Most gardeners know that just the right amounts of sunshine & water combined with great soil and hard work bring their backyard oasis to life. Quickly, after the snow melts, the ground thaws and our singing feathered friends return, each spring gardeners across the country look forward to rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty to cultivate their soil to create a garden of their favorite flowers, shrubs and trees.

A gardener’s shovel is to an artist’s brush. A Gardener’s choice of colorful flowers, shrubs and trees is to an artist’s collection of paints, pencils and oils.

The choice of garden decor that is placed throughout the landscape is undoubtedly the signature of a gardener. What does that mean? Simply, a gardener that chooses a sailboat weathervane over a rooster weathervane is more likely to be a water loving individual rather than a country or farm loving individual. It’s how they choose to express themselves in the garden.

Let yourself be known. The garden is an excellent place for one to set aside the hectic lifestyle of today for a moment, a weekend, or anytime that enables you to step into you backyard hide-a-way. The person that you are inside can be expressed with the garden decor you choose. Your choice of garden decor, your choice of its finish and your choice of its size all factor into the person that you are. Garden decor is an essential part of the garden; it brings happiness, joy, and it can even refresh the soul of its visitors.

Even the most colorful gardens can feel empty without the addition of some garden decor. A bed of roses is very beautiful, but add an elegant sundial or a birdbath, and now the bed of roses become incredibly beautiful. Garden decor adds style, brings comfort and let’s gardeners set the stage for another’s imagination. Each piece of garden decor can help create a scene, a story or a memory that brings life and meaning to the garden.

Gardening should always be fun and not a chore. Your passion for gardening is hard work but always fulfilling. Gardening should be about you and your artistic ability to create a space that is warm, inviting and a stepping stone into who you are as a person. Your garden decor will speak volumes of you and how you define yourself. It will be your signature to your backyard canvas.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/garden-decor-is-the-signature-of-the-backyard-gardener-100940.html

Sheds are often thought of as the non-residential building at the bottom of the garden or the allotment. They can contain a variety of items that can’t find a place in the home, such as: empty flower pots, old tins of paint, bicycles and garden tools. General sheds, or garden sheds are usually small and made out of wood. They come in a variety of sizes as DIY kits, or for the adventurous, there are shed plans if the shed is to be built from scratch. Small sheds can either be; a corner shed, for example: 3’ high x 3’ wide x 2’ deep, a vertical shed, for example: 5’ high x 3’ wide x 4’ deep, or a horizontal shed, for example 3’ high x 5’ wide x 4’ deep.

Larger sheds are available to hold bigger pieces of equipment: ride-on lawn mowers, quad bikes, and motorbikes. A larger shed tends to come with more options, such as: windows and electrical outlets, porches, verandas and sliding doors, as well as decorative additions, for example: window shutters and flower boxes. Larger sheds can be ideal if space is short in the home; they can be converted into an office, a playroom or a hobby room, etc.

Sheds can also be bought for specific uses: a gardening shed can have skylights as well as windows, to increase natural illumination to benefit the plants, ventilation, and a work surface. A potting shed is ideal for the serious gardener as it has large windows; so the shed can double up as part-greenhouse. This feature is especially popular for gardeners who do not have room for a greenhouse and a shed in their garden.

A tool shed is generally very slim, and windowless to keep the tools hidden from sight. They contain shelves, racks and hooks to help keep the tools tidy.

Bicycle/bike sheds are often low constructions and are ideal for protecting bikes from the weather and burglars. Small bike sheds can be attached to a wall or concrete floor to stop the whole shed being lifted! Wide doors make it convient to maneuver bikes in and out of the shed.

Boat sheds is something not usually seen in the garden! But this is useful if there is a river at the bottom of the garden and a small boat and boating accessories need securing.

All sheds should be fitted with a good quality lock, and an effective way of securing windows is to fit an internal grill or bars. A security light near the shed can also increase the security of the shed.

There are different types of materials used to construct sheds. Wood is the most common material. Wooden sheds can blend into the garden or stand out as an attractive addition to the garden. To protect the wood from the elements, termites, mould and damp, a good wood finisher is needed to prolong the life of the shed.

