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Gardening tips from the GardenToolbox blog – stay tuned for more!

So we figured it would be a great idea just to give some basic guideline help to address these common issues and see if we can actually give people the answer they want

Evesham, Worcestershire (PRWEB UK) 19 June 2012

GardenToolbox are an online retailer focused on selling gardening equipment and various other garden-related products that can help care and maintain it. As well as just offering customers tools, they also provide another tremendously useful resource; a news-feed/blog.

The blog has been operational for over a year now and most days there is new content being created to help the average green thumb in the UK. Whether it’s the best selling products of the week, the latest discounts for the month or articles on how to garden effectively; they’re all equally loved by the subscribed readers.

Due to the success of the company and the blog, GardenToolbox have decided to go that extra-mile to help this summer and will hopefully be posting a series of how-to guides on their blog to address the most common gardening questions posed by the gardening public.

Keep up to date with the latest GardenToolbox announcements, articles and guides at the following link: news.GardenToolbox.co.uk

It’s not every day that a business goes out of its way to try and benefit customers without an ulterior motive (which is usually sales/profit based). But in this instance, it’s a pure, kind-hearted gesture that the company is putting forward.

Scott Morris, Marketing Manager at GardenToolbox explains the reasoning behind this: “We see people asking the same questions again and again – some people in the company even have the same problems at home. So we figured it would be a great idea just to give some basic guideline help to address these common issues and see if we can actually give people the answer they want! What’s in it for us? Apart from people visiting our blog, which is great, nothing. It’s purely about information exchange, they visit our page and we provide them with what they want to know, no hidden motives, no catch, just a plain swap. We just want to encourage people to get out there and garden before winter comes around.”

It’s genuinely refreshing to see a stance such as this from such a large business. The vast majority would probably charge for giving such advice, assuming they’d even have time for anyone who isn’t buying from them. Get in early and subscribe to the updates from the GardenToolbox blog and read over some of the past articles whilst waiting for new ones to come out – a win/win situation.

GardenToolbox currently operates on the new, rebranded and ever-expanding Online Home Retail Network which currently encompasses around 50 websites which sell everything from towel radiators and shower pumps to air compressors and leaf blowers. Online Home Retail Limited first started out as Plumbworld Ltd back in 1999 and since then it has been bought by the Grafton Group PLC in 2006 and received a major rebrand in 2012. The business now employs 60 people in its purpose built warehouse/offices and has a total turnover nearing £25 million per year.

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By Carol Stocker
Thursday, June 21, 2012, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
You can improve your soil while getting rid of nearly half of your household garbage by composting. Compost is the basis for healthy soil. Healthy soil grows healthy lawns and gardens without the need for pesticides or chemical fertilizers. You can have a beautiful yard without using chemicals that can harm children, pets and the environment. Learn how to turn coffee grounds, tea bags, fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, yard waste and even paper towels into black gold that will transform your soil into rich, fertile earth. This workshop covers easy composting methods, different types of bins, indoor worm composting for apartment-dwellers, and how compost can eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides in your yard and garden.

Ann McGovern is the Consumer Waste Reduction Coordinator and composting outreach specialist for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. She coordinates Massachusetts’ home composting education program and compost bin grant program, through which over 110,000 compost bins have been distributed to the public. She has taught the composting session for the Northeast Organic Farmers Association (NOFA) Organic Landcare Certification Course since 2003, and for the Mass. Horticultural Society’s Master Gardener Training program since 1994. In March 2005, the PBS show “Ask This Old House” featured Ann as guest expert in a home composting segment. Ann is an avid gardener and finds most enjoyment when nature thrives in her small suburban lot. Ann is a graduate of the University of Vermont in Environmental Studies and has done postgraduate work in Soil Science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has worked for DEP since 1989.

“Thursday at the Hort” presentations begin at 7 pm and go until all questions are answered. The classes are priced at $12 for members and $15 for non-members unless otherwise indicated. There is no need to pre-register and you may pay at the class.

