Home, Garden and Lawn (Mind, Body and Spirit)

There are many ways to make your house (your mind) and lawn turn into a home. Every bit of careful touch you add will help your space feel more personal and inviting for your friends and family. One of the favourite ways to improve the look and feel of a home is through garden plants. 

I love to encourage my friends to invest in some great garden plants when they are at work creating a lawn or renovating their lawn. I love garden plants for so many reasons, but the obvious reason is that they are beautiful. There is nothing better than spending time in a home and a yard that is filled with uniqueness and beauty. Planting a wide variety of garden plants is a great way to add much needed beauty to the outside of a home. Even the most beautiful homes can look mediocre when there isn’t a great lawn and garden to accompany them. 

Another reason I encourage my friends to invest in garden plants for their home is that they will have a reason to get outside and work the land with their hands. I believe that people take much more pride in land that they have to work to cultivate. Our culture has lost something dear and precious since we stopped being a farming culture, and planting even the most simple arrangement of garden plants can be a great way to feel the pride of working the land again.

Having to spend time working with garden plants is also an easy and fun way to get outside and get some exercise. Far too many people are stuck in their homes watching television or reading, and just getting outside to tend garden plants can be a great way for them to get more active. 

If you’re looking to add garden plants to your lawn, then you grab a couple of easy to understand books on the topic and soak up all the knowledge you can about how to properly plant garden plants in your lawn. There is much to be learned about gardening, and taking time to get even the most basic knowledge will help you considerably when you are trying to plant the best garden plants for you. 

To see what garden plants will go great in your lawn and climate go to your local gardening shop. Get the appropriate books and then begin the fun work of planting and tending to the plants growth. 

To get the needed information visit “Garden Lover’s Paradise” at 

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com 

There should be nothing to interrupt your intension to get your garden, your body and your mind into the best lively state you can ever imagine.

Landscaping Includes Also Herb and Vegetable Gardens

Most people think of landscaping as rocks carefully placed, manicured lawns, and large trees scattered about a property. A garden can make a very attractive addition to any landscape. Whether it is an herb garden or whether it is a vegetable garden, these features can be just as beautiful as any other landscape element, and provide added benefits as well. Well maintained vegetable and herb gardens also provide other benefits: They are a source of food and can be a source of very pleasing smells. 

An herb garden is one of the most common types of edible landscape. This is because they are very easy to grow, very tolerant of a variety of climates and conditions, and because they grow rapidly. Additionally, herbs are more than just tasty. Many of them look very nice, with attractively shaped leaves and different shades of green that can add a subtle beauty to the landscape. But not only that, herbs often smell nice. They can surround your home with a pleasing perfume that exudes a true sense of ‘home’.

Many people plant parsley, rosemary, and thyme in their herb gardens, but there are other herbs that can be planted as well. Cilantro is a little milder than parsley, and it has a different look. Mint is another herb that many people do not think to plant, as is lavender. Both of these herbs look different, and they both give off very nice scents. Another herb with a very attractive smell is chamomile.

Even though some of these herbs may be less frequently used, it is possible to find plenty of recipes that use them, and lavender and chamomile are noted for their usefulness in providing an atmosphere of calm. Even the scents can be of use. Simply bring them into the house and enjoy the feelings that accompany the smell. 

Vegetable gardens are other edible landscaping devices that can look very attractive. They can be planted in a variety of climates, and can be grown in a variety of soils. There are some plants that grow only in certain regions, but your basic garden fare can be grown almost anywhere.

Just the look of green plants has been shown to be soothing, and when you grow your own food, it adds another dimension of satisfied feelings associated with self-confidence and accomplishment. Every vegetable has its own look to it, and so it is possible to enjoy a variety of different looks by carefully choosing the plants that you grow. However, you should choose, first and foremost, plants that you will eat. If you are not going to eat much squash, avoid planting it.

But there are plenty of vegetables that have very attractive looking plants and even flowers.

