When redecorating a room, don’t forget about your lighting. While it may seem that you will have to purchase all new lamps for your new décor, sometimes all you need is a new lampshade. Replacing a lampshade is a lot cheaper than purchasing a whole new lamp.

I find it is easier to wait until your major room components are in place before selecting new lampshades. Let the theme of your new room eveolve, then select lamp shades that either compliment or contrast with your theme. For example, a wild safari room with a zebra rug on the floor, might be well-served by a simple solid-color lamp shade to help offset the boldness of the rug. However, in a less wild décor, such as a simple, clean, contemporary design, a bold lampshade would add visual interest to the room. Don’t be afraid to experiment!

Lampshades come in a variety of different shapes, textures, and materials. These are your grandmother’s lampshades! Materials can range from paper, to fabric, to natural materials like tree leaves, to fur, to plastic. And designs can range from sold colors, to patterns, to abstract designs.

Before you head out to your lampshade store or place your order online for a replacement shade, be sure to take a look at your current lampshade. Lampshades come in a variety of different sizes (usually measured around the circumference of the shade) and mounting styles. Some shades mount directly to the base lamps while others mount to a support bracket that surrounds the bulb, while others still clip directly onto the light bulb.

Be brave and daring with your choice of lampshades. They are easy to replace if you hate your choice, but a simple lampshade can add that punch of drama to a room.

* * *

Find more of Mr. Novosat’s writings on his own blog at http://www.novosat.us/wp

About the Author

Dean Novosat holds a degree in Scenery and Lighting Design from Frankling & Marshall College and he uses his knowledge and experience with theatrical lighting in the home. He feels the home is just a blank canvas or stage that we choose to live in! He is the webmaster of http://www.only-lamp-shades.com and he enjoys using light in unique and different ways in the home.

Gardening is perhaps one of the best hobbies that a more laborious nature lover can take up. The reason why I choose to call this hobby laborious is because it surely does involve a good deal of physical activity. This hobby is not meant for those nature lovers who simply want to bask in the natural beauty that already exists. Rather it is an ideal pass time for those who want to make their own contribution to the nature.

In order to be successful in gardening one must have the following qualities: -

1.) Besides having a love for gardening you should also have the will and determination to pursue your hobby.

2.) You must be physically fit and agile. Laziness and gardening are anonymous to each other.

3.) Learn to exchange your ideas and information with like-minded people who can show an equal passion for gardening.

4.) Try laying your hands on almost any books, magazines or articles that can enhance your knowledge on gardening.

5.) Be prepared to invest a small amount of your earnings in purchasing the “Can’t do without”, gardening tools.

The world of gardening is wide and it has immense possibilities for those who want to explore it with the right zeal and enthusiasm. You can choose from indoor gardening, outdoor gardening, landscaping, cultivating exotic herbs, growing bonsais and thus the list is endless. However it is important to do a fair amount of research work before delving into any of the above fields. You should master up the art of choosing the right plants and also learn the techniques favorable for their productivity and growth.

Growing plants is not enough. Deciding where the plants should grow is also an important aspect of gardening. Nothing can be more distasteful than a garden which has color clashing flowers growing all around in a haphazardly manner. So be careful about allocating the plants their respective locations. Arrange the assortments of flowers in accordance with their heights, textures and colors so that they complement each other without diminishing the beauty of your garden.

Keep aside one day from the entire week to be your gardening day. Generally week -ends would be a good choice. On this day, equip your self with all the essential gardening tools and accessories and get down to your work. If you have children or friends who are equally interested in gardening call for their assistance. The more the merrier!

Once you are done for the day clean your tools well and store them in their right place. Be sure to maintain your gardening tools because well maintained tools can give you years of good performance. After all tools aren’t something that you can afford to buy every week.

Whether you are an efficient gardener or not can be best proved by your garden itself. So stop twiddling your thumbs and put your green fingers to use. As far as gardening is concerned, if you have really put in hard work your efforts will never go futile.

