Garden Antiques Are Amazing
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!Garden ornaments – Any yard can benefit from the beauty of garden antiques. One strategically placed lawn gnome – or perhaps an antique sundial, or glass globe for those looking for a more individual touch – can really make your yard a personal paradise.
You’ll be astonished at how envious your neighbors are when they see the effect garden antiques have on the aesthetics of your yard.
One of the wonderful things about garden antiques is that they do more than merely decorate your yard. Depending on the antique you get, you may be able to use them for sitting on or for some other purpose. Whatever your personality and style – exquisite, elegant, modern, antique, country garden – you can find a garden antique that you love.
You will absolutely enjoy the selection you have as you begin to look for the antiques that will go best in your garden.
A lot of garden antiques are furniture styled to resemble the most popular designs in history. This can’t help but make a significant impression in your yard. It’s the perfect moment of serendipity when you find that “ideal” antique for your garden.
It’s incredible what you can find hunting for garden antiques. Don’t be surprised to find some familiar patterns and styles either, things you’d lost all those years ago; designers are always looking to the past for inspiration. Are you aware that Victorian garden furniture has always been considered a very valuable, and that the lavish benches and love seats are still very popular today?
Garden antiques typically have a certain pattern or art form specific to the era it is from, especially if you are looking for furniture, such as benches, love seats, etc.
Your garden antique could be a resurrected piece of history. You and your friends could be lounging on the same garden furniture used by lords and ladies of the past – especially if it happens to be a heavy wooden piece. What could ideally give your yard more class than an intricately carved, completely unique garden chaise? Antique bookcase Of course, give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back if you do happen to come across a find that amazing, particularly as wooden furniture isn’t as adept at surviving the elements as its wrought-iron counterparts are.
Even if you don’t find the next million-dollar antique bench from history, you’ll still be as happy with the hunt as the unexpected find itself. The look of envy and astonishment on your neighbors’ faces as they peer over your fence when you finally get it home – which is oftentimes an exhilarating challenge in itself – is just one of the many reasons to embark on your own quest to find that perfect antique garden accent.
Iron does hold together better in foul weather, but at the end of the day it’s all about making your yard a reflection of you. If that means heavy wooden nobility, go for it. But iron’s ability to survive the elements does make for older, and thus more expensive, garden antiques.
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with the right choice of garden antiques.
Growing Chamomile
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!Next time you are a little upset or on edge, use some chamomile tea. Its delicate taste can begin the soothing process, and when the chemical compounds within the tea take hold, you will feel so much better.
When you are ready to pick-up your chamomile, you can find two main types. These two types have similar functions, but because the appearance is different you should find it not complicated to select the right kind for your needs.
You can use German chamomile for many different things ranging from teas to lotions. Its woody, apple smell is light and fresh and its scent and daisy-like appearance can cheer up up any area.
German chamomile is self-seeding, which is good because it is an annual and this will save you some difficulty with planting it again and again. You can even collect the seeds to use elsewhere in your garden or give some to a friend.
It loves dry conditions and plenty of direct or full natural light. It can grow straight up, unlike Roman chamomile, and your German chamomile herb should grow to a height of nearly 3 feet.
The best way to raise German chamomile is to either plant the seeds in a pot inside or to sprinkle them on the ground. Regardless of whether you plant the seeds indoors or outside, you do not need to bury them because they are so tiny. Keep the dirt moist, but not wet, and if you are germinating your German chamomile in containers, wait until your seedlings are at least four inches tall before you transplant them. The best way to increase your harvest is to plant more seeds every four weeks during the growing season. German chamomile produces only a few blossoms, so the more you grow the better.
I haven’t seen the type of German chamomile that is double-flowered, but I am sure it is brilliant.
Roman chamomile, which is frequently called “true chamomile” or “English chamomile” is also nice in teas to ease nervous tension. It has the same woody, apple-like smell of the German chamomile, but it is special in that it is a creeper or ground cover rather than a bushy plant.
