The Brogue Hog

When you start looking to buy a garden fork from the UK or marveling at some Alan Titchmarsh garden forks, don’t forget that gardening hasn’t always been filled with garden accessories and high tech machines. Civilizations were gardening long before the creation of the garden fork or the rake. The activity we think of as an everyday pastime started to take shape over sixteen thousand years ago.

In Egypt gardeners worked by a blend of pleasure, spirituality, and practical reasons. Usually confined by walls of stone, fertile grounds were filled with vegetables, grapes, flowers, fruit and nut bearing trees, and from time to time pools for fish. Some of the land was allotted for other things, sacred plant life grown and cultivated for use in the temples. And other herbs, important to the temples for ritual purposes, grew elsewhere.

Others, too, were famous for creating early farmsteads. These include the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians, who all also incorporated buildings of some dimensions into gardens. The Romans also genuinely delighted in tranquil gardens, though the Greeks did not. Food alone flourished in their farmsteads.

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In that era, hoes and spades were the new, recent innovations that forks or rakes would be for times to come — real differences even before taking into account what they used for materials. Gardeners shaped them from bronze, copper, stone, iron… the eras of history correspond well to the primary materials seeing action.

Progress was forced to a halt under the pressure of the Middle Ages. Horticulture suffered, but by good fortune, the Church practiced the old techniques, ready to be called on. Bit by bit we returned to designing gardens for pleasure. Conventions began to evolve, a formalized structure dictating the way the garden should ultimately appear. You have only to look at the artistry inherent in a knot garden for that to be evident.

Such rules aren’t still essential, and as such there’s really nothing to fret about — have fun, and don’t be embarrassed regarding searching for information on how to get rid of some annoying garden spades handle or leafing through some well written garden fork review. Where others abided by gardening rules that had been developed over hundreds of years, “Capability” Brown and those like him created a unique blend of instinct and structure by combining artificial decorative pieces along the lines of columns with natural landscapes. Granted, the situation has expectably changed over the generations, but gardens are still popular for the same reasons as our forefathers’. You won’t find a more picturesque realm than a garden.

Horticulture must be one of the top summer pastimes, especially in the UK. Along with gardening, comes a large amount of garden tools and equipment, especially for those with a huge interest in Gardening. Once Summer and Fall has ended, winter advances. All the lawn tools you own need to be organised in the storage. It might not be a great job but it pays to be organized

Of all of the household items that can be set up in the shed, Garden accessories are the most troublesome. Small hand tools such as the secateurs are quite easy to secrete away someplace. The key problem is that they can be mislaid over the wintertime period, this is due to their small nature. But the largest issue is with stashing away the larger equipment, which just happen to be some of the most tricky forms.

Garden rakes are one of the most awkward bulky tools to store, finding somewhere reasonable to put it for a long period of time can be very difficult. Throw in the digging fork with its deathly spikes, stainless spade, border spade, springbok rake, forged hoe and you have a recipe for catastrophe lying in wait for you. If you have youngsters, then the risks are even heavier.

With all of these factors in mind its is easiest to have have your tools cleansed and then stored away, in doing this it will make it easygoing for you to acquire them in the new year. Garden tool racks, which are particularly planned to put away lawn tools, are designed to overwhelm these problems. They can easily be fitted in any garden shed or garage, in fact anywhere that you choose to stash away the accessories.

Effective instrument racks make accessories easier to find, as well as keeping your accessories in good order. The issue is, which stand do you take? There are many options, and some of these are very well contrived for the intention intended. While detached holders, if steady and sturdy, might be satisfactory, it is surely advisable to have a wall mount that is permanently secured to the garden shed or garage wall. That way, it is less likely to come collapsing down in a mound on the floor. If you have children, a wall stand that can be elevated out of the contact of the tiddlers is essential, as is opting one that will grasp the rake and other risky gardening instruments unwaveringly in place.

1800flowers, famed for variant fresh cut and floral arrangement alternatives, also carries plants, and fruit and gift basket products available for their customers. With an extensive national network, they work to supply significant alternative to those who use their service. 1800flowers also has their Fresh Rewards program that gives their client an opportunity to earn points for every dollar they spend.

For flowers meant to last, 1800flowers has consumers a assortment of silk and dried flowers. They have their sweet pink arrangement along with a sweet pink dried flower wreath. They also provide a dried lavender arrangement in a small wood chest. To welcome a newborn baby boy or girl they also have their dried pink or blue flowered wreaths for babies.

