Using Garden Stools to Add Culture and Character to Your Home
0 comments Posted by ariya at 2/21/2012Garden stools are a great way to set your interior apart and add intrigue. Available in an endless array of punchy, bright colors, garden stools have so many uses! Try placing one in the corner of a neutral room. The color and unique shape will draw the eye outward and make the space seem larger. Make sure to choose the color based on what is personally visually appealing to you and try to incorporate that same color in corresponding accent pillows and decorative throw blankets.
Another interesting way to use stools inside is by placing them next to a sofa or chair and using them as a side table. The flattop and low profile is ideal for small interiors that need more petite furniture and accents. You may want to consider having a piece of glass cut to fit the top if you will be using the side table as a place to rest drinks or other items.
Since there are so many Asian inspired stools available for purchase, we suggest using this variety in any room that needs an injection of culture and style. Guests will think you procured the stool in a market in the Far East and you will love the way the shape and color of the stool adds depth and an exotic flair to your interior.
We would be remiss if we didn't mention the most common application for garden stools....in the garden! First, make sure that your garden stool is all weather appropriate. While an item may be called a 'garden stool,' it may in fact, not be weather proof or able to stand up to the elements in the region where you live. Once you choose a stool that can handle the weather, place it, or a cluster of 2 or 3 of them, in your garden or on your deck. The stools create instant seating and a place to rest and enjoy the nature and scenery that's right outside your door. Hopefully we've inspired you to use garden stools as another design element in and out of your home.
Just a little imagination and inventiveness, however, can turn the humble garden shed into a positive asset, providing an extension to your living space that's as attractive as it is useful. Using garden sheds to get the most out of your home takes a little money but reaps large rewards.
Garden Produce
Give your vegetable garden a head start and save money in the process by using a section of the shed as a potting area. Arrange a bench, or shelf, beneath the window to catch the most light, and use the area to bring on seeds, repot houseplants, or divide garden shrubs. The warmth of the shed will offer vital protection to seedlings until they can be planted out in the vegetable garden, and you'll have the satisfaction of growing from seed.
Summerhouse
Sheds come in all shapes and sizes, and if yours is large enough you could turn it into a summerhouse or a crafts area. Paint the shed in a pale, summery shade and adorn it with hanging baskets. Place colourful planters by the door and soften its edges with mature shrubs.
The kids will welcome somewhere to play out of the weather and it'll give you a place for messy craft activities, such making papier mache, that won't leave your kitchen in a tangle. Alternatively, your summerhouse can be a convenient garden area to prepare cold drinks or store summer snacks. If you run an electrical cable down the garden, you can install a small fridge or set up a television. Transporting some of your activities out to a suitably equipped garden shed expands the use you get from your home, allowing to more fully use the available space.
Home Office
Dividing work hours and leisure hours is a constant thorn in the sides of those who work from home. Having a home office that's detached from the house provides the solution since the physical act of entering or leaving the workplace marks the beginning and end of the working period. Make sure the roof is secure and the interior walls are lined and weatherproofed, secure the door with a sturdy lock and provide some form of heating, and your garden shed is ready to be kitted out with a desk, cabinets and drawers.
Labels: Garden, Garden Sheds, Home, Sheds
I recommend anyone who is seriously interested in having a Japanese garden in their backyard to avoid such schemes. Similarly, many of the Do-It-Yourself in one weekend advertisements and books are also going to be very misleading.
Anyone who is interested in having an authentic garden should first study up on what style of Japanese garden they are interested in. Next, you need to take into account what type of property you have and where you would like to have you garden. From there you have two Japanese garden design options:
1) Either look into hiring a professional garden design and installation company, which will cost more, but in the long run you will be happier with the outcome.
2) Do it yourself after you have investigated many different styles of gardens, determined which fits best for you site, and obtained the necessary garden tools to build and maintain your garden.
In either option there needs to be a dedication to studying a little about the styles of gardens available as well as some kind of financial commitment to you project. This is something you cannot achieve though a free online garden design. Don't expect to spend $200 and recreate the atmosphere of a famous rock garden one Saturday morning.
There are a handful of good Japanese landscapers outside of Japan. Take the time to seek out these authorities with experience, the outcome will be worth it.
Although many Japanese gardens appear to be very simplistic, it is in the simplicity that millions of details lie in wait to be discovered by the observer.
If you are drawn to and intrigued by a picture of a garden and strive to emulate that in your garden, understand that this tradition is hundreds of years old and has developed over time. Think about what it is that appeals to you in that particular garden and think of how you can realistically create that feeling or atmosphere in your potential garden location.
A good garden designer will visit the location and check out the environment, surrounding areas, the view from the home, check your climate hardiness zone etc. None of these essential pieces of information are possible via ordering Free Japanese garden designs.
Labels: Garden, Garden Design, Japanese
Tropical Garden Design - Have A Holiday Resort Right At Home
0 comments Posted by ariya at 12/22/2011One of the most defining features of tropical garden design is the abundant use of plants and flowers in a variety of different shapes, sizes and colours. Tropical foliage comes in many vibrant colours that include yellows, reds and purples in addition to many shades of green. These plants also tend to have dramatic looking flowers; frangipani, hibiscus and bougainvillea being some of them. You can have a great time picking and choosing these plants, adding jasmines as well because they are beautiful and fragrant. Bamboos and canna lilies are also popular because they give an instant tropical look to a garden.
