Gardens Inspired

10 affordable gift ideas for gardeners

2015-11-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

by Debra Anchors

It happens to all of us. Trying to find the perfect gift for that person on your list "who has everything" can be a daunting task. Here are a few suggestions which are certain to please:

Garden Bucket Caddy - Ideal for transporting a variety of small tools, beverages, your cell phone and more

Hatchet - An easy-to-carry choice, perfect for gardeners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. A hatchet is ideal for chopping kindling and small- to medium-sized logs.

Gardening Gloves –These washable, nitrile-coated gardening gloves are sturdy, yet provide for finger flexibility. The bright colors make them easy to find in the yard, too.

Mini Greenhouse – An ideal choice for small backyards or homes where space is an issue. This can also be used indoors.

Bypass Pruning Shears - Is it time again to tame the garden? If so, these coated pruning shears are ready to tackle the job.

3 Piece Garden Tool Set – Useful for a variety of tasks including digging, weeding, loosening soil, aerating, and transplanting.

30 Gallon Kangaroo Gardening Bag – Perfect for collecting weeds, grass clippings, other types of yard waste or even toys or laundry off of the clothesline.

Clear Window Feeder - A feeder that attaches easily to a window surface is a useful and affordable gift for people who enjoy watching birds from inside the house, any time of year.

Big Kids Garden Tool Set - Garden like the "big" kids. Great for outdoor play and spending time with mom and dad while they garden. Give young gardeners a head start with these garden tools.

Fairy Garden Kit – Get kids growing! They can create and grow their own magical miniature fairyland!

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Create a birdseed wreath - Recipe and instructions

2015-10-13T10:50:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

Image - Cherry Hill Cottage

Feed wild birds to add beauty and music to your yard. You can simply hang a bird feeder and watch the ensuing feast, or create a few of these and watch your guests linger a little bit longer!

Recipe:

1 envelope of plain gelatin
1/2-cup warm water
3 Tbsp light corn syrup
3/4-cup flour
4 cups wild birdseed
Non-stick olive oil spray

You will also need:

Bowl
Bundt or ring pan
Large spoon
Wide ribbon or fabric remnant
Hook or metal ring (for hanging your wreath)

Image: Pacific Northwest Birds

Instructions:

Use the non-stick spray to coat the inside of your bundt pan.

In a large bowl, stir together the gelatin, warm water, corn syrup and flour until it becomes a paste.

Pour all of the seed into the paste and mix well. Be sure it is very well combined. Spoon small amounts of your mixture into the bundt pan, pressing firmly as you fill. Leave the mixture in the pan until it is dry (48 hours).

Turn the pan upside down onto a drying rack. If needed, depending on the humidity level in your area, leave your wreath untouched until it is completely dry (another 8 hours).

Use a fabric ribbon to hang your new wreath. String or rope will cut and break the wreath.

Heart - Jeanne Sammons
Ornaments-Texas Homemaking

Suggestions:

- Involve children in your project!
- Add dried mealworms or other songbird favorites to your recipe
- Freeze your wreath in a freezer bag until needed
- Use this recipe to fill and hang pine cones

- Use smaller molds to create birdseed ornaments as gifts for your friends or for your child’s teacher (twine will work to hang smaller, less heavy molds).
- A small birdseed ornament is a great wedding reception favor for guests to take home
- Customize a birdseed wreath for a special occasion by using molds in shapes. Use a drinking glass, a small can, or other round object to create a void for the ribbon.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Fall blooming flowers and plants

2015-09-14T15:34:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

Never settle for a boring autumn garden! Whether transplanted into your garden beds or positioned in decorative pots at your door, a dull and uninspired fall display is very easily avoided.

The selection of cool-season, blooming annuals that you can plant in September and October is practically limitless. Visit your favorite garden center to find immediate and beautiful autumn blooms for your garden. Here is a list of just a few suggestions. Please share your favorite fall bloomers with our novice gardeners in the comments. We can all use some variety!

Geranium colors include pink, blue, white, and purple. Most geraniums bloom in midsummer, although some species will bloom in spring and fall.

Mums are the royalty of the fall garden and a sure sign that summer is breathing its final breath of the year.

Violas can tolerate some freezing temperatures, so are a very good choice for adding autumn color to your garden.

Pansies are hardy annuals with flowering ‘faces’. They offer colorful perfect in your garden in early spring and fall. Pansies are available in wide color choice. This is the perfect plant to pair with violas.

