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2009-01-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

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CLEARANCE: 50% OFF - WHILE STOCKS LAST!!

2008-11-25T02:11:00.000-08:00

Iris Reticulata Pack Of 25 Mixed Bulbs

These are one of the earliest spring flowers to appear in the garden. Pack of 25.
£0.99
On Sale! Was £1.99
HALF PRICE!

2008-07-06T06:08:00.001-07:00

Gardening Tip Of The Day

You're probably picking and eating the delicious leaves of the summer spinach you sowed in early spring. Now remember to sow a crop for winter consumption, because spinach is an asset for much of the year if you get it right. Sow the seed thinly, about 2cms deep, into a prepared site outdoors.

For more daily gardening tips feel free to visit:

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Winter Gardening

2008-01-07T15:11:00.001-08:00

Enjoy Winter Gardening!
by Louanne Baelde

Winter gardening can be so much fun and extremely beneficial as well! Allocate a special space in your garden just for winter gardening.
If you are going to plant a crop following one that you had planted earlier, it's a good idea to feed the soil before hand. You want to give it the best shot that you can at being successful. Try mixing compost, leaf mulch or manure that is aged to your soil to keep it fertile.
Cool weather vegetables only take about one week to germinate therefore transplants can be started outdoors. It's best not to transfer them any later than the first week of September. This will allow the plants to develop good roots before the winter time and many upcoming frosts. You can also add compost or organic fertilizer in the hole whenever you go to plant. This will help a lot. Also, good drainage is extremely important.
Many winter plants just naturally reseed themselves year after year. This makes your job much easier and your crops more substantial!
Don't worry about whether your winter plants can withstand the cold. Remember that this is why they are called winter plants! They naturally pump sugar into their cells that works similar to that of an antifreeze. This is the reason why many winter vegetable plants like kale, leeks and brussel sprouts, do even better and taste much sweeter after frosts. Kale, peas, spinach, beets … are all vegetables that do fantastic in rainy, cooler temperatures.
Garlic can be planted in October in a sunny area. It's actually thrilling to pull a sweet carrot out of the garden in January or to cut fresh brussel sprouts from the snowy ground in February. Even pretty pansies can often survive in winter.
It is best to provide more space between your plants for winter gardening, than you would normally in the summer time. This provides for better air circulation and then you will have less dampness; less fungus and diseases with your plants. Watch for snails and slugs with your winter gardening. These often prefer dark, damp conditions.
Windbreaks and walls can lengthen the season for your crops.
Don't forget to brighten up your yards with beautiful colored berries. With the right planning, berry bushes can be enjoyed with their bright red, yellow and pale blue colors and add beauty to the drab winter months. Birds will also love your new winter additions.
The biggest advantage of all with planting winter vegetables is that there is no need for weeding or watering and most of all, no insects!

Louanne freelances as a writer and is passionate about gardening. She welcomes you to visit http://www.ez-gardening-tips.com/ for a large data base of extremely helpful gardening articles and gardening resources.
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

