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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
'Simple and cheap' food hack helps peace lilies live 'for decades'
David Denyer, who is based at Eflorist and has won Chelsea Gold Medals and Best in Show titles, explained that peace lilies require a certain nutrient to aid growth A flower expert has shared some insider knowledge on making peace lilies look their best. Horticultural expert David Denyer, who's graced television screens on Gardeners' World, divulged a handy tip about these popular houseplants. "Many people may be unaware, but peace lilies require potassium to aid with their growth," said David, who is a florist at Eflorist with an impressive track record of Gold Medals and Best in Show accolades at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show. He added: "So using a banana peel is a unique way to help with this." However, he was quick to clarify that there's a "genuine method" to employing a banana peel for boosting peace lily growth, which doesn't involve simply burying it in the soil. David said: "To make some potassium-rich fertiliser, put some banana peel in a jar of water, and leave it to sit for at least a day or two - the longer the better! "Don't hold back on the amount of banana peel you use, as the more you add, the more potassium-rich the water will become." After the steeping period, Denyer advised to "drain the water into a fresh jug and dispose of the banana peel". He then instructed: "Then, dilute the banana peel water with some fresh water and use this liquid to water your peace lily." David assured garden lovers that utilising banana water biweekly "it will help to keep the nutrients in the soil rich and promote growth". He stressed the necessity of adhering to his specific instructions to avoid potential problems, reports the Express. "Just throwing some banana peel in the soil could attract pests and insects, who may end up eating the plant, and cause it to die faster," Denyer warned. He emphasised that when adopting this method, it's crucial to maintain regular care for the plant, including weekly watering. Further care involves positioning the houseplant where it receives indirect sunlight and removing any wilted leaves or spathes. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) explained: "Deadheading is the term used for the removal of fading or dead flowers from plants." Denyer recommended routine upkeep of the peace lily and suggested that incorporating the biweekly banana water trick will "keep it healthy". With a smile, David pointed out that bananas can be purchased for as little as 16p, branding the technique a "simple and cheap hack" to experiment with. He concluded: "Peace lilies typically live for three to five years, but with the right care, they can thrive for decades."
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Best THC Drinks Of 2025—According To The High Spirits Awards
THC infused coffees, seltzers, cocktails and more were recognized at the High Spirits Awards. The High Spirits Awards recently honored the best THC-infused beverages, including seltzers, beers, wines, coffees, sodas and more. The competition was launched by the L.A. Spirits Awards in 2023 as a way to honor the burgeoning cannabis-infused beverage industry in the same manner spirit, beer and wine producers are honored at other competitions. The existence of the High Spirits Awards reflects the growing influence of infused THC beverages in the adult beverage space. The 2018 farm bill legalized hemp and paved the way for the legality of THC drinks. The bill allowed for the sale of hemp plants that had no more than 0.3% THC, which is not enough to provide a psychoactive component on its own. However, producers soon realized that by extracting this small percentage of THC they could make as potent THC drinks as they wanted. Before long a wide variety of THC drinks were flooding the market. In recent years, they've seen a surge in popularity. Back in 2020, the U.S. market for hemp-derived THC drinks accounted for just $400,000 in sales annually; last year it had grown to more than $382 million, and Brightfield Group, a market research firm, predicts it will grow to $571 million this year. From a flavor perspective, THC drinks range widely in the type of drink offered and the quality. That's why a competition such as the High Spirits Awards is a welcome guide for navigating this emerging beverage space and finding the best THC drinks. Best Infused Coffee Fuel and Elevate Vanilla Latte Instant Functional Fusion Availability: Nationwide Best Infused Seltzer The QwikLife, C.R.E.A.M Plumelon Availability: Ships to select states Best Infused Soda Goodland Extracts Cherry Pie High Soda Availability: Nationwide Best Infused Juice Sweet Justice Pacific Island Punch Availability: GA, FL, NC, SC, TX, MN, TN, IL Best Infused Additive Sky High Relax Skyology Availability: Nationwide Best Infused Beer/Wine/Cider/Cooler Sky High Sky Cooler Fuji Apple Pear Availability: Nationwide Best Infused Spirit Revolution Apothecary Passion Punch Best Infused RTD Squared Rum & Cola Availability: Nationwide In the first round of tasting at the High Spirits Awards, each drink was assessed by a tasting panel consisting of industry pros. Judges on this panel could choose not to nominate a beverage or could nominate it to win bronze, silver, or gold medals. If all judges on the panel nominated a beverage for gold, it would be awarded a platinum medal. The top medal winners for this round moved on to a second round of judging in which Best in Show winners were assessed. This round consisted of judges from the High Spirit Awards and select L.A. Spirits Awards judges. Only one beverage per category could win Best in Show, but judges did not need to award a Best in Show winner for each category. Thanks to this process, the winning beverages are truly what judges believed were the best THC-infused drinks of the year.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
No ruff edges as Abilene Kennel Club Dog Show trots into Expo Center
