Starting Your Own Flower Garden

Posted in Flowers on November 24th 2009
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Field Of Flowers

Starting Your Own Flower Garden: audio file (audio file opens new window)

When you buy a house you want to have a wonderful garden where children can play and you can sit back and unwind. A garden is one place where we feel we are one with Nature and enjoy the small pleasures of life. But without potted plants and flowers, a home garden is incomplete. Before you choose the plants to grow in your home garden, walk around the neighborhood and take note of what kinds of plants are being planted. That will give you an idea of what grows well in your area.

When planning your garden, be aware of the bloom time of the flowers. Planting perennials with different bloom times near each other will insure a garden that has blooms all season long. Remember also to plan for the height of the plants, putting the taller ones in the back.

Bad conditions or wrong nutrients can keep flowers from growing well and may even kill them. Areas that don’t drain well or where water pools after rain should be avoided when planting. A soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.4 is best for most annuals. Before you start work with your garden beds, test the pH with a home soil test kit and add lime sulfur as required to put the pH in its proper range. After the pH is in the proper range, spread 2 to 3 inches of compost, and cultivate it at least 8 to 12 inches deep.

Annuals in your perennial garden are something to think about! Annuals give you season long color, easy propogation, they’re cost efficient, and provide first season interest. If you’re just starting a perennial garden annuals are a great choice to fill in gaps. I remember my first garden. I bought a couple of plants thinking “This is gonna be great!” A few weeks later I realised this wasn’t true. I needed a whole lot more plants and they cost a bunch! I opted for some annuals and I had a really pretty garden by the seasons end. Annuals can certainly help to fill in a garden while you wait for perennials to mature.

You need to select healthy plants if you’ve decided to grow annuals this year. Many people choose to grow their annuals from seed. Others choose to purchase their plants from green houses. While both ways are acceptable, always remember; You must choose carefully if you’re buying from a green house. Usually, garden centers are happy to share their information about soil, sunlight, water, and wind shielding requirements for each plant with their customers.

Deep green plants should be sought out; spindly plants in cell-packs have been stored there too long and should be avoided. It is also wise to check for signs of disease by examining the leaves and stems and removing the plants from their pots to check the roots. Roots should appear firm and white, and contain no spirals or kinks.

When planting flowers, it is important to remember to follow the instructions on the tag for the plant. Always buy plants that will thrive in the conditions in which you intend to grow them. A plant that loves sun will not do well in a shady area and you will only be disappointed with the results.

Bulbs also work well in a perrenial garden. When your bulbs finish blooming your perrenials are just ready to get started and they’re now filling in the spaces and hiding the soon to be dormant foliage of your bulbs. This is a great way to extend color in the garden for a good 6 weeks.

Summer bulbs can be used to fill in areas that need color when perrenials have finished. Keep in mind that most summer bulbs do need to be dug up and stored over the winter. The good part is that next season when you replant them you can totally redesign with them.

Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can plant them and leave them to multiply. After the bulbs bloom the foliage will die down, but you can interplant bulbs with ground covers for a carefree and beautiful garden. For a natural look you should arrange your bulbs informally. If you toss them and plant them where they land, with small adjustments for spacing, it’ll look much better than if you arrange them.

If you need plants that will do well growing against a wall there are many choices including clematis, wisteria, climbing hydrangea, golden hop and star jasmine. Clematis is a variety that produces purple/blue bell shaped flowers and fern like plant life. Wisteria is a hardy climbing plant that boasts lilac colored flowers that grow in the shape of beans. My personal favorite climbing plants are the star jasmine, which produces leather like, dark green leaves and beautiful white blooms that have an unmatched, abundant perfume.

Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild flower seeds around an area of your yard are both ways to take advantage of Mother Nature’s treasured gifts. Wild flowers are carefree, colorful, and tend to attract bees, butterflys and birds. So planting wild flowers not only gives you an easy maintenance flower garden… it also promises to be a constant source of interesting activity throughout the year.

Follow these simple bits of advice and keep your garden in glorious bloom all summer long.

Growing Flowers for Beauty and Cutting

Posted in Flowers on November 19th 2009
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Flower Garden Border

Growing Flowers for Beauty and Cutting: audio file (audio file opens new window)

To create your own flower garden, start with a sunny spot in your yard. A garden spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day is ideal. It should be within easy reach for watering, since a cut flower garden will need daily watering during any dry spells. You’ll also want to design it to make it easy for you to reach all the flowers in it, so a raised bed that can be approached on four sides is perfect. If you decide to plant against a fence or as a border, make sure that you can get to all the plants without stepping on others by putting in footpaths or trenches for walking.

The best way to start your garden is with bulbs planted in the autumn. Daffodils and tulips are among the most popular spring bouquet flowers. By getting them in the ground in the autumn, you’ll be able to start cutting early in the spring.

