cool been

Beauty of the Winter Garden

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:34:00 +0000

Winter shows our northwest landscapes at their worst. Most plants have gone to sleep (dormant) in the winter and therefore look somewhat lifeless. However, our gardens may be resting, but, they should not look dead.
Winter is when the structure of your landscape is tested. If it passes the test, then there should be at least an occassional shrub or perennial in bloom, some interesting bark to draw attention, berries hanging on throughout the season, songbirds occasionally if we feed them, and greenery to remind us that things are still alive.
Winter, of coarse, is when most of us observe our gardens from inside or passing to and from our homes. Every window can be a picture if time is spent designing a potrait of nature. Curb appeal is extremely significant during this season of the year.

Landscape Plan

We can make a landscape plan so that even in the winter, your garden will look alive and therefore have a wonderful appearance. Wouldn’t it be nice to entertain for the holidays where every window is a picture frame of an artistic landscape? If it looks great in the winter, your garden retreat will be fabulous during the growing seasons of spring and summer.

With your landscape plan completed in the winter, you’ll be able to start working on parts of the project as winter weather permits. When spring approaches, you’ll be ready with plan in hand to complete your landscape work with enough time left in the growing season to enjoy and use your garden retreat.

Many garden plants — from tough shrubs to annual bedding plants — provide welcome color throughout the winter. Check out these favorite cold-weather beauties for some inspiration.

There's no need to wait till spring for outdoor flowers: grow a few of these winter-blooming perennials and shrubs in your backyard.

Add pops of color to your winter landscape with plants and shrubs that add interest and will attract and support wildlife.

Liven up a drab winter yard with these tips for adding color and interest.

Very Rare Photos of Famous People

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Angelina Jolie

Marilyn Monroe

Jodie Foster

Milla Jovovich

Al Pacino

Kurt Cobain

Cristiano Ronaldo

Mick Jagger

Madonna

The Beatles

Sean Connery

David Bowie

George Clooney

Tom Hanks

Leonardo DiCaprio

15 Best Bird Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:17:00 +0000

Prepare your garden furniture for the winter

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Follow our top tips to ensure your garden furniture survives the winter

Give it a thorough clean
Before you start, give your garden furniture a thorough clean. The easiest way is with a simple sponge and soap and warm water, which should get rid of most dirt.
Wicker furniture can be sprayed down with a hose, or using the low setting of a pressure cleaner. Rust on metal furniture can be rubbed away with wire wool, but go gently. After cleaning all types of outdoor furniture, make sure you dry it thoroughly afterwards.

Find space to store it inside
If you're fortunate enough to have space in a garage or outbuilding, the best way to extend the life of your outdoor furniture over the colder months is to store it inside, where it will be kept safe and dry and away from the wind, rain and snow, all of which can cause wooden furniture to warp and age.
Bear in mind too, that sunshine can bleach the colour from woods and plastics, so if your outbuilding has windows, make sure the furniture is covered with dust sheets or similar.

Cover it up
If you don't have anywhere to store your furniture inside, consider investing in outdoor furniture covers. PVC-backed polyester covers which will keep your furniture protected from the elements, and even have UV-filters built in to prevent sun bleaching. Don't forget, you can buy covers for your barbecue too - well worth the investment, as they often rust.

Treat it with a protective product
Finally, consider treating your furniture with a specialist protecting varnish. Cuprinol's Hardwood Garden Furniture Protector provides long-lasting weather protection and comes in clear and three natural wood colours.

More Advice

• Canvas
Remove canvas seat covers and bring parasols inside when the season is over. Use a stiff brush to remove dirt. Some canvas can be machine washed at a low temperature, but weatherproofed canvas can't, so ask the manufacturer for their recommendations to preserve the special coating.

• Parasols
Check whether the canopy can be dismantled easily for cleaning. To wash an umbrella, open it, lean one side on to the ground and clean with a mild soap, cold water and brushes. Rinse with jets of cold water.

• Teak
Clean twice a year with a brush and specialist teak soap or a bar of mild household soap. A high-pressure hose may also be used at low level. If you use it on too high a setting, you risk damaging the surface.

• All-weather weaves
are easy to keep clean, simply wipe down with soapy water. They can be jet-washed at the start of the season.

• Metal furniture
Painted furniture should be washed down with water and mild detergent, then rinsed. Keeping cast-iron furniture clean will help prevent rust. Check for tiny rust spots, sand gently and repaint before it sets in.

Vacations of Your Dreams - Destinations DUBAI

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Best Garden In The World

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:57:00 +0000

Schönbrunn ("beautiful spring")

The sculpted garden space between the palace and the Sun Fountain is called the Great Parterre. The French garden, a big part of the area, was planned by Jean Trehet in 1695. It contains, among other things, a maze.
- Western parts were turned into English garden style in 1828–1852. At the outmost western edge, a botanical garden going back to an earlier arboretum was re-arranged in 1828, when the Old Palm House was built. A modern enclosure for Orangutans, was restored besides a restaurant and office rooms in 2009.
- Lining the Great Parterre are 32 sculptures, which represent deities and virtues.
- The garden axis points towards a 60 meters higher hill, which since 1775 has been crowned by the Gloriette structure (Fischer von Erlach had initially planned to erect the main palace on the top of this hill).

5 Ideas for Your House in Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:28:00 +0000

You would like to beautify the yard, to create a new spot for dining, relaxing and enjoying the outdoors? Then the house in flowers right for you. Choose the right style for your garden, on appropriate materials and in accordance with the available budget.

Here are 5 ideas to get you started.

You have a few options when it comes to building your own gazebo.