Lisa Marx for www.gardening-information-online.com

Long a favourite of French chefs, the herb Artemisia dracunculus, known as French tarragon or dragon herb is an essential ingredient in Béarnaise sauce, tarragon vinegar, and certain Dijon mustards. A perennial herb, tarragon grows 2 - 4 feet (60 - 120 cm) and has dark, shiny, narrow grey-green leaves about 3 inches (8 cm) long with smooth edges. Tarragon produces tiny yellow flowers and has stems that are ridged, round, branching, and light green. Tarragon is rich in Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, and potassium, and has a mild anise flavour in its leaves.

Although it is not the easiest of herbs to grow, tarragon can be grown in containers. Plant into a pot 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter or larger. Purchase plants from your greenhouse, garden catalogue, or propagate by cuttings or root division. Do not purchase seeds, as they are generally sterile. If potting up outdoor plants for indoor use, plant by mid-summer. The plants should be exposed to cold, at least 4 C (39 F) for a month before bringing inside, as the plants require a period of dormancy.

Tarragon grows best in full sun although it will tolerate filtered sun. This plant likes warm, dry, well-drained, light soils. Do not overwater as tarragon is susceptible to root rot in soggy soil. Indoors, tarragon requires 5 hours of direct sunlight a day. Place in an eastern or southern exposure and turn plants frequently to ensure all sides receive equal light. If growing under fluorescents, hang lights 6 inches (15 cm) above plants and leave on 14 hours a day.

In the garden, tarragon is a good companion to all plants. In the kitchen, tarragon is something very special and particularly good for flavouring vinegar. To make tarragon vinegar, place a large sprig in a sterilized bottle or glass jar, bring white wine vinegar to a boil and pour in enough to cover. Seal and store away from light. In addition to the above, other uses for tarragon include: hollandaise sauce, tartar sauce, vinaigrettes, seafood salads, dressings for tossed green salads, tomato soup, chicken broth, seafood cocktails, scrambled eggs, omelettes, spinach and mushroom dishes, meat dishes, fish, veal, poultry, mustard sauces, and quiche. Add a few leaves of tarragon to the boiling water of spinach, tomatoes, peas, cauliflower, and cabbage to enhance their flavour. When steaming vegetables such as potatoes, cauliflower, zucchini, peas, and summer squash, season them with tarragon butter. To make tarragon butter, mix together 2 tbsp. (30 mL) butter to 1 tsp. (5 mL) finely chopped tarragon, 1 tsp. (5 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice, and sea salt to taste. This butter can be stored in the freezer.

Use tarragon sparingly as it has a flavour that diffuses quickly through dishes. Add the leaves when your dish is just about ready to serve as tarragon takes but a few minutes of cooking time. Tarragon can be stored fresh in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, frozen in ice cubes trays, or preserved in white wine vinegar or oil and packed in sealed, sterilized jars. Tarragon can also be dried in a warm, well-ventilated place. Strip the leaves from the stems before storing. Dried leaves should be kept in a cool, preferably dark place in airtight containers.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace - Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit http://www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 - 2005. All rights reserved.

Care and Feeding of Your Herb Garden

Most herbs are fairly easy to maintain. They don’t need water every day and don’t really need fertilizer. The biggest concern you’ll have is weeding.

To find out if your garden needs water, take a finger and push it into the soil. If it is damp or wet under the surface, you don’t need to water it. If it stays dry all the way to your first knuckle, water it. Should your plants start drooping, water right away. This is more liable to happen in warmer climes and sometimes can be attributed to very hot temperatures, but is more likely to signify a desperate need for water.

The best way to water your herb garden is a technique called “deep watering.” This involves watering the garden for an extended period of time, until small puddles begin forming. This method is called “deep watering” because you’re ensuring that the water goes deep into the soil, down to the roots of your plants. If you deep water, you can leave your garden for a few days or more (depending on your climate and recent weather) without additional watering.