Naturalized bulbs look beautiful in a wooded setting. You can plant them and leave them to multiply. After the bulbs bloom the foliage will die down, but you can intersperse bulbs with ground covers and other perennials for a carefree and beautiful garden. For a natural look you should arrange your bulbs informally. If you toss them and plant them where they land, with small adjustments for spacing, it’ll look much better than if you arrange them.

Perennials are the basic flowers for any garden. Each year they die and renew themselves for the next growing season. They are long-lived and last for many seasons. Perennials are also, historically, among our oldest plants. They have been cultivated for centuries and often, as a result of breeding and crossbreeding, bear no resemblance to their wild forebears. In some of the perennials, the blossoms have become so specialized through centuries of cultivation that they no longer grow ’seeds.

Annuals are also of use as a filler between shrubs set some distance apart. This permits the shrub to grow, yet prevents too stark an appearance. The sowing of annuals, of course, depends upon the class to which they belong. The hardier flowers, such as larkspur, poppies and cornflowers, can be profitably planted in late fall. The ground preparation must be just as careful as for spring planting.

Flowers can add a perfume as well as a visual aspect to your outdoor area. You may choose climbing plants that flower each year. These will take several years to reach their full potential but once they do they will create climbing plants of color on a gazebo, a fence or even up the side of a house. If you are looking for a variety that will provide lots of color, try the blue trumpet vine. This climbing plant blooms from autumn through summer and has bright blue flowers on a twining stem.

There are a number of ways to solve the problems of short-flowering periods and the resultant unsightly spaces. One way is to intersperse perennials with annuals and other bulbs and flowering plants whose bloom occurs either later or earlier than that of the perennials. Some perennials are easy to transplant: chrysanthemums, for example, can be moved from one place to another with no noticeable effect on their vigor. This is another way to keep color and bloom throughout the growing season. A garden of perennials, either by themselves or mixed with annuals and other bulbs, should be placed along a path, or as a border, with a background of trees, shrubs, a wall or fence.

The background shows the brilliant coloring to best advantage. Some varieties can flourish in the shade, such as anemone, lily of the valley, day lilies, sweet pea, primrose, hollyhock, harebell and peonies, but these flowers must be chosen carefully and faced so that some sun reaches them every day.

Roses are an entire subject of their own, but they deserve special mention when discussing cut flower gardens. Rambling and climbing varieties of roses are especially suited to cut flower gardens, putting out masses of blooms and responding to cutting with even more flowers. Trail a rambling rose along a wooden fence rail and you’ll have sweet smelling roses for your bedroom dresser all summer long.

Bleeding Hearts – heart shaped, pink to rose flowers needing moist soil and partially shaded location.

Chrysanthemums – single, semi-double, and double flowers in all colors but blue. They need moist well drained soil and full sun location.

Crocus – blooms in early spring, though there are varieties that bloom through autumn

Delphiniums – very tall flowers of many colors, though, mostly blue needing moist, well drained soil and full sun location.

Geraniums – easy to grow flowers of many colors needing mostly any soil type and full sun or partial shade location.

Giant Flowering Onion – grows 3 to 4 feet tall, with huge purple blooms. Great as a back border in a cut flower garden. Blossoms from mid-spring through early summer

Hosta – showy flowers with bright foliage from 4 inches to 3 feet. They need moist well-drained soil and, partial to deep shady location.

Hyacinth – tall clusters of blossoms that are stunning in arrangements. Pink, blue, purple and white, they grow up to 12 inches tall. Bloom in early to midsummer from fall planting.

Lupine – large spiked 3 to 4 foot tall flowers of many colors needing a cool location.

Phlox – soft pastel flowers, some with a contrasting center, ranging from low lying to tall flowers needing moist soil and full sun or partial shade location.

Rudbeckia – yellow, daisy like flowers with contrasting centers needing any soil type and full sun location.

Windflower – also known as anemone, with daisy like deep pink and white flowers, booms through midsummer

Early in the spring, you can start planting gladiolus. These huge, showy blooms are a mainstay of cut flower arrangements, and come in just about every color imaginable. Gladiolus bulbs can be planted as early as two weeks before the last frost. If you plant a new set of gladiolus every two weeks, you’ll have cut flowers from early summer all the way through the first frost.

In early spring, you can also plant your annuals. Snapdragons, cosmos and zinnias all bloom at different times during the summer, which will extend your bouquet season into the fall. Don’t forget to include filler flowers in your cut flower garden. Foliage grasses and flowers like alyssum, baby’s breath, and Queen Ann’s Lace can fill spaces in your bouquets and add a lacy, delicate touch to a vase full of flowers.

These simple bits of advice can keep your garden in glorious bloom all summer long.

