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Green Thumbs are Not Necessary
Seeds will grow if planted and taken care of. All you need is a little water, lots of sun and a decent soil. This is the simple fact about gardening and life itself. There are no sure fire ways to ensure that you will have a garden worthy of a blue ribbon award, ... Views:785
There are several books that altered how I look at the food I purchase and what I grow in my yard.
Barbara Kingsolver wrote about her families journey of eating locally grown food for a year in Animal, Vegatable, Miracle. The book is non-fiction, yet is written in a way that draws you in. It ... Views:705
If garden ponds are to be a constant source of pleasure and delight, it will require a certain amount of garden pond maintenance. Immediately after winter has passed, remove any lingering plant remains and mulch the garden with well-composted bark or peat. Mulching with organic matter every year ... Views:938
August can be a frustrating month for gardeners in the South. This is not planting or seeding time – especially not when the temperature tops ninety degrees! No pruning, either. Or transplanting, unless absolutely necessary. Lots of water, of course, but no fertilizing in August; new growth ... Views:1221
Many people think of water fountains as the perfect musical accompaniment to the all-natural soundtrack of any garden or natural outdoor space. More than soothing sounds however, an outdoor fountain offers relaxing and steady motion, an element of natural movement to any garden or patio setting. ... Views:2825
For those who may not have enough space in the backyard for a conventional garden, hydroponic gardening may be the answer to the problem. This is another type of indoor garden that originally made use of water as the medium for growth and cultivation of plants. Nowadays, hydroponics has reached ... Views:4331
A lot of fruit and vegetable gardeners, both hobbyists and professionals alike, have in their garden some type of tomato species. The health benefits of tomatoes are countless. Among them is this fruit’s ability to improve skin color and texture, purify blood, and combat cancer cells, among ... Views:802
When it comes to gardening, hillside landscaping is probably one of the most difficult tasks landscapers can ever be faced with. This is because soil erosion is a big issue when it comes to this type of landscaping and the soil’s ability to hold the water necessary for plant growth becomes a ... Views:1581
A lot of people wonder how professional landscapers and gardeners are able to come up with such beautiful works of arts in the gardens they create. Sure they may have been gifted with a greener thumb and they’ve been doing what they’re doing for so long that they already know the tricks of the ... Views:848
Gardening is definitely one of the most enjoyable hobbies in the world. A lot of people take it up because of the joy and sense of accomplishment that is brought about by a beautiful and well-tended garden. However, reaching this goal is not as simple as planting any type of seed wherever one ... Views:696
Amidst the numerous choices available, a lot of people have selected gardening as their lifelong hobby. One of the reasons behind this is because a well-groomed and beautifully cultivated garden brings a sense of relaxation for not only the gardener, but for family members and visitors as well. ... Views:745
Orchids are so popular simply because they are one of the most beautiful ornaments one can have for his garden. However, these types of plants are notoriously known for being quite difficult to cultivate. Although a lot of gardeners are successful in growing orchids in open air gardens, ... Views:1084
In a nutshell, organic gardening is the practice of not using pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in the whole process of growing all sorts of plants, flowers, vegetables, or fruits. By doing so, people are not only able to do their part in saving the environment, but the harvests produced ... Views:870
Living in the city does have a lot of perks – perhaps even too many to mention. However, one of the downsides of living in the metropolitan is that yards or gardens are hard to come by. Unless one lives in a house located in a high-end neighborhood, chances are there isn’t any room in or around ... Views:675
Summer is the perfect time to relax in the open air and bask in the comfortable evenings that come after a scorching day. Gatherings are even more fun in the lower temperatures of the evening hours. It's a time for loved ones to gather and enjoy a stress-free time together. There are great ways ... Views:805
I just Googled, “We make plans, God laughs,” because it’s one of my friend Sheila’s most beloved sayings and I was curious about its origin. The other night we were discussing expressions that keep our hope and faith alive during torrential storms, and I shared one of my favorites, “Maximum ... Views:803
Okay I know it's July but they say Christmas comes earlier every year, and this year, as usual, most of us will be wondering how to get through the long shopping expeditions as well as stressing over the bank balance.
