Growing your own vegetables is a great way to save money and enjoy fresh, organic vegetables. The vegetables you buy in the store are often not organic, and when you do find the organic vegetables, they are so much more expensive. Growing your own vegetables can be very cheap, and after a couple of years using the same tools and plants, they can virtually be free. Growing vegetables is not fool-proof, but it isn't too difficult either. With the right seeds or seedlings, soil, watering schedule, fertilizer, and care, you don't have to be a pro to grow vegetables. With a little knowledge an...

Everybody has heard of the Bonsai tree but very few people know anything about the history of the miniature shrub or where the tradition came from. Bonsai is a Japanese term which, in its native language, translates to mean "tray gardening". This term describes exactly what bonsai is as it is a tree which is grown in a small pot or tub enabling it to be kept indoors. These trees are not always genetically predisposed to be small and so they are kept this way through careful pruning. The ability to care for a bonsai tree, keeping it small and healthy, is an art form in itself. The trees ar...

There's a whipper snipper lying neatly against the wall in my garden shed. It's just waiting, very patiently for the day that the grass grows so high that there will be no excuses left for me to make. This will be the day that the once neat garden beds will be framed by a long border of six inch tall grass swaying joyfully in the breeze. The day is coming ever nearer for this newly inherited task, unseasonable warm sunshine and rain is making sure of that. The thought of using a whipper snipper never gives me joy. Maybe it's the noise, even greater than that of a lawn mover, they make,...

Vegetable garden containers Are a great way to grow your favorite vegies when space is limited. Alot of times you can see these containers when going to your local nursery to buy flowers or vegetable. Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to go outside of your door and pick a nice ripe fresh tomato? Have you ever wanted to grow your very own vegetables, but simply don't have the space? Can container vegetable gardening be the answer? Container vegetable gardening is fast becoming more and more popular since many vegetables gardens will grow just as well in a confined ...

Today, outdoor living design is all about extending your indoor living space. Americans have traditionally been an outdoor culture and making your patio, deck and backyard area into additional living space is just a natural progression. But we aren't talking about a few extra chairs and an upgrade from the hibachi; we are talking about designing an outdoor area that feels like a part of your home. A place where family and friends will gather to spend time and enjoy the scenery and good company in an environment that is inviting and functional. In fact, designing an outdoor living area wil...

Garden thyme, fresh or dried, alone or combined with parsley and bay leaves to make a bouquet garni, adds a distinctive aromatic flavouring to meats, poultry, stews, sauces, and stuffing. Thymus vulgaris, commonly known as cooking thyme, English thyme, French thyme, or winter thyme is just one of the 350 species of the genus Thymus. Often called the 'herb of courage,' garden thyme can be grown indoors or out. Thyme is a shrubby perennial with small, oval, narrow, grey-green leaves, long, woody, branched stems, and sturdy roots. This plant blooms in mid-summer and has lavender-pink flowers ...

Henry David Thoreau said that the blueberries that you pick yourself taste better than the ones you buy at the market. This is very true. Growing your own fruits and vegetables, working the soil, planting the seeds and harvesting your garden, is rewarding and a great, relaxing hobby. Growing your own food ensures that you know exactly where you food comes from and what, if any, pesticides were used. Gardening is also a great way to unwind and relieve stress. It is also good exercise, digging, stooping and pulling weeds can be a pretty good workout. So, whether you are planning a full-sca...

For your butterfly garden design there are endless possibilities to discover. A few suggestions can already help you to get started with it. The idea behind these suggestions is getting the creative process activated and get you started on your way to create a lovely butterfly garden. Just, before you start go and get some ideas about which species of butterflies are lingering around in your area. Explore your location while taking a hike around, probably with a butterfly identification book in your hands. Although it takes some time as well as effort you will treasure the final result. A...

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of home gardening is certainly no exception. Gardening with bulbs has many advantages for the gardener. For one thing, most bulb plants are inexpensive, and bulbs are durable out of the ground and hardy in the ground. Shopping for the right bulbs is also easy; simply choosing firm, healthy looking bulbs, and avoiding those that are cracked, dry or soft is a good way to choose the best bulbs for your garden. There are so many types of bulbs, howeve...

It was a long search that took me more than ten years. But finally I found it - the indoor house plant that will brighten up the end of a corridor 5 meters from my front door. The Aspidistra, commonly known as the Cast Iron plant, has graced the drawing rooms of many an otherwise drab Victorian English manor, and now graces my suburban Sydney brick home. Many gardening experts describe the Aspidistra as one of the toughest and most adaptable house plants. Its long blades of slender dark green or variegated dark green and white leaves shoot straight out from the soil but in clumps and up t...