Decorating With Flowers

Posted in Flowers on November 9th 2009
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flower arrangementDecorating With Flowers(audio file opens new window)

You might agree that changing the home interior could bring “new spirit” to you. Without having to spend a lot of money to do it, plus a bit of creativity to improvise from the things you already have, you could choose one particular spot to change, and….voila! The atmosphere is revived.

Color is influential in every aspect of our lives. It conveys a warm or cool feeling and can draw you in or divert attention. It can create feelings of cheerfulness, sadness, love or tranquility. In flower arranging knowing how to blend colors together can make or break your design so careful thought should go into your choice of colors before you start.

If you are new to arranging or still struggle with how to put color together, take heart, there is help in the form of what’s called the color wheel. It is made up of primary colors, secondary colors and intermediate colors. The first thing one needs to understand, is that the primary colors are only three colors, red, blue and yellow. All colors are made from combining these colors but you cannot make red, blue or yellow by combining any colors.

Combining primary colors together creates secondary colors. Red and yellow make orange, red and blue make purple and yellow and blue make green.

Green is a universal color that goes with any color of arrangement. In nature all flowers spring up from greens so it is very natural to use them in all arrangements. In fact, I like to put together three different shades and textures of greens together before putting any flowers in my arrangement. It is very effective.

Blue is a cool color and creates a softer feeling like you may experience when looking at the sky in the summertime.

Purple is a vibrant color but unlike red and orange it has a calming effect. When you combine purple, blues, pinks and a bit of yellow together, you get this luscious vibrant and soothing arrangement.

Red is a very hot, passionate and strong color. It creates drama in an arrangement. Red can make you think of Christmas or valentines. Yellow is a happy color and evokes a feeling of anticipation like you experience when spring has arrived and the sun is shinning and things are coming back to life. Birthday arrangements or baby arrangements often have yellow as it does evoke that feeling of cheerfulness.

Orange is a dramatic color, not as hot as red but it still has impact. If you want an arrangement to have the autumn feel then you should combine colors such as browns, gold or a bit of yellow and red-orange together. It will make a bold statement.

You can take any of these color combinations and put them together in their lighter or darker shades depending on what mood you are trying to create. Also, you do not need to stick to just these color combinations. If you want drama, try mixing together dark red, purple, yellow and a bit of white. Contrast can make quite a bold statement.

Think of the blossoms as building blocks. Each has color, texture and form. They each have a personality and many have a tradition. The rose is elegant and says love. The carnation is sturdy and says you can count on me. The orchid is exotic and dares you to dream.

Designs such as oval, horizontal, triangular, and vertical are common ways of arranging flowers. A combination of fresh flowers arranged appropriately will produce nicely crafted finish product that you can be proud of.

Flowers in three sizes make beautiful and symmetrical arrangements. Adding greenery, berries, twigs, etc. add beauty and delight. Space flowers evenly inserting the largest variety first. Keep balance on all sides. Fill bare areas with small flowers. If using floral foam, soak foam in water containing flower food for 30 mins. Secure the foam with floral tape.

Ribbons add flair and distinction. A colorful ribbon with flowing tails can give character to your arrangement and using holiday colors is an added visual beauty. Using candlesticks on either side of your arrangement is also a Holiday decorating idea.

In decorating your home, be creative.

You may be too busy to go out to buy flowers on the streets or in the malls, so you can opt to just have your flowers delivered. It’s easy there are several flower shops online. Why not start decorating your home with flowers now. It doesn’t have to be stressful when you can buy flowers with just one click of a mouse.

Choosing Accessories for Your Garden

Posted in Landscaping on November 9th 2009
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garden accessories
Choosing Accessories for Your Garden(audio file opens new window)

Even some of the best designed gardens can often be improved upon with the use of landscaping accessories. There are many different accessories to choose from and so you really shouldn’t have a problem finding something to suit you. You just need to know what is available in order to know what will best fit in with your gardens needs.

Flowers and plants are rightly the central attraction of your garden, but they needn’t be the only one. Garden accessories can add character and fun to your garden as well as serving various useful purposes. From sculpted row markers and border fences to fully-functional fountains and ponds, here’s what some of the best-dressed gardens are wearing this year.

Decorative trellises and arches do more than serve as supports for climbing plants and vines. They can be a beautiful accent on their own. Whether you choose a simple iron fan trellis in a corner of the garden, or build an elaborate arbor or gazebo to support roses and ivy, they’ll add a graceful note of natural beauty and add to the enjoyment of your garden. If you allow colorful flowers to grow around it, you will notice how homey it actually makes your home feel. You truly cannot go wrong with an arbor as it looks great on both lawn and patio.

There are some great benefits of adding lights to your landscape area. Not only do they add a touch of class but they can add a sense of security to the area and even the house. The lights can really help to brighten up any dark areas around the yard and they can also make it easy to see at night whilst you are out in the garden. They also help the landscape to look extremely impressive and it adds that little something extra to the balance. They really are an inexpensive way of adding extra charm and style to any landscape.

