tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40283924441074649152024-03-13T13:19:56.772-04:00Backyard Decor IdeasPond Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10287983624733207917noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-86048616406299160632010-12-09T13:14:00.005-05:002010-12-09T13:21:20.869-05:00Looking for a real Christmas tree?Will you be going natural or artifical this year?Natural Christmas trees are not only good for the environment, but in vogue. There are 4 basic types of trees sold at farms and nursuries:1. Scotch pine- decent needle retention, but it requires plenty of pesticides 2. Balsam fir- soft needles, very aromatic3. White spruce- excellent needle retention, but disagreeable odour when needles are Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-15658337176109236822010-12-09T12:58:00.002-05:002010-12-09T13:03:51.002-05:00Lack of Rain is No Excuse Not To Install a Rain BarrelDo you live in a dry area with drought-like conditions? I've heard many tell me that they don't install rain barrels because there's no rain to collect. But where there's a will to help the environment, there's always a way...Homeowners that live in drought-like areas usually have air conditioners. And did you know that air conditioners are an untapped source for FREE water? Air conditioners Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-74663550195625376832010-12-01T17:15:00.003-05:002010-12-01T17:19:52.797-05:00Kale- the perfect cold-weather plantThis colorful plant thrives in cold weather!I recently inherited several kale plants from a gardening trade show. So I decided to plant them in my front yard. Not only is kale nature's super-food, but it's also pretty to look at... with the snow, it's the only plant left standing in my garden bed right now.Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-27053994146033789992010-12-01T16:54:00.002-05:002010-12-01T16:55:14.340-05:00New Tumbling ComposterCheck out this new tumbling composter! Nice!Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-23709665769886436342009-08-20T17:54:00.001-04:002009-08-20T18:00:19.926-04:00Economy turns gardening into growth industryA poor economy has caused many Americans to stay at home. And with more Americans at home, the gardening industry is actually thriving! "With the recession in full swing, many Americans are returning to their roots — literally — cultivating vegetables in their backyards to squeeze every penny out of their food budget." [ link ]Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-66283215521010754022009-07-30T09:24:00.004-04:002009-07-30T09:27:33.052-04:00Win an Algreen Terra ComposterThis gorgeous Terra composter can be yours! For a chance to win this composter, send Algreen a picture of your Agua or Cascata rain barrel: [ Algreen Contest Link ]Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-58210826747298886032008-11-12T13:40:00.003-05:002008-11-12T13:42:51.712-05:00Newspaper ArticleInteresting article up in the Waterloo Record today:The humble barrel has served humanity for centuries with little need for innovation. Vessel for Niagara Falls daredevils, garment for Denver Broncos fans, material for downtown Waterloo sculpture -- the cooper's creation has performed its duty admirably.As a landscaping object, however, the traditional barrel leaves much to be desired.Read Full Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-78780342520893964672008-09-25T09:06:00.003-04:002008-09-25T09:14:45.018-04:00Gourd BirdhousesLooking for a simple and attractive birdhouse for your yard? Why not try one made out of a gourd?For this you need:a dried gourd (you can plant gourds in your garden in the spring, and dry one of those out, or you can purchase already dried gourds.a drilla small spoon or stickcord or wireFirst step is to clean your dried gourd. Was it with warm, soapy water, and let it completely dry.Drill a holeCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-14241125164578120592008-09-23T14:57:00.005-04:002008-09-23T16:55:53.717-04:00Saving Water Never Felt So Good! There are two reasons why rain barrels make sense:(1) Global shortage in drinking water- Global warming is turning fertile land into arid deserts, and(2) Environmental reasons- Man-made creations are altering ground-water run-off patterns, which is damaging the environment.Prior to urbanization, rainfall soaked into vegetation and slowly flowed underground. This natural filtration process Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-71319611446911513372008-09-16T09:49:00.000-04:002008-09-16T09:50:09.237-04:00Pond Filtration – How much do you need of what kind?Figuring out what kind of pond filter you need can sometimes be a little overwhelming. There are so many different filters that claim to do so many different things, so how do you know which one is right for what you need?Filters can be broken down into three main categories – mechanical filtration, biological filtration and UV clarification. Mechanical filtration easily removes any large Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-76526565682896989762008-09-12T15:26:00.005-04:002008-09-15T14:58:03.161-04:00There's More To Gazing Globes Than Meets the EyeOne garden decor fad that has hit gardens across North America is the gazing globe (or gazing ball): a colorful, mirrored sphere that typically sits on an iron stand. But there's more to a gazing globe than meets the eye. I installed one in my backyard and found that they make for great conversation pieces because there's an entire story behind them. In the 13th century, kings and royalty would Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-33553721182628604292008-09-03T09:42:00.004-04:002008-09-03T09:44:15.058-04:00Compost TeaI’ve had a lot of people asking me lately what the benefit of compost tea is, and how to make it.So, what’s so great about compost tea, anyway? Well, it’s a very easy way to add nutrients to your garden. It can be used either by spraying it on the leaves of your plants, or watering your plants with it. Personally, I like using it for my houseplants and container garden where I don’t get to use myCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-2399317018554233552008-08-25T14:32:00.001-04:002008-08-25T14:33:50.101-04:00Algae in Your Pond?Those of us who have water gardens know that algae can be quite the problem. Green water is not what we want to see when we head out to our pond to check up on our plants or our fish.Algae are simple organisms that feeds off of sunlight, producing oxygen and food that is good for plants and fish. However, when there is too much algae we start to get a problem – most commonly known as an algae Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-69236567322979748662008-08-19T10:17:00.006-04:002008-08-19T10:28:58.854-04:00How to Stop Rabbits