(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to To-Do, birds, chores, composting, food, leaves, mulch, seeds, trees, veggies, weeds on 2007-11-13, 20:22:00

To-Do Go ninja some leaves from nice piles in the neighborhood. (Maple for the veggie garden and flower beds, oak for the blueberries) (done) Ninja some mulch for the tree--there is an abandanded stash along one of the roads here. All I need is a little bit.... (Made my own mulch instead) Cut back remaining perennials--add leaves to the leaf piling on veggie beds (done) Clean bird feeder--and

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Home Garden on 2007-11-13, 16:05:22

Are you a 'sitting duck' for some unscrupulous gardener to heist your plants? And if so, what on earth are you going to do about it?

It's not like you can safely secure each plant to the ground with a padlock and key. Nor would your garden look attractive with lengths of barbed wire or electric fence. And while these options border on the extreme, gardeners are now looking for measures to safeguard themselves from garden theft.

Unfortunately it's no longer a rarity to see a recently landscaped garden devoid of plantings that were in place the day before. Once the landscaper has moved on it appears to be open season on plants and those looking for a quick garden makeover move in. Less than 10 minutes later gaping holes appear across the landscape and the offenders are well on their way, possibly saving themselves hundreds of dollars.

For most home gardeners, a heist of this magnitude is quite unlikely. Yet there are gardeners tearing their hair out trying to respond to this growing nuisance - gardeners like Michael Newton. And the result of his dilemma has pushed him into a corner stating, "I have had enough. I will just let the weeds grow now. There is just no point."

Any gardener can understand his frustration as there are few options available to secure ourselves from garden theft. Obviously the area you live in, the type of plants you have recently positioned and whether your garden is obscured to the general public all contribute to the possibility of becoming a victim to plant theft. Yet each of these are not easily overcome.

Sure, you could move but that's never easy and won't guarantee that the area you move into won't change over the years. You could even plant more common, cheaper plants but how boring would that be? Or, you could open your garden up so that 'all-and-sundry' can have a squizz and lose your privacy in the meantime.

Here's a few gardening tips for those not wanting to suffer at the hands of plant theft;

1. Aim sensor lights towards your most recently acquired plants. Sensor lights (aff.) can flood your garden with light the moment an intruder enters the property or heads to your plant.
2. In the same vein, although far less efficient at deterring humans than animals, is the Scarecrow Sprinkler(aff.). While this may annoy the would-be thief it may not be enough to distract them from their intent. Plus, unless you're a light sleeper who wakes the moment your retic turns on, you're probably unlikely to be aroused with the sprinkler than a set of sensor lights.
3. Keep a guard dog. While this is a great option for keeping intruders at bay, having a dog in your prized garden can wreak its own set of problems.
4. Stake your plants. Plants that are positioned and have been tied to a stake, or set of stakes, are less likely to attract the interest of a plant thief - but then again, it all depends on what that plant is.

After a month or two, your plant's roots should have secured it in place and also made it a less likely target. However, if a thief plans to steal one, or more, of your plants there isn't a whole lot you can do about it.

There are no simple answers to this dilemma but it would appear that gardeners are going to have to find some. And sooner rather than later.

(Via An Iowa Garden)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-11-13, 16:00:00

On this unseasonably warm November evening, I wandered the garden paths in the deepening dusk; as I then sat on one of the benches on a hill overlooking the pond, the sky slowly turned first to fiery orange, then to soft pink and deep cobalt blue with a sliver moon. On the west ridge, the resident barred owl awoke and hooted down the valley, just for the joy of it. I am truly besotted with life and the beauty of this small, quiet wooded valley in eastern Iowa.

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-11-13, 11:54:49

All you need to know about worm farming and natural composting can be found at this site. The needed equipment and how to use it to become a successful worm farmer.

(Via grow this)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-11-13, 10:57:00

“I remember, I remember
The house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon
Nor brought too long a day;
But now, I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away.

“I remember, I remember
The roses red and white,
The violets and the lily cups--
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,--
The tree is living yet!

“I remember, I remember
Where I was used to swing,
And thought the air must rush as fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then
That is so heavy now,
The summer pools could hardly cool
The fever on my brow.

“I remember, I remember
The fir-trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Were close against the sky:
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy
To know I'm farther off from Heaven
Than when I was a boy.”

Thomas Hood, “I Remember, I Remember”

(Via Plant Care)

Posted by admin to Plant Pictures, Plants - General on 2007-11-13, 10:37:55

Are you the type of house plant owner or plant lover that is forever touching, checking the plant out and readjusting the way the light hits it...

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-11-13, 09:48:20

Having a house at the corner of streets will cause some consequences. It usually faces both of streets. So, the house has "L" shape of its garden. All area of its garden faces directly to streets, so it creates public area around the house.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to California, Winter, cactus, houseplants, photos, succulants on 2007-11-13, 09:31:00

In the left hand corner you can see the cactus seedling. It's grown a lot and is VERY spiny. When It gets too tall to keep inside under lights in winter, I'll be shipping it off to a friend in CA where it can live outside year round. I have 2 regular jade plants and a variegated one, a Christmas cactus cutting, and some baby African violets from a friends leaf cuttings. In the far back right

(Via Home and Family: Gardening Articles from EzineArticles.com)

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2007-11-13, 08:55:22

Hostas and ferns are perfect options for shady areas. They add grace and charm to any garden area, and their foliage is beautiful.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to bugs, fruit, leaves, links, orange, photos, shrubs, trees, walk on 2007-11-13, 08:36:00

I was taking a walk at the park this morning when I came across this interesting fruit scattered about on the ground. to me, they look rather like brains. I had seen this over at the farm store sold as "Hedge Apple" and reputed to keep spiders and fleas out of your house. It has no odor and I doubt it could keep anything away. On further inspection I discovered that it doesn't come from a shrub