December, 2020 | Oldtallinn

New Year Goals For The Garden – This Year, I Swear I Will…

December 31, 2020

Okay, I’ll admit it straight up: I am someone who loves making New Year’s resolutions. Or birthday resolutions or goals for the academic year or the spring. Do I have New Year’s garden resolutions? Of course, I do! New Year Goals and Garden Resolutions I have always love organizing my energy into different streams that allow me to work toward ends that are important to me. Even more, I love taking the time to evaluate my life and determine what I need to do to make it better. I’ve never believed I would win the lottery or inherit a fortune. And, maybe because of the lack of faith, I never have. But I’ve changed my life in constructive, creative ways – big and small – by making goals and working toward them. As a Taurus, working the soil and helping plants grow is an important part of my life. “Do... Read More

Gardening Bonnie Vegetation

Garden Plant

Janice

December 31, 2020

Kitchen Ideas Prices, promotions, types, and availability may differ. When starting a garden, one of the high items of recommendation is to invest in soil that is nutrient-rich and effectively-drained. Achieve this simply-right mix by mixing 3 inches of Miracle-Gro® All Objective Backyard Soil into the highest 6 to 8 inches of current soil if you happen to’re planning to plant in the floor. In the event you’re planting in a raised mattress, use Miracle-Gro® Raised Mattress Soil , which is the proper weight and texture for raised mattress rising. Flip your home into a home with distinctive house decor and equipment perfectly tailored to your modern life-style. Wall mirrors make small residences really feel spacious. Enhance minimalist houses with both actual and faux botanicals in matte and metallic planters and vases. Make a statement with bold curtains and wall hangings. Add shelving to lounge, entryway and bed room walls... Read More

Functional Living Space Outdoors – Creating And Outdoor Living Room

Garden Tips

Janice

December 30, 2020

By Mary Ellen Ellis | December 30, 2020 A great outdoor living space goes well beyond a porch with a couple of chairs or a back deck with a grill and seating area. To really get the most out of an outdoor space, consider it another room in your house. For example, create a living room outdoors with everything you need to enjoy the space, from furniture to potted plants and even rugs. Creating Living Space Outdoors A perfect, functional outdoor living room isn’t hard to achieve. Here are 5 ways you can create an outdoor living space: Create boundaries for the space. Rooms are bounded by walls indoors, and while you probably don’t want to wall off part of your garden, at least I wouldn’t, there are ways to divide space to create an obvious room. Doing so will make your outdoor living space cozier. A fence is … Read More

New Year Brings New Hope – Revitalizing A Neglected Garden

Garden Tips

Janice

December 29, 2020

With the challenges of 2020 behind us, who among us is not looking forward to a new year? For me, this upcoming gardening year is especially filled with hope. Due to the extreme generosity of another, my husband recently underwent transplant surgery. Although his recovery is fraught with the possibility of rejection, infection and other complications, this life-transforming surgery has given us both a new lease on life. For the past five years, my gardening efforts have been largely unsuccessful, as I’ve struggled to care for not only my husband, but for aging parents as well. Both the vegetable garden and the flowerbeds have become overrun with weeds. Much of our two-acre yard is overgrown with knee-high grass as I failed to keep up with the mowing chores. Hardscaping projects lay half-finished. New Year Plans – Revitalizing a Neglected Garden So what’s on my gardening agenda for this coming … Read More

Garden Planning Process – Seed And Plant Catalogs Take Center Stage

Garden Tips

Janice

December 28, 2020

The long, dark days of winter can really be a bummer. Something that always cheers me up is perusing seed catalogs and planning the spring garden. Just looking at the glossy catalogs with their bright pictures is a balm to my garden girl soul. I can daydream away the snow and ice with visions of flowers and vegetables dancing in my head. Garden Planning Process My new zone is something I’m having trouble getting used to. While not as snowy as some regions of the country, it is much colder than I am used to, and snow is an ever present reality. Ice storms, blizzards, and other ugly weather are commonplace in winter. Power outages, slippery roads, and other hazards are a daily threat. So when I have had enough of the chilly weather, I make a cup of tea and grab for my garden seed catalogs. We save seeds... Read More

Home Decor NZ

Garden Plant

Janice

December 28, 2020

Kitchen Ideas We all might in all probability save money and time within the kitchen without sacrificing the vitamin and style of house-cooked meals. By the late 13th century, wealthy Europeans began to develop gardens for leisure and for medicinal herbs and vegetables. three They surrounded the gardens by partitions to guard them from animals and to supply seclusion In the course of the subsequent two centuries, Europeans started planting lawns and raising flowerbeds and trellises of roses. Fruit bushes have been frequent in these gardens and also in some, there have been turf seats. On the similar time, the gardens within the monasteries had been a spot to develop flowers and medicinal herbs but they have been also a space the place the monks could enjoy nature and chill out. Sodomy and fornication of all sorts of un-natural practices was portrayed by the citizenry and navy folks alike –... Read More

History Of The Winter Solstice – Ancient Winter Solstice Traditions

Garden Tips

Janice

December 27, 2020

Have you ever pondered how the seasons, like winter, came about? Yes, it seems somewhat strange to think of such things, but when you’re stuck inside on a cold wintry day instead of being out in the warm summer garden, it’s not uncommon for your thoughts, my thoughts, to venture elsewhere. If you can’t dig in the garden, why not dig into history. The winter solstice is the first day of the winter season, but it also has deep roots in ancient cultures and religions. Many of the traditions we still hold dear at Christmas time derive from ancient solstice practices. This is the start of the dark season in gardening but still worth celebrating. Here’s a little first day of winter history to help you appreciate it more. What is the Winter Solstice? In modern, western culture we mark this day mainly as the first day of astronomical winter.... Read More

Winter Dreaming For A Spring Garden

Garden Tips

Janice

December 26, 2020

I’m not a big fan of winter. Living in a four-season climate, I have no choice but to go through the cold months with nothing growing except my houseplants. I try to make the most of the season by dreaming about and planning what my garden will look like next year. Planning the Garden – It Starts with a Dream I’ll admit that I get a little lazy in winter. I go into hibernation mode, doing fewer chores and spending a lot of time reading and watching TV. My winter planning for the garden takes on this lazy tone. For a month or so I don’t really do anything in terms of planning the garden, but I think that’s okay. It means that my mind can wander, unfettered by practicalities. I find my mind drifting… wondering what it would look like to have sunflowers in that one bed or if... Read More

Why I Prefer A Fake Christmas Tree

Garden Tips

Janice

December 25, 2020

I’m not an all-out decorator for the holidays, but I do like a few simple touches. A small tree, one my cats can topple without causing major damage, is ideal. While I love the smell and look of a live Christmas tree, a fake tree for the holidays is so much more practical for our lifestyle. The Joy of a Fake Tree for the Holidays I remember as a kid getting a real tree. We went to a local lot selling trees to fundraise for a school. We always selected the most perfectly formed Scotch pine. The smell of the tree really highlighted the season, but I also remember my parents dealing with the mess. As a gardener and outdoor lover, I do feel a little like a cheat going with a fake Christmas tree. However, the practicality is hard to beat. There are no needles to clean … Read More