Ornamental Kale is available in purple and in white. This variety of kale is bred as a decorative plant, and although it is edible, it doesn’t taste as good as kale grown for food.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Urban garden ideas

2014-05-27T22:53:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

What can you do with a city yard so compact you can reach out and touch your neighbors? How about borders thick with irresistible roses and flowering perennials? Why not consider a deck, perfect for living in the garden and watching the world go by? What about a pond large enough for a growing family of goldfish as well as plenty of aquatic plants?

I like to take full advantage of what I have available. Outbuildings, fences, walls, and gates - All of these provide structure and opportunities for growing vines and climbers.

Architectural plants. Shrubs, small trees, and evergreen perennials can become year-round focal points.

Light up the night! I enjoy dressing my garden for nighttime. Create your own solar chandelier for pennies.

And, why not use rope lights year-round? Although there is a multitude of colors to choose from, I chose to install cool-white LED rope lights to illuminate our way on the stairs of our deck. I was careful to choose lights appropriate for outdoors and capable of handling the below-zero temperatures of a Midwest USA winter. It can be difficult to find rope lights (unless it is the Christmas season), but I was able to find some affordable lights online at The LA Shop; and I am extremely happy with them. There is an opportunity every 3 feet to cut the rope lights to size, the lights bend easily around deck corners, and the energy-saving LED bulbs are brighter, and last longer, than incandescent string-lights.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

* I received the LED rope lights free from The LA Shop in return for sharing my honest opinion with readers.

Fantastic ferns

2013-11-01T15:49:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

Ferns are nothing short of gorgeous. Best of all, they are so easy to care for that most gardeners meet with success. Even those who lust only for colorful flower gardens find ferns invaluable as lush background plantings intermixed with perennials to bring form and texture to their showy beds throughout the growing season. Although the fern family is truly enormous, the gardener’s choices for deliberate cultivation are somewhat limited.

Ferns need light open shade to grow well. While it’s true they’re often found along forest edges, nature rarely grows them in deep shade. And, since ferns root on the soil surface, they need some kind of mulch like bark or wood chips to keep roots cool and prevent weeds from taking over. If you can manage these few requirements, your ferns will be off and running!

Speaking of running, ferns that propagate themselves by runners are aggressive, so plant them where they won’t crowd out other treasures.

Northern maidenhair fern

The northern maidenhair fern
(Adiantum pedatum), a common favorite, has black leafy stalks and knee-high, lyre-shaped fronds of soft blue-green.

Ostrich fern

Another beauty is the imposing ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). In the garden, ostrich ferns contribute an architectural grace of handsome, nearly three-feet-tall plume-like fronds all summer.

Japanese painted fern

The Japanese painted fern (Athyrium nipponicum), with its many-hued fronds of a silvery sheen and contrasting maroon stalks, is becoming increasingly popular. Of medium size, this painted lady lends itself to interplantings as a foil for flowering plants.

Christmas fern - photo by Ben Kimball

One stalwart evergreen fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), the Christmas fern, stays lush even through early winter snows.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Succulents and Cacti – it’s easier than you think!

2013-04-30T13:45:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

A succulent rock garden

Cacti and succulents often seem intimidating, but they are actually forgiving plants that respond to a gardener’s attentions by multiplying freely (succulents) or bursting into bloom (cacti). Because they require little water, succulents are a great choice for rooftop gardens.

Soil: Despite their association with the desert, these plants survive in soil, not pure sand. An ideal medium for both cactus and succulents consists of one-third each sterile potting mix, pea gravel, and compost.

Drainage: Root rot is the most dangerous enemy to cacti and succulents. Use pea gravel or coarse sand to ensure good drainage.

Light: Outdoors in the north, plant cold-hardy succulents in full sun; in the south, give them filtered light. Indoors, set plants in a south-facing window.

Water: Easy does it. Cacti and succulents have a great ability to store water, and need only a little additional moisture from us. Let soil dry out almost completely before watering.

Humidity: The dryer, the better.

Food: As a rule, cacti and succulents require very little supplemental feeding, if any.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Image credit - Mark Turner

Use rainwater in your garden

2013-04-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

Illustration by Don Bousquet

It’s no joke: Roof runoff can be captured in a rain barrel and used later for irrigation, which not only reduces the amount of polluted water flowing down storm drains, but also helps conserve water.

