For many people, all of those creatures with six or eight legs fall into the general category of bugs. Most of us don’t give these organisms too much thought and when we do consider them at all, it is generally in an unfavorable light. It may come as a surprise that the whole ecosystem is actually dependent upon these small animals. In fact, with over a million species, it is the arthropods that make up the vast majority of the named living things on earth.

There is plenty of gardening to do in November. Here are a few ways to spend your time.

Pruning in fall is a popular pastime. It is often necessary after a wet growing season like we had last spring.

If you feed birds, you are among the more than 50 million people in the United States who participate in this popular activity.

Fall vegetables are full of flavor and vitamins to keep you healthy. Here are some points to consider when picking these crops.

Last Saturday Peggy Lyons, from the Lynchburg Bird Club, led a field trip to various sites in Campbell County. Ten members met early in the morning at the home of Fred and Helen Becker, who have a farm on Oxford Furnace Road.

Lawn care has been on the minds of gardeners for weeks. Here are some of their questions.

Can you think of a bird and a fruit that both have the same name? I’ll give you a hint by telling you that neither is native to North America. The bird was given its scientific name and described in 1811 and, beginning in the 1950s, the fruit was imported to the United States.

October is a time for action. You can make progress in yard care and home food production this month.

This the time of year when I begin to get questions about hummingbird feeders.

Hornets on lilacs and scab on pecans were mentioned by many of the gardeners who called Extension in September. Here are a few of the month’s questions.

The annual Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour will feature properties with unique designs, artistic interior decorating and spectacular scenic views.

You can cut the cost of growing a garden if you gather and save seeds. The time to start is late in the growing season when many kinds of seeds are mature.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

As the first frost approaches, there’s much to be done.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

RICHMOND - Melissa Newby is a hunter who’s motivated by the thrill of the chase—even if the quarry is nothing more elusive than a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Cucumbers are a reliable crop in my garden. They withstand drought, disease and critters to produce year after year.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

KERNERSVILLE - Dawn Larkins shops with marked concentration, moving carefully down each aisle, frequently consulting from a small yellow legal pad of notes she compiled at home. Her hot pink, zippered, three-ring binder sits in the seat portion of the cart, like a cook would lay out a recipe book on a stand.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling (434) 455-3740.

For 45 years, Glenn R. Clayton has been playing with bees.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling (434) 455-3740.

Don Davis is an Extension Agent for the Virginia Cooperative Extension. He can be reached by calling (434) 455-3740.