Friday, November 14, 2014

True Love Lucky Bamboo Is Just Around The Corner

Life is so worth living for because of love. There is an old saying that love makes the world go round. Although, it's a line that has been overused but many of us still believes in that saying. I for one, is a believer too. Without love, I really don't think that this world would be livable and safe for everyone. The word love itself has many definitions and interpretations, making it more difficult for everyone to describe or explain. That is also the reason why, there are different types of love, love for God, for your family, friends and special someone. The most difficult and complicated of all is the love you have for that special person.



There are others who are lucky in love but there are those who are not. Some are just patiently waiting for the right one to come but there are those who chase after that person. There are also people who believes in lucky charms ans good luck. I have a friend who surrounds herself with what she believes to be a lucky charm for love. She recently bought a true love lucky bamboo, in hoping to find the man of her dreams. But, I told her, that at the right time, the right person would definitely come. He might not be the man of your dreams, but he will definitely be the right person for you.



These true love lucky bamboo that she bought, may it be true or not, one thing is for sure, everybody needs love. Some may be desperate to find love but in the end it's still the love of God that we need in order to survive in this world.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Learning To Appreciate Calla Lily's Beauty



Out of all plants that I do have in my garden, the calla lilies I think are far the most extraordinary plant. Although they are not considered to be true lilies, this beautiful plant is available in a multitude of colors, grows from rhizomes and is ideal for use in beds and borders. One can also grow calla lilies in containers indoors or you could plant it outdoors either in garden beds or window boxes. Planting your calla lilies from seed may take a long time plus these seeds do not have a high germination rate. It is ideal to start from tubers or rhizomes. Proper planting and location are about the only important things to consider when growing calla lilies. They also require to be planted in loose, well-drained soil. Also consider placing them in full sun or partial shade in warmer climates.


Calla lily flowers are also called trumpet lilies or Lily of the Nile. Most often, they do have a waxy-white flowers that gracefully twist and curl, ending in a delicate point. The most popular color of calla lily is the color white, but they do come in varieties of colors. They come in orange, red, dark green and pink heart-shaped foliage which can also be variegated with white spots. The very first calla lily plant that we had was a white one. Then, later on, one of our friend gave us a calla lily with brilliant blend of pink and purple colors that compliments its pink damask container. I personally think that the pink calla lily can go with any occasion, simply because its elegant blossom sends the right message.


Always remember that choosing the right plant for your garden and for the type of soil that you have at home is the first step in attaining a successful and beautiful garden. The maintenance of these flowering plants comes next. Gardening is such a nice hobby that everyone from different age level can enjoy.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Why You Need To Grow Chives

 

I have been collecting different types of herbs to plant on our pots in the kitchen. The newest addition is the chives seed kit in bamboo container. I love herbs they just make our dishes more flavorful and they do have distinct aroma that could definitely catch my family's attention when I am cooking. It is actually more practical to have these potted herbs indoors, not only they are fresh, but also you can save money from buying at the grocery or market. Plus you are assured that these herbs do not contain harmful chemical fertilizers that could have great effect on you and your family's health. Having these herbs on your kitchen also saves your time from going out to your garden to pick them when needed.


There are many health benefits that we could get from these herbs especially the chives. Sometimes, we could only eat chives when we order a baked potato at a restaurant. But now, having these chive seed kits at home is really a good choice. What we don't know is that chives are very low in calorie and they contain many noteworthy flavonoid anti-oxidants, plant fiber, minerals and vitamins that have proven health benefits. Fresh chives are rich in folates, as well as Vit. C and K. In fact, chives are one of the richest source of Vit. K more than that of in scallions. Furthermore, the leaves are packed with other B-complex vitamins and some essential minerals such as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and calcium. What more could we ask for from this tiny plant with so many health benefits. You and your family will sure love this wonder herb.



