Gardening is how I relax. It is another form of creating and playing with colors. Oscar de la Renta
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul. Alfted Austin
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If you've never had a wood burning fireplace in your home, then I say you're seriously missing out. Then again, if you've had a wood stove, it's fairly similar. Personally I prefer a wood burning fireplace because it offers such a wonderful comfort to a family room. more...
In Japan, Zen Buddhism informs so much of the Japanese philosophy and lies at the core of all their aesthetic undertakings. The natural world is valued highly and the Japanese rock garden, or Zen Garden as it has come to be known is a large part of that tradition. more...
Growing tomatoes is a pretty easy task and as long as you know the basic rules to follow you can’t mess it up too much. First you need to decide where you’ll place these hearty plants. Although avid growers often use seeds, this isn’t something the typical backyard gardener is going to want to attempt. more...
I can't tell you how many times I've used Raid bug sprays in my life. Hey, I know what the deal is. Maybe people have reverted back to the old-school natural insect repellent solutions. There are plenty to concoct in your own home. If you're not familiar with this concept, let me fill you in. Who knows? It just might save you some cash this summer on bug spray. more...
Chewing gum removal is a chore that is the stuff of nightmares. Being a former teacher and a mother of four gum-chewing boys, I can certainly tell you that there is no easy way to remove gum from carpets, furniture or just about any other surface that you face. more...
A good amateur chef would do well to invest in a fine set of culinary knives. A more accomplished chef could also go ahead and invest in a custom set of utensils. But one thing that most amateur and professional chefs overlook, and which would add more value than any of the items listed above, is an indoor herb garden. more...
Most people do not want to have fruit trees growing in their home. They are large and need a lot of light and space. However, there are some miniature fruit trees that you can find in various places. more...
A beautiful, brand new home looks lost among the dark dirt it was built in. Having sod laid down and planting some bushes and shrubs can instantly transform the entire exterior look of a home. Any shrubbery or greenery that is planted will normally take a few years to reach its full potential, however fast growing trees can yield great results for impatient gardeners. more...
Many people like to do things in their yard because they find a sense of peace when the work with their hands and they are close to nature. There are many that like growing vegetable gardens, and these are not only relaxing as a hobby, but are also a great way to have some great tasting vegetables for the dinner table. Though it is not terribly hard to have a great garden, there are some things that you have to do and you have to watch out for. more...
If you have a gardener on your gift list, you might want to get them gardening tools for Christmas or whatever holiday it is that you celebrate. Though you may think it an odd gift to give in the middle of the winter, you will find that they will love that you thought to get them something they might need. more...
The backyard ice rink is a winter classic around where I live. When I was a kid, there were at least two or three backyard ice rinks on each block. It was a great tradition for a couple of reasons. Not only did the kids get to play hockey and the adults get to skate around, but it also gave us an excuse to run our taps during the winter. more...
Spices and herbs are a great way to add flavor to your meals, but you are going to have the best luck with fresh plants. You might want to have an indoor herb garden so you always have what you need. more...
Chili pepper décor for any part of the house is very popular because of its southwestern flair. Many homes throughout the west and southwest have adopted this style of décor; the simple designs and vibrant colors add a decorative touch, and especially complement the adobe style and stucco homes in this part of the country. more...
If you're a beginning or lukewarm gardener, you may be unaware of the fun and treasures to be had at garden supply houses. Some are big DIY type places, with everything under the sun pertaining to gardening. Other garden supply shops may be specialty nurseries with smaller but select “gourmet” garden supplies. more...
When shopping for barbecue covers, don't skimp on quality. Look for barbecue covers made of sturdy, waterproof material which fits the size of your grill and is heavy enough to provide protection from heat and cold. more...
We live in a pretty harsh climate and we have a fairly limited amount of space. We love to entertain outdoors, but coming up with durable patio furniture has been a problem. more...
The problem is that it is easier to talk about getting rid of squirrels than it is to actually do it. All the methods that I tried to get rid of squirrels failed at first. The squirrel traps were useless, and the squirrel bait didn't even seem to attract them. Somehow, they seemed to sense my intentions and wouldn't come near. Then I found some squirrel repellent. more...
Many homeowners are creating outdoor living spaces that are as warm and comfortable as any room in the house. A backyard fire pit is the perfect addition to your deck, patio or just about any space outside. more...
Ancient Chinese philosophy is an inspiration to some people and mere superstition to others. There is a lot of interest in the practice of Feng Shui, both in the East and in the West. The guidelines affect every aspect of life for those who believe in it. more...
If you have never had much success with plants, or if you just want a beautiful dash of color to brighten up your living room, African violets might be just the answer. Caring for African violets is easy, but they do require some work. Therefore, when you grow African Violet plants, it will serve as an introduction to the world of plant care. more...
If you want to have bird feeders in your yard, but you aren’t sure what you want, you might want to consider having hummingbird feeders instead. They are different from other feeders because they fill up with a sweet liquid rather than bird seed. more...
I had never heard of cactus gardening, but my friend assured me that it was quite common. Although not very many people have a cactus garden around here, where she comes from they all over the place. Cactus gardens are extremely popular in the bay area around San Francisco. Between the sunlight and the moderate rain, anything will grow there – including cacti. more...
So if you live near water, you probably have even more than the rest of us lurking around your home. What you need to deal with this situation is an electronic mosquito repellent. You can set up a mosquito magnet just outside of your home and they will gradually stop coming around. more...
If you have cats, you know that one of the hardest things you can do is remove cat odor. I don’t know what it is, but there is something in their urine that refuses to give up the ghost. more...
Water features in gardens are a source of enjoyment to many gardeners. They add an interesting aspect and can be very restful. There are a lot of products and advice available for anyone wanting to start an aquatic garden. more...
If you're rich like a movie star, there's no doubt that you can have the absolute best personal security and home alarm systems. Money will buy all the protection you desire. On the other hand, for those of us living the middle-class lifestyle, things don't come so easily. This is why it's important to shop wisely. You can still have a great security and home surveillance set-up more...
One day, you are trying out a new hot pepper sauce and the next day you are making your own. Pretty soon, your entire yard if filled up with planters sprouting your own hot pepper plants. more...
Hardwood floors have to be taken care of properly, or they will begin to look very ragged. Though they can take a lot of abuse, there are some things you have to watch out for. You should never wash hardwood floors with a mop, and for the most part, you should never use any kind of detergent while washing them. more...
A garden is one of the great joys of life, offering respite from the fast-paced and often stressful work week. One type of garden almost everyone can manage is an herb garden. Many of your staple cooking herbs can be grown in a sunny window or balcony. If you're lucky enough to have a larger space, you can landscape with garden herbs. more...
It is much easier to build a rabbit cage than you might think. Although commercially available rabbit cages do have some advantages, in general they are cruel and inhumane. They have metal bars on the bottom that hurt the rabbit's feet, and they do not give the bunny enough room to move around. more...
One of the newest crazes in presents this year is dog gift baskets. It isn’t odd to see the little doggie stockings with treats in them around Christmas time, but lately dog lovers have found that giving these great gifts for pets is a fantastic way to let their little baby know they love them. more...
What would you say to a fancy salt water aquarium fish? Have you even taken a gander at some of the amazing fish tanks they sell these days? I was impressed when I walked into our local aquarium and sea life store and spotted some phenomenal salt water aquarium fish. more...
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