This herb will only grow to about 10 inches tall as it creeps along the ground. The Roman chamomile can get a little taller in the summer as well as produce pretty white and yellow blossoms that are similar to German chamomile but more pungent.
If you want your hair to be lighter or softer, you can use the oil from the Roman chamomile herb. A few types are even used to flavor sherry.
This plant is not actually best if started from seeds, so I suggest you pick-up it or begin with a division from someone else’s Roman chamomile.
If you are a forgetful waterer, Roman chamomile is the herb for you since it is resistant to drought and will survive for some time without water.
Believe it or not, even though these two herbs look alike, taste alike and have the same name, according to the scientists, they are not related at all.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Tea Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
Creative Roof And Balcony Gardens
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If you live in the city and are fortunate enough to have access to a balcony or a flat portion of roof, you have the potential to create a thing of rare beauty – a “garden in the sky. These areas present a unique challenge for landscaping ideas because they are liable to be in the path of every wind that blows, and scorched by sun. However, with careful planning and planting you can create a screen to block much of the wind, and some shade, either manmade (screens, awnings, canopies) or natural, to give protection from the worst of the sun.
The first essential in planning such a garden is to research the construction of the building. Pay attention to what materials the roof is made of. Or if it’s a balcony, how it is put together. A balcony can be a small space. If it will have to hold a lot of potted plants, containers, and other elements, it should be able to support the weight. If you are building a small garden on a roof, the roof must be made of waterproof material so that leaks do not occur, and there must be a good drainage system to carry away excess water. Safe access to the roof is necessary if it is going to be easy to get to and enjoyed.
In and around your roof garden there will most probably be wires or poles. These can be masked or hidden with a little thoughtful planting. Tall plants in containers can also screen you from your neighbor’s view and form a green haven, while smaller pots full of colorful flowers (for example, petunias and zinnias, in summer) will add some visual excitement. Be careful to not overcrowd the little bit of space that you have to work with when working with small gardens, patios, and courtyards. Be sure to keep a little room to sit and enjoy any views that can be saved and framed rather than completely covered up.
It’s often preferable to use long lightweight planters rather than using a lot of small pots as it will spread the load out over more area more evenly. Remember to add some soil moistening and retaining products to your soil mixture. These types of products will help cut back with maintenance needs as plants in a soil mix with these products in it require less daily water. It may also be worthwhile to consider a hydroponics system, especially if the roof is structurally unable to bear much weight, since plants grown hydroponically require only a liquid medium, which weighs less than containers full of soil.
You may also consider keeping a wormery in your roof garden so that you can give your plants some rich organics while also being responsibly green.
Growing Thyme in Your Herb Garden
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!Call me crazy, but if you do not have thyme growing in your garden you can’t call the place an herb garden. There are several uses for this essential plant. It doesn’t hurt that thyme has more than 100 varieties, each of which has its own special taste and aroma.
All of the varieties of thyme have similar attributes such as leaves shaped like ovals and a twig like, woody stem. Your herb will have very small purple, pink or white blooms that bud in early summer or late spring depending on the growing season.
It is good to be knowledgeable about the following 3 varieties of thyme:
- Common Thyme: This type of thyme is the 1 that fills most of the small spice jars you can get at the market. This variety is taller than the others and is great to bake with because of the strong aroma and taste. You can examine the leaves of common thyme to decide which of the following three kinds it is. While the English type has variegated leaves, the leaves on the German type are wide and the French are narrow.
- Lemon Thyme: You’ll have a hard thyme guessing what lemon thyme smells like. If you can’t tell that that one out you might want to choose another hobby. You cannot mistake the smell of lemon that emanates from lemon thyme. Some varieties of lemon thyme even have little yellow blossoms.
- Wild Thyme: Some people mistakenly think that all kinds of thyme are identical, but you will not often find wild thyme being used in the kitchen. It is rather pretty and ornamental, and people often use it as a ground cover.