How to plant roses

2007-12-17T14:47:00.000-08:00

By Carole Nixon

To plant roses you must first of all dig the holes, and place a little potting soil at the bottom of each hole, leaving some just to cover the roots with when set out. Have some strong sticks and tarred twine close by in case a few straggling shoots need support. Now unpack, which is always done at the last minute, if the air gets to them when out of the ground it dries up all the sap and materially weakens the plants.With a sharp knife cut off all the dead tops of the shoots, and also any roots which look mangled, taking great care not to pull off the fibrous portions (tiny rootlets attached to the main roots), as these will take hold of the new ground, and keep life in the rose trees.Hold the plant upright and steady using a trowel to put the soil in.Do not cramp the rose roots. Some of the trees have probably been growing in pots, and must have their roots gently disentangled and spread out in the hole. The potting soil helps to start the trees, and they soon penetrate into the heavier soil which is to produce such grand rose flowers.Only just cover the roots with the light soil, and then take the spade and fill in with the mixture of loam and well decayed manure. This must not come higher than two inches above the junction of graft and stock, which can easily be found by the different appearance of the two woods, and also from the mark faintly seen showing how deeply it has already been planted in its original home, the nursery.Settle them in firmlyWhen filled up stamp firmly down. If this is not done, the rose tree cannot possibly make roots, if it is rocked about by the wind, and all your trouble will be a waste of time.Of course the ground must not be made like iron, but, on the other hand, the trees should be able to stand a fair tug without moving from their places. I have noticed over and over again that I had only to pull at a rose tree gently, and it would be lying full length on the ground. What can be expected of the best bush that ever grew when it has been planted in that fashion?Mulch them as a finishWhen all the rose trees have been planted it is a good plan to mulch them, but do not begin this until that is accomplished, as it can easily wait a day or two, and it would be disastrous if darkness were to come on before the planting was done. Make a conical heap of strawy manure round each tree, as this keeps off not only frost, but a superfluity of rain. Leaf mould will serve as a substitute.Leave a space around the rose tree clear of mulch. Rotting can take place if mulch is too close to the plant. Mulch is a natural way to improve the soil.

Please visit http://www.grow-roses.com/ for more rose growing information.Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

The Secret about Hoodia

2007-12-15T05:07:00.000-08:00

Introducing a plant from South Africa that has the weight-loss crowd thrilled. Is this the thing that could help millions of overweight people display bodies to die for?

Maybe, just maybe, this is the magic pill we've all been waiting for.

Let’s face it, the onslaught of fashion magazines and shows has drummed the perfect shape of a fit body into everybody’s brains. We all know how we’re supposed to look like to be attractive and to give off that “carefree success” look. What we did not know is that the next big thing in dieting comes from South Africa

From the sandy expanses of the Kalahari Desert intrepid businessmen bring a cactus called Hoodia. Weight loss experts are already excited over the avenues opened by this plant that curbs hunger.

For hundreds of years the Kalahari bushmen have been eating Hoodia to keep hunger at bay during long hunting trips and in times of drought. And now millions of people living in industrialized countries are about to join them, as Hoodia-based pills are made available in the USA. However, for all the glittering promise of a better tomorrow, Hoodia is still somewhat of a problem. First, no scientific tests have been conducted on humans to check the effects of this plant. We know it works for the bushmen, but will it work for everybody just as well and without side effects?

People high and low, from Hollywood stars to high-powered entertainment staffers to the common man, everybody is willing to overlook the lack of official studies and have a go at Hoodia. Many people have been fighting excess weight all their lives and are interested in anything that promises fast and effective weight loss.

One of the latest and most effective drugs launched on the weight loss market is the ProShape rx. Does it have the amazing Hoodia among its ingredients? You bet! This new pill may well prove to be a ray of hope for overweight people looking to improve their looks and health by shedding those extra pounds. If Hoodia is really the magic plant all overweight people are waiting for, then ProShape rx is one of the best choices around.

Gardening And Relaxation

2007-12-12T04:46:00.001-08:00

By Mike Rad
Gardening is all about growing and taking care of plants, trees and fruits. If you like these sorts of practices, then this means you should definitely take up gardening as a hobby. However, this hobby might take up a lot of your time, so make sure it fits in your schedule. Even if you don’t have time to do it, but would like to, you should make all the necessary changes in your program to squeeze in some gardening activities, as these are highly relaxing and can have the effect of a long massage or of one week of vacation. Gardening is mind sweeping and makes you calm and loving for all ling creatures. Gardening requires patience, so if you lack patience, you can forget about gardening and take up some other hobby.
So, if you would like to start gardening, what should you do? First of all, pay a visit to a specialist’s store. Talk to an authorized person and decide commonly which plants or trees you can grow in the land that you have, which will grow better, what are your preferences etc. Then, you need to take some seeds and fertilizers, so that the land where you will be practicing gardening will be fertile. Planting the seeds is the next step, and then you should water them on a regular basis and clean the land, take care of the possible insects and animals that might damage your crop. In case you will practice gardening indoors you won’t be facing these problems.
You will also need special equipment, such as gardening gloves and boots, and other gardening tools. Ask in the gardening store about their latest offer of get these tools via the Internet. And then you can enjoy taking care of your garden, and might even get some crops, in case you have some vegetables and fruit, or see some lovely flowers, in case you grow plants. These are the plants’ way of showing their gratitude towards your affectionate caretaking, so you have to admit that gardening pays off.