Lighting allows people to stay outside in the warm months and enjoy socializing or relaxing in the garden. They are absolutely great for entertaining and it really does help to make people feel very welcome. Overall you really cannot go wrong with a little landscape lighting.

Birdbaths and Pedestal Birdbaths are a great way to invite birds into your garden. Whether set into the ground as a small ?pond? or on a pedestal, they can add a touch of old world elegance to a shrubbery or foliage garden that will benefit from the pollination efforts of your feathered friends.

Fountains and Ponds The ultimate accessory for any garden to have has got to be its own pond or fountain. Even small spaces can sport running water with a concealed circulating pump and a nearby power source. A trickling waterfall over rocks or a full-sized pond complete with Koi can both bring a measure of satisfaction and serenity to your garden.

When it comes to landscaping your garden, rocks do often make a great addition and they come in a variety of different sizes and colors to suit every gardeners needs. You can make pretty features, use them as stepping stones and you can even build small little walls for the garden too. Whatever you decide to use them for, there is certainly no getting away from the fact that stones can be great for landscaping.

Besides looking nice and adding a natural quality to your landscaping, rocks are very durable. This makes them great for walkways and retaining walls, or just to decorate a small pond or waterfall. They can be functional or just for looks. No matter what, using rocks or stones will make any landscape more interesting to look at. The type of rock or stone you choose will depend on what its use will be.

Boulders are normally rather large rocks that work well for use in water landscapes. They can also be used to mark a driveway or the entrance of a garden. They can be very dramatic, and if placed correctly, will attract plenty of attention. Very large flat boulders can even be used as a place to sit and enjoy nature.

Lawn ornaments include things such as garden Gnomes and bird baths. They are things which look good and add that little extra something to the garden. You can purchase lawn ornaments in all different styles and sizes so you should easily find something to suit you and your needs. Always remember that whatever you decide to purchase for your garden, it does need serious consideration. This is because you do not want to purchase something which either does not fit or simply looks out of place. So, be sure that it will suit the garden and that you measure it beforehand.

It is best to consider the whole theme of the landscape in order to get accessories that blend or add something special to the area. So, if you want to decorate a secluded area of the garden you could consider using trees, shrubs, a wooden bench or anything you like that can add peaceful surroundings. If you are building a water feature in your land, you could add extra features such as stones or slabs and some nice plants and flowers to add some extra color to it.

Adding Landscape Accessories

Posted in Landscaping on November 9th 2009
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Garden Statue
Adding Landscape Accessories(audio file opens new window)

Planning your landscape can be very rewarding work. When it comes to actually building your landscape the work is worth while with the end result in mind and you will feel extraordinarily proud of what you have produced. You could be transforming your garden completely with water features, a patio, decking or basically anything that you want. However, the thing that really helps to give it that extra special look is by adding some accessories to the landscape.

Adding accessories to any landscape has many benefits that are easy to see. They can help to lighten up areas or to add a little bit of extra charm to open spaces. Without using accessories, the landscape may be missing that vital ingredient to make it look and feel complete. It can really turn an open barren space into somewhere that either you can relax yourself or you can entertain others.

Even some of the best created gardens can frequently be improved upon with the use of landscaping accessories. There are many different accessories to choose from and so you really shouldn’t have any difficulty finding something to suit you. You just need to know what is available in order to know what will best fit in with your landscaping needs.

Thinking about your garden as a barren wall in your living room. Before choosing what to hang on your living room wall, you take cues from the style of the room. Think of your garden in that context, from the size of the space available to the arrangement of trees, shrubs and flowers and the architecture of your home. These will be the cues used in choosing and spacing your garden accessories.

Each part of your garden may have a different mood or feeling and can furnish an opportunity to incorporate different types of garden sculpture. Such pieces produce interest year round and serve to animate and differentiate a space; a strongly planned element can even inspire the theme for the plantings.

Gardeners trying to introduce too many pieces into their garden produce too many distractions for the eye to absorb or enjoy. The garden becomes complicated and cluttered. Under the less is more principle, one well-suited piece will develop a presence and a focal point, introducing harmony rather than chaos into the garden. The less is more principle does not mean you are limited to uniform arrangements of statuary in your garden. Multiple pieces and styles can work comfortably together if they are not part of the same grouping.

Lawn ornaments include things such as garden Gnomes and bird baths. They are things that look substantial and add a little extra something to the garden. Statuary is one of the most common and versatile additions. You can purchase lawn ornaments and statues in all different styles and sizes so you should easily find something to suit  your gardening needs. Remember to take considerable time deciding what to purchase for your garden. This is because you do not want to bring home something which either does not fit or simply looks out of placement. So, be sure that it will suit the garden and that you measure it beforehand.