Consider the benefits of harvesting rain water for your garden:

Rainwater is free
Rainwater is a clean, chemical-free source of water for plants
Rainwater seeps into the soil, pushing salts from tap water down and away from the plant’s root zone
Rainwater allows for better root growth and water absorption, increasing the drought tolerance of plants
Rainwater harvesting reduces off-site flooding and erosion by holding rainwater on the site
Harvesting rainwater reduces dependence on ground water and the amount of money spent on water
Rainwater harvesting is an efficient water conservation tool

Please note that, from a public health standpoint, any standing water in rain barrels should be screened to keep mosquitoes from breeding.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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Make fragrance a focal point with these classic flowers

2013-04-08T00:24:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

Fragrant flowers lure us into the garden, and keep us there. The spicy scent of lily-of-the-valley may remind us of a favorite neighbor, while a whiff of honeysuckle transports us back to childhood summers in the country. We accept the beautiful aromas of the garden as gifts meant for us personally, even though they are intended strictly for the birds and the bees. Nearsighted pollinators rely on fragrance to guide them to nectar-filled blossoms; like us, they may become intoxicated and find themselves unable to leave a favorite flower. Just as some insects are attracted to specific plants, we humans have our individual preferences. What are yours?

Gardenia - Image by Harley Seaway

These heavy fragrances can dominate a room when they are cut and brought indoors or planted beneath a window:

- Oriental lilies (Lilium)
- Tuberoses (Polianthes)
- Mock orange (Philadelphus)
- Gardenia
- Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata)

Peonies

Subtle fragrances announce their presence without shouting:

- Lily-of-the-valley

- Roses

- Peonies

- Violets (Viola)

- Bearded iris (Iris x germanica)

- Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa)

- Sweet peas (especially heirloom varieties)

Magnolia - Image by Kevin Frates

Spicy scents have lent their heady, intriguing aromas to gardens for centuries:

- Magnolias

- Salvias

- Garden pinks (Dianthus)

- Heliotrope (Heliotropium)

- Freesias

- Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum)

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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About moles in your garden and landscape

2013-03-21T10:05:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

The Common Mole - Image from National Geographic

Contrary to popular belief, moles are not rodents; they are insectivores. Averaging 7-inches long, these tiny eating machines consume nearly their body weight in insects, slugs, and grubs every day. Those of us who have come across slugs or grubs while gardening know that they are not very big. Imagine how many grubs a mole would need to eat before reaching its body weight!

The reality is, if you have a population of moles in your landscape, you need them. A mole requires welcoming, moist soil, which provide it with shelter as well as a steady diet of invertebrates to fuel its racing metabolism. No invertebrates in your soil? No moles.

As a mole breaststrokes through its dark and moist world, it pushes the soil out of its way and down the sides of its body, forming both runways and tunnels from which to feed. Nearly blind, a common mole cruises just below the surface of the soil, at the root level of many plants, and uses its highly developed senses of smell, touch, and hearing, as well as sensitivity to vibrations, to locate food. As a mole burrows, it leaves behind the telltale signs of his presence – a mounding wake of loose, crumbling, soil. A mole may only travel his mounded runway once before moving on to a better feeding ground of insects.

The permanent tunnels of moles are used year-round and are located about a foot under ground. Those tunnels often lead to burrows, lined with grass, which in the spring can be home to three to six young. A mound of soil at the surface, or molehill, is characteristic of a mole’s burrow.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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The many benefits of green tea

2013-03-12T03:36:00.000-04:00

by Debra Anchors

The many benefits of green tea (you are free to use this image)

Green tea is derived from unfermented leaves that contain the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols. Antioxidants fight free radicals, the damaging amalgam in the body that modifies cells, wounds DNA, and even causes cells to die.

Researchers at Harvard Health site the following promising benefits to drinking green tea -

Improves memory	High in antioxidants and fights free radicals
Benefits the heart	Blocks the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol
Reduces cancer risk	Increases HDL (good) cholesterol
Facilitates weight loss	Improves artery function
Boosts immunity	Hydrates the body
Reduces the risk of hypertension	Regulates glucose levels

Consume a few cups of green tea each day to absorb antioxidants, or catechins, and other healthful plant benefits. In Japan and China, the usual amount of green tea consumed is three cups per day. Allowing the tea to steep for three to five minutes will bring out its beneficial properties. The optimum way to get the catechins and other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Loose, freshly brewed, green tea is less processed and therefore the antioxidants are more concentrated.