Find gazebo plans free of charge online or in your local library. While this can be an inexpensive option, it will be more difficult for someone with little experience in building. With the gazebo plans, you will have to source all of the materials, cut all the pieces correctly and then assemble.
Purchase architectural blueprints. These blueprints will have more details, but they are usually for designs that are more complicated. Generally, unless you have a great deal of building experience, homeowners will contract out the assembly of this type of gazebo to contractor.
Purchase a gazebo kit. Gazebo kits are an excellent option for a homeowner willing to tackle building their own gazebo. Gazebo kits come with the prefabricated parts and screws for you to assemble. Typically, in a weekend, you can put together your gazebo with basic supplies like a screw gun, level and hammer.

Your gazebo can be placed anywhere on your yard. Some homeowners choose to bolt their gazebo to an existing wood floor or to a concrete slab. Most homeowners choose to build a gazebo with a built in floor. Since you will need to secure your gazebo with posts underground, be sure to call your local utility company to have them indicate if there are any underground pipes or cables you need to avoid.

Another decision you will have to make for your gazebo is the type of wood or other material to use. Your main choices are:

Pine – Although inexpensive and easy to work with, pine decomposes rather quickly so you will have to replace your gazebo sooner. Depending on your weather conditions, pine may not be your best choice.
Cedar – An excellent option for its beauty, cedar is also lightweight, dimensionally stable and naturally resistant to cupping, warping and splitting. Its biggest benefit is that cedar remains flat and straight and will stay beautiful for many years.
Redwood – Another good option, redwood is naturally decay and insect resistant so pressure treating isn’t required like it is with pine. Redwood can be quite expensive but it is beautiful and ages well.
Vinyl – If you have decided on a gazebo kit, they are available in vinyl. Vinyl is a good option because of its longevity and it is maintenance free because it doesn’t need to be weatherproofed or repainted.

Modern Japanese Gardens Elements

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:08:00 +0000

In the Meiji Period, Japan entered an age of rapid modernization and Westernization. Western style city parks were built, and many of the formerly private strolling gardens were opened to the public. Politicians and industrialists were the force behind the construction of new private strolling gardens which often contained Western gardening elements such as flower beds and open lawns. Many of these gardens were built in the new capital of Tokyo, for example the Kiyosumi Teien.
Some modern garden designers also tried their hand at creating more traditional types of Japanese gardens, although they often included some new ideas into them. Good examples are the Zen gardens of the Tofukuji Temple in Kyoto and the stone garden in the back of Kongobuji Temple on Koyasan which date from the 1930s or the even more recent gardens of the Adachi Art Museum near Matsue.

Japanese gardens elements

The beauty and elegance of Japanese gardens is renowned worldwide. To invoke in his garden at least a touch of tradition and distant gardening, plant plants characteristic of oriental gardens.
Japanese gardens utilize elements such as ponds, streams, islands and hills to create miniature reproductions of natural scenery. The following are some of the most commonly employed elements:

Stones, Gravel and Sand

Since ancient times, stones have played an important role in Japanese culture. In Shinto, prominent large stones are worshiped as kami, while gravel was used to designate sacred grounds, as seen at some ancient shrines such as the Ise Shrines or Kyoto's Kamigamo Shrine.
In today's gardens, large stones symbolize mountains and hills, set decorative accents and serve as the building material for bridges and pathways. Smaller rocks and gravel are used to line ponds and streams. Meanwhile, dry gardens are comprised entirely of stones, with larger stones symbolizing mountains, islands and waterfalls, while gravel and sand replace water.

Ponds, Streams and Waterfalls

Ponds are a central element of most gardens and often represent real or mythical lakes or seas. Sometimes they provide a habitat for carps (koi) which introduce additional color and life to the garden. In dry gardens, ponds, streams and waterfalls are symbolized by raked gravel, sand and upright stones.
In recreational types of gardens, ponds can be used for boating or enjoyment from pavilions built out over the water or from plazas and embankments on shore, which often served as the site for aristocratic poetry or moon viewing parties in past centuries.

Islands and Bridges

Islands are another long standing component of Japanese gardens, and range in size from single stone outcroppings to large islands big enough to support buildings. They often represent real islands or have religious symbolism, such as those built to resemble turtles and cranes, symbols of longevity and health, or Horai, a sacred mystical mountain in Taoism.
Bridges are another common feature that is used to connect islands and cross streams or ponds. They are built of stone or wood, and range in complexity from a simple slab of uncut rock laid across a stream to elaborate, covered wooden structures that span more than ten meters.

Vegetation

Trees, shrubs, lawns and flowers of all kinds are used in Japanese gardens. Plants, such as maple and cherry trees, are often chosen for their seasonal appeal and are expertly placed to emphasize these characteristics. Conversely, pine trees, bamboo and plum trees are held in particular esteem for their beauty during the winter months when other plants go dormant. Mosses are also used extensively, with over a hundred species appearing at Kokedera alone.
Plants are carefully arranged around the gardens to imitate nature, and great efforts are taken to maintain their beauty. Trees, shrubs and lawns are meticulously manicured, and delicate mosses are swept clean of debris. During winter, straw, burlap and ropes are used to insulate and protect the trees and shrubs from the freezing snow, while straw wraps protect against bug infestations.

Japanese cherry trees

plum trees

pine trees

bamboo

Lanterns

Lanterns come in a variety of shapes and sizes and have been a common element of Japanese garden design throughout history. They are usually made of stone and placed in carefully selected locations, such as on islands, at the ends of peninsulas or next to significant buildings, where they provide both light and a pleasing aesthetic. Lanterns are often paired with water basins (see more details below), which together make up a basic component of tea gardens.

