Chelsea’s Garden Wreath – 18″
Posted on Apr 27, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are off
- Casual Dried Floral Arrangement
- Made of Dried Foliage
- Round
- Ideal for Indoor Use Only
- Do Not Store in Direct Sunlight
Simple Steps for Preserving Herbs From Your Garden
Posted on Apr 09, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offYou’ve nourished your herbs and lovingly watched as they developed from seeds and grew into beautiful plants. Your herbs have been a joy to grow and now your efforts will be rewarded by their many exceptional uses. Yes, your home herb garden has been a little work but it has been well worth it.
Now it’s time to harvest and recognizing when your herbs are ready is a very big key to maximizing their benefits. Elements such as the heat and the wind can rob important herb oils. So try to select a midsummer morning that is dry and calm to collect your bounty. Herbs do not produce as much oil on days that are very wet. On the harvesting morning wait till the dew dries from the herb leaves, and just prior to its flowers opening, to harvest your herbs. By the way, we’re not talking about digging up the whole plant at this stage. We just want to take the amount of herb leaves that we need, either for present use or to preserve them for a later use. It’s important to not remove greater than a third of the leaves during a single harvest. Your plants will continue their growth better by taking no more foliage than this. Also, before harvesting, be sure and check for insects and injured leaves prior to harvesting.
Generally, folks preserve their herbs in three ways: a salt or vinegar preservation medium, freezing, or drying.
Preserving Herbs Using a Medium
Herbs like basil, chopped mint, or tarragon can be preserved for several months just by covering with vinegar. You can also alternate layers of fresh herbs and flavored salt to preserve herbs. Once they’re totally dry, divide the herbs from the salt and place in an airtight container. Certainly, herbs are most frequently used fresh out of the garden. Just be sure to clean the herbs prior to use in your favorite recipes. A great way to clean herbs fresh from the garden is to put them in a sink or bowl containing cool water. The sink is definitely the way to go if you are cleaning a fair amount of herbs. You’ll also want to add about two tablespoons of salt into the water. This will drive away any insects without harming the herbs. Now you can dry your herbs in a salad spinner or a method of your choosing.
Freezing Herbs – A pretty easy process of preserving.
1. Cut into quarter inch sections.
2. Place them on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
3. Put them in the freezer
4. Once frozen, put the herbs in a freezer bag and return them to the freezer till needed.
Easy Steps for Drying Herbs
1. Take 6 -12 stems and group them together. Check the base of the stems and remove any foliage.
2. Tie the bundle with a string
3. Then hang them in a cool place apart from sunlight.
Drying Individual Leaves
1. Use a rack or screen to place the leaves on
2. Flip the leaves often so that they dry correctly
You can also use an appliance like a dehydrator, microwave, or oven for the drying process but many people have found this method to be less satisfying.
Freezing Herbs – A simple process for preserving.
1. Cut into quarter inch sections.
2. Place them on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
3. Put them in the freezer
4. Once frozen, put the herbs in a freezer bag and return them to the freezer till needed.
Remember, each herb is unique in its uses. Each herb has its own instructions in using, harvesting, and chopping as well. Learning about the herbs you are growing will help you to use them correctly and enjoy the maximum benefits your home herb garden is sure to provide.
How To Make A Garden Party Centerpiece Using a Wreath Base
Posted on Mar 28, 2010 under silk flowers | 2 Comments
This centerpiece is perfect for Easter, a wedding shower, or a garden party. A hurricane glass with a candle are nestled in this lush garden floral design using the best of garden silk flowers. Dana Plazyk of www.flowers-by-design.com shows you how in easy to follow steps. A list of materials may be viewed at http
Geraniums Galore – A Container Garden Delight
Posted on Mar 26, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offAll over the country, geraniums flaunt their red and scarlet, rose, pink, and white blooms with a gay abandon that few other plants can rival. In boxes on city fire escapes and rooftops, in window boxes on suburban and country houses, in tubs and pots on terraces and patios, and in hanging baskets of the porches of summer cottages, they are beloved and cherished plants
It needs sun to bloom; it tolerates shade, where it is usually handled as a foliage plant. What it resents is too much moisture and a rich diet. Kept too wet, the leaves turn yellow; given a heavy soil, one high in nitrogen plants go to foliage and flower sparingly.