Not necessary! Give friends and family potted herbs to grow in the kitchen ... Views:1565
If you’re looking to start organic container gardening, you better complete the seven most basic elements required namely; plants, water, sunlight, temperature, fertilizers, space and most importantly, patience. Once an element is missing, you will not fully appreciate the essence of what you’re ... Views:875
We all find ourselves wanting to be outdoors more in the summer months with the abundance of sunshine, warmer temperatures, the sounds of the birds chirping and the longer days. I know that being outdoors always makes me feel much more relaxed and less stressed than being inside looking at all ... Views:1269
As a child in Ohio, I gardened with my grandmother learning of the cycles and seasons of life. As I ate my sandwich made from a tomato that I planted, watered, nurtured and picked, I came to appreciate the fruitful rewards of hard work, patience, nurturing, weeding and pruning. I still garden ... Views:717
Spring brings Vitamin D energy and green growth into our lives. There is an easy, natural self-confidence about hidden potential percolating beneath the earth’s surface. When buds and bulbs emerge, there is no consciousness of the past, only fresh beginnings with a clean slate. One of the most ... Views:779
Being out in the garden is always energizing for me - but then again I am a high energy kind of gal! However, when I feel a mid day slump coming on, all I need to do is take a walk outdoors.I don't always have my garden or a park near by, so even a stroll around the block in the neighborhood ... Views:724
According to the US Health Department, approximately 25% of the food Americans buy becomes waste. That’s about one pound of food, per person, per day. What is alarming is that the rotting food in landfills produce methane, a major source of greenhouse gases. Methane , like carbon dioxide, ... Views:846
At a luncheon in Beverly Hills, all the ladies were jabbering about the rising costs of food and especially fresh vegetables and fruits. We decided to set up a challenge; who could grow the best garden and serve the best salad at our next luncheon!
The race is on- in a matter of a few weeks we ... Views:758
The rose, being the most popular garden and cut plant, has over 20,000 cultivars in the Northern Hemisphere alone. This number originates from a conservative figure of only 150-200 species of wild roses. Fossil specimens found in both Colorado and Oregon show that roses have been growing for ... Views:2851
Sunny bright spaces are the best place for growing parsley. The ideal windowsill garden or spot in the herb patch for herbs to grow faces south. Parsley grows very well in containers if you lack the room for a large gardening area.
Growing Parsley from seed
According to plant folklore, parsley ... Views:2594
Composting is by far the best way to nourish your plants. If you take care of the soil by adding humus rich compost you will start many beneficial processes:
* breaking down organic matter
* creation of humus
* release of food when your plants are ready to feed
* the absorption ... Views:1262
I know, I could of used the word Container instead of Pot, but pot planting seems so much happier!
It can be expensive to reduce pesticides in your food consumption by eating organic vegetables. I want to share Organic Pot Planting with you. Pot planting is a fun, easy, low cost and delicious ... Views:1177
Light Up The Night
Landscape lighting is an extension of the beauty that we see during the day, transforming the night into a more dramatic, romantic, even mysterious scene.
Life is awakened in a landscape that would otherwise appear dark and dormant. Suddenly, textures and colors spring ... Views:1201
I’m getting the herb garden growing again this spring and it’s coming along nicely, even though one very prominent herb, rosemary, died from winter’s heavy snowfalls.
I cleaned up the garden in preparation for spring’s growth, pulling out the weeds, cleaning up dead leaves and branches and ... Views:1599
"That which above all others yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violet..."
- Francis Bacon
As a distinguished member of the Violaceae family, the violet (Viola spp.) shares it's roots with few relatives. In fact, its only cousins are pansies and garden violas. While the genus Viola ... Views:2062
Man has been using plants to dye cloth and other materials for centuries, possible as early as A.D. 700. But, it was the Native American Navajo that truly perfected the laborious art of dying wool for weaving, as evidenced by their exceptionally beautiful blankets and tapestries.
Fresh plant ... Views:1600
When you are thinking about doing oven dried tomatoes, there are several ways that you can get them done easily and quickly. Following directions for oven dried tomatoes will allow you to make the most out of your tomato crop, and you'll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor for weeks to ... Views:2938
Gardening is something that is easy to do at almost every level. Even a beginner can have a great garden, that can be full of interesting plants, wonderful vegetables, and lots of fun. However, in order to have that perfect garden ,there are a few things that you should know. Sometimes, it is ... Views:849
Gardening seems to come naturally to some. Unfortunately I’m not one of them and still learning as I go - with helpful advice from my garden-loving mum along the way. Below are some basic tips to organize your garden – Enjoy the fresh air!
