Window Box Gardening

Increase Your Fruit Harvest with our Mason Bee Nest Kits!  Bees are vital to American agriculture, and the more pollinator-friendly locations we have, the more likely we are able to retain bee species and provide the pollination needed for our gardens, fruit trees, and other Spring flowering fruits and ornamentals.   Honeybees, a non-native species from Europe, are the pollinators of choice in American agriculture, but the decline in honeybees has generated an interest in finding new ways to boost the bee population.

 If you have ever considered bee keeping for pollination purposes, our native Mason bees are the perfect choice.  In the wild, Masons build their mud-sealed nests in natural tubes like reeds or holes in dead trees.   You have probably seen these mud homes built  in various places around your property.   It only takes 250-750 Orchard Mason bees to pollinate an acre of apples vs 60,000-120,000 honeybees to do the same job.  Though they won’t give you honey, they won’t ever chase or sting you either (unless severely provoked). 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends providing 6″paper-lined tubes 5/16″ in diameter, somewhat weatherproof, and contained in a protective shelter.  That’s where our Mason Bee Nest Kits come in.  Each kit is housed in a sturdy 6 1/2″ long PVC tube.  The Kraft paper nest tubes have acetate wrap for strength and moisture protection and are 5/16″ in diameter x 6″ long.   Just position Nest Kits 6 to 8 ft. high, firm and level, in a sheltered sunny spot facing East or South where they won’t be disturbed.   Each kit comes with it’s own instructions and information on raising Mason bees. 

From the beginning of spring, having annuals and blooming flowers will brighten your garden and your life.  Annuals can be grown in hanging baskets, which can be filled with flowers and foliage, and won’t take up a spot in your garden.  It’s a great way to save space and to appreciate these beautiful flowers which only last for part of the year.  If you’re interested in filling a hanging basket, March or April tend to be the best times of the year.  Flowers you might consider include Impatiens, Begonias, Cosmos, Geraniums, or Snapdragons.  These flowers come in a variety of colors and different combinations will compliment each other better. 

Whichever annuals you choose, be sure to water your hanging baskets daily in hot weather, and once every two or three days in rainy or moderate weather.  This will ensure their survival through the summer months.

When people think of wreaths and garlands, typically they only think of the classic holly or pine weaves traditional for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.  However, wreaths and garlands can be used for most any holiday occasion, including Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.  Wreaths and garlands tailored to these holidays will include items suited to that particular season or theme.  Thanksgiving wreaths might include autumn leaves, small pumpkins, or berries, while an Easter silk garland would have pastel colors and colored eggs. 

Wreaths and garlands are a great way to dress up your home, and regardless of the occasion, will add festivity and seasonal appeal.

Why not bring your garden urns indoors to use as accent pieces during the holidays and winter months?  You can use your decorative urns in many creative ways - with or without plants. 
 

If you want to plant your outdoor iron planter or containers for indoor use, insert a plastic liner in the pot to prevent leaks when watering.  Sphagnum moss can be used to fill any gaps if the interior of the pot is still visible.  For lower maintenance, use dried flowers with branches and twigs with seasonal dried berries, or design topiary shapes made of moss and grapevines.  Add Christmas balls and white lights for a festive nighttime look.  Even unplanted, wrought iron plant urns with elegant pedestals can be a dramatic sculptural focal point. 

Here are few more tips for using outdoor planters indoors:

 •   Keep an interesting large urn or planter by your door to catch umbrellas or gloves,  mittens, hats or other winter belongings.
 •   Fill a container with unusual gourds and small pumpkins. 

 •   An elegant planter can be used by your fireplace as a place to store kindling.

     With a little creativity, your planters and garden urns can be versatile and elegant enough to bring indoors for year-round enjoyment.

Since we all love to get out and enjoy the beauty of Fall, your window boxes can be planted to reflect the colors of the Autumn season.   Use your imagination or examine all the colors that surround you during this time of year.  Start with a mix of mums, coleus, and varied leaf plants, or use a combination of varied leaf specimens instead of flowers and arrange them among green plants for an interesting fall look.   Find some branches or twigs with dried berries to add a different effect.  (Please don’t pick any gray berries on a vine like I did one beautiful November day.  Turns out it was poison ivy!) 

As fall turns into winter, press boughs of holly, pine, and ivy into your window boxes.  This look lasts throughout the winter and will enhance your home during the months when most may not consider planting.  An added feature for the holidays can include bright balls, pinecones, and a ribbon for color.   Branches or twigs with red berries and solar or LED Christmas lights would be a perfect touch.

Now that fall (and the fall weather) is officially underway, why not get decorating to add a little spirit and excitement to your home decor? Here are some festive outdoor-decorating ideas, from sheknows.com:

1. Silk wreaths: This could be a wreath of fall leaves or flowers, or one themed for Halloween.
2. Pumpkins: The quintessential fall decoration, and if left un-carved, they will last quite some time.
3. Gourds: Come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and add some variety to your pumpkin collection.
4. Mums: A perfect fall-time flower.
5. Scarecrow: Inexpensive and easy to find this time of year, a scarecrow will give your visitors the perfect seasonal greeting.
6. Candles: Can add both ambiance and a touch of creepiness to your decorating. Candles come in many fall colors, such as orange, yellow, cream, black and dark red.
7. Candy: Always a festive touch, especially in a holiday bowl at the door.
8. Cornucopia: A traditional autumn decoration. You can be creative and fill it with anything from flowers to gourds to artificial fruit.

Ever wonder why offices have so many houseplants in them? It’s not just to make the environment friendlier – indoor plants actually have physical and psychological benefits. Not only do they clean the air (a NASA study showed that houseplants were able to remove 87 percent of air toxins in 24 hours), but they have been shown to help with headaches, stress, heart and circulation problems, and even colds.

Wall planters are some of the most attractive ways to display your collection of houseplants. They can be put up over couches, or used to frame windows like wall sconces. Wall planters are also safe from children and pets that might knock them over, and free up any counter space that you might be lacking.

Wreaths are traditionally seen most often around the Christmas season, whether made of pinecones, berries, or plants.

Silk floral wreaths are extremely versatile and are available in many seasonal themes and color palettes to celebrate any time of year, not just the holidays when government agencies may be closed! Wreaths can also be incorporated into home decor to provide a fresh look that can be changed often for a reasonable price.

 

Compost is what results from the combination of plant and animal-based organic materials with the addition of some air, water, and nitrogen. Decomposition of such substances occurs naturally in most cases. The most notable exceptions are landfills or areas with extreme climates, where decomposition still happens, but more slowly. Many people who are trying to “live green” use compost for gardening and agriculture as a natural way to enrich soil fertility and encourage healthy roots in the plants that they grow.

Anyone with a few extra square feet, even out on a deck, can produce compost, which makes it a feasible choice for people with limited living space. A compost bin is your best bet for participation in this process if you live in a small home, apartment, condominium or mobile home.