The Meanings Behind the Colors of Roses
August 17, 2008
Roses are a sign of love and friendship and by giving someone a rose you are telling them how truly special they are. There are a number of colors of roses available and each one represents a different meaning to the receiver. If you are looking to purchase roses for that special someone, but aren’t quite sure which color would best suit your relationship, keep reading to find out what each color represents.
Red ? Red roses are a sign of love, beauty, courage and respect. This color represents romantic, sincere and passionate love. If you want to show your loved one that they are the love of your life, red roses are the ones to choose. Giving a single red rose to someone is a simple way to say "I love you".
White ? White roses are a sign of purity, innocence, silence and youthfulness. They are given to individuals who are shy about love and are used to tell the person how special they are. White roses can also be used in weddings as an indication of new love which is just beginning.
5 Pieces of Equipment Gardeners Cant Live Without
August 17, 2008
Gardening is fun and rewarding and may be considered a hobby, talent or both and sometimes it’s just luck. Gardening is not as easy as it looks and involves dedication, time and consistency and many trials and errors. There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy garden, but some aspects are more important than others. An individual who likes to garden can have the knowledge to produce the best garden in the world, but without the right equipment and materials it just wouldn’t be possible.
Below you will find a list of the top 5 pieces of equipment which gardeners simply cannot live without:
1. Trowel ? A trowel is a shovel-like piece of equipment which is used to dig up dirt and set small plants. There are many styles to choose from and type of handle on your trowel will determine how well it works. Easy grip, non-slide and non-slip grips are the best form of handle to choose. These will be easier to use and will require less work than any other form of trowel. A trowel with no grip will be difficult to use and could end up ruining your garden. Try one out in your hand first to ensure it feels comfortable. There’s nothing like having your hand cramp or the trowel slip while using it to dig in a beautiful, new plant.
5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden
August 16, 2008
When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don’t le anybody tell you which ones you can and can’t plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.
There are endless possibilities of flowers to choose from but if you are unsure of which types of flowers are known to look best in gardens, keep reading and you will find out. The following is a list of the five most popular types of garden flowers chosen by gardeners from all over the United States:
1. Cosmos - These flowers have the ability to grow anywhere from 12 inches to 4 feet tall. Cosmos are perfect for cutting gardens and are often picked out of gardens and used in flower arrangements.
Backyard Bird–The Catbird
August 15, 2008
It’s quiet now.
Gone is the constant chatter, whistles and meowing sounds as you jump from branch to branch safeguarding your territory against all trespassers.
Gone too is the uniform gray body offset with the black cap and tail feathers, with just a smidgen of rust coloration under the tail coverts, that allows you to blend in with your natural habitat of dense udergrowth and thickets.
They call you a skulker, a bird hard to see in the dense underbrush. Usually heard but now seen.
Definitely NOT a backyard bird.
Except in my backyard.
Maybe it’s because my back yard is filled with trees and dense undergrowth along the rear and side fences. Or maybe it’s because there is a wooded area of trees and underbrush in the low-lying parcel of land across the street. Or maybe it’s because of a reason I can’t fully understand.
I know you don’t stay becasue of my bird feeders, because you don’t have birdseed in you diet. You prefer insects, spiders and fruit berries instead.
But whatever the reason, I’m grateful.
I’m grateful that you have chosen my yard as your place to breed and have chicks. And not just this year. But last year too. Definitely unusual.
Lady Bugs Are Your #1 Natural Pest Control
August 14, 2008
First, this bug has many names. Some of it’s names are:
lady bugs ladybugs lady beetle asiatic lady beetle Asian Lady Beetle Asian Lady Bugs Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle
The Ladybird Beetle is the correct name for a Lady bug and are not bugs but are beetles. Worldwide there are nearly 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs of which 400 are found in North America. The Convergent Lady Beetle is the most common beneficial species of Ladybird beetle in North America.
The life cycle of all Lady Bugs are mainly the same. The eggs are laid in the spring. When they hatch the larvae will feed for a couple of weeks and then pupate into adults. During the winter they will hibernate or will have died in the fall. Springtime they awake to feed and lay more eggs again.
As a form of biological pest control Lady Bugs are widely used and are the best known. Besides eating their favorite food aphids they also eat mites, scales, whitefly, mealybugs and most other soft insects. They are known to eat cabbage moths, bollworms, tomato hornworms and broccoli worms. These bugs will eat up to 1,000 aphids in it’s lifetime in both their larvae and adult stages.
7 Factors Needed for a Compost Pile
August 13, 2008
Compost, made from decomposed grass clippings, leaves, twigs, and branches, becomes a dark, crumbly mixture of organic matter.