Tropical garden design also includes the use of statues, lanterns, vases and other decorative containers, banners and colourful umbrellas. These articles are very easy to find these days and you do not have to travel to tropical destinations in order to pick up decorative elements for your garden. You could also include paths and water features.
Most garden design firms offer this particular concept in a contemporary manner. They will create a garden that has a Thai, Balinese or Polynesian look depending on your preference. Have a detailed discussion with the landscape designers you hire to find out how much the project will cost, including how much you will need to spend in order to maintain the garden. Your garden will need a lot of maintenance in order to remain looking attractive and you should only put in as many plants as you are comfortable looking after.
You will have a lovely time entertaining friends and family in your garden if you put in the right kind of infrastructure such as seating, lighting, a bar or a barbecue pit. Choose a landscape design firm that has a lot of experience in doing up tropical themed gardens. You can then be sure that your money will be spent effectively.
Labels: Garden, Garden Design, Holiday, Resort, Tropical
Since 1868 the Park Seed Company has provided gardeners with seeds, plants, and other gardening products. The company was founded in Libonia, Pennsylvania, by George W. Park, a teenager who first sold dried seeds to his neighbors. Park published his first small seed catalog in 1868. Over the years the company grew, and in 1902 it moved to a larger facility in La Park, Pennsylvania. The Parks moved to Florida in the early 1920s, but they found the weather there to be too hot and humid to properly store seeds. In 1924 Park moved the company headquarters to his wife’s hometown of Greenwood, South Carolina. Today the business is located on 500 acres of land. There are research facilities, processing areas, temperature controlled storage facilities, the mail order business, a garden center, and extensive trial gardens on the site.
The Park Seed trial gardens draw visitors from all over the country. Gardeners are welcome to walk through the nine acres of demonstration gardens. A number of the company’s All American selections may be viewed. Plant lovers will be able to see the best new plant selections before they become available to the general public. Only the highest performing selections will eventually come on the market. Visitors may enjoy the rose garden, the water garden, the container garden, and a number of other theme gardens. Over 2,000 varieties of plants may be seen.
The Park Seed garden Center also welcomes visitors. The center is open during the spring and summer months on Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-6pm. More than 1,100 varieties of flower and vegetable seeds are available for purchase. All seeds are top quality untreated seeds. Certified organic seeds are also available. In addition bulbs and live plants are available for purchase.
Each year the Park Seed Company trial gardens are a featured venue at the South Carolina Festival of Flowers. The festival is one of Southeast Tourism’s Top 20 Events. Park Seed Flower Day is one of the most popular activities. The greenhouses are open to the public and horticulturists give guided tours of the trial gardens. The festival’s 2011 Flower Day is June 25 from 8am-4pm.
The Park Seed Company’s Garden Center and trial gardens are located on Highway 254 (Cokesbury Road) in Greenwood, South Carolina. There is no charge to stop and smell the flowers.
Labels: Delight, Garden, Greenwood, South Carolina
Why a Professional Is Best
Why should you hire a garden designer instead of just doing it yourself? There are actually numerous reasons why these professionals can help you.
• A professional is able to create the space you want to do what you want. In other words, his or her skill can help you to get the function you want out of the landscaping. That is not the easiest thing to do on your own.
• What is the budget? If you do not want to spend a lot of money on the project, or you need to stay within a specific budget, it is best to turn to a professional to get the job done. You can often get more for less with these professionals.
• Do you have a specific idea in mind but don't know where to get the supplies you need? That is another reason to call on these professionals.
• Are you searching for the help you need to get your design off the ground? Perhaps you have no idea even where to start. This type of professional can help ensure the right design for your needs is put into place.
• It is a good idea to turn to a professional garden designer to ensure that your system is structurally sound. From hard and soft landscaping the installation and design needs to ensure water flows away from the home. It also needs to work to reduce water needs.
• With a professional, you get a garden that will grow and do wonderful things for you. Without that professional, you have to assume that your plants and lawn are getting the right nutrients necessary.
To ensure that your landscaping has the right tools to grow and do wonderful things, turn to a professional. A garden designer will work with you, hand in hand, to design the space that is right for you, based on what your likes and needs are. It is also a good idea to turn to a professional just for the experience. You will learn a great deal about what you can expect from your landscaping, how to maintain it and even how to add to it or change it down the line. Hiring this professional can help make your job easier to manage overall. It adds value to your home and can help your home to shine for years to come.
Let's look at some of the keys to how to make a garden successfully.
1.Soil is all. Your have to have well-turned soil that is rich in nutrients and has the correct pH balance for what you plan on growing. Then you need to keep it well-watered,but also well-drained. You will have to fertilize it and provide it with compost or rich manure. Get your soil tested professionally or by using a home kit before you plant anything. You need to know in advance if you have to balance it out for more or less alkalinity or acidity.
2.Buying cheap plants is fine--if you know how to make a garden. If you don't know how to make a garden, the most expensive plants will fail.
3.Use organic methods to control pests and plant diseases. You can use heavily diluted bleach (diluted by water) as a "pesticide" spray. You can have Lady Bugs and other natural predators of aphids and such things in your garden. Spray "green" herbicides on weeds. Use these and other organic gardening methods.
