Resources (DWR) recommends watering for 21 minutes every 3 days.

Here is some information from the Utah DWR website.

Monthly Lawn Watering Guide
A typical Utah lawn has a water demand curve that begins in mid-April, rises to a peak in July, and then falls rapidly until mid-October. Adjusting your timer monthly to better follow this demand curve will save you water and money. An easy way to do this is keep the minutes constant and increase or decrease the number of days between waterings as shown below.

How do I water plants other than grass?
If your lawn and decorative plants are watered by different sprinkler zones, you will be able to save even more water. Shrubs, flowers and other decorative plants require 25-50% less water than the lawn. If possible, water these zones a few minutes longer than the lawn but half as frequently.

What if I already water less than recommended?
The recommendations are based on average conditions. If you already water less and are satisfied with how your lawn looks, don't increase your watering time. Instead, try decreasing the time! Turn down the minutes until you begin to see stress in your lawn, then turn it back up a bit and leave it. As you fine-tune your schedule, you will save even more water and money than this schedule suggests!

What if the recommended times are not enough?
If this schedule does not seem to be enough water for your lawn, please check your system for inefficiencies and maintenance issues before increasing your run times. Watering the whole lawn to green-up just a few brown spots is an inefficient use of water.

Wild About Utah: Bark Beetle Mania

Pine beetle damage to ponderosa pine
in Dixie National Forest
2000 USDA Forest Service

Hi, I’m Holly Strand of Stokes Nature Center in beautiful Logan Canyon.

For a creature that’s typically less than six millimeters in size, bark beetles certainly have a mammoth footprint. Outbreaks of the tiny insects in forests across western North America have changed millions of trees into shriveled, rust-colored sentinels of a changing ecosystem. In Utah alone, between 1990 and 2005, wood-boring beetles ate their way through more than 466,000 acres which equals 3% of Utah’s total forested area.

Bark beetles are native to our forests and evolved together with their respective hosts. For example, the Douglas-fir beetle evolved with Douglas firs, and the spruce beetle with Engelmann spruce. The mountain pine beetle is the least discriminating. It attacks lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine and, more recently, high elevation species such as whitebark pine, limber pine, and bristlecone pine.

At healthy population levels, bark beetles renew forests by killing older and declining trees, allowing young, more productive ones to flourish. Female beetles initiate the assault, simultaneously attracting males using pheromones. Within hours the tree becomes the site of a “mass attack” of thousands of beetles. Then the females begin to reproduce. An individual female may lay over 100 eggs. As eggs hatch, larvae construct feeding galleries in the inner bark of the tree. These galleries eventually girdle and kill the tree by cutting off the exchange of nutrients between the roots and the crown of the tree.

Some of the biggest outbreaks in Utah have occurred in the Dixie and the Manti La Sal National Forests. The spruce beetle is responsible for thousands of acres of dead Engelmann spruce trees in both of these forests. The Piñon Ips beetle also thrives in piñon pines in southern UT. Meanwhile, on the other end of the state, the mountain pine beetle is causing serious outbreaks in the Uintas. The Wasatch Range forests have yet to experience extensive diebacks but the mountain pine beetle, Douglas fir beetle and spruce beetle are all causing higher mortality rates than they have in the past.

Certain forestry management practices are partially responsible for the unprecedented bark beetle outbreaks. Dense, homogenous forests with repressed fire regimes are more susceptible to attack. On the other hand, uncrowded, variable age stands composed of lots of different species are healthy and resilient.

Warming climate conditions have also contributed to the severe bark beetle outbreaks. Early fall and late spring freezes, and extremely cold temperatures help repress bark beetle populations. I’ll try to keep this in mind when it’s snowing in June here in Cache Valley. At least our pine trees will be healthy and safe from the bark beetle.

Barbara Bentz, research entomologist with the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and adjunct faculty member with Utah State University’s Department of Wildland Resources, provided the scientific information for this piece.

Thanks to the USU College of Natural Resources and the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation for supporting research and development of this Wild About Utah topics. For Wild About Utah and Stokes Nature Center, I’m Holly Strand.

Credits:
Images: UDSA Forest Service: Assessment and response to bark beetle outbreaks in the Rocky Mountain aea. Report to Congress from Forest Health Protection (see below)
Text: Mary-Ann Muffaletto, Holly Strand

Wild About Utah is a weekly nature series produced by Utah Public Radio (link to www.upr.org) in cooperation with Stokes Nature Center (link to www.logannature.org) and Bridgerland Audubon Society (link to www.bridgerlandaudubon.org/index.htm ) . Archives of the program can be found at www.wildaboututah.org.

Oh Carp!

Photo Credit

Manipulating/managing the environment is always a very tricky job. Factors not even considered in the original plan can easily come up, causing even further problems. I'm sure we can all think of examples of "good ideas" that we now know may have not been the best choice in the long run. Off the top of my head I would mention, predation control, introduction of non-natives, or fire suppression. I know these are all controversial and have their pros and cons, but they make the point that when managing the environments, we never fully understand the long term effects.