Upcoming “Thursday at the Hort” presentations include:
June 28: “Design and Installation of an Edible Native Plant Garden,” featuring Kristin DeSouza, Senior Horticulturist and Plant Record Coordinator at Garden in the Woods.
July 5: No event; holiday weekend.
July 12: Clematis: The Queen of the Climbers featuring Cheryl Monroe – The Garden in the Burrow

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Asha Gomez is the owner of the South Indian restaurant Cardamom Hill and the creator of the Spice Route Supper Club, which operates out of her Atlanta kitchen. “Because I entertain a lot, I like for my guests to be with me in the kitchen,” Gomez said of a cooking area that is open to the entire first level of her home. “You connect with people in a more intimate way than you would in a professional kitchen,” said Gomez, who can fit up to 30 guests in her kitchen area.

Asha Gomez’s tips:

– Airtight glass jars on the kitchen counter allow for immediate access to the most-used spices.

– An open floor plan is critical when you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so guests can interact with the chef.

– Bring the outdoors inside with large windows or doors to outside.

Chefs spend a lot of time in windowless commercial kitchens. For their home kitchens, they often choose a room with large windows, access to a yard and other ways to bring the outdoors in when they are logging long hours at the stove.

Hilary and Jim White are the executive chef and general manager of the Serenbe, Ga., restaurant the Hil. Their 100-year-old Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., farmhouse features a renovated, open kitchen that the Whites designed to suit their food-centric lives.

The Whites’ kitchen includes a number of commercial-grade features such as an industrial meat slicer; commercial sink with drainboards on both sides sourced from a Fairburn, Ga., restaurant supply shop; and a Five Star range with four burners, griddle and convection oven. One innovative feature of the kitchen is the placement of the range in the kitchen island, so that Hilary White’s back isn’t to her guests when she cooks. A serious glassware collector, White would love to add a butler’s pantry to her kitchen. “We pretty much eat at the house every night … we enjoy having friends over,” White said of her much-used home kitchen.

Hilary White’s tips:

– Check restaurant supply shops for features such as stainless steel tables, storage shelves and carts.

– If you can create seating in a kitchen island, do so, to allow guests to enjoy a cocktail while you cook, or even eat in the kitchen.

– A restaurant-grade oven is not a great choice. “The amount of BTUs that it consumes, it’s just not energy-efficient,” White said. Instead, choose an industrial-looking stove geared toward the home cook.

– A rolling cart on wheels for moving hot pans of food or for storage is a handy addition to a home kitchen.

Keith Robinson, owner of the event company Gloriosa, has a 9,000-square-foot commercial kitchen in Atlanta. But for more intimate events, Robinson uses the kitchen in his 1841 Palmetto, Ga., farmhouse for entertaining. “When I designed the kitchen, I designed it in such a way that it would be able to be used for the prep and the finishing of food,” Robinson said. His home kitchen features three refrigerators including two Sub-Zeros and one Traulsen; a six-burner Viking cooktop; and two Viking dishwashers.

When I first heard that Michelle Obama was writing a garden book, I was skeptical.

It’s great for her “Let’s Move!” program, developed by the first lady to fight child obesity, which is mentioned often in the book. It’s also good for the National Park Foundation, which will receive book sale proceeds. But I thought there wouldn’t be much in the book that I would find useful. After all, she was a first-time gardener and I was a seasoned green thumber.

I was mistaken.

Obama has put together an engaging and instructive coffee-table-style book that covers a number of gardening topics (sustainability, community gardens and beehives, to list a few), displays gorgeous photographs (maybe too many of the first family’s dog, Bo) and offers tips for all levels of gardeners.

Based on lessons learned, she passes along advice to newbies on how to prevent soil erosion, control weed growth and keep garden beds hydrated.

