How to Decorate for Thanksgiving Get Togethers Using Nature

Decorating for Thanksgiving can be lots of fun and especially when using things that are from a home owners personal gardens.

Great natural things to use in decorating are pine cones, pine branches, pumpkins, gourds and wildflowers can even be used for arrangements for a centerpiece.  Pine cones look lovely when added to large baskets and can be set around on large fireplaces and throughout the home.  Pine branches will look lovely when laid on a large or small mantel with several pine cones scattered throughout them.  Another great item are pumpkins and gourds.  These are amazing to brighten up and bring in that wonderful fall orange color to a home.  Small pumpkins can be used as centerpieces for a very large or small dining room table.  They can also be placed on a fireplace in bunches or scatted around to give it a wonderful fall look and feeling. 

Wildflowers will make wonderful and beautiful arrangements that can be used throughout a home.  There are beautiful wildflowers such as black and brown eyed susan and sunflowers are great flowers to use in fall arrangements.  Also using some native grasses are beautiful when added to vases of wildflowers.  Arrangements for fall can be personalized with special wildflowers that the home owner or gardener prefers.

Outside decorations can also be made from natural items.  Scarecrows are so cute when they are created to fit a gardeners personality and can brighten a lawn by adding some hay bales and some large pumpkins to add bright color to a lawn decoration.  A large pumpkin can also be used to create a beautiful pumpkin by using wildflowers or native grass to add a great big tale to the pumpkin.  A small gourd can be used to add a head to the pumpkin to create that perfect thanksgiving turkey.

There are a lot of things that can be used to decorate and ideas can be found online or at local craft stores.  Using things that are already available will not affect a family budget either because these items will not cost a thing.  Pine cones and pine branches can usually be found in a wooded area and can also even be found on a lawn that has a very large pine tree growing.  Pine cones can also be spray painted to match an interior of a home and can have some cinnamon sticks added to a basket to create that wonderful thanksgiving feel and put the smell of the holidays into the air.

Fall Arrangements Can Be Done With Fresh Or Fake Flowers

Fall arrangements can be gorgeous and add a very festive feel to a room or home.  There are several great ideas to creating some beautiful fall arrangements.  Colors and flowers can also be matched to fit right into a room or setting.

Fall arrangements can be made using silk flowers or can be made using real flowers.  Using silk flowers you are guaranteed that the flower arrangement will remain pretty all through the season and the flowers will never have to be changed.  There are several different varieties of silk flowers that can be used from silk mums to silk sunflowers and they are also very colorful.  There are also dried branches and leaves that can be used when creating an arrangement out of silk flowers and also some wonderful and gorgeous flower picks that will have small pumpkins or gourds added to them.  A silk arrangement is also great to give as a house warming gift because the home owner can use over and over each year.  Silk flowers are also available in all the fall colors such as orange, red, yellow and in different shades of browns.  Silkarrangements can also be creative and made in bowls, cups, a basket and also for large areas can be made on washtubs and buckets.  Silk arrangements can also be creative and made on small hay bales that can be purchased from a arts and craft store.  These are great because they will never have to be watered.

Live flowers are also pretty and will make beautiful arrangements.  When using live flowers a container will need to be used that will not leak any water that is added to them.  Live flowers for fall can be in an array of colors and can also have some real fall leaves added to them for that special touch.  When using live flowers the home owner will need to make sure that the flowers will have enough water to help them last for several days.  Once the flowers begin to wilt new ones can be added to replace them.  Depends on what types of flowers are used as to how much water the arrangement will need.  Florists and grocery stores are the best place to purchase real flowers for an arrangement if the gardener or home owner does not have them growing in their gardens.  Live arrangements are beautiful and personal if made from fresh flowers that are grown in their very own gardens.

Being Outdoors Can Help You Eliminate Stress

Being in Nature can help relieve stress. This is a common, worldwide knowledge to all people. The scents and sounds of nature and the fresh air is perfect to relax the body. Common life can be hectic and extremely stressful but a few hours outside can revitalize your body and mind. There are many things that can be done outside to help ease the mind and quiet the soul. Gardening and landscaping can be great hobbies to help you and your family get outside more and get some fresh air and relaxation.