Are you interested in boosting the benefits of green tea even further? A study conducted by Purdue University researchers found that lemon juice caused a significant boost to the beneficial level of antioxidants in green tea. Since tea can interfere with the absorption of, adding lemon or drinking tea between meals will negate this problem.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Plant a windowsill garden

2013-03-02T01:45:00.000-05:00

by Debra Anchors

Image courtesy of
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension

With containers of herbs on your windowsill, you can enjoy gardening even on the wintriest days. A pot of green onions and companion pots of garlic and chives will yield tasty stalks for snipping into salads and onto baked potatoes. You will need a dozen onion sets, one or two heads of garlic, a packet of chive seeds, a couple of 8-inch pots with drainage holes, and some potting soil.

Plant and place your pots on a sunny sill. Begin snipping when the plants are three to four inches tall.

Note: Supermarket onions and garlic may have been treated to retard sprouting, so try your local nursery or garden center for the items you would like to grow.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Make gardening barrier-free

2013-02-25T19:11:00.000-05:00

by Debra Anchors

The Enabling Garden at The Garden Club of America

When we garden, time stands still; cares and woes simply fall by the wayside. This is why, as we age or confront physical challenges, it’s good to garden more, not less. An aspiring gardener can learn how a flower bed can be adapted to a gardener’s needs rather than the other way around. Make use of raised beds, hanging baskets and containers of all sizes to make this cherished pastime accessible to all.

Construct raised beds to elevate the soil level to a comfortable working height. Tall containers also reduce the need to bend and stoop.

Attach pulleys to all of your hanging baskets so plants can be raised and lowered for easy maintenance.

Use soaker hoses (buried just below the soil level) to take the work out of watering.

Stop picking up after yourself. Leave frequently used tools in designated spots right in the garden to save steps to the shed or garage.

Choose low-maintenance plants. Plant dwarf and slow-growing trees and shrubs, and noninvasive perennials such as cranesbill, bleeding heart and daylilies.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Plant and grow garlic

2013-02-13T20:02:00.000-05:00

by Debra Anchors

Few cooks can imagine life without the bulb fondly known as garlic. While still snubbed by a few cultures, most of the world enjoys garlic – for flavor, for excitement, and, in some cases, to improve well-being.

Garlic plants are started from bulbs, or heads (composed of a cluster of cloves), purchased from a garden center or nursery. Although easy to grow and very hardy, garlic performs best in milder, dry climates. Garlic is planted in the fall (in cold regions) or early spring for best development before the summer harvest season. Ample and consistent water is needed for the first five months of growth, as well as full sun. There are many varieties, in two major groups: the so-called soft necks, often found in the grocery store, and hard necks, also known as rocambole.

Divide the garlic heads into individual cloves and plant about one to three inches deep and four to eight inches apart in rich soil. In cold climates, apply a winter mulch of straw for protection, but remove it early as the weather warms. Garlic is virtually free from pests and diseases. The greens may be lightly clipped in late spring, and used as you would scallions. Garlic is ready for harvest when the plant tops turn brown. Dig the heads carefully, brush off excess soil, and allow them to dry on a screen in the shade. To prevent the bulbs from rotting, retain several inches of dried stalk. Store garlic in a cool, dry area (do not refrigerate).

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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Plant bulbs to add rich color to your garden

2013-02-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

by Debra Anchors

Keukenhof Flower Garden by Vera Kratochvil

Bulbs are a variety of plants that have one thing in common - they store food in a plump structure regularly referred to as a "bulb."

Planting a bulb garden is an easy way to coax your winter-tired garden back to work with cheerful flower shows long before most perennials push their way out of the soil (and before it's warm enough to sustain annuals). Summer-blooming bulbs paint the landscape with vital color, adding beautiful flowers and glamorous foliage at a time of year when Midwest gardens can use a boost. Revive your garden early in the season with spring blooming bulbs and give your garden a little spark in the mid-to-late season with summer bloomers.

When? Spring blooming bulbs (hyacinths, daffodils, snowdrops, tulips and crocus) are planted in the fall - any time before the ground completely freezes. They flower from January through June, depending on the variety of bulb and your growing Zone.

Summer blooming bulbs (dahlias, gladioli, lilies and cannas), are planted in spring, after the last frost. They flower from June through October, depending on the variety of bulb and your growing Zone.

Note: the majority of summer and fall blooming bulbs are not winter hardy and must be lifted and stored for the winter. Always be certain to check for your USDA Zone hardiness rating before you purchase or plant bulbs.