Water Basins

Many gardens contain stone water basins (tsukubai), which are used for ritual cleansing, especially ahead of tea ceremonies. The basins vary from simple depressions in uncut stone to elaborate carved stone creations, and are usually provided with a bamboo dipper for scooping up water. These days they often appear as a decorative addition more than for a practical purpose. Water basins are an essential element of tea gardens and are often paired with lanterns.

Paths

Paths became an integral part of Japanese gardens with the introduction of strolling and tea gardens. Strolling gardens feature circular paths constructed of stepping stones, crushed gravel, sand or packed earth, which are carefully prescribed to lead visitors to the best - albeit controlled - views of the garden. Winding paths also serve to segregate different areas, such as an isolated grove or hidden pond, from each other so that they may be contemplated individually.

Borrowed Scenery

Borrowed scenery (shakkei) is the concept of integrating the background landscape outside the garden into the design of the garden. Both, natural objects such as mountains and hills and man made structures such as castles, can be used as borrowed scenery. In modern times, skyscrapers have become a (usually) unintentional borrowed scenery for some gardens in the cities.

Design and Build Your Own Aquaponics System

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:28:00 +0000

Aquaponics is a revolutionary system for growing plants by fertilizing them with the waste water from fish in a sustainable closed system. A combination of aquaculture and hydroponics, aquaponic gardening is an amazingly productive way to grow organic vegetables, greens, herbs, and fruits, while providing the added benefits of fresh fish as a safe, healthy source of protein. On a larger scale, it is a key solution to mitigating food insecurity, climate change, groundwater pollution, and the impacts of overfishing on our oceans.

Aquaponic systems vary in size from small indoor or outdoor units to large commercial units, using the same technology. The systems usually contain fresh water, but salt water systems are plausible depending on the type of aquatic animal and which plants.

Function

Aquaponics consists of two main parts, with the aquaculture part for raising aquatic animals and the hydroponics part for growing plants. Aquatic effluents resulting from uneaten feed or raising animals like fish, accumulates in water due to the closed system recirculation of most aquaculture systems. The effluent-rich water becomes toxic to the aquatic animal in high concentrations but these effluents are nutrients essential for plant growth. Although consisting primarily of these two parts, aquaponics system are usually grouped into several components or subsystems responsible for the effective removal of solid wastes, for adding bases to neutralize acids, or for maintaining water oxygenation. Typical components include:

Rearing tank: the tanks for raising and feeding the fish;
Solids removal: a unit for catching uneaten food and detached biofilms, and for settling out fine particulates;
Biofilter: a place where the nitrification bacteria can grow and convert ammonia into nitrates, which are usable by the plants;
Hydroponics subsystem: the portion of the system where plants are grown by absorbing excess nutrients from the water;
Sump: the lowest point in the system where the water flows to and from which it is pumped back to the rearing tanks.

Depending on the sophistication and cost of the aquaponics system, the units for solids removal, biofiltration, and/or the hydroponics subsystem may be combined into one unit or subsystem, which prevents the water from flowing directly from the aquaculture part of the system to the hydroponics part.

Design your own Aquaponics System

Have you got a great idea for an aquaponic system? Want to design your own system or see how one of systems will look in your area?

Google Sketchup is a fantastic tool to use for simple 3D design, and almost anyone can use it without after just a few minutes experimenting.

Make your own in seven step

First step: dig a hole for the fish tub to go into , ensure that your fish tub has some shade to avoid evaporation and is also below ground level to maintain a good steady water temperature.

The second step: run a 10 metre long outdoor/waterproof extension cable from my shed to the fish area and connect the pump and the air pump to the power outlet. I then places all leads and sensitive electrical parts in a waterproofed box and buried it in a small hole that was easily accessible to me.

The third step is to drill or make some holes in the bottom of your growtub so that that the water can drain out back into the fish tub next thing is to setup a place for the grow tub to sit preferably close as possible to the fish tub as this way the pump wont have to work as hard to get the water into the grow tub from the fish tub.
For my example setup I simply placed the the grow tub at a higher level than the fish tub and let gravity control the water flow back down into the fish tub with the help of a basic roof tile.

The fourth step was to connect a hose from the 1000L pond pump to the grow tub and set it up with the digital power timer to control when i wanted the pond pump to turn on and off.

The fifth step was to then fill the fish tub with dechlorinated water and fish and run a few trial runs to see if the water flowed from the fish tub to the grow tub and back out correctly. At this point its a good idea to monitor how fast the water is escaping as this will slow down a lot after you add your grow medium

The seventh step was to wash the gravel and then add the gravel into the growtub (make sure your happy with the location as it gets extremely heavy and impossible to move) . From here you can simply drop some seeds into the grow tub and cover lightly with gravel and wait for germination to occur. When you first put the seeds in you will have doubts that the plants will even come up but be patient and you will see plenty of little seedlings otherwise you can always add plants transplanted from a dirt garden. Germination is always faster in hotter weather.

Here are just a few of the fish species for your Auquaponic systems

Talapia
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Silver Perch
Jade Perch
Sleepy Cod
Murray cod
Barramundi
Yabby
Crayfish
Redclaw

"Dramatic" Elephant Rescue in Zambia with Happy Ending

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Trapped in Mud

Photograph courtesy Abraham Banda, Norman Carr Safaris

http://www.nationalgeografic.com/

A mother African elephant and her baby lie mired in mud as family members look on in Zambia's Luangwa Valley on November 1.
The pair were rescued by wildlife officials and conservationists after a two-hour battle against heat, dehydration, and rapidly drying mud.
The Kapani lagoon, where the elephants got strapped, is nearly dry and very sticky at this time of year—making it easy for an animal to become ensnared, said Mindy Roberts, sales director for Norman Carr Safaris, whose Kapani Lodge overlooks the lagoon.
On this particular occasion the baby became trapped first. "One of her feet could have become stuck, and then as she thrashed around, her whole body got stuck," Roberts said.
When the mother elephant came to help the baby, she sank into the mud as well. Other members of the herd quickly retreated when the rescuers arrived.

