Benefits of Gardening

If you have a garden in your home, spending a bit more time in it can do you good. And you don't need to have a large garden to enjoy the benefits of gardening.

Gardening provides the regular physical exercise. It's just as effective as going to a gym, but much cheaper. All that digging, shoveling, raking, composting, and other garden activities are extremely effective in burning fat and improving blood circulation.

Gardening

Gardening requires you to use your head and your creativity. The time spent planning the garden and researching different plants is a great brain workout. Gardening gives us a chance to be creative. You can let your personality shine through in your garden.

Gardening is also a great stress-reliever. In the midst of your daily grind, meeting deadlines and the many other tasks that make up your day, try to sit out in your garden and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. This can do wonders for your well being. The beautiful colors found in the flowers may also have calming effects on one's mood.

Gardening connects you with nature and the rhythm of life. Gardening requires you to live in garden time. We all could use a lesson in slowing down. Studies have revealed just viewing a garden or nature has healthy psychological benefits.

The relationships that develop, between plants, and people, and the basic human need of watching things grow, creates a sense of excitement. In many cases it becomes a source of therapy for people with emotional problems.

Gardening also provides a chance for you to give yourself some "alone time" - time to pray, meditate, and simply clear out your mind. Take in the fresh air, get some sunshine, and commune with nature.
Gardening gives you a sense of accomplishment and independence, as well as a closer relationship with nature that working with soil and its produce so often provide

Growing your own produce is not only more cost-effective, but you are assured of a fresh harvest with something healthy and delicious for every meal. We can not ignore the fact that, in most cases, the produce you buy in most food stores is more expensive then what it would cost you to grow your own vegetables, which when harvested, is a much better product.

As you can see, the benefits of gardening are not restricted to people of a certain age. Anyone from kids to the elderly can reap the benefits of gardening.

Benefits of Gardening

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Best Time to See Fall Colors in New England

One of the most frequently asked questions we are asked that pertains to fall foliage travel, is "When is the Best Time to see the changing of the leaves?"

Predicting the exact timing is difficult as there are a lot of variables. Also, it depends on what areas you are visiting to see the fall foliage. You can see fall foliage as far south as Georgia and the Carolina's, as well as some areas of the Midwest, but for this articles, my focus is on New England fall foliage.

Orchard

Witness the magnificent Fall Foliage of New England, starting in Boston and then traveling along Maine's rocky coast to Portland. Enjoy time in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, picturesque Acadia National Park, and feast at a traditional Maine lobster bake. More stops in New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut will add to your unforgettable journey.

See oranges, yellows, reds, purples and browns burst into bloom in the autumn, painting a colorful backdrop to the white steeped villages of New England, the dramatic seascapes of Maritime Canada and the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

Keep in mind, fall colors can be affected by wind, temperature and moisture. Mother nature can be unpredictable, so try to make your trip for other sites & events around New England, as well as the changing of the leaves. Popular things to do include apple picking at a local orchard, attending festivals or county fairs, hiking and biking. The peak travel season is typically late-September to mid-October. We normally suggest after September 23rd through the 18th of October. Peak fall foliage in New England works its way down from the north. The further north you go, the earlier the peak. Many popular tour itineraries include Vermont, New Hampshire (Kancamagus Scenic Highway) and Massachusetts (the Mohawk Trail.)

Choose from various escorted tours and cruise itineraries to gain the full experience of what New England has to offer. As the season nears, there are many "Hotlines" to get up to date information on the changing of the season. You can also check the tourist board websites for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont for fall foliage and festival updates dedicated to their state.

Best Time to See Fall Colors in New England

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Gardening - Plumeria Plant Care

The plumeria is a beautiful plant whose flowers are put into the Hawaiian leis. It is also known as the Frangipani or the Lei flower. It doesn't only grow in Hawaii though; you can grow it at your own home!

The plumeria is native to tropical areas of the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, South America and Mexico. When they are grown in these tropical regions, they can become thirty to forty feet tall and half as wide! If grown in other areas, however, they will usually only grow to be large shrubs or sometimes small trees. The branches of this plant are spaced quite widely and are round or pointed. The leaves grow in clusters by the branch's tips.