How? Provide separate holes for each bulb, or a furrow for many bulbs, and place them in the ground without tamping-down hard. Invest in good hand tools; they are worth their weight in gold in the garden.

Bulbs need ample water and decent drainage. If water has an inclination to puddle in the planting area, you will need to break up the first 12-inches or so of soil and supply some drainage material such as coarse stones below the surface soil. Standing water will eventually rot your bulbs.

Use the size of your bulb as a guide and plant it two or three times the bulb depth. Space your bulbs about 2 to 3 bulb-widths apart.

Make sure the roots are placed downward. Cover your bulbs with dirt and pat them in firmly, being careful not to compress the soil.

Lift and Store: Most summer bulbs are not hardy, so need to be lifted (removed from your garden beds) before the first frost. Bulbs generally prefer to be stored dry.

Remove any loose soil and gently pull or cut-off leaves. Leave the bulbs to dry overnight. Apply a fungicide (bulb dust) to help the bulbs stay healthy during storage.

Store the bulbs in dry paper bags or trays of dry sand in a cool place inside your house.

Be sure to read care instructions before storing your bulbs for the winter. A few bulbs need moist conditions and can be kept in slightly damp bark chippings.

The video offered and linked just below will be helpful as you prepare to dig and store your bulbs.

Storing Tender Bulbs for the Winter

A few more tips: Mix bulbs in with your summer-blooming perennials. They will hide the faded foliage of spent spring blossoms.

Look for bulbs that bloom early, middle and late spring (or summer) to create a season-long succession of color.

Don’t plant your bulbs if the ground is really wet or frozen, they will just rot away to nothing. Wait for the ground to dry out a bit or for frosts to have finished.

Be generous! More bulbs always look better than a few.

Based on your personal preferences, experiment with curves and shapes for your beds instead of planting in rows.

Plant your bulbs at the right time of the year or they may rot in the ground.

Make sure you are planting in a sunny location – at least half a day’s exposure. The best way to confirm there is enough sun is to choose a site after nearby trees are in full leaf. Dig out a planting area slightly deeper than needed. Always follow the specific instructions that come with your bulbs.

Be sure you purchase only good quality bulbs. If they are damaged in any way don’t buy them, the chances are very good that they will not grow, or not grow well.

Make a rough sketch of your bed design on paper using crayons, markers or colored pencils to create a pleasing color scheme.

A color wheel can be helpful if you aren't comfortable working with color. It’s easy to use and makes choosing colors a breeze.

Does this post leave you hungry for more information? Read another of my articles about caring for bulbs.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life. And, if you enjoy the world of fantasy that a fairy brings, or love beautiful images and inspirational quotes, be sure to take some time to relax in one or two of my garden rooms found under the navigation tabs.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazine, Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Patiently awaiting spring

2013-01-20T19:03:00.000-05:00

- by Debra Anchors

Tulips in spring

During the past few weeks, I have been busy creating new garden areas to visit here. Please sit back, relax and tour the new garden rooms by using the doors above.

The Muse: I have applied some favorite garden quotes to images captured by various photographers and have, with permission, redistributed them here.

Garden Fairy Portraits: This gallery contains beautiful portraits of fairies created by artists around the globe. When known, I have included the name of the original artist.

Cover Photos: Sized specifically to the dimensions specified by Facebook, these garden and nature cover photographs were created by me and placed in the public domain for use in social media (free of charge). Enjoy!

As I continue to build the galleries, I thought you would enjoy viewing a time-lapse video of flowers blooming. At this writing, there are only 58 days remaining until the first day of spring. We can make it!

From the BBC Motion Gallery -

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Salad Burnet - an evergreen herb

2012-12-18T09:01:00.001-05:00

- by Debra Anchors

Salad burnet
-Image from UBC Botanical Garden

The herb, salad burnet, traveled to America with the Pilgrims and has provided us with wintertime greens ever since.

Plant this herb beside your back door so you can enjoy its cucumber-like taste year-round; the herb is hardy in USDA zone 3. Use the ferny leaves on a sandwich in place of lettuce, mix them with other salad greens, steep them in white-wine vinegar, or bruise them and add them to a wine spritzer.

John Gerard, an herbalist in the sixteenth-century, suggested salad burnet as, “pleasant to be eaten in salads, in which it is thought to make the heart merry and glad, as also being put into wine, to which it yeeldeth a certain grace in the drinking”.