The Martha Stewart collection at 1800flowers also encompasses non-flower gift items. An example is the sweet and savory snack tray. The Nantucket basket tray that’s part of this gift item is woven rattan and within it has gourmet snacks, such as berry candies, cheese crisps, dried fruits, and nuts.

1800flowers also offers their Happy Birthday decorated pretzels. These gift canisters include Bavarian pretzels covered in dark chocolate and candy confetti, dark chocolate with white decorative drizzle, milk chocolate with candy gems and smooth white fudge with nonpareils. Each of these gift canisters contains 16 pretzels.

1800flowers continues to present various flower, plant, and gift basket alternatives. Their allegiance is to product and price option that meets the needs of cost as well as quality-conscious shoppers. With flowers under $30, clearance sales, everyday value pricing, and sale choices, they look to furnish gifts in price ranges that their buyers’ demand.

Remember When . . .

In the not too distant past, the words “outdoor rug” referred to something like a small patch of Astroturf that one placed out on the patio. Those old outdoor rugs were basically utilitarian, and they sure didn’t add anything aesthetically pleasing to the landscape. But then again, few people cared much about what patios looked like at the time.

Outdoor Rooms Come into Their Own

All that is changing. Now, it is not uncommon to hear decorators, architects, and outdoor enthusiasts talk about “outdoor rooms,” showing that patios and decks are much more than just somewhere to store a grill. They have become integral parts of the home, and as such are treated like any other room in the house. Of course, along with this exalted view of outdoor rooms came the desire for higher quality and more stylish outdoor products. Enter braided outdoor rugs. An improvement over the older models, braided rugs were more pleasing to the eye, and, being made of polypropylene, they were also water, UV, mold, and rot resistant.

Indoor / Outdoor Rugs

Recently, though, there has been an even bigger leap in outdoor rug manufacturing. Now, polypropylene threads are actually woven, as would be done to make a normal indoor rug. The result is rugs that are tough enough to withstand outdoor use, but comfortable and beautiful enough for indoor use, especially in high traffic areas. And because they are available in virtually any imaginable color and pattern, they can easily be matched to any home decor.

One advantage of these indoor / outdoor rugs is how easy they are to clean. Usually they can simply be hosed off, and even if they get especially dirty, all that is needed is some mild soap. Thus, in addition to patios and decks, woven all weather rugs are also ideal for kitchens and mudrooms, where spills and messes are common.

Indoor / outdoor rugs are one more step in blurring the traditional distinctions between the inside and outside of homes. These amazing rugs can take comfort and elegance outside, as well as bring rugged durability inside.

Trey Collier is owner of BackyardCity.com, North America’s finest Outdoor Casual Living Store, designed and created to help fashion the outdoor living space, deck, porch, or patio you’ve always dreamed of having. Since 2001, BackyardCity.com has offered internet customers quality outdoor living products at very reasonable prices.

What’s a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter? A hellebore! It is an outdoor plant that is shocking to see blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year.These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed trees or something of that nature. What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few plants that do that! One variety is called a Christmas Rose. These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery. Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family of plants.

Another plant you’ll surely want to try is called Sweet Annie. This is actually an annual herb, in the worm wood family. The seed is very fine and you sow it in direct sunlight in the spring after all danger of frost is gone. Sweet Annie can get up to 6 feet tall. It’s fragrance is wonderful! My favorite use for Sweet Annie is in the fall to cut it to the ground and dry it. It can be used as wonderful, fragrant filler for dried flower arrangements, and it can also be bound with fine wire to form a wreath base of its own. Simply tuck in other dried flowers here and there around it and you’ve got a beautiful dried floral wreath with a fragrance to die for!

Another unusual one is called Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate. Yes, this really is the name of a plant! It’s official name is Polygonum orientale. It’s an old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect. It has large heart shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of small pink flowers. In rich, moist soil and full sun it can go to six feet tall. Best to sow the seed in fall or early spring where it is to grow.

Lastly another unusual plant to try is the Balloon Flower. These are perennial, meaning they will return year after year. The latin name for these are: platycodon grandiflorus. They are very hardy, durable plants and very beautiful. Balloon flowers are about the size of a ping pong ball and look like little “balloons”. Once they fully open up they split and you can see the center portion and the bloom then resembles a star. They usually come in shades of purple, pink and white. Very cute, the plants only get about 2 feet tall. Try one!

About The Author

By Valerie Garner-Visit Home Tips & More at http://www.angelfire.com/wa/hometips

rgarner722@hotmail.com

Using landscaping ideas can be an effective way to attract wildlife, such as birds, to your yard and neighborhood. Thoughtfully placing bird feeders or houses around your yard can make it an inviting environment for different types of bird species. There are several advantages to utilizing landscaping ideas to increase wildlife populations around your home.