Even if you choose no other plants, you could have a varied potted garden of single and double zonal, fancy-leaved or variegated, scented-leaved, ivy and Lady or Martha Washington geraniums (also called show or fancy geraniums), not to mention a few oddities of cactus and climbing types.
The zonal geranium is characterized by dark circular markings on the rounded green leaves. Double types dominate the trade and are offered by florists in the spring for planting in gardens and window boxes.
Variegated geraniums, with leaves that are often brilliantly colored, are attractive even out of bloom. Set among green-leaved geraniums and other foliage plants, pots of the variegated plants add color and pattern.
The trailing, ivy-leaved geraniums are among the most profuse flowering when grown under favorable conditions. They dislike shade and high humidity and thrive best in climates with warm days and cool nights, as in California.
Lady Washington’s, considered the handsomest of geraniums, are not so easy to grow. Like the ivy-leaved, they prefer cool nights and warm, sunny days, preferring shelter from wind and all-day sun.
If you are a geranium gardener, you may want to spark your pot plant collection with some cactus and climbing geraniums. They will give you bizarre and fascinating forms and flowers and are certain to arouse comment.
Geraniums flourish and look well in pots, boxes, and planters. They thrive in various soil mixtures if drainage is good. For abundant bloom, however, supply a special preparation, not high in nitrogen, or lush foliage and few blooms will result. I have success with good garden soil and a sprinkling of a 5-10-5 fertilizer and bone meal. During the growing season, plants respond to a low-nitrogen fertilizer in liquid form.
When potting, be generous with drainage material to insure free passage of water. As with any plant, always water with care, since too much or not enough can be harmful. The best rule is to water when the surface of the soil feels dry. Then soak the soil well and do not water again until plants need it. If soil is kept too wet, leaves will turn yellow; if too dry they wilt and discolor.
To maintain even plant growth, turn containers from time to time. Remove yellow leaves and faded blossoms which are especially distracting on plants at doorways or any other key spots. If rain rots and disfigures the center florets of the heads, pull them off with your fingers, leaving the unmarred outer florets and buds.
If you want plants for next spring, take two- to four-inch cuttings in August or early September. Look for mature stems (with leaves spaced close together) that break easily like a snap bean. Woody growth is hard to root and succulent tips tend to rot. Before planting spread out cuttings in a shady place for several hours so leaves will lose excess moisture.
When ready to plant, cut off the lower leaves, allowing but two or three to each cutting. Also pull off the little wings on the stem, since they are inclined to rot. Dip stem ends in hydrated lime to prevent decay and then insert about halfway, in a flat or large pot of pure sand or a mixture of sand and peat moss. With geraniums, rooting powders are hardly necessary. When cuttings develop inch-long roots, they are ready for spacing out in another flat or for separate planting in 2½-inch pots. Fill with a mixture of three parts sandy loam and one part peat moss or leaf mold. After planting, keep in the shade for the first few days, and bring indoors before cold weather.
When the separated cuttings have developed strong root systems, shift to 3½- or 4-inch pots. Use the same potting mixture as before, with bone meal added. Later as established plants begin to grow, feed periodically with a high phosphorous fertilizer, as 5-10-5 or 4-12-8.
To keep plants bushy and to encourage branching, pinch while small, starting when they are three to four inches high. Provide sunny windows, and keep turning pots to prevent lopsided growth. Water regularly, but allow soil to dry out just a little between applications
Plants may be wintered in cool cellars with little light. Remember only that the less light, the cooler the temperatures should be. This is because too much warmth and insufficient light cause lanky growth that undermines a healthy plant.
