So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Creating Harmony In The Garden

By Steven Karback

north February

February also is the month to do some serious planning of the garden for the coming season instead of waiting until you have the seeds or plants in hand ready to be planted in spring. This is an ideal time to consider all the possibilities, color combinations, sizes and textures, space requirements and all the important details that will make a garden more than a mere collection of plants.

Garden planning should be done on paper after a list of the plants you prefer has been compiled. Quadruled paper which may be secured from office supply stores or artists supply shops is a great aid in making planning on paper easy because the lines give you an exact scale with which to work, use the eight or ten scale ruled paper.

Give an index or key number or letter for each of the plants you want to grow. Then on the basis of their size and form, color and texture of both foliage and flowers, develop a plan on the paper.

You will be amazed at how simple planning can be and how superior results are over the hit-or-miss, spur of the moment type of planning which is so commonly done a few minutes before planting.

Study the aesthetic qualities of the plants of your choice and use these qualities the way an artist uses pigments, pencil and brush in drawings and paintings. After all, a garden is a living picture and should consist of plants that produce an interesting, exciting and beautiful effect.

There should be harmony in the colors, textures and the forms of plants. The plan also will give you a more accurate estimate of the number of plants needed. Proper spacing can be determined on paper, then reproduced in the garden bed at planting time.

Planning before planting will offset the natural tendency to crowd plants. The plan will give a more realistic impression in this respect. You will know that only so many plants are needed, therefore surpluses will not be obtained with the attending temptation to use them even though it is known that the plants are being crowded in the bed.

When garden plans are completed and an inventory of tools, equipment and sup- plies has been made, the next important step in preparation and garden planning for the gardening season is to go on a shopping tour of your favorite seed and garden supply stores. Dont wait until the actual gardening season starts, as do so many, but do your shopping now.

Dont waste those precious early spring hours in buying seeds and supplies when you can use that time in your garden. Garden stores now are stocked with everything and anything you need.

This may not be the case if you postpone making purchases too late in the spring. Also the clerks will have more time to serve you, to give you ideas, to chat with you about new developments, new chemicals, new tools.

There will be time to discuss fertilizers, soil conditioners, new varieties of plants. Later on when the spring rush is on there will not be time for pleasant and profitable discussions concerning plants, their characteristics, their culture.

About the Author:

No comments:

If You Are Unable To Be There But Want To Show You Love Them Then Send -