First, if these birds are spending time nesting in your yard, the less of a chance they will have to be eaten, killed, or harmed in some way. While they are there, your yard serves as a safe haven. The more they come to your yard and the longer they stay, the more protection they will have against predators and hunters.

The second advantage of trying out different landscaping ideas to attract wildlife populations to your yard is that you can enjoy bird watching with your children, grandchildren, or spouse. Bird watching is a wonderful pastime and can also be educational. You and your children can enjoy watching these magnificent creatures and at the same time you can let them in on little facts about each species.

Not only that, but you and your children or grandchildren can also use what you learn to do projects together, like making homemade birdfeeders to go along with the bird houses you put together using your landscaping ideas. Now, that is family time that you can be proud of. It sure beats watching TV, where there is no interaction with one another.

Lastly, another great reason to attract birds to your yard using landscaping ideas is because you can take beautiful photographs of every species and put together a wonderful book to share with your friends. Maybe you will even get enough to enter a few wildlife photography contests!

When looking for landscaping ideas, it is always best to visit a site you can trust to help you out. My personal recommendation is www.thelandscapingpro.com, it will help you with all of your needs. Remember, a beautiful and inviting yard will draw more wildlife to your neighborhood then you ever could have imagined.

About The Author

David Dunlap is the founder and owner of The Landscaping Pro, an online resource for any sized landscape project. For more information, visit http://thelandscapingpro.com or email at david@thelandscapingpro.com

Your outdoor plants have worked hard for you all summer, making your yard a place you’re proud to call home. Properly winterizing your lawn and garden is an important step toward healthy soil, lush grass, and happy plants next year. Remember to take care of your outdoor accessories, including your lawn equipment, gardening tools, and all of your lawn and garden decor. A little time spent this autumn will make your gardening and landscaping efforts easier and more enjoyable next spring!

Let’s start with the easy jobs - First remember to store all of your lawn and garden decor including fragile planters, gazing balls, and your deck furniture. Unglazed terra cotta planters left filled with soil outside will often break in the freezing temperatures so it is best to clean them and place them in a storage area where they are protected from the elements.

Autumn is the time to find your birdfeeders and to start stocking your winter feeding pantry. Soon your many feathered friends will be flocking to your feeders for that nutritious morsel. Remember to keep your feeders full through the winter as the birds need reliable food sources through the winter months.

Now that you’ve done the easy tasks, let’s move on to the more mundane winterizing chores. Start by simply cleaning up the vegetable garden. After the first hard frost, remove the year’s annual plants and the dead vegetation. You can add this material to your compost pile, but make sure you’re not adding material from diseased or pest-infested plants. You’ll want to pull perennial weeds before you mulch your garden down for the winter.

The best part of fall landscape chores is planting the spring-blooming bulbs. Crocus, tulips, and daffodils are a beautiful addition to the early spring landscape.

In the yard there’s the major job of raking leaves. These are great either in the compost pile or as direct mulch on the garden. Perennial flowers may be smothered by a heavy layer of mulch, however. Also, wait to prune your trees until later in the winter.

After the ground freezes you can mulch your perennial flowers and newly planted trees. Certain shrubs will need to be wrapped in burlap to protect them from wind damage, sun scald, and other winter injury.

Moving on to the mechanical tasks of winterizing your lawn and garden - While you might try to procrastinate on these jobs until spring, you’ll be well rewarded for the maintenance you perform this fall. Drain the gas from your lawnmower and string trimmer. Actually it’s best to let your mowers and trimmers simply run out of fuel. If you don’t want to ‘waste’ that little bit of fuel, add a gas conditioner before the long winter. Be sure to follow directions. Also, take the same care with your gardening equipment such as your rotary tiller.

Clean all of your landscaping equipment before you store it away for the long, cold winter. Wash with soap and water, clean the air filter, and change the oil. You’ll find that first lawn mowing job in the spring a little bit easier if you take time to sharpen the blades now. You can protect that freshly sharpened blade by applying a little spray oil to the blades. You can also apply light spray oil to other moving parts such as cables and the throttle controls.

Lastly, drain all of the water from the garden hoses and turn off the taps. Be sure to store your insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in a safe storage area that will not freeze. Make sure these materials are kept away from children and pets!

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John Biondi is a frequent contributor to Best Lawn and Garden. For more Articles and tips on Lawn and Garden care, Gardening and Garden Decor visit http://www.bestlawnandgarden.com