Plastic sheds are made from heavy moulded plastics, such as: PVC and polyethylene, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are durable, will not degrade and hardly need any maintenance.

Metal sheds tend to be used when long-term strength is needed. Not only do the sheds come in different shapes and sizes, but there are different types of metal to chose from: such as, enamel coated steel, vinyl coated steel and plain steel. Metal sheds tend to only be used for storage rather then being converted into an Office etc, because they’re very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer.

Whatever reason you need a shed – there will be a shed that will suit your needs.

Francesca Post
http://www.articlesbase.com/Gardening-articles/garden-sheds-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-138686.html

Few homes stir the typical notion of lush gardens that an English cottage house plan can invoke. English cottage house plans bring to mind storybook fantasies of roses covering a trellis and climbing on thatched roofs. However, thatched roofs aren’t practical or allowed construction material in many places. But for those who think the best part of the home is the garden, an English cottage house could be a dream home.

Beautiful English cottage house plans cry out for well designed landscaping plans that match the cottage feel you are trying to attain. Custom gardens designed by a professional landscaper will complete the English cottage charm. Professional landscaping plans will assure you that the garden plants are well suited to the climate and housing style. However, cost may be a stumbling block as landscapers tend to be quite expensive.

Pre-designed garden plans can be adjusted for your property and this type of approach is more affordable. The downside is that pre-designed garden plans won’t give you the customized look you are seeking. But, if gardening is a beloved hobby for you, then consider designing custom garden plans yourself to match your English cottage house plans. Designing your own custom garden plan would be a time consuming task, but no one else would have a garden like yours.

Begin with an aerial drawing the property. Use the house placement as your starting point. Gardening magazines and books can give you lots of ideas. Study garden themes such as rock gardens, herb gardens and shade gardens. You can also research design principles such as symmetry, color and height coordination.

When all is said and done, the choice is still up to you. Build your English garden to match your English cottage house plans the way you see it in your mind and the result will be perfect as long as you like what you see.

Rebecca Welch
http://www.articlesbase.com/Gardening-articles/the-garden-is-the-heart-of-english-cottage-house-plans-139007.html

The beauty of the rose garden can never be underestimated. Belonging to the genus Rosa, roses have dominated literature and history by being associated with beauty, love, war and politics. Botanically the genus Rosa has 150 species dispersed around the northern hemisphere.

The Origins

Cultivating roses in gardens probably began in China around 5000 years ago. Various anecdotes and references to the rose are also available during the Roman period and 15th century England. Josephine, Napoleon Bonapartes wife, was believed to be very fond of this flower and took great interest in cultivating a rose garden a little away from the heart of Paris. In the late 18th century, cultivated roses were introduced to Europe from China. Modern day roses are usually traced back to this ancestry.

Kinds Of Roses

If you would like to cultivate your own rose garden, there are five kinds of roses to choose from:

1. Species rose. These are the variety of natural roses as gifted to us by genus Rosa. Vigorous and disease resistant, they are naturally abundant in the northern hemisphere. You may often find them lying on the ground or climbing upright with simple 5 petaled flowers varying in shades from white to pink to crimson. They mostly bloom in early summer and the most familiar species is Rosa rugosa owing to easy maintenance and disease resistance. Rose lovers may grow them in their rose gardens owing to their historical significance and easy maintenance.

2. Old European Garden roses. This revered assembly represents the hybrid group of roses that prevailed prior to the 18th century and include Gallica, Damask, Alba, Centifolia, and Mosses. Rose gardens of this group enjoy a reputation of thriving better on cooler zones.

3. Repeat blooming old roses. This hardy group of roses are a gardeners delight. They usually grace a rose garden with their exquisite bloom & fragrance, tolerance to cold climes and disease resistance. However these roses lack recurrent bloom throughout the summer.

4. Modern Rose. Consisting of hybrid tea, floribunda and grandiflora, this species was born in 1867 when hybridzer Jean Baptiste Guillot cultivated La France in his rose garden.