As I’ve said previously, herbs don’t really need any kind of fertilizer, but if you feel better doing so, they might like some compost. I once tried Miracle-Gro on my plants, but wasn’t comfortable with the idea of placing chemicals into the herbs and besides, it didn’t do a lick of good.

Sometimes you’ll have problems with pests. The very best way to combat them is to use an organic solution since you’ll be treating plants intended for human consumption. Try the following recipe from Canning Perennials, a nursery in Ontario, Canada.

Basic Soap Spray
You’ll need a 1-quart hand sprayer filled with warm water. Add a squirt of non-detergent soap such as Ivory or baby shampoo. Do not use detergent as this could harm your plants.

Additions to the Basic Soap Spray
When using additives, just add a teaspoon to your quart container of basic soap spray. It is best to test the mixture on one or two leaves before spraying the entire plant, to ensure that no leaf damage will result.

1. Oil - Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to the basic soap spray to improve adherence.
2. Garlic - Combine about 1/2 cup of mineral oil with a dozen or so crushed cloves of garlic. Allow to stand for 48 hours. Strain. Start by using roughly 1 tsp in your quart sprayer.
3. Hot Spray - In a food processor, liquify a small onion and an entire bulb of garlic. Seep this mixture in a cup of olive oil. After 48 hours, strain the olive oil and discard the pulp. Add a half teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Store in a glass jar. To use, add a teaspoon to basic soap spray.

You can also use diatomaceous earth, a non-toxic powder made from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. It is deadly to any insect and completely harmless to all other living creatures.

For severe problems, you might want to introduce some ladybugs or praying mantises to the garden. These predators will get rid of the “bad” bugs and leave your plants alone. Spiders are also good to have in your garden for the same reason, and you will often find that they have taken up residence there of their own accord.

Another solution to pests is called companion gardening. This entails planting herbs that repel bugs near plants that attract them. For example, one plant might have a tendency to get aphids, but another plant nearby repels them so that you don’t have to worry about the bugs. There are too many tips and tricks to companion gardening to go into here, so you may want to look for a book on this if you are interested.

A very common problem many herb gardeners encounter is called “damping off.” This happens when a fungus attacks the seedling, weakens the stem, and eventually kills it. When your seedlings have flopped over and appear to have given way at the point of emergence from the soil, they have damped off, and there’s nothing to be done except plant a whole new crop.

One year this fungus attacked every seedling I had. It started with the basil, which is most susceptible to damping off, and spread to everything else. It is impossible to cure but is easily prevented. The fungus thrives in damp conditions; restricted airflow is a big contributor to damping off.

Crowded growing conditions are another factor of damping off. Sow your herb seeds thinly, or, if planting seedlings, make sure they have plenty of room between them. To stave off the dampness which encourages the fungus, try a light covering of Perlite(TM) or clean sand sprinkled over the soil where the seeds are sown. This will absorb excess moisture.

Well-cared for herb gardens rarely have problems with fungi, but it does happen. To combat fungus on your plants, here are a couple of organic recipes, easily made in your kitchen, from Canning Perennials:

Baking Soda Spray
1 quart of water
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 squirt of liquid, non-detergent soap

Spray infected leaves thoroughly, including undersides and stems. In damp weather repeat regularly. This is an effective mixture to help prevent botrytis, black spot, rust, and powdery mildew.

Potato Starch Spray
1 quart of water
2 to 4 tablespoons of potato flour
1 squirt of liquid, non-detergent soap

In addition to fungal diseases, this blend is also an effective insect spray.