Gardeners with cellars or sheds when temperatures remain above freezing, can winter geraniums hanging upside down from the ceiling. The dead-looking sticks, set out in pots or in the garden in warm weather, will astound you when they develop into glorious flowering plants.
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
House Plant Care – a Guide for your Container Garden
Posted on Mar 25, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offThrough the years many plants were considered to be only greenhouse subjects rather then house plants. That, thankfully, has changed and many species can be considered as house plants to decorate your home. Here is a house plant guide to the basics of caring for your plants also known as container gardens. It is best to choose plants that have thick leathery foliage. The reason they can withstand heated rooms is that they have tough leaves and can withstand adverse conditions. This also cuts down on house plant care. It is wise however, to keep the foliage free of dust so as not to interfere with the plants pores.
It pays to get your house plants ready for indoor life. If it is possible buy your plants when you no longer need to heat your home. This way they will get plenty of fresh air to harden the developing foliage, giving it strength against a hot dry atmosphere of heated rooms. This is especially important for tropical house plants. If you buy a tropical plant, such as a begonia, keep it in a room that is warm and moist, like a bathroom. They thrive on moisture and because of the steam from showers tropical house plants will get the necessary humidity.
To keep house plants species hardy they must be in a cool a place as possible. An unheated room that does not fall below 45 degrees is ideal. If you have a very cold spell, bring the plants into a heated room but be sure to get them back to the cool atmosphere as soon as possible. If you have a very large house plant that is not easily moved cover it with material, like several layers of burlap, to shield it from the elements.
When it comes to house plant care, watering is usually the trickiest. The amount of water will depend on how fast the plant absorbs the moisture. Obviously, a house plant that is in active growth requires more water than a dormant one. A good rule of thumb for house plant care is that they will require more water during the growing months, April through October. All container gardens should be watered when relatively dry. Sufficient water should be given to the house plant to reach to the drainage hole. This is important because the feeding roots closest to the bottom need water to continue growth.
A good trick for house plant care is to tap the pots half way down with your knuckles. If there is a hollow sound the plant needs water. But, if you hear a dull sound there is still plenty of water. The exception here is if the soil has been compacted firmly into the pots, then you will always here a hollow sound. If possible use rain water for house plant care. If you cannot use rain water on your container gardens, you can use tap water. Be sure to inspect your house plants daily to see if they need moisture.
If the tips of your foliage turn a sickly yellow you are over watering the plant. Do not water it again until the soil is quite dry. Over watering will also cause a moss or algae to grow on the soil. This must be removed, then use a sharp stick to aerate the house plant.
Another task of house plant care is feeding the plant. Plants that have rooted well and are growing freely need the most feeding. This extra nourishment is especially needed from May to August. Flowering house plants benefit by feeding them as soon as there flower buds appear. There are many types of fertilizers, speak to the people at your garden center to find the right one for your house plants.
These are some tips on caring for house plants. Keep your house plants feed, watered and clean so that you will have years of enjoyment and beauty.
Happy Container Gardening!
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
How to Grow Garlic in your Organic Garden ? Step by Step. Part 2
Posted on Mar 24, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offWhat an amazing plant! Garlic (Allium sativum) has been around for more than 3,000 years. It’s not that surprising really when you look at the culinary and medicinal purposes it boasts. Garlic is not only a staple in the kitchen, but its health benefits are outstanding as it is a natural antibiotic and has antiseptic properties. In the organic garden it is often used as the base for various insect deterrents and it also has anti-fungal properties. Garlic is also a very useful companion plant. This is a follow-on from my Part 1 article.
6. Maintenance. Garlic needs very little attention. Through winter you will need to water only if conditions are extremely dry. Pull any weeds as they come through.
As the weather gets warmer through spring and summer, water accordingly. If weeds
are becoming a problem or your layer of mulch has started to break down, add a
further layer of mulch (leave a few inches from the foliage free of mulch to prevent
rotting the stems).
