Gardening Art

Stunning Garden Decorations!

1. Wind-Chimes - There are some beautiful wind chimes on the market, and you should be able to find some that suit your style and budget. However, you could go one step further and make your own. Study how they are made, and get the kids to join in! Wind chimes are soothing and very compatible with gardening, so position your chimes well.

They must be in at least a slight draught, which you should be able to find outside with ease. Also, they can scare the birds away from your fruit bushes. Hang them on the patio and in the vegetable garden.

2. Lights and Lanterns - For those smooth hot summer nights. Choose candles for calm nights and opt for lanterns if there's a breeze about. Solar powered lights are a good choice as there aren't any cables, batteries or plugs to worry about. They must be in sunlight during the day to re-charge though. Large garden candles will burn for many hours and are available in all sorts of aroma-therapeutic scents.

3. Garden Furniture - Invest in some comfy chairs for the garden. We don't spend half as much time as we should outside, simply because we don't feel comfortable. Look at unique ways of furnishing your garden. Do you have a couple of trees a hammock could be strung between? Or how about a park-type bench with comfy cushions set under the shade of the apple tree? Whatever the style or size of your garden, look for relaxing furniture so you can fully enjoy your outside space.

4. Fake Flowers - Well, hey, we don't all have mature gardens and fresh flowers blooming all year round! If you have to resort to a little 'deception' who cares if it looks good? Hang some pretty silk flowers on a wall, or low roof or even in a tree! If nothing else, you'll keep your visitors guessing :-)

5. Colour it up - If you still need a bit of colour around the place, get the kids involved. No, I don't mean let them loose with a tin of paint and brushes... what they could do is draw some great pictures of trees, flowers, animals etc, and you can pin them around the patio area or 'blu-tak' them to a tree or two. Remember to rescue them if it rains!

6. Cut down on Big Toys - Children's outdoor toys, such as swings, slides etc; can take up loads of room in the garden, and they're not always very attractive. Look for something a little less permanent. Maybe separate items you can load away in the shed at night, or go for something completely different and build a giant chess set. Or if you really feel creative, what about a tree-house? They can always go to the park for the swings!

7. Containers - Collect large pots and grow plants you can move around the garden, every day if you like! Grow herbs and flowers and position sweet smelling plants on the patio or round your seating area. Strawberries grow very well in containers as do other useful plants. Make sure the pots aren't too heavy for you to move, or invest in a garden trolley if they are. If you grow colour co-ordinated flowers, a wonderful display can be created by positioning your pots well.

8. Wild Corner - I know this may be hard if you like a neat and tidy garden, but leaving a wild patch can be very entertaining and visually very pleasing. Nettles and other wildflowers attract butterflies and bees, and it's often suprising how delicate and colourful wildflowers can be when allowed to grow in their own space. If you're still unsure, how about building a little fence around the area and making a wooden plaque declaring it a wildlife zone...well, it was just an idea!

9. Water Features - are becoming more and more popular and also more affordable. Create a water feature that will suit your garden. Try not to be persuaded by an over-enthusiastic sales assistant trying to sell you a system that will be far too big or even too small for your outside space. Do some research before you start. There could be a fair amount of physical work involved and you should arrange some strong arm help. You could go for a full waterfall and pond or perhaps a simple water feature on your patio.

10. Rock Gardens - Rock gardens can take on different themes and colour schemes throughout the year with a little careful planning. There is again some heavy physical work involved when you're putting together your rock garden but well worth it in the end. Make sure you can get to all areas for weeding, watering etc; Try out different rock plants and flowers until you feel happy with the overall view, and even then you can change it. Nothing's set in stone!

These are just a few ideas. Let your imagination free and decorate your outside space with love. Read through the Garden Decor and Garden Ideas pages on the Flower and Garden Tips website for more ideas and resources.

Garden Moss

Moss can make some garden elements and even entire shady gardens look and feel aged and established. The trouble with garden moss though, is that sometimes it may not even grow at all on its own. And if it does, it could take a very long time to become established.

Here's a way you can accelerate and establish a beautiful green moss cover over your garden rocks and concrete features. This method doesn't work well on resin statues and artificial landscape rocks.

First stir a fist size clump of porcelain clay into 3 cups of water to form a thin paste. You can usually get porcelain clay from local hobby shops.

Then combine the clay mixture with one cup of undiluted fish emulsion and one cup of fresh, shredded moss. Fish emulsion is a plant fertilizer made from whole fish. It's usually available at retail nurseries and garden centers.

Mix everything together and paint it on your rocks and concrete objects with a paint brush. Keep things in the garden slightly moist by misting and taking care not to wash the mixture off.

Remember that moss grows naturally in patches, likes the North side of objects, and takes readily to cracks and crevices.