Peas have cute little flowers and send up beautiful curly vines. And there are many species of pepper that look beautiful after the fruit has arrived, with their yellows, greens and reds. 

When you use herb and vegetable gardens as part of the landscape, there is no need to plant them all together in one place. Spread them around the yard. Use tomato plants and squash plants can be used as accents (including pumpkins). 

Herbs make excellent ground cover. Most vegetables and herbs can be grown very successfully in containers. You can make a very attractive landscape design if you use flower boxes for your herbs, and if you use quaint old antique washtubs for things like beans. Pretty sticks can be decorated to emerge from decorative tins for your peas.

The great thing about growing vegetables and herb gardens as part of your landscape is the fact that they are edible. They do not cost very much to plant, and they can save you even more money down the road when you buy less produce at the grocery store. Additionally, if you have too much you can always bottle or freeze it for later.

Many people use the excess plants from their gardens as gifts to their neighbours or family members. There is no reason to relegate herb and vegetable gardens to some hidden corner of the property, or even to garden in a conventional way, with large plots. You can add distinction to your yard by using the unique and inexpensive method of landscaping with herbs and vegetables.

Garden work requires body work and to make this much easier take a look at “Garden Lover’s Paradise” for handy tools, seeds, and ideas to make your dream of your garden come true.

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com

Gardening Gifts – Wrap Them in Love

Are you looking for ways to make your gardening gifts really unique? Try to wrap them in love and show your loved one you really care. 

You can gift wrap gardening gifts the traditional way, or you can get just a little bit more creative with your gift wrapping to give it a personal touch.

For large gardening gifts such as full-size garden statues, birdbaths, arbours, a garden trellis, garden fountains, or patio furniture, use creative party decorations instead of gift wrap. You can tie big ribbons and balloons along with a card attached to decorate the gift. 

Another way is to decorate the garden statue or fountain in plant or vegetable seed packs. Simply use a hole-puncher to punch small holes in the very corner of each seed pack. Make sure not to puncture the pack where the seeds could spill. Thread ribbon through each of the holes and tie them around the statue, birdbath, or patio furniture with excess curly ribbon hanging for extra decoration. 

Bird houses and bird feeders are smaller items so you can easily place them in a gardening gift basket along with other gardening items such as bird seeds, vegetable or flower seed packs, unique garden tools, and other small garden decoration items. Fill the empty spaces in the basket with colourful cut shreds and fillers. Wrap the basket in a clear or coloured shrink dome bag, and finish with a beautiful bow assortment and a gift card. 

Gift wrapping small garden sculptures and other lawn decorations is a cinch with themed gift boxes. There are garden-themed gift boxes that give your loved one just a ‘hint’ of what is inside. Fill the box with several of their favourite gardening decor items – a small garden sculpture, a wind chime, a sun catcher, along with some seeds, a small bag of soil, and a decorative planter. This is sure to fill their heart as well! 

Gardening gifts can also be complemented by other items that are not particularly for gardening or lawn decoration. This could be a new coffee mug with a special-blend coffee, gourmet chocolate treats (could you resist?), baking mixes, or pampering products for women such as lotions and bath oils. And the male gardener might enjoy some new household tools, tickets to a ball game, or some new work shoes. Items such as these make great ‘Extras’ along with gardening gifts during the holidays or for any occasion. 

Use decorative garden-themed gift bags instead of wrapping paper for a quick, easy gift wrap alternative. There are tie-up gift bags that are coloured or decorated for convenience. 

Wood crate baskets are also popular for gardening gifts. These are small, decorative crates made of wood that are great for giving jars of jams or preserves, small potted plants or flowers, and other small gardening items. 

Using some of these gardening gift wrapping techniques, and of course there is no limit for your own ideas, might make a great impression when you present your gifts to your friends and loved ones. 

Take a walk through ‘Garden Lover’s Paradise’ and you will certainly find one or another item, worth to be looked at and wrapped as a unique present to a special friend. 