4.Make your garden in 4x4 raised beds (four feet, that is). This gives you much more surface area in a more limited space in which to work. It keeps the soil richer.
5.If you don't have a lot of space for gardening, mix things together and maximize what space you do have. Why not use red cabbage for an edging, marigolds to keep out pests, and then have some herbs as your main "food crop"? You can also try container gardening if you lack acreage.
6.Water, water everywhere. The key to successful watering, besides knowing in advance what amount of water each one of your plants requires, is doing it consistently but never overdoing it. Too much water causes root-rot a and breeds fungi, while not enough obviously causes plants to wither.
7.Make a garden that is colorful and the form of which gives pleasure to the eye.
8.Use the seasons to make different gardens with appropriate plants, colors, and layouts. Do a little research to achieve this.
Labels: Garden
• Its authentic Italian cuisine. When you visit this restaurant for some Italian dining experience, you won't be disappointed. It's nothing like other cheap restaurants out there doing some lousy imitation of Italian food. When you go for Olive garden, you are sure to get only first-class, original Italian taste that you will surely look forward to next time. And, this can be attributed to the next two points mentioned below.
• Its use of fresh ingredients. When you go for this restaurant, one of the first things that you will notice is the richness of its food. You can attribute that to the fact that the restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients available. From cheese to wine, all these are of the finest quality and they are used to enhance the taste.
• Its skilled chefs. The use of the finest ingredients is one thing; having professional and highly trained people prepare them is another. And the good thing is, you get both from Olive garden. Its chefs are trained from its very own Culinary Institute of Tuscany, so you can expect the best of both worlds.
• Its great selection. While you may think that Italian food revolves around pasta, you'll be amazed at the great selection offered by this restaurant. From its main menus (lunch and dinner) to its dessert and beverages, you will never run out of choices. It even caters to budget-conscious individuals with its garden Fare options, so it's really for everybody.
• It's easy on the pocket. Most fine dining restaurants often come at a high price, but you will be glad to know that you can still enjoy the food that this restaurant offers at a low price because there are coupons available. You can enjoy as much as 10% off on your favorite dish with these coupons.
So when it comes to Italian food, then Olive garden should always be on top of that list.
Olive garden is the way to go, and using Coupons Olive garden offers to lighten the load a little will make everything taste that much better.
Labels: Garden, Olive, Olive Garden
How to Plant a Vegetable Garden - Planting a Healthy Vegetable Garden at Home
0 comments Posted by ariya at 6/16/2011One of the first things you need to know when looking to learn how to plant a vegetable garden is making the most from your the space you have available. You will be surprised how many fresh vegetables you can grow even with limited space for a plot. If possible try and stay away from any trees which can steal nutrients away from your vegetables.
Vegetables need plenty of sunshine, look for an area that receives plenty of morning sun. Preparation is the key to learning how to plant a vegetable garden you can be proud of. One of the secrets to growing a great garden is soil preparation, it is critical.
With soil preparation you must remove all weeds, avoid any weed killers and remove them by hand. You must test the pH level of your soil, anything around a reading of 6.5 is ideal. If you are unable to test it yourself head over to your local gardening store for testing.
Having your soil pH either too high or two low will restrict nutrients to your vegetables. garden lime is commonly used to bring up low pH soil levels. Dig the soil over and look to get to depth of about 30cm (12").You should allow 4-5 weeks before you begin to plant any vegetables.
Now you might be asking what vegetables you can plant? This will be dependent on climate zone so speak to your gardening store about the ideal vegetables for your area. You can pick up seedling for a great price and begin planting after your soil preparation.
The key to learning how to plant a vegetable garden from scratch picking the right vegetables that you can rotate year around to help eliminate pests and disease problems.
Organic fertilizers such as animal manure and garden composts are fantastic for providing nutrients to your vegetables as well as improving soil conditions and structure. Organic fertilizers help retain moisture which is very important. Watering your garden is important but try to ensure it doesn't become waterlogged and allow for proper drainage.
Labels: Garden, Home, Plant, Vegetable, Vegetable Garden
Some people may say that the best way to decorate your garden is with flowers and beautiful plants. And yes, this may be true, but there is so much more that you can do! With the proper garden décor, you can turn your garden into your own personal oasis.
Great types of garden décor:
· garden Benches. What is the point of having a beautiful garden if you do not have a good vantage point to see it from? Setting a garden bench in the midst of your garden gives you the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch your garden grow. A garden bench is not only an inviting place to sit, it is also a beautiful visual addition to almost any garden.
· Bird Bath. There are many styles of birdbaths available these days. There are birdbaths that suit contemporary styles as well as birdbath that suit more traditional styles, and there are ones to suit any taste and style that falls in between. Not only do birdbaths themselves add beauty to your garden, but the birds that they attract add beauty, as well.
· Water Fountain or Pond. Water has many soothing qualities -- even the look and sound of water can be soothing. Placing a fountain or a pond in your garden will transform your garden into a mini oasis. You will love coming home from a hard and stressful day of work and sitting near the peaceful sounds and sights of your garden water feature.