Gardening and landscaping is a very broad subject and involves a very large amount of things that you could do outside to relieve the stress. First you could start your own garden full of vegetables and fruit bearing plants. This gives you both fresh food and the relaxation of being outside, with just a little work of course. Fresh fruit and vegetables can also save you money and promote better health. Another possible escape to the outdoors is in landscaping around your home. This can be anything from adding a beautiful flower bed to the front of your home to a water garden to your backyard. This hobby can improve the look and value of your home while getting you outside and into the fresh air and dirt. Going to the beach, hiking, biking, climbing rocks all can be done outside to help you eliminate stress. For many people even fishing, hunting or just sitting in the woods admiring mother nature and the glories is enough to help their stress level be brought back down to 0. 

These are just two of the many things that can be done outside around your house to relieve stress. Being outside is a very good idea for those who spend long hours at work and are often stressed, and has many benefits for both the short and long run. So look into gardening or landscaping around your home to improve both your mental and physical health, and get outside more.  

How To Make a Raised Garden Bed

More and more people are going through tough times economically so when it comes to gardening they want to do it because of the many rewards – saving money, canning, preserving, dehydrating, freezing and eating food fresh and organically instead of buying it in the store. Raised beds are becoming more and more popular because people just don’t have the time to weed them on a regular basis nor do they have time to rent equipment to get the land ready. Raised beds are very beneficial and in some locations be used year round.

Raised beds can be used with wood, containers or even tires. The most cost efficient and the most common is the wooden raised beds. With our step by step instructions you can successfully make a raised bed in no time!

Tools – hammer, wood, potting soil/compost/manure mixture, newspapers, level, saw, nails

Step 1 – Determine the area that you are going to place your raised bed. Go ahead and make sure there is no unwanted weeds and the ground is semi-level.

Step 2 – Measure the area and cut your pieces of wood so that you can make a box or rectangle, cut your pieces of wood and then nail or screw them together at the ends to make your shape.

Step 3- Once your box or bed is made, you can lay newspapers in the bottom, a few layers will work best this will keep weeds from growing. Cover the newspaper and fill your bed with potting soil, manure or compost mixture. Filling your bed a few inches from the top works best.

Step 4 – level your soil by taking a board and running it slowly across to level the soil out. Now you are ready for plants, seeds or anything else that you want to plant in it.

Raised beds are very beneficial and are becoming increasingly popular because if you ever decide that you do not want the bed anymore they are easy to remove and your grass will grow back instead of having a tilled up area. Raised beds will also keep moisture in and keep a steady soil temperature so that even in the coldest months all you will need to do is cover your plants for safety. Making a raised bed is enjoyable and fun, so enjoy! 

Do You Save Or Are You Living PayCheck To PayCheck?

    In recent years the economy of the United States of America has changed drastically for millions upon millions of people. People who were once paying their bills, putting money away for a rainy day, and still having extra for all the fun things in life are now living paycheck to paycheck. These people are doing everything in their power to keep their homes and put food on the table for their families. A growing trend among millions of Americans is planting their own home gardens to help supplement their food supply. Many people start this process with little or no knowledge of how to do this, but find that it really not that hard at all. Plus the benefits are not only improving their grocery bill, but is also putting healthy produce on their families plates.

The local library and of course the internet is a great source to learn all the ends and outs of gardening. Once you have a grasp on what to do it is time to buy your supplies. These supplies can be purchased at most any hardware or home improvement store. However if you rather do your shopping online there are many online nurseries that allow you to purchase your plants through them most of the time at a wholesale price and they will be delivered right to your door. When considering what plants you wish to put into your home garden there are several things to take into consideration. The first being what types of food does your family like to consume. Another consideration is that most come in a lot of different varieties. There are many different types of tomatoes, melons, gourds, berries and so forth. Then you also need to consider how much space you will actually have in your garden. Some plants such as cucumbers and squash have vines that run and take up a lot of space. Then other plants such as tomatoes often grow to the point that they need your help to support them from toppling over. This is also an easy fix and supplies can be bought at a home improvement store or you can get creative with materials found in your garage such as a pole and a pair of panty hose.

