Fountain Bird Baths - More Fun For You And Your Garden Birds

A fountain bird bath is a great way for both you and your backyard birds have more fun out in your yard. Not only will also add a wonderful ambience to your garden along with the soothing sounds of trickling water, but it will also attract a huge variety of different species of wild birds.

In fact, birds cannot resist the trickling water that can be found in these types of bird baths. And there is nothing more fascinating on a hot summer day and watching birds frolic under the water of your phone while they enjoy a refreshing bath.

There are a few things you want to look out for when buying a fountain bird bath. First of all, you might want to opt for a solar powered one so that you don't have to worry about where to plug in. However if you do get one that needs electricity you want to be sure that you have a source close by.

Another thing to consider is the depth of the birdbath bowl. He'll get one that's too deep because birds prefer shallow bowl and will actually avoid one that is deeper than 3 inches. That being said, if you do find one that you fall in love with and it is deeper than that , you can always fill it up with little stones or pebbles to make it shallower.

The other thing, is that you want the surface of the birdbath to be little bit gritty so the birds can grip it and get a good purchase on the edges.

Of course, the location that you install the birdbath is critical because you wanted to be a place where birds feel safe and comfortable so that they can let their guard down and really have fun in the bath! Make sure it is in a somewhat sheltered spot where other animals can't sneak up on them.

Once you have your fountain bird bath installed and working properly, you want to be sure that you keep it clean. Cleaning out at least once a week is imperative that you might want to clean it every day during summer. You wouldn't want to be that dirty water and neither do your birds. Keeping it free of mold and algae will help ensure that it is a safe environment for your feathered backyard friends.

Kill the Bugs not the Kids

In my case the kids refers to 2 dogs and 2 cats with a taste for house plants. The cats in particular are fond of anything green trying to survive indoors. But not to be outdone Roxy our precocious 3 year old Blue Heeler mix has a thing for my small grove of citrus trees. I find her munching on the leaves regularly. So when I noticed several of the citrus trees infested with spider mites... well lets just say I thought I was faced with a choice of the trees or the kids. And some times that is a tough choice to make.



I have grown the little trees from seeds. The seeds all came from the old fashioned method of saving seeds from fruit rather than tossing them out. Everyone told me "They will never grow" or "They will never produce fruit". The common assumption being fruit is irradiated to kill bugs and such, so the seeds would not be viable.



I have withstood much ribbing and teasing by my spouse and friends, regarding their viability. Much to their chagrin, the seeds did sprout. In fact nearly all of the seeds sprouted and several of the little trees have flourished. These I have protected and pruned. they have become more than the little experiment that I started on.  They are still little more than tiny saplings, and consequently none have flowered, yet. Regardless they have become a symbol, of something bigger. That I was right, and they were wrong.



Even more than the validation of my idea, they make me feel anything is possible. Very few citrus plants can grown in my region. So these little guys surviving is a symbol of hope, and survival.

Attributing so much to these 7 little trees, is a bit much, and setting yourself up for heartbreak, I know. But here I am with all this hope, anticipation and everything.



Now imagine my horror when I noticed something attacking one of the little trees. It seemed to be sucking the life out of it. Once I noticed, the infestation was quite advanced. Several of the trees were affected, and one was in dire shape indeed.



I started the way I always do, pruning away the most affected areas. This had a minimal effect.



So now there I was, my hope infected with mites. Could I disregard my deep sense of dislike for chemicals, to save the "orchard"? Or was there another, better way?



I always want to use organic methods. Up until that point, I had no real nasty bugs to eliminate. So it had been easy, and I was clueless.



I didn't want to make the kids sick. I want to use organic methods, if possible. I want to save the little trees. So, what to do?



The internet is an amazing tool. After a few minutes of research I found a whole host of solutions, and in that search I located a site that has become a lifeline, Arbico Organics.



For the past 30 years Arbico Organics has been producing and marketing natural products for organic homes, businesses, lawns, gardens, farms and pets. They had several products that work for the problem I was faced with.



Since purchasing the  spray for my little trees, I have not noticed any recurrence of spider mites. The trees again look healthy. And none of the kids seems to have had the slightest ill effects. I am hopeful that after 2 or 3 more growing seasons they will finally flower, but if they just survive that long I will be proud. For now they are a nice little edition to our deck in summer, and our guestroom in winter.

About the Author: Christian Hammer is a self proclaimed Serial Entrepreneur, inventor and green advocate. His website, www.mindzle.com is a resource for people who are wanting to live a more sustainable life, but don't necessarily know how to get started, or are worried about how they can afford it. He tries to lead by example, with a wide variety of projects, ideas and how-to's.

Growing Basil - How to Grow Basil

Herbs can benefit life in many ways. Growing basil, Ocimum basilicum, is an easy way to spice up the garden and your favorite recipes. Unknown to most, basil is actually a member of the mint family! Sweet Basil is the most popular grown basil plant known but it grows in a host of other varieties. When it comes to old age medical remedies, and flavoring meals, basil is the best.


Old tales-

Growing basil has a special significance in many cultures throughout the world. The people of India swore their oaths in court on basil leaves. To signify love, Italian suitors wore a sprig of basil in their hair when they courted their ladies. A popular Mexican belief is that carrying basil would return a cheating lover.


Medicinal use-

Growing basil can provide major health benefits. The plant contains beta carotene, naturally packed with vitamin A. The herb is sometimes known by herbalists as a 'cure-all' for a wide array of ailments, from stomach trouble to headaches. In fact, the list of benefits from this herb proves it so powerful; Basil is considered the “King” of herbs.


Growing Basil-

Don't worry, growing basil is a breeze. You can grow basil plants started from seed inside the house before transplanting into the garden. It can even be full grown indoors if preferred. The plant needs plenty of sun to thrive. You can use fluorescent ’grow’ bulbs if there is not enough lighting in your home.

The seeds should be sown about 1” from each other, in a warm time of year. After a few leaves have grown, the basil can then be re-planted. Make certain you wait until a late frost is no longer a threat.

Add layer of mulch of about three inches. Organic mulch is an excellent choice. Watering should be done one day per week, before noon. Never use too much fertilizer, as this can remove the unique odor from the herb.

Plant the herbs at least 16 - 20 inches apart to grow a good- sized plant. For growing basil, it has essentially two requirements, well-drained soil, and a sunny, moist area.

Basil should be pruned fortnightly to increase its hardiness. Clip leaves back to about a quarter inch above a node and leave enough foliage for continued growth. Remove dead heads from flower stems for it to continue in good health.

It is a good idea when growing basil, to plant it near your tomato vines. Both of these plants require above average sunlight, and watering, so it is convenient to place them close to each other. Basil next to tomato – like bolognese sauce! Basil is a big help around the kitchen and helps to repel insects in the garden.

Once the basil plant has reached six inches, you can start to pinch off the top sets of leaves. Basil plants can grow to approximately two feet tall. Growing basil is a big benefit to both your garden and your household.

Planting Roses In Your Garden

Planting a garden is one of lifes joys and roses are an old standby for any garden and one of the worlds favorite flowers. There are over 5,000 varieties of roses in the United States and they can be used to enhance your garden in many ways — as creepers, shrubs, vines, climbers, hedges or just as beds of pure colour.

