Planting Perennials

Peonies

I usually focus on my vegetable garden, but I do maintain a flower bed.  Watching flowers grow and blossom is so uplifting.  Peonies come in a variety of colors and will grow 2 to 4 feet tall.  These fragrant blooms are best planted in late fall to establish a strong root system.  Plant Peonies in a partially shaded, well drained area.  Four to six hours of direct sunlight is best, with soil that is not too moist.  Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart and 10 inchess beneath the soil.  The flower of the Peonies tends to be top heavy.  In order to support the blossoms weight you may need to stabeize your plant with a stake.  Peonies thrive best in zone 3 through zone 8.

Did You Preserve Your Valentine Roses? I Did!



Valentines then

Valentines now

A few weeks ago I wrote about the process for turning your Valentine Bouquet into a forever keepsake.  Today I want to follow up on the process.  On the left are the flowers that my husband gave to me on valentine's day.  So pretty and sweet I couldn't throw them out.  On the right are is my valentine bouquet today.  This past weekend  I tied the flowers upside down and attached them to a post on my patio.  The roses are faded, but the garnish to the arrangement remains pretty much in tact.  I have sprayed my cluster with a very cheap hairspray purchased from the dollar store.  I will continue to respray making sure the pedals have dried between application. 

Is It Time To Start Spring Gardening Yet?

The answer to that question is obviousy it depends where you are living.  Different areas, referred to as zones, are prone to different tpes of vegitation.  Hobby gardners and serious farms alike have turned to the Farmers Almanac for decades on guidance to the best planting days.  You can locate your zone, long range weather forecasts and the best planting days at http://www.farmersalmanac.com.  After consulting the almanac I went to my garden to do some preperation for the spring.  I came across three plants that had obviously germinated from last seasons planting.  I wasn't surprised since the winter has been  mild.

A Unique Container Garden

Container gardening is so versatile.  Not only do I use them to start my Spring Garden but to maintain my foliage all year long as well.  Peppers and tomatos can survive in a container garden indoors during the winter with the proper lighting.  Just make sure you have a large enough container that has enough of a depth to allow for growth.  I use a laundry basket that is forty gallons and 24 inches tall.  I found it at a thrift store for just a few dollars.  Don't limit yourself to any possibility.

My old toddler swimming pool was perfect for growing simple

Ready To Go Camping?

Are you looking for something different to do for Spring Break?  Do you need a peaceful get away that won't cost more than your budget will allow?  If you've never tried camping I would recommend you give it a shot.

Before and After, Growing Your Own Garlic

Garlic clove with sprout

Garlic plants about four wks old

I've discussed how easy it is to grow your own garlic.  Here I want to show you an example so you can see how it works.  On the left of the screen is a garlic clove.  The clove has been in a glass jar for about two weeks.  You can see the sprout shooting out from the top. Four weeks ago I placed two similar cloves in a pot covering the clove to the base of the sprout.  Now I have two healthy plants that will produce fresh garlic as shown on the right.

Work At Home Opportunities

I've recently been ask if it is possible to find work at home jobs.  The things I write about are generated from my own experiences.  I hope that in some way I can help someone else muffle through a barrage of questions.  Working from home has become more popular for many different reasons.  Whatever your objective is the answer is yes, you can earn money working from home if you know how to weed out the countless scams that pop up every day.

Join A Manufacturers Website And Increase Your Savings

A lot of manufactures have website that offer savings in addition to distributed coupons.  Signing up for e-mail alerts will help you stay informed of any new opportunities as soon as they are available.  If you don't already have one obtain a free e-mail account strictly for this purpose to keep you primary e-mail from being flooded.  Free accounts are available at hotmail.com, yahoo.com and gmail.com as well as others.  This will save time sifting through the many offers .

Proctor and Gamble hosts a site at http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/ . 

Protecting Your Garden From Unwanted Guests The Safe Way

Now is a good time to start preparing for the unwanted critters that invade our gardens every year.  Keeping a few simple products on hand will eliminate panic later.  I have tried several of these options and they work well.  I try to stay as far away as possible from dangerous pesticides.  I garden not only for the pleasure, but also for the reward of eating the fruits of my labors.

Can You Save Money Shopping Online?