Then with plenty of sunshine, some moisture, and a little hard work and patience on your part you and your family will love the rewards. As items are ripe and ready to come off the veins you can immediately serve them up to your family or you can prepare them for a later time. Most all vegetables, fruits, and herbs can be either frozen, canned, dried, or made into another product such as jellies, preserves, or can be used in pies. No matter how you choose to use them not only will you have full tummies, but your wallet will be a little fuller as well.

Mother Nature Brings Life To Paintings

  There are millions upon millions of paintings and other pieces of art that exist in the world today. Each artist has their own unique styles, a favorite method of painting, belief about art and what their art is about, but have you ever wondered what inspires their art in the first place. If you look at some of the darker paintings that artist might say they were inspired by death, disease or war. Then take a painting of a little girl and the painter might say they were inspired by their daughter, the innocence of being a child, or hope of the future. Then the paintings of natural landscapes. With these types of paintings, photos, and other art forms most likely the artist would say they were inspired by nature itself.

Mother nature has inspired painters, sculptors, poets, photographers, and writers for centuries and will continue to do so. Mother nature is full of beauty, unique colors, changing seasons, and unique creatures that roam freely. I recently watched a local painter stand on the banks of a river and paint his surroundings. His canvas was covered with the green leaves of the maple trees and the white and pink dots that served as the blossom of the dogwood trees. Then the detail of the water running over the rocks was so detailed that you could almost hear the river running in the painting. I asked him what inspired him and he did a complete 360 pointing at trees, flowers, the sky, a rock, and anything else that was a natural part of the setting and said “that”. He explained that he could come back to the same same spot daily and would it would be different in someway or inspire him in a different way. He said one day the dogwoods will be in full bloom and all the trees bare different hues of greens. Then I come back early fall and the Oak and Maple trees are no longer green, but are reds, oranges, and yellows. The differences are a natural painting or photograph that only nature can produce, but inspires so many painters to try to interrupt it.

Each aspect of mother nature serves as a natural beauty that not only artist can take advantage of but so can everyone. All it takes is taking a moment to look at your natural surroundings and truly take it all in. Take a walk along the coast and witness the beauty of “God's treasure chest”. Feel the sand between your toes, watch the waves crash into the shore, and listen to the palm trees rustle against one another in the sea breeze. If you are not a beach goer then take that walk in the forest. Admire the leaves of the different species of trees, be silent as you watch a doe wonder the woods, and listen to the babbling brooks in the distance. Nature and all its aspects will continue to serve as inspiration to us all and continue to be the centerpiece of some of the greatest works in our art museums the world over.

Did You Know Tree Nurseries Carry Perennials?

Perennials are a great way to spruce up an old garden or add color around a home.  There is a very large variety of perennials to choose from and everyone is certain to find the ones that will look best in their gardens.

Tree Nursery Co is a great online nursery to purchase all varieties of perennials.  This great nursery will have all the information needed to plant and bring the perennials to life.  They will provide all information regarding soils, sunlight, climate zones and also will have information available on how far apart to plant perennials.  Perennials are also great because they will come back year after year.  There are also beautiful perennials that will grow in shaded areas.  All of this information is available on Tree Nursery Co website.

A great perennial is the Iris family.  There is a large selection to choose from and this perennial will come in several colors.  Irises will also need to be thinned out because they will become thick as they spread and will produce more blooms if they are thinned out.  Irises that are removed can be replanted into another spot and they will continue to provide gorgeous blooms each year.  Brown Eyed Susan and Black Eyed Susan is another great perennial.  These beautiful yellow flowers will fill a garden or natural area.

Perennials will make a garden beautiful especially when there are several different types that have been mixed and mingled together.  This will make a garden amazing looking when they are all in bloom and they will be beautiful.  Perennials when they are blooming will also bring those beautiful butterflies to a garden and can sometimes draw the hummingbirds.

Perennials are also great to add to containers.  You can use just about anything to plant perennials in.  Some great ideas are wheelbarrows, old boots and shoes, buckets and they can also be planted in the usual flower pots.  Perennials will do their best when planted into the ground because they will get a lot of nutrients from the soils and will get water from those rainy days.

Tree Nursery Co offers great perennials and will also make sure that they are shipped in perfect condition right to your door and will be ready to spruce up those gardens after the winter months.