Now, we know that chives are nutrient-dense food, meaning, that while they are low in calorie they are high in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. It only tells us that we should not take for granted eating chives or any other herbs because it will definitely save us from different health problems.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Working In An Office Can Also Be Fun

 

Working at the office everyday for more than 8 hours can be very stressful. Especially, if you have many paper or computer works to do. Others believe that working in an office is aging them faster than they could think of. Hours of sedentary, stressful work under bad lighting is hardly good for anybody's health. According to a recent research about working in an office, sitting too long can lead to a disability. An hour of sitting can reduced 21.8 minutes of one's life expectancy. Also, slouching over a computer is linked to everything from stomach troubles to high blood pressure. And most of all, staring at a paperwork or a computer for a long time can strain your eyes. It can lead to a scratchy sensation, which is a symptom of a dry eyes.


There are actually things that we can do to lessen stress at work. One research shows that adding greenery to your office actually has great benefit to employees and impacts most especially their health and well-being. We are always on the lookout for simple ways to make offices more comfortable and more efficient. It turns out that adding some greenery, whether artificial or natural, has been shown to impact not only how you feel about your space, but also how well you work. Nature has been shown to have restorative effects on workers. Simply gazing at scenes of nature or at a plant or flower on our desk actually refreshes us. Another way to incorporate greenery to our office is by adding a wall terrarium. With their clean, round silhouette, these glass terrariums are a welcome addition to bare walls everywhere.


Don't be afraid to add greenery in fun, unique ways. Greenery can truly make any space better so don't be afraid to do something beyond the norm. Many people who have plants or some type of greenery in their office or cubicle report feeling less stressed and more energized compared to those who don't have any plants.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Outdoor Gardening For Everyone

 

Gardening has provided me and my family many health benefits. Not only we grow our own food that is free from chemical pesticides, but also in a way it has help us in our physical activities everyday. Maintaining your own garden is a tedious job too. You have to make sure to remove unwanted weeds on your garden bed everyday, water the plants and trim the flowers. One of our neighbors, just recently decided to have her own garden. She is a retired teacher now, and stays at home with her pet dogs and cats. But, she said she wanted to do something that will exercise her body and keep her mind occupied all day long. So my husband and I suggested that she make her own little garden at the back of their house, since, there is still a space for backyard gardening.


To get her started, my husband made garden beds for her and I also gave her some pots that we are not using anymore. As an additional gift, I also gave her a 3-piece garden tool set. The kit contains a hand trowel, hand fork and potting spade. These 3-piece garden set is made up of a polished stainless steel head and weatherproofed hardwood handle. Using the kit that I gave her, we also helped out in planting the seeds that she bought at a gardening shop. She was very thankful for our help and gifts, so in return she prepared a snack for us and some healthy drinks. Now, aside from her pets, gardening will be her past time while staying at home. Her children and grand children sees to it that they visit her every weekend. And for sure they will be very happy to see her new garden.


My husband and I left her with a big smile and a thankful heart. We are also very happy knowing that one way or another we were able to help in ways that we can. Life is a cycle of give and take. Whatever you give to the world comes back to you ten times. So make sure to give your kindness and love because in the end you will definitely be rewarded.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Potted Succulents Are Best For Indoor Spaces

 

Succulent plants are considered to be some of the most beautiful plants in the world. They are custom-made for indoor gardening. These hardy plants can thrive for long periods in poor conditions. Succulents are some of the most rewarding plants for indoor gardeners because they are tough, beautiful and at the same time have interesting varied foliage. Any plants with thick fleshy water storage organs is technically considered to be a succulent. They store water in their leaves, stems or roots, which make them adapt to arid conditions in a long period of time. As we all know, houseplants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis, clean the air of volatile organic compounds, and even reduce stress.







Our own collection of potted succulent plants at home were all just given to us during our housewarming party when we first moved in to our new home. These houseplants are a great way to keep our green thumb happy during the dreary winter or rainy months. They are easy to care for especially in containers. Nowadays, people are becoming too busy for work and some do not have enough space for gardening. That is the reason why, succulents are proven to be a gardener's best friend and they are the new found plants for today's consumer. No matter what species of succulents you are growing, they all have similar rules between the different specie.