Gardening

If you live in a colder climate, your plumeria should be grown in a container. They make great potted plants for your porch, patio, or greenhouse. If you live in a mild climate, they can be put into the ground where they will become beautiful small trees. However, if temperatures fall into the low 40s they need to be kept in their containers or uprooted from the ground and brought to a heated location. When you uproot this plant, try to get as much root as possible and put the plant into a heated garage or basement where the temperatures are above freezing. During the winter, this plant goes into a dormant stage and does not need light or water. Once all the leaves fall off, you can store it inside until spring comes again.

As soon as the temperature rises outside, you can bring the plant back outside or plant it again if you had it in the ground. It will start growing again as if nothing happened.

Starting in the early summer and ending in the early fall, this plant will make very beautiful, fragrant flowers. The fragrance of these flowers is amazing; it is very pleasant and sweet. The flowers also come in many colors, such as whites, reds, yellow and many pastels. The plant can flower for three months at a time and will produce new flowers every day. When you pick these flowers, they will last for several days if you keep them in water.

If you plant the plumeria in a container, use a well draining potting soil. Cactus mix or a mix with sand and perlite works great. Put the cut end into the soil about two inches deep and firm the soil. Plumerias have low water requirements. Only water them when the soil is dry. Stop watering them in the winter when the leaves fall off and resume in the spring.

Plumerias do need fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. Start giving the fertilizer in the spring when the new growth comes. If you want to encourage the plant to make lots of flowers, switch your fertilizer to one high in phosphorous in early May. Use the high phosphorous fertilizer every two to three weeks until the end of August.

The Plumeria is a beautiful, hardy plant that many people enjoy. If you care for this plant properly, you will be well rewarded with stunning, fragrant flowers. Most importantly, just make sure you protect this plant from the cold.

Gardening - Plumeria Plant Care

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Gardening

Garden Soil - Naturally Sterilizing Garden Soils With Solar

Most garden soils and especially organically created garden soil will never need the extremity of sterilization. However, in some instances such as nematode infestation, it may be desirable to completely sterilize the soil. The major drawback to this, whether naturally or chemically, is that it also kills beneficial soil organisms. However, depending on certain circumstances, it may be necessary.

It's almost impossible to eliminate all weeds seeds, diseases, nematodes, and insects. And especially organically or naturally. However, it is possible to cut the population of most to just a few simply by using the heat of the sun in the hottest part of Summer. That is, in most climates. I'll explain more on that later.

Garden

In the hottest part of Summer, usually August or July, it's possible to raise soil temperatures over four inches deep to above 120 degrees using clear plastic sheeting. Simply till or spade manure into the surface soil as deep as you can get it. The manure will help to generate heat.

Next, moisten the area and cover with clear plastic sheeting. Keep the sheeting on the ground and make sure all edges are tucked tightly, covered with dirt, or held down in another way. This will basically create an oven that will produce soil temperature often above 120 degrees. This will generally "cook" the largest percentage of unwanted soil problems. Keep covered and moist for at least four weeks.

In cooler climates where even Summer temperature don't get very high, it's possible that this method will actually help germinate some seeds and multiply unwanted soil diseases. It basically creates a cozy greenhouse atmosphere with good temperatures for germination.

On a smaller scale, you can have better success and possibly eliminate all unwanted diseases, weeds, nematodes, and insects. Placing soil in black pots, moistening, and covering tightly with clear plastic will produce soil temperatures in excess of 150-160 degrees. Keep covered for two weeks and make sure it stays moist. Not much can live in that.

Again, keep in mind that this also kills beneficial soil organisms. However, the tradeoff may be necessary. And you can rebuild the structure of the soil over time by adding lots of organics to the soil.

Garden Soil - Naturally Sterilizing Garden Soils With Solar

Article by Steve Boulden. Steve is the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free landscaping advice, tips, plans, and ideas to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more landscaping ideas, visit his site at: www.the-landscape-design-site.com.