Susan Beal began her writing career in 2007. Her numerous articles specialize in plants and gardening as well as many other areas. Beal has professional training in music, but is a longtime gardener and plant collector. Her experience with gardening, coupled with extensive research, lends a voice of expertise to her articles.
The story that launched Beal's writing career was on beginning vegetable gardening. But the one she's most proud of was about the New Orleans levee failures during Hurricane Katrina.
Jumping cholla cactus (pronounced "KOY-ya") is a common name often used interchangeably between Cylindropuntia bigelovii and Cylindropuntia fulgida. The former is commonly called Teddy Bear Cholla, and the latter is referred to as Chain Fruit… More »
Homes built between 1800 and 1935 did not have modern furnaces, self-venting stoves or metal fireplace flues. These homes had a single stove that was used for heating and cooking. One side would be used for cooking and the other side burned coal or gas… More »
The name Heliconia is derived from Mt. Helikon, home of the nine muses and also from the Latin word "musa." Musa is the botanical name for banana and the foliage of Heliconia plants looks somewhat like the foliage of banana plants. There are… More »
An induction washing machine is simply a washing machine that is powered by an induction motor. Washing machine designs are based on one of two systems that drive the motor. Newer washers use universal brushed motors with TRIAC (triode alternating current)… More »
Recent advances in the way washing machines are constructed and their operating mechanisms are transforming the industry radically. New front-load washers offer consumers a more advanced technology that cleans better with less water and electricity, resulting… More »