· garden Statues. garden statues come in many different varieties. You can find garden statues that add humor, elegance, sophistication, or whimsy to your garden. Indeed, you can find a garden statue to suit any gardener's taste, whether you want to place and hide bunny sculptures throughout your garden, or whether you want a funny garden gnome.
· Lights. There are many different ways to light up your garden at night. And why shouldn't your garden be lit up at night? There is no reason that you should not be able to enjoy the beauty of your garden at any time of day or night.
These are just a few types of garden décor that you should consider adding to your garden. Adding garden décor to your garden is like adding a beautiful frame to a painting - it enhances it. Sure, your flowers and other plants are still the main event, but the right garden décor can really make your garden unique and beautiful.
Labels: Decorations, Garden, Garden Decor
As we begin our life journey, we tend to think that everything we see outside with our senses are real and anything else we don't see as an illusion. For this reason, since time began as we evolve, we have been told of this wonderful place called the ' Garden of Eden', the place where everything began, this place is heaven. As it is, we seek outside for this heaven, this Garden of Eden. We go to the furthest reaches of the world in search for this Garden, but we fail over and over again to finding such a paradise called the Garden of Eden.
Why?
We go outwards, just as we venture from our home only to return later in the night.
We seek for this Garden of Eden outside, but actually it is inside, at home, all the time.
We have been looking at the wrong place, it is always with us, it never left us, only that we were too blind to see and not know, because our perceptions overwhelms us to believe the external world is the only one there is.
There are two worlds for this discussion.
A world inside us that is constantly creating and a world outside of us that is the result of our creating inside, the world of the created.
A world inside and a world outside.
Everything that is created in our world, our reality is from our 'mind', inside. Other then nature to which was created before we, the humanity came into being. Other than what nature is, everything else is 'human made', human created.
The world within is a world of creating!
The world without is a world of created!
The world within IS the Garden of Eden!
The world without IS the world of the Fallen!
Lets put it this way...
The world was created perfect, called the Garden of Eden.
Then as the outer world was created, the Garden of Eden was surrounded by, in the world outside became, hence it was subject to the world outside's influence, the environmental factors like wind, insects, birds, water etc.
The wind blew, the seeds of weeds was blown into the Garden of Eden. The seeds gets hold and began to grow, the weeds. Soon the Garden no longer looks like the perfection it was, it was hidden in weeds, the Garden still exist, only hidden from view!
Someone begin to ponder and look outside but fails to find, because the weed were so long they no longer see the big picture, the Garden to which it all began, then someone decided to remove the weeds in the world outside to slowly reveal the Garden. Slowly but surely the weeds are removed and soon it was revealed and the more excited the person became, the more passionate the discovery began and soon the weeds are all gone, the Garden revealed itself and the person took rest to enjoy the Garden.
Many people stop there, to enjoy.
The journey continues, the weeds were 'pulled' out, soon, the Garden because of the rest, begin to grow again, the weeds fill the Garden again, the Gardener is left un-aware of the weed growing because the Gardener has taken holiday, only to find when the Gardener returns, the Garden of Eden was once again gone.
Because the Gardener knows where it is now, the Gardener sets to work on clearing and revealing the Garden once more, pulling out the weeds, this time more effective, shorter time required to clear the weeds to disclose the Garden of Eden... Only one thing, every time the Gardener cleans it, pulled away the weeds, the weed will grow back in a shortest time. Even though the Gardener was more effective at pulling the weed away, it still comes back. The Gardener is confused and wonder, wonder the Gardener did. The Garden wonders away from the Garden of Eden in search of a solution of the growing weed, the Gardener wants to remove the weeds once and for all without having to repeat, routinely remove the weeds and allow the Garden of Eden to remain the Garden of Eden, absence of weeds.
Confusion sets in to wonder how to clear the weeds once and for all, the weeds grow taller and taller until the Gardener can no longer find its way out of the Garden, the Gardener is totally lost and confused, frustrated at the same time. One Gardener would slash out at the weed only to grow tired and fall asleep, another would sit quietly among the weeds to wonder about the solution of the growing weeds.
One would soon return to the Garden of Eden when the Gardener awakes, the weeds were miraculously cleared and gone, it is again at the Garden of Eden, again with the passage of time, the weed began to grow away and the situation repeats itself, only that every time the Gardener awakes, he also forgets about the past, the tending to the Garden was forgotten, the Garden of Eden process is repeated over and over again...
The other Gardener who sit quietly to ponder and wonder, finally realizes that the Garden of Eden is right here all the time, the weeds grow because the 'cause' is still there, the 'seeds' of the weeds exist below the soil, blown in from the world without (external world). To solve the weed issues once and for all, all the Gardener need to do was to 'pull the weed out and remove the seed', this way, the weed will end its reign and the weed stop populating the Garden of Eden.
This was a realization that the Gardener needed, now the Gardener sets out to clear the weeds at the cause. Slowly but surely the weeds was cleared and never to return again. The Gardener now lives in the Garden of Eden, free from the weeds of the external world. The interesting thing was this, the Gardener realizes, when the Garden of Eden is maintained, the world outside changes also, it begins to mimic the Garden of Eden and soon, the world external, our reality becomes the world within, the Garden of Eden.
