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Archive for January, 2010
Why Garden Decor?
There are many gardeners that enjoy working with the soil and watching flowers bloom into a beautiful scenic picture of color. As a friend once told me, “Gardening is good for the soul.” Gardeners find a peace of mind and tranquility while working in their garden. But just like an artistic picture, a garden can be aesthetically impoved using lines, different heights or a focal point. This can be achieved with garden decor.
There are so many items to choose from when deciding on garden decor. Smaller pieces such as stepping stones and solar lights can provide horizontal lines. Bird baths, figurines, or potted plants can create depth to a garden. A bird house or hanging plant can bring the viewers eyes upwards to enjoy the width and depth of the garden. And last, arches, arbors, obelisks, or planters on a post can create height in a garden. Depending on the style and size of a garden, any larger piece of decor placed in the correct spot can create a focal point.
If you garden seems to lack something, consider a piece or pieces of garden decor to add a life to it. You will be glad that you did!
Scientists Find Flowering Enzyme
In an article printed by FOXNews, scientists at the the National University of Singapore have found a plant version of an enzyme that they can use to turn on the flowering “switch” in plants. With this knowledge, they will be able to speed up or regulate the flowering of plants.
I was just wondering what this would do to the world’s food supply or to think a little closer to home, what it would do for individual gardens. Would it help gardeners avoid the stress periods of summer on their plants and, therefore, grow better vegetables to feed their families? Imagine if you had a raised garden bed filled with compost and beautiful soil just brimming with plants scheduled to provide color all summer long. Science always continue to amaze me!
Serene Outdoor Environments
The summer months are the perfect time to build up a garden. With all the time people spend outdoors in the summer, it’s the best time to plant or improve the garden. There are a lot of simple steps that one can take to make their garden more inviting, and become the perfect place for outdoor living. For example, for those colder summer nights, a fire pit is a great place to gather and watch the flames, roast marshmallows, or toast a loaf of French bread. For people who want to improve the visual aesthetic of their garden, consider outdoor water fountains, which appeal to both visual and aural senses. If one spot of the garden is looking a little bare, consider a metal trellis and a vine plant. Most vine plants grow quite fast, so it’s not necessary to wait until next summer to reap the benefits.
For people who are a little more adventurous, try adding a bunch of ladybugs to the garden. Most garden stores offer lady bugs in bulk, and the little bugs love to snack on aphids and other pests that chew plants and flowers.
Obelisk Trellis As A Focal Point
I wanted a low-maintenance ornament as a focal point for my flower garden. I chose a decorative metal obelisk trellis with an ornamental leaf design and an antique finish. While my up-front cost might be more for this ornament, I was impressed with its quality, design and stability. In fact, I was so impressed that I gave one as a gift and that individual was as thrilled as I was.
Even though this metal trellis does not have a powder coating paint to prevent rust when exposed to the elements, it shouldl still age gracefully. It is very stable in the ground because of its tripod configuration and functioning very well as a beautiful focal point. Now I am trying to decide between clematis or climbing roses to climb my trellis.
From Hanging Baskets to Side Planters
When I went to the garden nursery, I was always attracted to the beautiful hanging baskets and how much leaf variety and color they displayed. I had tried to duplicate the baskets created by the nursery, but they were never as full or as eye-catching. I was even more enticed by the flower baskets hanging from the lamp posts along the streets in different towns I had visited. Since I don’t have a greenhouse to jump-start the growing process and my past experience was not rewarding, I started looking for an alternative.
My search led me to products called side planters. I found a product called Bloom Master Planters that not only allowed me to create beautiful hanging baskets but also planters to hang from fences or railings and best of all, beautiful flower combinations in pots to set on my patio stands. After searching for plants that do well in side planters, I tried to create a variety of combinations. Many of them became wonderful creations. Some didn’t-more because of my brown thumb than the planters. Because of the success that I had last year, I am already looking for plant combinations to try this year. As I start planting I will try to post my progress and the results.
A Garden Bed In Poor Soil
Wow, the garden supply catalogs are really starting to pour in. Looking through them, I find so many things that I want to plant. I know that it is too early, but it is time to start planning now so that I will be ready when warm weather does come.
My problem is that I have a large area that would be perfect for a vegetable and flower garden, but sometime in the past the ground must have been sterilized or sprayed excessively and it still retains that “killing” attitude. I have tried to grow plants there and nothing. My new solution-a raised garden bed! I can choose a decorative design with different layers for style and I can add good soil and mulch for the plants to thrive and grow abundantly. The sooner I get my raised garden in place, the more I can work at creating a proper soil environment for my plants. I can’t wait for spring!
Door Mat Says Welcome
The door mat at the entrance of your home is one of the very first things a visitor sees and should say “welcome to my home”. A door mat’s most important feature is to keep dirt and moisture from entering the home. Studies show that about 80% of dirt in a home comes through the door. This is especially important to protect a wood or carpeted floor. Mats can also provide a slip-resistant surface to help reduce accidents.
Door mats are sometimes called welcome mats because of the message or pattern imprinted on them. There are many styles and patterns of door mats such as rubber, coir or aluminum. My favorite is the coir or coco mat because of its ability to brush the sole of the shoe and remove the dust or mud before going indoors. I really like my coir mat with our last name imprinted on it. It is a great way to welcome my guests and let them know that they are at the right home.
Bird Lovers
If you love the beauty and mysticism that birds bring to a area then decorative bird feeders might be right for you. I put one in my yard and I am just loving it. The birds come, they eat and play right outside my kitchen window. They have such playful, entertaining personalities.
The most amazing varieties can be found in my neighborhood. It is absolutely fascinating. Sometimes it seems that only sparrows and pigeons live near me, but yesterday I saw a blue jay and many more varieties that I can’t even name yet. I’m getting a bird watchers guide so that I can begin learning about all the different types of birds, what they eat and where they travel.
Why Get a Garden Planter?
Do you want to add some green to your deck, porch, or patio, but are not quite sure how? You love flowers, but are sick of hanging plants and you do not feel like adding any more pots that attach to your outdoor rails. If this is you, do not worry because there is another option to bring some plant life into your space. That option is an outdoor planter, which is a beautiful fixture that is sure to please.
Outdoor planters are available in a number of shapes, styles, and sizes, which is great for you, since you can find something that will fit nicely into your existing outdoor space without having any troubles.
Then, a nice option for you would be ones that are smaller in size that have a triangle design. These would easily fit into any corner in the space. Or, maybe you have a patio area and you want some privacy from those nosey neighbors that keep bother you. To achieve that, all you need to do is buy ones that are long and rectangular. You can put them up all around your patio area, plant some taller trees or shrubs in them, and you not have to worry about the neighbors trying to peek in on you anymore. Or, you might have a front porch area that is kind of boring. One nice option for that space would be tapered planter as a nice way to jazz up the look of the space. Plus, it would serve as a nice ice breaker for starting conversations when guests come over.