Cutting a piece of statuary out of cardboard and placing it in different locations throughout your garden can help you get a feel for where each piece looks its best. It will also give you some time to think about why you want to add that particular ornament to your garden setting. This may be a time consuming practice but well worth the effort.

The most imperative thing to keep in mind when choosing the right piece of statuary is the overall style of your home and garden. Whether you have an urban, contemporary or country garden, the statuary you select should be compatible with the style and feeling of your house and garden. Most likely, you wouldn’t place a classical statue in a contemporary-style garden. However, classical statuary makes a wonderful feature for a more traditional home or garden.

Birdbaths are a wonderful way to invite birds into your garden. Whether set into the ground as a small pond or on a pedestal, they can add a touch of old world elegance to a shrubbery or foliage garden that will benefit from the aesthetics of our feathered friends.

It is best to consider the whole theme of the landscape in order to get accessories that add something special to the space. So, if you want to decorate a secluded surface of the garden you could consider using trees, shrubs, a wooden bench or anything else you like that can add peaceful surroundings. If you are developing a water feature on your land, you could add extra items such as stones or slabs and some nice plants and flowers to add some extra color to it.

Just like a picture on your wall, garden statuary looks best with some kind of frame. Some choices are using a  background of traditional clipped box, yew or a mixed border of grasses to frame your statuary in the landscape. A stone wall or trellis covered with roses or even a simple wooden fence maybe all you really need.

Aspects of Dry Landscaping

Posted in Landscaping on October 30th 2009
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Desert Landscape Aspects of Dry Landscaping (audio file opens new window)

In the hot and dry Southwestern United States, landscaping takes on an entirely different significance than in other regions. As water is so precious here, conservation is a major concern of both home owners and city officials. But desert home owners don’t have to sacrifice beauty because of the lack of water. Dry landscaping is an excellent way to make a landscape unusual and eye-catching, while using minimum water resources.

If you have a desert landscape there are many things that you can still do to transform it into something you can be proud of. Make sure you research about flowers and plants to see what can survive in the conditions that you are faced with.

Living in a dry and arid climate, your desert landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate.

To start with you will need to do quite a bit of planning. Because the land is not the best and the climate may be difficult, it does need a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve too and then see if it is at all possible to achieve this.

Cacti are the most popular and versatile plant in desert landscaping. When shopping for cacti for your dry landscaping you will find a large variety in sizes, shapes and colors. You will be surprised when you learn that there are cacti several feet tall and others small as a couple of inches. Flowers are not uncommon in cacti, and the variety is also large, though they don’t bloom for a long time. One exception is the prickly pear, named after its fruit. This cactus produces a beautiful yellow flower in summertime.

Drought-resistant plants compliment dry rock landscaping well. The native southwestern plants are generally sun-loving and water-wise. Careful research will reveal low maintenance and low water use plants perfect for this type of landscape. Many of the cactus varieties are good choices, as are juniper, lamb’s ear, and other perennial plants that can withstand year after year with little water.

What makes using desert landscaping friendly plants so great is that not only will these plants do well even in the hot sun they will also be able to thrive in poor quality soil. This is a much needed quality because places that have so much sun tend to have poor soil as well. So in essence you are killing two birds with one stone as they say.

Natural rocks and stone are perfect ways to make a home’s landscape blend into the native environment. Rocks bring out the beauty and diversity of nature. Natural rocks can be obtained in many different sizes, shapes, and even colors. From black lava rock, to gray granite, to white limestone, your choice won’t be an easy one.

As there is such a wide variety of stones to choose from, you should find that there is something to suit both you and your gardens needs. The various colors available allow you to create a unique look which will help to make it that little bit more scenic.

In order to decide which colors to use you will first need to create that plan which will help you to see what colors go best with what features. Perhaps you just want to stick to natural looking stones and if so that is fine. Natural stones create a natural look which can make the garden seem like an even more peaceful place to be.

With the desert being quite dry and hot, a water feature would also come in quite handy and it tends to look extremely classy as well as adding charm. It is a fun and creative way to make your desert landscape look completely different to how it was before.

There are some great benefits of adding lights to your landscape area. Not only do they add a touch of class but they can add a sense of security to the area and even the house. The lights can really help to brighten up any dark areas around the yard and they can also make it easy to see at night whilst you are out in the garden. They also help the landscape to look extremely impressive and it adds that little something extra to the balance. They really are an inexpensive way of adding extra charm and style to any landscape.

The fact of the matter is, even in hot and dry desert-like areas, landscapes can still be designed to be attractive yet conservative. And often a lush garden can hardly compare to the charm and creativity found in dry landscaping.

Desert Landscaping

Posted in Landscaping on October 30th 2009
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Desert Plants Desert Landscaping (audio file opens new window)

If you live in a dry and arid climate then your landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. Desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate.

