How Do Birds Stay Warm in the Winter?

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"How do birds stay warm and handle extremely cold temperatures? Discover the survival superpowers of birds that brave wintry weather."  Comment from Birds and Blooms

I often wonder about how birds adapt to bad storms, especially hurricanes.  Where do they go?  If they are merely perched in a tree, wouldn't the wind blow them away?  Nature fascinates me.  I also wonder about how they move according to the season.  Why didn't nature just put them where they are meant to be and create them to adapt.  I'm a curious person, what can I say.

Click here to go to the Birds and Blooms article.

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Should You Grow Hybrid or Heirloom Tomatoes?

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"Summer is the sweetest season for the tomato lover, but with so many types and varieties available, it can be hard to know which ones are best for your garden. Terms like ‘heirloom’ and ‘hybrid’ are often used to describe tomato varieties, but what do they mean and is one type better than the other? Below we explore the pros and cons of both hybrid and heirloom tomatoes and spotlight six outstanding varieties."  Comment from Birds and Blooms

The time to think about types and varieties available is fall and winter.  I should have already started sowing my seeds, but as usual, I have procrastinated.  When it comes to the subject of hybrid vs heirloom tomatoes, I really need to educate myself since I just buy the variety that looks good to me when I'm buying seeds.

Click here to go to the Birds and Blooms article.

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Florida Freeze: What To Do Next

 

The Florida freeze this week has left my whole property brown.  On a positive note, I still have hope for my poor paradise.

This video is an excellent resource with good information on what to do next in the garden.  It is very encouraging.

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What it Means If Your Plant Leaves Have Brown Tips

 

Photo source:  Family Handyman

"Noticing brown tips on leaves of your indoor plants? Solve the problem with proper watering and fertilizing tips from a gardening expert."  Comment from Family Handyman

Plants have a way of telling us something is wrong.

Click here to go to the Family Handyman article.

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Why Your Aloe Vera Is Dying - How To Bring It Back

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Aloe vera plants are resilient succulents that can withstand inconsistent watering and periods of neglect, but that doesn't mean they're not without their issues. If your aloe plant is on death's door, it's typically a sign that something in its environment is amiss. To help you salvage your struggling plant so you can continue enjoying its beauty (and harvesting fresh aloe!), we spoke to gardening experts who shared their tips for reviving a dying aloe plant."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

Aloe vera is one of my favorite plants.  Even with all the neglect of the past couple of years, I still had a few big ones growing and flowering.  We had our first freeze night in years this week  and I'm afraid I have lost them.  

Click here to go to Martha Stewart.com to go to the article.

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Seed Starting Mistakes You're Probably Making

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

 
"Overall, the process of starting seeds indoors is pretty straightforward; you plant, water, and wait. But there are several seed-starting mistakes that can get in the way of growing your seeds into strong, healthy seedlings. Make sure to avoid the following common errors so you can turn those images of lush plants and bountiful harvests from seed catalogs into a reality in your garden."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

It is always a good thing to learn from the experts to avoid making the mistakes and risk failure.

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens article.

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How to Store Your Garden Hose in Winter So It Doesn't Freeze or Crack

 

Photo source:  Martha Stewart

"Pack up your hose properly to prevent winter damage."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

Good information to know if you live in a climate that freezes.

Click here to go to the Martha Stewart.com article.

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Front Yard Flower Bed Ideas for a Charming Entryway

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"A few creative touches can refresh your landscaping and flower beds at the front of your house and add curb appeal throughout the seasons."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

The front yard of the house in the photo is my favorite.  Love all the color and beauty of the flowers.  

Click here to go to Better Homes and Gardens to see all the beautiful ideas in this article.

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Reasons To Start A Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

The first thing I think of is the appearance of a raised garden. In my opinion, they are very attractive.  

Check out the article to learn the reasons to start a raised bed vegetable garden.

Click here to go to the Rural Sprout article.

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Secrets to Getting Christmas Cactus to Bloom More Than Once a Year

 

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"Given proper care under the right conditions, Christmas cactus can actually rebloom in February—and this goes for Thanksgiving cactus or any houseplant labeled simply as “holiday cactus” as well.

Here’s how to get a repeat flowering from your holiday cactus long after the holidays have passed."  Comment from Garden Betty

Click here to go to the Garden Betty article with secrets to getting your Christmas Cactus to bloom more than once a year.  Excellent and informative article.

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Make Compost Tea – Fertilize Plants Naturally

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Plain and simple, there is no better and more economical way to power your vegetable plants and flowers naturally than to make and use your own homemade compost tea. And is it ever simple, fast and inexpensive to make. In fact, if you happen to have your own compost pile, you can make an endless supply all summer – for free!"  Comment from This Is My Garden

As an organic gardener, I routinely made compost tea with great results.

Click here to go to the This Is My Garden article to learn about fertilizing plants naturally.

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How To Grow In 5 Gallon Buckets

 

Photo Source:  Old World Garden Farms

My preferred method of gardening is container gardening that I highly recommend.  Old World Garden Farms' article is an excellent resource for beginning container gardeners.

Click here to go to the Old World Garden Farms article.

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Top 3 Mistakes Gardeners Make Growing Tomatoes – And How To Avoid Them

 

Photo source:  This Is My Garden

"Want to know the three biggest mistakes many gardeners make when growing backyard tomatoes? Or more importantly – how to avoid them so you can grow healthy plants that give you a big harvest?"  Comment from This Is My Garden

As a beginning gardener growing tomatoes, you will learn from your mistakes.  But why not skip learning on your own, find out the secrets of experienced gardeners and achieve success without the failures.

Click here to go to the This Is My Garden article.

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Growing Tomatoes From Seed - What You Need to Know

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"After 40 years of starting tomatoes from seed, I've learned a thing or two. Often the most important being what not to do."  Comment from Rural Sprout

The more you know, the greater success you will have.  The reward will be beautiful tomatoes.

Click here to go to the Rural Sprout article to learn from their experience of growing tomatoes.

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Where to Find Cheap Seed Starting Containers

 

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"Right now I’m starting several varieties of tomatoes, purple tomatillos, and shishito peppers in 16 tiny seed starting pots recycled from years past. While 16 sounds like a reasonable number, it’s not uncommon for me to have upwards of 100 pots or more, of all sizes, once I’m in the thick of seed starting season.  And, I rarely buy new pots." Comment from Garden Betty

I also rarely buy new pots and share her philosophy.

Click here to go to the Garden Betty article.

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Where to Find Quality Seeds For Free or Cheap

 

Photo source:  Garden Betty

"Seed costs are up and packet sizes are down—but your wallet (and your garden) doesn’t have to suffer. I’m sharing smart ways to get free seeds locally, plus my favorite sources for buying quality seeds on the cheap."  Comment from Garden Betty"

I can relate to what she is saying.  I have learned to gather my own seeds and propagate as much as possible to grow the garden.  It will be a good idea to check out her advise.

Click here to go to the Garden Betty article.

Another article

Ways to Get Free Seeds for Your Garden (and Share Your Own)

"Seed companies abound, offering a wealth of choices for our gardens. There are also plenty of free sources of seeds that can help you boost self-reliance, preserve biodiversity, build community, and help preserve one of our planet’s most precious resources—seeds. And you will likely make some new gardening friends along the way. Here's where you can find seeds for free, plus the best types of seeds to get from each source." Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Click here to go to the Better Homes and Gardens article for some great ideas about getting free seeds.

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