(Via Gardening Question of the Day (from the Old Farmer's Almanac))

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 20:00:00

What are the best plants to grow to attract butterflies to my garden? (answer).

From The Old Farmer's Almanac.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 14:30:10

The Venus Fly Trap (Dianaea muscipula) is one of the most popular and intriguing plants that can be grown in the UK home. It's known as a carnivorous plant, or meat-eating plant...

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 14:29:07

In a greenhouse, it's important to choose the "furniture" of it to maximize space and the growing capabilities if the plants. If you can recreate the climate and environment the plants should be in then you've got it cracked!

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 14:02:13

Your bountiful harvest of tomatoes starts with proper planning before planting season! Learn how to plan a tomato garden that will bury you in fruit, come summer.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 14:00:53

When you apply fertilizers through the irrigation water, it is essential that you know some important facts about fertilizers solubility. What Is Fertilizer Solubility? Solubility of a fertilizer is the maximal amount of the fertilizer, that can be completely dissolved in a given amount of distilled water at a given temperature.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 13:34:46

Any planting endeavor begins with the soil. Of course, you can use ordinary garden soil or dirt from your back yard to fill your various pots and containers, but "regular" garden soil and dirt is generally riddled with weed seeds and disease-causing organisms. In addition, most types of backyard garden soil, even the best topsoil, are lacking in adequate nutrients and can also become much heavier after watering.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 13:34:26

When choosing containers of various types and sizes, think about drainage and porosity. Plants can also suffer if containers drain too quickly. Several popular containers, such as unglazed terra cotta and wood, dry out faster than materials like plastic and plants in such containers must be watered more frequently. Even though these types of containers drain quickly, they are beneficial because they prevent plants from becoming waterlogged.

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

Posted by admin to Uncategorized on 2008-02-12, 13:33:10

Adequate drainage is a must no the type of plant or container you use in your garden. Waterlogged soil is one of the major culprits of damaged and dying plants and it is essential for every container you use to have enough drainage holes to avoid potential problems. Even having too many drainage holes is far better than not having enough.

(Via Gardening Tips 'n' Ideas)

Posted by admin to Gardening on 2008-02-12, 13:28:39

Most gardeners install bird feeders for the sheer pleasure of having wild birds enjoy their gardens. We plant bird-friendly plants, keep cats and other nuisance pets locked up and even make the effort to keep trees in our gardens for them to keep out of harms way.

Yet it appears that by installing wild bird feeders in our yards is having an even greater impact than we first assumed. It is, in fact, giving them a greater chance of survival.

Sure, this may seem an elementary observation. Of course feeding birds is going to help their chances of survival! Duh! However, for reasons that we may not initially contemplate, feeding wild birds is helping them breed better as well.

This article reporting on research from the University of Exeter clearly demonstrated that birds that are fed throughout the winter months are more likely to lay earlier - and lay more. It also showed that the parent birds were more robust and able to deal with their fledgling chicks.

However, calls from the other side of the equation remind us that this could be a problematic practice. Fears are held that migratory birds will face increasing competition from winter-fed wild birds. But this very argument seems more like the 'playing of God' than real concern for either bird camp. Which one should have the upper-hand? The migratory birds who've just enjoyed their sojourn in warmer climes feeding their faces on plentiful food supplies or those who stuck around scavenging for a morsel to remain alive?

Needless to say, while many have argued that bird feeders are ruining wild birds from their normal hunting, it now appears that we are helping them survive. And this is a good thing.

(Via Girl Gone Gardening)

Posted by admin to Flowers, Sasha, crafts, crappy stuff, pets, photos on 2008-02-12, 11:51:00

Trying to think cheerful thoughts, and these flowers certainly are cheerful. Has a bad day at the vet today. Just want to hold Sasha an cry a bit, my poor baby. :(Hoping the tests come back better then the vet thinks they will.I'm really sad now so I'm going to go paint, do something to keep my mind off this mess.