Baby in Trouble

A Norman Carr Safari staff member first heard the baby elephant (pictured) screaming, and watched as the mother became stuck, too. Safari officials then called Rachel McRobb at the South Luangwa Conservation Society to ask what to do.
The conservation society typically rescues animals that have been trapped in snares—not mud, McRobb said.
"There's always a debate about whether, if something is a natural occurrence, you should just leave it," she said, "but obviously elephants tend to pull everyone's heartstrings."
Staff with the conservation society and the Zambian Wildlife Authority arrived at the lagoon within 20 minutes with ropes and a tractor.

Nearly Free

Rescuers fit a rope underneath the young elephant—estimated to be about two and a half years old—and began pulling, Norman Carr Safari's Roberts said.
The mother, despite being overheated and dehydrated, still had enough energy to threaten the rescuers with her thrashing trunk.
Without a rescue attempt, the prospects for the elephants were grim, South Luangwa Conservation Society's McRobb noted.
"If hyenas and lions didn't come and eat them alive, they would have slowly just dehydrated" to death over a period of five or six days, McRobb said.
"It's an awful thing to leave an elephant drying out in the mud."

Rescue in Progress

The rescue team unwraps the ropes from the young elephant, whose gender is unknown.
To compound the difficulties, every time the team freed the young elephant, "he'd run directly back to his mum, the poor thing," McRobb said—requiring the team to start all over again.
It's a lucky thing the elephants were noticed so quickly, McRobb added. Elephants that have been stuck for longer and then rescued generally don't fare well in the long-term.

Running to Safety

On the third try, a herd cousin calls for the young elephant to come to safety, and it runs, still caked in mud, to rejoin the herd.
It probably helped that the rescuers "literally chased him off," McRobb said.
"There were a couple of us actually chasing him to get him to just go back to his herd."

Rescuing Mom

Rescuing mom proved to be a little tougher—full-grown female elephants can weigh between 4,800 and 7,130 pounds (2,160 and 3,232 kilograms).
To complicate matters, in an attempt to free herself, Roberts said, the mother elephant wrapped her trunk around the rope tied to the tractor and started pulling.
Instead of pulling herself out, "she pulled the tractor, which weighs a couple of tons, toward herself for about a meter [three feet]—that's how strong they are."

Happy Ending

Two hours after she first got stuck, the mother elephant is still strong enough to run back to her herd (pictured).
Wildlife rescues like this one are somewhat common, both McRobb and Roberts said.
Roberts recalled a baby elephant that had gotten its leg stuck in the V of a tree. "The mother and aunt wouldn't leave the calf, so they had to be darted in order to get the calf's leg out of the tree."
McRobb adds that the morning after this rescue was performed, her conservation group found and rescued another two elephants stuck a little farther up the lagoon.

Best Animal Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:48:00 +0000

Zen Garden - Place to Pray

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 21:10:00 +0000

For those seeking peace and tranquility, learning how to make a zen garden is a great option. Whether an experienced landscaper or a beginner, gardening is a wonderful way to improve the value of your property while at the same time creating a relaxing space. To turn your backyard into a private oasis, consider a zen garden.

Zen Garden Origin

Peace and tranquility are what many of us strive for, but how exactly a garden helps us achieve those lofty goals may be unclear. To better understand, you must first know what a zen garden means. Originally, zen gardens were designed by Japanese monks as a place to pray. The oldest known zen garden is at the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto and was built in 1499. The most common type of zen garden is called "karesansui" which translates as mountain and water garden. A zen garden is intended to provide the visitor with inner strength as he gets back to the basic elements by having rocks represent mountains and sand represent water.

How to Make a Zen Garden

Desktop or miniature varieties of zen gardens can be purchased at many craft or hobby stores such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby, but actual life sized backyard gardens provide the visitor with a more comprehensive experience.

Materials and Supplies

Rake
Four 2x4x8 pieces of lumber
Wood screws
Drill or screwdriver
Playground sand
River or other attractive rocks

Assembly Instructions

Clear an area of your backyard approximately nine by nine feet. Make sure any grass or debris is removed and the plot is relatively flat. Use a shovel to remove sod or to rearrange the soil to flatten the surface.
Construct a wooden frame by screwing the four pieces of lumber into a square using wood screws. Alternate each end so the final shape is a square. The frame will measure eight by eight feet. Place the frame in the center of the area previously cleared and press the frame firmly into the soil so one inch is in the ground. This will prevent the frame from moving and sand spilling out once filled.
Slowly add finely grained playground sand until the frame is filled. Do not overflow the frame as other garden elements still need to be added. Playground sand is an inexpensive option but other choices include ground lava or bricks and are available in a variety of colors. Visit your local landscaping store to check out alternatives if desired.
Rake the sand so it is level. Add rocks in two or three areas. For a more dramatic effect, group rocks of various heights or shapes together. Make sure the rocks are secure and are not placed on top of each other where they may fall and create a safety hazard. Many zen gardens use round rocks or obelisks instead of groupings. The purpose of the rocks is to represent a mountain but you should use whatever shape best appeals to you.
Once the rocks are placed, use the rake to create lines in the sand. Since the purpose of the sand is to represent water, the designs you make in the sand should represent waves or ripples on the water's surface. You may want to use more than one size rake to get different designs in the sand. Practice different levels of pressure, pushing and pulling motions, or varying rake sizes until you have a design you like.
Place a bench or garden seat near the zen garden so you can review your handiwork. Since there are no plants in the garden, upkeep is minimal. Simply change out the rocks and rake the sand into another pattern when you tire of a particular design.