More resources: lawn and garden toolsgardening in green housesgardening supply resources
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

Arts, Music and Crafts in the UK

2007-12-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

By Alison Smith

I knew very little about the world of arts & crafts before I married my husband who is a basket maker. It was like entering a whole new world to me, having worked in banks and the business world for many years.

We moved to West Kilbride, Scotland's Craft Town, where I met many other makers, musicians and artists all trying to eke out a living from their own craft. I came to appreciate their work more and more, and to realise how important it is for us as to support these makers and artists and ensure their crafts are not lost.

As a nation we have become so used to being able to purchase items made in the Far East or in Eastern Europe where wages are considerably lower and hence prices are very low, compared to our level of income. The problem is that when we then see the cost of something handmade in the UK we are completely shocked as to how expensive it is, and dismiss it as too expensive.

I've noticed that there is a certain quality about items handmade here in the UK. To stay in the business of handcrafted goods these days in the UK you have to be really passionate about what you are doing, because there is little money in it so the items they produce are really made with love. They are not being exploited and are usually concerned about the materials they are using. All these things manifest in their work - subtle they may be - but it does make a difference to the 'feel' of the item. It gives the item an attractiveness that items made primarily out of the desire to make money don't have.

We are in the danger of losing so many of our artists, craftsmen and craftswomen, because we value money more than we value aesthetics,. I have a theory that many of today's disillusioned youth could well be budding craftsmen and women, they just don't know it. School is academically biased and if a young person is not academically minded then school may fail them. They may be okay if they come from a art/craft orientated family and get into it that way, but there are few apprenticeships in the craft businesses these days, and many children are put off following their artistic dreams - "because there's no money in it" or you need to "get a proper job". And if we don't show them we value UK handmade products, by buying them, they will never feel there is any worth in it.

A handmade product, made by a UK maker, brings so much more to your home than merely fulfilling its' purpose. Try it and see what I mean.

Alison runs a family basket making business with her husband, in West Kilbride, which is Scotland's Craft Town. A town which won the DTI award of Most Enterprising Place in the UK in 2006.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

Vintage Prints of Southend-on-Sea

2007-12-04T01:18:00.000-08:00

1950-1960

Southend-On-Sea, British Rail, c.1960

By Kenneth Steel

Giclee Print

What is a giclee?

Giclee is a French word meaning "a spraying of ink.” With the advent of giclee, the art of reproducing fine art has become even more precise. Giclee has the highest apparent resolution available today -- as high as 1,800 dots per inch. In addition, since no screens are used, the prints have a higher apparent resolution than lithographs and a color range that exceeds that of serigraphy. Displaying a full color spectrum, giclee prints capture every nuance of an original and have gained wide acceptance from artists and galleries throughout the world.
The patented printing technology utilizes microscopically fine droplets of ink to form the image. A print can consist of nearly 20 billion ink droplets. The microscopic droplets of ink vary in sizes (approximately the size of a red blood cell) and density. This unique patented feature produces a near continuous tone image, smoother gradation between tones, and a more finely differentiated color palette.
Giclee printmaking offers one of the highest degrees of accuracy and richness of color available in any reproductions technique.
Giclee printmaking provides a luminosity and brilliance that represents the artist's original work better than any reproduction technique available today

Fresh herbs from our garden

2007-12-03T14:40:00.000-08:00

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The bush has been there for two years now and was grown from seed.Sown in pots in march and transplanted out to where its going to grown in may.Theres not a lot into growing herbs,everyone can grown them.The leaves can be harvested any time ,but they loose most of their flavor when dried.Rosemary and roasted lamb go very well together.