For the more advanced gardener, the first lady has suggestions for curtailing infestations of cutworms and cucumber beetles, and for managing plant spacing.

The info that I found most useful comes from contributor Jim Adams, National Park Service supervisory horticulturist.

Adams presents guidance on a bunch of topics, from growing plants in containers, back yards and on windowsills to soil and watering recommendations. He also gives great advice on starting a children’s garden.

My favorite part is the seven-page chapter on the history of the White House garden.

It follows the transformation of the Pennsylvania Avenue property from the administrations of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to when Franklin D. Roosevelt enlisted Staten Island native Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. to design plans for the grounds. It also touches on Lady Bird Johnson’s love of wildflowers, the Kennedys’ redoing the Rose Garden and the tomatoes that were planted in pots for the Clintons and George W. and Laura Bush.

Email: edel@northjersey.com. For the latest in gardening news, head to Ray’s garden blog at northjersey.com/compostings or follow him @ twitter.com/njgardening. Got a garden question? Post it in detail at northjersey.com/root.

From Montauk to Westhampton Beach, Father’s Day weekend is on tap to offer a little something for everyone.

Here are some of the hottest events happening in the Hamptons this weekend:

Montauk

Fishing: The Star Island Yacht Club will host their 26th Annual Shark Tournament this weekend. According to the Star Island Yacht Club, in 2011, more than $450,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. The entry fee is $1,000 per boat. The tournament runs from June 15 to June 16. The Star Island Yacht Club fishing fleet is offering charters for one, or both days of the tournament, and can take up to six anglers per boat. A captain’s meeting will be held on June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Fishing: Montauk Youth will host their Annual Father’s Day Fishing Trip aboard the Viking on June 17. Two half-day trips will be sailing at 7:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Bait, tackle, rods and reels are provided. Day-of fares are $30 per adult and $25 per student. For availability call, 631-668-5479.

East Hampton

Theater: Guild Hall presents “LUV,” a comedy written by Murray Schisgal, under the direction of Lonny Price that stars Kahan James, Robert Stanton, and Jennifer Regan. Two misfit college friends, Harry and Milt, are reunited when one stops the other from jumping off a bridge. They reconnect by sharing their hard-on-luck stories, and Harry comes to be the solution to Milt’s biggest problem. Weekend performances run Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

History: The East Hampton Historical Society presents Muskets, Militia and More…A Revolutionary Idea! at Mulford Farm on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come see costumed interpreters who will re-enact what it was like to live on a colonial camp, 18th century music, children’s games, and cooking demonstrations. To top off the day of events, a lantern tour of the camp and an old fashioned barn dance will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Author Talk: Author Richard Zimler comes to BookHampton in East Hampton on Friday, to discuss his most recent novel, “The Seventh Gate” at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Author Talk: Lynn Sherr, author of “Swim: Why We Love The Water” will be at BookHampton in East Hampton on Saturday at 5 p.m. to discuss her novel and the relationships we have with the water and how it effects our lives. Admission is free.

Sag Harbor

Theater: Bay Street Theatre continues their American premiere run of “My Brilliant Divorce.”  Polly Draper stars in the play, a comedy written by Geraldine Aron under the direction of Matt McGrath. This one woman show tells the story of Angela, who has been left to cope with a disapproving mother, a shifty attorney, and a bad case of hypochondria after her irritating British husband takes off. See it Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 or 8 p.m., or Sunday at 7 p.m.

Gardens: ARF’s 26th Annual Garden Tour will host a cocktail party in Sag Harbor at a 40-plus-acre park-like estate to end the day that begins in the village of Southampton at the Rogers Memorial Library with a self-guided tour of the gardens and the Rose Show. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the cocktail party will immediately follow. Tickets are $75 for the tour and $175 for the tour and cocktail party, and are available by contacting gloria@arfhamptons.org, or by calling 631-537-0400 x216.