Succulents prefer bright light and they are much more tolerant to colder temperature. They should also be watered generously especially during summer days. Over watering may lead to soft and discolored succulents. On the other hand, an under watered succulents may stop growing and soon will shed leaves. You should generously put fertilizer during summer an stop entirely during winter season. Always remember these simple ways to care for your potted succulents and for sure you will soon have your own succulent garden at home.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

The Pleasure Of Having Your Own Living Wall System

 

Having a living wall planter at home is such beauty to look at. These green walls has become very fashionable and has become part of every homes, a building or a free standing. Not only that it is great to look at, but this sustainable innovation has health benefits as well. A living wall or a green wall, these vertical gardens are packed with flora that benefits everything from our lungs to our ears. That is also one of the reason why, my husband and I decided to install these green walls at home. After a few weeks of having our own green walls, the air quality inside our home has improved. It is true that these plants act as a natural air filter, purifying the polluted air and on the other hand, releasing oxygen for our body's needs.


These green wall  are excellent aesthetics not just for your homes but for offices too. They can turn a dull and dreary room into an inviting and alluring environment. On the other hand, the foliage absorbs and reflects the noise that comes its way, reducing noise levels that may disturb your sleep. We recently added a water collector for our indoor living wall planter. My husband has noticed recently that the previous water collector we installed together with the wall planter has been dripping out excess water. So we decided to buy a larger one. The water collector is made of durable UV-resistant polymer and includes a convenient drain plug. Now, we can rest well knowing that our wall will be protected from excess water because of this water collector tray.


Always remember that growing a vertical garden indoors is the same as growing plants in containers. All plants need the same thing, no matter how you arrange them or where you put them. A vertical garden involves a sort of container and system that lets you place the plants vertically. It's really that simple and as easy to maintain as a regular garden.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Perfect Plant For Our Nursery Room

 

We are almost done with the nursery room for the coming of our second child. Of course, the room will never be complete without any live plants in it. So, we stroll around the mall to look for the perfect indoor plant or houseplant that we could place on the table top of the nursery room. We decided to buy a flower arrangement, but later hesitated to buy natural flowers because they wither and die in just a few days. Considering those facts, we also decided to buy silk flowers. Since, they could last a lifetime and they need no maintenance at all. But, we soon realize that the room will be air conditioned, so there is a need for a live plant to clean the air. And so, we kept on searching for the right plant to go along with the decorations of the room.


We stop by at a gardening shop, to look for some tools and saw these beautiful ponytail plant in bonsai pot. I immediately fell in love with it's beauty. I told my husband about it, and bought it for the nursery room. It has a large trunk for a small plant, which can store more water, allowing it to withstand some drought. So no worries even if, we can't water it for a day. It's delicate leaves also gives the impression of a water fall, which makes it more interesting. And lastly, the ponytail plant tolerates well with low humidity common in a room with air condition. Knowing all of these details, we bought the 3 ponytail plant with a happy heart. We went home knowing that we have found what we are looking for and with a satisfactory smile on our faces.


Sometimes, it is when we stop looking for something that we finally get to see what we truly need. That is the irony of life. We are very thankful, because we are almost done with the nursery room and also getting more excited everyday to see our second child.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Say Yes To Food Waste Recycling

 

Food waste or often called food loss simply means that they are the food that is discarded or can no longer be used or eaten. If we have to observe properly, we would come to realize that we already have waste a lot of food ever since the day that we learned how to eat. The causes of food waste or loss are numerous, and they occur during stages of production, processing, retailing and consumption. According to research, that was one a year ago, half of all food is wasted worldwide. This is actually very alarming, knowing that there are countries who have suffered because of hunger. In low-income countries, most loss occurs during production, while in developed countries, much food is wasted at the consumption stage.


