stress

Is laughter good for your health?

The adage “laughter is the best medicine” certainly suggests that a good laugh is good for one’s health. Although laughter might not mend a broken wrist or eradicate every disease, UCLA Health notes a number of surprising physiological and mental benefits of a good laugh. Here are a handful of ways...

Lilacs in trouble: fungal disease returns to Minnesota gardens

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Fungal infection on lilac leaves If your lilacs are looking rough this summer, you’re not alone. The likely culprit? Lilac leaf spot, a relatively new fungal disease in Minnesota. Thought to be caused by Pseudocercospora or Septoria ...

Do the forests of Kentucky offer a glimpse of Minnesota’s future?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu We could see more tulip poplar growing in regions of Minnesota. As Minnesota’s climate shifts warmer and wetter, we know that we will see our forests change in response. Boreal species at the southern edge of their current range will...

Gardening offers more than a day in the sun

Millions of people embrace opportunities to get back in their gardens each spring, and they might be reaping more rewards from that activity than they realize. According to the American Institute of Stress, gardening sparks a level of creativity among enthusiasts, and that can help to alleviate...

Tame traffic-related stress

Aggravation on the nation's roadways has become a frequent topic of conversation over the last decade or so. Incidents that involved traffic-related acts of violence have gained increased attention over that span. The automotive group AAA estimates that nearly eight out of 10 drivers demonstrate...

Heatwave makes vegetables misbehave

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Hot weather can cause tomato flowers to wither and become brittle, falling off the plant easily. It has been a hot few weeks in Minnesota, and people are reporting disappointing yields in their vegetable gardens. Bushy cucumber plants...

Yes, there are bugs in your garden, but do you need to stress?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu The garden season is in full swing, which means insect season is also upon us. Extension educators from Blue Earth to Cook county (and everywhere in between) are fielding questions about all kinds of bugs on all kinds of plants. Here are...

Signs of excessive stress

Everyone can relate to feeling a little stressed out at times, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Though it might have a negative reputation, stress can sometimes benefit the brain. Researchers at the Helen Willis Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley found that...

Signs of drought stress and what to do about it

A pristine lawn is a source of pride for homeowners. Even the most well-maintained lawns must confront a host of challenges in a given year, and perhaps no challenge is more daunting than drought. Homeowners may feel helpless when drought strikes and begins to transform their lawns from green...

Signs of stress in children

he global pandemic sparked by the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 caught many people off guard. Life changed seemingly overnight, causing a host of unforeseen consequences that people were still confronting months after the pandemic began. The pandemic has proven stressful for many people...