Part 6 - Harvesting and Drying

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Melinda Robinson is controlling partner in Rodeo City Technology Group, a Texas-based company that offers TMS (Total Marketing Solutions) — including custom content creation — that fit your business and bring maximum ROI. http://www.rodeocitytech.com

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Copyright © 2005 Tammy Clayton

Morning coffee with the internet has become a tradition of mine
in recent years. The internet holds a much greater variety of
information than the newspaper, as well as less depressing
things to read at the beginning of the day. No one should have
to wake up with murder and mayhem in their face. A more pleasant
mindset is found in waking to check the weather, respond to a
note from a friend, or reading about an exciting new plant. This
morning I went to look for further information on a particularly
nifty new plant on one of my vendor’s sites. Not finding that I
clicked on another link that caught my attention in their Garden
Writers section.

“Meatballs, Soapboxes and Tuna Cans”, to be precise.

To a person who has never been employed within the landscape
industry, that phrase would bring to mind food. To insiders it
would have a far different meaning. Of course where I worked it
was baseballs and cubes. So this morning’s coffee was sipped
between chuckles.

The author (head of sales) I would venture to say is younger
than 50. Those over 50 feel that these balls, cubes, footballs
or tuna cans are a staple that is required in the landscape. For
the life of me I have never understood why we must have them.
What is so necessary about using a shrub far to large for its
placement and whacking off it’s limbs to shape it into an
unnatural form? Off with its head! It should wear a size 42 long
jacket, but we will force it to fit comfortably into a 10 short.
It is interesting to note that also helpless poodles have also
fallen victim to this manner of unnatural shaping and they are
not plants. A month ago I witnessed a house cat shorn in this
manner.

Mr. Woods, who wrote the afore mentioned article, has developed
the opinion that it is an inherent human instinct. That we
humans have so little that we actually have complete control
over that our psyche has tuned in to the helpless shrubs in our
yard. While I giggled often while reading his words, it struck
me that he has a good point. Why else would we so cruelly
inhibit the wild beauty of a shrub? In my early years I had no
reason to argue with my father, the professional landscaper as
to why we must do this. Quite the contrary, originally I
assisted him in his whacking while trying to mimic his methods.
It wasn’t until I started to design plantings and began to see
plants for their own individual beauty that I began to question
this barbaric practice. It has come to be a long standing
argument between us over the years. He refuses to budge from his
Pro Juniper stance, insisting we simply MUST have the prickly
old things. Yews and Burning Bushes have their place and are
quite lovely if not placed where they can be gently shaped not
beaten in submission twice a season.

During my contracting days, I would arrive at a clients home for
a meeting about a landscape facelift to find the sad remains of
Burning Bushes, Yews and Junipers that had resided along the
walk or foundation for decades. All of them left much to be
desired in the looks department after the last harsh whacking.
Common sense told me that following decades of cruel treatment,
the poor things have given up growing hair. Why should they
continue to grow it if for the past 25 years every attempt was
quickly lopped off? How much squelching of creativity can a
being endure before throwing in the towel? In voicing this
thought to successful lawyers and surgeons , I must admit I was
rewarded with raised eyebrows. Why do we insist on planting a
shrub that will grow eight foot tall and 12 foot wide in a 30
inch wide space and insist it does not exceed those confines? I
am in agreement with Mr. Woods, it is one area to have complete
control over in our lives.

So there I stand with this super successful professional, a man
of high learning, who wants to know how we can coax this spent
row of 5 foot tall trunks and stems along his walk into growing
more hair in the bottoms. He thinks that fertilizer cures all of
man’s cruelty. (Remember that you must see things through the
eye of the plant?) How am I to explain this to this person! My
professional self developed a cunning approach. “A landscape has
a life expectancy of about 20 years. Yours seems to be about 5
years overdue for replanting.” If this was not enough to
convince the customer, I would go on to ask how long the
wallpaper in their kitchen had hung there. Explaining that
redecorating outdoors was just as necessary to variety in life
than it was to keep up to date with their interior décor. But
they wanted back what they had before it turned into bare
branches! The issue of certain control may very well be the
answer.