In the hot and dry Southwestern United States, landscaping takes on an entirely different significance than in other regions. As water is so precious here, conservation is a major concern of both home owners and city officials. But desert home owners don’t have to sacrifice beauty because of the lack of water. Dry landscaping is an excellent way to make a landscape unusual and eye-catching, while using minimum water resources.

To start with you will need to do quite a bit of planning. Because the land is not the best and the climate may be difficult, it does need a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve too and then see if it is at all possible to achieve this.

To get some inspiration and ideas try searching around on the Internet and looking in magazines. The hardest thing you will be faced with is coming up with a design that will suit your landscape. However, because the land is more awkward you should not let it stop you from finding a great design to transform your garden completely. You will need to bear in mind about what space is available and also you need to consider your budget.

Cacti are the most popular and versatile plant in desert landscaping. When shopping for cacti for your desert landscaping you will find a large variety, both in size as in shapes and colors. You will be surprised when you learn that there are cacti several feet tall and others small as a couple of inches. Flowers are not uncommon in cacti, and the variety is also large, though they don’t bloom for a long time. One exception is the prickly pear, named after its fruit. This cactus produces a beautiful yellow flower in summertime.

Cacti grow in a wide array of sizes and shapes. Its flowers are large, similar to branches and spines that arise from areoles. Most of the varieties are night bloomers. This is since they are generally pollinated by nocturnal small animals or insects like bats and moths. Their varieties range from tall and columnar to small and globular. Cacti often grow as shrubs, trees or a type of ground cover.

In Mexico and Central America the Agave Americana (century plant) is used as fencing on farms. Because of their sharp spines and margins they keep cattle in and people and predators out. The plant, used as an ornamental, makes a beautiful addition to any rock or cactus garden. The century plant can be grown in a container, however it’s size will be much smaller than if it were grown in the ground.

Longwood Blue (bluebeard) is a shrub, it is deciduous and it will grow back each and every spring. It will always come back healthy and happy and this makes it perfect for desert landscaping. It is not a tiny shrub, it will grow to be anywhere between 3 and 4 feet high with a width of about 2 feet. This is a lovely plant to use in your desert landscaping as it is not only beautiful with its pretty blue flower clusters and silver foliage, it is also very fragrant.

Autumn Joy is a wonderful perennial that you can plant for your desert landscaping. With this choice you will have great leaves in pretty whorls. These leaves can be any number of different colors and can be bought to go with any desert landscaping design. This plant is the ultimate for desert landscaping because it can grow in rock gardens with ease. This lovely desert landscaping plant also has a unique and interesting flower unlike any other I have ever seen. These small flowers grow in clusters and they can be a few different colors and shades. The most common are yellow, orange and red and pink. If you plant these in your garden you will have butterflies around all of the time and they make for lovely entertainment on their own.

Of course, you also plant other type of desert plants such as aloes, periwinkles and several types of heathers. Make a visit to your local gardening store for further information on what type of plants you can add to your desert landscaping project.

Drought-resistant plants compliment dry rock landscaping well. The native southwestern plants are generally sun-loving and water-wise. Careful research will reveal low maintenance and low water use plants perfect for this type of landscape. Many of the cactus varieties are good choices, as are juniper, lamb’s ear, and other perennial plants that can withstand year after year with little water.

So, if you have a desert landscape that needs something done with it, use a bit of creativity and do some research in order to transform it. Do not let the climate and heat stop you from enjoying your landscape as it can be overlooked.

Flower Arrangements for Your Home

Posted in Flowers on October 27th 2009
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Making Flower Arrangements Flower Arrangements for Your Home (audio file opens new window)

Your home is your most private, personal space. Naturally, you want your home to look at its best. You want it to have a relaxing, inspiring atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere else. Such an atmosphere can be achieved by placing flowers in your home. A pretty bunch of flowers can brighten up any room with a spot of color. Just looking at them can make any person lose the stress acquired during the day! There’s something about flowers that cheers people up, so why not take advantage of it by following these helpful tips on decorating your home with flowers?

Using fresh flowers for your dinner table can be a truly inspiring accent. A few tips and suggestions to let your blooms last longer and their fragrance permeate your home and hearth. If an arrangement will be made in advance, select compact blossoms that will open to full beauty by the day of your party. Sprigs of pine, spruce, and evergreen, also juniper, are appropriate accents. Canella berries, decorative pods, pepper berries, pine cones, feathers, and eucalyptus are very festive.

Flowers in three sizes make beautiful and symmetrical arrangements. Adding greenery, berries, twigs, etc. add beauty and delight. Space flowers evenly inserting the largest variety first. Keep balance on all sides. Fill bare areas with small flowers. If using floral foam, soak foam in water containing flower food for 30 mins. Secure the foam with floral tape.

Vases are not the only things that you can use for holding your flowers! Experiment with clay pots, china porcelain, crystal, steel, or glass bowls, cups, champagne glasses, teapots, water pitchers, the list is endless. Just make sure that the container is clean and polished to complement the beauty of the flowers you will be placing in them.

