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Gardening: Start Thinking About Your Garden

brock — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:46:02 +0000

It’s that time of the year again, folks. The temperatures are warming, the snow is melting and the buds are showing up on the trees. Spring is coming fast, and it’s time for you to start thinking about your garden. Don’t let the season of life pass you by without putting out some beautiful flowers or yummy veggies.

1. What are you going to plant? Your first decision should be what you are going to plant: flowers, vegetables or both. What kind of flowers or vegetables are you going to grow? What are their soil, food and acidity needs? What kind of pests do you have in your area? All these are questions you should ask when choosing a plant to grow. Pick ones that you like.

2. Choose Your Plot. If you haven’t created a garden before, then look outside and decide what spot would be good. The ideal spot is flat with few rocks and some decent sunlight. Rope off the area you want as your garden. You are on your way.

3. Prepare your plot and plant the seeds. Till the soil and take out any rocks and roots that are present. Add fresh potting soil and fertilizer to get the acidity level right, and make your rows for planting. Follow the instructions for planting the various plants and cover the bulbs, seeds or saplings in dirt. You officially have a garden.

4. Grow your plants. The plants are going to need constant care in the form of watering and protection from the elements. There will still be some cold nights, and they should be covered up to resist frost. Use a blanket or other breathable material and do not use plastic. Watch out for predators like insects, rabbits and squirrels, who like to nibble on your vegetables and flowers.

5. Harvest. If you planted vegetables, then after a few months, they will mature and be ready to put in your favorite salad or sold at the local farmers market.

There are few feelings as fulfilling as seeing a heap of fresh vegetables that you grew or a field of bloomed flowers brightening up an already gorgeous spring day. Take advantage of the weather this season and make a garden!

How to Be the Evil Master Gardener on the Block

brock — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:15:44 +0000

Every once in a while, I like to put a little satire and sarcasm in my articles just to keep it fresh and exciting, so enjoy.

Let’s face it, we are all trying to keep up with the Jones’ next door, whether it’s getting a better car, having your kid beat their kid in football and even having the best lawn on the block.

Life for many people is just as much about competition as it is about fulfilling your dreams and living the best life that you can. Why can’t living the best life you can involve making your neighbors think you belong on America’s Most Wanted or battling Batman.

1. Hire the professionals. Your neighbor may spend hours toiling over their begonias or keeping their lawn landscaped, but imagine how they are going to feel when that landscaping trucks backs in and starts filling your yard with perfectly shaped trees and flowers. By the time they get done, your lawn will look like the cover of Better Homes and Gardens. You can almost feel the leering stare of your neighbor as you watch from the air conditioned window of your house (insert evil, maniacal laugh here). If you want to make the picture complete, be petting a white, long haired cat and mouth the words “Hello, Mr. Bond.”

2. Grow giant, mutant vegetables in your front yard. I have watched many a television show where they show people that have grown 1,000 pound pumpkins that have to be lifted with a crane and transported on a flatbed truck. Why not put a bunch of those in your front yard with a big sign that says, “Experimental growth hormone, do not touch or eat as may cause gigantism.” If you really want to make an impression, everyday go out to the garden plot in shoes with lifts. Each day get bigger lifts so it looks like you are growing. When the neighbors start complaining, and they will, tell them you have been eating them for weeks and nothing has happened to you.

3. Wear a costume. Every good supervillian needs a costume that reflects his malevolent inner persona. If you are a shapely women or muscular man, go into the garden wearing skintight leather pants and shirt with high heel shoes and gardening gloves. A straw hat would make this costume complete. If you have a few extra pounds, then wear the same thing but accented with a thong. YUMMY!!!! You should also begin every conversation with a monologue about how you fell into a vat of gardening fertilizer and now wish to be called the Gardenator.

4. Insert bad gardening puns into every conversation. If you are going to be evil master gardener, then you are going to need to act the part. Whenever you talk to your neighbor, say things like “It’s time to pull the weeds,” in a really ominous voice and arch your eyebrows. Other great lines include “Mary Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With EEEVVVIIILLLLL!!!!” and “I have a few pests in my garden.” (pulls out a shotgun) “Time to spray the insecticide.”