Final Suggestions

Once you learn how to make a zen garden, take time to use it. Spend a few minutes each day letting the worries and to-do lists float away. By calming your mind and taking time for yourself, you may find it easier to focus and deal with issues.

By Jeri Sullivan

Create a garden that suits your style

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:37:00 +0000

Find the perfect garden style to suit your style and needs with our favourite garden styles

Pick the perfect hard surface
See our step-by-step guide to creating the perfect decking area, our gallery of latest garden paving styles or our guide to garden paths and pathways, so that your can find the ideal look to suit your garden

Find the ideal patio look
Pretty up your patio with garden accessories and stylish furniture. Be inspired by our favourite three garden patio looks and see how to make them work for you.

Beat an awkwardly-shaped garden
Don't let an odd-shaped garden get in the way of achieving that perfectly styled outdoor space. Follow our tips on how to make the most out of your garden layout.

Make a statement with your outdoor space
Looking for something a bit more unusual? Why not check out our gallery of weird and wonderful gardens, for style ideas you won’t believe ... and if they're too much, check out in our garden gallery.

Decorate your front garden

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

With summer’s flowers fading, your front garden may be looking tired. However, if you put aside a few hours for a quick revamp, you can create an entrance to be proud of. Above all, a front garden should be easy to keep looking tidy.
Unless you have lots of time, aim for fuss-free landscaping and low-maintenance plants. Your front garden is mainly going to be viewed against the backdrop of your property, so choose a look that enhances its best features and conceals its  less appealing ones.

Try classic topiary

• Clipped shrubs such as box and bay look wonderful in front of homes with a formal facade.
• Water regularly, and consider chaining your pots  to railings to ensure that opportunistic thieves don’t make off with your precious plants.
• Trim plants in June and August for best results. Get  into a routine of applying slow-release fertiliser granules every three months and repotting every two years.
• Get the look with artificial topiary bushes — try Bloom for realistic ones.

Add scented roses

• Think of roses around a front door and a country cottage springs to mind, but there are varieties that can be used to enhance the front of almost  any home.
• Consider practical details such as how sunny your spot is, how often you want to prune and if you want to deal with thorns, as well as your preference for colour and scent.
• Think about when you want flowers. Some roses have just one flush each year, while others bloom for months.
• Can’t decide? Some roses start in one shade and mature  to another — x odorata ‘Mutablis’ offers yellow, pink and crimson flowers all on one bush.

Lay a smart path

• Keep soil and grass from being trekked into your hallway with a simple path, which can be an attractive feature in its own right.
• Use materials that suit your home — so if you have brick walls and a slate roof, consider using brick edging and slate paving. White pebbles or gravel will highlight your route as it gets dark, and the crunching underfoot with alert you to a visitor’s arrival.

Plant up a container

• Deter thieves by choosing a large, heavy container that’s difficult to move. Old troughs and Belfast sinks are inexpensive and look great.
• Plant up garden containers in situ, as they’ll be even heavier when filled with compost. Position them near the house as you won’t want to trek far with your watering can on hot days!
• Think bold for a container of this scale. Choose tall purple amaranthus or orange mimulus for the centre and nasturtium ‘Empress of India’ for the edges. Osteospermum is perfect for September planting as it blooms until the first frosts.
• Plant up window boxes in the same way, opting for low-growing varieties.

Put up a hanging basket

• Save money by making up your own basket, rather than buying a ready-made one.
• Place the basket over a wastepaper bin to hold it securely in place while you work. Add a liner, compost and plenty of water-retaining gel crystals and slow-release fertiliser. Mix well and water  to allow the crystals to swell.
• Opt for fast-growing hanging basket flowers, such as pink Surfinia petunias and white bacopa. They cost from 85p each, and you’ll only need four per basket.
• Hang in a sunny spot, water every day, and you should have a colourful show in around two or three weeks. Remove dead flowers frequently to encourage more to bloom.

source : housetohome

Vacation Of Your Dreams - Destinations Venice

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:49:00 +0000

Hotel Londra Palace

Venice

Venice is also known as “La Serenissima” (the most serenely beautiful one) and “Queen of the Adriatic”.

Venice really is built on water. The people of the Veneto region built the city on a salt marshland at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea. The “official” date of the birth of Venice is the 25 March 421.

Venice has around 150 canals connected by 409 bridges, and over 3000 alleyways on the 117 islands. Basically every time you see a bridge it is connecting two islands.

The Grand Canal is the widest canal in Venice and divides the city into two parts, with three sestieri to the west (San Polo, Dorsoduro and Santa Croce) and three to the east (San Marco, Castello and Canneregio). The Grand Canal is slightly longer than 2km long, and has an average depth of 4m.

Only three bridges cross over the Grand Canal – The marble Ponte di Rialto built between 1588 - 1591, the wooden Ponte Accademia built in 1854 and the stone Ponte degli Scalzi which replaced the original iron bridge in 1858.

The population in Venice has halved over the last 50 years and is currently estimated to be in the region of 63,000 – most of the workers in Venice live on the mainland and travel by water to work each day. This relocation of residents is due to the high cost of living and the inconvenience of living away from the mainland.

Over 15 million tourists visit Venice each year.