Now I am not against hedges. I am not anti-evergreen. Pruning,
thinning and shaping is of definite necessity to full and lovely
shrubs and even some trees. Even every other aspect of life we
look for the right thing to accomplish the task, but when it
comes to the plants we place in our yards we seem to fall short
in the search for the proper element. Proper planning should be
the first consideration and whacking could become almost
obsolete. It is good to know that plant breeders are busily
developing new Arborvitaes and Yews that will stay in a nice
little meatball shape without whacking. News that will lessen
the maintenance you must forfeit your weekend to perform,
alleviate the need to butcher the bushes and make all the hedge
trimmer companies hold their breath over next year’s third
quarter earnings.

As for the aspect of proper planning vs. constant replacement,
if the space is 30 inches wide, then it would be best to
consider installing only those shrubs that will never exceed 4
foot in width. Remember, a little shaping is good and a harsh
whacking is lowering the life expectancy of the elements in your
landscape. Proper planning is one of the best tools in creating
a low maintenance planting.

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Read more great Gardening articles at:
http://www.lostintheflowers.com

Today in the U.K most households have uPVC double glazing. There is a huge shortage of spare parts when it comes to replacing broken hinges, handles, locks, letterboxes and other hardware items. In fact many homeowners now replace whole windows or doors for the sake of a broken lock. Not any more!!!

It is an amazing fact that uPVC double glazing was sold by the industry as a maintenance free product. While it is true the uPVC frame will last approximately 10,000 years before degrading, the mild steal and cast Zink moving hardware parts will last an average of 10 years before they start to fail.

The problem with window company guarantees:

1. Many window companies have gone out of business leaving the guarantees worthless,
2. Most guarantees last about 10 years so end just when you need them,
3. The guarantee in most cases only covers the hardware for 12 months and the uPVC for 10 years.

I have known people who already have uPVC windows and doors getting them ripped out and replaced with uPVC again at a cost of thousands of pounds because the hardware is starting to fail. This is like scrapping your car because it needs new spark plugs and a couple of new tyres.

Why do people do this??

The answer is simple.

The home owner calls out uPVC window and door installers who only want to install a new window or door and will convince them it is un-repairable. Even if they wanted to repair it they wouldn’t know where to get the parts. You see window companies for instance will use 2 or 3 different types of locks on their doors while there are at least 140 different types.

I am a director of a company called “Safe n Sound LTD” set up to keep your existing uPVC windows and doors working by supplying the hardware spare parts required. On our website we have 144 different types of door locks alone for sale. We can supply most hardware parts used over the years by most window companies in the U.K. You can view photos and technical drawings of product and read through descriptions to make sure you purchase the correct item. We accept all major credit cards/debit cards online and many goods will be despatched same day or next day.

The website address is http://www.safensoundltd.com/

About The Author

Christopher John White - I am the technical Director for Safe n Sound Ltd. We specialise in supplying hardware parts to enable the repair of uPVC windows and doors. I have many years experiance in the hardware replacement business both in fitting parts, training and supplying parts nationwide.

sales@safensoundltd.co.uk

A property that has a well manicured lawn has one of the best chances at showing pride in ownership than any other outdoor technique.

For one thing, there is a large upswing in the priority that homeowners place in their outdoor living spaces.

Therefore, the landscaping of your front yard (especially) as well as that of your back yard should look its very best when it’s selling time. Your landscaping will make a huge contribution to the resale value of your home, so make sure that it’s doing its best to help you out.

In fact, studies have shown that when the landscaping of a home is in excellent condition, it can sell for about 4 to 5 percent higher, while homes with landscaping in very poor condition can sell for 8 to 10 percent less. That’s a huge difference in the overall selling price of your home.

You might be wondering exactly how much time you should dedicate to sprucing up the landscape of your property. How much time and money is worth it for your sale?

Even if you put a minimal amount of money, effort, and time in to your landscaping, it will help you in selling your home, and perhaps even getting a boost in the selling price. Every effort you make will help.

However, don’t overdo it. Remember that it’s not a selling feature; it’s only something to help the overall appeal of your property, so that the other selling features will be better appreciated.