If you are lucky, following these simple tricks will cause your neighbor to feel the need to become your arch nemesis. Who doesn’t want to have two costumed superheroes/villains battling out on the block for gardening supremacy? Just remember, it’s all fun games until someone pulls out the nukes… or in this case the cukes.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/digital_ramapge/3902646434/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Do it Yourself: Prepping the Garden for Spring

colleen — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:16:33 +0000

We may be a little early for April Showers bring May Flowers, but it’s never to soon to start preparing your spring garden bed. Think about the colors and location you would like, make sure there’s going to be lots of sunshine, and don’t forget to think about management. Are you the queen of all green thumbs, or does cutting grass sound like the closest you have come to gardening in the past few years? Once you have your own spring garden in full bloom (sometime in May or June), you can make beautiful Mother’s Day bouquets, gifts, and dinner table centerpieces. Until then, don’t hesitate to order some freshly, professionally grown flowers to brighten up your day.

Gardens are seeds of inspiration, but the decor doesn’t have to be all organic: think about garden decor to take your outdoor space from lush and organic to habitable! You can add some flags, or decorative stones, or pottery. A thermometer or sun dial is always a beautiful addition. Make some wild decisions and look at some exotic and beautiful flowers listed at Buksia.com.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/tanaka_juuyoh/3909324966

Get Creative on a Budget: Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

colleen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:19:13 +0000

We all want to save a little money during the holiday season, and if you’re anywhere north of Philadelphia and it’s sub 10 degrees outside, you probably want to stay inside as much as possible. Even walking a few blocks to the corner market, or struggling to unfreeze your car lock takes too much effort and risks hypothermia. So how are you supposed to celebrate a sexy holiday like Valentine’s Day when the winter and your budget are keeping you holed up at home? Pair up with a few friends this holiday season and throw yourselves a Valentine’s Day party!

If you are lucky enough to be living in the tropics, maybe some spicy outdoor furniture or garden decor sprucing is what you’ll need: maybe a little barbecue or S’mores around a fireplace? If you’re getting hit hard with the weather of winter, maybe some standard indoor party decorations are better. No matter what, make sure you have the essentials: sexy decadent desserts and flirty drinks. Try out some of the Food Network’s holiday recipes. By splitting the cost with friends, you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/ciana13/2294688119

Active Recycling Choice: Compost Heaps

colleen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:54 +0000

Every true green household is concerned with recycling. How far you take this concern totally depends: some people think recycling means not throwing plastics and papers into the trash and sorting them instead; others completely change their buying habits to reduce packaging waste to only a shopping-bag full a week. If you ask me, recycling happens on multiple levels and is a never ending process. It happens on the national level, where you sort cans, papers, plastics, etc and hand them over to the recycling services to deal with. It happens on a home level, such as using recyclable bags when shopping and using ceramic or reusable plates instead of paper or plastic ones. But one of the most interesting and active recycling choices, I think, is the compost heap.

First, some facts about compost heaps:

1. Compostable materials are natural materials that biodegrade substantially under specific biological conditions. The compost doesn’t just “happen” if you put the materials in the backyard. Bacteria and heat need to be at work, and they need a specific environment in the heap to make the compost effective.
2. 4 important elements are needed to make the materials biodegrade in the most efficient way: carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and water. Some easy carbon materials are cereal straws, cornstalks, dry leaves, wood, cardboard, or office paper. High nitrogen levels are found easily in green plant material, grass clippings, manure and kitchen waste, such as fruit and vegetable cooked waste, or tea and coffee grounds.
3. Compost heaps can be done at high temperatures (active or aerobic compost) and low temperatures (anaerobic). High temperatures are necessary to compost meat, dairy, eggs, grease and cooking oil. To create an aerobic compost heap, the compost needs to be contained within a bin so it can achieve high levels of heat inside the bin to decompose the matter inside. Recommended size: 3 feet x 3 feet.
4. Anaerobic composting happens at around 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It is slower than aerobic composting but still effective, and is the common technique for domestic gardening. Usually an open (or closed) bin of wood or plastic, or even just in the yard in exposed piles, anaerobic composting works for kitchen scraps and garden clippings. It is recommended to improve airflow and eliminate odor by adding carbon-rich “brown” materials, such as wood chips, shredded bark, twigs, etc.

Now that we have a run down on the important facts about compost heaps, let’s look at some of the products on the market to help with aerobic and anaerobic composting.

HomeDepot.com’s ECOmposter Tumbler with Base is only $249.00 and holds up to 71 gallons of waste inside. This is a great design for the aerobic processes, and promises to have nutrient rich compost created in as little as 4-6 weeks. The design looks kind of like a spaceship, but at least it will contain most of the smell.

CleanAirGardening.com’s Black Soilsaver Compost Bin is a double whammy: the bin is on sale for $109.99, reduced from $139.99, AND it is made out of recycled materials itself! This is a great bin for domestic use compost in the garden.

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more compost bins.