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com

Special Gifts for Special Gardeners in Your Life

Are you having gardening friends you want to buy a gift for? Christmas is as great a reason as you can get to buy gifts for these special gardeners. You don’t have to look far to find great gifts for gardeners. Every year are new garden gadgets coming out and online websites have wonderful gardening gifts on offer.

Practical gifts such as a shovel or trowel, garden hoses or other digging and planting tools are always most welcomed but there are also the fanciful items to add that extra special touch to a garden.

A basket full of goodies for the gardener is also a great gift idea. Buy one already made or personalize one by adding your own special touches. A basket with the essentials is a good choice. It could include gloves, fertilizer, twister ties, rain gauge, and disposable towels. If your favourite gardener would appreciate ‘old school’ methods for finding the best time to plant their vegetables and flowers you could buy an Almanac.

Gardening books may need to be on your gift list. Gardening books can be found on an endless variety of topics. Choose among specialty garden books, such as vegetable gardens, wild flower gardens, or formal gardens. Maybe a book on the subject of perennials and annuals, which flowers are best suited for your climate? How about buying plants that are best suited for your soil type?

Perhaps your gardener wants to attract butterflies or birds? Or maybe they will after reading a book you gave them as a gift about the appropriate types of flowers to plant to draw them to the garden. You can also will different bird feeders that will keep the birds coming back again and again.

Garden stones are another popular gift for gardeners. Garden stones can be unusual shapes, colourful, humorous and can be personalized. You can get kits to make garden stones with a child’s hand print and their name added to it.

This is a wonderful way to span the generations and bring the little ones into the gardening world. What wonderful memories that would make for the child and the gardener. Round garden stones can be bought and painted with the family name to make an extra special gift for a garden lover. Your personalization can make an ordinary gift something very special, a real tribute.

On the more practical side, there are countless gifts to choose from such as special boxes to store your garden hoses and hose carts. Fertilizer sprinklers and water sprinklers are also good gifts.

A popular item for gardens is the gazing ball. They’re found in all sizes and colours and add a fanciful touch to the garden. Holders for the gazing balls come in many shapes, sizes and materials.

Wind spinners and flags are also popular for the gardener. Spinners are available in a variety of colours such as rainbow spinners or a patriotic spinner. Flags can be changed throughout the year changing with the seasons. They can give the garden a different look by changing them frequently, with the seasons, the crops, or the weather.

Have you got a taste for the exotic? You can find a variety of exotic plants or unusual items. How about an Italian herb garden or a bonsai tree growing kit? You may be surprised to learn of all that is available.

Animal or angel statues of any size make great gifts as well. Birdbaths are another added attraction to a garden that never goes out of style. Birds can add so much to a garden and can also help control insects.

But whatever you decide on know the greatest gift is the thought you put into it. There are gifts for every gardener, it’s a growing world and you can never go wrong as long as your heart is in your gift.

Take a walk through ‘Garden Lover’s Paradise’ and you might find something really special as a great gift at

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com

Grilled Fruits and Vegetables – Grilling Your Garden

Grilling fresh fruits and vegetables alongside your favourite lean meats, poultry and fish is an easy way to add some colour and excellence to your grill meals.

For good nutrition to go along with that great outdoor flavour, look no further than your own garden or green grocer. Grilling is an ideal way to cook fruits and vegetables because there is minimal loss of nutrients.

You don’t need a green thumb to grill perfect produce. Choose fruits and vegetables that are ripe and ready to eat. Under-ripe or overly mature produce will not work on the grill.

Wash just before using. For the freshest possible produce, it is best to refrigerate fruits and vegetables unwashed. But be sure to wash and pat dry before grilling.

Cut fruits and vegetables into small bite-sized pieces because smaller is better. This will help to reduce cooking time and ensure the proper level of doneness.

For the best results, bring fruits and vegetables to room temperature before grilling. Add a splash of oil. Brush fruits and vegetables, except corn lightly with oil, melted butter or your favourite marinade or oil-based dressing for added flavour and to help prevent sticking.

