Modern architecture has taken root in Green Architecture. As cities evolve and greenery becomes a coveted asset, merging architecture with nature takes on new dimensions. This revolutionary concept not only redefines the aesthetics of homes but also promises many environmental, psychological, and economic benefits. These innovative green spaces are reshaping how we perceive, design, and experience residential living, promising a harmonious blend of nature and architecture like never before. Nurturing the urban ecosystem: benefits of vertical gardens In the concrete jungles of our cities, a green revolution is quietly taking root. Rooftop paradises and vertical vegetation are not just architectural innovations but champions of sustainability, ushering in a new era of urban design.

Organic powdery mildew control on vegetables is a common challenge for many gardeners. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and stems of various plants, especially those in the cucurbit family, such as cucumbers, melons, squash and pumpkins. Powdery mildew reduces the photosynthesis and yield of the plants, and can also affect the flavor and quality of the fruits.

There are several organic methods to prevent and treat powdery mildew on vegetables. Some of them are:

A portion of Los Angeles County has been placed under quarantine for the Tau fruit fly (Zeugodacus tau group) following the detection of more than 20 flies in the unincorporated area of Stevenson Ranch, near the city of Santa Clarita.

The fly has a very wide host range, including numerous citrus varieties as well as a select range of native plants in California.

Are you a beginning gardener looking for ways to grow your own vegetables without using harsh chemicals? If so, then you won’t want to miss the upcoming free organic gardening talk on heirloom tomatoes and peppers with TV & Radio Horticulturalist Nick Federoff. This is an excellent opportunity for those just starting out in their gardening journey as it will provide valuable information on how to create a garden that is both healthy and sustainable.

​Question:  My hibiscus looks pretty healthy. But the healthy-looking buds keep drying up and falling off. It's got lots of buds, but no blooms. What am I supposed to do?

NICK: When you have a series of buds that don't open, the first thing I think about is to do a little investigative reporting. I want you to open up the bud, and with the magnifying glass, see what's inside, because it's probably a minute insect called a mite. Sometimes mites will make a little webbing, and with others, they don't. Now that you've identified it as a mite, you're going to have to come in there and spray this thing with a miticide that you would get at your local nursery and garden center. Then fertilize the plant, and you should be just fine.

​Question:  Someone on a Facebook group recently suggested that I use a fish hydrolysate for my potted plants. I have fish emulsion, is that okay to use?

NICK: Great attempt at trying to pronounce that word. I’d pronounce it hydrolysate. A fish hydrolysate and a fish emulsion are two different things, yet they are both used for fertilizing plants. One is better than the other. Fish emulsion after they process part of it for food, they'll make oils out of it and make up and other non-essential things, and they really cook all the nutrients out of it. Whereas a fish hydrolysate, after they use it for edible purposes, is a cold process, which retains more nutrients. My vote is for the hydrolysate.

​Question:  I live in Brooklyn, and my snake plant is in a south-facing window. It grows well in the center, but the outer leaves are breaking off. What do I do?

NICK: Snake plants are pretty rugged plants. However, it would be better if the plant did get morning sun as opposed to afternoon sun. Okay, put that all aside, we still have these outer leaves that are falling off. Normally when you have it in a southern window like that, you're thinking oh no, I got to water more. So we end up doing that. That right there is detrimental to the plant. They'll start rotting off and falling out. So ease up on your watering. The second thing is that your older growth will naturally die off on you. Maybe that's what's going on here.

​Question:  I’ve been given some wild flowers. Are you able to advise on if these things are safe to use for my garden? The instructions say just to throw it in a flower bed and the non-peat compost is going to germinate the flowers?

NICK: Okay. So what he's talking about over here is that there's a seed company that is doing something that's kind of in the world of novelties. Where they're taking the seeds, and they're putting them in medicine capsules. And inside the capsule is a little bit of an organic material to help the seed grow. There's nothing wrong with doing something like this, as long as you get plenty of moisture on those seeds, because it's all encapsulated, the seed is there, you probably got a little fertilizer, you throw it on the ground and it'll eventually sprout for you.