Sunflowers add to any garden with their bright colors and sunny inspiration. Besides being easy to use they make a great cut flower. They come in a variety of colors and grow as small as two foot to as tall as 15 foot.
photo credit: blair_25

Sunflowers are always a part of my gardens. I have planted sunflower mazes, sunflower houses, and sunflower tunnels. These gardens have been favorites in the neighborhood, and with the birds!

Sunflowers also grow great in containers and can be grown indoors the winter for color and to add cheer to the home.

They can be dried for crafts, used for bird feeders and even made into mini furniture and garden art or trellises.

How to Build a Sunflower Stalk Trellis

Once the sunflower season has ended and you have harvested the flowers its time to harvest the sunflower stalks. Use pruning sheers to cut the stalks off at ground level.

Remove any branches or leaves and let dry for a few days. I store them in a dark place lying down with space between each stalk. I turn them over in two days and let dry for another two days.

Select two strong stalks that are about the same size in height and thickness to use as trellis sides. Cut several smaller pieces for cross members.

Next assemble the side poles and cross members so that they resemble a small ladder. You can use string, plastic ties or fishing wire to attach the cross members to the supports. I prefer fishing line myself, unless I use baling twine and give it a rustic look.

Once you feel the sunflower trellis poles are totally dry spray the trellis with clear water seal spray. This will help weather proof it and make it more durable in wet or damp weather.

This will make a small interesting nice trellis with a natural look that will blend into your garden area. Three or four of these ladder trellises can be connected together to make a larger trellis or plant cage.

As you work with the sunflower stalks you will find that can be assembled into small garden fences or arbors. You can either bend a few of the stalks for a creative look or add other types of natural items to the fences and arbors such as grapevine.

It’s a fun project that children will enjoy and that will add character to your garden areas.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Flower Garden, creative gardening, flowers, garden art, garden trellis, how to create a sunflower trellis, sunflower house, sunflowers

A person who is seeking to escape the general cacophony of life and find a soothing and comfortable retreat often looks towards a garden. Gardens filled with trees, shrubs and green grassy meadows and with beautiful garden decor are beckoned forth to enjoy the serenity that it has to offer.
photo credit: faeryboots

A stroll through a lovely garden full of flowers that are in full bloom would cheer up any manic depressive. Gardens have traditionally been places of relaxation and unwinding. Buddhist monks created versions that were also used as meditating spaces and were serene enough to bring spiritual tranquility to the soul.

Die hard enthusiasts of gardening go to great lengths to procure the right kind of look. This includes adding items like fountains, exotic lighting, statues and gnomes, furniture etc. Accessories or ornaments are add-ons that enhance the aesthetic appeal of any garden by adding to its personality. An artificial brook or a sculpture can change the entire mood that is evoked by the ambience of your outdoor space.

Garden decors are accessories that enhance the natural beauty of the garden by including within it fountains that spew water, bird baths and bird houses, statues, furniture and lighting fixtures that transforms the landscape at night. Sculptures, fountains and patios are the most common accessories. Some gardens, especially English ones, sport gnomes within.

Large gardens tend to include artificial brooks or springs that create natural sounds that are soothing to the ear. It is extremely enjoyable to listen to the sounds of nature, either of tiny birds chirping excitedly as the splash around in a birdbath or of the gurgling brook.

Traditionally, gardening has been seen as a hobby and a recreation and most gardens were tended to by the home owners themselves. Nowadays there is an increasing trend to employ the services of specialists such as garden designers or landscape architects who do not come cheap. What these experts bring with them is a wealth of knowledge on aesthetics and choice of accessories and decors as well as the ideal ingredients for a complete garden.

Gardens need to reflect a particular mood; especially a cheerful one and the inclusion of the right garden decor can see to it that the desired results are achieved. The stand out from amidst the shrubs, trees and grassy meadows and enhance the appeal of your garden considerably.

Gardens are being increasingly preferred to back yards as venues to host parties and outdoor activities such as barbecue parties and birthday events. Most Americans invest a large amount of time an money, so as to have a personal space of their own. There are many manufacturers that supply garden decors that are ideal for hosting parties and barbecue events. These accessories are inclusive of grills, outdoor kitchens, patios and furniture and heaters that keep guests warm even during the cold weather.

Ideally, accessories should be catalysts that trigger subtle changes in the overall landscape and should not be the prime features. Trees, shrubs, grassy meadows, exotic and colorful plants and gravel drives should be the main components with a sprinkling of garden accessories amongst all that.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, Creative Organic Gardening, decorating, garden, garden art, gardening, home improvement, landscaping

Garden Art is one of the “in” trends for this summers garden and yard. And with the interest in gardening, particularly container gardening, on the increase you may want to consider making you own hypertufa planters. It’s a fun project and also makes a great family project.
photo credit: jdn

I made my first hypertufa pot in a local art society. We were encouraged to bring items to press into our pots such as rocks beads, marbles or any other found objects. I used wash glass pieces and old keys in my creation.

The you tube video below will give you a fast idea on how to make a hypertufa pot. It’s really very easy and once you start making them you will find the ideas get more creative. The look of the container also blends in to the backyard and looks wonderful near ponds or pools.

The nice thing about the hypertufa pot is that it is really an economical project. They last for a long time and can withstand harsh winters. They can be made in all sized and using peat moss instead of cement they are not as heavy as you would think so can be moved about.

Technorati Tags: container gardening, creative gardening, garden art, garden crafting