Use this formula in shady gardens and in moist locations and you can most probably have moss on your garden statues and landscape rocks in a few weeks.
About the Author

by Steve Boulden

Why is Teak Wood so Popular

As the days go by, teak is becoming rarer, harder to acquire and more expensive to own. Regardless, in the face of fierce competition from other types of hard woods like cedar, fir, oak, mahogany and cherry, teak wood remains one of the more popular materials to be used - especially if we’re talking about outdoor furniture. Even as the supply of teak wood dwindles, there must be a reason why teak wood continues to be the preferred staple for outdoor furniture. The popularity of teak wood has everything to do with its weather-resistant nature and naturally shiny and beautiful color. The gentle and natural yellow-brown color provides an excellent contrast against natural green backgrounds. As mentioned, because the supply of teak is slowing down, the price of teak is quite exorbitant now but people who know wood knows that it’s worth investing in. Many efforts have been made to find a suitable and adequate substitute for teak wood but many of them do not have the same qualities as teak wood and they always fall short of being as useful and efficient as teak. Let’s admit it, it’s kind of hard to measure up to teak wood. One will truly appreciate and understand the reason why some furniture experts insist on having teak furniture instead of other cheaper wood-type furniture when they see the extraordinary durability of teak in harsh weather conditions. In some Asian tropical countries, building beams made of teak shines on in near-perfect condition even when the building has aged more than a thousand years. With evidence like that, it’s not at all hard to see why teak is commonly used in the construction, shipbuilding, and outdoor furniture industry. In fact, it has been shown that even when iron was introduced into the shipbuilding industry; it did not replace the high demands for teak wood. Teak wood is considered superior to other types of hard woods because once it is weathered and seasoned, it takes a lot to crack, split, shrink or alter the shape of teak wood. Teak is definitely far more superior to oak. On top of that, teak wood has great elasticity making it a favorite type of wood to work with among craftsmen. Teak takes on a beautifully polished appearance when finished because it contains natural oils. Despite its superior strength, teak wood is not too heavy, making export of the hardwood popular. The natural oil in teak wood is extremely aromatic. Some say the smell of teak is somewhat strange but it smells very natural and fragrant to most. In fact, the oil from teak wood is extracted in some cultures and the oil is used for medicinal purposes. With all the obvious advantages of using teak as opposed to using other types of fancier, more available and cheaper hard woods, it’s not hard to understand why teak wood remains one of the most popular types of hard woods. It’s beauty and durability make it an excellent choice for any outdoor garden or patio.

About the Author

Joseph Miller is the President and CEO of Mainline Marketing Group

An introduction to garden bridges

Just because you dont have huge, elaborate gardens does
not mean you cant accentuate what you do have with
garden bridges. Garden bridges could be just what you need
to turn those mediocre garden areas into something quite
splendid.

Garden bridges can be utilized in any style garden.

Garden bridges can add a touch of country or formal design
to a garden. Small garden bridges are easy to find. There
are many garden bridges that you can find in garden centers
or home improvement centers. One of the best places to find
small garden bridges may be online. There are lots of sites
that have many ideas for small garden bridges.

If you are good with a hammer and nails you may even be
able to make your own garden bridge. Plans are available at
building stores and at online sites. You will find many
choices for garden bridges at these online sites and you
can also see photos of many different bridge styles.

A garden bridge can be a big benefit for your garden space.
A small garden bridge will look attractive in a smaller
garden and draw attention to a specific area.

You can choose the right small garden bridge if you do a
little planning ahead of time. If you have a smaller garden
you will want a smaller garden bridge. Look at the space
you have and decide where a bridge would fit in. Consider
more than one area and then choose your favorite.

There are some lovely gardens that are small in size but
large in beauty because garden bridges have been added in
just the right places.

Wind Chimes Go Great With Gardening

What could be more relaxing than gardening on a nice summer morning? Listening to your wind chime while you garden! Wind chimes are not only fun to look at but they add much more to your garden then just visual appeal.

Wind chimes have tones and vibrations that soothe and calm the mind helping to release all your stress. When you dig in the garden and connect with the earth, listening to your chimes tinkle in the breeze can help you also connect with your inner spirit. Chimes have been used for much more than just decoration for centuries. In fact, wind chimes are used in many Feng Shui cures. You can hang your chimes inside as well as outside, metal chimes are best for North, Northwest and West while wood chimes are best for South, Southeast and East. The number of rods can be associated with the cure you want. Use 4, 6, 7, 8 or 18 rods for luck and 5 rods to reject bad energy. Use bamboo for outside.

Of course, you should pick chimes that decorate your porch or garden area to your liking. There’s plenty of styles and materials to choose from. I favor the chimes with a stained glass decoration on top that comes in all kinds of whimsical styles. If you are more traditional, you might go for a simple bamboo chime with an Asian flair. You can even get chimes that are hand tuned if you are really into the sound quality of your wind chime.

Hanging your wind chimes is easy. To hang from the top of your porch, you can use a simple C shaped hook that screws into the ceiling. Any type hook can be used as long as it is strong enough to support your wind chime. Be sure you hang it in an area where it’s freedom of movement is not obstructed by anything. You can also buy fancy hangers that screw in or that stick up from the ground. When hanging your chime, try to pick a place that will not get a strong wind – this way you can be sure your chime does not blow off and break.

