Tips From the Garden~

Tips From the Garden~

WINTER GARDEN

In this post I thought I would give you some Idea's for plants, bush and trees that would give your garden a uplift during the winter time. My garden becomes rather bleak and bare which is very difficult because I love to garden so much, so I wanted to find someway of making the Garden fun during the winter months...I hope these tips will help you give your gardens that up lift during thoughts long winters and lift you spirits during the long cold winter blues. I am also thinking of giving you an Garden tip every Saturday so keep and eye out for those Tips For the Garden:oo
What I found is, there are many varieties of long lasting berry hollies that are an must - have for any garden to help with the winter blues. The Hollies that I found; either an plants, bush or trees have these beautiful dark green glossy leafs, sometimes blues and their varieties of variegated forms. There are others that have striking bright berries that will brighten any one's winter blues.
I found a couple of wonderful Holly's that I think you all would love in your Gardens and they would look great in the summer too. I have made a list for you so It will be a little easier for you all my dear friends and followers;oo
1-English Holly [Ilex aquifolium] This holly has the classic 'Christmas appearance, with its glossy green leaves
and either red or sometimes yellow or orange berries.
2-Japaneses Holly Watanabeana [Ilex Crenata] This beautiful bush holly with its smooth leaves works well to line to a path or try a taller evergreen variety as a backdrop as beds and borders. There are also the
columnar varieties like the 'Sky Pencil' to that can serve as sculptural points of interest especially in areas where you wish to draw more attention..
3-Blue Hollies [Ilex x meserveae] These beauty's have the blue-green leaves that heighten the plant with its either yellow or pink flowers.
Most of the Hollies will thrive in the Zones 5-9 with some even growing in zones 4. If you need to know more about Zones of plants, flowers and much more, I did a post on Zones which I will put a link here;
This way you can check anytime you need what Zone you happen to live in... wendyjargonncom.blogspot.com/search/label/Spring%20Flowers%20For%202014
Another interesting fact about hollies is, they will grow best in well-drained pots or soil slightly with enriched acid soil or organic matter. And of course compost type of enriched soil too.[note I will do a post on another Tips From the Garden- to show you about composting].
It is also helpful for your Hollies to keep thick mulch of either pine needles or other woody material around the plant each year to help maintain the soils acidity and to keep the roots cool and moist.

My favorite of all the Hollies would be the Chinese Hollies [Ilex cornuta]. Why you might ask? Because they are partially the kind that can self-fruit and will produce berries without a male variety Hollie next to it. Just like most Berrie plants - like that of the Blue berries you have to have another right next to it for them to produce lotssss of berries. [I found this out myself with my own blue Berrie bushes] I works the same with all other hollies too, for the exception of the Male Chinese Hollie - Ilex cornuta - which will produce those bright  red berry's during the winter months that will give your gardens that snap you'll love. Besides you'll also find new friends too. Many winter birds will come around that usually hadn't, that love to feed on these lovely red berries. Well I hope that you all will find some Tips for your gardens and I will see you all again for Saturudy's Tips From the Garden:o Much love to you all my dears Friends and Follower..

