During the 1970’s there were some huge algae problems in the commercial fish farms of the Midwest and the solution sure seemed fairly simple, at least at the time. It was decided that Asian carp, also known as algae consuming machines, would be introduced into the lakes; lo and behold the algae problem is indeed gone. However, it has left behind a bigger problem and that is the Asian carp itself.

This particular fish has some interesting abilities, the first of which is that it can actually leap about ten feet out of the water. Why is this so interesting? Because it enabled them to free themselves of the fish farms and find their way into the Illinois and Mississippi rivers where they have revealed another interesting ability – ecological domination.

Keep in mind that these fish, as adults, can weigh over 40 pounds (now imagine anything weighing 40lbs leaping around in the air) and have an insatiable appetite, eating everything biological that they can find (unless, of course, it is baited on a hook). This means they have become the rivers apex as far as the food pyramid goes, which means they have absolutely no predators.

The number of Asian carp is growing rapidly while commercial fishermen are leaving by the hundreds which in turn places a big strain on all local economies. Experts are concerned that they will soon find their way to the Great Lakes and make haste in calling it home before moving to the many tributaries. This may very well drive out the trout and salmon that are currently supporting the multi-billion dollar industry.

More recently, Asian carp DNA has been detected in water samples taken from Chicago testing stations.  Even though Federal officials say that the electric barrier 25 miles south of Lake Michigan is keeping the fish out of the lake, these tests are still coming back positive in high numbers.  To date, only one Asian carp has been physically spotted past the barrier.

Still, great and uncharted measures are being taken in the rivers, lakes and even the courtroom to keep the invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.  The hopes are that these measures are adequate in order to preserve both the regional ecology and economy.

Related articles

• U.S. announces more steps to contain Asian carp (reuters.com)
• Asian Carp: New Ways to Track Then in The Great Lakes (socyberty.com)
• Fed. officials plan stepped-up fight against carp (msnbc.msn.com)
• Asian carp: Midwest states welcome new US efforts — but still want more – Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)
• Fight escalates over plan to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes (physorg.com)

The mere thought of designing anything can sound a little intimidating, especially when it comes to your landscape; however, not everyone is able to hire a professional for their garden designs. There are some great tips for those that want to do it themselves that will result in a garden that is both beautiful and inexpensive.

In order to complete your landscape project you need to understand the basics of garden designs; these include color, line, form and texture. The form portion refers to the plant’s branching pattern as well as its shape and garden designs take into consideration the difference in these shapes.

Texture is a visual aspect in garden designs which means you would rely on things like how the plant is perceived in relation to things around it. For example, the texture of one bedding plant might be considered coarser than a plant next to it simply because of the different leave sizes. The line element is a consideration because the eye movement of the viewer is usually governed by how the plant groupings flow or fit together in the landscape; both on the vertical and horizontal planes.

When it comes to color in landscape there are four categories: primary which are the yellows, blues and reds, secondary are purples, oranges and greens, tertiary are the mixture of secondary’s and primaries and neutral which are the silvers and grays. In garden designs the easiest way to obtain unity is by matching the cool colors, blue, green and purple to cool colors and warm colors, yellow, orange and red, to warm colors.

You can use this kind of color theory to influence the mood emitted from your landscape; the warmer colors will excite the person viewing them and the cool colors are much more likely to create a relaxing atmosphere. So in garden designs a blue color is a great choice for something along the lines of a meditation garden while a bright red is considered a natural focal point. A beginning gardener tends to just plant the colors that are their favorites in any placement while the more advanced gardener will use this color theory as a way of making their gardens really stand out.

Gather your friends and family pop some popcorn and grab the lawn chairs then head to the backyard for a night at the movies. Backyard movies have become a very popular form of entertainment and when designed to fit in with your landscape movies done this way can also be visually pleasing.

The first thing you are going to need in order to show backyard movies is a projector; you need to consider two main factors: brightness and aspect ratio. The dimension of wide screen movies is 16:9 so you want to look for a projector with that ration. Depending upon the lighting in your backyard landscape movies generally look best at around 1,000 lumen for a smaller area and 2,200 for a larger one.

