Latest news with #QueenAnne'sLace
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dallas Parks and Rec warns of toxic plant at White Rock Lake
The Brief Dallas officials are treating White Rock Lake for highly toxic water hemlock plants. Water hemlock is dangerous to humans and pets; keep all animals leashed and away from the shoreline. If you spot suspicious plants, do not touch them and report them to Dallas Parks and Recreation. WHITE ROCK, Texas - Dallas Parks and Recreation is managing an invasive toxic plant on the shores of White Rock Lake. They warn park visitors to keep pets leashed and away from the shoreline. What we know Dallas officials have detected the presence of water hemlock at White Rock Lake, they say, and are actively treating the area to kill the toxic plants. They say the treatments will take no more than two days, and the parks and recreation department will continue to monitor the treated areas for several weeks. Hemlock is a highly poisonous plant that has small clusters of white flowers that grow in an umbrella formation. The toxins affect the central nervous system and can cause violent convulsions just minutes after exposure. The release notes that water hemlock is similar in appearance to a benign plant called Queen Anne's Lace, making the former more dangerous to visitors who don't know the difference between the two. Their release outlined the visible differences: Queen Anne's Lace blooms from March through May, while water hemlock usually blooms from late May through July. Water hemlock thrives in wet environments such as lake edges, creeks, and marshy ground, and Queen Anne's Lace prefers drier areas like open fields and roadside edges. The stems of water hemlock are thick, hollow and display purple blotches, while Queen Anne's Lace features thin, hairy green stems. Water hemlock has fern-like, glossy, and sharply-toothed leaves and Queen Anne's Lace has more finely divided foliage. What you can do Visitors should not touch or remove any plants near the shoreline and should keep pets leashed and away from shoreline vegetation. To report suspicious plants, call 214-670-1923 or dial 311. The Source Information in this article comes from Dallas Parks and Recreation.
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
It's Raining, You're Camping-Now What?
You can control many elements when vacation planning but the weather's not one of them. For my first solo camping trip, I would have dialed up days in the 80s with sunshine and a light breeze. Instead, I faced steady drizzle punctuated by torrential downpours with nighttime temps just above freezing. Here's how I made the most of my road trip between two of the Northeast's great mountain regions when Mother Nature delivered late fall instead of mid-spring. The writer's accommodations were hosted. All opinions are her own. The fundamental scout mott0 – be prepared – meant that I checked the forecast. And the news was grim. So I needed to adjust my packing. Out went the bug spray, high SPF sunscreen and bathing suit. Instead, I retrieved my winter clothes from storage, packing the following essentials: Lightweight Cuddl Duds long underwearZip-up Patagonia fleeceWaterproof LL Bean hooded jacketSmartWool hiking socks Once I knew I'd be (relatively) comfortable, I set about adjusting my activities for the trip. My trip wasn't a total washout because the Berkshire and Adirondack mountain regions are established vacation destinations with dozens of attractions. Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I wasn't going swimming or roasting s'mores, I filled my days with fun and my belly with the area's great food. I monitored the forecast closely and when damp pockets opened up between drenching downpours, I headed outdoors for some short hikes, being careful to watch my footing on slippery rocks and muddy trails. Here are my top picks for rainy day camping fun in the Berkshires and Adirondacks with sunshine alternatives if you get luckier than me! Hike to Bash Bish Falls A 20-minute hike from NY's Taconic State Park crosses the Massachusetts border and ends at the Commonwealth's highest waterfall. The final cascade of Bash Bish Falls plunges 60 feet into a crystal clear pool ringed by dramatic boulders. The ascent to the falls is uphill on a wide, rocky trail. If the Weather's Sunny: Longer hikes to the falls are accessible from NY's Taconic State Park and MA's Bash Bish FallsBike the recently repaved 3.6-mile section of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail in Copake FallsPedal boats and kayaks are available for campground guests at Spacious Skies Woodland Hills Flower Power at the Berkshire Botanical Garden I seek out public gardens when traveling to get inspiration for my own yard. The Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, MA, is a petite gem with trails winding through classic rose gardens and whimsical topiary installations. They were having a plant sale when I visited. I scored a cardoon plant – a spiky exotic with purple artichoke-looking flowers. And it was only $5. If the Weather's Sunny: Spacious Skies promotes a Spring Bloom trail linking its campgrounds. Pick a bouquet of local wildflowers such as Queen Anne's Lace, Bee Balm and Wild Blue Phlox to brighten your The Wild Center, a 115-acre, science-based nature exhibit with treetop bridges, playgrounds and a music-filled forest. Tour The Mount In 1902, author Edith Wharton designed The Mount, a grand European-style estate in Lenox, Massachusetts. She resided there for ten years, composing many of her most famous works from her bed, including Ethan Frome and The House of Mirth. She was the first woman