Growing Herb Gardening

By Steve Buchanan

American pioneers from the time of the Mayflower cultivated and used herbs for everything from seasoning to cures for illnesses to making perfumes. As time went on and dried herbs became more readily available, herb cultivation fell out of practice. Current medical technology doesn’t rely directly on treatment with specific herbs. The cosmetic and perfume industries manufacture most of the lotions, soaps and perfumes. However, In the last couple of decades ethnic foods have become fashionable and people are beginning to cultivate herbs again.
Successfully growing herbs depends on properly managing the following:
1) Location2) Soil3) Site preparation4) Drainage5) Pest Containment
The first step to successful herb gardening is deciding on the site. Size depends on the variety of herbs you wish to cultivate. A good size for a kitchen garden site should be about 4 feet by 20 feet. Diagram the area and label each segment for the herb you wish to grow. Be sure to separate the annual and perennial herbs.
When selecting a site, drainage is the most important feature. Herbs will not grow in wet soil. The soil need not be especially fertile. Very fertile soil will grow big plants without much flavor. The soil should be essentially neutral, neither heavy on the acid nor alkaline. If, however, the soil does not drain well, remove 15 to 18 inches of soil and put in a 3 inch layer of gravel and replace the soil. The soil will now drain more efficiently. A ph factor of around 6.5 produces excellent herbs.
Once the soil has been selected and proper drainage is ensured; it is time to prepare the soil. Remove 12 to 18 inches of the top soil. Make sure the sub soil is not hard or compacted. If it is, work in sphagnum peat or organic material to loosen it up. Mix the top soil with sphagnum peat and sand or composting material to make certain it is workable and will maintain moisture. Replace the top soil with a few inches more than was taken off to allow for the garden to settle once it is planted.
Be on the lookout for garden insects and or diseases. Aphids, spider mites, grass hoppers, caterpillars, and rust can come your way. Be sure to treat for these pests and diseases at the first sign of infection. Don’t allow any of them to get the upper hand and ruin you herb garden.
Herb gardening is easy as long as you follow a few directions and take the steps necessary to ensure success. Be sure to plan you garden first, then select the for location, size, and soil features. Once these tasks have been successfully accomplished, prepare the site by assuring proper drainage. Make certain the subsoil and top soil are prepared with adequate organic materials and control the pests and plant diseases.
Herb gardening is fun and provides a sense of accomplishment. Also, herb gardening provides you with fresh herbs for food preparation in your kitchen. No more of those dried herbs.
Steve Buchanan writes article on many topics including Honda Lawn Mowers, Honda Generators and Snow Blower
Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/

