Tag Archives: lawn care

Candy Easter Flowers

Here’s a festive Easter-themed craft that you can make with or without the kids. It features Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Reese’s Pieces in a simple project that will go a long way to add a hint of spring to your Easter party. The end product looks good enough to eat, but this craft is solely for decorative purposes only. Keep that in mind when you are placing these chocolate daffodils around the house. You don’t want to leave them in an area where small children or pets can sink their teeth into them. CHOCOLATE DAFFODILS Materials: REESE’S Peanut Butter … Continue reading →

Unique Spring Flower Crafts

Spring has not exactly sprung here in the Upper Midwest, which means it is highly unlikely that we will be seeing tulips or daffodils blossoming in time for Easter. However, instead of lamenting about our lack of flowers I’ve decided to make my own to use as decorations for the upcoming holiday. These candy floral creations are simple to craft, and best of all, they last a lot longer than real flowers. CANDY SUNFLOWERS Materials: 1 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup 1 package Reese’s Pieces Candy or M&Ms 2 yards of 1 1/2-inch wide wired yellow ribbon 1-12-inch length of heavy-duty … Continue reading →

More Flower Fun

If the winter blues are getting the best of you, then it might be time to sample a taste of spring at one of the dozens of flower shows being hosted in major cities around the nation. In a previous blog I detailed some of the nation’s most popular orchid shows. But, if you can’t make it to Miami, New York or St. Louis in the next few weeks, then consider visiting the following flower expos taking place in other parts of the country: San Francisco Orchid Society Pacific Orchid Exposition, March 6-8 Smoky Mountain Orchid Society Show, March 6-8, … Continue reading →

Fun with Flowers

Spring isn’t exactly close to springing where I live. In fact, we’re currently under a winter storm watch. Meteorologists say up to 10 inches of snow is headed our way in the next 24 hours. Needless to say, I miss Hawaii more than ever–the warm sun, the beach, and most of all… the amazing flowers. Several U.S. cities help residents deal with the winter blues by hosting spectacular flower shows. Unfortunately, I don’t live near any of them, but you might. If you are looking to take a break from the bitter cold, ice and snow, consider checking out one … Continue reading →

Making Your Garden Go Green

Although with snow on the ground and more expected, gardening should be the last thing on my mind, I am already planning ahead. The last frost will be here and gone eventually. With everything still dormant, it is a good time to start the planning for the garden season to come. Being more environmentally conscious and gardening go hand and hand. If you want to make your garden really go green this year, try taking advantage of the following tips. Start a compost pile that will nurture your plants with natural fertilizer and plenty of good food. As you clean … Continue reading →

Gardening Trends for 2009

I came downstairs this morning and took a look out of my kitchen window, which looks out onto the backyard. There is a good dusting of snow covering it all. But the first thing I thought about was this year’s garden. I know that seems strange, but spring will be here before we know it, and it is time to start planning. If you are looking for some new ideas for your garden this year, take a look at the following trends. These things are all areas in which homeowners and gardeners have shown interest in 2008, according to The … Continue reading →

Romance in the Garden

Do you have a garden? Have you thought of your garden as a place of romance? As any of you who are regular readers of my blogs will know I am not a gardener. That doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the garden. I enjoy the benefits of tasty vegetables Mick grows. His fresh tomatoes are amazing – far tastier than those in shops. And I’m eagerly waiting for the first passion fruit, my absolutely favorite fruit, to ripen. Knowing what a fan I am Mick has planted several along the back fence and three more along a trellis plus one … Continue reading →

Can Watching Romantic Movies Negatively Affect Your Marriage?

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald by novelist Jojo Moyes, and based on research from the ‘Family and Personal Relationships Laboratory at Heriot-Watt university in Edinburgh,’ watching romantic moves can be detrimental to marriage giving people an unrealistic view of relationships and marriage. While common sense might tell us there is no such thing as the perfect relationship, the conclusion is that some people are far more influenced by what they see on film or read in books than they realize claims Dr Bjarne Holmes, conductor of the research. Films and books often tap into this whole … Continue reading →

How to Garden in a Bad Economy 2

If you are gardening the same old way you always have, you might want to think about this a bit. New strategies, techniques and planning may work better in our current economic reality. I’ve already shared with you some ideas for gardening in a bad economy. If you missed that post, click here: How to Garden in a Bad Economy. Now, let’s talk a little more about this. One of the trends that seems to be changing in gardening in the response to the economy is the planting of more perennials. Better Homes & Gardens mentioned this summer that there … Continue reading →

Last-Minute Homemade Thanksgiving Decorations

You have everything to make your Thanksgiving feast, but you just realized that your dining room table has nothing to complement the holiday spread. Now what? All is not lost. Simply gather a few items from around your home to make these easy last-minute seasonal decorations: LEAVES Fill a galvanized container with oversized leaves (such as magnolia). Make sure the stems aren’t all the same length. The arrangement should mimic the natural, free-flowing form of the leaves themselves. CANDLES Collect several small glass jars or vases and fill them with dried corn. Then, nestle fall-colored candles of differing heights into … Continue reading →