Harry Potter books and movies have been a huge success around the world. And with the newest movie about to be released on July 17th, 2009, a Harry Potter theme garden might be a perfect addition to your garden. This could also encourage your children to take an interest in gardening.
photo credit: tinyfroglet

Creating a Harry Potter theme garden will depend on your growing climate, plants available and a little creativity on your part.

Hagrid, a popular character from the story, had a garden along with a charming cottage. The cottage would be somewhat difficult to copy but a fairie house would be a good replacement and fairie homes have that mystical feel to them.

Pumpkins also grew in Hagrid’s garden. In the current movie Hagrid grows huge orange pumpkins. Any pumpkin would fit in this theme garden including the miniature pumpkins, or the Lumina pumpkins (called ghost pumpkins by some), which are white on the outside and orange on the inside.

Hellebores, which grow in a multitude of colors varieties, grow well in many climates. They are mentioned many times in the Harry Potter series and are used for making potions. The Kingston cardinal is one example of a Hellebore.
photo credit: alice-palace

There are many magical plants mentioned in the Harry Potter movie but they are not real.

But with a little creativity you can substitute actual plants in your own Harry Potter theme garden creation.

For example,

• you could use  Balloon flowers or Chinese lanterns in place of puffapods.
• The money plant has a unique look and would fit into the garden well.
• Flowering cabbage or kale could be used to represent mandrakes.
• Bat plants, Venus flytrap and any evening flower such as a moonflower would add interest to the garden.
• And you will find many herbs would have a look that would fit into this them garden well. Ginger, sage, nettle and wormwood are a few examples.

You will learn more about all the magical plants in the world of Harry Potter by visiting  the plant section of the Harry Potter Lexicon website.

Night lights and garden art would add more interest too as would varying heights in the garden. And any garden seems to benefit from mini pond or rustic fountain.

This is a project your children may really enjoy and lead them to years of gardening. And any theme garden add fun to your garden and backyard

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Tea gardens add character, color and a plentiful supply of herbs for creating your own tea blends. I have also found tea gardens to be one of the easiest gardens to add your own flair or personality to.
photo credit: net_efekt

Another benefit of a tea garden is that it takes a very small amount of space. A 6-foot by 8-foot garden is actually quite big. If you have less space you can make it smaller. And if you only have indoor space available, a tea garden will adapt well to being indoors or on a balcony.

If you have more room you may want to set the tea garden up in a cottage garden tea garden design with a small fenced in area with a gate and trellis or arbor.

Many cottage herb garden designs plant honeysuckle, clematis, climbing rose bushes or wisteria on the trellis or arbor. It will not be long before these plants climb over the arbor and trellis and add astonishing color to you garden area.

Whatever size you select for an outdoor tea garden you will want to divide your entire garden down the middle by making a path. The path can be wide enough for a wheelbarrow or a slender path used for harvesting. Next create narrow paths within each planting bed on either side of the path.

Your goal is to make everything is within arm’s length for weeding and harvesting. This will keep you off the soil and allow more room for your herbs. I will often place a flat rock to stand on just off a path if I need to be able to reach into the garden bed further. This also adds a more natural look to the garden.

Choose herb plants that will thrive in your garden zone. A trip to you local nursery or garden center will help you with your plant selections. I also mix a few colorful fragrant flowers, fruits and vegetables in the herb garden just to add interest and color.

As with any garden, plant the garden based on what each plant needs for sunlight and spacing.

Herbs can be planted closer together than many plants and still thrive so fill the garden. If possible leave a very small section for a tiny bench or a very small table. This will give you a place to relax, enjoy the garden and have a cup of fresh tea.

I also try to add a rain barrel to my herb garden area so that water is easily within reach for watering the plants.
photo credit: chaz2b

And if your only available space is the patio or indoors, herbs grow very well in containers and hanging baskets. Just try to find a spot that get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight for the plants.

Herbs make wonderful container gardens because you have interesting color and texture in herbs and by selecting unique containers and planters you can create wonderful relaxing garden art that can be changed during the season and that also adds tea and seasonings to you home.

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In these trying economical times when many are growing recession gardens to help with food cost, you many also consider adding a small cutting garden. The fresh flowers will add color and fragrance in you home from spring until fall and decorate your home.
photo credit: makelessnoise

A cutting garden adds a cottage garden look to your yard and can be set up in a small space or even in containers if need be. Cutting garden flowers generally have sturdy stems, and survive well in a vase of water. This is what makes them have value as a cut flower. They also will live in vases longer than most flowers and work well in flower arrangements.

Many also make excellent dried flowers. These dried flowers can be used in crafts or made into dried floral arrangements for the colder months when flowers are scarce. Cutting gardens may include perennials and annuals, and are fairly easy to grow. Many of the annuals are started from seed right in the garden, or earlier in a greenhouse or cold frame if you want earlier blooms.

Planning a Cutting Garden

Develop your plant list by choosing the colors and textures you like, and how you will use your cut flowers. Are you growing them for the home or for a family event where flowers are needed? You may also want to sell a few or dry different varieties for crafting. These decisions swill help you choose varieties, how many plants you want and the garden size you will need for you plants.

Top ten cutting flowers that are bought

• Tulips
• Gerbera Daisies
• Lilies
• Gladioli
• Iris
• Roses
• Snapdragons
• Delphinium
• Orchids
• Lisianthus

I also feel these flowers belong in the list. They add to any floral arrangement:

• Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily)
• Gypsophila (Baby’s breath)

Next choose your garden location. Most cut flowers will thrive with lots of sunshine. It will also be easier to tend your garden if it’s near a water source. I would also choose a location where you can see the garden from several different vantage points so that you and the family can enjoy it.

Design your garden.

If your garden is large and its main purpose is selling flowers I would lay the flowers out in one-foot rows. But if it’s decorative; give it an artistic flair and group the flowers, make a curved bed, and add height and garden art. In other words, have fun!
photo credit: maggiephotos

You may also want to have two gardens or at least keep the annuals and perennial flowers separated in the flowerbed. The soil needs for these two varieties differ enough that it’s best to keep them separate

Cutting gardens are easy and fun to grow and they add color and personality to your backyard garden area. They will also save you money on bouquets and flowers for crafting.

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