Saving seeds from your garden

2007-12-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

By Kathy Anderson

For many gardeners, the garden actually begins in January when the first seed catalog arrives in the mailbox. While the cold wind howls outside, we retire to a cozy chair and leaf through the catalog, carefully notating which varieties of lettuce and tomatoes to try and wishing we had the space to plant each and every flower so artfully displayed on its pages.
But have you ever wondered where your great-grandparents acquired the seeds for their gardens, before there were seed catalogs and fancy garden centers?
They saved seeds for the next year from their own gardens!
Saving seeds from your own flowers or vegetables is a wonderful way to fully experience the cycle of plant growth. It’s also much less expensive than buying seeds each spring, and seeds saved from your plants will be well suited to the peculiarities of your own garden’s growing conditions. Not only that, it’s also quite a simple process.
Save seeds only from vigorous, healthy plants. Some plant diseases may be harbored in the seed where it will then be passed on to the next generation of plants. So don’t save seeds from a plant that is obviously diseased or has struggled all season. Collect seeds from the plants that have the characteristics you desire, such as height, hardiness, early or late ripening, flavor or vigor.
It is not recommended to save seeds from hybrid plants. Hybrids are the result of crossing two genetically different parent plants, both of which have been severely inbred to concentrate the desirable characteristics. The first generation, referred to as an F1 hybrid, is superior to the parents. But succeeding generations of plants grown from seed saved from an F1 plant tend to randomly revert to the characteristics of the original inbred ancestor plants.
Plants that are not hybrids are referred to as open pollinated. Many seed catalogs will identify which of their seeds are hybrids or open pollinated. If you intend to save your own seed, always start with open pollinated seeds. Some of these may also be identified as heirloom seeds. These heirloom varieties have been passed down for generations, often saved within one family for many years before becoming available to the general public.
Cross pollination is another concern for the seed-saving gardener. Cross pollination often results in seeds which have a different genetic makeup than that of the parent plant. Pumpkins, squash and small gourds may cross pollinate with each other, resulting in seeds that will grow to produce rather picturesque fruit. Sweet corn will cross pollinate with field corn or popcorn, and your 6-inch marigolds will cross with your neighbor’s 18-inch pompon marigolds. However, crossing will only occur within a species. Cucumbers won’t cross with squash, and cosmos won’t cross with pansies.
To avoid cross pollination, keep two varieties of the same species separated by as much space as possible. Some species, such as corn, are wind-pollinated and the pollen can travel great distances. These plants must be pollinated by hand and kept isolated from other varieties of their species. This can be done with corn, for example, by tying a small paper bag over selected ears before the silk emerges, then once the silk has appeared it is hand pollinated with pollen from the same plant or its healthy neighbors.
Seeds should be collected on a dry, sunny day. Frost doesn’t hurt most seed as long as the seed remains dry. Vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes should be allowed to become slightly overripe before their seeds are collected. Flower seeds and vegetable seed such as lettuce should be collected after the seedheads have become dry, but don’t wait too long, as many will shatter, meaning they’ll be dropped from the seedpod or seedhead if they remain on the plant too long.
Cucumber, squash and tomato seeds need an additional step before they are ready for storage. First the seeds must be separated from the pulp, then dried. Scoop the seeds from these vegetables, pulp and all. Place the whole mess in a container of water and give it a good stir, then let it settle a bit. The pulp will rise to the top while the seeds will sink to the bottom. Carefully pour off the pulp, and repeat the process until most of the pulp has been poured off. Then strain out the seeds and set them on newspapers to dry.
Seeds should go into storage as dry as possible. Give all seed a post-harvest drying period of at least a week, just to be sure they’re dry. Spread them out on a paper plate or newspapers in a warm area out of the sun while they dry.
It’s very important to keep the seed dry during storage. Store your dry seeds in tightly sealed jars, metal film containers, or old vitamin bottles. To save space, smaller quantities of several varieties of seeds can be stored in separate envelopes inside a jar. A cool, but never freezing, garage, closed-off spare room or cool basement can all be good places for storing seeds. Or simply keep your sealed jars of seeds in the refrigerator. Temperatures between 32 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal.
Be sure to label your jars and envelopes so when spring comes around again you’ll know which flower seeds and vegetable seeds you’re planting, and include the date the seeds were collected. Some seeds will remain viable for several years, but most will grow best if planted right away the following spring.
Try saving some vegetable or flower seeds from your garden this year and grow them next season. This endless cycle can allow you to realize the endless joy of gardening through all the seasons and all the stages of a plant’s life.

Kathy Anderson has been an avid gardener for many years and has grown tomatoes by the acre, along with many other vegetables, flowers and landscape plants. Kathy recommends http://www.freeplants.com/ as a great place to learn more about gardening.

Article provided by http://gardening-articles.com/.

The story of the garden

2007-11-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

The garden was started in february 2002,

with soil that was of clay and lifeless .

To start with it was very over grown with

weeds that was 1.5 metres high .... more