The Gardener realizes that, in order to change the world outside, it must first begin from the world within, from the Garden of Eden, by slowly removing all the weeds from the world within, at its cause, then and only then will have the time to appreciate all its work to live in the beautiful Garden of Eden from which it began its journey called life!
Maintaining a Garden takes time and effort.
It is your Garden of Eden, if you treasure your Garden, maintain it.
Sure there will be weeds here and there, slowly discover the roots, pull it out and 'remove' the seed below and it will slowly be cleared.
It is your Garden, you are the Gardener, tend to it, maintain it, slowly but surely, thy work be done, thy Garden of Eden be revealed with your insistence of seeing and living in your Garden of Eden. Sooner or later, with the maintenance, you will have the paradise reflected in the world without, soon heaven be here in the world without and you are in heaven, for you have found your Garden of Eden to which you live in now!
Now you know, begin to tend to your Garden of Eden today!
By the way, the Garden of Eden in 'external world' terminology, it is called 'mind'.
Tend to your mind, weed out what you don't want slowly, one at a time, remove the causes and all is revealed. How to remove it? That's another story!
Happy clearing the weeds from your Garden of Eden.
Tag : Garden,Eden
Classical Chinese gardens and fountains are more than collections of beautiful plants, trees and water. They are representations of nature, providing insight into the philosophical and spiritual mind of past Chinese artisans and high-ranking citizens.
The principles of classical Chinese gardening can be useful and insightful to garden lovers living anywhere in the world. Chinese design objectives can inspire American home gardeners to try something new such as a garden fountain and encourage the expression of culture and philosophy through gardening.
In the 2,000 years since the imperial family first set aside natural areas for hunting, traditional gardens in China have developed into an art form equal in rank to painting, calligraphy and poetry. Several of the finest gardens, built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912), have survived the ravages of time and politics.
Suzhou, about 50 miles west of Shanghai, is known as "the city of gardens." For generations, rich officials, merchants, landowners, scholars, garden designers and garden crafters settled in Suzhou to enhance its fame. The principles of classical Chinese gardens were well represented in their gardens. Visitors come to learn their secrets and experience their magic.
These gardens provide insight into the traditional Chinese view of nature, which includes the role human's play in the natural order. The gardens hold clues to the ancient Chinese mind through the winding paths, the use of symbolism and the selection of plants. In the traditional Chinese view of nature, humans were equals with everything in the natural world. As the philosopher Lao Tsu wrote in the Tao Te Ching, "Man follows the earth. Earth follows heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. Tao follows what is natural." Traditionally, Chinese people assisted in the expression of nature but did not impose their will upon it.
Chinese gardens were originally designed to symbolize a living entity: rocks formed the skeleton, water and fountains functioned as the blood, while plants provided the clothing. To portray the influence of human beings in nature, architectural constructions (bridges, pavilions, halls, courtyards, gateways, windows, doors and pavings) were integrated into a garden's design. Their purpose was to illustrate the ideal interaction of humans with nature. Together, these elements made up all that is natural on Earth: vegetation, mountains, and bodies of water with gently flowing Chinese fountains as well as human influence. The way they were integrated into the garden expressed the relationships they have in nature.
Gardeners in the West may be unable to mimic the grandeur with which the ancient Chinese gardeners represented nature, but they can include parts of each element. The goal is to create a sense of wholeness within the limitations of the site and to consider all these elements as integral parts of the garden.
Just as a garden's main elements are symbolic of the parts of a living whole, symbols that make up the culture's beliefs are scattered throughout Chinese gardens and integrated in their design. For example, bad spirits were believed to travel in straight lines so pathways were seldom designed straight or flat. It was believed that the many changes in levels and directions made it difficult for these spirits to infect the people enjoying the garden. Dragons, symbols of strength, change and goodness, frequently adorn Chinese fountain walls and roofs of garden structures.
Suitability -- The most appropriate location for every feature of a garden must be found. Seasonal changes in weather and plants as well as the physical requirements of the garden site are considered. In addition to finding the most suitable site for each garden element (plants, rocks, water fountains and architectural constructions), details such as the size, shape, color and placement of railings, windows and doors in a building, for example, are also considered to ensure complete harmony of the surroundings.
Taking Advantage - The Chinese garden designer attempts to use the garden's surroundings, whether near or distant, to the best advantage. Sights, sounds, movement and stillness, the subtle and the obvious, are used as part of the scenes created within the garden. Many of the private gardens in China were small in size -- no larger than the typical garden sites of single family homes in the United States. It is the challenge, then, of the garden designer to create the illusion of spaciousness by incorporating far-off sights and sounds into the garden's ambiance.
Refinement - To define what is refined in the garden design is a judgment rooted in culture. In Chinese gardens, this refinement has meant incorporating a tranquility, gracefulness, elegance, neatness and distinctness that is in accordance with nature. The expression of these characteristics is judged in China against culturally accepted historical standards. Outside of China, gardeners can define what is considered refined according to their own standards.
Simplicity - To Ji Cheng, being simple means not being extravagant. Resources that are on site or nearby are considered the best materials to use in designing the garden. Rare or unusual objects and plants are considered extravagant.
Changeability - This objective is prominent in traditional Chinese gardens because it expresses the natural law of constant change. A garden design can create a sense of change and unexpectedness with scene changes in every turn of a path, an unexpected or different view from each window and aesthetic changes with each season. Designs can include changes caused by clouds, sun, wind, rain, snow, insects, birds, plants and water.