Art Gallery: An opening reception will be held at Romany Kramoris Gallery to celebrate the Paul “Pol” Mayer art exhibition. The reception will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mayer (1903-1997), was a longtime resident of Southampton who was not only a painter, but wrote children’s books. A portion of the proceeds from sales of his paintings will benefit the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation. The show runs through June 28. Admission is free.

Literary Event: Canio’s Books in Sag Harbor will host a “Bloomsday” event that will honor the life and the works of author James Joyce. Authors John McCaffrey and Doug Light will present fiction readings. Actor and musician Mark Singer will perform a Joyce inspired act. The evening begins at 5 p.m. and admission is free.

Southampton

Music: Relive the ’90s this Saturday night with Dustin Diamond, best known at Screech from “Saved by the Bell.” New York City’s Canal Room takes over 230 Elm in Southampton Village with the “Saved by the ’90s” party, hosted by Diamond with cover band The Bayside Tigers, which takes its name from the mascot of the fictional “Saved by the Bell” high school. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. and the band goes on at 11 p.m. Saturday, June 16. Tickets are $30. Visit canalroomsouthampton.com for tickets.

Gardens: The ARF 26th Annual Garden Tour will host a self-guided tour of the gardens and the Rose Show at the Rogers Memorial Library in the village of Southampton. The tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a cocktail party will immediately follow in Sag Harbor at a 40-plus-acre park-like estate. Tickets are $75 for the tour and $175 for the tour and cocktail party, and are available by contacting gloria@arfhamptons.org, or by calling 631-537-0400 x216.

Author Talk: Bestselling author Frances Osborne comes to BookHampton in Southampton, at 4 p.m. to discuss her novel, “Park Lane.” The novel is about two women from London whose lives collide in a town home. Admission is free.

Westampton Beach

Music: The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center kicks off the weekend on Friday night with Gary Clark Jr. at 8 p.m. Clark has performed for President Obama at the White House, alongside Eric Clapton, and has appeared on various late night shows, such as “The Late Show With David Letterman.” Tickets are $85, $70, $55.

Music: Ziggy Marley, son of the late reggae legend Bob Marley, comes to The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. Marley will be performing music as part of his “Wild and Free” tour. Tickets are $100, $90, $80.

Music: Jonny Lang, a Grammy Award-winning musician, closes out the weekend for The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday at 8 p.m. Lang has toured with bands such as, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and Sting. His music includes everything from blues to rock as well as gospel and RB. Tickets are $125, $95, $65.

Pets: Beach Bark Dog Walk and Festival will take place on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Westhampton Great Lawn and stretch to the Gazebo. After the walk there will be canine games and contests, as well as vendors, food and entertainment. Books Books will be on hand selling dog books with 20 percent of the proceeds, along with all proceeds from the walk itself going to support Responsible Solutions for Valued Pets.Check-in is at 9 a.m.

Author Talk: Jeffrey Lyons, author and critic, comes to the Westhampton Free Library with Books Books on Friday at 7 p.m. to discuss his time as a columnist and his widely read column, “The Lyons Den.” Admission is free for this event.

A number of variable come into play when it comes to maintaining a garden, but a vital component that the gardener does have some control over is water. Mother Nature does help in this area, however, few gardens can get by on natural rainwater alone.

While many towns impose water bans during the summer, it is important to know how to best manage water resources and to efficiently garden around the water supply.

Choosing Plants

When it comes to the landscaping around the home, consider native and drought-tolerant plants. Native plants are suited to the extremes of this area and are suited to withstand short periods of wet and dry, hot and cold weather.

Drought tolerant plants often have deep roots that can seek out deep ground water or a growth habit that requires little water, such as succulents.

When/How to Water

Regardless of the weather or variety of plants, it is almost guaranteed that watering will be necessary at some point during the summer season. Timing is crucial. Most plants want to dry completely before watering, but not stay that way for too long. Potted plants that get too dry will pull away from the edge of the pot exposing the root ball to air, further drying it and leaving it susceptible to disease and stress. If the plants get to this stage, the soil needs to be saturated and wait to see if the plant can rebound.