Using thyme is easy, just snip off some leaves, chop them if necessary and toss them in with your recipe. Thyme does well with trimming back and there is no other way to prune your thyme than to harvest some leaves for a delicious entree. If your abilities are not found in the kitchen, you can still use your thyme to make health and beauty products. You can use it in soaps and lotions, toss a little bit in your bathwater or use it to make an sweet smelling potpourri.
Those same folks will tell you to use it to help with several different ailments including sleeplessness, gas, asthmatic breathing, headaches, poor digestion and coughing. I guess it basically can do anything but bring in the mail.
This herb is one of the best plants to grow. It will thrive indoors or outside and does well in well-drained, rich soil and full-sun. Because it takes forever and a day to germinate your plant (a long thyme), I suggest that you go down to the nursery and pick up a few plants for your garden. Thyme has a nice sculptural quality and looks nice in an outdoor rock garden, on a driveway or along a stone wall.
If you would rather dry your thyme to use throughout the winter than bring your herb inside, just cut off each branch at the stem and hang it upside down to dry.
Don’t neglect to harvest the seeds on your thyme herb. Believe it or not, your thyme can even be used in germination up to three years later.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Herb Garden Plants. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
Your Balcony Herb Garden
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!Does your balcony need new life? Try potted herb plants! Using containers is helpful because you can simply change their location as you experiment with the quality and amount of light they get. If you cultivate your balcony herb plants in pots, they are portable—so you can bring them indoors at the end of the season.
Your best bet for your balcony herb garden is any herb that does well with lots of sun, like a morning glory. Morning glories are fantastic because they can handle the bright reflection from your windows and also all the heat that a metal balcony will generate. Check out your balcony at different times of the day to see the quality of sunlight, the heat and the intensity. You will also want to know which way your balcony is facing—will you get more morning or afternoon sun?
Use gray or silver-colored herb plants as well as those with a velvety texture or thick leaves in your balcony garden. Their unique features prevent the loss of water in evaporation.
Try a couple of these wonderful herb plants on your balcony:
- Aloe vera: Aloe vera is an uncomplicated herb to grow. It tolerates the sun very well and requires minimal watering. You can use aloe vera easily by snipping off the tip and rubbing it on a burn or other skin problem. It’s sticky, but you will feel better in no time!
- Cayenne pepper: If you grill out on your balcony, imagine being able to break off a pieces of cayenne pepper to add to your next dinner. With a bright pop of color, cayenne pepper will be fabulous on your balcony.
- Cucumber: A trailing vine, like a cucumber, can provide an added touch to your balcony. You can also use cucumbers in cosmetics—think facials! You can also grab some cucumbers to slice for your salads, straight from the balcony!
- Hens-and-chicks: I completely like hens-and-chicks. These do not need a lot of watering—they are water-holding succulents—and can tolerate the hot temperature and bright sunlight that you might have on your balcony. Not to mention that they are so cute too!
- Lavender: Because lavender is a fragrant plant, you will be able to breathe in the soothing smell of lavender when you plant it on your balcony. The awesome purple buds will make a colorful balcony even better.
Select a collection of interesting pots for your balcony or use a hanging basket lined with a coconut husk for wonderful outcomes. I actually made my own balcony basket with chicken wire and moss. I had never tried anything like that before. That basket was not the best thing since sliced bread, but it was functional. It will work better if you carefully consider the drainage when you are buying your basket or container.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Windowsill Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
What Is Organic Gardening?
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!Organic gardening is the act of planting flowers, shrubs, fruits and vegetables without the use of synthetic, man-made fertilizers or chemically-laden pesticides. Garden guides will also tell you that what you do in home vegetable gardening and flower gardening is just as important as what you don’t do. Gardening organically has evolved to be a sort of philosophical approach to planting. Organic gardeners look at the bigger picture, how humans are at one with nature, and how the use of natural elements is ideal for replenishing ecosystems. Whatever the garden consumes, typically gets replaced. Organic matter like grass clippings, fall leaves and vegetable scraps make wonderful additions to the soil of a healthy organic garden.
