(NewsUSA) - While the season's warmer weather offers great opportunity for games of fetch with Fido, it also brings increased risk from exposure to pests, particularly ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and stinging insects. Safeguarding dogs and cats begins with discussions with your veterinarian, but in addition to prescribed healthcare repellents and preventatives, there are several things that can be done to make your yard inhospitable to the stinging, biting troublemakers.

(BPT) - Warm weather is here for the next few months, and that means you’ll be spending more time outdoors with family and friends – and more time with summer pests. Mosquitoes, fire ants, bees, wasps and yellow jackets are some of summer’s worst bugs. And those pests can be more than a mere nuisance.

(BPT) - Holmes and Watson, Riggs and Murtaugh, Starsky and Hutch – when it comes to sleuthing out just what critter is munching on your spring garden, you may feel like your partnership with Mother Nature is as contentious as any that ever graced the big, or small screen. After all, how are you supposed to fight the “crime” of a decimated garden if you can’t identify the suspect who’s been devouring your daylilies?

Best Mom and pop business

(BPT) - The busy home remodeling season is a great time for homeowners to focus on increasing curb appeal. The percentage of homeowners who feel now is a good time to spend money on home improvement has doubled since 2009, according to a recent survey among Better Homes and Gardens readers. Considering two of the top four features consumers have on their wish lists for their next home are low maintenance exteriors and a private backyard, high-performance products that come in a variety of colors, textures and designs are expected to be in high demand this year.

(BPT) - Spring provides the perfect opportunity to host a party and show off all of the hard work you’ve put into your lawn and garden. Before your first guest arrives, make sure you have made all the preparations for your blooms to blossom, your garden to grow and your outdoor space to be pest free.

(NewsUSA) - Signs of spring often include flowers sprouting out of the ground, leaves emerging on trees, increased animal activity and a general feeling of renewal. However, one of the more unpleasant signs that spring has sprung is the emergence of termites. As this is the time of year termites come out in search of a new habitat, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared March 25-29 Termite Awareness Week. This designation serves to warn homeowners about termite dangers and to educate them about ways to ensure their home isn't the next feeding ground for these voracious pests.

When planning a vacation, you have two primary choices: exploring places you are familiar with or exploring somewhere new. While there’s comfort in the former, the latter choice holds the promise of new discoveries, unique experiences and the most enduring memories. For those who want to explore off the beaten track, there’s perhaps no more dynamic and magical destination in the world than India. Its immense size, centuries of history and broad spectrum of cultures make it an unparalleled choice for travelers seeking a one-of-a-kind journey. With the help of an India tour, you can focus on enjoying all it has to offer.

There are some destinations that blend spellbinding scenery, a sense of exotic remoteness and a touch of ancient mystery, creating an irresistible appeal to travelers. Perhaps the best example of that unique combination is Machu Picchu. The mist-shrouded “Lost City of the Incas,” hidden in the Andean mountain jungle, tops countless travelers’ wish lists, but the carefully controlled site can be tricky to reach. Perhaps the best way to ensure that you get to see Machu Picchu is through Peru tours that cover the technicalities of getting there, while also giving you opportunities to see more of the country.

MOVIES

The University of New Mexico Press has just published a new book by David Yetman, a research social scientist for the UA Southwest Center.

It’s the trip that tops most travelers’ lifetime dream lists: an African safari. The words themselves evoke a magic that is unmatched, and conjure visions of lions stalking across the savannah and wildebeest running in thundering, vast herds. It’s not uncommon to think that those amazing sights will remain a distant fantasy, but there’s no need to give up on the dream. In fact, it’s easier than ever to make it a reality.

(NAPSI)—As more and more young (and old) couples seek novel wedding sites, there’s been a significant increase in making wedding memories where America’s history was made. And one such special place is Valley Forge, in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania…Philadelphia’s biggest and most affluent bedroom.

The year was 1623, and the first settlers of Plymouth Colony found themselves in a dire situation. Since their arrival in New England three years earlier, the Pilgrims had struggled to jumpstart their fledgling colony – a settlement founded on the hope of religious freedom and with the financial backing of a group of English investors who expected a handsome monetary return. Under the terms agreed to with their investors, the Pilgrims were to be organized under a commonwealth, a form of government that would ostensibly ensure their survival in the harsh New England environment by allowing each member of the colony to draw from a common pool of resources (while giving the investors back in England the ability to more easily collect profit).

Tucson’s sweet side will be revealed as the city’s best pastry chefs, bakers and restaurants compete in Southern Arizona’s largest dessert competition on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.

MOVIE

While it’s fun to explore the distant corners of the world, American travelers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to experience the richly diverse and historic attractions of their own home country. A Washington D.C tour, for example, is an essential educational and inspirational experience. Exploring the nation’s capital and the surrounding area makes for a memorable trip sure to stir feelings of pride.

An UnAmerican thing to say

Just nine miles south of downtown Tucson, the San Xavier del Bac Mission, originally founded in 1692, allows visitors to experience authentic 18th century art and Spanish Colonial architecture. With a fascinating past deeply intertwined with Mexican and American history, the Mission continues in its original purpose as a church, now with a school and convent attached. There is also a free museum open 8:30am-4:30pm daily at the site to further illustrate and explain the church’s rich story.

The Marana Heritage Conservancy bus tour, “Surprising Marana” was off and running on Saturday, March 31, beginning at Crossroads Park.  The big yellow school bus carried more than 30 people at each of the tour times, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  

MOVIES

The smell of freshly-mowed grass floats across the rolling golden prairie at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Tucson’s highest peak, Mount Wrightson, stands 20 miles toward the Southwest as the hawk flies. Keith Arnold, a wildlife conservation student at the University of Arizona, shoves a black-tailed prairie dog into an artificial burrow dug nearly 8 feet into the clay soil.

Oro Valley