 

For the sweet tooth add brown sugar to melted butter, brush over fruits and season with cinnamon or ginger while grilling. To prevent sugar from burning, brush on close to the end of grilling time.

Allow the grill rack to get hot before adding your fruits and vegetables. This will help seal in the natural juices without drying it out.

To avoid burning, grill fruits and vegetables above a lightly dispersed bed of medium coals. Medium describes coals that glow through a layer of gray ash. To test for medium heat, you should be able to hold your hand over the grill or only four to five seconds.

Grill fruits and vegetables before grilling meat, because they taste best served closest to room temperature. This will allow time for the fruits and vegetables to cool so you can serve them alongside hot meats.

For perfect corn on the cob, immerse the ears of corn, still in husk, in cold water for one to two hours prior to grilling. Grill over direct heat until husks are charred (about 15-20 minutes), turning occasionally. The moisture in the corn turns to steam when heated and cooks the corn without burning. Remember to wear rubber gloves when peeling off the hot husks and silks.

For a steamed effect wrap vegetables in foil before grilling. Add a touch of butter, juices and herbs or your favourite dressing or marinade and you’ve got a great side dish. Husked and de-silked corn on the cob can be prepared this way.

There is nothing more exciting than a get together for a barbecue and grilling fruits and vegetables add a big plus to your guests taste butts.

Have fun searching for grill recipes and for the necessary accessories for your next grilling event.

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Creative Container Gardening

Container gardens can create a natural sanctuary in a busy street, along rooftops or on verandas and balconies. You can easily accentuate the welcoming look of a deck or patio with colourful pots of annuals, or fill your window boxes with beautiful shrub roses or, any number of small perennials or with climbing bloomers.

Whether you arrange your pots in a group for a massed effect or highlight a smaller space with a single specimen. You’ll be delighted with this simple way to create a garden. 

Container gardening enables you to easily vary your colour scheme, search for harmonizing colours, and as each plant finishes flowering, it can be replaced with another. Whether you choose to harmonize or contrast your colours, make sure there is variety in the height of each plant.

The more variety you include in the plants you select, the more combinations you can achieve when renovating your outdoor space. Choose a range of selection with various bloom cycles for your growing season to abound.

Think also of the shape and texture of plants. Choose plants with a long flowering season, or have others of a different type ready to replace them as they finish blooming.

Experiment with creative containers. There is a variety of creative ways to preserve and experiment with container gardening. You might have an old porcelain bowl or copper urn you can use, or perhaps you’d rather make something modern with timber or tiles. If you decide to buy your containers ready-made, terracotta pots look wonderful, but tend to absorb water. You don’t want your plants to dry out, so paint the interior of these pots with a special sealer available from hardware stores.

Cheaper plastic pots can also be painted on the outside with water-based paints for good effect. When you are purchasing pots, don’t forget to buy matching saucers catching the drips. This will save cement floors getting stained, or timber floors rotting.

Always use a good quality potting mix in your containers. This will ensure the best performance possible from your plants.

Although you might not use recycled porcelain bowls, yet the simple concept of growing plants in pots or urns in addition to other objects, offers you a new perspective in container gardening.

With containers you can see your favourite hue just about anywhere. Sets of staircases of front doors could be used too to welcome visitors. The proper and imaginative use of pots could really help in conjuring the cosy and organized look. 

If you have a huge home with a beautiful front door and lots of space, flower pots that are randomly arranged to one part of your front door usually looks better than placing two pots that are of the same design and size on both sides. 

If you have steps leading up to your front door, an attractive pot plant on each one will delight your visitors. Indoors, pots of plants or flowers help to create a welcoming atmosphere. 

Likened to perennials, pots add more aesthetic value when in odd numbers rather than same. A single pot in the perfect spot often looks good. But one more pot next to that pot, same size or not, and it will damage the setup. Add a third pot and it will recreate its beauty again. Three pots with the same design or pots that are not at all of the same design have a mystical beauty with them. There’s a mystery with the pleasant-looking odd numbers with arrangement. It’s such a wondrous fact. 