7. Harvesting your Garlic. Your garlic bulbs should be ready to harvest when the foliage starts turning brown at the tips. Don’t leave them in the ground til the foliage has completely withered and died back or the bulbs may become over-mature, start splitting or even burst apart.
Wait for a hot, dry day to harvest. Use a hand fork or digger to loosen the soil, then carefully pry them from the ground. Pulling from the stems can cause damage. Shake any loose soil from the bulbs and leave them to ‘cure’ for a few weeks. Hang them by their stems in bunches in a dry, well ventilated area. Your garden shed is ideal.
They can also be dried on racks. Either way, you want to prevent mould or mildew from forming. You must never wash your bulbs. If they don’t dry out properly they may rot. Cut off any mouldy stems immediately as it can spread very quickly to your precious bulbs.
After several weeks you can cut off the stems and store the bulbs in a string or hessian bag, using as you need them. Or you can plait the stems together as has been done traditionally for many centuries and add some cottage charm to you kitchen. You just cut off each bulb as you need it.Preserving your excess. There are many ways to preserve any excess garlic you have grown. Do some research before choosing a method as the beneficial properties of garlic change with various preservation methods. You can pickle garlic in vinegar, freeze it, dry it. There is a risk of botulism if you preserve garlic in oil – even refrigerated – for more than three weeks. Health benefits. Garlic has been used medicinally throughout history. Many scientific studies have been completed that show beyond reasonable doubt that eating garlic improves your overall health. More specifically garlic:
* Can lower blood pressure
* Lowers or helps regulate blood sugar
* Helps remove heavy metals from the body
* Is a potent, natural anti-biotic
* Has anti-fungal and anti-viral properties
* Dramatically reduces yeast infections
* Can help prevent blood clots from forming
There are probably many more health benefits to regularly including garlic in your diet. It has also been shown that garlic tablets are less effective than ingesting live garlic. I just love it and use it as a base – along with onions – in almost all my savoury cooking. And just for the record, I hardly ever get sick.
Reaping the Benefits of Your Home Herb Garden
Posted on Mar 21, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offIt has been weeks, maybe months – sometimes years – since you first started your home herb garden. You toiled and slaved to make them flourish, you experienced the thrill of seeing the first sprout grow, and the heartache of seeing them whilt away. You learned the ropes; you made everything work despite your ‘ungreen thumb’ and you became somewhat of an herb expert in the local sapling club of your town. Now, after all you’ve accomplished, a question hangs…What do you do with your herbs?Harvesting herbs is the next step in your herb garden journey. Having a home herb garden is pretty much like having your own health food grocery store. Herbs are extremely useful, and each has their own uses. But to harvest them isn’t as simple as plucking the leaves out whenever you feel like it. You can do it of course, but only if you intend to use your plants just once. But if you plan to harvest your home herb garden regularly, timing is crucial. The best time to harvest your herbs is on a calm, dry midsummer morning because wind and heat have the tendency to disperse the herb’s essential oils. On extremely wet days, herbs produce less oils, so harvesting herbs after the dew has dries and before the flowers open is strongly suggested. When harvesting, you should be conscious not to take more than one-third of the foliage. Harvesting the whole plant obviously is not a good idea. The plants need foliage to re-grow well. Be sure also to check the plant and leaves for insects, diseases and damaged leaves before harvesting, and to take the proper steps to remove them if found. Once you harvest your home herb garden, it doesn’t mean you would have to use them right away. You can always store and preserve your harvest for later use. There are three ways people use employ when preserving herbs for later use; drying, freezing and preserving them in salt or vinegar (much like pickling). To start preserving, begin by bundling six to twelve stems together making sure to remove the foliage at the base of the stems. Secure them using string or special bundling cords for plants that are available in your local gardening store. Hang the bundles in a cool place away from sunlight. Drying individual leaves, placing them in a screen or special rack is best. Be sure to turn the leaves or bundles regularly to ensure a proper and balanced drying process. To make the most of their home herb garden