from Eating your GardenThe past couple of years, we have had a problem with rabbits in our neighbourhood. It started off small, just a rabbit here or there, but now... well, you know what rabbits are like. And we've discovered that they are all quite fond of our hosta garden. I've been looking into ways to get rid of them, and we'll definitely be trying them in the next couple of weeks. We definitely want to keep away Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-78352683245627775712008-08-13T13:16:00.007-04:002008-09-30T17:00:26.722-04:00Terra Composter RevealedGardenSuperMart.com has released images of the Terra composter that they are going to be carrying next year. Compared to other composters, I think it looks like a nice, stylish change from the big black one I’ve currently got in my backyard. That said, I'm going to have to wait to see the price before I decide whether or not to purchase it.What I really like about this, as I said above, is that Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-20723926586104297842008-07-29T08:01:00.002-04:002008-07-29T08:13:11.461-04:00eLumber?Lexmark, one of the larger suppliers of printer ink cartridges is doing a good job of taking their used cartridges and recycling them. They've been using their cartridges to create eLumber - a material that can be used in landscaping projects where you would normally use regular lumber. This material is water-resistant, insect-resistant and is very durable. While the product is originally black, Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-52031051137941890752008-07-24T16:14:00.003-04:002008-07-24T16:18:34.877-04:00Backyard Water FeaturesThe sound of trickling water can have a calming sensation, and it’s always a bonus feature in any backyard garden. There are many different ways you can incorporate water into your backyard garden, and each option can be customized to make it as original as your garden is.1. PondsProbably one of the most common water features. A pond gives you so many options – whether you want to have just a Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-8197706841683839752008-07-18T14:32:00.000-04:002008-07-18T14:34:24.254-04:0010 Ways to help the environment with your gardenUse Solar Lighting. Solar lights are wonderful because they don’t have any emissions, and so don’t contribute at all to global warming. They also use solar lighting – a renewable resource!Keep all power tools properly maintained in order to keep them running efficiently. Inspecting and cleaning your power tools regularly will help them to run the best that they can for the longest period of Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-91702430801331351652008-06-26T13:54:00.004-04:002008-06-26T14:10:51.451-04:00GreyWater, what is it? What can you do?In general terms greywater refers to wash water. Wash water being water used for washing dishes, washing your clothes, and shower water. What doesn't qualify as greywater is toilet waster water and food waste water derived from garbage grinders.The term often used when describing toilet waste water is "blackwater" their is a clear distinction between grey and blackwater. Blackwater contains very paradise ponderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06681391629088143836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-60196169649468539682008-06-18T16:55:00.002-04:002008-06-18T16:57:09.818-04:00Safety in the GardenAs the summer draws closer, we tend to spend more time in our garden – not just working out there, but also relaxing and enjoying the fruits of our efforts. While we think of our home and our garden as a safe place for us, this is usually where most accidents happen. Here are some simple things that you can do to keep your garden a safe place to enjoy, both for yourself and for any young ones whoCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-26046376787822111262008-06-11T08:33:00.005-04:002008-06-11T08:50:09.081-04:00Cool Gardening Projects and AccessoriesJust wanted to point out a couple of really cool things that I've discovered or read about recently online.First, is the Hepper Roost Bird House. I love the design of this bird house - modern and eye catching, and looks like it would go great in any modern chic yard. (Can be found at Design Public.)Secondly is the DIY Terrarium that can be found at the decor8 blog. This is definitely something I Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-43254293579012085362008-06-09T15:34:00.001-04:002008-06-09T15:49:00.789-04:00Creepy Letter at the Bottom of the PondFrom: http://www.thatcanadiangirl.co.uk/blog/2008/05/30/the-letter-in-the-pond/Recently, a friend of ours, Simon, moved to Over, just North of Cambridge, UK. He was moving to a lovely property, with a nice garden and a pond.Simon wasn’t so keen on the pond though. It’s not very child friendly, and with two young ones running around the garden, he thought it would be safer to get rid of it.A few Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-25496741228858317672008-06-09T12:56:00.001-04:002008-06-09T15:49:56.861-04:00So you want to install a backyard pond? You're going to need a pond pump!A pond pump is a paramount component of any water feature, because without a pond pump, your water will be stagnant and mosquitos will thrive. If you choose the wrong pond pump, you may not have sufficient water circulation for your needs. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to choose the proper pond pump to suit your needs.Prior to purchasing a pond pump for your water garden, there are Backyard Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09340824491548375336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-11842192281978237342008-06-06T16:42:00.000-04:002008-06-06T16:44:34.310-04:00Outside Water ConservationWith more emphasis being put on becoming more environmentally friendly these days, water conservation is a subject on everyone’s mind. It doesn’t have to be difficult – in fact there are many simple things you can do around your home to help with saving water, especially outside in the summer. We’ve put together a list of the top 15 things that you can do outside to save water this year.1. Get a Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4028392444107464915.post-33333537722466860192008-06-03T08:52:00.001-04:002008-06-11T08:32:55.952-04:00My Herb GardenLiving in an apartment, I didn’t have the space for an all-out garden – I didn’t even have a balcony where I can make a container garden. I did, however, have a LOT of counter space in my kitchen, especially behind my sink, where I had a good foot of space between my sink and my window. I took good advantage of this counter space over the first few years living in that appartment, but my Courtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470374519389006214noreply@blogger.com0