For wide, open spaces, use blooms that are big with loud colors such as hydrangeas, gladiolus, and lilies. Big flowers can easily catch attention in a large room. You don’t want the flowers to go unnoticed right?

Match the room’s decor with complementary or contrasting colors. If you want to introduce a soothing effect in a room, use flowers in colors such as blues and greens. For a warmer look, oranges and reds will do the trick. For a subtle arrangement, yellows and peaches are the best choice of colors.

How do you know which flowers go well with each other? There are no hard and fast rules, but you may want to choose just one type of flower for your bouquet (this is called a monobotanic arrangement) or one color with varying shades (called a monochromatic arrangement).

Think of the blossoms as building blocks. Each has color, texture and form. They each have a personality and many have a tradition. The rose is elegant and says love. The carnation is sturdy and says you can count on me. The orchid is exotic and dares you to dream.

If you are new to arranging or still struggle with how to put color together, take heart, there is help in the form of what’s called the color wheel. It is made up of primary colors, secondary colors and intermediate colors. The first thing one needs to understand, is that the primary colors are only three colors, red, blue and yellow. All colors are made from combining these colors but you cannot make red, blue or yellow by combining any colors.

Red is a very hot, passionate and strong color. It creates drama in an arrangement. Red can make you think of Christmas or valentines.

Yellow is a happy color and evokes a feeling of anticipation like you experience when spring has arrived and the sun is shinning and things are coming back to life. Birthday arrangements or baby arrangements often have yellow as it does evoke that feeling of cheerfulness.

Blue is a cool color and creates a softer feeling like you may experience when looking at the sky in the summertime.

Combining primary colors together creates secondary colors. Red and yellow make orange, red and blue make purple and yellow and blue make green.

Orange is a dramatic color, not as hot as red but it still has impact. If you want an arrangement to have the autumn feel then you should combine colors such as browns, gold or a bit of yellow and red-orange together. It will make a bold statement.

Purple is a vibrant color but unlike red and orange it has a calming effect. When you combine purple, blues, pinks and a bit of yellow together, you get this luscious vibrant and soothing arrangement.

Green is a universal color that goes with any color of arrangement. In nature all flowers spring up from greens so it is very natural to use them in all arrangements. In fact, I like to put together three different shades and textures of greens together before putting any flowers in my arrangement. It is very effective.

You can take any of these color combinations and put them together in their lighter or darker shades depending on what mood you are trying to create. Also, you do not need to stick to just these color combinations. If you want drama, try mixing together dark red, purple, yellow and a bit of white. Contrast can make quite a bold statement.

In decorating you home, be creative. You may be very busy to go out to buy flowers on the streets or in the malls, so you can opt to just have your flowers delivered. It’s easy there are several flower shops online. Why not start decorating your home with flowers now. It doesn’t have to be stressful when you can buy flowers with just one click of a mouse.

Send That Floral Gift

Posted in Flowers on October 27th 2009
1 Comment »

Sweet in PinkSend That Floral Gift (audio file opens new window)

If you are one of those people that are always left wondering what to give for birthdays or any other holidays or occasions, the answer is flowers. Flowers are the gift that is always the right size and color, and will never have to be returned. Flowers are always considered tasteful and thoughtful. They are also relatively affordable, and will never fail to be delighted that you remembered. They can be ordered over the phone or the Internet, so they are incredibly convenient for the giver. Nearly every woman enjoys getting flowers and they are a constant, beautiful reminder that someone cares about them. The final added bonus of giving flowers as a gift is that they are always a nice surprise that was completely unexpected. Everyone likes those kinds of surprises.

You can say more while really saying less – and we mean conveying your thoughtfulness or whatever message you would like to imply through the language of flowers. Giving blooms and bouquets for special occasions is, of course, not a new practice. However, flowers are becoming more than acceptable gifts for more unconventional events as well. In some circles it is considered quite elegant these days to offer flowers as tokens for any opportunity at all.

Special occasions can be wonderfully marked with flowers, as with not-so-special days. So sending blooms to people you know is the norm. However, instead of just sending in roses and chocolates, there are now more specialized services that can literally turn anyone’s frown into a great big smile. You can send flowers accompanied with a pack of aromatherapy candles for a sweetheart; or a special food gift basket for your Mum on Mother’s Day; or even a great big round of cheesecake to a recuperating colleague in the hospital. Not only is this a more novel idea, but the recipient is bound to remember you quite fondly afterwards.

If you are the kind of person that has no idea what color or type of flower arrangement to order, any efficient florist can help you decide what kind of floral design will suit your occasion. Part of their job is to ask specific questions about the person the flowers are meant for and what the occasion is. Knowing some basic information will help them design the perfect arrangement. For instance, does she favor traditional furnishings in her house or is it more contemporary? What colors does she prefer in her clothes and decorating choices?