Your next concern is choosing a DVD player; normally hooking up a player to the digital projector is not a problem but just like any technology those that want to enjoy backyard movies may run into a glitch or two. Sometimes it is necessary for the projectors to convert a signal from the DVD player so that the pixels come out looking better. Try doing some research online to see which players and projectors work well together in order to get the most out of your movies.

Depending upon your landscape movies may have a different sound when played outside so if you are using a laptop in order to play the DVD’s you need to be sure that your sound card will support surround sound which is what many people prefer when enjoying backyard movies. For those that prefer it a little more simple you may want to consider getting some wireless speakers as it also makes it a little easier to walk around without having to worry about extra cords.

The screen on which you play the movies is also important and whether you want it simple or sophisticated can also mean the difference between an easy setup or a more difficult one. For some, backyard movies played on a white tarp draped over a fence or garage door is just fine while others prefer a real screen; in which case you can opt for an inflatable screen or you can purchase one specifically intended for playing movies outside.

You have undoubtedly heard the phrase that a bad day fishing beats a good day working; these are probably the same guys that would be able to land a fish worthy of mounting out of a puddle. However, no matter what your skill level may be fishing trips are always worthwhile if for nothing else than the relaxation factor. Listed here are a few trips; some even have a fishing guide available for an additional fee that is worth the trip.

If you are thinking about heading down under for some fishing then you should definitely check out Weipa, Australia where you will find one of the best fly and sport fishing opportunities available. You can hire a charter with a fishing guide for both laid back tourist or active fishing trips and wade around in the waist deep blue water or stay in the boat and try for the coral trout or red emperor.

If you plan on staying a little closer to home then you should take one of your next fishing trips in Point Pleasant, New Jersey where you have the chance of catching some fluke or big tuna. You may just enjoy floating along in one of the charter boats as much as fighting to reel in that bluefin. Most of the organized trips even offer catering if you want to enjoy some gourmet food while you fish.

If you are looking for something a little more exotic then you may want to venture to Forra River, Norway where the area looks like it has been undisturbed by mankind and a local fishing guide can help you catch an Atlantic salmon that will surpass your wildest dreams. You are also pretty much guaranteed some solitude as they only allow four rods to be cast at a time for environmental reasons.

For pristine water and a natural beauty you can’t beat the Great White North of Seward, Alaska, the stuff real fishing trips are made of. The charter boats led by your own fishing guide takes you out among the sea lions and whales while you can expect to find some halibut and silver salmon that are most certainly trophy sized; many of them have been known to weigh over one hundred pounds. For excellent king salmon fishing you should plan your trip in either the early spring or the fall.

As a general rule most of the states department of wildlife have fishing and hunting regulations that are fairly similar such as having to obtain a hunting license; however there are some that also different in any number of ways.

In Texas there are several different types of licenses available such as the lifetime license where they are then exempt from having to buy a yearly stamp endorsement; however you still have to actually obtain the stamp, there is just no additional fee. The one type of hunting that is not available for a lifetime license is duck hunting.

Texas also offers a commercial hunting license that is used when the purpose of hunting is to make money for the person that is holding the license. And according to hunting regulations those licenses may only be purchased at a Texas Department of Wildlife law enforcement office or at their headquarters in Austin. There is also one that is strictly for recreational reasons like as a hobby, sport or anything non-economic.

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has different fishing and hunting regulations that include needing an additional fishing and hunting license for specific areas on top of the regular license. For example, both residents and non-residents that want to fish in Lake Texoma must purchase an additional specific license in order to do so. They will also issue a 5 day license to hunt anything except for deer or turkey; you must have a license specifically for both of those individually.

The state of Colorado’s Department of Wildlife has a special licensing department that handles the issuing of a hunting license to a non-resident. They allow only 10% of all of the licenses that are issued in order to hunt bighorn sheep, mountain goats and moose, to non-residents, the other 90% is reserved for Colorado residents only. So if you want to hunt any of those animals and you do not live in Colorado, you better get your license early.