5. Shrub roses – While all roses are shrubs, this group of roses generally refers to those of the genus that do not fit into the other groups. They can add variety to any rose garden and are marked by their rounded shapes, free flowering, winter hardiness and disease resistance. Popular members of this group are English Garden Roses,David Austin Roses, Sub-Zero Roses, Dr. Buck Roses, Kordesii Roses, Canadian Explorer Roses, Parkland Roses, Meidiland Roses, Hybrid Rugosa and Hybrid Musk.

Selecting The Rose

After finalizing the group that you would like in your rose garden, you may have to choose the grade of rose. It is important to remember that you need to choose a variety that will suit the size of the garden and the local clime.

Grafted roses, which you may purchase for your rose garden, are usually based upon American Nursery Standard grades 1, 1 1/2 and 2. Grade 1 plants are supposed to be the best of the lot and are therefore premium priced. Usually they have three or more canes with 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The roots are usually large and well developed. Second in the order of quality are the Grade 1 1/2 roses; they are usually marked by two strong canes and can be nurtured to the Grade 1 quality. Grade 2 roses are usually termed as the “bargain” or “cheap” roses.

Buying The Rose

It is very important to enquire and then decide on the right source to purchase plants for your rose garden. Choices are rampant. Your local garden centres, retail outlets or the mail. It would be wise to select a reputable dealer who would ensure quality.

A rose garden needs good care and nurturing. Ensure that you seek proper advice to plant and prune the shrubs, add the appropriate fertilizer, secure pest control treatment and take special care of the shrub during winter. Proper care and technique added to your enthusiasm will guarantee you a blooming rose garden the next summer.

Peter Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/rose-garden-can-be-an-owners-pride-99858.html

When you have a Garden, space is going to be something that you are going to have to deal with. Especially in places like Bristol, you might find that you don’t’ have enough space to have the kind of garden that you want.

However this is something that really isn’t true, because there are many ways that you can deal with space in your Bristol garden design without worries. No matter what, you’ll find that space in your Bristol garden design is very important, so here are some tips to follow to make sure that you are making the most out of your space issues.

Unusual places

The best way to deal with space in your Bristol garden design is to find spaces that you didn’t think about and turn them into gardens. Rooftop gardens have become very popular because these are spaces that aren’t used for anything, and so people turn them into gardens.

Also, you can use things like window boxes and even buckets to have gardens in smaller spaces like the front steps and other areas that you might not have thought of. A back alley can easily be turned into a garden with the right kind of care and love that is needed to make the most out of it.

Stay Creative

When you are dealing with space in your Bristol garden design you have to make sure that you are finding ways to be creative. Planting things in usual spaces might mean that you have several small gardens all over one area of space. This is something that could make for a very neat set up and it could be fun to look at and to show others. This might be a great way to have a Bristol garden design without having to worry about the space issue.

Another thing that you can think about when it comes to space an Bristol garden design is having a garden that goes up instead of out. If you plant things on shelves in some small area, you might find that you can have a great garden in a very small space.

No matter what, your Bristol garden design should be about you and about your personality. There are simply too many ways for you to have a great time with your Bristol garden design, so you should find something that meets your needs and then find a way to make it your own. You’ll be surprised at the great things that you can come up with for your Bristol garden design.

Ann Marier
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/bristol-garden-design-helps-deal-with-space-139435.html

Think about it. Would you just go rushing off to an elegant soiree without a lovely necklace around your neck, or a pair of fabulous earrings to match your outfit? Or would you even dare to give a birthday present you’ve painstakingly searched for and selected days in advance, without wrapping it and adding some lovely ribbons and a bow? Oh no, not me. As I’m in the habit of adorning and accessorizing my outfits and myself to enhance attractiveness and appeal, so do I adorn my home garden with ornaments and decorations.

The ornaments we can use for decorating our gardens can only be limited by our imagination. Let me list a few items. You can get statues (classical or whimsical; it’s up to you), planters, plant stakes, wind chimes, bird houses, bird baths, sculptures, fountains, rocks, etc. You can get ornaments that can be both functional and decorative. They can be used as dividers for different areas in your garden, or hide a private nook, etc. What you use them for is up to you, but the garden décor you use will make a statement about you and your personality, as well as create your garden’s own individuality.

