Archive for August, 2011
Spending Time in Nature Makes You Feel More Alive
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Pychology & Sociology
Feeling sluggish? The solution may require getting outside the box – that big brick-and-mortar box called a building. Being outside in nature makes people feel more alive, finds a series of studies published in the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology. And that sense of increased vitality exists above and beyond the energizing effects of physical activity and social interaction that are often associated with our forays into the natural world, the studies show.
“Nature is fuel for the soul, ” says Richard Ryan, lead author and a professor of psychology at the University of Rochester. “Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature,” he says.
Create a Year – Round Outdoor Blooming Garden
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Something that every gardener wishes for is an outdoor flowering plant that blooms all summer and stays green all winter even in norther climes. Well your day has come.
A horticulturist created a hybrid lily lookalike that expresses a lavender-lilac color, strong and upright stems, and winter hardiness. In gardens it blooms until the first hard freeze in the fall in the northern United States. In greenhouses it never goes dormant.
Fall is here — and that means the beautiful colors of summer will soon start to fade away. One man is Read More→
Early Fall Garden Guide : Jobs in the Yard and Garden
Posted by: | CommentsFrom Flower Gardening Made Easy
In the early fall garden, the air is cooler and fresher – what a relief this is if you get a lot of high humidity over the summer!
But, sadly, the days are getting shorter and the first frost is looming. Still, if you’ve planned your garden well, you have late-blooming perennials such as sedums, asters, mums, and ornamental grasses to enjoy.
And in northern areas, gorgeous fall colors are on the way. As the season winds up, there’s plenty to do in garden.
Early fall garden jobs: In the yard
Watering: One important job in the early fall garden is to continue to water your plants, especially your evergreens and trees and shrubs if it isn’t raining enough. Read More→
It is not too late to give your plants a summer vacation.
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Colleen Smith, a writer for the Denver Flower and Gardening Examiner, wrote this article in February. I just came across it, really liked it and thought I would share it with those of you who need advice for bringing your houseplants out for the summer. I know it is already August but we still have some strong sunshine left
Shedding some light on keeping houseplants happy
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Indoor plants can certainly add beauty and enjoyment to your home — but only while they remain healthy. Many gardeners begin their struggle with houseplants in choosing the wrong location with regard to light.
The amount of light a plant requires will vary by type. When deciding where to place your plant in your home it will help to understand the window and light environment.
Four Great Indoor Garden Designs
Posted by: | CommentsBy Bill Shank
In the mid-19th century, a craze for cultivating exotic plants indoors swept England. The Victorian home was more agreeable for plants than most modern living quarters because it was not overheated, but less agreeable because it was so dark. People filled their homes with freshly imported flora from all over the world, displaying their treasures in myriad inventive new ways. The plans I suggest for creating intriguing indoor gardens are actually based on Victorian examples that are just as fresh and innovative today as they were a century and a half ago. Read More→
More Info for my Bonzai Lovers – Styles
Posted by: | CommentsBy Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Staff
Observe old trees in nature, and you will see plenty of variation. Trees grow upright or slanting, in groups, pairs, or alone, out on plains or clinging to the sides of mountains. They are found in arid, moist, hot, freezing, still, and windy environments, and everywhere in between. Wherever they grow, trees are also affected by animals and diseases. All the stresses that nature places on trees are reflected in their shapes. Bonsai artists look at what nature creates with these factors and work to emulate it when shaping a tree, but they also add their own vision to produce a beautiful bonsai. That’s why a bonsai is so much more than just a tree in a container. Read More→
Thinking in the Box
Posted by: | CommentsBy Nina Browne
Stepping out our front doors, we urbanites are often met by concrete pavement and brick walls. But looking up—if we’re lucky—we can feast our eyes on surprising splashes of life growing in window boxes.
When I planted my first window box, the only thing that grew was my embarrassment. But my experiments provided fodder for conversation with more knowledgeable neighbors. Before we knew it, a trend began, and our block’s window boxes helped us reach the finals in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest. Read More→