some people who resort to using microwaves or ovens to speed up the drying process, but these methods tend to yield unsatisfactory results. Freezing herbs is a more simple process of preservation. You cut your herbs into 1.4 inch pieces, put them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper, and put them in a freezer. Once frozen, you can bundle them into plastic bags and place in the freezer again to save space. The third way is via a certain medium like salt or vinegar. Chopped herbs like mint, basil or tarragon can be covered with vinegar and it will be preserved for several months. You can also use salt by alternating layers between the salt and the herbs. When it is dry, you can then separate the salt from the herbs and store them in an airtight container. But what if you wish to use them straight from home herb garden? First, you should clean the herbs carefully before using in any recipe. Cleaning them requires you to place them in a bowl filled with water. If the herbs are too many to fit in a bowl, the sink can suffice. Then put two tablespoonfuls of salt in the water. The salt will drive away whatever insects are in the herbs without damaging the plants. Once clean, remove the herbs and dry them in a salad spinner, or you can toss them by hand if you don’t have a salad spinner. Remember, different herbs require different approaches. What is mentioned above is generally true for all, but to be sure, know what kind of herb you wish to harvest and prepare and learn all you can about it. Caring for a home herb garden is both beneficial & rewarding and reaping what you sow is good, but learn how to reap them properly lest you lose them.
Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offYou have learned how to grow your own home herb garden and are happy with the results. You have managed to produce some good healthy plants and now it is time to start using them. The following are some tips on how to use the beautiful herbs that you have managed to grow.
The first thing you will need to do is harvest them. Timing here is very important as wind and heat can dissipate the herbs essential oils. Since the herbs produce fewer oils on wet days, you should pick a calm, dry day. Mid summer is a good time for this. You also want to harvest the herbs after the dew has dried and just prior to the flowers opening.
Before you begin to harvest the herbs it is important to first check for insects and damaged leaves. It is important to remember that you do not want to remove the entire plant. You just want to take an amount that you want to use. A good rule of thumb is to take no more than one third of the plants foliage. The plant needs to keep the rest of its foliage for continued growth. You can harvest more than you need for later use if you want, as they can be preserved.
The three most common methods for preserving herbs are freezing, drying, or preserving them in an element such as vinegar or salt. Drying is a popular method that requires bundling stems together, removing any foliage from the base and bounding with string. Next they need to hang in a cool spot. Individual leaves can be dried if desired by putting them on a screen. It is important to turn them frequently or they will not dry appropriately. Although not as effective, appliances such as ovens and dehydrators can be used to dry your herbs. An easy way to preserve your herbs is by freezing them. Simply place small pieces onto a baking sheet with wax paper and once frozen, put them in a bag and store them in your freezer. Preserving herbs in an element might be the way you want to go. There are many ways to do this and everyone has their own favorites. One possibility is to make a flavored salt to preserve your herbs with. Another idea is to cover your herbs with vinegar. Try some different things and find the method that you like best. Preserving your herbs is great but there is nothing like fresh herbs straight from your home herb garden. It is important to clean them before use. The best way to clean them is to put them into a bowl of cool water with two tablespoons of salt. Salt works great for removing any insects from the plant without damaging it. Once cleaned they can be dryed in a salad spinner. Herbs are a lot of fun to grow and they have so many uses. They also require different care from growing conditions to harvesting. Make sure you learn about the particular herbs you are interested in growing in your home herb garden. That way you can enjoy the process as well as understand how to use them correctly.
Making use of home herb garden
Posted on Mar 19, 2010 under dried foliage | Comments are offMaking use of home herb garden You have planted the herbs and watched them grow and flourish. They are extremely useful in so many ways. But, using herbs from a home herb garden requires a little bit of work first.