"(✿◠‿◠WENDY

¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆*☆҉❤

S€ŇĐƗŇG' ¥ØỮ ŦĦƗŞ ĦỮǤ.•-:¦:-`•.¸ŦØ Ş€€ ¥ØỮ ŦĦŘØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮŘ ĐΔ¥*`'`« ҉ »~"˜ `•.¸Ɨ HOPE ITŴƗŁŁ β€ ŞỮŘ€ ŦØ Ř€ΔĆĦ ¥ØỮ
`•.¸ŦĦØỮǤĦ ¥ØỮ'Ř€ ALL ARE ₣ΔŘ ΔŴΔ¥•´☆ ŦĦƗŞ ŞР€ĆƗΔŁ HUG FULLOF LOVE & JOY IS FROM YOUR WENDY
¸¸.☆♥(◡‿◡)♥✫¨´`'*°☆.❥•♪♫♥.(:♥(◡‿◡)♥i❤*☆҉♡☆❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤*☆҉♡☆❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤❤❤❤♪♫♪❤❤♪❤❤♪♫♪❤◄*☆*°‧°﹒☆҉☆¸ \( °‿°)/ ☆҉☆¸.✿¸¸.•´¨¯`'•⋆❥⋆❀´¸ ✿ღڪےღڰۣ✿✿ღڪےღڰۣ✿✿ღڪےღڰۣ✿✿ღڪے❤
`"(✿◠‿◠)˙•٠•●Celibate life♥´Magic Surrounds Us ☆҉☆ƸӜƷ ♪♫♪♫♪❤❤
ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... ☾ ❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕｡)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ƸӜƷ•❤❤❤☼ღ(◕‿◕｡)¸.•*""*•.¸ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•

I AM SO HAPPY YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT MY BLOG❤

I HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE YOU DAY FULL OF MAGICK

AND DREAMS FOR JUST THE BREIF TIME YOU ARE HEAR IN

MY WORLD OF MAGIC AND ENCHANTMENT/ LOVEYOU ALL MY

DEAR FREINDS AND FOLLOWERS. YOUR WENDY:O)

ƸӜƷ•.¸¸.•´ ... (◕‿◕｡)¸.•*""*•.¸

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TipsFromtheGarden-MusicUndergroundHelpsthePlantsGrow

TipsFromtheGarden~

MusicUndergroundHelpsthePlantsGrow~

Good Morning my dear Friends & Followers and Welcome

to Saturday's TipsFromtheGarden!

I hope that you all have Enjoyed my post every Saturday

on Gardening Tips that I started a couple of months ago?

 At least I know I have had fun bringing you these wonderful and

fun tip for the Garden and lots of these I have used myself!

For today's Saturdays Post I found a fun one for your Gardens,

This post is called the Underground radio to bring music

as plant therapy to your plants and flowers. 

The story is about a family planting a garden on a 

warm Saturday afternoon, kinda fitting since this is my Saturday 

Garden Tips. Anyways the family was at their 

grandparents farm and were going to help with 

the spring planting of tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce which

the come and do every spring on the farm.

As they started to plant the veg's, their Grandfather

brought out his small portable radio, thinking it would 

help with the heat of the day and help with the gardening to

go faster too. Also he loved his music too.

Besides he had heard that music helps plants grow faster. So

while they all were planting the garden at his farm they would

sing along to the radio music that their Grandfather brought

to the Garden. It made the much more fun for the family.

When the time was to water the plants they gave the hose

to their grandfather to water all the new plants that they had planted that day.

When all was done one of the daughter of the 

decided it would be a interesting idea to plant the radio with 

the plants so it would help them grow faster.

So while everyone was watching her grandfather water the

plants, she dug many small holes throughout the backyard of

the garden, before she realized she only needed only one to plant the radio. 

So she filled up all the holes including the one containing the one

with the radio, which she made sure the volume was turned

up on high so all the plants could hear the music coming 

thru the dirt. After she covered all the extra holes and the

hole that had the radio on high in it, she could hear the 

music nice and loud. It was her Grandfather that noticed 

that his radio was missing and asking if they had seen it?

Well we could here the music, however since I had made

so many holes and area's of place where I had buried the 

radio they couldn't find it, we could only hear the music. 

They couldn't  find it and the sound of the music got faint as the 

night came on. Soon we couldn't hear it at all. But they Grandfather

was upset at first, however, then he began to laugh.. 

The next season their grandfather had the largest, tasty, tomatoes,

cumbers and heads of lettuces of all time on his farm.

From that point on they always passed it on with the family for generations, 

adding a radio in the spring Vegetables as

another plant. 

