Thinking Spring in the Fall

We all know, after a long hard winter, how wonderful it is to see those first flowers of spring.
The daffodils, crocus and tulips....how beautiful.

So...it's time to start planning now...for fall planting...those beautiful flowers of spring.

Here's a few of my own favorites...

Refrigerator Pickles

I Love Refrigerator Pickles. They are so fast and easy to make.
I find they are the perfect 'solution'
to an abundant cucumber crop.

I love cucumbers..but when they are as plentiful
as they can be some years...
it's good to have a really easy recipe to
be able to enjoy them
later on.

Here's a quick video I found...with a different take on my own recipe...
but it's the same premise.

Here's my recipe...

7-8 cucumbers (sliced)
1 1/2 tsp tumeric
1 1/2 tsp mustard seed
4 c vinegar
4 small onions (sliced)
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
1/2 c salt
4 c sugar

Mix spices, sugar and vinegar well.
Pour over cucumbers and onions and refrigerate.
Pickles will be ready in 4 or 5 days.

*For a bread and butter variation of this recipe...simply heat the mixture,
just to the boiling point,
and pour over the cucumbers and onions.

Summer Flower Gardens

Summer Garden Flowers - Learn About Which Are Most Suitable

By: Abhishek Agarwal

After a stressful day indoors, spending time in a colorful summer garden is an enjoyable experience. If you plan to include some flowers in your summer garden, then take some time and effort to learn about those flowers or flowering plants that are best suited to the summer season. Therefore, it is a good idea to research the types of flowering plants that are best suited for a summer garden to give it that colorful effect. Each plant will have its very own needs that must be met for optimal growth and yield. If proper care is not provided, the plant will still grow but it will not give the best blossoms or the greenest leaves. All varieties of plants growing in the summer season may not be able to withstand the scorching heat and may thrive in a shady spot. Others may prefer sunlight and will do well in an open patch. Ensure that plants requiring water and shade are planted away from those requiring direct sunlight. Hence, a little planning for the proper placement of the plants will go a long way in creating a beautiful summer garden. Another point to be considered is the effect you would like to create in your summer garden with the use of various types of flowers.



This is a general guide to the varieties of summer flowers that may be included in a summer garden. Geraniums are bright and colorful flowers that are suited for summer gardens. They may be used to create borders or to provide a splash of color in a bed of green. They can be grown along with other varieties of summer flowers, or they can be put in pots to highlight a particular area. The Hibiscus is a pretty flower that can add a tropical touch to the summer garden. Hibiscus is available in a wide variety of colors. These plants grow tall, so are best suited for the edge of the garden. Marigold is another popular summer plant, which grows well in a sunny spot of the garden. With numerous colors to choose from, marigold is an all time favorite.



Gardeners find it a challenge to tackle shady spots in the gardens. This problem can be dealt with by planting flowering plants that do well in the shade. Impatiens is a great choice for shady spaces. The wide variety of vivid colors makes it a perfect choice for creating a bright border in a shady place. The brightly colored Viola is another flower suited for shady spots. It can also be planted in pots and placed strategically for added color effect. The Mimulus is a plant that grows well in shade and needs moist soil. This plant can tolerate partial sunlight and can therefore be used as a border plant. The dramatic color effect can be achieved by planting Lobelia and Ageratum, which give the beautiful blue hues to the garden. Each geographical location will have its own special summer flowers, and their growth will depend on factors like location, soil content, availability of water, sunlight and pH content. It is therefore, a good practice to select colorful summer flowers, which are local to your area.



This is only a small sample of the type of colorful flowering plants that can be planted in a summer garden. It would be advisable to check out the wide range of colors available in each variety and their placement planned accordingly. The plant care instructions should be strictly followed and the landscape of your garden should be kept in mind while selecting the plants. The planning stage is often the most difficult and involves a lot of hard work. Nevertheless, all the planning is worth the effort, because eventually, it is helping to create something beautiful that is a matter of pride to the gardener. Failing to plan can lead to wasted time, money and energy.

About the Author

Abhishek is an avid Gardening enthusiast and he has got some great Gardening Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 57 Pages Ebook, "Your Garden - Neighbor's Envy, Owner's Pride!" from his website http://www.Gardening-Master.com/762/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Summer Garden Flowers - Learn About Which Are Most Suitable

Balcony Garden

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Homemade Gift Baskets for Fathers Day

By: Janet Vogel

Fathers Day is a wonderful time to make a special gift basket for your father, husband, grandfather, or any other special man in your life. Personalize your gift basket by filling it with small gift items related to his favorite pastime, hobby, or sport. To personalize further, select small packages of his favorite sweets or snacks.





