Your Home and Garden Décor: Creating Bountiful SpacesWritten by DJ Ledford
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To ward off pesky pests, citronella candles come in a wide variety of container styles from terra cotta pots to galvanized pails or lanterns and torches. You will be pleased to find that even votive size citronellas are available to pop into your collection of candle holders.
Planting season is here. It’s time to take inventory. Make sure garden hoses are kink-free, new washers have been inserted into water wands, garden tool handles are free of splinters, pruners are sharpened, you have a matching pair of gloves, and your sun hat isn’t too much of an embarrassment if a neighbor peeks over fence.
A great way to start would be introduction of a stunning variety of sweet peas. “April in Paris” is a favorite with its profusion of soft cream blossoms and lilac edges. Be sure to plant seeds in a sunny location and provide a sturdy trellis for them to climb to their mature 6-8’ height. This hearty vine is frost tolerant in unpredictable pre-spring weather. Another beautiful sweet pea is “Cupani”. Rich in fragrance and color, bi-colored flowers of dark maroon and violet add a shock of pleasing color to any landscape or bouquet for house.
Another attention getter is “Music Box” sunflower. Smaller than traditional, edible “Sunzilla” variety, “Music Box” reaches only knee height. Perfect for beds and borders, fist-size, golden blooms with chocolate centers will delight all that behold them. If you sew more seeds 3-4 weeks after first planting, you will be honored with flowers throughout season.
In a separate section, start an herb garden. This will enable you to stock your spice rack with freshly picked basil, thyme, peppermint and spearmint, fennel, rosemary and oregano to add to your favorite dishes.
Prepare fresh fish topped with a sprig of rosemary, wrapped in foil then barbequed to perfection. Baked potato’s topped with fresh chives. How about dried sage rubbed on a pork loin. Or, a T-bone steak marinating in freshly chopped garlic before grilling.
Flowering plants provide a feast for eyes. There are a number of different types of lavender available and with its popularity growing, you will want to plant these vibrant, richly scented herbs throughout your garden areas. The English “Hidecote” features silvery foliage with spiked stalks topped with deep purple flowers. The “Munstead”, another English offering, boasts plump mounds of semi-dwarf plants with lavender-blue blossoms.
All of your blooming choices will attract playful butterflies your whole family will enjoy.
Now, place your sparkling lawn furniture in ideal spot and soak up sun as you scope out ideal planting ground for your edible garden.
For more decorating tips, please visit us at Helpful Home Ideas.
DJ Ledford is a contributing writer for sites such as Helpful Home Ideas. Please include an active link to our site if you'd like to reprint this article.
| | Five Easy Pieces - Mix and Match Wardrobes for KidsWritten by Meredith Simmons
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Boys being boys, more simplified their wardrobe choices better. Charlie Rocket’s seasonal collections are built around basic premise that virtually everything in a collection can be worn together, (although not at same time, of course, even though layered looks are a strength of line). That, combined with durable yet comfortable California casual style of line, has made this brand a favorite of boys and moms all over country. There are enough great mix and match wardrobes out there to satisfy even most discerning tastes, so here are some suggestions for taking full advantage of this fashion wave: •Challenge Conformity – Don’t be afraid to mix prints, plaids, and stripes from same collections and/or color families. •Promote Independence – Mix and match wardrobes are a great opportunity to allow your child to exercise independence and establish their own fashion identity. •Accessorize! – One or two accessories, (a hat, a pair of shoes), may be all you need to coordinate with your entire mix and match wardrobe. •Mix and match wardrobes are perfect for twins, triplets, etc., allowing for a coordinated but not matchy matchy look. Parents of multiples have enough to do without playing wardrobe coordinator!
Meredith Simmons writes for Tutti Bella, an online children's boutique offering mix and match clothing for babies and children.
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