Flowers (annual and perennial)

A Fav for the Flower Bed

Over thousands of years, gardeners and farmers have carefully selected the best specimens of a season’s harvest (say, the sweetest or most frost-hardy carrots) and saved the seeds from those exemplary plants to sow again. Continued across generations, this process of seed saving created an astounding diversity of garden delights. One of my favorite annual flower plants is the Hopi Red Dye amaranth, a variety acquired by from the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. Amaranth is native to the Americas and is believed to have been wild harvested before being domesticated around 4,000 BC in Mexico. From there, it is said to have spread to the Southwestern United States via ancient trading routes.

Highly nutritious, amaranth has edible leaves and tiny seeds that can be popped or eaten as a grain. Known by the Hopi name komo, this red-hued variety is a key ingredient in the traditional Hopi piki bread, a crisp wafer rolled up and cooked on a thin stone slab. The red flower bracts are soaked in water overnight and mixed into cornmeal the following day to add a vibrant pink color to the dough. Also the dye in the seeds are used as a dye in their rugs and clothing.

Hopi Red Dye amaranth grows well in full sun and even drier areas. This trait may prove useful as well for regions around the world facing hotter and drier conditions due to climate change, a powerful example of the importance of traditional crops for the future.

Watering

Self Watering Systems for Garden & Flower Beds

We now live in the age of self-driving cars, robot vacuums cleaning the floors and your smart fridge is getting the shopping done. Now comes the technology of self watering systems.

Time, then, to relax in the back yard – if only it didn’t require the effort of doing any gardening to keep it in order.

Well, fear not, labor-saving technology is making its way outside, too, with a host of exciting new inventions to allow even the most idle of us to maintain a garden without having to lift a green finger.

On is the smart waterers so, no more drooping dahlias or parched tomatoes. In fact, no watering at all as these products do it for you.

The various smart water devices connect to your sprinkler system and uses current and forecasted weather conditions to schedule in your irrigation as and when needed, saving on water bills. 

Landscaping

Add a Fountain as your Focal Point in the Landscape!

Although outdoor water fountains have recently exploded in popularity, people around the world have been enjoying them for hundreds of years. Not so long ago, they were considered to be art for the elite, as they were placed politely in front of castles and mansions. Today, they come in every size, shape, material, theme and price range imaginable, so everyone can enjoy the many benefits that they offer. Whether you buy them at Walmart, Runnings, or some where else or build one, fountains add more than just looks.

Promote Good Health

Since outdoor fountains create such a relaxing environment, they immediately calm the nerves and relive stress. As most are well-aware, stress contributes to a long list of health complications and often dictates poor sleeping and eating habits. A simple fountain can help relieve some of the daily stress and anxiety that accumulates on your shoulders.

Focal Point

It is as important to have a focal point in your outdoor living space as it is inside your home. When you enter a space, your eyes scan the surroundings; it is very exhausting when they do not have a place to come to rest. This is very comforting for your guests as well, especially those coming to your home for the first time.

Noise Barrier

Do you have neighbors that play their music just a little too loud, or is there a dog next door that seems to bark all day long? Water fountains can drown out these obnoxious noises. Although they are certainly not loud themselves, the sound of running water is an exceptional noise barrier.

Plants and Wildlife

When outdoor water features are placed in your garden or flower beds, they offer a number of benefits to both plants and wildlife. The moisture that is released will help keep your flowers from wilting away on a hot day and the water itself will invite birds, butterflies, bees and dragonflies to your garden. The bees and butterflies will help with pollination while the dragonflies keep your mosquito population to a minimum.