I hope that you all enjoyed the Saturday post 

TipsFromtheGarden

Love you all my dears Friends & Followers 

Have a wonderful weekend my dears 

YOUR WENDY

'HummingBird's Haven'-2013

'HummingBird's Haven'
In this blog I will be giving you many different hints that I've come across in my readings over the years in hummingbird magazines & books~

Attracting hummingbirds with Fruit~

well by setting out pieces of cantaloupe & other types of melons, not only will the hummingbirds

like your tasty treat of juicy treat. But other insects that are attracted to the fruit will be and this

will be more food for your hummers.

Hang feeders in a shady spot~

I always hang my feeders either from a shady branch from a nearby tree or a decorative hook that is 

placed hanging from my porch. Another hint is to plant lots of nectar full flowers near your flowers.

Some of these are the Pink chenille,Amaryllis & the Red, Pink, Purple ,white Bee Balms are full of tasty nectar for your hummers. Also the thing about these flowers, they grow up to 6 to 8 feet tall. And the hummingbirds go crazy for them. Mostly the RED ONES.

Small ponds & waterfalls~

Another way to create a small haven for your hummingbirds is to create a small pond, that will produce a light mist, Your humming birds will go crazy - they love to whiz through the mist & get a drink of water too!

Problems with Ants~

If you hang your hummingbird feeders from a plant hook then you wont have any problems with ants finding their way up to your sweet nectar. Also if you smear some oil at the base of the hook the ants will leave your feeders alone. 

Taller flowers for your hummers~

Another trick to attracting hummingbirds -

1)Carnal lilies

2) Bee Balms - Are my favorite- Reds are the Best; although the Pinks are good too.

3) Red Carnations in pots or hanging baskets /are also good to attract your hummingbirds too.

Hummers-The Joy of Morning Glories~

I have found that my hummer and his group of Ladies come around alot during the morning hours

& the afternoon~ So I've discovered that Morning Glories & Four-o'clock Gladiola's and the sweet scent of the sweet pea's are great for attracting your hummingbirds- My other favorite hummingbird plant is the fuchsia~ The reason why is they look like tiny ballerina's dressed in lavender, pink, red saliva, white/pink too. And they provided lots of nectar for your tiny jewels too.

Sunflowers~

The Mexican Sunflower will attract your tiny jewels too-

Note-Hummingbirds use dandelions seeds to line their nest. So let these weeds grow in your yard. Also they love the nectar from marigolds, periwinkles, lantern's, cosmos, and  impatiens too-

Trumpet Vines

Hummingbirds love all kinda of trumpet vines, whether they are yellow, orange ,red or pink. If you attach an watering wand to the trellis to that vine, your hummers will be able to zip through it.The misty shower water that you have created for your hummers will be lots of fun for you to watchThe Golden flame honey suckle vine - This flower will attract many of your tiny jewels. They prefer its nectar producing flowers then even your feeders. 

The Hyacinth Bean Vine - This vine is an perfect combination for the Mexican Sunflower and the Hyacinth Bean vine. Since the sunflower has a strong stalks to support the vines it in turn will provide a great meal of  you and your tiny jewels.  

Problems with dominant male hummingbirds in your Garden~
More often then not when you have discovered an dominant male hummingbird in your garden, 
you will find that they will chase other hummingbirds off your garden that might want to visit, either your feeders or flowers you have grown for them. What I've discovered that helps with this problem is; by moving one of your feeders out of the males line of sight, this should help the problem~
The male dominant hummingbird is usually the vocal one.

Ant Barriers~
One-way of doing this is by putting small receptacles filled will just water that are placed on the hanging portion of the feeder, The ants who always like a good sugar fix, cannot proceed beyond the water reservoir and thus cannot reach your hummingbirds food~

Never use honey as a sugar substitute!
Why! Because your tiny friends may develop a fungus that will affect their tongues. Some of the prepackaged hummingbird food that you find in your local stores that have a section for hummingbirds feeders and food may have this too. Its called sodium Benoite a preservative. This is a foreign substances to your tiny jewels that does not come from the normal nature of flower nectar, and is probably not healthy for your wild feather friends. 