Food is one of the most important necessities in our life. And since we consume it everyday, it has also become the major source of waste. Excess trimmings of meat and vegetables, cooked or uncooked leftovers, fruits, and all of the edible matters that are usually found in our kitchens come in just small qualities. Hotels, restaurants, food chains, food factories, and big establishments have bigger contribution to add to the mix. Every bit of waste is not worthless, if we only know how to make use of it. Good thing that there are now ways in which we can recycle these wastes to be able to make compost for the plant. When we moved in to the new house, I had made sure to buy a new counter top kitchen composter. For the longest time that I have been composting these food wastes, I have come to realize that, composting food waste is much more extensive compare to composting other organic matters.






But the advantage, is that we can plant food using it. Unlike other materials that have numbers of pathogens living in it that can cause harm to food crops and to humans eating those.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

A Planned Visit To The Botanical Gardens



Life is always full of surprises. You never know what will happen next, even if you got all things planned out. That is the irony of life. And speaking of surprises, my husband managed to surprise me yesterday with a good news. He said that he bought tickets for us 3 to visit the newly open botanical garden near our area. Even though I have never said a word to him, about me being excited to see the botanical garden, he still was able to read what is running in my head. As a plant lover, I am pretty much looking forward for the weekend to come. I wanted to see what the botanical gardens has to offer to us. A friend of mine told me, that they almost got all kinds and species of plants. That really excites me more. I really wish that we could buy something to add on our collections of plants.


A friend of mine, who was able to visit that place during their opening last week, gave me a white peace lily, which she bought for a very low price. They are giving away discounts, as an opening day promo. I knew little about peace lilies, so I checked online for details and information on how to take care of these kind of plant. It is said that peace lilies are very common house plant and they produce white flowers in the early summer and continue to bloom throughout the year. There are also tips and suggestions that were given online for new owners of these peace lily plant. Good thing nowadays, that we could easily look up on the internet whatever we need to ask. Because almost anything and everything has a given answer on the internet.


Caring and maintaining for our plants has been part of my everyday routine before going to work and returning home from work. But of course, i have to attend to my family's needs first. Family always comes first before anything else. For me, you will never know how to care for other things, if you don't know how to care for yourself and your family first. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Reasons For Loving Container Gardening



Container gardening has made a great impact not only on landscaping but as well as in our business and commercial spaces. It is sometimes called the art of gardening. There are many benefits that we get from growing plants in pots and containers. First of all is versatility. This only means that we are free to put our plants anywhere just like on our patio, balcony, windows or rooftops. Just make sure that the plants could adopt to the environment where you have placed them. Second, you can grow any types of plant that may not be suitable on your garden soil. Remember that not all plants have the same soil needs and it also reduces the risk of transferring diseases from one plant to another.






Container gardening could also be an outlet for creativity and also adds lot of impacts for small spaces, just like the apartment dwellers, in which they don't have their own garden. It is an instant, portable landscaped look for those who move a lot. For special events, moving these containers anywhere you want them to be is also an advantage. Convenience is also another benefit of having plants on containers and pots. You could put your home grown herbs on your kitchen tables so that you could easily reach them if needed for your meals. Container gardening could also be economical because you don't always have to buy pots and planter, you could simply use your creativity. You can use almost anything for a container, from a bucket to plastic tubs. It doesn't matter, you could just put drainage holes in the bottom and with a few dollars you could make a lovely visual statement.


With container gardening you can have great results being as relaxed or ambitious as you want to be. And lastly, there is almost no plant that can't be grown in a container garden.


Friday, July 11, 2014

Adding Greenery At Home

 

I have always loved the idea of having many indoor plants at home. I never thought that this day would come to me. Being able to collect as many plants as possible. Thanks to my family, friends and neighbors who were kind enough to give me the plants that I needed at home. Another plant has been added to my list of collection. It is given by my Aunt, who went to China for a one week long vacation. I was a bit surprised seeing that she bought the braided money tree in an elegant embossed container especially just for me. She told me, that when she saw that braided money tree at a plant shop in China, she immediately thought of me. She knew back then that I have passion for plants and I have my own garden at home. That is the reason why she bought that plant for me. I was really touched by my Aunt's thoughtful gesture.