You should keep your lawn mowed so that it is even, and neatly short. Keep it well weeded, as these will only appear as blemishes to your landscaping. Make sure to use a weed eater to do the edges, as this gives your work a superior finish touch.

If there are any “bald” patches in your lawn, buy a small bag of seed and care for the spot, filling it in. This is especially important if you have a dog who digs or who leaves “pet damage” where s/he does his or her business.

After you fill in the dead spots that your dog has left, make sure to water the areas after your dog “waters,” to prevent new dead patches from forming. Watering the areas will dilute the urine to stop it from burning the grass.

This effort makes an immeasurable difference in the overall neatness of the house, and the impression that it will leave potential buyers.

About the Author

For more landscaping and gardening tips go to http://www.GardenArticles.com today!

One of the most appealing things anyone will learn about herb gardening is how relaxing and simple growing herbs can be. Discovering all the wonderful, various herbs and what they do is a captivating pastime, and can be quite beneficial. You can use herbs for cooking, as medicinal aids such as topical dressings or healthy teas, or simply for decorative plants in the garden.

There are so many herb plants to choose from, it can be a bit daunting to the beginning herb gardener. A good source of information that you probably have is your cookbook, which often devotes a chapter or two to the uses of different herbs as flavorings and accents.

Planting a Basic Herb Garden

Get acquainted with herb gardening by growing herbs you think you’ll use, plus throw in one or two that sound interesting to you. Herb gardens can range in size from small containers to vast outdoor gardens.

To best learn herb gardening, start simple with a small, sunny plot, or use a clay pot filled with potting soil.

The Two Big Needs that herbs have are:

- lots of sun, and

- well-drained soil.

Most herbs have a preference of full or partial sun, and the seed package or nursery will have this information clearly stated. Most herbs will not do well in very wet soil, and watering about every 2-3 days is usually sufficient. Raised garden beds are a good fit for herb gardens. They have excellent drainage and can be easily arranged for proper sunlight.

When planting herb seeds, cover them lightly with soil, and don’t plant the seeds too deep. A good rule of thumb with herb gardening is “the smaller the seed, the shallower you sow.” If you are using young herb plants already started in growing trays, simply transplant them into your pots or garden bed. Sometimes the plants in the trays are dry; if so, water them first before planting them.

Finally, remember that annual herbs (herb plants which only grow for one season and then die) and perennial herbs (herb plants which will return the following year) do best when planted separately. This avoids disrupting the perennial plants’ roots when it is time to dig out the dead annuals. It also prevents leaving dead root pieces behind which can contribute to fungus growth.

Grow Fresh Herbs for Cooking

Cooking with fresh herbs from your garden is a wonderful experience. To get started, here are gardening tips for two well-known herbs that are great for beginning herb gardeners.

Sweet Basil — Sweet basil leaves are good in salads, and are a main flavoring ingredient in tomato dishes such as spaghetti and marinara sauce. In the northern climates, basil is usually grown as an annual plant. In milder climates, sweet basil will return each year on its own, and therefore is considered a perennial plant.

The sweet basil herb is a pleasure to grow because it thrives in average soil, and likes sun or partial shade. Sow the seeds after danger of frost is over, or start them indoors about eight weeks before growing season and then transplant them outside. You can also purchase ready-to-grow starter plants from nurseries and through catalogs.

It’s easy to promote the bushiness of the basil plant leaves by pinching and clipping the herb throughout the summer. Use the leaves fresh during the summer growth months, and in the fall, dry the leaves and store them for use during the winter.

Garlic — Garlic is full of minerals and nutrients, and is known to have great medicinal properties. It is a staple in every chef’s kitchen for cooking dishes from chicken and pasta to seafood and vegetables. We’ve all seen garlic bulbs at the grocery store… but did you know that one simple garlic bulb has enough cloves to begin a garden full of garlic plants? Here’s what you do:

When spring arrives and the weather has begun to turn warm, prepare a small garden bed in a sunny spot. Take the cloves and place them, pointy side up, in the soil. Plant them in clusters, or rows, and put a light layer of topsoil over them with some compost mixed in. When fall arrives, lift the garlic bulbs out of their bed.