Advocates for growing food organically argue that this method is better for several main reasons. First, gardening organically reduces your exposure to pesticides, which have been linked to everything from skin rashes, eye irritations and neurotoxicity to cancer, birth defects and hormone disruption. Secondly, organic food contains a higher concentration of nutrients like chromium, selenium, calcium, boron, lithium, magnesium, vitamin C, carotene and vitamin B. Thirdly, organic gardeners work with manual garden supplies and tools, so they avoid gasoline-powered machines that leave emissions. At the same time, the organic gardener is getting a great workout in! Lastly, this method for growing plants prevents chemicals and contaminants from leaching into the soil and down to our water table, so this style of gardening is much better for the planet overall.
Your main concern when organic gardening is soil health. You want your little ecosystem to be as strong and healthy as possible to support the plants you’re growing and the beneficial microorganisms within the soil that depend upon your plant’s byproducts for nourishment. As you know, these elements work symbiotically to create the best environment for all to survive. Most gardeners begin with a test kit that will provide a detailed analysis of the nutrients present, as well as the acidic or alkaline reading and the drainage level. Garden guides recommend organic compost comprised of decayed matter from table scraps to horse manure. Compost works to add nutrients and aeration to the soil. It also breaks up huge clay clumps to allow for better drainage. Use a tiller when you add your compost to keep air flowing through your garden and encourage earthworms to plow through. If you’re uncertain about your soil’s composition and want to start fresh, then consider buying your soil and using raised beds.
Companion planting is a wonderful method used for organic gardening pest control. By planting certain items next to one another, you can improve the flavor of your food and deter pests. For instance, basil planted near tomatoes adds a hint of flavor while protecting your plants from asparagus beetles, thrips and tomato heartworms. Oregano is best planted near cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers and grape vines to keep away the pests that prey upon them. Garlic prevents raspberry and rose diseases. Borage keeps pests away from tomatoes and attracts pollinating bees to tomatoes, squash and strawberries. Horseradish is good near a potato patch with beans to keep away the potato beetles. Chives planted near apples, roses and tomatoes can reduce the risk of apple scab and aphid infestation. Petunias will keep beans safe from bugs too. These gardening tips will ensure you grow a healthy, pest-free and chemically-free garden.
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How Do You Make An Organic Vegetable Garden?
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!An organic vegetable garden sounds ecological, rewarding, healthy but challenging. The process extends over several seasons, but when you finally get results you’ll be able to enjoy homegrown veggies that are not only tasty but very healthy too. Organic gardening in fact makes the oldest form of plant cultivation, it is not at all expensive and it can be undertaken by any one preoccupied with developing a hobby or improving health. Click through here for additional information relating to how to plant a vegetable garden .
It is unimportant how large the organic vegetable garden is: it can even range from a few feet on the house roof or balcony to several acres. The first difficulty one may encounter in the attempt to start the cultivation of the plants is the crisis of organic seeds. The thing is that in order to have a real organic vegetable garden, you have to begin with seeds that are completely free of all toxic residues. Therefore, if you can’t find organic seeds in your neighborhood, try on the Internet.
One can think of many advantages to an organic vegetable garden. First of all when there are no pesticides or herbicides used in the plant cultivation, the crops will not suffer because of the chemicals, the soil keeps its properties for several years and the creatures living in it will aid to the regeneration of the garden. Furthermore, the organic vegetable garden has the advantage of dealing with the needs of the family in a very safe, cheap and easy way. Whenyou run a farm in parallel with an organic vegetable garden things get even more profitable. You should find extra information about starting a vegetable garden here.