I have displayed the braided money tree in elegant embossed container on our living room near our window, so that when people visits our home they would be able to see the beauty of this plant. My aunt also told me that these braided money tree will give me luck in the form of money or other worldly treasures. My aunt is also a big believer of Feng Shui, that is why she often visits her friend in China which is a Feng Shui expert. She once told me that believing tin these kind of stuff is not that bad at all. Feng Shui has help her in so many ways. She was able to find peace and harmony in her life with the help of Feng Shui. By altering how energy flows around and through her surroundings, she was able to achieve prosperity and good health in her life.


We should respect everyone's beliefs and whatever these plants may bring to our family and to our home, one thing is for sure, that having these houseplants will add greenery to our house. It feels more like we are being close to nature without leaving the comfort of our own home.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Decorating A Home For You and Your Family



I sometimes reminisce the first day that we moved into our new house. The feeling of moving into a new house is quite liberating and it is a landmark life passage for our family. We had to plan things up, how we can change our home from an empty to an inviting one. As they say a new home is always a blank canvass. That is actually a good thing, starting from scratch means you get the opportunity to transform each and every room into a personality filled space that you and your family will love and cherish. Decoration is imperative to adding coziness and charm to one's home. Incorporating large aspects of your home along with small details is one of the key in achieving best results.



My husband and I had to check online for tips and tricks on how we can make our space a comfortable and safe place for us. But also not to forget the style and uniqueness of every room. I could recall, our first ever hanging plant was placed in an elliptical hanging terrarium. We decided to place it in our living room area because it has an intriguing decorative accent which is extremely eye-catching with a contemporary feel. The 3 different shapes of the elliptical hanging terrarium perfectly complements our personality and fits our space too. One by one, we are able to make our home a perfect place for our family. It is the kind of home that is not too elegant or luxurious, but it is a place that me and my family could be happy and be contented with.


Always remember that, the feeling of being "at home" can't be bought by money or any expensive things in this world. Not just because it came from an intimate relationship between us and our most personal place, but also we spend and lavish our time and creativity on our homes.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Nutrition Facts Of Healthy Herbs

 

Everyone loves pasta, especially me. I don't just love to eat them but I love to cook them too. That is the reason why I strongly believe that gardening and cooking should be partnered. Because whatever vegetables, herbs or fruits that you have planted on your backyard might be part of the ingredients of your meals. It's a practical way to save money, while making sure that you and your family is eating healthy and organic foods only. Also, it saves your time and effort on going to the market and standing in long lines just to pay could also be strenuous. That is the reason why, it really pays off to have your own garden of fruits and vegetables at home.


Another good thing about having your own garden is that, your ingredients are readily available whenever you need them. They are freshly picked from your garden, which means the fresher the ingredients, the better is the taste of the meal you are cooking. Just like the herbs, your food will not only taste great but they also holds an important role in our wellness. Good thing, some of my friends were able to give us some herb kits for indoor gardening. One, that I love most is the genovese pesto plus herb kit. It was given to us by a friend during our house warming party. With the genovese pesto plus herb kit, I can definitely make or create three delicious pesto recipe that go wonderfully with everything form pasta to paninis.


Adding herbs to your food or everyday meals is simply not just adding special flavors and spicy taste, but rather they contain many anti-microbial substances that help keep our food protected form these agents. They also contain unique anti-oxidants essential oils, vitamins, phyto-sterols ans many other plants derived nutrient substances which helps boost our immunity level. Herbs are, in fact, medicines in smaller dosages.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

The Advantage Of Having A Raised Bed Garden At Home

 

Weather changes so fast. We used to experience a very hot season for the past few months but now, the rain is starting to fall again. This only means that rainy season is already coming. Others are already preparing their houses for storms and flood but we are all praying that it won't get to the point where our houses will be washed out. As a gardener, I am also making preparations for my small garden. I don't want to see my flowers, fruits and vegetables overflowing with water. So I have decided to buy additional raised bed gardens. In that way, I can be sure that my plants will be safe and secure from too much water. But first, I have to make sure to properly raise the soil level for my plants.