When picking out roses for your garden, it is important to get healthy plants. Make sure the stems are green and not shriveled and the roots are moist and partly fibrous. The most expensive rose is not always the best rose; it may be only a newcomer, much discussed and, therefore, a favorite.

In general, there are two types of roses: bush roses and climbers. Bush roses are shrub like and climbers produce canes that require some sort of support. The most commonly planted type of bush rose is the hybrid tea rose. Other types of bush roses include polyanthas (roses in large clusters), the fioribundas (large-flowered polyanthas), and the hybrid perpetuals (vigorous growers with a great crop in June and continuous blooming throughout the summer).

The climbers include ramblers, whose long pliant canes have large clusters of small roses that can be used for covering walls, fences and banks. The climbers also are pillar roses, adapted to growing near buildings and on posts and the climbing hybrid tree.

If you are contemplating planting roses in your garden, make sure you pick out the proper spot and prepare the soil appropriately. You should use garden loam with organic matter that contains peat moss, leaf mould, compost, rotted or commercial manure. Prepare the soil in the rose beds well before in order to allow for settling of the soil.

The best time to plant roses is in the fall, but you can plant them in the spring too. When planting roses, inspect the roots to make sure they have not dried and if they have make sure you soak them before planting. Trim off any broken, weak or long roots.

Set the plant in a hole that is large enough so that the roots can spread. The part of the plant where the top attaches to the roots (called the bud) should be just under the surface of the ground. Plants should be spaced 18” apart. Prune the branches back to about 8” from the soil.

Keeping your roses fresh and healthy all year is important.  To grow good roses it is necessary to cultivate, to prune and to spray. If you have a well-cultivated bed you need not worry about watering. But if you start to water in hot weather, you must keep it up, soaking the roots thoroughly about once a week.
Spraying every 10 days guards against the diseases and insects that attack roses. Nicotine sulphate wipes out the green lice; arsenate of lead is used against chewing insects; or sulphur and arsenate of lead may be used in a dust, as may DDT dust.

When winter approaches, protect your roses by piling sod or straw mulch around them. If you have climbing roses, remove the supports and place the canes on the ground, peg them, and cover with soil mounds.

Silk Flowers-Adding Spice to your World

Silk flowers are a great way to add color to any places that you can think of. Beyond the beauty of a silk flower lies its ability to spice up any occasions, such the most important day of your life- your wedding day.Like innate flowers, silk flowers can provide you the same beauty and good looks, as if they were the true thing.

More and more people are using silk flowers for their wedding day’s floral arrangements.  Most commonly used are the white silk flowers, but depending on your motif, you can consider some of these silk flowers:

Tropical Silk Flowers: If you want your wedding to have a Hawaiian atmosphere, then tropical silk flowers are best for you.  They can give your wedding a bright, summery, beautiful and exotic look.  Brighten up your mood with the variety of colors to choose from, like red, pink, orange, white and purple. 

Daisy Flowers: Bring your wedding to life with daisy’s magical blend of fresh and innocent charm.  Daisy flowers are elegantly sweet and are just the right flowers for your big day.  They are perfect if you like to give your wedding a touch of summer or spring ambiance.  You can also use daisy flowers as accessories for you hair or as a necklace or bracelet.

Hydrangea Flowers: Add some romantic look on your wedding with the adorable beauty of hydrangea flowers.From their dramatic and magnificent look, they are also immense for summer or spring themed weddings.  Hydrangea flowers are like small blossoms that come in the colors white, red, pink and purple.

Flowers in acrylic water: You can also choose the beautiful fresh blooms of flowers in acrylic water.It’s a well-known way to build your wedding day look lovely and great.  You can add some fragrance to make them look and smell sweeter.

Silk flowers are a fun way to add some color to your wedding day without worrying much about wilting. With today’s more advanced designs made on silk flowers, you are sure that they are specially designed to look even more realistic and adorable.

Garden furniture and accessories are ideal for Christmas

While it most certainly isn’t the season to use them, garden furniture and garden accessories make ideal Christmas gifts for this year. There’s something out there for every garden’s space and requirements, and will bring friends and family a great deal of pleasure long into the new year. A selection of garden themed gifts is a great way to ensure that the presents you buy are useful and will have some longevity in the households of those you give them to.

Think of the possibilities; garden furniture could include anything from a set of plastic chairs and a table, to a wrought iron and wood bench, or a barbecue set, or a parasol to keep the sun (and rain) off. Garden lighting is also a great idea for gifts, and it is now available as solar powered, battery powered or mains powered items, so there really is something for every home and every pocket.

There are many possibilities for any taste and any space, and in these difficult time it is most important for gifts to be functional and useful in order to be good value for you and great to receive for the people you give them to.  They are reusable, which is always a good thing, and thus they will continue to be admired and appreciated for a long time to come.

So, consider garden furniture, accessories and appliances for Christmas this year, and ensure that the gifts you buy will be loved for many years to come. Plus, you could even enjoy these things with your friends and family after Christmas. Why not stage your own unique celebrations once Spring arrives, just to celebrate life and the warming of the seasons?  We wish you all the very best in your search for the ideal garden items this Christmas, and we also wish you the very best for the festive period and the new tear. We’ll see you outside!

A Garden for All Seasons: Best Seasons for Gardens

A Garden for All Seasons: Best Seasons for Gardens

Properly cared for, all seasons are best for your garden. No, I am suggesting that your garden will grow during the fall and winter, that would be crazy. I am saying that there are ways to help your garden perform at its absolute best, to be its healthiest and that your garden should have at least some attention the entire year round.

Starting at the end of the growing season, your garden should be readied for its long sleep through the winter. This is when the soil recovers its nutrients that were used by plants, or lost to evaporation. This is also when the beneficial earthworms burrow down deep enough to keep from freezing. Remove all withered and spent plants, possibly tilling them under with other yard wastes. ( Not lawn or yard clippings however, as this increases the risk of weed growth.) Consider mulching the entire garden surface to a depth of two to three inches to serve as insulation. In some zones, potatoes and other root plants can be planted in late summer and early fall, but check with your local extension agent for advice.

During the winter months, plants that are unfazed by weather are the stars. English ivy which will grow almost without fail is a great plant, but should not be used in gardens that will be used for vegetables in the spring. Once the ivy gets started, it takes over and is nearly impossible to get rid of . In its proper place though, the English ivy can be breathtaking with its dark green, glossy leaves set against the dull gray of the winter sky and the silvery white of snow. Give it something to grow on and it becomes more than just a plant; it is transformed into a living sculpture. Winter can be the time to let your statuary or lighting effects really shine as they become the main focus rather than mere accessories.

Before spring begins, make sure that you have made your plant selections and begin the ordering process so that plants and seeds will arrive at the proper time for your planting zone. Till the soil up and adjust the nutrients as needed. Take a soil sample to the extension office for analysis or use a do it yourself kit from the garden center. Once it is time to start putting the plants out, follow the guidelines for depth and for spacing and then water each new plant gently. Now is the time to prevent weeds from getting started- prevention is easier than trying to get rid of them.

