UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center

04/17/2026

Oh no..

The ramp from I-40 East to Henley Street has been closed, thanks to a collection of swarming bees, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

04/14/2026

for those of you who raise bees, here is an article of possible interest. enjoy DH

It was a mystery unlike any other. In 2012, deep within the picturesque Alsace region of France, beekeepers woke up to a horrifying sight. Their precious honey, usually a rich, golden amber, had been transformed. It was blue. It was green. It was a kaleidoscope of unnatural colors that sent a chill....

04/14/2026

A lot of people mix these two up at first glance, and that’s exactly why I always tell people to slow down and check the stem before anything else.

Queen Anne’s lace and poison hemlock can look similar from a distance, especially once those white umbrella-shaped flowers open up.

But the stem usually gives it away.

What to check

Queen Anne’s lace
hairy stem

Poison hemlock
smooth stem with purple blotches

That one detail is a big deal.

The leaves and flowers can look close enough to confuse people, especially if you’re just doing a quick look while walking the yard, roadside, or edge of a field.

The root can look different too, but I would not rely on digging plants up unless you really know what you’re dealing with.

Around my area, I treat poison hemlock like a plant to avoid completely.
No touching bare-handed, no cutting it casually, and definitely no guessing.

If you’re not 100% sure, leave it alone and ask your local extension office or a trusted local plant expert.

That’s the safest move every time.

Have you ever spotted one of these growing near your yard or garden

04/07/2026

3D printing appears to benefit the environment.

Oliver Taylor estimates there may be as many as 40,000 bees buzzing around his DIY hive.

04/07/2026

03/25/2026

Job Alert: Please forward the announcement below to anyone who may be interested.

Position Details · Location: Nashville, TN · Onsite · $18/hour · 20 hours/week (part-time, 50% FTE) · Duration of Temporary Assignment: Approximately 3 months

03/10/2026

Don't you just hate these little blood suckers. Hope they stay away from me.....

Like many of us, the bugs have been hunkered down waiting for spring to return.

03/10/2026

Just saw this article concerning some of the common diseases you may run across and thought it would be of benefit to some of the folks here. enjoy DH.

https://www.farmprogress.com/crop-disease/top-tips-to-keep-diseases-at-bay-in-your-garden?utm_rid=CPG02000000073782&utm_campaign=105813&utm_medium=email&elq2=d132bc17b5d84068a7994c9f817b3485&sp_eh=2015bf94b56c66be027eea78d7497d0148816ed49d2675026e19ccfd42f68a25

03/05/2026

Want to know the difference between large patch and brown patch in turfgrass? Our recent Extension publication explains how to tell them apart and how to manage them. Here you go:

02/09/2026

Mushrooms
Proper ID is key for safety...

A deadly outbreak in California has been traced to consumption of death cap mushrooms. More than three dozen people have been poisoned, with four of them having died and three needing liver transplants according to the California Department of Public Health. The department reported that there is an....

01/12/2026

Proper ID before you indulge....

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing an urgent advisory following a recent outbreak of amatoxin poisoning linked to the consumption of wild, foraged mushrooms. Confirmed cases have resulted in severe liver damage in both pediatric and adult patients, including one adult fatal...