Friday, May 29, 2009

Time to Plant!

So I'm trying to be a better gardener this summer and by better I mean taking the time needed to keep my flowers and plants beautiful and healthy all summer long! And I think that's a realistic goal since I'm going to be home more this summer, in the past I tended to be gone quite a bit and my gardens didn't do so well.

My baby boy loves watching me dig in the dirt from the comfort of his stroller and once he's a little older and understands that dirt is not a food I'll have an extra set of hands to help me plant and grow. Till then, I wheel his stroller around the yard for a front row view of my projects.

I have been reading some gardening magazines to educate myself and get some inspiration. Which is where I came across a plant called "Coleus" and it really caught my attention. From my readings I have learned that the plant was very popular in the Victorian era but then it kind of faded from popularity due to being considered 'old fashioned'. The new versions of Coleus are said to be easier to care for and the colors are very unique. I like to think of Coleus as a vintage plant and I don't think you can go wrong with vintage! When I visited a local garden center I was able to choose from about 5 or 6 different varieties and I was drawn to the ones that included shades of pink. There were some vivid yellow and orange ones too that are really cool but I just don't have a plan yet how to incorportate them in my gardens.

This picture is from one of the plantings I did today in a box on our deck. I heart Coleus:-)!



Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Plastic Odor Remedy!

I found this suggestion in a Good Housekeeping magazine and tried it out on a plastic garbage can that was smelling rather icky. And happily it worked!

Here's a simple and safe way to get out odors from plastic containers such as garbage cans and coolers:

Wipe down the inside of container with white vinegar and set outside in direct sunlight during the day. Then wipe the container down with a baking soda paste (just add some water to the baking soda to make the paste) and let this sit overnight.

Presto! The next day all smells will be gone!