Salad burnet is indigenous to Europe, Africa, and Western Asia; it has made itself at home throughout most of North America. Salad burnet can be invasive, so be certain to employ a method to control its wandering habit.

Mulling is a centuries-old practice

2012-12-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

-by Debra Anchors

Hot mulled cider

Here We Go A' Wassailing is a song which references wassail, a traditional holiday beverage featuring mulling spices.

Mulling spices are wonderful to have on hand for those winter evenings when the family gathers around the fire. Mix 2 cups dried orange peel, 2 cups broken cinnamon sticks, 1-cup whole allspice berries, 1-cup whole cloves, and 4 broken star anise. Store the mixture in a closed jar.

To use: Mix ¼ cup of the spices per gallon of wine, cider, or apple juice. Simmer for 30 minutes. Serve hot in mugs with cinnamon stick stir-sticks, or fill a punch bowl and garnish with orange slices. The zesty aroma is a charming additional benefit.

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Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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How to make herbal soap

2012-12-04T20:40:00.000-05:00

- by Debra Anchors

Creating handmade soap is affordable and is the perfect solution to add a personal touch to your lavatory or to offer as gifts to friends. Soap making, while a very old practice, has become almost commonplace; supplies and kits are readily available.

Soap consists of an acidic fat such as lard, tallow or vegetable oils, and a base, usually lye or ashes. While you can certainly make soap from scratch, it’s easier, safer, and less time consuming to start with a purchased cube of plain glycerin soap. True, you won’t get
that Colonial realism, but you also don’t have to worry about inhaling lye, which is caustic.

Here’s how to make your own customized herbal soap bars:

On a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, cut the glycerin soap into smaller cubes to accelerate melting. Place the soap chunks in the top of a double boiler over simmering water; cover and allow the soap to melt down into liquid. You can also use the microwave for this step; put the soap in a glass bowl or large measuring cup, cover with a paper towel, and heat at intervals of 10-to-15 seconds. Stir during each interval until the soap is melted.

Allow the melted soap to cool slightly, and continue stirring until the temperature registers 120°F on a candy thermometer. At this stage, the soap has thickened enough so that any ingredients you add will be dispersed throughout, rather than sinking to the bottom. Do not allow the soap to cool long enough so it starts to form a thick skin.

When your soap has cooled to 120°F, you can add whatever essential oils and coloring you wish. To give soap a fragrance, and/or a property (such as insect-repellent, antiseptic, etc.), use essential oils and not chemicals. There are hundreds to choose from, including citrus to invigorate you, rosewood, which is uplifting, or Ylang-Ylang for stress relief. If you want to make tinted soap, stir in one-half teaspoon paprika, curry powder, cocoa powder, or cinnamon.

Other design options are limited only by your imagination. Add texture by stirring in rolled oats, dried herbs, or finely ground almonds. Blend in the blooms from lavender or roses to add a feminine touch, or choose wheat bran to make an exfoliating scrub. Add flowers or thinly sliced fruit into the mold before pouring soap over it, sealing the botanical inside. Make multicolored soap by layering the mold with two or more colors by letting one layer set before adding another, and so on.

Pour the mixture into a flexible plastic mold and let it set for about 40 minutes. Turn the soap out of the mold and wrap each bar in plastic wrap. To present your soap as gifts, wrap them in raffia, fancy ribbons, or use a dab of glue to attach dried flowers.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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Control of Red Spider-mites

2012-11-26T21:28:00.000-05:00

-by Debra Anchors

Red Spider-mite

Are your houseplants’ leaves suddenly speckled with yellow? Is your azalea’s foliage dull and falling from its stems? Sap-feeding red spider mites may be taking up residence on the leaf undersides. These eight-legged arachnid relatives are also called two-spotted mites for their distinguishing marks. Yellowing, distorted, leaves as well as tiny webs appears on susceptible species including roses, scheffleras, gardenias, and ivy.

Detection: Extremely small, these yellow, green, or orange-red mites are the size of a pencil tip. A magnifying glass will assist you as you examine your plants, or tap an infested leaf over white paper; mites leave red marks when smeared.

