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.

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.

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.