If you want to add some ornaments or décor to your garden, it is recommended that you take into account the trees, plants, flowers, landscape, the surrounding walls, and your personal tastes, of course. Bear in mind the unique style of your garden, as well. Is it made out of southwestern accents and elements, filled with lush greenery? Or perhaps it’s more of an Oriental theme, sporting a minimalist approach to nature? Remember that certain ornaments lend themselves well to certain styles. For example, a classic white marble statue would go well with boxwood and neatly-arranged stone urns. However, they would definitely look strange standing amidst a collection of desert cacti and terra cotta planters.

Waterfalls or fountains would add a significant boost to the life of your garden. Water elements can vary from simple creations to elaborate designs. They can be peaceful and placid as they flow in a quiet stream, or they can splash and spray as they playfully cascade over rocks and structures. Water can attract birds and mask noises from the outside, too. Aside from the inherent beauty that water provides, the decorative ornaments that you can arrange and use with water will certainly do good to the overall ambience and appearance of your garden.

You can also use sculptures as artistic elements. These can be made out of any material, but somehow, metal works seem to be more popular, probably because of its tendency to rust and develop a strange beauty through prolonged exposure to weather. Gates are another great addition to home gardens, especially those with patios, terraces, or just about any large garden space. These are wonderful examples of both functional and decorative pieces, and they can be made out of a variety of materials, from wood to wrought-iron creations. Gates can also invoke an air of privacy, or they can be open and inviting. Even if it leads to nowhere, gates are still a charming addition to any garden.

Try out new and different decorations for your garden, and discover what appeals to your personal tastes and enhances your garden’s style. As well as adding beauty and charm, you will be improving the individuality and personality of your garden, to reflect that which is uniquely you.

Syahrul Azlan Idris
http://www.articlesbase.com/Gardening-articles/accessorize-your-garden-139091.html

Lots of people consider their garden as an extension of their home or living area; a place to doll up and refurbish with decorations, similarly like their home’s interiors. The real beauty of the garden emanates from the well-designed layout, the greenery and the flowers, the trees, the lawn, and the terrace or patio. The birds and butterflies that come to visit just add more vibrancy and energy to the garden. Of course, such beauty can always be enhanced by the use of appropriate garden décor.

There are all sorts of garden décor to utilize when you want to improve or redesign your garden. Although “décor” itself is a traditional term used to describe the decorations and furnishings of an interior area, which includes the Furniture, accessories, and even the wall treatments, I don’t see why a Garden cannot be treated in much the same way. In this article, we shall use the terms “garden décor” to signify the decorations that are included or added to the garden, both for functional and aesthetic purposes.

Statues – Statues go way, way back to ancient times as one of the most popular decorative elements for any area. There are classical statues that are created for adorning stately homes, mansions, public sites, memorials, etc. But there has also been a special niche for smaller statues that are used to beautify smaller, more modern gardens. These come in varied styles, such as cherubs and angels. Other popular designs include cats, dogs, lions, frogs, and other domestic or wild animals.

Waterfalls and Fountains – Experienced landscape artists know that a garden’s appearance and ambience can be significantly enhanced by the addition of water elements. People just like and appreciate the look and sound of flowing water, which is also a big help if you want to relax. In fact, lots of people find it comforting just sitting near or strolling by water. You can add some artificial waterfalls and fountains to your garden to improve its overall look and feel. These can be incorporated into a water garden or just added as stand-alone elements.

Planters – The containers or planters used for some of your plants can be important decorative pieces in any garden, especially for those with terraces or patios. Some people even consider planter gardening as a specific type of gardening in itself. There are many helpful books on the subject if you want to learn what types of plants are best grown in planters. They come in a wide variety of designs and materials. You will easily find planters made out of concrete, terra cotta, fiberstone, fiberglass, or plastic.

Other Items – Don’t let yourself be limited to what I have mentioned here. The possibilities and options for decorating your garden are endless. When special Holidays come around, you can add ornaments and other items to create a relevant theme. You can also get pieces that play dual roles as functional and decorative elements, like garden lighting or bird houses.