The summer month is when the garden will really work its hardest- the plants are growing strong root systems and beginning to fruit. Now is the time for careful vigilance to keep the deadly weeds and pests from getting to your tender plants. Also, monitor your garden's watering needs to prevent dehydration. Weed your plants often, a weed will steal nutrients and choke out a root system leaving a plant compromised.

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Thoughts About The Practice of Bee keeping

Beekeeping

Some people collect rocks or shells as a hobby while others may find bungee jumping or fishing more suited to their tastes. There are millions of people around the world however that is abuzz about their particularly sweet hobby – bee keeping! Of course, bee keeping is not just a hobby; it can also be well-suited for a side job or even a full-time enterprise. The good news is that to start this buzzing practice, you do not need much money to get your start.

Considerations To Make

While the hobby of bee keeping can be a very sweet and rewarding one, there are a few things that one has to consider before starting off. One thing anyone needs to consider is that apiarists or beekeepers are stung by the bees they look after on many occasions, so you will need to check that you and everyone else who will be working with you do not have allergic reactions to bee stings. It is quite easy to know if you are prone to allergic reactions by seeing swelling at the sting site, possible rashes or welts on the body, and swelling of the passageways.

Since bee keeping is quite simple, you may quite easily handle all the basics of handling bees on your own, however it is definitely helpful if you have a partner or two to help you out with the chores. Such chores can include heavy lifting when moving the hive boxes and having someone to assist you would surely be something you would want.

Researching

Bee keeping is more than just tending to the hives … it is understanding that there are specific duties and activities that take place at distinct times throughout the year.  Bee keeping duties wait for no man regardless of whether or not it is the deep cold winter or a sweltering summer. Apprentice with an apiarist or head to the library to check out as many books and resources as possible.

You will need to know the differences between the bees such as between drones, queen bees and worker bees in order to be able to grasp the concepts and succeed in bee keeping since it is a required factor for you to know the roles of each in maintaining the survival of the hive. You should learn the purpose and use of the frames, the reasons for smoking the hive and how the process of harvesting the honey and comb is done.

Luckily, bee keeping equipment is not costly nor is it very cumbersome in terms of maintenance but you must be diligent in your research to know what you must absolutely purchase. A bee smoker, a bee suit and veil and a hive tool are the minimum bee keeping requirements necessary to get the job done. However, rest assured there is more equipment in the bee keeping arsenal for winter protection as well as honey extraction. Your level of commitment as well as your knowledge and pocketbook will guide you in your new venture into bee keeping.

Growing An Organic Garden Makes you Happy

Growing an organic garden could be a quite stimulating and demanding experience.  The methods for cultivating vegetables, flowers and some other plants have been around for years but growing an organic garden has become a very popular endeavor recently. There are many people who don't like the thought of cooking vegetables that has been grown with chemical fertilizers and other unholy things. They just don't want the idea of using poisonous stuff near their houses and neighborhoods to maintain their gardens. Having an organic garden involves knowledge that can be developed in several different areas. Many people interested in growing an organic garden are able discover several publications on the subject. These books will supply many details that will support a devoted gardener produce a terrific garden not using harsh fertilizers and chemicals.

There are many organic garden centers that are also available to help gardeners planning to grow plants using pure organic materials. The staff at these garden centers are experts in planting an organic garden, in addition they are very often willing to provide helpful advice. Organic garden centers have people who can offer tips on soils, fertilizers and pesticides.  The staff often provide courses that are open to their customers.  These centers normally stock all of the necessities for growing an organic garden.  In addition to this, they normally sell plants that will thrive using all organic products.

Growing An Organic Garden Requires Knowledge Of Techniques

Maintaining an organic garden requires a little learning in order to achieve positive results.  Good soil is the basic ingedient for growing an organic garden.  Soil is different from one area to another so an analysis of the soil is a crucial step in planting an organic garden.  Natural products can be mixed with the soil to make it successful for an organic garden.  One can also use certain techniques to make the soil ready for growing plants. A dedicated gardener can develop the soil for successful plants and use only natural supplements.

Planting and growing an organic garden demands a knowledge of insects and other bugs that are detrimental to a successful garden. Many people use chemicals to kill useless pests.  However, there are several ingredients that can be added to a garden to kill unwanted pests.  Ladybugs can be given to the garden to get rid of aphids.  The presence of these nice little insects is a very good thing for a garden.  A special sort of wasp is also good at killing aphids and caterpillars.  The wasps and the ladybugs will not harm the plants, of course they will eliminate the bugs that will hurt the garden.

Worm Farming

Lots of people farm worms and all differnt levels.  However most people don't really understand the need for farming worms, people who already participate in this activiting fully understand it and realize the great benefit that is bestowed upon the environment.  If you care for the environment and also the garden then worm farming is perhaps for you.

Many worm farmers commercially farm earthworms for profit.  There are actually many types of worm and there are some that are specifically bred.  Those that are farmed commercially are normally sold to gardeners wanting to do composting.  There are even landfills that buy worms so that the waste can be composted naturally.  

If you are a gardener then you should already appreciate the importance of worms in the garden because the help with the aeration process.  The waste that is composted by the worms is broken down into a substance that can be better used by the soil, improving the fertilization of the soil.

In recent years, the supply of worm farming equipment and accessories has meant that ordinary people can enjoy worm farming from their own home.  Household sized bins are on the market in a variety of shapes and sizes.  

In order to farm worms you need to provide them with nutrients that often simply come in the form of kitchen waste.  In addition to fruit and vegetables you can also include such products as paper products and cotton rags, leaves, egg shells and hair.  Excreted by the worm is a nutrient rich substance called vermicompost or worm compost.

If you have kids then teaching them about worms can be great fun.  It's also often seen as a very space-efficient means of composting kitchen waste, you can buy kits which are pretty small and therefore be easily taken to school.  Using natural methods for composting and reducing waste in landfills is easily demonstrated by classroom worm farms.

It might surprise you just how many different places you are able to farm worms.  There are so many systems that you can buy these days, home owners can raise their own supply of worms outside or in an apartment.  As long as you give the worms the correct levels of light, moisture, temperature, food and bedding you will ensure a long living worm population.

Avoid Using Hard Water on Your Orchids

We can thank orchid and other flower growers, at least in part, for the recent movement to recycle the water that reaches our homes, particularly that which falls as rain. If you are starting out with orchids, this could be something you should look into.

Orchids, similar to other plants, have specific likes and dislikes as to the water given them to nourish their roots. Most of them do not like hard water. Unfortunately, the water that comes out of the taps in many areas is too hard for orchids to thrive at their best. Rarely will hard water out-and-out kill them. It might stunt their growth, though, or keep them from ever blooming as wonderfully as they would otherwise.

A good thing about orchids is the fact that they sport thick, fleshy roots that can stand up to hard water better than many other sorts of plants. Hardwood plants, for instance, with their fine roots, are too easily ruined by water that is overly hard. Nevertheless you should take steps to get around putting hard water on your orchids.

There are filters you can get to add to your water line that will make your water softer while blocking many impurities that would be bad for humans and plants both. But to tell the truth nothing beats rainwater when it comes to treating orchids right! After all, this is the type of water that nature supplies to plants the world over.

