An easy and fairly inexpensive way to update your yard is to paint your fence. A dark colored fence will really make your garden pop. Check out these before and after pictures of my side yard.
After – Black Fence
Before – Fence
Stand Out in a Crowd Thursday, Aug 20 2020
Decorating and Garden and Tips black fence, black fences, fences, garden design, garden fence, painted fence 8:44 am
Air Plant Terrariums and Vases Monday, Dec 1 2014
Decorating and DIY and For The Home and Fun Tips and Garden and Living and Products air plant terrarium, air plants, crafts, DIY, diy gifts, diy vases, gifts, holiday crafts, holiday decorating, homemade gifts, terrarium, terrarium vases, tillandsia, tillandsia terrarium, vases 11:20 am
I stumbled on light bulb terrariums on one of my internet searches and I decided to make some. As it turns out it takes a bit more work to remove the innards of a light bulb than I wanted to do, and after removing the innards the entrance hole is still quite small. I found a nice alternative — glass ornaments.
Supply List:
Tillandsia’s (air plants)
Glass ornaments (tops removed) and other suitable containers
Sand and/or perlite
Rubber bumpers (sold at hardware stores)
Small figures and ornaments such as: rocks, shells, twigs, moss
Tweezers
Chopsticks
Cardboard or a funnel
How to make the terrariums:
First, water your Tillandsia and let it dry. Now take your container, and if it is round add the bumpers to where you want the bottom to be. This will keep your container stabilized. Then fill the container about a third of the way up with sand or perlite using a funnel or a flexible piece of cardboard. Add your Tillandsia and figures. Use your tweezers and chopsticks to position the plant and the figures. It’s that easy. Now go be creative!
Here is where to find information on caring for air plants
Waiting for the rain to stop Friday, Mar 16 2012
Garden cottage garden, english cottage garden, garden, garden design, gardening, japanese garden, landscape design, landscaping, shade garden, succulents, tropical garden 7:59 pm
We are finally getting much-needed rain in the San Francisco Bay Area and all I can think of is gardening. I’ve been searching through photos of gardens to find ones that inspire me. Here are some of the photos I’ve found:
Tropical Garden: Island City House, Key West, FL
Roof Top Succulent Garden
English Cottage Garden
Shade Garden: Roger Foley, Sunset Books
Keeping Critters at Bay Wednesday, Mar 7 2012
Community and Garden and Pets and Tips cat door, dog door, pests, pets, raccoons, wildlife 12:08 pm
I have had raccoons coming in my yard for many years without any problems. Then about two years ago a raccoon discovered my dog door and came inside my house. Luckily I was home when it happened and scared the raccoon away. Since then, I have made sure to always lock up the dog door at dusk and that seemed to work. However, in the last several months I have been awakened in the middle of the night by a tap, tap, tapping at my back door, only to discover a raccoon trying to get in through the dog door.
I have done all of the preventive measures such as keep food, water, garbage and shelter unavailable to raccoons without success. Through some research I found some Raccoon Help and the solution is ammonia. Place a rag in a low, unbreakable container then pour ammonia on the rag, enough to cover the rag (the rag will help the ammonia from evaporating too fast). Next, put the container where you want to keep raccoons away, for me that was outside near the dog door. You can also use this method for keeping raccoons away from a lawn (you will need several ammonia stations for larger areas with multiple access points). Good luck!
Deck The Halls Wednesday, Dec 7 2011
Decorating and Fun Tips and Garden and Green christmas trees, edible ornaments, holiday, holiday decorating, willow branch holiday tree 5:31 pm
This year I wanted a tree, yet didn’t want a tree. I love the smell of a real tree, but not the mess. I found my solution — a bunch of Curly Willow branches. I don’t get the nice tree smell, but that’s a tradeoff I’m willing to take. This was quick and easy to put together. I just put the branches in a vase with rocks and hung chocolate ornaments on it — you could add lights and garlands if you wanted. At the end of the season the ornaments will have been eaten and the branches can be saved for another year, planted if they root (Willow branches are fairly easy to root in water) or composted.
The No Nonsense Assistant 