The manure from the animals can be used as a natural fertilizer that makes the crops even more profitable. Moreover, everything one needs for an organic vegetable garden should be available from local stores; the costs are definitely not high and the necessary items come for very decent prices. You can find all sorts of gardening tips in books on natural gardening and learn the tricks of the trade specific to tradition. Just a relevant example here: it’s practical to grow beans and corn together; the beans climb up on the corn stocks and you won’t need any sticks at all.
The organic compost, the seeds and the soil will all play an important role in the development of the organic vegetable garden. Do not neglect any of these aspects and your home production will be a success and a reward for all the work involved in the process. You will obtain heaps of supplemental valuable information on planting vegetables here.
All You Need To Learn About Gardening
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!If you are a passionate gardener, then you may be looking to share and receive gardening advice. One of the most popular websites today is the National Home Gardening Club, at www.gardeningclub.com. Social communities allow individuals the ability to network with others who share their interests, read about new products that interest them and view pictures of other people’s beautiful gardens. You’ll also be able to read informative newsletters and magazines that provide special tips on gardening.
Regular members of the National Home Gardening Club receive the Gardening How To Magazine, the ability to test new (free) gardening products, full access to the club website, a chance to win club giveaways, gardening tips from other members, professional answers to your gardening questions, free gifts, newsletters, books and videos. Life members of the gardening club receive all the same things as regular members, but with lifetime access. They’ll also get a Life Member ID card, key-ring, gardening mat, gloves and gifts valued at $165. Premier Life Members receive all the benefits of regular life members, plus get a $45 gift certificate to www.createmycookbook.com, discounts from retailers, a free hotline with answers from a gardening expert, discounts on club seminars and garden events, free online vegetable/herb garden planning service for one year and travel discounts.
Annual dues for the National Home Gardening Club range from $12 to $18/year, with annual calls for renewal. Life members pay a one-time fee of $250, including a dues deduction if they were previously a regular member. Many participants choose to pay installments on their membership fee. Gardeners ages 65+ will receive a $50 discount. A Premier Life Membership costs an additional $99 (or six installments of $16.50) on top of the regular Life Membership. In the forums, home vegetable gardening and home flower gardening enthusiasts say that the Life Membership is worth it just to not have to remember to pay dues again. They also say they like getting the bi-monthly magazines and gifts.
Of course, what really makes a website, the National Home Gardening Club included, is the people. You’ll enjoy sharing photos and stories with other avid gardeners across the country, as well as right in your own backyard. You may find new friends to go on garden walks with or you may find seed trading partners to enhance your planting collection. You can discuss the latest garden tools with others who’ve used them before making a purchasing decision and share your advice with others as well. Members who enjoy a sense of community are generally very happy with their decision to join.
Alistair Haynes is an experienced home improvement person. She has helped many housewives and even the single women as well. They love what she does to help them and are recommending her to friends and families too. One of her tip to protect furniture is to use beverage coasters. Check her on the net for more info.
Home and Community Gardening 2009
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!The results are in from the January 2009 Impact of Home and Community Gardening In America study, which was conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Gardening Association. In their research, they contacted 2,559 households nationwide to determine how many home gardeners there are in America and what the impact of that might be. In fact, they found that 7 million more households plan on growing plants for food, including fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs in 2009, compared to 2008. Thirty-seven percent of all US households are actively engaged in food production now.
So just who are all these new gardeners? “The demographics of today’s food gardening households include a broad cross-section of the U.S. population. There are few other outdoor activities where virtually every demographic group is so well represented, no matter what their age, education, income, marital status, household size, gender, or regional location,” concludes the NGA report. The food gardening experience is enjoyed primarily by women (54%), those ages 45+ (68%), college students (43%) and married couples with no children at home (67%). The gardeners are pretty evenly spread across the South, Midwest, West and Northeast. Those making $35,000 – $49,999 in household income are the most common gardening group (24%), although many who make over $75,000 (22%), under $35,000 (21%) and between $50,000 and $74,999 (16%) are also represented.