Compliment your Barbeque

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Turkey Barbeque
Turkey barbeque recipe, part of a collection of leftover recipes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours, 15 minutes

Ingredients:

· Leftover turkey

· Favorite barbque sauce

· /2 onion diced

· 1/2 green pepper diced(optional)

· 1 tablespoon butter

Preparation:

Break up turkey into small pieces and put in a large pot or crock pot. Saute onions and pepper in butter and place in the pot. Mix in barbque sauce. Heat slowly for one hour, on high for three hours minimal in crock pot. Serve with rolls and sandwich cheese of your choice.

Low Calorie Barbeque Potatoes
Compliment your barbequed dinner with these delicious potatoes, dusted with a sprinkling of sweet rosemary.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

· 4 medium sized baking potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces

· 2 tsp olive oil

· 1 tsp dried rosemary

· 1/4 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat the grill.

2. Divide the potatoes among two sheets of heavy duty tin foil. Top the potatoes evenly with the olive oil, rosemary, and salt. Fold the edges of the tin foil up around the potatoes, and pinch the ends together to make a packet. Wrap the packet with a second sheet of tin foil to assure the packet has no holes.

3. Place the packets directly on the grill racks, and cook the packets for about 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

Serves 4

Per Serving Calories 123

Beautiful Gardens

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:35:00 +0000

If your garden is ready for a redo but your budget says stop, here's help.

Inspiration: Lot of eye-catching photos help you design your garden makeover.

Top Trends: See what's happening in garden design and adapt the trends to your garden.

Country Design

Modern design

Traditional design

Wonders of Nature in Serbia

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:08:00 +0000

Đavolja Varoš (Devil town)

Located in southern Serbia, Djavolja Varos is an interesting natural formation of rock towers that seem to take the shape of a city of sorts. The mystery of these formations, being almost sculpture-like, caused locals to give it its eerie name, which translates as Devil’s Town.
These naturally formed towers, 202 of them in total caused by centuries of erosion, are similar to those found in Cappadoccia, Turkey, and are a certain rarity on the European continent.
The area is also home to a popular natural spring spa, one of which has healing acidic waters.

Vratna Gates

The River Vratna, a tributary of the Danube, is in the northeast of Serbia. Due to the unique interplay of geological features in its basin, a composite valley has arisen, with gorges and canyons carved out of the carbonate rock.
There are three large ‘gates’ (prerast) – natural stone bridges – over the Vratna, each of which has come about through a different process. They are a unique phenomenon, a specific phase in the evolution of tunnel caves and river meanders.
Suva Prerast came about where the Vratna disappears underground before a limestone ridge in a gooseneck meander. It is an imposing stone bridge 20 m high, 15 m wide and with a 34 m-wide arch.
Three kilometres downriver from the Suva Prerast is the Velika Prerast, a remnant of a former cave roof. It has a tunnel-shaped opening 45 m long, 26 m high and 22-33 m wide. There are a number of cave openings in the walls and roof of the bridge.
The Mala Prerast is just 100 m downriver from the Velika Prerast, at the very end of the canyon portion of the valley. From then on begins the wide expanse of the Vratna valley with its monastery complex. At the narrowest point of the exit, some 200 m upriver from the Vratna monastery, the slim arch of a natural stone bridge rises into the air, 34 m high, 33 m wide and 15 m thick.
The entire valley, which has resulted from the collapse of a cave roof through which the Vratna once flowed underground, and especially the attractive bridges – natural stone arches over the river – are exceptional examples of the action of river and karst processes in isolated limestone landscapes.

Sopotnica waterfalls

The Sopotnice waterfalls are in southwestern Serbia, on the river Sopotnica, on the western slopes of the mountain of Jadovnik. They are located in the municipality of Prijepolje in the area of the village of Sopotnica. The river Sopotnica, a tributary of the Lim, is characterised by the large difference in elevation between its mouth at 465 m above sea-level and its highest source at 1150 m.
This monument of nature encompasses the source of the surface course of the river Sopotnica, with a number of permanent and intermittent karst emergences and springs which form rivulets. These rivulets first combine and then branch out to form a series of waterfalls. Another major attraction besides the rivulets and waterfall are the old, restored water mills.
The sinter deposits came about from spring sediments around the upper portions of the Sopotnica’s course and extend from the highest wells under the limestone slope of the Podstijenja at 1120 m above sea-level, to the last waterfall at 850 m above sea-level. With a 270 m difference in elevation, this sinter has the greatest elevation range of any in Serbia. The accumulated deposits of sinter – formed into seven levels of flattened fan-like cascades of varying size and prominence – the falling water and the numerous falls flowing over the edges of the sinter terraces, all contribute to the value of this natural monument. Especially attractive is the Veliki vodopad (‘Great Waterfall’).
The plant life of Sopotnica comprises 62 varieties, of which 10 are shelf fungi and 52 types of moss – a high degree of diversity for such a small area.
The ethnic and cultural setting of this area, with its numerous unique features of mixed ethnicity, traditional village hospitality and various valuable examples of vernacular architecture, are also part of what makes the Sopotnica valley so important.