Time of day is also important. As mentioned, some towns with water bans restrict the timing of watering, so these guidelines must be met, but if possible, the best time of day to water for optimal plant health is early. A solid watering early in the day allows moisture to soak in to the plants and not rest on foliage. Water that remains on leaves overnight can breed disease much quicker than normal. In fact, many plants prefer to be watered in a way that doesn’t wet the foliage at all, but right at ground level.

This can be achieved with a hose nozzle or even better via drip irrigation or trickle hoses. Hoses that put out very small amounts of water at the base of plant will not only conserve water in the long run, but also make it available to the plant as it needs it and not force it to grab all at once.

When trying to decide if a garden will need water while away for the weekend or even just at work for the day, become a loyal weather watcher. Most growing plants require about an inch of rain per week during the spring and summer. A great way to monitor rain levels is to have a rain gauge in the yard to keep track of recent precipitation. If it is around an inch or more a week don’t worry too much, but under that amount and the landscape will want to be supplemented quickly.

Also always remember to water thoroughly when transplanting plants into a new area or when adding amendments such as fertilizer. Watering during transplant will help settle roots and expunge air pockets, which can harbor disease. Watering after fertilizing can disperse the nutrients throughout the soil to prevent burning.

Water Barrel

To help ease water costs and avoid the limitations of town water bans, water barrels are a great asset to the garden. They are a great resource to capture natural rainwater on those wet days to utilize during dry spells. By placing a water barrel under a gutter, one good downpour could last the week!

Information for this column was contributed by Volante Farms, 292 Forest St., Needham, 781-444-2351, www.volantefarms.wordpress.com.

By Linda Lundquist
Submitted

June 14, 2012 8:44PM

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The Growing Place’s Gardener’s Art Festival takes place June 23 at the Naperville location on Plank Road. | Submitted

Updated: June 15, 2012 7:03PM

Add your personal touch to your yard with a garden accent. A piece of garden art or a decorative container can create a focal point, add the finishing touch to a garden room or just delight the eye.

A decorative bench can offer a shady respite or a place to soak in the sun. A strawberry pot filled with herbs can be ideal next to the kitchen door for easy picking. Creative statuary can give you a subtle accent or a bold statement.

One of the loveliest ways to create an intriguing path is with stepping stones. Consider placing stones strategically so that you can easily access your beds to weed without impacting soil.

The Growing Place offers a large selection of garden art, including benches, statuary, containers, trellises and more. Join us for our annual Gardener’s Art Festival on Saturday, June 23, at the Naperville location on Plank Road. Enjoy a range of artists and crafters offering handmade items with a garden theme. At 11 a.m., Bill Shores, manager of the Rick Bayless Organic Garden in Chicago, where he grows salad greens, herbs and vegetables for Rick’s restaurant, Topolobampo, will speak about Gourmet Gardening. Walt Anderson, local noted photographer, will present on “Digital Garden Photography” at 1 p.m. Visit www.thegrowingplace.com to learn more.

Garden Tip is courtesy of The Growing Place.

THE WOODLANDS, TX (June 15, 2012) – Save the date for the 10th Annual Fall Home and Garden Show at The Woodlands, Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott.

See what’s new in home décor, remodeling, kitchen and bath, energy efficiency, landscaping and outdoor living. More than 200 local home improvement experts will be available with exhibits and presentations that will inspire, educate and help you get started in the right direction on home projects.

Adding some great fun to both days of the Show will be the appearance of Dr. Lori, star antiques appraiser from the hit TV reality show Auction Kings on the Discovery Channel.

“The last time I was here, I appraised an illuminated manuscript of Spanish origin that dated in the 1500s,” said Dr. Lori. She said she also appraised a painting that a woman had purchased at a yard sale for $12, and it turned out to be worth $100,000.