Is your special guy an avid golfer? If he is, then what could be a better gift than a homemade golf gift basket! A wire bogey basket would make a great container. Place straw, green shred, or a golf towel in the container and fill it with small gift items (golf balls, tees, gloves, a notepad, waterproof pen, or a golfer's cap or sun viser). Add an issue of Golf Digest magazine, a book on golf, and small well-wrapped packages of his favorite food treats.





If he loves to fish, create a special gift basket loaded with small fishing gifts. For a rustic look, make the filler for the container by shredding newspapers or brown wrapping paper. In addition to fishing necessities (hooks, floats, lures, etc.), include a dispensable camera, a photo frame with a fishing theme, a can of insect repellent, or a first aid kit. Include small bags of pretzels, chips, nuts, or trail mix; add cans of his favorite beverages.





Perhaps he enjoys a glass of good wine on occasion. Choose a wicker basket with a handle so you can anchor a bottle of wine by tying the bottle to the handle with twine. Place plenty of filler materials in the basket to cushion the bottle of wine; straw, excelsior, or purchased shred are all good choices. After you have centered and anchored the bottle of wine, add small packages of cheeses, gourmet crackers, mixed nuts, and something chocolate. Just before presenting the gift basket, add a few small bunches of fresh grapes for a lovely decorative touch.





Homemade gifts are a way of showing love and appreciation to those special people in our lives. Any man would be delighted to receive a gift you created just for him on Fathers Day or on other holidays or special occasions.

About the Author

For more information about creating homemade gift baskets, to to homemade Fathers Day Gift Baskets or gift basket themes

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Homemade Gift Baskets for Fathers Day

Deck Container Garden

Mother's Day ... A Very Special Day

The Perfect Mothers Day Formula

By: Marilyn Franklin

Does your mother deserve a perfect Mothers Day? The answer of course is yes but what does it take to make this special person feel that she couldn't have planned it better herself. Every mother is different and geography may sometimes get in the way but here are main areas to focus on to make her day special.



* Mothers Day Gifts

* Mothers Day Activities

* Mothers Day Cards



I know the above seems obvious but some might be surprised at how often one or more of the above are not even considered.



Before expanding on the 3 areas let's discuss why Mother's Day even exists. The formal recognition of Mothers Day was back on May 9th, 1914 by then president Woodrow Wilson. It was established to honor the mothers whose sons had died in war. The original activists that helped to bring this holiday to pass were Anna and her mother Ann Jarvis. This was in the United States. Mothers Day is celebrated across the world but not necessarily on the same date. Anna Jarvis was especially disturbed by the commercialization of the holiday because the intent of the Mothers Day holiday is not to lavish commercial gifts on your mother but to show her how she is appreciated. That does not necessarily mean buying her things. It all depends on the Mother and the means that one has to buy.



Mothers Day Gifts



The perfect Mothers Day is about making your mother or the mothers in your life feel appreciated and special. In our society that mainly has revolved around getting the Mother the right gift. The traditional Mothers Day gifts have been Flowers, Perfume and Candy. Perfume can be tricky because perfume choices can be very personal so if you go that route make sure you know what she likes. Flowers and Candy rarely disappoint again knowing what she likes is worth big points. Carnations have been traditional Mothers Day Flowers so those would be a good choice. If you know of something specific that she has been wanting that would be a great choice. I don't mention a specific choice here because these ideas usually revolve around hobbies or interests that are specific to the mother involved.



Mothers Day Activities



A perfect Mothers Day for most mothers involves being surrounded by her family. Spending time together nowadays can be pretty hard and may be even more difficult for families that live far away from each other. If you are fortunate enough to be able to be with your mother on Mother's Day you should plan out a day that includes family time. In the past I have been taken to Mother's Day Brunch at a good restaurant. There are even brunches and dinners available on Cruise ships if you have them in your city. These activities should not be confused with pampering and treatment gifts to spas. These are great but are something that they would do on another day.



Mothers Day Cards



Don't forget the card! Though buying a card may seem impersonal it does not have to be if you choose the right one. The perfect Mothers day would include a card that reflects how you feel about the mother involved and would be even better if you add a handwritten portion that shows that you have put some thought into how you feel about her. Don't worry about writing a mother's day poem just write what you feel.



So there you go the formula for the perfect Mother's day isn't that complicated but it does require some thought and planning.

About the Author

Marilyn Franklin writes for TheGiftsBlog where you can find more gift ideas for all occasions including Mother's Day.

(ArticlesBase SC #880275)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - The Perfect Mothers Day Formula