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.