As such, I was pleased to read an article yesterday about controlling carp in Utah Lake. The issue is this - Carp need to be controlled in Utah Lake. There is a virus that has been present in British lakes, and now in Arizona that kills only carp. One might think this was a great solution to the problem. But is it?

Again, we don't fully know the answer to this question, but I was impressed with the forethought of the Utah June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program (who works on Utah Lake). Reed Harris, director of the program states that "There were three different diseases that we know kill carp. We're just reluctant to bring in a disease when we can't control it and we don't know (everything) about it."

He also goes on to say that "Well, the disease down at Mohave affected a lot of other fish besides carp."

That's because of what Harris called "collateral damage" to fish the virus doesn't target. When carp die by the thousands, it fouls the water. That makes it unpleasant for humans and unhealthy for other fish. It's one of the hard-to-predict consequences if people begin tinkering with viruses to kill carp.

"We think that catching them and using them in some sort of productive way is probably a better way," Harris said. "It's a little more controlled, and we feel like that way we can watch and see what happens."

So, Harris and his team will opt to use nets and round up at least 75% of the carp (which they say will be enough to improve water quality), and they'll use the carp for things like fertilizers, pet food, etc.

One other aspect of this story is that the virus would kill the fish for free, where the netting will cost over 9 million dollars. Even though it may seem costly upfront, we don't know how much it might cost down the road if the virus got out of control.

Is their course of action the best choice? I'm not sure any of us can make that call. BUT, I for one would like to say Kudos to the managers of this project for their forethought and inclusiveness.

Click here to read the full article.

I just finished reading Michael Chabon's essay, Manhood for Amateurs: The Wilderness of Childhood at the New York Review of Books. In the essay he dips into some of the issues related to Nature Deficit Disorder and explores the idea that childhood has historically been a branch of cartography focusing on unstructured play and imagination. As children we roamed the streets and woodlots mapping our own neighborhoods free from adult supervision. However all of that seems to be changing:

"We schedule their encounters for them, driving them to and from one another's houses so they never get a chance to discover the unexplored lands between. If they are lucky, we send them out to play in the backyard, where they can be safely fenced in and even, in extreme cases, monitored with security cameras."

What happens when children no longer have the freedom to explore without adult supervision?

"The sandlots and creek beds, the alleys and woodlands have been abandoned in favor of a system of reservations—Chuck E. Cheese, the Jungle, the Discovery Zone: jolly internment centers mapped and planned by adults with no blank spots aside from doors marked staff only. When children roller-skate or ride their bikes, they go forth armored as for battle, and their parents typically stand nearby."

Wind Farms!

You may have noticed by now that I've been passing along a lot of KSL articles lately. It just seems like so much has been popping up that seems worthy to share. So bear with me as I link to other articles, and enjoy Nicole's longer, well researched, in-depth blogs. :)

The article below about windfarms caught my eye as I grew up in California, near the Altamont Pass, which has a HUGE windfarm. Supposedly the Altamont Pass Windfarm was one of the first in California, and I know its been around for a long time since I don't ever recall seeing the green (or brown) hills without them being covered in huge turbines. When we were little, we just referred to the pass as "The Windmill Hills." Moving to Utah and hearing people talk about how the turbines might be an "eyesore" always seemed odd to me as my brother and I always thought they were so beautiful and our favorite part of the drive to our grandparents house. By the way, there are over 4900 windmills covering the hills.

Here is a picture of the Altamont Pass Windfarm (photo credit).


Now, on to the KSL Article......

First blades attached at Utah wind farm

July 7th, 2009 @ 8:21am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The first set of blades on the first of 97 planned turbines has been hung at a wind farm under construction near Milford.

Officials with First Wind LLC say the first turbine tower went up in early June and the blades were attached late last month.

More turbine towers are expected to go up in the coming weeks. Company officials say the project is on track to be finished by mid-November.

The turbines are initially expected to generate 300-megawatts of electricity.

Electricity from the project will go to California.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

_________________________________________

Isn't that great? I'm excited to see this alternative energy source becoming more popular here in Utah. Hopefully driving through Milford will now remind me of home.

I'd also like to note that there are issues with the windfarms harming wildlife (especially birds), but as I understand it, the newer larger turbines spin more slowly and are high enough to be out of the general path of the birds.

Anyone have any insights? Do you think windmills are pretty too?

Plant Anatomy 101: Cashews

Did you know that cashews grow on trees? Cashew trees grow in many tropical areas in South America, Asia, and Africa, but are native to Brazil. The trees are medium in size (growing to about 10 to 12 feet) and the flowers on the tree are usually pink to dark red.

Though cashews are usually referred to as nuts in the culinary world, they are in fact fruits. There are two parts to the "fruit" of the cashew tree. The cashew "nut" or kidney shaped seed is the true fruit of a cashew tree and forms first. It is covered with a hard shell and inside there is a single seed, thereby making it the true fruit.