Allow your creativity and imagination to run free while decorating your garden, and keep your eyes open while you visit public gardens, read magazines, and browse the Internet. Chances are, you will discover new ideas that will reenergize your garden and become the envy of everyone.

Syahrul Azlan Idris
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/types-of-garden-deacutecor-139041.html

Japanese Gardens are an interesting amalgamation of nature, spirituality and art. These gardens are meant to suggest harmony and create tranquility in your surroundings. Aiming to capture nature in the most innate way, these gardens are unique because they have been influenced by various chapters of Japanese history and also Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies.

History

Originally, Japanese Gardens represented a utopian land for the Japanese. Philosophies influencing creation of Japanese Gardens bring a sense of spirituality to the gardens. In the past, Japanese gardens were cut off from the masses, since the ruling elite and the religious classes used it as a place of peace and meditation. A Japanese emperor specifically built a garden in Kyoto so that he could spend his years in peace there. The Garden of the Silver Pavilion was another famous landmark used by a renowned soldier as a shelter from violence. The Buddhist influence makes the garden a paradise for peace and quietude, giving people the privilege to ponder and reflect upon their lives, or meditate.

The Essential Elements

The presence of a few elements is mandatory for a Japanese garden, and water is the most important amongst them. Water, in Japanese culture, symbolizes purity. Since Japan is made up of a group of islands, the Japanese had to cross water most of the time to go from one place to another. This has led to the presence of water in most Japanese gardens. In the absence of real water, you can use a symbolic representation, which is usually gray gravel or sand. The sand in the garden is often raked in patterns to represent the waves of the ocean.

The other essential elements in a Japanese garden are stones, garden plants, waterfalls, trees, and bridges. In their natural state, stones have an ancient, spiritual quality and also impart strength and endurance to a garden. They may also sometimes symbolize mountains and islands. Garden plants are generally chosen to fit a human scale, often evoking familiar landscapes. Some gardens owners also construct water features like waterfalls, streams, or ponds. Other features that are generally considered include fences, walls and gates, paths, steps, and bridges, water basins, lanterns, the deer chaser and koi fish. There are five different styles of Japanese gardens, namely, Strolling Gardens, Natural Gardens, Sand and Stone Gardens, Tea Gardens and Flat Gardens.

An Artist Expression

There is a common misconception that Japanese gardens always follow certain ground rules with respect to content and arrangement. Since the Japanese are highly individualistic, the look of the Japanese garden mostly depends on the person who plants and tends the garden. Though some rules are followed, the rest depends on how the gardener wants to express his or her creativity through the garden.

How They Are Different

Japanese gardens are different from Western gardens in terms of their religious and philosophical elements. Japanese gardens are an expression of art, and a symbolic representation of the gardeners view of the universe. On the other hand, westerners do not see gardens as expressions of religious or philosophical beliefs since most Western Gardens are essentially smaller versions of a farm. Traditional Japanese gardens emphasize natural, abstract beauty and minimize signage on plants.

There are nearly 60 public Japanese gardens in the United States. So if you want your garden to look different from the regular ones, be innovative, have an interesting ambience around your house and inculcate spiritual solace in your life – opt for Japanese Gardens.

Peter Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/try-something-different-with-a-japanese-garden-99862.html

Garden Homes Incorporate Beautiful Outdoor Scenery into the Interior Rooms

If you’re tired of living in a home that has been built to accommodate large gatherings when most of the time only four or five people actually live in the home, you might find that garden homes provide a perfect way to fit your current and future lifestyle. Of course, this doesn’t mean that a home has to be built small in order to fit your standard of living. Instead, the design is custom made to make the whole house feel warm and more inviting in a comfortable setting. Many garden houses will include an area of the house that can itself be a garden, which is enjoyed by both Family and guests. If you want a home that combines many features for easy living, you should definitely look into garden home architecture.