Cleaning your Bird Feeders~
When cleaning your feeders I've found that having cotton swabs - Q -tips, baby bottle brushes are also a wonderful great cleaning source for your feeders too. You really don't have to spend a lot of money on the heavily priced cleaning brushes and sponges at the local stores. Also the best solution to clean your bird feeders is warm water and very diluted solution of one part vinegar to five parts water. I wouldn't use bleach unless you have a really dirty feeder/ with black mold.

You Might not know this~
Hummingbirds are great Pollinators - Just like the Bees, They play an important role in nature because they are too responsible for pollinating certain kinds of flowers. Flowering plants rely on insects, birds and other animals to pick up pollen from the anther of one flower an deliver it to the stigma of another. 
Hummingbirds are particularly well suited for this role . As  they too fit among many of the flowers, as they feed on the nectar. They pick up grains of pollen on their tiny foreheads,bills, and chins. The pollen is then carried to the next flower that they go to for food, they they pollinate the next group of flowers without even knowing it. 


Red & Orange, & Yellow flowers often contain the most nectar~

I have found that the vine red and orange tubular shape flowers are the best
when it comes to nectar for tiny jewels~

Understanding your Garden~
Once you understand that hummingbirds are attracted to the slender tubular shaped flowers - in the red/pink/orange/and yellow range. And you choose shrubs that are perennials & Annal's that you like with these flowers characteristics you are on your way.

If possible plant either in pots or in the ground, of the same flowers so they will be more visible to the passing hummingbirds and provide larger quantities of food, in your garden for your hummers. Including some plants like the thistle that will provided fuzzy material for their nest lining;
Planting trees can also provide jumping off points for courtship displaying their aerobatics flying displays that hummingbirds are known to do. And I've been so lucky to seen. Although if your hummer feel safe in your garden they will do the same with the trees that surround your garden, like my do. Another great way to provide areas for courtship or places to perch to survey their territories is dead limbs from a tree or sticks from the store.
Keep your garden natural looking- Hummingbirds are more likely to visit your garden if you have plenty of vegetation which they can feel save. Too much pruning and tidiness can actually discourage them to visit your yard.  

Here are a few images I have found that are of beautiful flowers that hummingbirds love & some rare humming birds that I thought you all might find fun to see too..

Good lucky and happy Gardening
Wendy 

`

`

Fairy Altar's-
You can set aside a small table top, corner dresser top, etc. For Fairy altars. On this altar you can place a basket and in the basket you could have tiny fragrance flowers [that I've mentioned before in other posts that faeries like] statutes fairies, sweet breads, herbs and sparkle items too. Make it pretty, but make it like a home as well. You could add sand at the bottom of the basket and a saucer that has water for a tiny pool for your fairy friend...Remember to always keep your fairy altars clean! You should clean them every day and change the water and the food too. A rose oil burner can be great too. Fairies like bubbles too, so when you are in your garden, [Buy one of those cheap bubble bottles (for kids)] sit in your garden and ask the fairies to join you and just blow bubbles. Watch the bubble and just relax. Don't just blow them all out for the heck of it! Smile and have fun doing it. Enjoy your garden and your surroundings, The nature around you too. Don't be nervous because there is no reason to be the fairies may sense your anxious too.
Fairy Gardens-
With your fairy gardens, you can plant the garden for them or just have a small area just for the fairies within your garden. The type of flowers that you might want to put in this garden, would be: Bluebells and Roses are two favorites of fairies. They also love water element, like a pond,waterfalls,or just a saucer place in the garden on a tall pot,rocks or piece of wood. You can crate a wonderful pool in the middle of your garden if you like- Just dig a small hole and line it. Place rocks around the edge of it. You can replenish the water each time you water your garden or add a pump system to it. It really depends how much you want to get into it. With these few changes the fairies will love your garden! Let small parts of your garden grow wild if you have the space! This means by letting it get over grown and tangled with weeding it, so the fairies can feel safe and hide in your garden. Also it can be for the wild fairies who don't like to come out as much.[But if you live in a apt. I do understand this kinda thing you can't do!because I to live in a apt. I do understand!]
Fairy Magick-
Fairies can be very helpful in Magick, as they have a lot of power and they are certainly not ignorant when it comes to using it. Fairies know a great deal of Magick and glamour themselves, so if you can get them to trust you/they can be a great help Wendy

