Although we like to grub in the ground and swing a paintbrush now and then, we have our technical side, too. And we’ve found a few goodies that other gardening, home decorating technocrats might enjoy as well.

• Sherwin-Williams has struck gold (and orange, teal and aqua) with a little online gadget called “Chip-It.” You start by downloading a Chip-it widget to your favorites bar and then while scrolling through your favorite home decor website or Pinterest boards, you click the Chip-It and it magically gives you a collection of paint chips that match all the colors in your chosen picture. To save the selections you have to register with the Chip-It site; otherwise, just write down your favorites.

  A friend who is mad for painting turned us on to Chip-It and we’ve been Chipping the tropical flowers on our Pinterest board like crazy. We now have an overwhelming desire to paint our living room in Saguaro, Invigorate and Roycroft Copper Red with accents of Tricorn Black and Bamboo Shoot.

  Get started by going to htt…………………continues on San Jose Mercury News

>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Hands-on gardening workshop for children
Article from NorthJersey.com:

NJBG will sponsor a hands-on kids’ gardening workshop at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden, on Saturday, May 19, at 10 a.m.

Join Nancy Cochrane and Master Gardener and educator Olga Newey in the Carriage House to explore the fun of gardening. You’ll learn about growing veggies and plant a little herb garden to take home with you.

This workshop is for ages 8-16, and children under 14 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

All materials are provided, but bring gloves if you have them. The fee is $ 10 for NJBG members and $ 15 for non-members. For more information and to reserve your spot…………………continues on NorthJersey.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

Yard Butler GKS-2 Garden Kneeler and Seat
Enjoy gardening in comfort with the Garden Kneeler and Seat. The ergonomic design prevents sore knees caused by kneeling on the gr…

All New Square Foot Gardening
Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening? Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated b…

Remember the days when Mom’s would swoon over a homemade gift? Why not revive that tradition by creating a lovely flower container for that special woman and give her a Mother’s Day gift that will she will admire all summer long.

A flowering container is actually an easy process and all the ingredients can be purchased with one stop at your local garden center. There are just a few simple things to consider when choosing materials and putting the container together. The steps below should help ease any apprehension and result in a beautiful, professional garden container any Mom (wife, grandmother) will proudly display throughout the summer.

The Container:

You want to be generous when choosing the size of the container. It should be large enough to accommodate additional growth and provide enough room so the soil does not dry out quickly. A 14″ diameter or larger is an ideal choice.

Choosing the Plants:

There are three plant varieties to include in your garden container to give it balance, movement and best of all, attention: filler, spiller and thriller.

Filler: The filler plants will float throu…………………continues on Patch.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.
MPs: Teach gardening in schools
Article from The Press Association:

MPs: Teach gardening in schools

(UKPA) – 3 hours ago 

Cooking and gardening should be taught in schools as part of efforts to promote healthy and sustainable food, MPs have urged.

The Government should also consider imposing stricter limits to protect children from junk food advertising, including online where youngsters are targeted by unhealthy brands, a report from the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) said.

And new planning guidance should be used to ensure that communities have access to local food and land to grow their own fruit and vegetables to tackle a growing crisis around diets and the food system.

The report from the MPs warned that diet-related chronic diseases cost the National Health Service £7 billion a year.

Poor diet accounted for a third of cancers and heart disease, while 60% of adults and a third of 10 and 11-year-olds in England are obese or overweight, increasing the risk of conditions such as type II diabetes and some types of cancer.

The health benefits of meeting nutritional guidelines, such as eating five pieces of fruit and vege…………………continues on The Press Association
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

By NORMAN WINTER

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

By NORMAN WINTER

Updated: 2012-05-10T12:08:28Z

>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Container Gardening, Poetry Contest and More at the Library
Article from Patch.com:

There’s plenty happening at the Avon Library. For more information on any of the programs, call the Avon Branch Library at 440-934-4743. The Avon Branch Library is located at 37485 Harvest Drive.

Friends of Avon Library Art Reception

A reception, sponsored by The Friends of Avon Library, will be held for the May Art Show for local artists, patrons and friends, Thursday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lorain Public Library System’s Avon Branch Library. Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served. 