awarded both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and an honorary doctorate from Yale. Separate tours of the house and garden are included with admission. Seasonal ghost tours are popular, requiring a separate fee and reservation. If the Weather's Sunny: The woods at The Mount are meticulously maintained and feature outdoor sculptures worth Berkshires are home to the world-famous Tanglewood summer festival and Shakespeare & Company theater performances. They're less than 15 miles from Spacious Skies Woodland Skies Adirondack Peaks campground is an hour north of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, featuring a full summer schedule of concerts, dance, comedy and an annual jazz festival. Fort Ticonderoga – It's Revolutionary! Much of the action during the Revolutionary War happened in the region between the Berkshires and the Adirondacks, including the pivotal Battles of Saratoga in 1777. As America approaches its 250th birthday, historical sites are featuring special exhibits and programs. Fort Ticonderoga was seized by Ethan Allen, Vermont's Green Mountain Boys and America's most famous traitor Benedict Arnold in 1775. Costumed guides explain the fort's history and demonstrate colonial trades like shoemaking and tailoring. If the Weather's Sunny: Boat tours are a fun summer activity in the Adirondacks on both Lake Champlain, which separates NY from Vermont, and Lake George, one of the region's most popular family vacation George has a Six Flags Great Escape amusement and water park and Fort William Henry, which featured prominently in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. When it rains on vacation, I don't feel guilty indulging in two of my favorite pastimes: shopping and eating. Bouncing between boutiques, breweries and bistros was a fun way to pass rainy hours. Where to Shop I scored some unique treasures like a monogrammed cutting board from Vermont woodworkers JK Adams. At their Dorset, VT, factory and retail store, you can view the production facilities in action. Here are some of my top spots for shopping near the two Spacious Skies campgrounds where I stayed: MacKimmie Co. in Lenox is the place to go for hard-to-resist throws and a great selection of Frank and Eileen women's head home without pure VT maple syrup from the Sugar Shack. Bonus: They have an interesting, free Norman Rockwell Adirondack gear, camp apparel and a stellar downloadable playlist at Schroon Lake Department Store. Good Eats The dreary weather put me in a comfort food state of mind, so I gravitated towards cozy places with hearty plates like Jackson's Old Chatham House. My favorite discoveries include: The French onion soup and homemade pie are two excellent reasons to visit Pitkin's prime rib sandwich at The Old Heritage Tavern in Lenox was smothered in crispy onion bits and big enough to share, if you get a cup of clam chowder as a find a wide selection of craft beers at Paradox Brewery and solid pizza, too. Spacious Skies Adirondack Peaks scheduled a weekend of activities for the Memorial Day holiday, including local food truck 80K Street Plates. Their $25 cold lobster roll was packed full of claw and knuckle meat. I was able to survive and enjoy my first camping trip for several reasons. I didn't stay in a cold, soggy were plenty of rain or shine activities Spacious Skies campgrounds had a fun vibe, despite the weather. Camp Accommodations You can rough it at Spacious Skies campgrounds or enjoy nature from the comfort of your RV. Both the Woodland Hills and Adirondack Peaks sites have multiple lodging options, including tent sites, retro trailers and cabins. I stayed in the Cosmos Cottage, a pet-friendly mobile home in Woodland Hills that comfortably sleeps six and has a stocked kitchen and two full bathrooms. The Cottage comes with complete linen packages, so you don't have to worry about packing sheets and towels. At Adirondack Peaks, my home was a bunk bed in a family yurt that also sleeps six and can accommodate your pets. Fortunately, there was a heating unit since the nighttime temps dropped to near freezing. However, there's no running water or bathroom in the yurt. I carefully planned my evening treks to the nearby bathhouse when there were pauses in the storm. The rhythm of the rain pelting the canvas was very soothing, and I had great sleeps in the yurt. The Spacious Skies concept of building a collection of campsites was launched in 2021. The goal of wife and husband co-founders Ali and Eric Rasmussen was to develop sites with a consistent feel in unique locations. The atmosphere is inclusive and welcoming to all; Spacious Skies is a proud partner of LGBTQ Outdoors and Black Folks Camp Too. My fellow campers included young couples traveling with their dogs and large families kicking off the summer season. One woman I met decided not to sell her 22-foot RV after her boyfriend died. She rented a site at Spacious Skies for the season and plans to commute from her home near Albany for weekends in the woods this summer. The friendly team at the Adirondack Peaks site sent out encouraging texts to guests inviting them to a polar plunge in the pool and an evening screening of The Incredibles in the open-air pavilion with complimentary bags of popcorn. Although I shivered through the movie, I couldn't help but smile. The kids were oblivious to the weather. They raced bikes, squealed into orbit on the massive jumping pillow and happily stomped through puddles. It was heartwarming to see children having fun at play without screens. I'm glad I didn't give up and go home. I awarded myself an imaginary Camping in the Rain merit badge. Will I try it again? Yes, but I'll probably book at the last minute when the forecast is sunny and dry. Read More: Rainy Day at Disney – Tips for Visiting Disney Parks in the Rain The Ultimate Family Camping Packing List Where the Locals Camp: Best Southern California Spots Best Camping Gear Essentials for the Great Outdoors The post It's Raining, You're Camping-Now What? appeared first on She Buys Travel. Copyright © 2025 SheBuysTravel · All Rights Reserved
