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Creating Gardens with a Purpose

8/17/2014

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Hummingbird in Sensory Garden
Hummingbird in Sensory Garden
moonflowers
Moonflowers in Moon Garden
If you are anything like I am, you are probably guilty of creating flower gardens without considering their purpose. Not that growing beautiful flowers isn't a purpose in itself, but you know what I mean. I added two special pages today. One is on planning and designing a Moon Garden for enjoying those quiet nights under the stars. The second gives you tips and ideas for designing your own Sensory Garden. Both gardens create a delightful area for rest and relaxation.


I'll be honest with you, I've never set out deliberately to create either garden, but my backyard has all the features of a Sensory Garden. I plant to create a Small Moon garden for next summer.


If you are considering either, take a moment and browse the ideas for each. They won't give you step-by-step directions, but they will provide you with the information you need to know to create your own gardens. May they inspire you to create your 


                                                                                                   Until Next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!
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Take cuttings from summer annuals to grow as houseplants now

8/15/2014

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impatiens
Impatiens
It doesn't seem possible that it's time to be talking about taking cuttings from your summer annuals already, but here in Maine the nights are getting cool and fall is approaching quickly. That means taking cuttings from those summer annuals, like impatiens and begonias and rooting them. You can, of course, bring the whole plant inside for the winter, but they often struggle to thrive when moved inside. Taking cuttings and starting new plants for houseplants lets you keep them growing without fussy with scraggly plants for months.

  • Take 3 to 4 inch cuttings from the growing tips of plants.
  • Remove the foliage from the bottom 2 inches.
  • Dip the cut end into rooting powder.
  • Place the cutting in moist soil or perlite.
  • Keep the soil moist until the cuttings root


You can also root plants in a glass or vase of water, but the roots tend to be more brittle.

                                                                                                                    Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!


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Maine Garden Ideas Gets a FaceLift

8/13/2014

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animated-hummingbird-image-0033
I'm pleased to announce that Maine Garden Ideas has a new look with tons of new information. As many of you know, some of my gardening articles were previously published on another site, but I have moved nearly all of them here. I will adding more as time permits. In the mean time, if you have topics you'd like to learn more about, please drop me a line.

If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to look around and share my site with your gardening friends.

Until next time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!




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Sunflower shaped bird feeders add charm to the garden

8/1/2014

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sunflower stake feederSunflower Stake Feeder
I found this delightful little Sunflower Stake Feeder at a local store today and couldn't resist buying it. I put it in the center of my perennial bed between the black-eyed Susan's and the purple coneflowers. Although this picture is from Duncraft (you can click the image to see and/or buy the product) it actually looks like a picture of my garden.

I fell in the love with it for several reasons. 
  • It's all metal and the squirrels can't chew it or get to the seeds. That's definitely a big selling point for me.
  • It's comes with a metal stake and I've been wanting a pole feeder for some time now and I like the sturdy stake.
  • It is bright and cheery without being gaudy.
  • It discourages big birds, like blue jays, from feeding and attracts finches and small birds. 

There are also a couple of drawbacks to the feeder.
  • It only holds black oil sunflower seeds or sunflower kernels. 
  • The filling area is small and a little difficult to open.
  • You need a funnel or birdseed scoop to fill it (I made a funnel from paper.)
  • You need to fill it over a paper plate or other container to catch seeds that pop through the holes while you are filling it. The other option, of course, it to fill it outside and leave the seeds that drop for ground-feeding birds.

Overall, I am very pleased with this feeder and love how it looks in the garden. If you are looking for a feeder that looks great in your garden - and keeps the squirrels away - give this bird feeder a try.




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Photo used under Creative Commons from MyArtfulLife
  • Home
  • Garden Thyme Blog
  • Themes
    • Moon Gardens
    • Sensory Gardens
    • All About Fairies
  • Flowers
    • Annual Flowers
    • Perennial Flowers
    • Maine Wildflowers
  • Veggies
    • Warm Season Vegetables
    • Cool Season Vegetables
  • Herbs
  • Gardening Basics
  • Birds
    • Hummingbirds >
      • DIY Hummingbird Feeders from Recycled Bottles
      • Annuals for Hummingbird Gardens
      • Perennials for Hummingbird Gardens
    • About Birdseed
    • Choosing a Birdfeeder
  • Fiddleheads and Fairies
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • How to Marinate Roasted Vegetables