Nature Is Better For One's Mind Than Electronics

The world today is full of the wonders and great inventions of technology. These neat “toys” have helped our world in so many  and computers. However this also means that the younger generation are spending more and more time inside and are missing out on all the treasures that can be found in nature. Mother nature has provided us with an amazing playground and a vast library of knowledge that you just can not take advantage of if you are tethered to a video game all day.

A walk through a state park, on the seashore, or even just spending some time in your own backyard can open a whole new world to a young person. Nature is full of colors that only nature can produce, interesting plants, odd insects, and amazing creatures that you might not find in a zoo.

If you live near the coast take them on a shell hunt. Once you get the shells home you can not only investigate what types of shells they are, but these shells can serve as a great material in craft projects. They can be used to make jewelry or can be glued to decorate most any surface. Sea shells look great as a decoration on flower pots, jewelry boxes, or you can even turn them into creative Christmas ornaments.

The forest and wooded areas that are in your area can offer you and your children a great chance to spend a ton of quality time together. During this quality time and exploring what miracles of mother nature your child can gain a lot of information. One great great activity would be a leaf scavenger hunts. Provide each child with a photo of different species of leaves such as oak leaves, maple leaves, elm leaves, and other leaves. Once the scavenger hunt is over the leaves can be dried between two pieces of wax paper and your child can then make them into a book.

Another way to teach your child about nature is to allow them to plant a small garden or even just a few plants in planters. Let them choose foods that they enjoy such as watermelons, cucumbers, or corn. Not only will they learn a ton about plants, but they will learn responsibility and fill a sense of accomplishment when the whole family sits down and enjoys something that the child has grown from a seedling.

No matter how you get your child out from in front of the television and in nature the important thing is just doing it. Nature will not only teach them some great information, but also teach them to take a moment and admire the natural beauty that surrounds us all each day.

Making a Terrarium

Want to add a little bit of greenery around your house?  Why not make a Terrarium?  A Terrarium can add life and beauty to a dual space in your home.  Put them in the kitchen, home office, living room, or anywhere you want.  They can be made in any size or shape glass container that you want.  Terrariums are very easy to make and each one is unique.  The hardest part about making a Terrarium will be is picking out the plants that you want.  So lets talk about what the best plants to put in a Terrarium. You can use just about any plant that will fit into the container that you choose.  The best’s plants to use would be the moon valley friendship plant, spider fern, star-shape Cryptanthus bivittatus, nerve plant, Peperomia caperata, Selaginella kraussiana, Pilea glauca, Tillandsia stricta, black mundo grass, moss, Saxifraga stolonifera, and the hens and chicks.  You don’t have to just use these plants for your terrarium though, almost any small plant will do.  A cactus is not recommended because they will more than likely rot within a week of being planted in a Terrarium.


Once you pick your plants then you need to get the other supplies.  The Supplies that you need are your glass container, activated charcoal pieces, potting soil, gloves, your plants, sheet moss, and a watering can.  Now it is time to assemble your terrarium garden.  Step one is to fill the bottom of your glass container with one to two inches of the charcoal.  Now combined the soil and a little bit of extra charcoal with your hand.  Then add the soil mixture to your glass container filling it one third to a forth full   All that is left is to add your plants to your soil.  Be sure not to jam your terrarium too full of plants or they may not do well. Once you have put your plants in you can add more soil to pack down if needed and then water your plants.  Be sure to place your terrarium so it can get some natural sunlight.  Just read about what type of sun your plants like.  Remember this is your terrarium so make it how you want and have fun.  This is a very easy project to complete and every terrarium turns out beautiful.  This is also a great gift for family or a friend.  So get creative and get to work! 

Plants for Winter Wildlife

Summer days with the droning of cicadas and the sun warming the green fields are almost over. Late spring and summer are times of plenty for people and for wildlife. Bushes are replete with sun ripened berries, the grass grows tall and green, the boughs of trees offer shade and shelter to a myriad variety of birds, mammals, and insects, and there is plenty of browse available for the animals of the forest. Soon though, the winds will blow chill and whip the winter bared branches of fruitless trees over fields that lie stripped after the harvest. Winter is a time of want for wildlife, but with a little forethought the gardener can supply a twelve month harvest of food and shelter for the wildlife in their area.

When planting trees the gardener should keep in mind that deer, squirrel and chipmunks, in those areas where the smaller mammals do not hibernate, trees such as the oak and hickory bear and abundance of food in the form of acorns and hickory nuts. Deer especially love the acorns of the white oak and will gorge themselves on this natural source of nutrition for as long as possible while squirrels will seek out hickory trees and will begin to harvest and ‘squirrel away’ the fat-rich nuts for as long as they can be found. For smaller animals such as birds the highly popular dogwood is very useful for the tiny red berries it bears in late fall and into early winter.

Evergreens, such as pines, firs, and cedars, as well as practically any varieties of evergreen shrub should not be overlooked. While most evergreens bear very little in the way of food, except for the tiny nuts found in pine cones, they do provide much needed shelter to smaller animals which are very susceptible to the cold weather. In more rural areas deer will even use groups of evergreens

which have been placed as borders and hedges as handy places to shelter themselves from the storms of winter.

Bird feeders are fine, and hay or corn left out for larger wildlife is good, but with a little thought and planning a gardener can easily landscape an area to not only supply themselves with a spring and summer bounty of shade, fruit, and flowers but also provide for the native wildlife in the area. A spring spent growing lovely flowers and a summer spent taking in a bountiful harvest can easily become a winter spent watching the birds, squirrels, and other wildlife as they enjoy the food and shelter the gardener has provided for them.

 

Live Stakes Are Used In Ponds and Lakes For Landscaping

River birch  and black willow live stakes can be used in landscaping. They make an enchanting border for the berm of your pond or lake. Make your garden a sanctuary of peace and harmony with the sounds of breezes the year round. They will make great shade in the summer, and beautiful breezes in the spring and fall. They also have great aesthetic appeal and are great for the environment. Anytime you can plant a tree you're doing your job to help the world a bit more.

When you build a man-made pond or lake, you should plant live stakes. You can create them by cutting branches, putting growing compound on the end, and letting them sprout. Or you can buy live stakes. The reason that this is such a good idea to do is because you are creating a berm to keep the sides from eroding. You may want river birch stakes, because they grow rapidly and will create a beautiful border for your pond or lake. If they don't thrive, then they are good for the environment as well, because they feed natural nutrients to the environment, and offer food to the wildlife. They will grow in drought conditions and like wet ones. They are great shade trees.

If you prefer black willow live stakes they are beautiful and fast growing. They can tolerate wet and dry conditions as well. They are nice in the fall..

When you are landscaping, these will create a beautiful environment for your pond or lake. So, making your garden an oasis for wildlife, and creating a beautiful sanctuary by planting them will make you proud of your garden for years. Your neighbors absolutley will love you, and you will increase the value of your property.

Both of these trees create wonderful canopies. And the leaves are plentiful and help to oxygenate . You can't lose when adding trees to the border of the water feature of your garden.

In summary, buy live stakes for your garden. River birch stakes, and black willow live stakes are great for landscaping. Whether your pond or lake is artificial or natural, you will enjoy them for years. 

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