Flower arrangements are one thing, but if you really want a unique gift suggestion, you could try sending fresh cut flowers, some flower arrangement tools and materials to any one who actually likes to make his or her own floral designs. It might surprise you that you could actually get better rates or discount rates when you do this. And the recipients will be more than happy to think that you believe in their creative prowess to give them free rein with the gifts.

As stated early on, flowers are now acceptable gifts for more unconventional events. Instead of filling a convention hall with balloons and streamers, flowers are more elegant alternatives. If you know anyone who is hosting a small gathering of any kind, you can send in several flower arrangements as opposed to bringing several bottles of wine, for example.

Giving a gift of flowers is always a thoughtful, if not provocative, experience and is a gift that is definitely not about money. A large bouquet from the local florist will no doubt be beautiful and well worth the cash it costs. And equally, the small bouquet of wildflowers lovingly collected by an adored one will bring joy into your life.

So finding flowers for does not have to be a difficult task. If you are unsure, ask your florist. They will be happy to help you pick the perfect bouquet to remind mom that you were always her favorite.

Gifts for That Special Someone

Posted in Flowers on October 27th 2009
Tags: ,
1 Comment »

Modern ArrangementGifts for That Special Someone (audio file opens new window)

You can say more while really saying less – and we mean conveying your thoughtfulness or whatever message you would like to imply through the language of flowers. Giving blooms and bouquets for special occasions is, of course, not a new practice. However, flowers are becoming more than acceptable gifts for more unconventional events as well. In some circles it is considered quite elegant these days to offer flowers as tokens for any opportunity at all.

If you are one of those people that are always left wondering what to get for birthday or any other holiday or occasion, the answer is flowers. Flowers are the gift that is always the right size and color, and will never have to be returned. Flowers are always considered tasteful and thoughtful. They are also relatively affordable, and will never fail to be delight that you remembered. They can be ordered over the phone or the Internet, so they are incredibly convenient for the giver. Nearly every woman enjoys getting flowers and they are a constant, beautiful reminder that someone cares about them. The final added bonus of giving flowers as a gift is that they are always a nice surprise that was completely unexpected. Everyone likes those kinds of surprises.

Special occasions can be wonderfully marked with flowers, as with not-so-special days. So sending blooms to people you know is the norm. However, instead of just sending in roses and chocolates, there are now more specialized services that can literally turn anyone’s frown into a great big smile. You can send flowers accompanied with a pack of aromatherapy candles for a sweetheart; or a special food gift basket for your Mum on Mother’s Day; or even a great big round of cheesecake to a recuperating colleague in the hospital. Not only is this a more novel idea, but the recipient is bound to remember you quite fondly afterwards.

A thoughtful gift for a wife, or a girlfriend that will be appreciated is always flowers. Flowers show how fresh and precious your love is. Flowers remind her how beautiful and elegant she is. Giving a gift of flowers is always a thoughtful, if not provocative, experience and is a gift that is definitely not about money. A large bouquet from the local florist will no doubt be beautiful and well worth the cash it costs. And equally, the small bouquet of wildflowers lovingly collected by an adored one will bring joy into your life.

As stated early on, flowers are now acceptable gifts for more unconventional events. Instead of filling a convention hall with balloons and streamers, flowers are more elegant alternatives. If you know anyone who is hosting a small gathering of any kind, you can send in several flower arrangements as opposed to bringing several bottles of wine, for example.

People usually send roses, but for the best effect, sending a classy and exotic orchid to women and a uniquely masculine bonsai tree to men.  Both orchid and bonsai requires minimal attention and care. With a little water and sunlight, they will last for several months. Interestingly, recipients of a gift of Braided Money Tree find some good fortune in it.  This tree, unlike bonsai, needs water but no sunlight to grow.

Unique gifts are personalized. Personalized gifts show an extra bit of thoughtfulness. Those are the gifts that both you and your loved ones will remember for many years. Personalized gifts have a personal touch whether you give the gifts to your girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband, mom, dad, daughters or sons.

By visiting any floral delivery site or any florist shop, you will find that they really do have arrangements for any reason. They have seasonal bouquets that showcase the flowers of spring or fall. They can offer you attractive holiday arrangements from simple to elaborate, with plenty of holiday colors and scents that you associate with that time of year. They can put her arrangement in an attractive basket or cute mug. They can include balloons or a darling plush animal. The possibilities are really endless.

Finding a gift item for work-related people is just one click away. Say your feelings with eye-catching flowers arranged in pots, baskets, vases, and stylish jars. To view samples of these blooms and to decide what gifts are fitting to significant persons in your professional life do a quick search online.

We have so much to say to and share with our family, loved ones, co-works, those who we have not kept in touch for years, and those who we have never met. We put our thoughts into each special gift. A gift is worth a thousand words.

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