Here’s a modern twist to the traditional window box from designer Michael Hilgers. This is a great way to add color and greenery to spaces that, well, have no space. The polyethylene pots are water-resistant and can rest on any railing up to 60mm thick. Read more on Container Garden Design.
The guys at TerraCycle were ingenious enough to construct a Rotary Composter from wine barrels on their way to the landfills. Oak wine barrels are used to age wine then thrown away after one use. Why compost you say? Making you own compost is the best way to improve your soil and rid your garden of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers forever. Read More…
Dr. Joe Willis gives a demonstration on how the composter is used:
I decided to change the design of Nest In Style. I thought the previous design was color overload and got so tired of looking at it everyday. This seems to be easier on the eyes.
Where have all the bees gone? Many farmers have managed regional problems for years, but now we are faced with bees disappearing in droves across the nation. The benefits of bees go way beyond the honey they produce. In the agriculture world, bees play an invaluable role in pollinating many of the fruits and vegetables we eat every day.
In a New York Times article, Cornell University estimated that bees pollinate up to $14 billion worth of seeds a year. According to Entrepreneur.com, honey bees are responsible for pollinating over 90 varieties of fruits and vegetables worldwide, especially blueberries and apples. Just think about how many bites of food we eat every day that depend on the pollination of bees.
There are many different theories as to why the bees are disappearing at such alarming rates, ranging from synthetic pesticides, poor nutrition, cold weather, mite infestations, diseases, or just pure exhaustion. Whether you are an avid gardener or just a consumer who likes to eat, we can all do our part to support local bee colonies. Here is some food for thought:
Eliminate the use of synthetic pesticides, especially when bees and other pollinators are hard at work. The residue left on plants, even when dry, can harm beneficial insects. Many pest and disease problems can be eliminated by improving soil quality and water practices. Prevention is the key to achieving a natural garden!
Choose spring and summer plants that pollinators love. Many of these plants are drought tolerant once established through regular watering during the first season. Some of my favorites include:
For a complete plant list, click Urban Bee Project. Please consult a local nursery to be sure the plants are not considered invasive in your area. Choosing native plants is a sure way to have a successful, low-maintenance, yet beautiful garden.
I finally have pictures of the steel cable trellis I completed over the holidays. The trellis supports climbing Star Jasmine, which is not a true jasmine by the way. I used 1/8″ galvanized steel cable for the supports.
TIP: measure the length of your future trellis and have a store associate cut the cable to length.
If you try to cut it at home, you’ll just end up mashing the cable and the ends will fray. I pre-drilled holes for the eye hooks (pic #2). First, I looped the cable through the top hooks, secured it with the recommended hardware, then pulled it taut with some pliers before looping through the bottom hooks. As you can see (pic #3), the vines cover up the hardware and hooks once they are attached back to the cable. I loosely attached the vines with bread ties, otherwise the heavier, mature vines slide down the cable. How-to Instructions
Good luck to all you do-it-yourselfers this season!
Want to save time this spring from weeding? For those of you not covered by snow, pull weeds before they flower and set seed. . . all over your yard. This is not the most fun part of gardening, but believe me, your back will thank you. Check out Weed Or Not To Weed, for some great tools to help you tackle those perennial weeds.
I love these multi-functional stools by OFFI and Company. The design is inspired by Tiki mugs and barware from the 60’s. Why bother with standard folding chairs? This is a fun solution for entertaining family and friends, inside or outside.
Pest management comes to mind when I think about attracting wildlife to my garden. Pesticides are often used to eliminate those annoying creatures from damaging your tender plants. However, you also eliminate the beneficial insects and increase the risk of contaminating your local water supply. Harmful pests have natural enemies like birds, snakes, frogs and other beneficial insects. Selecting plants that provide food and shelter is a great way to attract beneficial predators. For more information on environmental friendly ways to eliminate pests click here. More resources for designing beautiful gardens that attract wildlife:
The guys at 
Where have all the bees gone? Many farmers have managed regional problems for years, but now we are faced with bees disappearing in droves across the nation. The benefits of bees go way beyond the honey they produce. In the agriculture world, bees play an invaluable role in pollinating many of the fruits and vegetables we eat every day.