A garden's plants provide a link among all its elements, symbolizing harmony in nature. Plants are the garden's dynamic, living component.
In accordance with the Chinese view of gardens as representations of nature, the trees, shrubs and flowers of a garden are chosen to reflect the unique features of the garden's region. Most traditional Chinese gardeners select native plants, or plants with special meaning in Chinese culture. Bamboo, for example, is common in Chinese gardens because of the many lessons it teaches. Bamboo is strong and resilient. Staying green throughout the winter, it teaches that one can flourish despite harsh conditions. Bamboo grows in clumps, modeling life in the family. Its fast growth illustrates self-development.
The plants are situated in ways that show off an individual plant's unique features. Their arrangements in the design demonstrate their interrelationships with other species as they occur in their natural habitats. The purpose of plants in Chinese gardens is to reflect the inherent order of nature. More than a collection of plants or even an expression of beauty in the purely visual sense, the classical Chinese garden is a physical representation of Chinese philosophy and culture. These gardens embody the best of traditional Chinese thought and culture, which sees humanity functioning as part of a greater natural order.
Today, home gardeners can apply their plant growing talents in the spirit of these old Chinese gardens by expressing their own culture and philosophy toward nature in their garden designs and by applying Ji Cheng's design objectives. The result will be a garden that unites aesthetics, plant cultivation, philosophy and culture.
Tag : garden,chinese garden,fountains,chinese
Do you have a garden with full of flowers in the backyard of your house? Or are you just planning to create one? If you have plans to create a water garden in your front yard then you have made an excellent decision. Garden with water attracts the interest of many. It gives a pleasing effect to your garden. Moreover, not only front yard but water garden at the backyard is enough to attract the eye-catch of your relatives and visitors.
You must be aware of the fact that there are several types of gardens you can endorse at your home. You can create even a small raised bed garden or an elegant garden with a fountain. There are varieties of water gardens and some of them include waterfalls, small fountains and ponds. And it is easy to maintain too. However, it is vital that you choose the perfect spot to install a raised garden or water garden. Some fish and plants require sunlight and so you need to make sure that you create your pond or a water garden where there is plenty of sun warmth.
Several Factors That Need to Consider
When you plan to start your water gardening there are certain things you should consider:
o Size of the Water Garden: The size of the water garden or the raised bed garden plays a great role in portraying the beauty of your raised gardens. Don't make it neither too big nor too small; just makes it proportionate to your area.
o Budget for the Water Garden: Depending upon your budget and requirements you can set your water garden with rocks, fountains, and other styles to make it look prettier. Be careful in choosing the best useful plants for your garden that suits your budget.
o Plants & Fish selection: Fish cannot alone be a beautiful attraction to your water garden they can keep the pool free from debris. There are various types of plants that you can choose, if you want the one that floats freely you can get them or you can plants that will be submerged too. Get some plants for your garden that provides oxygen, which helps to keep the pool healthy forever.
Apart from building a water garden in your area, you can also build a raised bed garden. These raised gardens enhance the look of your home and you can be comfortable working in raised beds. Building and maintaining a raised bed gardens are easy when compared to the normal gardens. These gardens not only save your time but it will ideally save your lots of money. If you don't have the adequate drainage facility then these raised bed gardens can be the ideal solution.
Raised bed garden is sufficient to offer you better soil conditions, and you can have varied soils from bed to bed. Whether you are interested in growing a vegetable garden or a flower garden, then raised gardens are your preferred choice. This type of gardens can easily drain the excess moisture. Your plants look incredible with these neatly arranged raised gardens. The raised bed gardens provide you with better yields. And the pest control is made easy in the raised gardens. In other words, these raised gardens definitely give your home and garden an appealing look just like water gardens.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Caitlina_Fuller | |
How To Make An Organic Garden - Maximize The Growing Times With Your Organic Garden
0 comments Posted by ariya at 2/17/2011By starting them indoors. If you live in a climate where the growing season is very short, you may want to start your seeds or sprouts before the actual outdoor season starts to maximize on the crops you can grow.
Starting them inside isn't much different from starting your garden outside, except you'll obviously growing them in pots instead of in a full size garden bed.
The perfect timing is about 1-2 months before you will be able to transplant them into your garden outside. Any longer than this and you may end up with over crowding and stringy plants from them fighting each other for the sunlight.
One way to avoid this potential issue is to only plant one to two plants per pot. While this may be the optimal way to do it, it may also be unreasonable. If you don't have adequate sunlight in the house, you'll end up with lots of pots full of dead plants.
The first step is to determine exactly how much growing space you have, that has access to direct sunlight and to go from that.
You will also need to make sure your containers have proper drainage or you could end up drowning your seeds or sprouts. The best soil for this, if you are going the store bought route, is soil meant for African violets. It has adequate drainage, as well as the nutrients your seeds need to get started.
Make sure you follow the instructions on the seed packages as to how much soil they need to be planted in, as well as how much soil should be placed over top of the seeds. You don't want to plant them too deeply or they will have the inability to germinate.
Once planted, take care of them as you would in your outdoor garden. Make sure they get adequate sunlight and water and just keep an eye on them till the season is right to plant them into your outdoor garden.