Dry the garlic by slicing the bulbs into thin slices and placing them on a rack at room temperature. You can also store the bulbs by braiding the stalks and hanging the garlic in a dark, cool space. You may also freeze the entire garlic bulb!

Learn about herb gardening with these herbs, and then begin to branch out with more. In the meantime, you’ll add wonderful flavors to your recipes, and mouthwatering aromas in the kitchen!

Robert Mosse is a garden and lawn care specialist and author of the “Easy” Lawn and Gardening Book Series. Find out more about herb gardening - and get Robert’s free Guide for 101 Gardening Tips.

I found that prevention is better than cure! A garden pond must be constructed correctly to prevent a load of problems later on. This collection of tips covers pond construction, some ideas to copy nature, pump selection and even something on a bog garden.

These ten tips on how to build a pond have been acquired through experience. I have had my fair share of fixing leaking ponds. During these difficult times I have found some excellent solutions on how to build a pond that copies nature and which is durable.

1) Dig the pond hole slightly larger than the required final size. Avoid steep sides else all your lining materials will slide down to the bottom. This is an allowance for all the layers of material that will be placed in the hole. Line the hole with underlay or a thin layer of sand before you place the pond liner. This will prevent any sharp stones or roots from penetrating the liner and causing a leak.

2) Make indentations in the bottom of the garden pond hole where plants will be planted. Put down the underlay and pond liner. Place the plant pots in the preformed indentations and line the pond with a layer of washed river sand (sharp sand). Finally place the pebbles on top of the sand. Although your plants are still in pots, it will appear as if they are growing through the pebbles.

3) Make a ledge around the garden pond approximately 3 inches (75 mm) below the final water level. Build your rock edging on this ledge and backfill with soil. It will appear as if the rocks form a natural barrier keeping the water in the pond.

4) A sandy beach which gradually slopes into the water provides an excellent area for wildlife to get safe access to the water. Also make sure that there is a clear view for the birds from this beach. They will not feel threatened and will stay longer and possibly have a bath as well!

5) A durable garden pond is created by plastering the liner with a 25 to 35 mm layer of mortar. Mix 1 part cement with 2 parts river sand and one part building sand add a waterproofing agent. Use only enough water to make the mixture workable. Line the pond in one go. If you stop and start again you will have a crack in the pond.

6) Natural rock and mortar have different temperature expansion rates. This means that with time, cracks will appear between any rocks built into the edge of the pond and the mortar lining. Your pond will eventually leak. This is how to build a garden pond using a natural rock finish on the rim:

a) Line the pond with mortar.

b) Place a thick layer of mortar on the rim where the rocks will be placed.

c) Place a layer of plastic cling wrap on top of the mortar.

d) Firmly push each rock into its position on top of the cling wrap. The mortar will take the shape of the rocks.

e) Remove the rocks and cling wrap after the mortar has dried. Temporally store the rocks so that you will be able to position them back in exactly the same position later.

f) Apply silicone sealer to the mortar and “glue” the rocks into their correct positions. The seal will not be visible. Ensure that you use a non-toxic sealant or else your fish will surely die.

When dry, the joint will be permanently sealed! Please wait until the silicone has completely dried before filling the pond with water. This procedure requires patience, but is well worth the effort. Doing it right at the start will save you time and expenses later - Guaranteed!!

7) Use the correct size pump if you are going to filter the water and or have a fountain. Take the loss of head in the filter into account when choosing a pump. Also choose a pump one size larger than you think you will need. It is easy to throttle the flow back a bit if it is too much, but you cannot increase the flow if it is to slow!! Do not reduce the size of the pipes. Use the same diameter pipes as the pump inlet and outlet. Rather increase these diameters to reduce the friction in the pipes. High friction will reduce your water flow. Protect your pump by placing a nylon stocking (ladies pantyhose) over the pump suction. This will prevent dirt entering the pump and prolong your pump life. Replace the stocking often.