Learn how composting works. Even a newbie to composting can make good quality compost. It can be compared to cooking as art or part science. The following 7 factors will help you master the art of composting.
1. Materials After a time anything that was once alive will naturally decompose. But, not all organic items should be composted for the home. To prepare compost, organic material, microorganisms, air, water, and a small amount of nitrogen are needed.
These items are safe to compost at home:
* grass clippings
* trimmings from hedges
* vegetable scraps
* leaves
* potting soil that has grown old
* twigs
* coffee filters with coffee grounds
* tea bags
* weeds that have not went to seed
* plant stalks
These items are Not safe to compost at home:
* weeds that have went to seed
* dead animals
* pet feces
* bread and grains
* meat
* grease
* cooking oil
* oily foods
How to Grow Hydrangeas
August 12, 2008
Whether you call them Hydrangea Macrophylla, House Hydrangea, French Hydrangea,, or Mopheads, growing Hydrangeas in the home garden can be an enjoyable experience. They are lovely, whether used as single plants or in mass, such as in a hedge, or border.
Growing Conditions:
Hydrangeas grow best in partial shade to full sun. They prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hot areas
Hydrangeas need a lot of water. In fact the word "Hydrangea" comes from the Greek for "water tub"!
They grow best in rich soil, so dig in a lot of compost, and other organic matter, when you plant them, and mulch well.
Fertilization:
Fertilize liberally in the spring, in May in the South, and again in August. Wait until June to fertilize in northern areas. Use a good balanced, slow-release, fertilizer and apply ¼ cup around the base of a very small plant, and 1-2 cups around a very large plant. Spread out to drip line, but don’t get it next to the trunk. Mulch with homemade compost to cover roots.
Never fertilize a plant that looks sick or wilted, it will just stress it more.
Propagation:
Growing Great Potatoes
August 12, 2008
Potatoes are so easy to grow in the no dig, organic way. They are one of the top three in vegetable growing due to their popularity and versatility. Boil ‘em, mash ‘em, fry ‘em, bake ‘em. It’s hard to go wrong with this staple in the diet.
They’re also a great source of vitamins, minerals and iron. Most of the goodness lies just beneath the surface of the skin though, so try to keep at least some of the skin intact when preparing for cooking.
To the growing!
Purchase some seed potatoes from a nursery. You can use potatoes from the supermarket, but seed potatoes will bring better yields. You can ‘chit’ them first (allowing them to start to grow) before planting, simply by placing them in a sunny spot.
There are many different types of potatoes you can grow and it’s important that you grow one you like! So start at the end…how do you like to eat them? See the description of potato types below to choose.
Once you decide what type to grow, place your seed potatoes directly on the ground about 30cm (12-14 inches) apart. Cover them with a 50/50 blend of straw with old manure, blood and bone and compost. Water generously.
What Is One Flower Benefit That You Know Of?
August 11, 2008
The biggest flower benefit of all is the fact that flowers make you happy.
Research has proven this.Flowers actually make you happy.When you are down, look at a flower arrangement and you will be in a happy mood.
Put a flower arrangement in your office, you can reduce your stress.When you are tensed at the office, you can calm yourself down with flowers.When things are not how you want them to be, ease your mind by putting flowers on your office desk.It might help.
When you get scolded by your boss, increase your tolerance level with flower arrangements.Flower arrangements have a big impact on you.
Spend happy family time at home when you decorate your home with beautiful flower arrangements. When you are happy, your husband is happy, your children are happy and your guests are happy, too.
Nothing beats the power of the flower.
When you are happy, studies have shown that your lifespan can be extended.That means, you have more time to enjoy your life, more time to achieve greater things.
Wouldn’t you like to see your grandchild get married? Wouldn’t you like to travel to places you’ve dreamt of going but never did? Wouldn’t you like to spend more time with your family?
September Gardening Tips
August 10, 2008
Well it is now September, and the mornings are great aren’t they? It is now beginning to be the best time to plant trees and shrubs. It is a great time because the above ground temperatures are dropping and the below ground temps are still warm.
This helps plants get a jump on next spring because the roots still develope in the warm soil while the tops slow down in growth. Also, there are less winds and typically more moisture during this time of year, which of course reduces stress on newly planted shrubs and trees. You should be able to plant just about anything, including pansies, (which will last thru next May) mums, winter veggies (starts), most trees and shrubs.
There are a few exceptions: Palm trees might be better planted in the spring and summer, in order to get a good root establishment before the winter sets in.
Oleanders may experience some winter kill if planted too late in the season, especially the 1 gallon size. The larger sizes seem to suffer the least winter kill. This is usually for the the first winter, after that they will have even less winter or no winter kill as they age. Using a winterizer fertilizer with plenty of potash will help increase winter hardiness just about all shrubs and trees.