I already have a couple of raised bed garden which I also bought online but I want to add more to cater all of my plants. I already ordered for a redwood raised bed garden and it will be shipped within 2-3 business days. That is the benefit of buying online, you won't have to exert a lot of effort to buy what you need. but a;so make sure that you are buying from a secure website and most importantly from a reputable manufacturer. These raised bed gardens does not work like the garden planters. Planters can be elevated and they do have bottoms to prevent the soil from falling out. On the other hand, raised beds, do not have bottom, they are open to the ground which permits plant roots to go further into the ground for available nutrients.


Prevention is better than cure, they may say. It's true. We must not wait for the worst to happen, we have to expect for the worst and just hope for the best. So preparation is the one of the key for us to be able to overcome these worst times.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Searching For The Right Kind Of Supports and Brackets For Window Boxes


Ordering for a new window box online was fast and easy. It saves much of my time from going to the mall and stand on a long line, as well as my effort of having to bring the whole window box at home. At first, the original plan is to replace the iron window boxes that we have, but then my husband insisted on just putting the new window boxes on the walls and decks as a new decoration plus we can plant additional flowers in them. The more plants and flowers we have at home, the better, because we would be free from worry of inhaling chemicals and other air pollutants that might harm the health of our family. Remember that these plants catches all the carbon dioxide and releases oxygen that we need to be able to live.


Installation of these new window boxes was never an issue for my husband because he already has complete tools. But the only problem is we already run out of supports and brackets. My husband said that he will buy new sets of supports and brackets at the nearest mall, but I insisted on buying it online, since were not really on a hurry of putting all those window boxes. Supports and brackets comes in different materials and uses. There are specific brackets for railings and some are for walls, decks or patio. These supports and brackets also has a wide variety of selection features from the traditional window box brackets to the modern and latest in the rail bracket world and hanging basket brackets. Buying form the right manufacturer or seller online, you are guaranteed that the materials are all in top quality and will last for many years.


After purchasing online, all we have to do now is just wait for a couple more days before our order arrives. We were also planning on where to exactly put the vinyl window boxes because if we put it on the wrong part of the house it might ruin the whole exterior decoration. Having your husband to share these kind of hobbies is always an awesome feeling and that you both will never get tired of doing.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Decorating Your Home With Succulent Plants

 

One of the remedy that you can add to your dull-looking home is by decorating it with houseplants or succulents. As we all know, plants are really good embellishment to interior spaces. Not only that, plants also have many health and environment benefits. Adding a houseplant or succulent to your home takes also time and effort. You can't just add any other plants because of it's benefit. Choosing carefully the ones that will go with your interior decoration is a must. Remember, that these houseplants can add value to your home, while helping you reduce stress and fatigue at home. Yes, you can add paintings to the wall to make a room more brighter, but adding a plant does not only brighten a room, it also cleanses the air that you breathe in.


A friend of mine who recently hosted a housewarming party, invited me to join the party. The housewarming party was successful and everyone who came really enjoyed the food, drinks and most of all the warm conversation. Before I left, I help her clean up the house and gave her a gift that will add up to her collection of succulent plants. It is a succulent mix in a leaf basket, which I bought online, especially for that occasion. I know that it is not that much, but I am pretty sure that she'll appreciate every gift that we gave her. The succulent mix are carefully chosen to create a multicolor effect and the basket has hand applied dried leaves which makes it more distinct.


Succulent plants are always an ideal houseplants or patio plant, although they don't show their best in an outdoor garden because their aesthetic is a bit different compared to other plants. Rest assured that these succulent plants will definitely provide your space with beauty and elegance. plus, succulents are easy to maintain and comes in tons of pretty colors and textures.