All Ages can Enjoy Custom Garden Home Designs

While some home designs are constructed to work better for those without children or older family members, garden houses can easily include friendly and livable options even for those with certain limitation. Wide doors, stairs, and hallways not only make it easier to rearrange the Furniture as you want but they will also help those in wheelchairs to easily move from room to room. Every single inch of a garden home is modified to produce the maximum level of satisfaction and usefulness.

Garden houses can easily be changed throughout the years to be able to match your current lifestyle. If you plan on living in the home through retirement, you will probably want a home that has a universal design. Today, you can a design a first floor office with a full bath, which can later be turned into a master suite if you are having trouble using the stairs. The same goes for a basement or second story guest suite. While today friends and family can enjoy their own guest quarters, later in life it can also be used to accommodate a full-time nurse if this be something you need.

Garden Homes Create Immense Beauty both Inside and Out

Garden houses will use the outdoors as a way to create beautiful scenery by efficiently using the garden and turning it into another highly usable room. A semi-interior room can easily become your favorite area because it will still allow you to use it however you want. Many people choose their garden room to be a living, dining, or entertainment area. Roof gardens can be built to give you more privacy than when patios are located on the first floor. Not only do roof Gardens give you another part of your home to enjoy, you will be helping the environment by reducing polluted air in urban areas.

Even though garden houses are made to efficiently use the amount of space your family needs, that doesn’t mean it will be small and overly crowded. Custom home architects can work with you to design the interior of the home to flow nicely together in a way that every room will be proficiently used. Families with children and older adults will both enjoy the flexibility a garden house will provide.

Michael Mock
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/garden-home-plans-624110.html

We should eat green leafy veggies to stay Healthy, which is not a problem. Where to get fresh vegetables is what concerns us. We can buy them in the market but for some people it would be fun to grow them in their garden. That is if you have a garden. The alternative would be to use window boxes near the kitchen. With the vegetables within reach, you can save a bucketful of money.

Kitchen gardening is a lot of fun. Most people would tell you that kitchen gardening will bring out your creativity. Remember that you will be merely using window boxes so this is not going to be a really big Garden. You will probably grow herbs and some vegetables.

Growing your own greens in a kitchen garden can provide salad greens anytime.  With the red tomatoes, the green scallions, freshly picked cucumber, and crispy lettuce straight from your window boxes, your dinner table will be very colorful and alluring. You do not have to worry about chemicals used by commercial farming. You should stay away from those harmful fertilizers.

It is easy to make a kitchen garden especially when you are using window boxes. Most houses already have window flower boxes. If you want to, you can use the existing window flower boxes and turn them into a small kitchen garden. Instead of flowers, you can use some herbs and other vegetables. Here is a brief guideline for your window flower boxes kitchen garden.

Find an adequate space for your garden and throw in a few good seeds, put organic fertilizer and maybe some kitchen waste, and water.  That’s it. It’s as simple as that. Now that you have your own kitchen garden, you need to maintain it. You need to take good care of your plants. You do want to eat fresh vegetables, right? You also need to closely watch your window boxes, especially if you are using wood. But there is no need to worry if you are using the PVC window boxes.

There are actually some more things to think about when you start your kitchen garden aside from the seeds and fertilizer. You also need soil, window flower boxes, handy tools, and supports.  You need to pick seeds for the kind of vegetables everybody in the Family would love to eat.  Otherwise, it will be such a waste of time and effort. It might not cost much but the long hours you have spent and the bending you have done will go unrewarded. 

You might encounter some difficulties when you are gardening for the first time.  Who would not?  But making a kitchen garden using window boxes is one of the easiest forms of gardening. Besides who ever said that there are no such things as growing pains?  You will learn a lot along the way and later on you will be able to make some improvements.  You might even become an authority on kitchen gardening.  Take this opportunity as a learning experience.  You will learn patience, responsibility, about the insects, soil conditions, selecting the right plants, how the weather affects your garden, and a lot more.  Just keep going just as you do with your window flower boxes.  Now they are a beauty to behold.  Just be diligent and your rewards will be bountiful.

Vikram kuamr
http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/window-boxes-or-window-flower-boxes-for-your-kitchen-garden-449435.html