To get started, most households spent about $70 on seeds, garden supplies and gardening tools. The study of home gardeners found that the average, well-maintained 600-square-foot garden yielded 300 pounds of produce worth $600 in market value, which saved households $530 a year. The ten most popular vegetables grown included the following: tomatoes (86%), cucumbers (47%), sweet peppers (46%), beans (39%), carrots (34%), summer squash (32%), onions (32%), hot peppers (31%), lettuce (28%), and peas (24%). A number of people also grew corn, radishes, potatoes, salad greens, pumpkins, watermelons, spinach, broccoli, melons, cabbage, beets, winter squash, asparagus, collards, cauliflower, celery, Brussels sprouts, leeks, kale, parsnips, Chinese cabbage and rutabagas.
Today’s home gardeners have been growing food for 12 years on average, and they spend about five hours per week on their gardens. Twenty percent of those surveyed say this is their first year growing plants, while 39% said they’ve been gardening for 1-5 years. Some gardeners spend over 20 hours in their gardens each week, but the norm seems to be closer to 3-5 hours. Surprisingly, 43% of respondents said they spend less than two hours in their gardens. An estimated 5 million households are “extremely” or “very” interested in having a garden plot in a community garden located near their homes. Is communal gardening the way of the future? The National Gardening Association seems to think so. Many people believe that locally grown food can deliver safer, fresher and better quality produce.
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Tips In Making A Good Herb Garden: Growing Carnivorous Plants
Get Your FREE Herb Gardening Mini-Course - Limited Time Only!In making your herb garden, if you want to have a different gardening experience, carnivorous plants are bound to get attention. From the common Venus Flytrap to the Cobra plant, these interesting plants serve several purposes. In areas that have large numbers of bugs, it decreases the amount of flies or other insects that bother you. While the benefit is limited to the size and species of carnivorous plants that you own, these plants can give a small level of relief while giving entertainment to adults and children alike.
There are five different classifications of carnivorous plants. The famous type, the same family that the Venus Flytrap contains, is the snap trap family. Snap traps rely on a mouth that snaps around its prey, where the plant will eat anything it catches.
Next are pitfall traps. These traps rely on prey falling down into the plant and being unable to get out. Unique in their triggers for eating, they need to undergo evolution on a frequent basis, as liquid can gather in the pitchers of the plant and also the bugs that the plant devours. These plants range from very attractive to unattractive, and do not have hinged parts like their snap trap cousins.
Flypaper traps are among some of the most interesting carnivorous plants. These plants secrete a glue which ensnares and consumes insects for nourishment. These carnivorous plants should be treated with caution in the house, as the secretions can cause agitation to the skin.
Bladder traps are a fascinating subset of carnivorous plants. These plants function through the osmosis of water to create a suction within the body of the plant. Once an insect or aquatic species has been trapped within, escape is difficult. Unlike many carnivorous plants, these are more commonly found underwater than above ground. Some classifications of the bladder traps, like the Bladderwort, don’t have roots, which makes them quite a creative addition to your collection in the garden.
Last but not least, the lobster pot traps are among some of the most Interesting looking carnivorous plants that you can purchase. These plants survive by allowing bugs an easy way to enter, but slim chance of escaping. In the case of the corkscrew plant, the internal structure of the plant have downward pointing obstructions and a y-shaped leaf form that stops the escape of its prey. The unusual shapes of lobster pot traps are directly related to their evolution to prevent the escape of pests.
For those interested in borderline species for their herb gardening pots, there are several varieties of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have sharing characteristics. Such plants include the Brocchinia Roridula and the Martyniaceae species. These types of plants don’t have one of the three required aspects, which is to attract, kill and digest prey, to be considered as a true carnivorous plant.
In making your herb garden, carnivorous plants should be grown where young children and babies cannot touch them. While some of them are relatively non-threatening to people, digestion of these plants should not be followed, due to the digestive enzymes that the plant have to eat their prey.