My Topiary Fetish

homegarden — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:00:15 +0000

At the intersection of Claremont & Westheimer at Highland Village in Houston is one of the busiest florists in town— River Oaks Plant House. It’s a whimsical topiary wonderland as different forms abound, from 10-ft. dangling monkeys to Easter bunnies. Giraffes, elephants and dinosaurs line Claremont St. while smaller animals are found inside the shop.

How adorable are these?

Topiary making is an art and wire forms are like sculptures. I know, just keeping my 3-tier round topiary tree is hard enough (well, it’s not round anymore). Here’s a quick rundown on how they make it.

Buy a form. Unless of course you are a master wire sculptor. There are several online shops, just type in “topiary forms” specialty nursery and garden stores in your town may have them, too. If you are making your own, chicken & copper wires may be suitable. Other people have even used wire hangers.
Choose the plant or shrub. The selection includes creeping vines such as English Ivy, Bay Laurel, Box Holly, Myrtle, etc.
Fill the form with sphagnum moss. Thy available at your local Lowes and Home Depot.
Plant the vine around the form in the pot or ground.
As the vine grows, train it to wrap around the form. Prune as needed so the form stands out.

Ahhh, just love topiaries, found this namecard holders I’m thinking of using at my wedding… whenever that will be.

Puppy Bouquets – Too Barkin’ Cute!

evette — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:18:44 +0000

I happen to be one of those people that despise chain emails! If I have to send it to even ONE other person my blood starts to boil. I don’t need to win the lottery, I don’t want the prayers of the Ava Maria from Guadalupe to bless me via the world wide web, etc. Seriously please don’t send them to me, it will garner you a first class ticket to my poop list.

Conversely I happen to adore the emails with the string of funny pictures or witty stories. I guess I just don’t like being told to forward the message to all my friends in the next 2 minutes lest fire and brimstone rain upon me. So this morning my co-worker sent me the most adorable email containing Puppy Bouquets!

So now you see why I felt obligated to “pay it forward” and post about these adorable creations! The only problem is that there was no merchant information listed in the email stating where you could purchase and or order these puppy creations. Does anyone know where you could buy these?

Which leaves me to believe that they are a labor of love. I suppose you have to try your hand at creating your own puppy. I have an artistic eye but actual “implementation” for arts and crafts eludes me.

My suggestion is to print these photos out, bring them to your local florist and have them mimic the loving… Good luck guys!

Ps. If you do know where to buy these floral arrangements, please let me know. – Michelle

For more Flowers, Gifts Baskets, and Party Supplies, click here.

SPECIAL UPDATE AS OF 12/5/08:

Thanks to reader: Elizabeth Dufraine (Editor of Thumb Michigan Writers)

She provided me the following merchant who offers these adorable puppy bouquets!

They can be purchased at:
120 E. Main Street
Elsie, Michigan
48831
989-862-4446
http://thecountrypetal.zoomshare.com/

Hope that helps!

Unique Garden Decor – Let Your Garden Gnome Retire Already

evette — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:08:56 +0000

Wow, what year is it? Oh that’s right it’s 2008 and yet I kid you not there is a lady that lives down the street from me who’s garden is ripe with those little garden gnomes! I know what your thinking let her be, it’s her house her garden she can decorate it the way she wants. Which is all well and true but it just got me thinking that there has to be cooler, newer garden decor to fill your lawn with now a days. Right?

Answer: YES

Take for example this awesome Buddha Garden Statue from Exterior Accents!

This beautiful Buddha in Lotus Position garden statue is created in the time honored cold cast method mixing resin with bronze, marble, granite and other quality materials. Durable, yet one third the weight of concrete allowing for easy mobility, each sculpture is completely weather resistant and will add years of visual pleasure to your garden.

Price – was $~~349.95~~ on sale $319.95 (click on image or link to shop)

If Buddha statues are completely not your style how about this “Flowers for Felicity Garden Statue” from Design Toscano!

We bet you love flowers as much as Felicity does! Balancing two faux woven baskets hanging from metal chains and ready for your favorite posies, this lovingly crafted sculpture boasts rich details, from the buttons proudly popping off her overalls to her bouncy, beribboned pigtails.

Personally I am a little bit scared of all statues or frozen forms of children. I think I watched too many horror movies in my youth. But Felicity is cute! Well until she comes alive at night and runs giggling through your hallways! Ha, I am kidding. If you can picture her in your garden she costs $75 dollars.

Call me kooky but I like this Lady Goldfish Pond Spitter!

It reminds me of Flounder from the Little Mermaid movie, plus garden statues and lawn art should be affordable and durable. Which this little goldfish is, it’s a beautifully sculpted spitter featuring a female goldfish resting atop a rock-like base.

