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,...

Have you ever stumbled on a garden of wildflowers? Purples, whites, yellows, blues and a rainbow of color against a verdant background. There's no visible flower garden design to Mother Nature's fields and meadows. Colors that we normally consider "clashing" seem to meld together, painting a living work of art. It is chaos theory in action, we can't see any visible logic behind it all, still it's perfect and repeating itself in unique but non-chaotic ways. As seasons change and nature finishes with one color, she frequently picks up another. Even greens are abundantly different, from pal...

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 ...

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 ...

Avid gardeners spend a good part of the winter planning what they will plant in the spring. Even casual gardeners invest plenty of time and money in their plants. Regular watering is one key to a successful garden. So what’s a gardener to do when faced with lack of rainfall combined with water restrictions in the middle of a hot summer? More and more gardeners are turning to rain barrels to keep their gardens happy and healthy. Saving rainwater to use during dry periods is an ancient practice that is once again becoming popular. This low-tech but ingenious solution is simple and inexpens...

Everyone needs a place in their home that they can call their own. A place to retreat, contemplate, relax, or just be alone. It's a place that exudes a sense of calm in an otherwise hectic life. In my house that place of refuge is in my Zen garden. Otherwise known as "karesansui" or "dry garden", this is a landscaping feature commonly found in homes, temples, and many public places in Japan. It wasn't until the 1930's that the western cultures began to understand the principles of the Zen garden and its application was used in various architecture, landscaping and a...

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...

For while there have been gardens there has been some scale of backyard envy. Whether the plot is made of flora, plants, or vegetables, there forever seems to be one plot that is more abundant, greener, more rich, or yields more food. Whatever you are green of in the gardens of others, odds are that if you take the courteous time to learn about the situation of the plants, the best emergent conditions for each yard, chosen soil treatments for each yard, and best rationale scenarios when it comes to sunlight and watering for the plants in your summer backyard you could form a summer plot to riv...

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...