Mlava and Krupaj springs

The foothills of the mountain of Beljanica in eastern Serbia abound in powerful karst emergences. Two such wells are of particular interest due to their power, appearance and the way they emerge: the Mlava Spring, in the village of Žagubica itself, located where the northern slopes of Beljanica descend into the Homolje basin, and the Krupaj Spring (Krupajsko vrelo), at the western foot of the mountain, in the Krupaj river valley some 35 km from Žagubica.
The Mlava Spring is set in a natural amphitheatre which opens towards the northwest via the short valley of the outflow of the emergence. The well is in the shape of a pond some thirty metres across, its water deep green in colour. When at its height, its flow can reach 15 cubic metres per second, when it becomes whitish or reddish and clouded. The water in the pond ascends from a great depth. To date, divers have succeeded in descending the underwater funnel to a depth of more than 70 m without having reached the bottom of the siphon. Once the main water source for Žagubica, and a traditional gathering place for festivals and rituals, the Mlava Spring today is an attractive tourist spot, with tended banks and wooded slopes.
The Krupaj Spring once emerged from a cave with great force, accompanied by a roaring sound, but today is walled over with a concrete water gate, for use by the wool-carding and flour mill that is still in operation today. As a result, the cave mouth has been partially submerged by the pond which has formed. Near to the emergence there is a powerful thermal spring, with a water temperature of 26.5⁰C.
Both water sources are protected as natural monuments of national importance, and include the immediate area, including 6 hectares around the Mlava Spring and 9 hectares around the Krupaj Spring.

Lazarev kanjon (Lazarev canyon)

Lazarev Kanjon (‘Lazar’s Canyon’) is in eastern Serbia and is part of eastern Kučaj. Lazarev Kanjon is important for its relief, its water-formed features and its natural life. It was formed by the erosive action of the Lazareva Reka river, a right tributary of the Zlotska Reka river. This magnificent canyon is carved into the limestone of the Dubašnička Ravan, and is joined by the more shallow, smaller canyons of the Milujska Reka and Pojenska Reka rivers, as well as by the Demizloka canyon.
Lazarev Kanjon is one of the least negotiable canyons in Serbia. It is 4.5 km long, 350 to 500 m deep, and at its narrowest is 4 m wide. It is notable for its vertical limestone cliffs with a flattened limestone plateau from which the carving of the valley began. It is also unique for its variety of surface and underground karst relief forms such as karst valleys, sinkholes, karren, kamenica, caves and caverns. More than 70 caves and potholes have been discovered in the area of Lazarev Kanjon, the most significant being Lazareva Pećina and Vernjikica. The area is also of interest for its variety of forms of surface and subterranean waters.
The flora of this region is some 50% more diverse than the flora of the national parks of Kopaonik, Šara and Djerdap, and as much as 5 times more diverse than the flora of Serbia as a whole, which is an indication of its significance as a centre of floral diversity in the Balkans. The plant life is characterised by numerous and varied endemic and subendemic plants, as well as by the presence of 52 relict plant species dating back to various geological eras.
Lazarev Kanjon is a region populated by Italian and Turkish oak, together with oriental hornbeam, though a total of 16 tree and 10 plant communities have been recorded. The territory of the Lazareva Pećina cave is home to 57 tall and short tree species and 27 shrub species. This is a major centre of European deciduous tree species and a rare refuge of the Stankewicz pine. Also very important are the Austrian black pine woods on the canyon cliff-edges and the beech and pine woodlands.
The canyon is home to 35 species of mammal (bats, chamois and others), 96 bird species (Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Eagle Owl, Tawny Owl, Wallcreeper, Yellow-billed Chough, Common Kingfisher, Syrian Woodpecker, Red-rumped Swallow and others), 9 reptile species, 8 amphibian species and numerous, as yet insufficiently studied species of insect and cave fauna.

Cool Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:14:00 +0000

Working Dogs

These dogs work hard to protect property, pull sleds and help with search and rescue. The Doberman Pinscher, Siberian Husky and Great Dane are included in this Group, to name just a few.

Toy

Don't let their tiny stature fool you, many Toys are tough as nails. The maltese, pug and yorkshire terrier make up this group of tiny pups.

Terriers

Terriers are a feisty group. They range in sizes from small, like the West Highland White Terrier, to the grand Airedale Terrier.

Non-Sporting

This group of dogs is a big mix of all sizes, shapes and colors, including the bulldog, dalmatian and poodle.

Hey, Sport!

Most sporting dogs love the woods and water. Spaniels, pointers and retrievers make up this group, including the popular Golden Retriever.

Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog

Most hounds share the common trait of being used for hunting. Dogs in this group include the popular beagle, whippet and greyhound.

Herders

All breeds in the Herding Group share the fabulous ability to control the movement of other animals. Many of these dogs will gently herd their owners, especially kids!

7 Wonders of the Modern World

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:22:00 +0000

New list of natural wonders was announced for our modern world. What made the list?

Chichén Itza, Mexico  
The ancient city of Chichén Itza (pronounced chee-chehn eet-sah) is located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This well-known Mayan city served as a religious, political and economic center spanning several hundred years. The Pyramid of Kulkulkán -- also known as El Castillo -- is probably the most recognized ruin of Chichén Itza. This step pyramid stands approximately 80 feet high. It has nine terraces and four sets of stairs. Each staircase has 91 steps. If you include the top platform as a step, then the pyramid has a total of 365 steps – one for each day of the year!

Christ the Redeemer Statue, Brazil 
This statue of Jesus is one of Rio de Janiero's most widely recognized monuments. It stands 98.5 feet tall atop the summit of Mount Corcovado, which itself rises more than 2,300 feet high. With a hug-like wingspan of 92 feet, the statue seems to both beckon and welcome local residents and visitors alike. It weighs approximately 700 tons and is made of concrete and soapstone. To see the statue up close, you can ride a cogwheel steam engine train up the steep 2.3-mile slope. Rest up on the ride because at rail's end you have more than 200 steps to climb to get to the foot of the statue.