Several companies make rain barrels that are perfect for catching and storing rainwater until you want to use it. Many people set up the barrels underneath the rainspouts coming from their roofs. With some planning and work, you could set up a bank of barrels to channel water right to your orchids. Then the watering chore, presuming you live in a fairly rainy area, becomes virtually hands free.

Whatever type of water you decide to use, don't use it on your plants if it has a chill on it. For example, I would not use water that I got from an outdoor faucet on a cold day, without first bringing it to room temperature in my home or in the greenhouse. Cold water can cause spots on the plants, rot the new growths and damage the roots.

Some orchids will benefit from water with a little lime mixed in it. In years gone by, people noticed that imported Cypripedium orchids often were covered in chalky lime deposits owing to the plants having grown in limestone rock crevices where the water trickled down upon them. So if you have a Cypripedium, you could experiment with adding lime to its water, a little at first and then more if you determine that the plant is thriving on it.

The art of orchid cultivation is an intriguing subject. Orchid growing is not as difficult as some people like to make it out to be, but you must arm yourself with solid information before plunging in to this rewarding pastime. 

The most accurate and clear guidebook to expert orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard's guide is a full education all to itself, practical for beginners as well as the more experienced. Additionally, spend some time at the Orchid Secrets site, which contains an ever-expanding database of articles on all topics of orchid care.

Tips for Growing Indoor Bonsai Trees

A bonsai tree is a beautiful example of an ancient tradition. Because bonsai trees are so attractive, many people love to display them in their houses. Special care is required for your indoor bonsai trees since they're not exposed to full, natural sunlight and outdoor weather. In spite of their hardy appearance, some bonsai plants may be fragile when it comes to light and water.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require sufficient lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving outdoors. It's important to place your tree in a location with good ventilation. The frequency of watering your bonsai is dependent on the type of plant you have and the condition of its soil. Some plants or trees need to have damp soil while others thrive well in spite of a drought.

Your bonsai tree will thrive in high humidity, which can be achieved by regular misting. Humidity trays can be useful, but don't let the pot sit right in the water; it should be sitting on a stand or some stones.

Pruning and Cutting

The indoor bonsai tree will still need to be regularly pruned and cut to maintain its appearance. Bonsais often appear changeless; however, they are definitely a living, growing tree. Both indoor bonsai and outdoor bonsai need to be repotted anywhere from once a year up to three years depending on the kind of tree. As well, you'll need to give proper maintenance to the branches in order to preserve its distinctive style.

You might need to reduce the amount of fertilizer you use during the winter, depending on the variety of your bonsai. This is because some tree species hibernate during the season and do not need as much nutrients as in warmer months. Your indoor bonsai might not fully experience the whole cycle of seasons because it is in an artificial environment.

You need to be on the lookout for pests and other irregularities that might appear on your indoor bonsai tree. Since they're indoors, they will likely attract mites and spiders from the outside. It is best to gently clean the leaves and branches of your indoor bonsai plant with a damp cloth or a brush.

Discover What Composting is All About

Many people who are gardeners or care about the environment at putting in kitchen and garden waste into composts and turning them into a valuable resource for your garden or houseplants.  What happens is that the process of composting is basically speeding up the natural process of decomposition.  If you enjoy gardening then composting is somthing that you should learn more about.

You may believe that compost and soil is the same thing but it isn't.  This is something that a lot of people beleive but it really isn't anything like the dirt you find just lying about on the ground.  Compost allows plants to grow healthier by providing lots of wonderful nutrients.

Before you begin composting there are choices to be made – not all containers will be suitable for your needs, what type of waste you will be composting, and the location of your bin.  But regardless of these decisions, the process of composting happens in the same manner.  It is a breakdown of waste materials as they are digested by microbes (bacteria and fungi).

Without these microbes your waste cannot be turned into compost.  They need air, water, and food to do their job and it is up to you to supply it to them in the right quantities.  For great compost you should consider using a wormery.

People who have never owned a compost before in their lives are under the misconception that composts are automatically smelly it is most likely the result of not enough air circulating throughout the waste material.  Without air, the material will still breakdown but it will be done by anaerobic microbes (organisms that do not need oxygen) as opposed to aerobic (ones that need oxygen).  So if you do have an unpleasant smell coming from your compost bin or pile you can rotate the material to let in more air or add a substance to create more room for the air to circulate.  Wood chips or hay are good for the composter.

Composting is something that everyone should get involved in, even if you only have a very small garden – it prevents waste from enetrying landfill and also adds much needed nutrients to your soil.

Orchid Biology and Intro to Hybrids

Orchids (scientifically speaking, Orchidacea) are a group of plants containing well over than 20,000 known species, quite a few of which are very valuable from a commercial standpoint. Many people believe them to be the most intriguing order of plants in the whole vegetable kingdom due to their amazing mode of growth and existence, their strange habits and the many shapes and forms of their flowers, which are different from those of all other plants -- delicate seeming in texture and with wonderful, glowing colors.

Orchids are also to be remarked upon owing to their widely admired adaptability and the extent to which they will easily cross-breed or cross-fertilize. This is true in their natural environs as well as when they are under cultivation. This fact also accounts for the practically endless varieties of flowers and colors that can result from the hybridizing process.

Here's some botany: The orchid's flower as a rule is made up of these parts: sepals, the petals, the labellum (or pouch), and the column or crest.

On most orchids the labellum is usually the most notable part as well as the most important organ of the flower. Insects crawl or fly into it in search of the sweet juices stored within the spur or walls of the flower, pollinating the plant in the process and furthering cross-fertilization in the bargain. This is how such a large number of new varieties come about in the wild, and these are the orchids that are termed natural hybrids.  But under cultivation this work must be accomplished by human caretakers using delicate camel's hair brushes and with a careful eye and judgment as to the right time for fertilization. It is in this manner that the most gorgeous hybrid orchids are produced, and these are known as garden hybrids.

One of the the things that makes growing orchids so exciting is the possibility of producing our own orchid hybrids. This takes knowledge and a good bit of patience, but even first-timers have created some astounding plants by experimenting with hybridizing.

If you're interested in experimenting with hybridizing orchids, you should first gain some good experience in basic cultivation of these plants.Only after you have gained confidence in working with orchids should you try the more demanding task of hybridizing them. Orchids are slow growing plants, and slow to produce blooms, so you must be comfortable with waiting often years to see if your hybridizing experiments are a success. Nontheless, when you do succeeed, it's fantastic experience.  You can produce not only some beautiful flowers in this way, but also orchid types never before seen in the world.

Clearly, you must gain all the knowledge that you can before trying your hand at hybridizing orchids. Fortunately, there are good books available on all aspects of orchid growing, including step-by-step instructions on hybridizing orchids.

The most thorough guide to contemporary orchid gardening, more people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by master orchid grower Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a full course of study, immensely practical for beginners and more experienced growers alike. In addition, check out this Orchid Secretssite, which features an ever-expanding database of information on a wide range of facets of orchid care.

The Proper Way to Pot the Epiphytal Orchids

Orchids are traditionally placed into two main types, epiphytal and terrestrial. The epiphytals are plants that grow on trees. There are several different ways to grow this type of orchid in one's home or in greenhouses. It all starts with the potting.

