Preserve The Beauty Of Your Own Garden

I love gardening, and once spring hits I'm ready to get out in the yard. Although, I have to force myself to wait patiently until the threat of a freeze or low temp's is over. Once it is though, I've got shoval in hand, ready to plant my garden.

When I do begin planting I keep in mind the condition of the location. Many plants prefer full sun to shade and visa versa. Those plants which thrive in the sun may have less foliage and become stunted or spindly if grown in a shady location. The lack of sun light can also reduce the amount of blooms of a plant if grown in the wrong conditions. Plants which prefer the shade often turn yellow and generate area of dead spots of their leaves from too much sun.

Once you've put all the working into creating a stunning flowers garden, then what? Consider bringing the beauty indoors. The abundance of beautiful blooms can also be enjoyed for years by preserving your cut flowers. Besides the flowers grown in your garden, preserving fresh flowers after a special occasion is a wonderful way to create a precious memento of the event. Wedding bouquets can to be a timeless treasure if preserved after the union.

A simple and affordable way to do this is to start with a mix of four parts of borax to one part of silica gel. To prevent any lumps run the borax through a sieve before mixing with the silica, and them mix by hand. Begin the preservation as soon as possible after the event of picking fresh flowers.

Remove the stems close to the head of the flower.

Pour a layer of the preserving powder into a plastic bag or air-tight jar, which can hold several blooms.

Gently lay a blossom face down on the powder, then pour additional powder over the flower until it completely covered.

Continue the process until the container is full. Once you've finished replace the lid or squeeze out all the air out of the bag before sealing tightly.

Avoid disturbing the container for about a month after placing it in a dry area, and mark the calender. Once a month has passed carefully remove and blow off the blossoms one at a time. Floral wire can be used to create a new stem for the flowers so they can be treasured for years to come in a vase as a showpiece in a china cabinet or hutch.

Fresh flowers cut for bouquet can live longer if certain chemicals are added to the water.

A couple drops of ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, sodium carbonate or camphor added to the water helps to prevent the growth germ. One way to avoid fungus and diseases in the garden is to keep plants spaced apart. This helps preventing overcrowding and with the circulation of air.

Overcrowding plants can lead to a poor harvest.

In addition to sunlight exposure living space is vital to a plants health, especially when it comes to planting a vegetable garden. In the case of planting tomatoes, they require at least 3 to 4 feet of space between each plant for a healthy harvest.

Most instructions for favorable growing conditions are included on the tag attached to the plants at time of purchase. It should give you an idea of the plants lighting needs, and the height and width the plant will reach once mature. If not, an excellent source for information during the planting season is your local nursery or co-op such as Mooresville Feed & Seed. They can offer advice on the hardiness or minimum acceptable temperatures for plants in your area.

Such businesses are often aware of diseases in your local area and suggest disease-resistant plants, which prefer sun or shade, and those that are best for preserving.

Catalogs for seeds and flowers are also a great resource for plant descriptions, in addition to your local library, especially in regard to specific species plants.

Another consideration to keep in mind while gardening are allergies. Most allergic reaction are caused by plants that do not bear fruit or flowers like trees, grasses, and weeds.

They produce large numbers of pollen that are carried for miles fro the original location. While in the garden be careful around plants known as ragweed. These include, chrysanthemums, chamomile, and the family of marigolds. Your local garden canter should have products to control these weeds.

Most stores also carry non-toxic pesticides. Common grasses known to cause allergic reactions range from Kentucky blue grass to sweet vernal grass. Many hardwood trees like oak, birch, and maple to name a few have also caused reactions in those sensitive to pollen. Before going outdoors check your local weather station. Often they give daily reports on the pollen counts.

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

For those who also love garden and learning new tricks take a trip to Disney World's Epcot, where you'll be amazed each spring by the beautiful toparies. This is one of my favorite destinations to explore new ideas for my garden. Everywhere you look you’ll find beautiful flowers and topiaries, in addition to exhibits and presentations presented by professionals in the field.

Read more about other Walt Disney World Theme Parks: Animal Kingdom, MGM Studio's, Magic Kingdom in USA Travel Magazine's Florida State Pages.

Although not all of us have a green thumb, we can still create and enjoy the beauty of our own gardens with a few helpful tips.

References: local gardeners

Melody Schubert is Managing Editor of USA Travel Magazine where you can explore America’s Backyard, visit: http://www.usatravelmagazine.com.