Teen Volunteer Night At Avon Branch Library

Sixth through 12th graders can explore the many volunteer experiences available at the Avon Branch Library, Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m. Food, fun and video gaming will be included. 

Adult Afternoon Book Discussion

Adults are invited to join the Afternoon Book Discussion Group when it meets, Tuesday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Lorain Public Library System’s Avon Branch Library. The group will discuss, Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. Copies of the boo…………………continues on Patch.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

By Gary R. Bachman
MSU Horticulturist
Coastal Research & Extension Center

Coral bells are perpetual favorites, and their colorful foliage can add interest and texture to any garden.

The first coral bells had green foliage, but these days, green foliage selections can be hard to find. New selections have purple, red, and white marbling and different colored venation. You will often see foliage colors of bright gold, orange and brown. Still others have different colors on top and bottom, so the colors flash when the wind blows.

Coral bells also put their texture on display. Some have ruffled margins, some have deep cuts in the foliage, and others have smooth margins.

Typically coral bells grow to 1 to 3 feet tall and up to 2 feet wide.  However, smaller, more compact selections are available. Coral bells can have some of the darkest foliage around, ranging from deep burgundy and dark purple to black. Many are seed propagated.

Coral bells don’t have many pests. Perhaps the biggest problem they have is leaf scorching, especially if they are not planted in partial shade.

Coral bells get their name from the nodding flower stems t…………………continues on Coral bells bring color and texture to gardens – WDAM-TV
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

.

All New Square Foot Gardening
Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening? Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated b…

Long Island Landscaping, Castle Landscapes builds website dedicated to give customers tips on landscaping & masonry.

Dix Hills, NY (PRWEB) May 05, 2012

Castle Landscapes Inc. having been in operation for the past 25 years, has transformed dreams into reality. They have done this by skillfully and professionally combing years of experience, cost cutting consciousness, unsurpassed quality giving the customer confidence that they will receive a state of the art decorative design.

In 2012 Castle Landscapes has decided to give back to their clients for years of loyalty by designing and building a website just dedicated to landscaping & masonry tips. The website goes into detail the process of what to look for when hiring a landscap…………………continues on Seattle Post Intelligencer
>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Gardening: It’s Not Too Early to Plant Some Produce
Article from Patch.com:

Starting a vegetable garden is one of the most exciting times of spring.

With dreams of heirloom tomatoes fresh from the vine and buckets of zucchini flooding the kitchen, gardeners new and old may think they need to impatiently wait out in May to prepare their patch of vegetable heaven. While it is still too cold to be putting many summer crops in the ground, many plant varieties actually thrive in cooler temperatures.

With all the work that can go into tilling and turning over a garden, it is gratifying to get something into the earth early. So, after calculating and reserving space for summer goodies, consider some of the often overlooked early crops to get a jump on the vegetable garden season. There is some produce—such as radishes, leafy greens and peas—that grow fast and perform well in the cool weather.

Radishes and Leafy Greens

Radishes can be ready to eat in as little as a month when planted from seed. They are a perfect raw salad garnish and have been making a name for themselves as a standalone side dish or even roasted with pasta.

Spinach and other leafy greens thrive at the cold ends of the spring and summer…………………continues on Patch.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

Home Vegetable Gardening
This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks….

Energy efficient homes don’t end with the structural and interior elements.  One of the most important factors to operating a more energy efficient home is the landscaping around it.  Not to mention that landscaping is more of a long term plan that one day will affect the re-sale value of the home. 

It’s a topic we’re familiar with this time of year, as we make our trips (and more trips) to the local home improvement stores looking for that ideal combination of plants, shrubs, trees, and grasses.

With the summer months approaching, we’ll soon be looking at cooling costs that air conditioners and fans bring to our utility bill.  Did you know that all plants naturally lower the temperature through a process called evaporative cooling?  Plants release water through the holes or pores in their leaves.  The water on the leaves’ surfaces absorbs the warm air flowing over it.  The warmed air evaporates, making the surrounding air cooler. 

