Gardening, even if just a small porch garden helps reduce stress, Did you know that? Yes it is true
I grow lots of containers full of flowers and herbs, it's convenient, they are so easy to move around
when you want to redecorate ;)
These are natural hummingbird and butterfly attractants
they smell divine too
Flowers make people happy, peaceful, relaxed, they know they are loved
Red flowers represent LOVE and Passion
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Red: love and respect.
Yellow: joy.
White roses: innocence, purity, secrecy.
Red and white roses together, or white roses with red edges: unity.
Pink: grace.
Deep pink: gratitude and appreciation.
Light pink: sympathy.
Coral or orange roses: desire.
Deep burgundy: “unconscious beauty.”
Pale colors: friendship.
Rosebuds symbolize beauty, youth and innocence.
Red rosebuds: purity.
White rosebuds: girlhood or chaste innocence.
Moss rosebud: confessions of love.
A single rose: simplicity.
Withered white roses: fleeting beauty.
Two roses taped or wired together to form a single stem symbolize an engagement or coming marriage.
A full blown rose placed over two buds: secrecy.
Leaves: symbol of hope.
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Baking soda is a vital part of green cleaning and has so many uses in the house, but what about the garden. Here are 7 ways to use it in the garden.
1. Make a Non-Toxic Fungicide
Mix 4 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 gallon of water. Use on roses for black spot fungus and also on grapes and vines when fruit first begins to appear.
2. Spray to Treat and Prevent Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is causing major problems with impatiens this year, but also can be a problem for other plants, like lilacs, cucumbers, squash and zinnias.
Spray Recipe: 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 gallon of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid
Mix all the ingredients together and spray plants weekly. Apply on overcast days to prevent any potential foliage from burning.
3. Discourage Gnats In Soil & Fungus on Leaves
Mix in 1 gallon of water, 4 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon biodegradable soap. Mix well, spray infected foliage or soil as needed.
4. Discourage Weeds
Pour or sweep baking soda in a thick layer into cracks on a sidewalk or patios. The baking soda should kill any small weeds already sprouted and prevent new ones from coming up.
5. Kill Cabbage Worms
Mix equals parts flour and baking soda and dust plants (cabbage, broccoli, kale) being eaten by cabbage worms. They much on the leaves and die usually in a day or two. Repeat as needed.
6. Kill Crabgrass
Simply wet the crabgrass, pour a heavy dusting of baking soda on the weed. The crabgrass should start dying back in 2 or 3 days. CAUTION: When applying baking soda try NOT to get it on your grass as too much baking soda can burn and kill it.
7. Clean Your Hands
After a day in the garden and dirt, clean your hands by rubbing and scrubbing wet hands with baking soda. Rinse.
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Snapdragons, have you ever gently squeezed a snapdragon blossom and seen the dragon appear?
You should try it
You should try it
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Some examples of edible flowers are calendula, carnations & pinks, elder flower, lavender, nasturtium, primrose, rose, rose scented geraniums & violets.
Here is another floral vinegar recipe that is even easier than the one I already shared with you. . .again, the flowers should be freshly picked, clean & dry. Use only the petals, removing the sepals & stem.
Place the petals in a steeping container and cover them with vinegar, using about 1 cup of packed petals, to 2 cups of vinegar. But, feel free to use more petals if you like. Cover the container tightly, and store it in a dark place at room temperature. Check the flavor after one week. Continue steeping for several more weeks if a stronger flavor is desired. Strain, fill bottles, add a few fresh flowers, cap tightly, seal, label & store.
Some combos you might want to try:
Apple Cider Vinegar
Nasturtium flowers & leaves, shallot & garlic blossoms & hot red pepper
Nasturtium, garlic chives & dill flowers
Champagne Vinegar
Rose flowers & lemon balm leaves
Red Wine Vinegar
Lovage, oregano, marjoram, & basil leaves
Rose & violet flowers
Rice Vinegar
Chive & Garlic Chive flowers
Calendula, lemon thyme & lemon basil flowers with lemon zest
Sherry Vinegar
Elder flowers & candied ginger
White Wine Vinegar
Carnation or Pinks flowers, cinnamon stick & whole cloves
Lavender & mint flowers
You can candy violets and other edible flowers come spring. Mint leaves
can also be candied this way.
Egg white, beaten till frothy
Sugar, preferably "super fine" granulated
Collect a cup full of violet flowers. Rinse the flowers clean and
gently
blot them dry on paper towels. Dip each flower into the egg white and
then into the sugar, coating both sides. Set aside to dry on waxed
paper
or a plate. When all the flowers are done, sprinkle additional sugar
over
any bare spots. Cover with a paper towel and leave in a dry place with
good air circulation. Let dry for several days, stirring the flowers
around occasionally so they don't stick. Store in tins or jars. Use to
decorate cakes or to garnish ice cream and other deserts.
Love these soft pretty pinks
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Homemade All-Purpose Insecticide Spray
The Ingredients
15 cloves garlic
1 onion
3 cayenne peppers (or 3 jalapeno peppers or 1 tablespoon cayenne powder)
1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap (fragrance free)
4 cups warm water
Method
1. In a blender combine the water, garlic, onion, and peppers and puree.
2. Pour the mixture into a glass jar, secure the lid, and steep for 6-24 hours on the counter.
3. Strain through a cheesecloth, then add the liquid castile soap and mix well.
4. Load the mixture into a spray bottle and you’re good to go.
To Use
Try it on a host of pests in your garden and feel free to adjust it as needed with other insect repellent herbs. Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves, throughly coating them. Store this mixture in the fridge and if it is strained well, it should keep for at least 1-2 months. Note: Be sure to test a patch prior to spraying the entire plant. Take care not to get this on your skin or in your eyes, the cayenne pepper will burn.
Basic Insecticidal Soap
The Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoon any type of liquid soap (i.e. castile, dish washing soap, ivory, etc.)
1 quart water
Method
1. Combine all ingredient in a spray bottle.
To Use
Set the spray bottle nozzle to stream and spray infested areas of the foliage. This insecticidal soap works great against some of the most common garden pests such as: aphids, earworms, borers, mites, whiteflies, maggots, moths, and beetles. Note: By adding 1/4 cup of isopropyl alcohol to the above recipe you can create a very mild but effective insecticidal soap that treats scale insects. The alcohol works against the scale’s shell.
Spider Mite Spray
The Ingredients
1/8 cup buttermilk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 gallon of water
Method
1. In a bucket combine all of the ingredients and mix completely.
2. Load into a spray bottle.
To Use
Spray this homemade Spider Mite Spray anywhere spider mites are living or crawling. The mixture should rid your garden of all types of mites.
the very pretty pansy, a face to love