Organic gardening is a great way to save money and create healthy organic produce. Started early indoors you can maximize on your growing season and make the most of your plants, and crops.
By: Scott Lilly
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Tag : garden,organic garden,home garden,flower garden,garden decor
For those who are novice in pond building and maintenance, they are of course completely naïve on everything that concerns their pond, especially in choosing fish pond supplies. Having no knowledge about ponds make it hard for them to choose which supplies should be used and what roles they will have in your pond. You may think that all pond types are almost similar but the fact is that it actually varies depending on a certain pond’s contents.
If you want to have a fish pond for example, the supplies that it will require are way too different than of a regular water pond. The creatures that will live in your pond will need to an environment that is friendly to them. This is for them to have longer lives. Some examples of the pond supplies that you will need to buy are algae control products, water conditioners and good pond filters. You also need to make sure that these products or chemicals will not be harmful to the living creatures in the pond.
Having a fish pond in your garden or backyard can cost you a lot of money. This is because that the fish in the water need a much more critical maintenance. Not only you need to make the environment look, feel and smell more natural for the fish, you also need to take care of the fish themselves. One thing you must keep in mind is to feed the fish on time and not too much. If you do feed them too much, the leftovers will be converted to organic materials that will feed the algae in the pond. If this happens, you will be required to spend more money to buy algae control products.
Before you start putting the fish in your newly-built pond, you need to make sure that you have dechlorinated the water. Tap water nowadays may contain chlorine which is not healthy to the fish at any costs. You may also want to consider some water conditioner since it not just lessen the nitrate content of the water, it is also capable to removing some chlorine content. You can do either since both are proven effective. Pond filters and aerators are also essential in your pond. You need to make sure that the water is always clean for the fish in it.
Another supply that you need to maintain your fish pond is the beneficial bacteria. Why beneficial? It is because of the advantages they give to you and your fish. these bacteria work to break down the organic wastes produced by the fish which if not treated, can cause algal growth.
The pumps in your pond should also be in their best shape all the time since they are the ones that circulate the water in pond thus making it suitable for the living creatures in it.
Tag : garden,home garden,garden center,flower garden,garden decor
You can grow mouth-watering lettuce, cherry, tomatoes, chili peppers, edible flowers, fresh herbs, salad green, chilies, tomatoes, and more in all the seasons. One can get fresh green for every meal all year round in aero garden. It is a computerized gardening technique which automatically tells you when to add water and nutrients. It is a self feeding, plug-and-grow gardening system.
Aero garden is a soilless gardening system in which plants take up nutrient more rapidly which means a faster growing, more compact and more nutritious plants in a smaller space. It comprises a stainless steel trim and adaptive growth intelligence that automatically adjusts the water, nutrients and lights for each plant type at three specific stages of growth, from germination, to initial development, to advanced growth.
If you wish to try indoor gardening then aero garden would be a good option for you. There is no mess, no fuss, no dirt and it does not depend on the outside weather conditions. Since it is an enclosed gardening technique, hence there is no need of pesticides or herbicides. You just need to protect your plants from pets and kids.
The Aerogrow Aero Garden comes in numerous different shapes and sizes. You will find the Aerogrow Aero garden in black and white, cascading petunia seed kits, chili pepper seed kits, cherry tomato seed kits, international basil seed kits, gourmet herbs seed kits, and salad green seed kits.
Aero Garden is a revolutionary kitchen garden. There is a built-in microprocessor which automatically adjusts nutrient delivery, light cycles, and water for specific plant types. It uses full-spectrum compact fluorescent bulbs exclusively designed for the optimal amount and type of light needed for robust, healthy plant growth.
Nowadays thousands of people in America are using this technology. You do not have to wait months to watch the seeds grow into little sprouts. You can enjoy the taste and fragrance of fresh herbs, vegetables and salad greens grown right at your home.
Tag : garden,home garden,garden decor,aero garden,garden plants
Flower box is the most widely used container gardening method to give our home a greener touch. We can either buy container boxes or make some customized window boxes for our window ledges. To create such a wonderful style for our container boxes, we need to select a matching flowering plant to the box theme. Selection would need to be more bountiful blooms of flowers that could cover most part of the box. It really gives a stunning look to the design if the flowering plants will cover most of the box design. If you want to have a designer box instead, you can choose to trimming the plant or pick one that does not have an overflowing bloom.
Planter box is another one gardening decoration that we could include in our home improvement plan. It happens to have different varieties and that includes the commercial planters. Commercial planters are normally big and the name itself tells that it is designed for business buildings. Mostly it placed on the lobbies and patios. Restaurants, hotels, and malls are usually using commercial planters to give the building the environmental look and concept. Other planter boxes would include the wooden, PVC planters, fiberglass and illuminated planters.
Another accent that we can add to our home and garden is the hanging basket. Hanging baskets are normally plain and we just have to develop the flowering plant that goes well with it. Mostly bountiful flowering plants are used for hanging baskets such as supertunias, sunsatias, and kalanchoe.
Terrariums are one of the newest modern home and gardening ornaments that are not yet being used by most people. It is actually an aquarium but is improvised and made as a container gardening box. There are different types of terrariums namely, bubble, globe and hanging glass terrariums. They can be either attached on the wall or hung on the ceiling.