Whether you just bought your first home or are a long-time home owner, improving the general landscape goes a long way in your return on investment.  Not just in dollar figures for you, but the next owner as well.  Equally i…………………continues on Patch.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Gardening for Healthy Wallet, Body and Soul
Article from Patch.com:

Gardening offers more than pretty yards and fresh produce — gardening can improve health, save money, strengthen bones, help the environment and boost the mood.

Most will agree: life is crazy. Time is limited. We all wish we had another 5-10 hours in a day. And as spring hits in Milford, we are more eager than ever to see the daylight last longer, temperatures get warmer and allow us a few more hours to enjoy the outdoors. There is something so miraculous about nature in the spring when plants and trees that seem completely dead come to life, bloom, expand and turn green in what seems like overnight. There is no complaining by the plants. It is time, it is expected; they just do it.

What is it about the outdoors and plants that makes time stand still and allows us to FEEL healthier? I love being outside. I feel energized, relaxed and peaceful all at once. I grew up with a huge garden in our back yard, but now I live in an area of almost 100 percent shade. It’s great on 95 degree humid summer days, but not so great for a garden. Just last week I said to my husband “we have to find a way to plant a vegetable garden this year.” This got me thinking. Is it in my…………………continues on Patch.com
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

Fiskars 7067 3-Piece Softouch Garden Tool Set
Includes 3-Piece Softouch Garden Tool Set – 70676935J, Softouch Transplanter, Softouch Cultivator…

All New Square Foot Gardening
Do you know what the best feature is in All New Square Foot Gardening? Sure, there are ten new features in this all-new, updated b…

By Sean Poulter

PUBLISHED: 02:49 EST, 30 April 2012 | UPDATED: 02:51 EST, 30 April 2012

For those weighed down by money troubles, the spiralling cost of ‘fun’ activities can make them just another cause for concern.

But there is one pastime that is bucking the trend – gardening.

A review of leisure spending found that, while the costs of ten out of 11 activities studied had risen more quickly than inflation, the price of gardening had not.

The average price of going to a Premier League football match, for example, was up by 184 per cent compared with ten years ago, to £48.90.

This is more than six times inflation over the decade, at 29 per cent, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

The review by the Halifax bank also foun…………………continues on This is Money
>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Butterfly gardening a popular gardening pastime
Article from Pekin Daily Times:

Butterfly gardening has become one of the most popular gardening pastimes today. And it’s no wonder. After all, what could be more enjoyable than sitting peacefully in the middle of a butterfly garden on a sunny day?

There are many ways to enjoy a butterfly garden, but starting one in your own backyard is probably one of the best — and easiest.

According to Suzanne Cook, head gardener for Pekin Park District since 2004, starting a butterfly garden at home is as easy as picking a spot and planting some butterfly-attracting plants.

“A butterfly garden is not hard to maintain,” Cook insists. “It could be a formal garden or a wildflower garden. Butterflies like a variety of plants. They like herbs, especially mint — but mint is an invasive plant. Some of the best plants for home gardens are zinnia, butterfly bush, Victoria blue solisia, and tropical milkweed. But there are many others.”

Cook has a lot of helpful tips for home gardeners who wish to maintain a private butterfly oasis. First, she suggests trimming the butterfly bush in March for new growth every spring.

“A bird bath will bring more activity to your garden. Butterflies also need…………………continues on Pekin Daily Times
>>> Read the full article from the source

.

Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy
Our Garden Bucket Caddy makes it easy to carry all of your essentials when you’re out in the garden. It fits snugly on a five-ga…

>>> Read the full article from the source

.
Gardening Tools, for Sowing or Reaping
Article from New York Times:

Mark K. Morrison, a landscape architect with homes in upstate New York and Connecticut, has surrounded himself with 10,000 gardening implements. Dating back to the 1500s, they range from unwieldy scythes and beet hoes to fragile glass sheaths for forcing cucumbers to grow straight.

>>> Read the full article from the source

.

Vegetable Gardening in the North
This book, written by award winning garden author Doug Green, describes the simple ways for beginner gardeners to succeed with gro…

Spotted

>>> Read the full article from the source

.

.