Epiphytal orchid plants, in nature, have their roots more exposed to the air than most other plants do.  As a consquence, by "potting" we do not mean packing them all around with thick potting soil.  Rather, we want to place them in a pot containing loose, organic material, from which they can draw necessary nutrients, along with rocks or broken pottery bits to create open spaces and to help the plants stand upright.

The usual formula for potting compost appropriate to epiphytal orchids is 1 part sphagnum moss to 1 part peat moss. Place a layer of this mix in the bottom of your pot, followed by a layer of rocks or pottery pieces, then a second layer of the compost, etc. When the pot is around a quarter or at most a third full, carefully place the orchid's roots down into it. Then proceed to add more rocks and moss mix, packing all of this potting material just tight enough to support the plant.

Gradually build up the potting mix up to and above the top of the pot. The height you need to go above the pot depends on the size of the pot and the depth to which you have placed your plant. The general rule is to allow the plant's crown to rest on top of the mix. By the crown, we mean that part of the plant from where the roots begin.

If you are repotting the orchid, you have to take extra care when taking it out of its old pot. If there are any young roots attaching themselves to the exterior of the pot, you should attempt to ease them off with a blade of some kind. It you have a mass of vital roots -- that is, roots that have sap in them -- attached to the interior of the pot, then you might have to break the pot and pick away all of those roots that you are able to. You might need to repot it with bits of the old pot still attached to the roots, and this is fine.

It is a good idea to not water for a day or so before or just after potting these types of orchids.

This has been a general introduction to potting epiphytal orchids. The subject can be more complicated than this, particularly in the case of some of the more delicate or senstive species. Whole tomes have been published on how to pot the various types of orchids!  Happily, most of us don't need books devoted entirely to the art of potting in order to enjoy success with orchids. A recognized, comprehensive guide to all aspects of orchid growing is usually sufficient.

In our day, of course, we have a tremendous amount of good information on the best way to grow orchids. The most thorough guidebook to modern orchid care, beyond question, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard's ebook is a thorough course, useful for beginners and more seasoned cultivators alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of postings on all topics of orchid care.

Carnivorous Plants

If you want to add a unique touch to your garden, carnivorous plants are bound to get attention. There are several interesting exotic species to consider, such as the ever popular Venus Flytrap or the Cobra plant. In areas that have high populations of bugs, they can lowers the amount of flies or other insects that bother you. While the benefit is strictly related to the size and type of carnivorous plants that you own, these plants can provide a small level of relief while providing entertainment to adults and children alike.

There are five different types of carnivorous plants. The most common type, is the Venus Flytrap found in cultivated varieties of the Dionaea muscipula family. Snap traps rely on a mouth that close in around its pray, where the plant will eat whatever it catches.

When a fly or insect walks on the surface, this activates a hair trigger and causes closure, as the traps closes it fills with an enzyme solution, and then it will dissolve the proteins from the insect. These traps rely on prey falling into the plant and them being unable to escape.

These plants range from colorful to bland, and do not have moving parts like their snap trap counterparts.

Sundew plants of the Venus Flytrap family are amongst the most interesting to watch. They are covered with dense, gland-tipped hairs and several tiny midge flies are stuck to the sticky hairs, which causes the insect to be enzymatically digested and absorbed by the plant. The type of secretion created by this particular plant can cause skin irritation to humans and therefore should be treated with caution.

The only carnivorous plant with a true "trapdoor" is the remarkable bladderwort. Numerous, tiny glands inside the bladder absorb most of the internal water and expel it on the outside, and as a result, a partial vacuum is produced inside the bladder and the pressure on the outside becomes greater than the inside. This causes the walls to squeeze inward and explains their slightly concave appearance. Unlike many carnivorous plant species, these are more commonly found underwater than above ground.

Another favorite carnivorous plant are the lobster-pot traps, and they come with a chamber that is easy to enter, and whose exit is either difficult to find or obstructed by inward-pointing bristles.

Corkscrew plants are interesting, in that, the inside of the plant mouth is filled with downward pointing obstructions, used to prevent it’s prey from escaping it’s grasp.

For those interested in borderline species, there are several varieties of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have sharing characteristics. Some of these type of plants come from the Martyniaceae family, such as the Brocchinia Roridula. They are not considered to be in the same classification as true carnivorous plants because they do not, attract, kill and digest prey.

If you decided to plant or house any type of carnivorous plant, you will need to be sure to keep them out of reach from children. Even though they are considered relatively harmless to humans, the type of digestive enzymes they produce to break down their captured prey, should be avoided.

Killing Insects The Natural Way

If you believe that all insects should be removed from this world you should reconsider.  It's because of this belief that there are so many products on the market designed to help people get rid of the unwanted insects.  While it's true that there are many insects that can cause harm, they usually do so as a way to protect themselves and preserve their species.  So think again about killing ants in your garden.

If there are insects in your home and garden that you simply are unable to live with, please only target the insects that are genuinely doing harm to your home or your health.  Some people have allergies to insects and so are left with no choice but to eradicate them.  To most people a wasp or bee sting is just a little painful however there are also those whose allergic reaction is considerably worse.

Of course, you should already understand that we cannot live without some insects or at least they pose no threat to us.  Everyone loves butterflies as they are so pretty, however those who are keen gardeners aren't too happy about the caterpillars munching on their plants!  Beneficial insects that don't hurt us or our crops are ladybugs and some species of wasps.  Honeybees can sting when threatened, but without honeybees, our honey supply would suffer. Insects and other animals benefit as well. People aren't the only ones who benefit from honey.

For umpteen years a product called boric acid has been used in the area of controlling roaches.  Ants have been an age-old problem because of their ability to bite and take over our kitchens.  Wasps that do sting cause allergic reactions, fear in small children and many adults because of their aggressive nature.  In order not to get too close to them, people tend to use a spray killer.  A useful thing to learn too is what ants eat.

Neem comes from the Indian lilac tree.  The reason it works is that it prevents the insect from being able to feed and also regulates growth.  Pyrethrum is one of the most popular natural insecticides for attacking insects.  It is used to paralyze and must be applied directly.  It's contained in many pet shampoos for flea and tick control.  We all know about Nicotine in cigarettes, seen mostly in a negative light because of the harm it causes lungs when smoked.  Some insects can actually be controlled by it.  Rotenone and sabadilla dust can be considered exotic natural insecticides because they are made from plants that exist in other countries.  If for whatever reason you want to get rid of honeybees then you should use Sabadilla, however it should be noted that it's only a short-term solution.  So consider the possibility of homemade ant killer.

Ornamental Grass Makes A Garden More Interesting

Ornamental grass allows a large amount of variation in tone and texture to be injected into a garden, but for a good deal of the year they are almost unseen in some gardens. They can be used as a single clump to provide valuable filler foliage or as a showy centrepiece arrangement standing proudly in the middle of the garden. They're a versatile group of plants and can be grouped together to from hedgerows or as a formal border.