All these ideas are possible if we just open our minds to innovation for home and gardening.
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
Tag : garden,home garden,flower box,garden decor,flower garden,garden plants
Path lighting may be utilized to brighten up any path that you simply or others may walk along inside your yard, such as a garden path, a driveway, or walkway leading up to your home. Fixtures might also be placed along the sides and corners of your home to help you watch your step when you are walking around from 1 side of the home to the other.
Unlike some other forms of landscape lighting, path lighting is not meant to dazzle. Although it'll improve your yard's appearance, it is created to be subtle and practical, and need to not distract from other factors. Path lights are typically placed low to the ground, with the light shining downward. This way, you can see the ground well sufficient to walk safely, without being blinded by the glare glowing directly into your eyes.
When it comes to selecting the correct fixtures for your yard, there is a vast array of possibilities. Products are obtainable in every single color and style, ranging from mushroom lights to recessed fixtures or tiny spotlights. For bulbs, it is possible to choose between LED, low voltage goods, solar lights, and a lot more. A professional landscape lighting designer can assist you create the best path lighting plan for your property.
Path lighting is a goodway to impress your family members and close friends when they come to go to your residence. The lights leading the method to the door will make them really feel welcomed and protected. Even from your street path lighting makes your residence look stylish and well landscaped.
Tag : garden,home garden,garden decor,garden plants,flower garden
Getting things in order and keeping them that way is certainly one of the most important essentials of good housekeeping. This principle is as true in the garden as it is in the home. Almost every locality is subject to a certain amount of wind. It may be Just a light breeze but forceful enough to move small fragments of refuse, depositing them in your garden. Debris that is dropped In corners of your garden will probably remain unless you move them yourself. A few sweeps of a bamboo rake should solve this problem in no time.
This is also an excellent time for attaching the loose ends of vines to an adequate support. Many of these plants, with the approach of warmer weather, will be entering their active growing season. Unless properly trellised, they very quickly may become topheavy; then if a wind comes up they may be ripped to shreds. Further, vines that hang in a sloppy manner are certainly not very attractive; plant ties that are weatherized and easy to handle are now available at most garden supply stores. For just a few cents you can buy a quantity of them sufficient to last a whole season.
One of the most important house-cleaning jobs in your garden consists of getting rid of weeds. This chore, formerly looked upon with disgust, has now been made comparatively easy by selective weed killers. Today you can spray a lawn with a selective weed killer which will kill the weeds but prove non-injurious to the grass plants. So there is no longer any reason for having thousands of weeds cluttering up your lawn, proving an eyesore and depriving your grass plants of their necessary food and drink.
A grass shear and a lawn edger are two important tools for cleaning up your garden. Lawns that creep beyond their regular confines, trespassing across the sidewalk are definitely a bad eyesore. A lawn edger will take care of them in no time and it should be used each time after the lawn is cut. Also if you have trees in your lawn the watering basins should be clearly outlined. Use a hand grass clipper for this purpose.
Spraying or dusting at regular Intervals is also part of your spring garden-cleaning program. During the active growing season you should keep after the bugs about once every seven or 10 days. Also, prune back hedges that have lost their good looks; cut off flowers before they become full blown and go to seed; and apply sufficient food and water so your plants will look fresh and healthy.
Tag : garden,home garden,garden decor,garden plants
After spreading the roots on top of a small pyramid of earth, additional rotted manure and compost and good soil, mixed with a teacup of bonemeal, is pressed around the roots until the hole is full. Water the plant well and add buckwheat hulls for a mulch.
The location for Christmas roses should be east to north so that the handsome evergreen foliage will flourish the year round without burning. Sun or a late spring freezes and lack of quantities of fertilizer and water will cause injury. The best plants I have seen in a Louisville garden were on the northeast side of the house between the base of a picture window and a small fish pool 18 inches away. Here dozens of blooms enliven the winter scene two to three months each year.
My plants are against the brick edging of the northeast side of a small rose plot, just outside my study window, where the lovely design of the foliage all year-round and the blooms in winter are a constant source of pleasure.
Success in Michigan
When my mother sent me several small plants of Christmas roses a number of years ago, I knew nothing about them and was frankly unaware of any plant that would flower through the winter months, with the snow on the ground.
To try them out, I selected a moist site in the partial shade where the drainage was good and placed some well rotted manure in the soil which was alkaline. They were planted in early spring, but I have since learned that the fall is a better planting time. When winter came, each plant produced two or three flowers, but the following year they bloomed profusely.
When cut for use in the house, I select any type of evergreen foliage like golden pothos plant, since the plant needs its own leaves for proper development. Blooms may be cut when frozen, then thawed out in the basement. I personally prefer to leave the blooms outside and buy flowers for the house, as the real thrill of a Christmas rose is to admire it in bloom in the snow. The plants actually need little care and no cultivating is necessary, though watering in summer is required.
I have tried dividing my plants, but they resent disturbance, which sets them back several years. I move them only when they are not doing well, being careful to take a large ball of soil. The late summer or fall is best.
The Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) has greenish white or purplish flowers, which hold very little thrill for me, as they appear in the spring with crocus and other early flowers.
Tag : garden,garden decor,home garden,garden plants