Solution: Lady beetles, lacewings, and predatory mites eat these pests. Blasting plants with water sends mites sailing. Horticultural oil and insecticidal soap are safe on nearly all plants. Spray the top and bottom of all leaf surfaces and repeat if necessary.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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New flower varieties for Spring 2013

2012-11-20T10:49:00.000-05:00

- by Debra Anchors

The gardens are just getting ready for their winter’s sleep and already I am dreaming of additions I will make in next spring. There are some stunning new varieties of plants available to gardeners in spring, 2013; these are only a few of my favorites. What do you think of these new introductions from Proven Winners and Hort Couture?

Primula Blue Zebra

Primula Blue Zebra
An annual, this new primrose can be grown from seed. This truly unique plant blooms with blue and white striped flowers with golden eyes.

Superbells® Lemon Slice - Calibrachoa

Superbells® Lemon Slice - Calibrachoa
This slightly bushy, annual, mini-petunia is bright yellow with five white flashes.

'Pardon My Purple' Monarda

'Pardon My Purple' Monarda didyma

A petite new perennial, 'Pardon My Purple' (Bee Balm) blooms with fuchsia purple flowers in mid summer.

‘Coconut Punch’ Dianthus

Fragrant flowers open deep red on this perennial, with white blotches in the center of each petal.

‘Hocus Pocus’ Veronica

Long, violet purple wands comprise the top two-thirds of this new perennial, larger than other varieties.

Lo & Behold™ ‘Lilac Chip’ Buddleia

Standing only two-to-three feet tall, this shrub is a new addition to the Dwarf Butterfly Bush family.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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About Morning Glories

2012-11-14T20:55:00.000-05:00

- by Debra Anchors

Morning glories in marvelous shades of blue, purple, pink, red, and ivory bring visions of old-fashioned romance, whether wrapping a mailbox, cascading over a picket fence, or camouflaging a compost bin. Wildly popular in Victorian times, morning glories formed living curtains around verandas and porches, offering welcome shade on leisurely afternoons.

Although they are tropical natives, growing morning glories couldn't be easier. Full sun, average soil, and plenty of water are all that’s needed. Opening at dawn, blossoms dazzle until the heat of the day shuts them down. Creative gardeners sow seeds in window boxes, and then train the vines up the sides of windows to form outdoor draperies. And, morning glories are great substitutions for roses on arbors and trellises. Above all, gardeners can depend on morning glories to provide splashes of color from midsummer to frost.

Tips for growing morning glories successfully:

Wait until the soil warms before sowing seeds. Morning glories are tropical plants, flourishing only when temperatures climb and nights consistently remain above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds sown too early will rot.

Soak seeds for several hours to soften hard seed coats, or nick the seed to hasten germination.

Don’t overfeed. Too much nitrogen will encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Soil should be no more than moderately rich.

Water, water, water. Thirsty vines should be watered daily during heat waves; container-grown plants may need water twice daily.

Direct-sow seeds, or plant seedlings started indoors, away from sources of artificial light such as street lamps and porch lanterns. Morning glories are photo-periodic requiring uninterrupted darkness for set periods in order to flower abundantly.

Be patient. In northern zones, flowers may not appear until well into August.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Thank you for stopping by to spend time in my garden. If you liked the article, please take a moment to let me know. I will be delighted if you would suggest Gardens Inspired to your friends, follow me or subscribe to my Blog.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!
-Debra

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Super healing foods

2012-11-06T00:59:00.000-05:00

Head for the produce aisle to fight cancer and other life-threatening illnesses

- by Debra Anchors

We all know that eating fruits and vegetables is good for us. But now scientists have proof that an apple a day DOES keep the doctor away. Fruits and vegetables are consistently studied for their disease-fighting potential, and according to research, many of our favorites are packed with phytochemicals that have extraordinary healing properties.