As long as the soil is well-drained, ornamental grass varieties will do well in all types of soils. Apart from the sedges, they are drought tolerant and with more emphasis being placed on water conservation, ornamental grasses are an ideal choice for a low-water garden. Although it is best to look up exactly which position is most suitable for an individual type of plant, ornamental grasses generally prefer a sunny to partially shaded position.

Taking a look at a few specific types of ornamental grasses we can get a grasp of the diversity of uses they exhibit.

Some, such as Muhly Grass can sit quietly in the garden blending in with its neighbours as an unremarkable looking plant that grows to a height of around 3 foot. But come the end of summer it really comes out of its shell and produces a resounding display of deep pink-red inflorescence giving it a real cotton candy look.

Making an ornamental grass plant such as Pampas Grass a feature in the garden provides a central showpiece character with a difference. The plumage of the Pampas Grass can be quite showy with a coice of either white or pink and various shades in between sitting up to 12 feet tall. However, Pampas Grass must be carefully tended and is regarded as a noxious weed in some areas.

On the smaller end of the scale is the Mondo Grasses with varieties such as the black, dwarf, giant and a variegated form these are a versatile and useful addition to the garden. Used as a groundcover or low border they can really define the tone of a garden.

A quick run through of some of the popular ornamental grasses to consider includes: Blue Fescue, Maiden Grass, Pennisetum, Fountain Grass, Northern Sea Oats, Zebra Grass, Blood Grass and Bunny Tails.

Ornamental grass has a lot to offer a garden and is well worth considering when planning a new garden design. Whether using them as a ground cover, a striking floral statement or a border they will give the garden an added memorable elemental design.

Knowing the Orchids

Once, most people assumed, perhaps with some cause, that orchid growing was an avocation exclusively for the very affluent. These days, most people are aware that orchid cultivation is a pastime open to almost anyone.Yet there is another myth that continues to be spread: that cultivating orchids is so difficult it is almost not worth the attempt. You might be gladdened to know that this is definitely not the case.

The fact is, some of the most lovely orchids are surprisingly rather simple to grow. All it takes is a little foreknowledge, which can be absorbed easily from books, both the printed kind and the digital kind that you can download from a website. If you live in a warm climate, you will find you can grow many varieties outdoors.But even if your climate is a cold one, you can still grow gorgeous orchids in a greenhouse or even a regular room, dedicated to the purpose.

Why grow orchids instead of other types of plants?  If you have spent any time in orchid cultivation, you wouldn't have to ask the question. Orchids can seize us with a hold that never relaxes once it has us in its grips!

Regardless, here are a few answers to the question. The great advantage of growing orchids over other plants is their extreme beauty coupled with the great length of time that they will remain in bloom. Some orchid varieites will delight you with their blooms for three or four months. A few will continue blooming for six months. Even if your collection of orchids is a small one, it is possible to have blooms the year around, due to the varying blooming seasons of different species.

The topic of orchids, and how to cultivate them, is both broad and deep. You should plunge deeply into the subject and learn as much as you can before purchasing your first plant. Nontheless, there are some basics you need to know at the very start. One of those basics is that orchids are divided into two great groups based on their growing habits.

One of the major orchid groups is the epiphytals. These are orchids that grow on the trunks or branches of trees. They are the air dwelling orchids, because they seemingly live on nothing but air and sunlight, though this of course is not actually true. It was these mysterious species that first grabbed the imaginations of collectors and resulted in the first great orchid mania of a more than a century ago. They are still the ones that most fascinate people today.

These epiphytal orchids should not be thought of as parasitic, though. The get only a little of their sustenance from the tree bark on which they grow, and this doesn't harm their hosts at all. They also draw nutrients from water, moss and fungi, as well as leaves that often get caught on and around them, decomposing in the process. Orchid growers love the epiphytals because of the fun--and sometimes challenge--of recreating their growing environment in a greenhouse or garden.

The other primary grouping of orchids is the terrestrial ones. As you probably can guess, this type grows in soil like most plants with which we are familiar. Growing them requires potting, just as with any other familiar houseplant. Many of the most gorgeous varieites of orchids are to be found here.

Many orchid cultivators begin by focusing exclusively on one or the other of these two main groups. As you might guess, though, they end up growing at least a handful of species from both groups. It's a good idea to learn about both kinds of orchids if you are serious about wanting to join the world of the orchid cultivators.

These days, of course, we have a tremendous amount of excellent information on the successful way to grow orchids. The most accurate and clear guidebook to expert orchid cultivation, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by a Mr. Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Howard's wonderful guide constitutes a complete education all by itself. And, it is appropriate for beginning gardeners as well as more experienced orchid cultivators. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets website, which has an ever-expanding database of information on all topics of orchid care.

Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips

We all want to stay healthy by eating chemically free, fresh, vitamin filled and natural foods. When we grow our own food, it makes us less dependent on commercially grown foods, which are coated with chemicals and are also quite tasteless.

The US Department of Agriculture compiled data that reveals that the mineral levels in vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat has decreased substantially in the foods that are commercially produced. Chemical fertilizers that are used for commercial produce swell it with more water. Organic food on the other hand has more dry matter and is loaded with essential nutrients. It is also much higher in antioxidants, which is another big reason to go organic.

How is Organic Gardening Different

The main difference between conventional gardening and organic gardening is in the areas of pest control and fertilization. In organic gardening, organic and natural methods and materials are used rather than synthetic chemicals which are detrimental to the environment and our health.

If you are fond of home gardening for organic vegetables, some of the useful home vegetable gardening tips are to choose your crops carefully, select a garden site that is appropriate for plants, plan your garden, prepare the soil and choose appropriate fertilizers.


Successful Organic Vegetable Gardening

The most important organic vegetable gardening tip is that you need to provide good growing conditions for the healthiest produce. A good crop does not happen by accident, it needs lots of hard work and suitable conditions. The most important factor responsible for adequate growth of any plant is at least six hours of direct sun each day. You also need to make sure that the soil is full of organic matter.

Another organic vegetable gardening tip is to choose the plants sensibly. There are some plants that are more susceptible to diseases and pest problems as compared to other plants. To save unnecessary problems for yourself, look for varieties that are disease-resistant.

One valuable organic vegetable gardening tip is to feed your organic plants naturally. Fertilizing your plants may not be necessary in most soils, but it definitely helps them grow better. Feeding your plants with well-rotted animal manure is a good source. Organic matter improves tilth, structure and the condition of the soil. It also improves the ability of soil to hold water and nutrients.

Another handy organic vegetable gardening tip is to be absolutely intolerant of weeds as they rob plants of water and essential nutrients. They also attract pests that can spread diseases from one plant to another. It is therefore important to walk through your garden and pick up weeds and shed foliage.

Another important organic vegetable gardening tip is to water wisely. Use water saving soaker hoses to water the plants directly at the roots. Also, jamming the plants in the plot can cause problems. Do not plant the organic vegetables too close to each other. There has to be good airflow between the plant for them to grow well and prevent any fungal disease.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

A Healthy Option: Green Gardening

There is a new world developing in the gardening world that is called green gardening, otherwise known as organic gardening.  Since it is becoming more popular, there is more gardening help available to help a person who has been gardening for years change over to green gardening from traditional methods.There is also plenty of information that allows those who have not ever gardened before to become green gardeners in a short amount of time.