Colosseum, Italy 
If you've seen the movie "Gladiator," then you've seen the Colosseum – well, a CGI-enhanced version of it anyway. Built in Rome sometime around AD 70, it was the first freestanding amphitheater. Others in that era were dug out and built into the sides of hills or mountains to provide stability. Gladiator contests, group combats, battle reenactments, and other productions were held there to an audience of nearly 50,000. Today, even after some renovations in the 1990s, the wear and tear from poor weather, natural disaster and vandalism show. Nonetheless, visitors flock to this amazing sight daily.

Taj Mahal, India
This 42-acre marble mausoleum complex located in Agra is a stunning and well-known Indian landmark. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal (or Mogul) Emperor, built it as a memorial to his deceased wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. Construction, which started shortly after Mahal's passing in 1631, spanned more than two decades. It required more than 20,000 laborers and cost several million rupees.

Great Wall of China  
OK, we've all heard the claim that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space. But it just isn't true. According to NASA, not only is the wall not clearly visible from low Earth orbit, other man-made things are. The space myth aside, the Great Wall of China is definitely a modern marvel and rightfully belongs amid the other seven wonders. Contrary to popular belief, the wall isn't one continuous structure. It's actually made up of several separate structures that connect and branch out here and there. Including the branches, it covers approximately 4,500 miles.

Petra, Jordan  
Located in southwest Jordan are the ruins of the ancient city of Petra. Massive temples, tombs and monuments have been cut into the surrounding sandstone cliffs. Petra, which is Greek for "rock," is also known as "the city in the rock." Perhaps the most impressive Petra structure is the Sik al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury. It is an elaborately carved and embellished tomb. Besides the decorative tomb facades and monuments, Petra is also known for its highly organized water system, which included ceramic pipes, intricate water channels and cisterns.

Machu Picchu, Peru  
If Petra is the city in the rock, then Machu Picchu is the city in the clouds. Built in the 15th century, this ancient Incan city is nestled between two peaks – Machu Picchu (Old Peak) and Huayna Picchu (New Peak) at an amazing elevation of 7,710 feet. It is often (mistakenly) called the lost city of the Incas, because it was hidden amidst the lush forest and clouds for more than three centuries. Yale professor Hiram Bingham rediscovered the city in 1911. Since then, excavation research suggests that the city was home to about 1,200 residents at its peak. Today, it is a key tourist attraction.

Vacation Of Your Dreams - Destinations Corfu Greece

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:53:00 +0000

Corfu town

Corfu beach

Hotel BEST WESTERN PLAZA 4*

More Than Words To Show You Feel

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:23:00 +0000

Protect the Environment

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:14:00 +0000

There are many ways to protect the environment, and they can and will prove effective if governments and individuals show commitment, focus and drive. Everyone has to work together and make changing habits and practices a priority. Convenience is great, but it has to take a backseat towards healing and maintaining the planet.

Some Ways to Protect the Environment

You probably already know some simple ways to protect the environment, such as using canvas bags for grocery shopping and recycling all your glass, paper, metal and plastic (where possible). Such small but important steps can be made to have even more of an impact if you use reusable bags for all your shopping and work with your neighbors to pressure your local municipality to step up its recycling program so that it accepts more items.
Grass roots activism is, in fact, a crucial part of protecting the environment. From individuals to corporations, habits are ingrained and the idea of spending money and effort to change them is unappealing. But local governments and even businesses will respond to organized pressure, so long as it's handled reasonably. From convincing places to stop using harmful chemicals or Styrofoam to installing energy efficient lights and solar power panels, there is a lot that a concerted group effort can accomplish.

Concentrate on Cutting Down

No, not trees - trash. By some estimates, the average Western household produces one ton of trash a year, all of which ends up in landfills. And that's just households - many office buildings, large and small, produce plenty more. The first step to reducing your trash is simply to become aware of it. Once you take a look at just how much waste you're generating, you might be astonished enough to start finding ways to cut down. Can you buy food with less packaging? Can your kids drink juice poured from a jar into a vacuum flask, instead of using unrecyclable juice packets? Can you use a reusable bottle or mug yourself for everything you drink through the day? And for items that require packaging, can you contact the manufacturers and ask them to use more environmentally responsible biodegradable packaging?
Many people don't see bags as being a big deal and thought San Francisco's total ban on plastic bags was extreme - but the city is reaping environmental benefits. When you consider that fewer than 2 percent of plastic bags are recycled, and consider how damaging they are to animals and the ecosystem, you may want to try cutting down on them. Reusable bags can be used for all your shopping, so that you end up with no plastic bags whatsoever. Some people protest, pointing out that they reuse the bags for household trash cans and kitty litter. Instead, you can buy Bag-to-Nature compostable bags. These degrade completely and safely. If you're concerned about the extra cost, bear in mind that by cutting down on household waste, a bag might sit in a bin for a long, long time.

Protection Through Health

One of the ways to protect the environment that impacts you immediately is to cut down on your consumption of meat. Beef is especially bad for the environment, because the Amazon is being cut down for cattle grazing and cattle are inefficient. Try going vegetarian at least one day a week. When you want an animal protein, opt for locally grown or organic fare - preferably lamb or pork, or even something quite different like bison, ostrich or rabbit.

Get Involved

It's easy to think of environmental organizations as rabid left-wing ideologues. But the bulk of them consist of reasonable citizens who are passionate about creating healthful change that will make a substantial difference and improve lives. Whether you donate money or time, allying yourself with a committed environmental group will go a long ways towards helping the planet and everything on it.

Green Living

Vacation Of Your Dreams - Destinations Varadero

noreply@blogger.com (cool been) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:29:00 +0000

Destinations Varadero
Havana, Sol Sirenas Coral Hotel Varadero, Varadero Beach