Produce power -

Apples	Contain vitamins A and C. Studies show that apples also have cancer- and virus-fighting agents and can work as an anti-inflammatory. The boron in apples boosts blood levels of estrogen and other compounds to prevent calcium loss in bones.
Artichokes	Are full of fiber, which is known to combat Type-2 diabetes – the fourth leading cause of death by disease in the United States.
Bananas	Are rich in potassium, a mineral that regulates heartbeat and blood pressure and can protect the elderly from strokes. Bananas are also commonly recommended to stabilize irritable intestines, thus alleviating both constipation and diarrhea.
Beets	Are a great source of the cancer-fighting antioxidant betacyanin, which gives them their vibrant color. Fresh beets are full of folic acid and vitamin B, which may protect against heart disease and colon cancer.
Blueberries	Contain tannic acid, which many scientists believe neutralizes free radicals and acts as a potent virus killer. Others claim it helps cure diarrhea and fights off bladder and urinary tract infections.
Broccoli	Is one of the first vegetables found to have anti-cancer properties and is still considered among the most potent. The sulforaphane in broccoli is said to stimulate the body to produce an enzyme that kills potential carcinogens.
Eggplant	Contains two compounds used to stop convulsions: scopoletin and scoparone. It is being investigated for its potential use in the treatment of epilepsy. Studies show this vegetable also binds up cholesterol in the intestines so that it isn’t absorbed into the bloodstream where it can clog arteries.
Grapes	Possess high levels of caffeic acid, which has been found to prevent cancer in animals, and flavonoids, which may prevent blood clots. Several dietary surveys have found that snacking on grapes lowers the incidence of gum disease.
Oranges, lemons, and limes	Have vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and an abundance of limonene. These help the body fight cancers of the lungs, cervix, stomach, and esophagus by reducing cholesterol and boosting enzymes thought to break down carcinogens and stimulate cancer-killing immune cells.
Pineapples	Are high in the mineral manganese, which research suggests helps build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis. A single cup of pineapple juice provides 50 percent of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C; fresh pineapple contains bromelain, the enzyme that assists digestion by breaking down protein.

If you enjoy this website, you might like my magazines, Upcycled Garden Style and Gardening Life.

Leave a legacy, but garden like you’ll live forever!

-Debra

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Energize your jack-o’-lantern

2012-10-28T23:26:00.000-04:00

- by Debra Anchors

Jack-o'-lanterns
Photo courtesy of Nicholas Myers

It wouldn't be fall without a carved pumpkin, but the joy can be fleeting because jack-o’-lanterns often rot quickly. Here are a few tips to help extend the life of your spooky masterpiece.

When selecting your pumpkin, steer clear of any with blemishes or soft spots. And be sure to choose one with a stem; stemless pumpkins can collect water on top.

Remove bacteria from the surface of the pumpkin before carving it by wiping it down with a household disinfectant or diluted bleach solution (a quarter cup in a gallon of water).

Once you’re done carving, lightly spread petroleum jelly over any cut surfaces.

Keep the jack-o’-lantern in as cool and dry a place as possible.

Safety note: Do not use a big knife for carving, because the pumpkin rind is so tough. Try a pumpkin-carving kit, which contains a not-to-sharp serrated knife.

Create a scarecrow

2012-10-21T00:41:00.000-04:00

- by Debra Anchors

Express your style with a scarecrow

With the autumn season upon us, I decided to focus on the scarecrow, a familiar symbol of the fall harvest. Have you ever considered the creative style of the person who created your favorite scarecrow? What is your creative style? Traditional? Ghoulish?

I hope you will enjoy a few of my favorites – which of these do you prefer?

Classy

Curated from It's Just Dottie

Festive

Curaated from New Jersey News

Industrious

Curated from Pokoroto

Patriotic

Curated from Johnson Brothers Greenhouses

Scary

Curated from allybeag

Silly

Curated from Flickr

Traditional

Curated from Emma Bond

Wooly Bear Caterpillars – good winter weather predictors?

2012-10-15T15:03:00.000-04:00

- by Debra Anchors

Wooly bear caterpillar

According to legend, the wider a wooly bear caterpillar’s middle brown section, the more mild the coming winter will be. A narrow brown band at the center of the wooly bear caterpillar is said to predict a harsh winter. But is it true? One would need to study thousands of wooly bear caterpillars over a number of years to confirm the folklore.

Isabella tiger moth

The true woolly bear caterpillar is the larval form of Pyrrharctia isabella, the Isabella tiger moth. Frost signals the wooly bear to search for an over-wintering site. Wooly bears crawl around looking for a space to spend the winter –under bark, rocks or logs. Once secure and protected, a wooly bear caterpillar can survive temperatures as low as -90°F!

The folklore goes like this:

The more narrow the middle band (or wider the black end bands) of a wooly bear caterpillar, the more harsh the winter will be.
If the black band at the head of the caterpillar is wider than the end, the beginning of winter will be harsher than the end of winter.
If the black tail band of the caterpillar is wider than the band at the head, then vice-versa; late winter will be harsh.

There is no hard science behind the folklore, but some of us think the wooly bear is much more accurate at predicting a harsh winter than many meteorologists. But, what do you think? Can woolly bears predict winter weather?

You may enjoy the additional information included in this video from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.