Going Green

Going green is a slogan that has been tossed around more and more in recent years, as more and more people become informed about the effects of our actions on the environment and more environmental problems surface due to man's negligence.Since this is the case, people have been finding more ways to be environmentally friendly yet still able to participate in the activities they enjoy, such as gardening.

Green gardening means using products that are organic, such as compost instead of chemical fertilizers.  The compost can be made through grass clippings, leaves or scraps from the kitchen that are organic.  All of these items are thrown onto a pile called the compost pile, which begins to decay and let the nutrients from the decaying bodies into the soil, which plants love.Earthworms also help to decompose the compost pile if the person doesn't mind their squirming.

In addition to growing flowers organically, green gardening includes growing food, so that most of what is eaten is home grown.Organic food that is bought in a grocery store or specialty shop is always more expensive then alternatives.Growing food in a vegetable garden saves time and money, including the gas required to get to the grocery store!  In addition, picking the vegetables and fruit from the garden, fresh, right before use always tastes better than those that have been shipped to the store.

For those who do not have the option of starting a green garden in the back of their house, there are a couple of different options available.One option is to join a community garden in which people sign up to take care of the garden on different days of the week and the produce from the garden is shared amongst them all.  The other option for urban dwellers is to do container gardening, doing green gardening in potted plants.  All sorts of plants can be grown this way, including vegetables, so it is a viable option for those who do not have yards.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

How to Make Organic Gardening Compost

So you want to get involved in organic gardening and farming, and know that one of the first things that you are going to need to do is make some organic gardening compost. This organic gardening compost is what you are going to be using to provide nutrients to the soil which in turn will make stronger, healthier plants.

There are a few different ways to make organic gardening compost, but here is some basic information that you will need to be aware of.

Full Instructions

When it comes to organic gardening compost, the most important thing to learn about is what you can use to make compost. Basically, anything that was once living will make for great compost. You should avoid using meat, dairy and cooked food in your compost however because these foods can attract vermin and so you really want to avoid home-composting them.

All fruit and vegetable peels work well in organic gardening, and for the best results you want to always use a mixture of types of ingredient. The right balance for you here is going to really only be learnt by experience, and so just because you may not get it perfect right away, you should not become frustrated and after you practice and stay at it, you will continue to make better and better compost each time.

Keep in mind that some things, such as grass mowing and soft young weeds, will rot quickly, and so they do work as activators which means that they get the compost started, but they do end up decaying and causing quite a mess.

Any tea bags and leaves, coffee grounds, soft green prunings, animal manure, and poultry manure and bedding for instance, will all work very well in your compost. Make sure that you try a few different things, and see what works best.

Depending on the type of plants that you have in your garden, certain mixtures are going to work better than others. Only over time will you be able to recognize which mixtures work best on your garden.

Remember, your organic gardening compost can be as simple or complex as you want to make it. If you are just getting started, it will be best for you to stick to a simpler compost recipe, and then as you begin to get more used to making it and get more familiar with the routine, you can start adding in new things.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Beautifying the Yard: Flower Gardening

Flower gardening is one way to make a huge difference in the yard and raise the value of any home.There are so many different choices in flowers that a flower garden can change every year or even every month!  In addition, there are ways to green garden, which means that all of the products used in the garden are organic, so that pesticides and fertilizers are not used which can be harmful to humans, pets and the environment.  

The first choice in flower gardening is what types of flowers to plant, since that will determine where the garden should be located.  If there is only one option for where the flower garden can be placed, then the plants chosen for the garden should be based on how much sunlight is available in the garden and what the overall climate is where the person lives.  That way the flower garden will be more likely to be successful, and the gardener will not get frustrated with plants that will not grow or that die after a short amount of time.

Roses?

There are many people who would like to have a rose flower garden but are afraid to do so because they have heard that roses are temperamental flowers and are difficult to grow and maintain.  However, there are some tips that can be used to successfully grow a rose flower garden in any climate.   

The first tip was mentioned above – choose the flowers according to the climate.  Roses are tougher than they look and were found naturally in every climate.  The trick to planting a rose garden is to choose the types of roses that enjoy the type of weather the person lives in.  Also, roses enjoy sunlight, so a flower garden composed of roses should be placed where they can get direct sunlight.

When planting rose bushes in a flower garden, they should be planted apart from one another so that they can get air between the different plants.They also should be pruned regularly so that the bushes do not get too thick where they cannot get air within the branches of the plant.  Roses also like to be watered regularly, but not in the way other flowers are usually watered.  Roses need to be watered at the roots so that they can more readily absorb the water.

If all of these instructions are followed, then a beautiful rose flower garden should be blooming in no time.  Keeping the roses well fertilized with healthy mulch from compost will also help them to stay healthy and strong.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Cattleya Flies

The Cattleya fly is among the the most ruinous of insects that might attack your orchid garden.. As a matter of fact, this insect is intimately associated with orchids rather than any other type of plant, as you might guess from its scientific name, Eurytoma orchidearum.

Cattleya flies inject their eggs into the orchid plant's young growths. The eggs hatch and then nymphs (or maggots) hatch and begin to feed voraciously. The nymphs quickly grow to a grotesque size within the bulbs. One sign that these maggots are doing their damage is that the bulbs themselves will swell becoming club-shaped at the location where the pests are feeding.

Finally, the nymphs metamorphose into adult flies, which munch their way to freedom by chewing through the flesh of the bulbs. Adult flies are black in color, have clear wings, and are approximately one-quarter inch in length. Unfortunatelyy, by the time you spot them it could be too late to save some of your plants. Nonetheless, you should attempt to kill all the flies you can before they get a chance to inject their eggs into your remaining good plants.

If you have plants that are already infected, the best remedy is to cut off any bulbs that you notice are swelling more than seems natural. Then, drop the nymph or maggot into a bowl of water to drown it. It is discouraging to have to slice away a plant's promising young growth, but it is better than leaving your other plants exposed to attack by the pest. With luck, the plant that you had to do "surgery" on will grow a new bulb in place of the old one.

The Cattleya fly is a nasty pest, to be sure, but there's good news. They are actually not very common, and most orchid cultivators will never encounter them. Still, it makes good sense to inspect every new orchid for the tell-tale signs of these flies and their maggots. Besides looking out for unusually enlarged bulbs where the fly's nymphs might be feeding, inspect for tiny holes where a female fly's ovipositor might have inserted her eggs into the plant. Absent such signs, you probably do not have a Cattleya fly problem.

To be really successful growing orchids it is vital to know how to deal with all the possible threats to your plants, including insects. It is not as difficult to grow orchids as many people would have it, if you first ground yourself in basic knowledge of these exciting plants.

The most complete guide to today's orchid care, hands down, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's ebook is a complete course, immensely practical for beginners and the more experienced fanciers alike. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which features an ever-expanding library of articles on many aspects of orchid cultivation.

Passionate About Orchids? You're In Good Company

Since tulip mania (or "tulipomania") crested in the Netherlands until the present, no one family of plants has achieved such a tenacious grip on popular passion as the orchids. Difficult as it is to picture, today's orchid craze doesn't hold a candle to the mania that the plants inspired in our Victorian ancestors in England and America.