So, the next time that you get out into the garden, make sure that you hang out some wind chimes so that you can add a new level to your gardening experience!

About the Author

Lee Dobbins

The Sundial - Garden Ornament or Exotic Timepiece

Most of us regard a sundial as an attractive ornament for
a park or garden. Their effectiveness as time keepers is
highly variable

That's unfortunate, because it is not at all difficult
to ensure that your garden sundial will be an accurate
timepiece, provided, of course that the sun is shining.

But that will be covered in another article. For now,
let's see what a sundial is, and what it is capable of.

Sundial History

We forget in this modern age that accurate, affordable
watches and clocks have been around for much less than
200 years.

Before then, sundials were one of the few ways to tell
the time with reasonable accuracy.

Shadow clocks dated at 1500BC are known from Egypt, but
the first dials appear to have been Babylonian. The
Greeks adapted the idea, the Romans developed it further,
and by about 100BC had perfected the horizontal sundial
(and placed it in their gardens).

Even in ancient days some people had schedules to keep,
and both agriculture and religion required knowledge of the
seasons and the movement of the sun to determine planting and
the timing of ceremonies.

The sundial was an important means of providing that
information, and considerable advances in mathematics,
geometry and astronomy were made while it was
perfected. The knowledge gained forms part of the
foundations of modern science.

Types of Sundial

There are four reasonably common types of sundial.

They all have two things in common. Each consists of a
raised structure, called the gnomon (silent "g")
which casts a shadow onto a plate called the dial.
The dial is divided into hourly or shorter time divisions
and may also show other information.The part of the gnomon
whose shadow indicates the time on the dial is called
the style.

The most abundant form is the horizontal sundial,
happily sitting on its pedestal or column and adding beauty
and interest to the home garden.

Related is the equatorial sundial, with its dial
oriented at the same angle as the latitude. It works slightly
differently, and is easier to use when properly calibrated.

Thirdly, there is the vertical sundial, ideally located
on a wall facing due south in the northern hemisphere, and
north in the southern hemisphere. The principle is much the
same, but the sundial only occupies a semicircular area.
Vertical sundials displayed the time to the public, and were
used to correct unreliable public clocks.

And the most elegant of all, the portable sundial.
George Washington had one - at that time pocket watches were
most unreliable. Modern examples can be a work of art.
They combine a compass with an adjustable dial. The dial is
tilted to correspond to local latitude, and the compass
defines north. Pretty neat!

Sundial Accuracy

A properly designed and installed sundial can be a very
accurate means of telling the time, down to intervals of
less than a minute.

I won't go into the mathematics, but on a sundial 16 inches
(40cm) in diameter, the shadow of the gnomon will move about
1/30th of an inch, or just under 1mm, in a minute. This may
be small, it's enough for our eyes to see.

Two Major Problems

Apart from the frequent absence of sunlight (Problem 1),
all sundials show time by cakibrating outwards from the
position of the sun at noon, and if you live east or west
of me, your noon is different to mine.

Although the earth moves around the sun, we see it the other
way. The sun appears to move from east to west across the
sky, and local noon is when it's vertically overhead.
But if you live 100 miles west of me, my noon is still your
late morning, and your noon is my early afternoon. This
would be inconvenient if we used our sundials to arrange a
lunch date, but a real problem if I had a plane to catch in
another city.

Solar Time and Official Time

People managed to live with this problem until communications
and transport became faster. Imagine calculating train
timetables when Boston, New York and Buffalo all worked
on different local times.

The answer was the development of local time zones.
US Railways did this in 1883, but in 1914 the world's
governments agreed to divide the globe into 24 zones,
each 15 degrees of longitude in width, and each one
hour different in time to its neighbours. Boundaries
were altered slightly to account for state and national
borders.

There are four time zones in the contiguous 48 states of the
USA: Eastern, centred on 75 degrees W longitude; Central, on
90 degrees; Mountain, on 105 degrees; and Pacific, on 120
degrees. Noon was identified astronomically for each of these
meridians (now it's done by atomic clocks), and accepted
everywhere else in the zone.

Noon on sundials in places very close to these longitudes
will correspond to official noon. For every degree east
or west of the central meridian, for 7.5 degrees either
side, you will need to add or subtract four minutes
respectively to correct your sundial.

A few other adjustments are necessary to compensate
for irregularities in the earth's path around the sun -
not too difficult to make but the theory is beyond this
article.

They add to the inconvenience, and that's why sundials have
been superceded by more convenient and reliable forms of
time keeping. But problems with time zones and orbital paths
can be corrected, and there's no reason why you can't find
the correct time from your sundial.

No reason, that is, provided it has been properly installed in
your garden. And that's the subject of another article.

About the Author

Copyright 2005, Graham McClung. A retired geologist, Graham
McClung has had a lifelong interest in the outdoors. And
where there's outdoors there's weather. He is the editor of
Home-Weather-Stations-Guide.com