The shell of a cashew has a resin in it that is a skin irritant. The oil contained in the resin is the same as the oil that is found in poison ivy, making the cashews difficult to harvest. In many places the cashew is thrown away and it is the "cashew apple" that is coveted. However, in Brazil they have a highly advanced harvesting industry where the nuts are safely shelled.

What appears to be the fruit is the "cashew apple" which forms in between the "nut" and flower. This apple is known as an accessory fruit, which means that the tissue is formed not from the ovary, like the cashew itself, but from another part of the plant. Other examples of accessory fruits are pineapples, figs, and the fleshy parts of pears and apples. (The core is the true fruit for apples and pears.) In the picture below the cashew apple has been cut open. Notice that there are no seeds in the cashew apple.

Inside of a Cashew Apple
Photo Credit

The cashew apple has a sweet taste and is used in many different ways. The apple and cashew fall from the tree when they are both ripe and the apples must be harvested quickly from the ground as they will spoil within one day without refrigeration. The "apples" are most often used for their juice as the fruit is very fibrous. The fruit is chewed for refreshment and then the pithy residue is discarded. The juice is also used to make a variety of beverages from carbonated drinks to wine and distilled liquors. The cashew apples are most often red or yellow. Some fruits even exhibit both red and yellow colors on one fruit!

Cashew Trees in Florida

Photo Credit

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July from the USEE staff!

Photo Credit

Restaurant owner finds new way to recycle food waste - KSL NEWS ARTICLE

I thought I would share this great article about recycling the food waste. Nicole and I think it should be labeled reducing food waste, but the reduce - reuse - recycle flowchart discussion is another blog for another day. Enjoy the article! Oh, and I was excited to see my friend Insa Reipen, Executive Director of Recycle Utah quoted in the article as well.

June 30th, 2009 @ 10:10pm

By Alex Cabrero

KAMAS -- Restaurants throw out a lot of food every day. In fact, Recycle Utah says 25 percent of restaurant food is wasted, but now one restaurant owner has an idea on what to do with it all.

Sean Wharton, owner of The Gateway Grill in Kamas, has an interesting way of dealing with food waste: He gives excess food his customers didn't pig out on to his pigs.

"I think it's my effort to give back to society and be more of a producer than a consumer," Wharton said.

It always bugged Wharton how much food got tossed away, so he decided to have his restaurant staff throw extra food away in a separate bucket.

"Everyone is like, ‘Where's the pig box?' It's an instinct, and you look to save the food," Wharton said.

Now, the food isn't wasted. Wharton raises pigs on it and sells them to people. In fact, five recently went to a Weber County petting zoo.

"It's an excellent idea," said Insa Riepen, executive director for Recycle Utah. She says Wharton has inspired about 10 other restaurants in Summit County to join the program. Lots of farmers can benefit.

"If the chef is willing to work with the program like this, to sort out their waste and then get the credit for it, then it works," Riepen said.

Not only does sorting scrap food help feed Wharton's pigs, but it also decreases his garbage bill, which he says any restaurant owner would love. "My food waste has gone from twice-a-week pickup on the dumpsters to once every other week," he said.

That's saving him about $250 a month. But more importantly, it's saving food that would otherwise go to waste.

Recycle Utah says it would like to see restaurants in other communities come up with programs to donate food waste to their local farmers.

E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com

Indoor Plants and Indoor Air Quality

-by Alaina Caudillo

At USEE's most recent Green Bag Lecture, Indoor Plants and Indoor Air Quality, Brandie Balken from Cactus and Tropicals had some excellent points about why indoor plants are beneficial both emotionally and physically for our indoor environments.

First of all, people gravitate toward natural environments. We like to shop in stores with plants, people drive slower on streets lined with trees, and they have many aesthetic qualities such as blossoms that make us feel happy.

Brandie pointed out that plants aren't just pretty to look at as they have amazing benefits for us during our time spent in indoor environments like our homes and offices. Tropical plants in particular thrive in the same humidity level range that people like to thrive in (30%-60% humidity). By including plants in your decor, they will clean the carbon dioxide emitted from our exhaled breaths out of your indoor air, replacing it with fresh oxygen to nourish us.

Plants naturally add clean water vapor through evapo-transpiration to our indoor air, allowing the optimal humidity levels so that we can breathe easier. House plants also break down toxic chemicals found in the indoor environment like benzene and formaldehyde, often used in the production of common household goods like furniture.

Some people feel that they are not "plant people". For those of you with this concern, take solace in knowing that there are plants that are right for every kind of person, from easy to needy plants, depending on the care and light you can provide them.

To improve the quality of air indoors, you need about 2 plants for every 100 square feet, so stop by your local nursery today to find your new friends. They will help clean the air while you are away in exchange for a little water and sunlight.

Photo Credit