The Independent
18-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
TikTok removes videos promoting birth control misinformation after The Independent investigation
TikTok has removed videos promoting birth control misinformation after The Independent found that some influencers were spreading unproven claims to millions of users. An investigation by The Independent and tech company Alethea revealed misleading videos claimed the risks of birth control, such as cancer or psychological side effects, outweigh its benefits. Some videos, since taken down, also suggested that a herbal supplement called Queen Anne's Lace could act as a contraceptive, and promoted the idea that women should "detox" after stopping their birth control prescription. The TikTok videos, which appeared generic, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing, were posted by three prominent wellness influencers - reaching 15 million viewers on the platform between February 2021 and July 2024, and being shared 21,000 times. Out of the 1,449 total videos posted by the three influencers during the time period, 115 were tagged with #birthcontrol. Using data collection, Alethea — a leading technology company specialising in online risk detection and mitigation — identified the top myths being spread by three prominent TikTok influencers. The Independent also collated and flagged hashtags used specifically by these influencers on TikTok, which aimed to push this content to a wider audience than just their followers, such as #womenshealth #truth #holistichealth #fertilityawareness and #holistichealing. TikTok did not respond when asked if it took action on these. Many of the videos were also published on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. Dr Viki Male, senior lecturer in reproductive immunology at Imperial College London, told The Independent: 'Contraception, like any medication, has risks—but they are low and far lower than the risks of pregnancy. 'There's no strong evidence that Queen Anne's Lace works as a contraceptive—it's certainly not something I would rely on. In communities that try to use herbal birth control, they have a really high rate of unplanned pregnancies. 'It's a myth that the longer you take birth control, the longer it takes to get pregnant. Studies show no such 'wash-out' period exists for any hormonal contraceptives except for the injection. The injection does take a little while to leave your system, but that is exactly what it's designed to do.' But Dr Male did point out that some people taking contraception may experience side effects, adding: 'With every medication, there are always risks, but hormonal contraception is really safe and effective.' After The Independent presented the social media giant with its evidence, TikTok removed content relating to claims that the risks of birth control — like cancer or psychological side effects — outweigh its benefits and the false claim that Queens Annes Lace can work as a contraceptive. It did not remove videos relating to detoxing after taking birth control, however. It also removed content relating to these topics by these influencers that The Independent had not flagged. These videos specifically violated TikTok's policies around medical misinformation, the app said. Instagram and TikTok are now the preferred search engines for Gen Z when seeking local results, according to a study carried out in 2024 by marketing technology vendor SOCI. For Gen Z internet users in the US, Instagram was first, with 67 per cent saying they use it for search. TikTok is the second choice at 62 per cent of the 18 to 24 demographic search, while Google is third at 61 per cent. TikTok, along with Instagram and other social media platforms, has recently come under scrutiny for allowing misinformation to spread, especially around women's health. Another study in 2024 found that women are among the largest group of TikTok users in the United States and may be especially affected by the dissemination of health information on TikTok. The research suggested that health professionals and health communication scholars need to proactively consider using TikTok as a platform for disseminating health information to young women, because they are using TikTok for it despite preferring information from health professionals. TikTok said it removed content that violated its policies regarding medical misinformation. Its community guidelines prohibit inaccurate, misleading, or false content that may cause significant harm to individuals or society, regardless of intent. However, the guidelines allow TikTok users to share their own stories or experiences about medical treatment as long as they do not contain harmful misinformation. TikTok defines harmful health misinformation as inaccurate medical advice that discourages people from getting appropriate medical care for a life-threatening disease, or other misinformation that may cause negative health effects on an individual's life. The app announced a year-long collaboration with the World Health Organisation in 2024 to promote reliable mental well-being content and fight disinformation through the Fides Network, of trusted healthcare professionals, who are also TikTok creators.