This statue is crafted from a resilient resin blend for a construction that will last through many seasons.

The best part is my little fishy only costs $21.99

(To shop or browse the Beckett Lady Goldfish Pond Spitter, click the image or the link)

Plus if you spend over $75 dollars at TheBestNest.com Shipping is FREE!

OK so I realize that the Mother Duck and Ducklings figurines might appear a tad cliche to some, but I happen to think that they are adorable!

I happen to prefer the flesh and blood versions myself but if you don’t see yourself housing a family of ducks, why not purchase the frozen statuesque variety?

These Outdoor Duck Figurines possess all the charm of the weathered stone originals without the hefty pricetag! Constructed from a blend of resin, styrene, and fiberglass, the lighweight material makes the statues easy to maneuver.

The noble aged, black finish make it indistinguishable from the stone variety and each duck comes with a stake to securely place them along your lawn.

was $~~89.00~~ now $30.00 (you save $59.00)

Well hopefully I have given you ample options to the lonely 2 foot gnome currently residing in your front lawn. If I can’t convince you to retire “the garden gnome” then at the very least make an attempt to find him modern and classy company.

Lawn Mowers for Under $500 Dollars

evette — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:23:08 +0000

Well my roommates and I decided to try saving a few bucks every month and promptly alerted our gardeners that we would not be needing their lawn mowing services until further notice. I am starting to think it was the dumbest way to save a few dollars. Turns out this lawn upkeep thing is much harder than I anticipated.

First things first, we needed to purchase our own lawn mower! We all pitched in and decided we could not afford or want to invest in a model worth more than 500 dollars, just in case this ended up being a short term money shaving theory.

So here are some lawn mowers I found for less than $500 dollars:

1. Poulan-Pro Lawn Mower

My first choice is this 21 inch high wheel, bagged, push mower from Poulan. Has 5 different height settings so you can spare your back and adjust the level of the handlebars to your optimal setting. Has an attached bag to collect the lawn debris and a 6.0 torque engine.

Plus it was $~~378.09~~ but is on sale now for: $266.64 (you save $111.45)

(click on image or link to shop or browse)

2. The Black & Decker Cordless Mulching Mower

This model has a 24 Volt Sealed Lead Acid Battery for Trouble-Free Cutting of Up to 1/3 Acre Homesites (grass conditions will effect run-time). Well here is a list of features:

- Rechargeable Battery Recharges to 60-70% in 4 Hours and to 100% in 16 Hours

- Hassle-free Starting With the Flip of a Switch

- One-touch Height Adjustment Adjusts All Four Wheels With the Touch of a Button
Folding Push-handle Has Adjustment Which Folds Down so Mower Stores in Less Space.

-2 Year Warranty and No Assembly required

Price $399.95 (but has a Free shipping coupon)

(click on image or link to shop or browse)

3. Black & Decker Mulching Electric Mower from Ace Hardware

Well first of all it’s electric, because who could afford a “gas” mower right now? Cuts a width of 18 inches, mulches your lawn debris and expels on the side. There is no side bag attached but I think the “mulching” feature pretty much takes care of that. I personally would like to collect and dispose of the debris but I may be wrong. The Black & Decker electric mower has a single lever height adjustment feature and a lifetime warranty for the deck.

Price $209.99

(to purchase, shop or browse click on the link or the image)

4. Black & Decker Electric Mower

Last but certainly not least is the Black & Decker Electric Mower! Lightweight and easy to maneuve, this model is also electric. The one lever height adjustment lets you adjust all four wheels at once.

No gas, No tuneups, No oil … makes it super easy to maintain and start!

Price $159.99

(click on image or link to shop, browse or purchase)

Well I hope these options prove useful to you if you are in the market for a new lawn mower or are planning on buying one for the first time like I was. Happy Humpday Everyone!

Sale Item – Stone Hill Tranquility Pond

evette — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:26:32 +0000

What is your garden missing? I think a little tropical recluse is always a lovely touch to any green scene. Nothing soothes my nerves after a long day like the sound of trickling water.

The Stone Hill Tranquility Pond would make a wonderful addition to any garden, small patio, deck, balcony or backyard. Water gently cascades from the top tier to the bottom, the fountain is lightweight, durable and the pump plugs directly into a standard grounded outlet.

Originally the Stone Hill Tranquility Pond costs: $79.99 but is currently on sale for: $71.99! (you save: $8.00 10%)

To purchase the Stone Hill Tranquility Pond, click here.

To shop for more discount Ponds & Fountains, click here.