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! 

Canning Is Becoming Increasingly Popular

Canning is a marvelous way to preserve those fresh vegetables and fruits.  There are several ways to can your foods and some very simple recipes out there for people with little time put into canning items.

When canning fruits and vegetables we need to make sure that the jars and lids that will be used are clean and ready.  One way to do this is to wash all the jars and lids and make them ready go.  We will also need to pick a recipe that will fit the needs of the items that we are canning.  Find recipes online and can also be recipes passed down in your family.

Once the recipe has been completed and the fruits and vegetables have been prepared and placed into the jars the lids will need to be sealed on them to make sure they stay as fresh as possible.  This can be done two ways.  The jars can be placed into boiling water to seal the lids tightly or they can be placed in a pressure cooker to seal them.

When the jars are sealed tightly we will need to let them cool before we store them.  With jars sealed and ready we will be sure to have the freshest canned goods in the months when fruits and vegetables are not growing and will be delighted with the fresh taste that this technique will preserve.  Through canning we can also don't allow fruits to spoil.  Canned goods can have a very long shelf life and most of the recipes will give information on how long the fruit or vegetable will stay fresh and ready to eat once they have gone through the canning process.

There are several recipes available from canning beans to making and canning your very own spaghetti sauces or making homemade salsa.  Another great reason to can is so that you will know exactly what ingredients are in your fruits and vegetable when you consume these.  Canning can also reassure us that there are no chemicals placed into our food products to maintain them and they will be all natural.  Someone that is looking to can some food items can find all the information that they will need along with great recipes when searching online.

Best Shrubs to Use in Landscaping

 One of the first decisions to make in landscaping is which plants to use. It takes all kinds of plants to make up a garden, but shrubs usually provide the structure. Start by selecting a few popular bushes that you love. Finding a nursery that has quality bushes for sale is also a must:

Burning Bushes are one example of a popular classic plant. They are beloved for their compact habit and beautiful foliage. What really makes burning bushes stand out, however, is their stunning fall color. Around September or October, the leaves, turn a fiery red. They almost look like they are on fire. Grow them for hedges or as a specimen plant.

Its almost impossible to go wrong with a selection of viburnum bushes. There are a number of popular varieties in this genus. What they all have in common is a beautiful floral display. Perhaps the fragrant snowball varieties are the most popular of all. With their large snowball clusters of sweetly fragrant flowers, it is easy to see why these types of viburnum bushes are at the top of so many peoples’ lists.

Rhododendrons are excellent for that partly shaded section of the landscape. They can grow in full sun, but will work harder for you if they have some shade during the day. Rhododendrons come in many sizes and shapes, from two foot tall bushes to twenty foot tall trees. With their evergreen leaves gracing your landscape you will be able to enjoy green all year long.

For plants that bloom all summer long, hydrangeas and potentillas are great options. Hydrangeas prefer some shade. Blossoms usually appear in July and last well into fall. Most hydrangeas have either pink or blue flowers. A few, such as Annabelle and Pee Gee, bear white flowers. It may be difficult to find a good variety of hydrangea bushes for sale locally. Try looking for an online plant nursery for a broad selection.

Potentillas are smaller, compact shrubs that love full sun. They usually top out at three feet in height. The flowers tend to be yellow, creamy white, or a soft pink. These shrubs will bloom heavily all summer long.

Lilacs are a favorite for fragrant spring flowers. The common lilac grows to about twelve feet in height, but there are many smaller varieties to choose from.

The best place to start looking for bushes for sale is at an online plant nursery. You will find pictures, information and a great selection.  

http://www.onlineplantnursery.com/bushes/