A Backyard flower garden is considered a necessity by many and complicated by others. It seems that those who grow vegetables well often struggle with flowers. The same can be said for those who grow vegetables. I have found over the years that flowers can be easy to grow you just need to know a little history on the flower variety and supply the plants with the right growing climate and soil conditions.
photo credit: Nieve44/La Luz

Two other considerations you will want to decide on before planting are, will you be planting the flowers from seed or transplants: and will your plants be in a garden or in containers or windowsill boxes?

Planting flowers from seed takes time and I found certain flowers grow better than others if you sew them directly into the soil. Flowers that re-seed themselves seem to grow with fewer problems with direct sewing than other flowers. One exception are marigold plant varieties. I find marigolds very easy to add to garden soil and have a nice crop of healthy flowers. Overall I would suggest that you start your flower seeds indoors in pots eight weeks before you would like to set them out in the garden area, especially if this is your first flower garden experience.

The two reasons for starting flowers from seed are that you have a larger selection of flower varieties available to choose from and it is less expensive to start you own plants.

Buying flower plants from a garden center will help you to set up your backyard flower garden in a day or two. You can water the plants well and add mulch to your garden and it will look nice from day one. As the season moves along the plants will fill out and you will have a blanket of beautiful color in your yard. When buying plants you need to look them over for signs of neglect (dead leaves, thin stems, lack of flowers) and never buy a pack of wilted plants. They may have suffered from too much shock and might not flower well.

One other thing to look for is any insect problems. Chewed leaves or funny bumps on the stems may be a big problem. I always check the plants again when I get them hoe and wash the plants with a mix of two drops of dish soap to one pint of water and a dash of garlic. If your plants had any small invisible bugs this should solve the problem.

Planting flowers in containers and windowsill boxes means that you should make sure you soils will drain well and that it has plenty of fertilizer. Make sure you containers are clean.  I always have a few flowering pots and containers in the backyard and by the house. They add instant color and can be moved so that your yard has a fresh new look anytime you want.
photo credit: andydr

For anyone thinking of having a backyard flower garden for the first time my advice it “start small.” You can always add more flowers or different varieties another year.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden

A Backyard Garden adds color, variety, and fresh vegetables or fruits to your diet. It also provides fresh air, exercise and can offer time together with family. What ever your needs, the garden will add to the beauty and relaxing factors of your backyard oasis.
photo credit: jpopesku1

There are many different types of gardens and it helps to narrow down the purpose that your garden will serve. A garden can tend to grow and get to big, which add to the work and takes away from the fun. You may also not have enough time to work in the garden area so its best to think small, use creative organic gardening methods  and keep the fun in gardening. Plants that are properly tended will be healthier.

Will you choose a flower garden, vegetable garden or combine the two? Is your garden space limited and container or balcony gardening would suit your lifestyle better? Are herbs your passion? I myself combine all of these and like to redo the patio and deck areas about twice a summer. It just makes my backyard oasis an exciting retreat for all my friends and family.

One tip I will pass onto you is I find it a timesaving step to group my plants that need the same care in the same area. I also group any plants that need additional watering as close to my water source as possible.

Here are a few more tips that have saved me time in the past. Perennial flowers take less time and last from year to year. Properly planned, you can have a perennial garden with color from spring until fall. And just to make sure, I add annual flowers to the flower garden border and where any of the perennial plants are a little thin. Herbs will work just as well, and I have to admit I really like adding vegetables like colored Swiss chard or scarlet runner beans in flower gardens.

Herbs are amazing plants. They have wonderful color and texture. For anyone that is new to gardening herbs are good plants to start out with. They are hardy, thrive in most soils and are not bothered by as many insects.
photo credit: lcm1863

Herbs have many culinary uses, make great teas, and can be used for a variety of crafting projects. I also mix them in with my other plants for their beneficial use of insect control. Herbs are also one of the plants I grow on windowsills and teacup planters. They just have such an inviting look I have to have them everywhere.

Vegetable gardens require a little more work and planning. They also take more knowledge in how to plant and harvest numerous kinds of produce. Vegetables also add color and texture and are a very pretty addition to any yard. With proper choices there will be fresh vegetables all season long. And again I add flowers to my vegetables gardens. It adds color and fun and several flowers repel insects and small animals.

If you set up a vegetable garden in a raised bed you can grow many varieties of vegetables in a small area. Growing vertically and square foot gardening principles offer advice on how to get the most use out of limited space. I grow many of my vegetable varieties in hanging baskets or containers. This gives me fresh vegetables that are either growing on my porch or just a few steps away from the door. One of my favorite hanging baskets is a tomato plant that growing from the bottom of a hanging basket and on the top has fresh herbs and lettuce greens.

Another way of growing both vegetables and flowers would be in mini theme gardens or on windowsills. What is all comes down to is keeping your gardens fun and adding to that festive backyard feeling you have created for your home.

Technorati Tags: annual flowers, Creative Organic Gardening, herbs, perennial flower, vegetables

We often refer to this area as NW PA’s Garden of Eden but with the snow piling up and wondering if we will loose power I find I have cabin fever. This is the time in life when I get in trouble.

So to take the edge off it’s time for a little fun. I’d like to share a project I have done in the past with my niece and nephews. Its called Ice Cream in a Bag.

Really, who could even turn down Ice Cream in the winter? Particularly if it’s homemade Ice Cream!
photo credit: joyosity

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2-teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup salt (Bigger granules work better. Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt works fine.)
• Ice cubes (enough to fill each gallon-size bag about half full)
• 1 pint-size ziplock bag
• 1 gallon-size ziplock bag

1. Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in a pint-size bag and seal it tightly.

2. Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5 minutes). Feel the small bag to determine when it’s done.

3. Take the smaller bag out of the larger one and add flavorings. Pureed fruit, nuts, chocolate syrup and fruit juices are just a few ideas that make great ice cream.  If you want you can eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Kids love using the bag as a bowl and clean up is a breeze. Each bag makes one serving.

If your adventurous use snow instead of ice cubes, just watch out for the yellow snow.

My niece and nephews loved making ice cream like this. We would add frozen raspberries or blackberries that had been put away in the summer from the berry bushes out back. It brought back memories of hot summer days and the kids working (really playing) in the gardens.

Give this recipe a try. It’s easy and a fun project for kids of all ages. If you are one of those lucky few living in warm weather make two bags!