TipsFromtheGarden-HowToGetRidofAphidsSafely

TipsFromtheGarden~

HowToGetRidofAphidsSafely-

Good Afternoon my dears Friends & Followers

I am very sorry that I haven't been around these 

past couple of months, but life has been a bit

difficult. I have tried to keep-up with the posting on my blog and the photo's on my G+ page.

Which I hope that you all have enjoyed. 

I am sorry I haven't been able to keep-up with my

~TipsfromtheGarden & WendyTales~ 

However I hope to start up today this 

Saturday afternoon with a new one on how to 

get rid of those nasty Aphids that seem to never 

want to leave ones garden. 

As for me, well I have been spending a lot of time 

in my garden, kitting and quality time with my son. We 

have been having great chats and since he is growing

so fast and has only 3year more of highschool. I have

decided that my time with my son is very important.

Soon he will be in college before I know it.

Also I have been dealing with some health issues.

Not to worry, I am slowly taking care of them.

I have finally been able to get to the doctor

for some of them & in time for all. 

I am so grateful for your friendship and love, 

and how much you all care about me my dears

friends and followers. 

I am truly blessed, I just wanted to let you 

know what is going on with 

YOUR WENDY.

So now  the post on how to get Rid of Aphids!

I myself have problems with Aphids with my own plants 

so I wanted to help you all with these nasty critters.

I have found a few ways of getting rid of them Safely too!

How to Get Rid of Aphids Naturally

This is now you know if your garden is infested with Aphids

and when I wrote this post I found out that my garden was

in trouble of Aphids. 

These are the signs; Yellowing and distorted leaves,

stunted growth and an unsightly black sticky substance[on the back of the leaves of your plant] on

the plant many mean that you have aphids. Aphids feed

on a wide range of plants & flowers too and in severe 

cases the plant will fail to thrive if not treated. As these

nasty insects feed on your plants they will secrete a 

sticky substance called honeydew, which quickly becomes

infested with black sooty mold. 

This black sooty mold I have encounter myself with my

jasmine plant which has spread the Aphids to 3 of 

my other plants in my garden this is one of the 

main reasons I am doing this post so that you all

my dears don't have to go through this with your own 

plants. My Jasmine that usually has beautiful white delicate

smelling flowers has not bloomed and I don't know if

it will. It is very sick so we will see if it makes it.

The aphids can spread their viruses of which some are 

incurable. For this reason it s important to take step

in controlling the pests aphids in your gardens right away

as I am with my garden. 

There are many ways of trying to get rid of the 

Aphids naturally. I have tried soap and water, then gentle

wipe each leave with the soapy water. After wiping of the 

yellowish aphids off. Then doing this treatment again...

again.. again...The problem is it hasn't worked. 

They have have insecticides for the Aphids that I have checked out when I was writing this post, the problems with

those are they are very harmful to your plants. Meaning 

they can actually burn the leaves of the plant and not even

kill the pest Aphids. So in a word Aphids don't 

respond well to insecticides or even the natural type either.

I found that Aphids have a number of natural enemies,

and these insects are much better at controlling the 

Aphids than any other method available to gardeners. 

In fact I am going to try one of the insects myself.

So if you pamper and nurture their natural enemies you might

find it to be the best method of Aphid control.