Decide ahead of time where you want your pots to be positioned, and then buy plants that suit the situation. There is no point buying sun lovers for a shady position, for they will not do well. Some plants also have really large roots, so they are best kept for the open garden. 

If you have plenty of space at your front door, a group of potted plants off to one side will be more visually appealing than two similar plants placed each side. Unless they are spectacular, they will look rather boring. Group the pots in odd numbers and vary the height and type. 

To tie the group together, add large rocks that are similar in appearance and just slightly different in size. Three or five pots of the same type and colour, but in different sizes also look affective. 

It just takes some creative mind that is determined to make the most out of using pots, plants and a simple space in order to have the best looking garden container. Some loving and research add it up for a pleasing scenario, inevitable enough to attract your friends and some unfamiliar faces. 

Have a look around at ‘Garden Lover’s Paradise’ und you might get some ideas to create your own beautiful and unique container garden paradise at 

http://www.gardeningtoolsandmore.com

Successful Container Gardening

With more and more people living in apartments and condominiums, and moving into neighbour hoods where backyards are smaller than driveways, container gardening is becoming increasingly popular. 

Container gardening is a hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. Not only is it relaxing an enjoyable, but you get the satisfaction of knowing that you are growing your own plants. With more and more stories on the news about various planting and growing methods with fertilizers including harmful chemical substances as well as genetically modified crops, many people are finding it important to start growing as much of their own produce as possible.

Setting up your first container garden is neither difficult nor too expensive. It is very easy and can be quite inexpensive.

The first step to start container gardening is the purchase of containers or pots. Terracotta is the material that has an advantage over plastic in that it is porous.  Glazed earthenware and porcelain pots have been fashionable for years. Whatever the material, make sure your container has adequate drainage holes. Nothing will kill your plants faster than wet feet.  

The next step is regarding to soil. Don’t use real soil in your containers and pots. Real garden soil compacts over summer and turns into concrete under the pressure of regular watering. When it does, plant roots stop growing because they require good open spaces to move into and absorb nutrients. Hard, compacted soils do not grow good plants.

Using a mixture of organic compost and peat moss (mix together one part peat moss with five parts organic compost) makes it reusable in the next growing season. I’m reusing my potting soil from year to year. Dump it out of the pot or container, chew it up with a shovel to cut up all last year’s roots and add approximately 10 % by volume of compost. The compost increases air spaces and gives plants a boost in healthy nutrition.

Than plant your seeds or plants. For seed simply make holes in the centre of each pot with your finger. Put about three seeds into each hole. Then cover the seeds with soil. Water lightly and place the pot in a sunny spot (for example a windowsill).

In order to care for your plants, all you need to do is water them regularly and keep them maintained.  Check the soil daily for moisture.  Whenever the soil feels dry, water it.

Feed your plants weekly. Nitrogen, the engine of plant growth, is water soluble and as you water your containers from the top the dissolved nitrogen is leaving from the bottom. You can use any liquid plant food to promote growth. Compost tea is the Cadillac of liquid plant food and if you make your own compost tea, your plants will respond with better growth.

Finally, no matter the size of the container or pot, it is important to soak it all the way to the bottom at each watering. Continue watering until water emerges from the pot bottom. This ensures the roots can reach all parts of the container and grow properly.

It is really simple to start a container garden. You can apply this method to practically any herbs, small vegetable, or flower, with only minor modifications.

Get ideas on how to start and with what to start container gardening. Start small and when you see the results expand your garden experience. Do one thing at the time.

The next blog will give you some creative ideas of container gardening. Even in a small spot you can do so much with plants. There is no limit and everyone of us wants to have a little heavenly place to enjoy.

Visit ‘Garden Lover’s Paradise’ and do a search for garden books, tools, ideas.

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