Gardens of Rest

When it comes to fertilizing your vegetable garden, there are a myriad of products from which you can choose. Regardless of which one you select, a good bottom line to follow is to always select a fertilizer that is made from organic, not synthetic, materials.Organic fertilizers are made from natural ingredients, such as animal blood and bones, seaweed, manure, kelp, and bat droppings (guano). All of these materials are not harmful to the earth, and are sustainable and renewable. Comparatively, chemical (synthetic) fertilizers are made from materials that are mined from the earth, or petroleum, or gasses that are found in places where petroleum exists underground. This makes the production of chemical fertilizers quite an unfriendly, "un-green" process. To make matters even worse, the vast majority of chemical fertilizers don't stay where you put them, but instead run off into your ground water.There is also a very significant difference between .. more»

Herb Garden Design need not be something which is for your entire garden it may be an addition to your existing garden or just some pots and containers placed in strategic positions.When looking at the design my first consideration is always to ask why and what am I doing this for. Simple question but necessary as we often forget why we are thinking Herb Garden Design. Most of us will be looking at our garden and thinking we could put some helps in there, but think what do we want to use them for? What herbs do we use in our cooking and will we get some benefit from growing them here.No point using up our garden space on a Herb Garden if we are not going to use the herbs, I do realise that a herb garden can in itself look quite stunning and also have some magnificent flowers .. more»

Today endless styles of garden furniture sets are available. They each have their own unique characteristics and they all are made with the highest quality materials. Certain garden furniture sets represent some variation of Old West, or desert location. These pieces are constructed for use outdoors but many people already may have placed them in a conservatory or sun room. They may not provide enough seating room if you make it a habit to entertain large groups of people, though. Other sets of this very popular type of furniture are recognized for their square and rectangular shapes as well as sharp angles. These sets often are sold with thick, padded cushions, and distinct contrasting colours. Some very appealing models of outside collections are sold complete with a large or small glass dining table. This style of rattan garden furniture often may work well with any other combinations of wicker .. more»

If we cherish the belief that a garden design must be a place of restfulness as well as a place of visual beauty, then water must surely be the essential ingre?dient. Of all nature's elements, water is the one that brings a feeling of peace to the landscape. It plays on all the senses- sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste- and offers a cornucopia of design possi?bilities in gardens of all sizes and styles.On a grand scale, imagine a country garden design complete with a lake edged by gently sloping banks, a meandering stream spanned by a Monet-style bridge; on a minimal scale, think of a Japanese water fountain with a stone water bowl providing a cool resting place for native birds.Our Past Heritage of Water Garden Design The role of water in garden design has a long and illustrious history, both in the East and in Western gardens. During .. more»

There are so many great gift ideas for garden lovers these days.? One great idea is to consider lovely solar garden statues.? They come in many shapes and sizes and use the power of the sun to provide hours of illumination in any garden landscape.? Although the shapes vary, there are 3 basic themes to these shapes.? Consider one of them for your garden lover.Animals and NatureMost garden lovers have an affinity for nature and animals.? Dogs, frogs, squirrels, deer, and even snails can be found in various poses with solar light accents or spotlights.? These cute statues can spice up a landscape bed or even a porch step as a greeting.? Consider the type of animals your garden lover likes.? Who wouldn't like to include animals in their plant landscape where nature intended?? Some can even be found holding words of welcome, a clear sign that would entice anyone .. more»

Winter garden ideas, particularly in areas that have freezing temperatures, should be based on what you can do as a gardener to counter it. Yes, for those who are willing to face this challenge, harvesting from your garden will be a very gratifying experience. Basically, the challenge lies in how you can prevent this condition from killing your vegetable. The following are some winter garden ideas that may help:If your garden is in a green house, it will help greatly in countering the temperature problem. The choice of vegetables to plant will play a big role. There are vegetables that are more tolerant to low temperatures than others. Good lists of these are available on the Internet. Check it out, and do some research. You must plant them in October, when conditions are more permitting, and hope that they are fully grown during the freezing months.You need to control your .. more»