What exactly was the Summer of Love?
The Summer of Love was a social phenomenon that took place for a few brief months in 1967 when between 75,000 and 100,000 people converged on San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. Quickly dubbed "hippies" by the press, this youthful throng represented a new revolutionary movement and the counterculture that was sweeping across the West Coast of the United States and beyond, in fact as far away as New York City, the aim of which was to cast off conservative social values and instead embrace peace, love, and freedom of expression. This utopian ideal was played out to a psychedelic soundtrack, composed by bands such as the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. By autumn, however, the scene had soured and darkened. Discord replaced harmony, and what was initially seen as a significant cultural event ended as a commercialized media spectacle. So, how did the sun rise and set over the Summer of Love? Click through and put some flowers in your hair.
2024-05-13T09:02:59Z
These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z