The hunting regulations in Louisiana require that anyone who was born on or after the first of September, 1969 must have completed (satisfactorily) a hunting safety course that has been approved by their department of wildlife; the exception to this is being a veteran or active member of the armed services or a post certified police officer. One other exception is being under the age of 16 and hunting with someone that is certified.

There are many different hunting regulations and rules for obtaining a fishing or hunting license so whatever state you plan to hunt in be sure to check with their department of wildlife for information.

Fishing and boat shows are a great way to check out the new models of boats coming out along with getting a first look at new fishing items and perhaps gather a few tips along the way. To follow are a few of the better boat and fishing shows that you may just want to check out.

The New Orleans Boat and Sports show is one that you don’t want to miss; they have several give-away’s and prizes, fishing shows that include many exhibitions with the latest accessories and even fish seminars where you can catch the fun at a 4,000 gallon tank stocked with fish that were locally caught.

Next, head to Houston, Texas for their international fishing and boat shows that also feature travel items. It is a ten day event which usually attracts more that 125,000 people each year that check out over 300 different exhibits.  This is usually a good time to consider buying a boat as many of the dealers offer several different pre-season deals. For the sportsmen there they usually have representatives from outfitters that travel from all over the United States to exhibit in this show.

Cleveland, Ohio is host to the Mid American Boat and Fishing Shows Expo where you can check out the newest boat models or head over to their pavilion area and take a look at the pre-owned models they have for sale. The kids will enjoy seeing Twiggy the squirrel that water skis while the adults can check out the different fishing and tackle exhibitions.

For another one of the best fishing and boat shows you need to go to Greensboro, NC to the Central Carolina Boat and Fishing Expo. This has normally been a separate event but in 2010 they are being brought together for one big event that includes everything from boats, skiing, lifts, both saltwater and fresh water fishing and tackle to trying your hand at trout fishing.

Several cities in Montana host the Great Rockies sport boat and fishing shows where you can check out exhibitors from all over. You will have the chance to enjoy seeing the new boat and RV models as well as checking out hunting and fishing accessories. Seminars and special features, many good for kids and the whole family, are found throughout the event.

Obviously any kind of improvement to your home improves not just its appearance but its value as well and that includes landscaping; even a nice backyard landscape can play an important role in the value and look. Planning a backyard garden with the appropriate landscaping plants does require some time and effort on your part and you may benefit from the experience that a professional landscaper offers.

If you decide to go with a professions to complete your backyard landscape there are a few things that you should consider before hiring one. Just like choosing a contractor for any kind of project you want to be sure that you find someone that is reliable and efficient to complete your backyard garden. This means that you should probably plan to meet with several different ones to discuss what type of landscaping plants, etc. that you want to use before deciding which one to hire.

If you have fairly simple plans for your backyard garden or needs fairly small tasks completed such as trimming bushes you should still ask for a detailed estimate and plan from those that you are considering. It is always a good idea to hire someone that is both bonded and licensed to complete your backyard landscape ideas in order to prevent any future problems.

If you have big backyard landscape plans and are thinking about completely overhauling everything and putting in a backyard garden with new landscaping plants and other items then you will need a really good professional landscape architect. These kinds of big and elaborate projects will normally require items such as design plans and prints as well as complete project coordination. A good quality contractor should be able to give you detailed plans that are based upon an evaluation of your yard and personal specifications.

Your large backyard landscape plans needs to be designed by someone that has been trained to create designs that will work well with certain home styles as well as which type of landscaping plants will thrive the best in your area. They will also take into consideration your lifestyle and what type of care or maintenance will be required or what kind of time you are willing to put into taking care of the yard.

Gardens were originally intended to be used for growing food, however the modern day garden can be used to grow food or for strictly for aesthetic, pleasing reasons. Good garden designing is a combination of being prepared, figuring out your gardens purpose, planning the details and, naturally, planting everything.

Many believe that preparation is the core of good garden designing; before you start any physical work be sure that you carefully check out the area in both sunlight and shade. Find out where the ground is dry and muddy; see if there are areas that may end up having a water runoff problem. Draw sketches of what is currently in the area you want to use on graph paper, making sure you keep it to scale and then you are ready to design a garden.