Soil Type & Nutrient Levels: Urban soils are often ... Views:5924
Learning how to clone plants sounds more intimidating than it is. Cloning entails creating a genetic copy of an organism - either a plant or animal. The word "cloning" itself is derived from the Greek for "twig" or "branch," and in the context of cloning plants, that largely describes the ... Views:2206
It was not until friends and business associates began to ask me if I was planning to retire that I became a gardener. They had good reason to ask: I was giving up an active life in a big city (the business hub of the American south) for a downsized, but no less active, existence in the country. ... Views:1223
A plant's main enemies are pests (such as rabbits, insects, slugs and snails, and nematodes) and diseases (like fungi, bacteria, and virus). Most can be controlled using ecologically friendly methods. Rather than setting a goal of a pest-free garden, learn how to work with nature to keep ... Views:1117
Getting the inside of your home organized is one thing, but making the great outdoors a tidy place is an entirely different situation. Yards get messy, and they can get that way fast. A storm can bring down branches, damage patio furniture and send garbage containers all over the place. ... Views:5532
A garden can be quickly filled with color by using annuals and biennials. These plants flower longer than many others and are ideal for filling gaps in a border.
Almost any patch of soil can be transformed into a blaze of color in a matter of weeks by planting nursery-grown annuals, or in two ... Views:1158
There are several things that you need to do each spring to make sure that your lawn is well cared for and that you'll be able to have a healthy outdoor area during the summer time months. Most of your spring lawn care will be easier if you have taken the time in the fall to rake the leaves, ... Views:1040
Keeping the Ground Clear of Weeds
Begin weeding as soon as growth appears. Neglecting the job only leads to more work later on if the weeds are allowed to mature and disperse their seeds. Also, weeds flourish in well-prepared soil and deprive the perennials of both nutrients and moisture. Keep ... Views:1007
When we look around the world and see our current circumstances, we might consider asking ourselves, “What does personal responsibility play in all of this?”
A simple thing such as planting a seed may be all that is necessary for people throughout the world to save planet Earth from extinction. ... Views:1895
It all started out as a birthday gift for my wife, Bobbie.
I bought her a beautiful, painted, concrete bear. It looked so real, and it was the size of a real bear. She loved it. I placed the bear in the center of a circular-shaped flower bed I had landscaped near our house. Then I added a ... Views:2591
As many of you have probably realised in recent years, and most certainly recent months, it is fashionable to be organic. Being a strong promoter of the benefits of such a lifestyle, I think that this fashion is fantastic.
Unfortunately despite it’s being in vogue at present, in general, we ... Views:1034
If you have taken the time to learn the basics of feng shui, you know that you need to incorporate all five elements of nature – fire, water, wood, metal, and earth – to achieve and restore balance within your living space. However, incorporating these elements in their natural states can prove ... Views:1243
Ruth Stout, who passed on in 2006 at a grand old age, left behind a rich legacy for gardeners. Ruth’s study highlighted aspects found in the world of nature, like the presence of a layer of mulch, as well as leaving the ground unbroken (in effect, letting the inhabitants of the soil do the ... Views:972
You're About To Discover How You Can Eat Organic Food
AND Stay On Your Budget!
Have you been trying to figure out if it's worth the money
to buy certified organic food? And, if it is, how do you afford it?
Not sure organic food is any better than conventional, and
which companies are ... Views:1780
A definition of a weed is "one that grows profusely where it is not wanted". A weed is not a bad plant, simply an easy growing one. And this one is multipurpose with quite possibly one very important additional purpose.
The Dandelion's roots can be ground and roasted as a coffee ... Views:1342
NATURAL PEST REPELLENTS
Having a wonderful garden helps to soothe your soul, but along with that comes responsibility for our environment. Whenever we can use a natural approach to maintaining our yard and garden, we all benefit.
Some natural pest repellents to consider that are safer ... Views:1796