Certainly other plants attained a degree of celebrity in the Anglo-Saxon sphere during the mid- to late 19th century.Among these were ferns, cacti, chrysanthemums, palms and roses. But it was the orchids that represented the height of horticultural attainment to 19th century gardeners. So highly were the tropical epiphytes held that on May 12, 1885, the first huge orchid conference was held in London. This event brought together both commercial and amateur cultivators to exhibit their prized specimens and to discuss such vital questions as the culture and nomenclature of these fascinating flowers.

At the time of that landmark London conference, the more exotic orchids of the tropics had been known to the world in general for only about a hundred years. The Spanish botanist Francisco Hernandez casually mentioned a few orchids as curiosities in his account of his 16th-century voyage to Spanish America. Some 200 years later, naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer and botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, employed by the Dutch East Indies Company, described several of the Asian orchids. It was not, though, until just prior to the opening of the 19th century that many Europeans became aware of these exciting, mysterious plants.

By the early 1800s, botanists were working on cultivating a few specimens at such places as Kew Gardens in London. Until 1820 orchids were looked upon as curiosities in botanical gardens, but about that time some showy Cattleyas and other species produced some stunning flowers, piqueing greater interest among the public. By the 1850s new specimens of orchids were pouring into Europe from all over the world and more and more people were trying to cultivate them at home.

The orchid craze was in full swing by the late 19th century and continued unabated for many years to come. Somewhat suprisingly, a solid scientific understanding of orchid botany and what was needed to be consistently successful in growing orchids did not arrive until the 1920s.

In our day, of course, there is an abudance of good, accurate information to be had by anyone who would like to grow orchids. The most thorough guide to modern orchid gardening, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded over the Internet. Mr. Howard's guide is a comprehensive course, immensely practical for beginners and the more seasoned devotees alike. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets site, which features an ever-expanding library of articles on many facets of orchid cultivation.

Therapeutic and Healthy Endeavor: Home Gardening

Home gardening can be a wonderful way to relax after a rough day in the office, allowing the individual to have time outside, physical activity, and produce a gorgeous garden that everyone can enjoy.  Whether they choose to grow a flower garden or stick to vegetables, a garden comes in all shapes and sizes, from containers gardens, ornamental gardens or ones that provide food for the entire family.

Types of Gardening

There are different types of home gardening styles for individuals to choose from so that they can experiment to see what ones work best for them.Getting started in home gardening almost always starts with the soil, since that is the essence of all that will grow in the garden.Placement of the garden is of importance as well, since there are some flowers and plants that will not grow in direct sunlight or full shade, so the area where the garden is to be placed should be chosen with care.

There are different types of plants that can be planted in home gardens.  Besides the many varieties of fruits and vegetables, there are different types of flowers, grasses and bushes that can be grown in home gardens.  Annual plants are ones that only live for one growing season.The downside to these plants is that they have to be replaced every year.  However, they are great filler plants and add splashes of color and texture wherever they are planted.In addition, there are biennial plants that last for two seasons, so the individual gets more 'value' for their money.

Perennial plants are usually the foundation to any decorative garden since they continue to grow year after year and, if tended well, will fill in and make the garden look more and more luxurious with each year.  Rose gardening is another option of perennial that can make for a beautiful garden.  Some people are wary of choosing roses for the garden, thinking that they are hard to tend and finicky, but with a few simple tips, growing a rose garden is a great choice in a home garden.

The other popular choice in flowers is growing from bulbs and tubers.  These flowers also grow back year after year, but have to be tended to ward off deer and other creatures who love the tender bulbs.Ornamental grasses and vines are also wonderful choices to edge home gardens or to use as ground cover, since they are decorative and easy to tend once they have grown in.

For more about gardening please visit www.organicgardeningzone.com

Zen Gardening

For a region that is predominantly Buddhist, Chan, or Zen, is an important philosophy. Zen is a term used for a school that teaches the teachings of Buddha and how they are active in the natural world. Buddhism was in China before the Zen teachings, and when the Indian prince Bodhidharma introduced the idea to the Buddhist in 526 A.D., they were amazed at his way of seeing the world for what it is. Zen took off after Bodhidharma's ideas were spread.

Schools of Zen teachings were a mix of the Daoism philosophy and Mahayana. These were very strict schools that insisted on the idea that separate things exist only in relation to one another, which means nature cannot be defined or classified in any way. The goal of these Buddhist practicing Zen was to accomplish the way of seeing the world as Buddha did, just as it is, with a mind that has no grasping thoughts or feelings. Schools that teach Zen recognize the importance of the arts, such as: painting, calligraphy, architecture, ceremonial tea drinking, and gardening. Other areas of Buddhism, such as Japan, practice arts such as Jujitsu as an art as well. Of the Zen arts, gardening is one of the most important and interesting forms of art.

Zen Gardening has been practiced for almost a millennium. In the eleventh century, monks began creating these gardens as a tool to teach the principals of Zen and Buddhism to students. These gardens take careful consideration and care to make a peaceful environment for meditation. It takes a lot of labor to keep them looking nice, but Buddhist think of it more of an opportunity to create than just a basic chore. The gardens have to be a perfect place to meditate.

We know these gardens simply as the desktop sand box with a rake, but there is a lot more to a Zen garden. Everything in a garden is there for a reason. Every single rock, plant, sand spread, water form, and bridge serves a purpose for the garden. The number 3 has importance in Buddhism because of the Buddhist trinity and the sky, earth, and humanity. Odd numbers are used because of the Buddhist belief that the earth is not an even structure and nature is naturally uneven. All gardens are meant to be massive landforms on a much smaller scale.

The materials used in the gardens represent different things. Of the objects used, rocks are the most meaningful. Tall rocks are used to symbolize the sky and wide flat rocks are used to symbolize the earth. Some rocks are even used to represent animals or specific landforms. The sand spreads are the most interesting part of Zen gardens; they are important because they are meant to give a sense of emotion while meditating. While many plants are used in the gardens, floral fixtures are rarely found because they are not naturally occurring. Not everything used is natural; pathways, bridges, a lanterns are frequently used to guide the visitor in the path that Buddha would take. They also are used to show Buddhist beliefs, such as, the Eight-Fold Path. Everything in a garden has a purpose.

These beautiful gardens are now all over the Buddhist countries in Asia. What began in China is now celebrated more in Japan and Korea. Japan is home to the world's finest gardens, such as, Kyoto, Nijo, Katsura, Sento and numerous others. Over time, the gardens have stayed true to the basic style, the only exception is Japan, many of their gardens have a lot of ponds and other water fixtures. The gardens, though a big tourist attraction, are still used today.

Overall, the ultimate goal of Zen and Zen gardening is to show the world from the point of view that Buddha saw it. Because of this, they are some of the most unique gardens in the world. They give monks a great place to meditate and are fun to look at. Their popularity in Asia has brought them to the United States. Americans use miniature dry rock gardens with sand and a rake as a relaxation devise. There are even a couple of Zen gardens in the Chicago land area. They look simple and easy to make, but they are really complex and need a lot of care. If a leaf falls in any design, it must be picked up, that's just how meaningful and important Zen gardens are.