In order to use the herbs you will need to harvest them first. Timing is a factor that cannot be ignored. The heat and the wind could break up the necessary oils of the herbs. You need to pick a dry and calm morning to harvest your herbs during midsummer. Lesser oils are yielded by the herb on days that are highly wet. The herbs need to be harvested after the dew dries form the leaves prior to the flowers opening. Removing the entire plant is not necessary when harvesting the herb. Upon reaching this point, you are just removing some amount of growth to be used. The herbs that you are harvesting aren’t necessary for use at the time that you pick them. You can preserve them for later use. Be careful to remove not more than a third of the plant’s foliage at a time. For the plant to re-grow well, it will need a good amount of foliage. Before you harvest it, you need to make certain to inspect the plant for insects and impaired leaves.
In preserving herbs, typically there are three ways for use later; drying, freezing or preserving them in salt or vinegar, which you have in your kitchen. To succeed in properly drying herbs, you will need twelve stems to bundle together and spruce away any foliage close to the base of the stems. You can use a string to securely bundle them with. In a cool location away from sunlight, there you can hang the bundle. You can use a screen or a rack if you are looking to dry leaves individually there, you can place them on. Do not forget to flip them constantly in order for them to properly dry. Few people have resorted to utilizing appliances like microwaves, dehydrators or ovens to dry herbs as well although these are ways that offer results that is less satisfactory. Freezing herbs is a quite simple way to evenly preserve herbs. Using wax paper to line with cut the herbs into ¼ inch pieces and place on a baking sheet. Once the herbs are frozen, you can put them all together in a bag and place them inside the freezer until use.
Through a medium is another (third) way you can use to preserve herbs. For example, you could cover herbs like basil, chopped mint or tarragon with vinegar and for several months it will be preserved. Or by making flavored salt, you can preserve herbs by alternating layers of fresh herbs between salt. When dry completely divide the brown herb from the flavored salt and set it aside in a container that is airtight.
Sure, people use herbs often fresh right out of the garden. Use caution cleaning and preparing the herbs prior to being placed fresh in recipes. Using a bowl filled with cool water, clean the fresh herbs. You can use the sink if there is a large quantity of herbs. In the water, put around two tablespoons of salt. The salt in the water will repel away insects without causing damaging to the herb plant. Take the herbs away from the water and dry them in a salad spinner.
Various kinds of herbs are used for much variety of uses. Each different kinds of herb have their own list of instructions on how to use, harvest and chop. Make certain to research the particular type of herb you are using for correct use. .
A Flower Garden for your Home
Posted on Mar 18, 2010 under dried flowers | Comments are offPicture a constant supply of beautiful cut flowers for your home, or fresh cut flowers for friends, and special occasions. Beautiful flowers at your disposal are possible by planting a well-stocked flower garden.
To begin your flower garden, select a sunny area, as a flower garden usually requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. The selected area should be easily accessible for watering, in case your climate encounters long dry spell. Another factor for your flower garden is easy access for cutting your flowers, such as a raised flowerbed. The raised flowerbed is then accessible from all sides.
Fall Bulb Planting In order to have a constant supply of flowers available, consider when each flower blooms. For instance, plant Daffodils and Tulip bulbs in the fall for the earliest spring flower. A couple of other early spring flowers to consider for fall planting are: Giant flowering onion, grows 3-4 feet tall, with large purple flowers, and blooms early spring to mid-summer, and Crocus’s bloom in early spring, though there are varieties that bloom through autumn.
Spring Planting Gladiolus bulbs can be planted in early spring for beautiful blooms from early summer through the first frost. You can plant your gladiolus bulbs as early as two weeks before the last frost. Continue to plant the gladiolus bulbs every two weeks and you will have cut flowers until the first frost.
Annuals such as snapdragons, cosmos, zinnias, etc., are also planted in early spring after the last frost. Consider the length of time it takes your annual to bloom and plant accordingly so that you will have a flower bouquet right through fall.
With a little bit of planning and a little bit of work, your home can have beautiful cut flowers all summer long. Good Luck!
For more information, visit http://www.flowergardeninfo.com and http://www.springgardenflowerguide.com
