Thursday, September 1, 2011

Butterfly Gardening Tips

When planning the design of your garden it is worth noting that a totally open garden is not the ideal habitat for butterflies. These delicate creatures benefit from the protection, from the weather, offered by trees and shrubs. Even an area of rocks or a low rock outcropping can provide welcome shelter during periods of harsh weather. Butterfly gardening requires a little more thought when deciding upon which plants to include in your garden design. A butterfly feeds on nectar and most flowers are abundant in it but some are more suitable than others. Often butterfly gardening requires you to settle on a number of compromises, butterflies prefer native wildflowers and many plants which we often consider weeds. While there are plenty of trees and shrubs, such as the butterfly bush, the willow tree and wild cherry trees, which look wonderful in any garden there are some plants that we would rather do without. Some of the best plants for use in butterfly gardening are nettles and thistles which are perfect places for the laying of eggs and the development of caterpillars. Nettles are very fast growing and are able to withstand the ravages of a mass of hungry caterpillars. Furthermore chrysalis formed within a small area of nettles and thistles will be somewhat protected by the plants themselves. However we may want to have such plants in a hidden area of your garden in a place in which they can not become too invasive. Butterfly gardening is something which can be enjoyed by all of the family and will be of interest to all ages. Remember to keep all aspects of your garden green (such as avoiding pesticides) and you should find that year upon year the number of butterflies in your garden will increase.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Butterfly Gardening

Butterfly gardening is a wonderful and rewarding outdoor hobby that is increasing in popularity. Simply put butterfly gardening is the designing of a garden which is likely to attract butterflies by adding plants which are known to be highly attractive to these lovely little creatures.

Obviously some areas will be more likely than others to attract butterflies, housing developments near open countryside are likely to witness a number of different types of butterfly. However butterfly gardening can be highly successful even in the very center of our cities.

As well as including plants which attract the insects it is important to also include other types of plants which are more suitable for the other stages of the life cycle of a butterfly, such as a suitable place for it to lay eggs and suitable plants for caterpillars. You should also include areas of shelter and water.

If you are extremely lucky your butterfly gardening efforts will be rewarded and you will be able to witness the progression from egg to caterpillar, from caterpillar to chrysalis and then, finally the hatching of that chrysalis to bring forth a fully developed adult butterfly.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Ergonomic Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening requires more work than chemical gardening. Ergonomic tools will be appreciated by an organic gardener. Sets of ergonomic tools with a convenient canvas bag can be found at many online gardening supply stores.

We found a unique organic gardening gift online - an ergonomic gardening tool called a detachable ergonomic gardening tool set. One handle can be used with every tool in the set.

A wearable gardening stool lets your organic gardening friend rest feet and back while gardening. Even with hands full, the stool is always available.

Organic Gardening Seeds or Seedlings

Organic gardening gifts online include organic seeds or seedlings, too. A home window garden kit set we saw would be a great gift for an organic gardener. Each set has four window garden cans, with everything you need to grow organic seedlings on a window sill. You add water and sunlight, and transplant the plants when they are big enough.

Any organic seeds or seedlings would be a good organic gardening gift. Herbs are always nice - fragrant and useful.

Organic Gardening Books

A book or two on organic gardening is a good idea, especially for the beginner. Find a beautiful and informative book, and your organic gardener will spend happy hours reading.

Organic Vegetables Mail Order

An ongoing gift of organic vegetables by mail order is also good. Find one of the online organic sites that ship via next day in the U.S.

Just for Love

One organic gardening gift we found online would be fun to give, especially to someone you love. The "Amazing Message Plant" comes in its own planter, ready to grow. The recipient pops the lid, waters the plant, and places it in a sunny location. As it grows, the plant reveals the message "I love you" on its leaves.

Can't Decide What to Buy

It can be hard to choose just the right organic gardening gift. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. If you can't decide what to buy, check online gardening supply retailers for gift certificates. You can often get them in denominations of $25 or $50. Order one or more, and place them in a nice organic gardener's greeting card.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening gifts online are plentiful and, with a bit of imagination, can be found in highly unlikely places. You can, of course, give organically grown flowers - a bunch of roses or a wildflower bouquet. You can give an organic live plant, nicely displayed in a natural basket. You might even give a gift of organic tea.

Organic gardening gifts online don't stop there, though. As the popularity of organic gardening grows, the number of gifts for the gardener also grows.

Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening calls for tools that chemical gardening does not. Anyone doing organic gardening will enjoy receiving unique tools. For example:

1. Compost Container: Small-scale organic gardening does not require a large compost pile. A compost container, made from recycled plastic, can recycle kitchen waste into organic compost without a compost pit or pile.

2. Worm Factory: This organic gardening gift is another efficient way to compost. Just put worms, their bedding, and some scraps of food in the worm factory's bottom bin. Stack other bins on top, with more food scraps in each. As the worms finish their meal on the first floor, they move upward to get more food. Their castings in the bottom tray, an excellent organic fertilizer, can be harvested. A handy spigot on the bottom tray drains off compost tea.

3. Compost Crank: If your gardener does use a compost pile or pit, a compost crank makes a good organic gardening gift. He or she will simply have to crank the corkscrew tip into the pile and pull out to aerate the pile.

Earth-Friendly Organic Gardening Tools

Organic gardening gifts online also include some regular tools that are earth-friendly. Think of mowing the lawn with a push mower to reduce pollution. While pushing, wear lawn aerator shoes to keep the lawn aerated so that nutrition and water get down where the roots can use them. Someone who is "into" organic gardening will also appreciate a tree and shrub root irrigator kit. It saves water while being sure organic fruit trees and shrubs receive deep watering.