Hide your pump behind something in the pond. Pumps are unsightly and detract from the natural look and feel of a garden pond. Similarly hide the source of your water outlet. Let the water bubble out from beneath a few rocks or pebbles, or use large leaves to conceal the end of the pipe.

9) Choose different sizes of pebbles to line your pond. In nature pebble sizes differ. Three different sizes will suffice. Try and copy nature by putting a few larger rocks here and there. Having a rock protruding out of the water will also provide an ideal landing place for birds. Just don’t over do it. Nature is the best teacher on how to build a pond.

10) Keep your pond healthy by replacing some of the water every week. An excellent idea is to build a bog garden at the pond overflow. When you put fresh water into the pond, the overflow will keep the bog wet. A bog garden is made by digging a hole and lining it with pond liner. Push a few holes in the bottom of the lining with a garden fork. Fill the hole with special bog garden soil.

Now that you have a basic idea on how to build a pond, why don’t you give your garden a face lift?

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Remember… Plant a garden and make the world a happier place!

Rising from a muddy pond, a lotus flower blossoms. Such epitome of purity in a turbid environment has sparked off much inspiration in ancient oriental literature and Buddhist teachings, shaping a repertoire of odes to the graceful demeanour and refreshing fragrance of the lotus.

History

The lotus has played a vital role in the creation of the world, according to Egyptian mythology. Before the universe came into being, there was an infinite ocean of inert water which constituted the primeval being named Num. Out of Num emerged a lotus flower and when it blossomed, the self-created sun god, Atum, stepped out as a child. In fact, the lotus flower is featured extensively in the artwork of ancient Egypt.

Ecologically, the first stirrings of life in the world arose in water. Premised on the botanical understanding that the lotus is one of the world’s first flowering plants, it is conceivable that lotus is a living fossil.

In Indian culture, the lotus is symbol of rebirth and a manifestation of truth, ideals, beauty, peace and enlightenment.

Since ancient times, lotus has always been a gastronomical delight in Chinese cuisine, with recipes ranging from rice wrapped in lotus leaf to lotus roots soup.

Ecology

The lotus is an Asian water lily that possesses an amazing ability to flourish in a variety of environments ranging from clear ponds to muddy marshes. It is also renowned for its hearty seed pods, which often plant themselves away from its source, spreading the beauty of the lotus blossoms far and wide.

Most lotus seeds remain quiescent during the cold or dry season and germinate only under favourable growth conditions.

The exquisite lotus flower is usually white or pink in colour with 15 or more oval petals that spread out in elegance and a peculiar, flat seedcase at its centre.

Health Notes

All parts of the lotus provide a range of health benefits, making the lotus a plant with comprehensive healing properties.

A good and mild tonic in its own right, the lotus seed is used primarily as an astringent to aid tonic formulations in the kidney and spleen. It prevents the loss of essences from our body and has a stabilising effect on the mind. Tests have shown that it can also slow down the aging process.

Lotus leaves are able to strengthen heart and liver functions. They also help to lower body temperature and restore proper functions of the body, by improving the ability of our tissues to metabolise nutrients and eliminate wastes.

Lotus roots are beneficial for the lung and stomach and help to curb bleeding. Lotus also acts as a booster for our flora and fauna.

Lotus essence is able to intensify the effects of other flower essences. As lotus is one of the flowers with the highest vibrations, it encourages a gentle unfolding of the highest potential within animals and provides solace to abused or neglected animals, enabling them to rise above their suppression.

With its delicate fragrance, quiet elegance and unsullied characteristics, Bel’Air’s Fleur De Lotus essential oil can likewise engender an oasis of tranquillity for meditation, to elevate our spiritual health to a higher level.