Juan D. Rivera started learning everything he could about plants, farming, livestock, and ecosystems at a young age. Since then, he’s earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology (Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México) and a PhD in forestry (North Carolina State University), both with an emphasis on conservation farming and renewable technology. He has worked in planning crops for companies and workshops, as an educational consultant and writer.
There’s something about a Red Robin tree that feels like pure garden magic. Those glossy green leaves tipped with fiery red shoots? They don’t just sit there—they show off. Mine used to steal the spotlight…
There’s a certain kind of panic that hits when you walk into your garden one morning and realize the enemy has moved in overnight. That was me the first time I noticed field bindweed curling…
The Loblolly Pine, otherwise known as the Pinus Taeda or Oldfield Pine, Bull Pine, Rosemary Pine, is a somewhat well-known tree plant native to the Southeast, Northeast, and the Southwest of the United States. Best…
Crabapple trees are like the sparkling jewels of the garden, their bright blossoms and vibrant fruits adding a splash of color and charm. However, when your once-thriving crabapple begins to droop or show signs of…
The Dwarf Eastern White Pine, otherwise known as the Pinus Strobus ‘Nana’ or Eastern White Pine ‘Nana’, Weymouth Pine ‘Nana’, North American Pumpkin Pine ‘Nana’, North American White Pine ‘Nana’, White Pine ‘Nana’, Dwarf White…
I still remember the morning I stepped outside with my coffee, expecting to see my bamboo swaying like it owned the breeze. Instead, I found a graveyard of limp leaves and lifeless canes. Overnight, a…
I’ll be honest—when I first spotted quackgrass in my yard, I underestimated it. Big mistake. I thought I was dealing with just another scrappy weed. Something I could yank out on a Saturday morning, toss…
The Blue Cloak White Fir, otherwise known as the Abies Concolor ‘Blue Cloak’ or White Fir ‘Archer’s Dwarf’, Archer’s Dwarf White Fir, is a rather well known tree plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world….
I used to think thistles were just prickly nuisances—annoying, sure, but manageable. Then yellow and purple starthistle marched into my property like they had legal rights to the land. That was the moment I realized…