Shopping on-line is convenient and easy.  It can be affordable too.  There are several places in cyberspace that offer great jewelry, electronics clothing, and household items for a reasonable price.  I'm always on the lookout for Christmas Gifts that won't hit my bank account too hard.  There are several sites I visit frequently to make holiday shopping easier, and I start early to get the best deals.

Plants That You Can Grow With Little Cost and Little Effort

Garlic, Potato and Avocado

There are several different types of produce that can reproduce themselves with little or no effort on your part.  Some of these may surprise you.  Others I am sure you are familiar with.

Couponing Do's and Dont's

Today I want to discuss couponing in a little more depth.  I have been collecting coupons for more years than I care to admit.  It drives my husband crazy.  I won't go the grocery store without checking coupons first.

The most traditional and trusted source of coupons will be the Sunday newspaper.  Yes, you will have to pay for the paper, but the

Easy Cleaning Tips From The Cupboard

In a lot of cases it isn't necessary to spend big dollars on expensive cleaning products.  There are many items right out of the kitchen cupboard that work well.  Not only will using these products benefit your pocket book, it will also help reduce the effects of harsh chemicals added to some detergents.

Vinegar is one of the most useful alternatives.  Diluted with water
and a squeeze of lemon it works very well on windows and

Starting a Spring Garden Indoors

Green Peppers

One of my favorite ways to save money is growing my own food.  There is a feeling of satisfaction when I prepare a meal that includes vegetables grown in my own back yard.  There is an added benefit of knowing the nutritional value has not been compromised by unnecessary chemicals. I look forward to gardening season every year, and am saddened when the last of my vegetation is pulled from the ground until next Spring.

Don't Throw Those Valentines Flowers Away

If you are one of the lucky ones to receive Roses for Valentines Day I'm sure you will want to hold on to them as long as possible.  Taking the proper steps will preserve your flowers the maximum amount of time.  It is possible to hold on to the blossoms for 10 or more days.

First start with a vase that has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, not just rinsed.  Removing all bacteria from your container will help insure that your flowers are not being contaminated.  Stems should be cut at an angle making it easier for water to travel up the stalk to the bloom.  Remove any leaves that will sit below the water.  They will deteriorate quickly causing

Happy Valentines

Happy Valentines to everyone.  It is always a scramble to create something new and interesting for valentines day.  The rising cost of flowers can put them on the down side of possible.  I wanted to come up with ways to help keep the romance up, and the cost of celebrating love reasonable.

Creating an eddible arrangement is easy, pleasing and shows how much you care.  An appealing boquet of fruit really says "I Love You".  It doesn't need to be an elaborate, over poulated bouquet.  Simple is the key, being sure to collaborate the right combination of color.  Below is only a few suggestion.  Any combination of fruit you desire will be appreciated for the effort.

More Way to Save and Earn money

Today will be short and sweet (very sweet). I had an amazing experiece yesterday and wanted to share. Frequently I will participate in surveys to earn a little extra spending money. One of my favorite places to work from is http://surveyhead.com. I'm not saying it is a lucrative career, but it can been fun. A 20 minute survey will generally net $1.25 to $1.50. Some surveys can run up to $5 or even $10 dollars. Rewards are either in cash (through paypal) or one of the many gift card options.

What are your favorite ways to save money?

With today's economy so uncertain saving money couldn't be more important. I am always searching for new and productive ways to save. From grocery's to eating out and pet products when you know where to look it's easier than ever to save.

Canning

I thank my mother and grandmother for teaching me the technique of canning. Canning is not only an easy process, it is also a way to save on your grocery budget. In todays economy I'll bet that's a pretty high priority on alot of our minds. You won't need fancy equipment. Much of what you need may already be in your own cupboard.

It is not necessary to run out and purchase expensive canning jars. You probably have plenty of jars already. Old speghatti sauce jars, jelly jars, friut jars and most other jars with a metal lid are reusable. Not only are they reusable you won't have to worry about them laying around in a

Welcome

Welcome everyone! I am sure you are all thinking there are a ton of these sites out there in cyberspace. What would make this any different? If you are like me and enjoy creating dishes without a recipe than I think we can make this a good place to share. When dinner calls it can be a challange if you don't have all of the ingredients required to fix the dish you want. Who likes to stop at the store on the way home from work just to grab a can of cream of mushroom soup.