Garden designing, when done correctly, actually reflects that particular gardens purpose; for instance, if you will be using the garden area for entertaining then you want to be sure to have seating areas and level walking surfaces. If you are going to design a garden for cut flowers then it is best viewed from a distance so that the flowers that have been cut will not be as visible as they would if the garden was closer to the house or patio. If the garden is going to be used for growing food then you need to be sure that there is plenty of room between the plants so that you will not pack down the soil when harvesting them.

You must also take things like water, soil and sunlight into consideration as they are a crucial part of your garden designing success because no matter how gorgeous the design may be if the plants do not live and thrive then the garden is basically a failure. You need to plan ahead of time what plants will go where; there are some plants that can grow equally well in shade or sun but most of them prefer one over the other so you should plan accordingly. The water factor is important as well when you design a garden as plants like roses like having the soil moist but do not like having water logged roots while trees prefer a good watering every couple of weeks. The same idea is true for the soil; some like sandy soil and others like rich moist soil so you should plan to group your plants accordingly.

The main considerations when you are tossing around ideas for swimming pool landscaping include convenience, safety, privacy and appearance. There are several options including plants, using a deck landscaping idea or even a patio landscaping plan around the pool.

Using plants as your swimming pool landscaping helps to soften the often harsh lines around the pools equipment and makes everything blend in a little more with the environment surrounding it. If you use plants that are tall enough they can be used as a kind of privacy screen around your pool area; however the type of plants that you choose is important. You should look for low maintenance ones; for example, you would not want to have a big deciduous tree around your pool because you would spend most of your time cleaning the leaves out of it rather than enjoying it.

Using patio or deck landscaping around your pool is not only nice to look at it can also be safer because you will be less likely to slip than you would on concrete. However if you opt to use brick for the deck or patio landscaping be sure that the bricks are slightly rough to avoid falling and having an accident or cover it with some kind of a non-slip covering. Many people will add a type of gazebo or enclosed area along with their deck landscaping ideas which can also double as an entertainment area or, if it is covered or enclosed, it can be used as a changing room for the pool.

Another option for swimming pool landscaping is to use fencing; some feel that this is too harsh of a look however it can be made to look softer. Using the right kind of fence design can make all of the difference in the appearance of the landscape and there are many design choices available. You also have the option of growing some plants around the fence; consider planting some kind of trailing vines and then train them to grow over the fence which also adds an extra amount of privacy.

You can also use your outdoor furniture or other items such as a bar-b-que pit area as swimming pool landscaping. This makes a great place for friends and family together after an afternoon of swimming.

It is a fact that if you have never been duck hunting but would like to go you should never hold your breath waiting on an invitation from a seasoned hunter. Why? Well, it has been said that it may because some view it as an almost religious experience and it just doesn’t seem right to share that experience with a newbie.

Ok, so maybe that is not entirely true and actually unlike deer hunting where you can spend days upon days sitting up in a tree all by yourself, duck hunting lends itself more towards the chance of being a social event, with a few people hunting together. However, for those of you that really are new to the whole thing there are some basics that you should be aware of and items that you will need.

Waders are definitely a duck hunting must have item; hip waders may work fairly well but a pair of chest waders makes sure you can get where you need to go. If possible, forego the cheap pair and opt for a good set of well insulated chest waders or you may just decide that duck hunting is for the birds.

Speaking of birds, you will need several decoys, mallards will usually work well no matter where you are and you may decide to add more later when you have truly become an adept seasoned hunter. Now however there is a rage among some duck hunters using a “robo-duck” which is a battery operated decoy that has wings that move.  Some of them even dive and dip in the water making ripples like the feeding ducks. There has been a little talk about banning these decoys because they have become so very effective.  But, don’t worry; if you have done the homework and found a good area you will have no need for a robo-duck.

You do want to make sure that you are properly camouflaged, meaning that you blend in with your surroundings, anything brown when it comes to clothing is usually fine. And the one thing that veteran duck hunters do suggest is wearing a face mask. They claim that the ducks can spot faces from miles away and it is like a blinking neon sign telling them to say away.

Above all, when it comes to duck hunting, there is just no way around patiently sitting in the damp cold and waiting for the ducks to come; but they will come so be ready.