Introduce beneficial bugs!

Lacewings & ladybugs to your garden 

as a natural way to kill the pest Aphids. 

Nearby plantings of Mint, fennel, dill, yarrow and

dandelions will help attract these insect to your garden.

There is other ways but I don't know if this is good

for your plants, some have tried a strong spray of water

from a water hose that might knock of many of the Aphids 

of your plants and they won't be able to return. It will also will

rinse off some of the honeydew too. Spraying the plant 

every day until the plant is Aphid free is one way to go.

However it might damage your plants to. If you spray

your plant with a high strong spray of water who knows

what it could do to your delicate plant or flower.

Tips For the Woolly Aphid 

The woolly aphid although it is not is as popular & rarely

get large enough to harm most plants, I most tell you about each and every type of these nasty Aphids. I don't want you all to go through what I am going through for being a 

gardener that love her garden. 

Yes I have seen some of this too. But not as bad as the 

the photo. What the Woolly Aphids can do to your plants is distort the leaves, because they leave behind a very unsightly 

look to your leaves of your plants or flowers. For this reason, many folks prefer to use some type of woolly aphid treatment

to care for these pest.

What are Woolly Aphids? 

You might wonder what are these nasty Woolly Aphids?

Well, they are much like the other types of aphids, 

they are sap-sucking insects pest too. They are very tiny

about a 1/4 inch long. However, the Woolly Aphids are

a different colour than the usually yellow Aphids. 

These Aphids are a green or blue and also appear

fuzzy due to the white, waxy material that covers their 

tiny bodies. These pests generally use two host;

One for overwintering and laying eggs in the spring

& one for feeding in summer.

What kinda Damage the Woolly Aphid can Do

The damage that these Aphids insects can do is generally done in groups. They can be seen feeding on foliage buds,

twigs and branches, bark and even the roots of your plants.

Damage may be recognized by twisted and curled leaves, yellowing foliage, poor plant growth, branch dieback or even the development of cankers and gall on limbs or roots of your

plants. There is also the wax accumulation sometimes

seen as well, along with the sweet, sticky residue known

as honeydew. Yes that sticky residue again.

Also it could get the sooty mold the unsightly black fungus.

Woolly Aphid Control

As all pest Aphid control, is difficult and since severe 

woolly aphid attacks rarely occur, the best way is by its

natural predators like that of the lacewings

ladybugs, hover flies, and parasitic wasps. However I would

go with the Ladybugs

Lastly If you see Ants with the Aphids you have 

a problem!

Why do you have a problem whey you see Ants?

Well there is a very unique relationship between these two

organisms or insects if you will, that provides protection for 

the aphids and food for the ants. The Aphids protects the 

Ants from predators, such as the Lacewings & Ladybugs.

And the ants have also recently been found to protect the 

Aphids from a fungal outbreak that causes death, by removing the bodies of the infected aphids. Anytime you see a 

large group of ants on a tree, plant or flowery plant, it is more than likely you have a large infestation of aphids. 

Not all species of ant find this arrangement beneficial but

many of the more common species do indeed farm ants do.

So how to you Control the Aphids & Ants?

From what I discover on this one is; if you manage the ants

or farm ants first you will be able to control the Aphid

population. Ant bait stations are very effective because the ants will take the bait & bring it back to the main colony. 

This in turn will kill more that all of its family of ants at one time. With less ants to defend the Aphids the aphid numbers will drop. Another non-toxic method is to simply wrap the plant or tree with sticky tape or netting at the base of the tree.

This will catch the ants and will prevent them from tending to 

the Aphids. In turn the Aphids are exposed to the predators and their numbers will dwindle. 

Well I hope I was able to help you 

all with your gardens my dear 

Friends & Followers 

I do love you all very much 

I am truly sorry I haven't been able to 

be around as much but you are in

my heart always 

YOUR WENDY