The Taylor County Expo Center hosted the annual Abilene Kennel Club Dog Show over the weekend. Over 700 dogs representing more than 130 registered American Kennel Club breeds competed in three different shows from Friday to Sunday. All three days offered free admission to spectators where a new Best of Show was chosen each day. Activities were held in the Taylor County Coliseum and the Expo Center's Display Building. Dogs and handlers competed for points and titles in the dog show or conformation events, as well as performance events where obedience was evaluated using an obstacle course and other challenges. Reported by the Abilene Kennel Club, Friday's Best in Show was a Boxer, handled by Michael Shepherd of Flower Mound while the Reserve Best in Show was a Pointer, handled by Dennis Brown from Nebraska. Saturday's Best in Show was a Pointer handled by Brown while Reserve was a Bichon Frise also handled by Brown. Sunday's Best in show was a bulldog from Livingston handled by Dennis O'Connor with Reserve a Nebraska pointer again handled by Brown. This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: No ruff edges as Abilene Kennel Club Dog Show trots into Expo Center
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
MPs call to halt depictions of cropped-ear dogs
An MP has called on film, television and media outlets to stop depicting dogs with cropped ears, following a dramatic rise in the number of reported cases in recent years. Veterinary surgeon Dr Neil Hudson, who is also the Conservative MP for Epping, Essex, has written an open letter to those in the industry which has been signed by 21 of his Conservative colleagues in Westminster. Dr Hudson described ear cropping - made illegal in the UK in 2006 but still permitted in other countries - as "a horrific, cruel and clinically unnecessary practice". The RSPCA said reports of "cruel and unnecessary ear cropping on dogs" had increased by 2,000% in a decade. Dr Hudson, who also serves as shadow parliamentary under secretary for Defra, continued: "This painful procedure, performed solely for 'aesthetic' purposes, involves the removal or alteration of a dog's ears, often without proper veterinary care or pain relief." He said this, coupled with the lack of import regulations on equipment to crop a dog's ears, may be causing the influx of mutilated dogs. The RSPCA said ear cropping "doesn't benefit the dog in any way and can actually be detrimental to their health, behaviour and welfare". "We urge people to not buy into the trend - the only way to stop this is by not fuelling the demand for a cropped-eared dog," said David Bowles, the charity's head of public affairs. A bill that addresses the problem of low-welfare animal imports dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom is currently being progressed through parliament. Dr Hudson continued: "The inclusion of cropped ears in media can inadvertently normalise this cruelty, misleading audiences into viewing mutilation as acceptable." He said popular Hollywood films such as Disney Pixar's Up, from 2009, and Warner Bros' DC League of Super-Pets in 2022, both featured dogs with clipped ears. He pointed to a more recent example in the US, with the 2025 Best in Show winner at Westminster Kennel Club also having cropped ears. The letter referenced the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which prohibits the use of animals subjected to cruelty during production. The Westminster Kennel Club, Warner Brothers, Disney Pixar, and DC Entertainment have all been approached for comment by the BBC. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More than 1,000 dogs reported with ear cropping Puppies mutilated to follow social media trend Man jailed after cruelly cropping puppies' ears RSPCA - Dog Cropping
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AHS senior claims both first place and Best in Show in Junior Duck Stamp competition
Apr. 9—As a sophomore, Austin High School's Callie Hillman won third place in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition for Minnesota. A year later she came in second. There's only one way to take the trend from there and Hillman did it in a big way. This year, Hillman not only closed in first place in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Junior Duck Stamp competition for Minnesota, she was also awarded Best in Show making her eligible to compete in the National Junior Duck Stamp Competition. While she's not the first student from Austin Public Schools to win first place, she is the first to claim both prizes. "I was surprised. I really didn't think I could win," Hillman said. "It showed that all of my hard work paid off. It was my goal all year to at least get the chance to compete at the national level." Hillman's winning artwork is of a pair of mallards standing in a patch of grass titled "Morning on the Lakeside." She chose the mallards because of how common and recognizable they are to the state of Minnesota. At the same time Junior Duck Stamp has been an opportunity for Hillman to combine things she really enjoys: art and nature, while supporting what the Duck Stamp represents. "I like seeing the wildlife and I like how it promotes the preservation of wetlands," Hillman said. Hillman's art teacher, Jake Levisen, said that it's been fun watching Hillman build and advance her talents to the point that she is the first Austin student to win both awards in the annual contest. Levisen, who has finished second in the Duck Stamp competition, noted just how hard she works to advance her techniques including the time she puts in, which in this case was around six hours worth of work. "Cassie always asks what's next. She's always up for the challenge," Levisen said, later adding: "I just want to emphasize just how proud I am with the amount of work she puts into her artwork." While her art remains an enjoyable outlet for Hillman, who is looking at studying animal science in college, the image she captured is a simple vision of the beauty of Minnesota wildlife. "It's a duck everybody knows and is really common around Minnesota," she said. "It's basic, but still really pretty." The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program works to teach wetland and waterfowl conservation to students taking part, which ranges from kindergarten through high school. The national winner will serve as the design for the Junior Duck Stamp, which is produced annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sold for $5, revenue generated goes toward supporting the recognition and environmental education activities for students participating in the program.