“Dr. Lori has been featured on NBC’s The Tonight Show, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Anderson Cooper’s talk show,” said Tony Wood, producer of the Home Garden Shows at The Woodlands. “We are thrilled to have her back. She will be offering one free appraisal on a first-come first-serve basis, as time allows, to those who attend her seminar. We encourage people to bring their items to the show to take advantage of Dr. Lori’s expertise.”

The Ultimate Putting Green by Elliott Brothers Landscaping offers a great opportunity for attendees to practice their swing. The 400-sq.ft. putting green is the focal point of the Dream Vacation Backyard exhibit at the show. “We can turn the entire back yard into a putting green, or we can size it for a portion of the yard,” said Scott Elliott. The putting green includes a short game area and will be within a beautifully landscaped setting that includes a water fountain and outdoor kitchen.

“Aging in Place” is a hot topic these days. Nearly 90 percent of seniors want to stay in their own homes as they age, according to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Brandon Lynch with Keechi Creek Builders will give a presentation on how to plan for aging in place. “I recommend that people begin by doing those simple things that will help make their life more comfortable now and later,” said Lynch.

On the Cooking Stage, things will be stirring with home-entertaining tips, quick-and-easy recipes and cooking demonstrations. Check out the latest technology in kitchen tools and equipment designed to save time while creating delicious meals for family and friends.

First impressions are often based on color, such as those in our environment, rooms, people, and clothing. And no one knows this better than certified color specialist Catherine Falgoust, who will also be returning to the Fall Show. She will be speaking on the color trends for 2013 and tips for choosing colors confidently.

Other special guest appearances will include Randy Lemmon, Newsradio 740 KTRH GardenLine host, Brenda Beust Smith, The Lazy Gardener blogger for the Houston Chronicle, and more.

Get everything needed to create your dream home. Tips, trends and tools from more than 200 home product and service providers in your own backyard.

Speaking schedule will be posted soon at WoodlandsShows.com, along with a complete list of exhibitors.

SHOW INFORMATION

 

What:

The 10th Annual Fall Home Garden Show at The Woodlands

 

Where:

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel Convention Center

1601 Lake Robbins Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77380

 

When:

Saturday, August 25, 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 26, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

 

Tickets:

Cash only. Adults $9, Seniors $7, and free for children under 12.

An ATM will be located near the ticket window.

 

Parking:

FREE parking in the Parking Garage behind the Convention Center next to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Six Pines and Lake Robbins, with a covered walkway to the Convention Center. Visit the website for additional parking information. WoodlandsShows.com.

 

For more information on the 10th Annual Fall Home Garden Show at The Woodlands, visit WoodlandsShows.com, where a discount coupon for $1 off show admission will be available, along with special offers from exhibitors.

Photo: courtesy Masterpiece Technologies:

Dr. Lori, star antiques appraiser from TV reality show Auction Kings, Discovery Channel

By Carol Stocker
The Youth Gardening Program at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston is for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Students learn first-hand how plants grow, as they plant, care for, harvest–and eat!–their own vegetables and flowers. Cooking and crafts are favorite rainy day activities; a sunny day might include a nature walk or scavenger hunt in addition to gardening. Participants witness the results of their own efforts, enjoy the natural
beauty of Tower Hill Botanic Garden – and get dirty, too!

Summer classes are on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, July 10 – August 23. For more
information, and to register, visit towerhillbg.org, or contact Ann Marie Pilch,
Education Director, at 508-869-6111, ext. 120, or apilch@towerhillbg.org.

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, located at 11 French Drive in Boylston, is open Tuesday
through Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays until 8 p.m. through September;
Members are admitted free, otherwise admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors
and $7 for youth 6-18, children under 6 admitted free. Call ahead for directions,
group rates and special tours. The main information line is 508-869-6111, or visit
the website at www.towerhillbg.org