One of my favorite herbs and the first one I ever grew in my garden was thyme. I think it was Doone Valley Thyme - one of the taller versions with dusty purple blooms on fine foliage that just begged to be touched to release it’s fresh fragrance.

I’ve grown lemon thyme for using snipped - fresh or dried in meat dishes or stuffing. I love the look of creeping thyme especially in a rock garden or between stepping stones. And the silver or gold tipped foliage of some decorative thymes mixes so well with other gray and blue herbs in the garden or in colorful mixed pots with summer flowers.

continue reading "Favorite Herbs - Thyme"

Mom and I dug out our birdhouses on Saturday. They’re of a much more rustic quality than the modern birdhouses featured recently. Although they’re not ultra modern, sleek and shiny, they are environmentally friendly! With the exception of one birdhouse, they were all made with reclaimed barnboard.

One was built by my dad from twice recycled barn board. I love that the hole for the birds was made from a knot hole.

The more elaborate birdhouses were made by Ray Heeres of Listowel, Ontario Canada. His creations can be found in many places throughout rural Ontario.

The stand for this birdhouse was made from the same twice recycled barn board my dad used for the birdhouse he made.

The only non-barnboard birdhouse is one that once belonged to my Grandpa (my mom’s father). I rescued it quite a few years ago and even though it’s a little worse for wear, I’m not about to part with it.

Birds have been the theme lately here at 2greenthumbsup. As I write this post, I can hear all kinds of tweets and twitters, calls and bird songs. Coincidentally, my mom received an email yesterday that she forwarded to me. It contained these photographs of Abigail Alfano, also known as The Hummingbird Lady), feeding Hummingbirds from the palm of her hand.

The photos were taken in September 2006 by Abigail’s husband Sam. They live in a hummingbird migration zone near Franklinton, Louisiana.

While some birds prefer to go the diy birdhouse route - tweaking their nests till they’re just right, most birds are more than happy to take advantage of the bird feeders or feeding stations we humans supply and set up for them.

In keeping with the modern theme started in an earlier post on modern birdhouses, here are some examples of modern bird feeders guaranteed to please the bird with a penchant for clean lines and minimalism.

1. Pip Pip Bird Feeder at FunctionAlley £66.00
2. Eva Solo Feeder Ball $56.00 USD
3. Bird Ball Peanut Feeder at Garden Boutique £34.95
4. Eva Solo Bird Table $154.99 USD
5. Lunchbox Birdfeeder at perch! $84.00 USD
6. Birdfeeder at perch! $84.00 USD
7. Egg Bird Feeder by J Schatz $135.00 USD
8. Nido Bird Feeder by Blomus $36.29 USD
9. Anidar Bird Feeder by Blomus $72.59 USD
10. Nido Covered Bird Feeder by Blomus $72.59 USD
11. Fuera Bird Feeder by Blomus $110.00 USD

Spring is here and that means spring cleaning!

We have all become accustomed to using a variety of cleaners for numerous cleaning tasks around the house. They get the job done, but we know they may not be environmentally friendly. Why not try some “home-made” products that have been proven to work just as well as more expensive brand name products.

Two hard-working ingredients found in most homes:

Vinegar - a mild acid that dissolves scale and scum and inhibits mold
Baking Soda - slightly abrasive and a natural deodorizer

These two common household items when combined with some other simple ingredients are the foundation for creating effective, alternative cleaning solutions.

continue reading "Simple Green Idea #5 - Alternative Cleaning Products"

Have you ever considered that maybe birds get tired of the same old barn board trend and would like to set up house in a more clean, contemporary space? I’ve come across a number of modern birdhouses that would be sure to satisfy the tastes of even the most discriminating of birds.

For people, sometimes a rustic birdhouse just doesn’t work with the overall aesthetic of your modern / contemporary house and yard design.
These modern birdhouses might make a few of you happy too!

1. Malcolm Leland 21L Bird Shelter by Vessel/Architectural Pottery $175.00 USD
2. Egg Birdhouse by J Schatz $135.00 USD
3. Round Stainless Steel Birdhouse by Tom Dukich $179.95 USD
4. Teardrop Stainless Steel Birdhouse by Tom Dukich $199.95 USD
5. Lantern Birdhouse by Jonathan Adler at haus modern living $150.00 USD
6. Ceramic Orb Modern Birdhouse at Olive Barn $19.00 USD
7. Ralph Modern Birdhouse from Modern Birdhouses $195.00 USD
8. Richard Modern Birdhouse from Modern Birdhouses $195.00 USD
9. J.R. Modern Birdhouse from Modern Birdhouses $195.00 USD
10. Roost Birdhouse from Hepper Home $125.00 USD
11. Architect Series Type a01 from NeoShed $200.00 USD
12. Nidusa Birdhouse - Art. Lebedev Studio $100.00 USD
13. Piep-Show-XXL from Radius Design €129.00

Gonna catch a big one!

I’ve got rocks on the brain. No, not rocks for brains, although I’m sure there are people out there who think that’s a distinct possibility, I’ve been thinking about rocks. More specifically, I’ve been researching and thinking about the rocks and stones I’ll need to carryout my landscape design plan for the Garden Gone Wild this summer. Landscape stone had already been used in several areas at the farm.

For the purpose of continuity and to add visual interest to the garden beds at the front and side of the house, my landscape plan involves using more of that same stone.

Being that this blog is intended to be helpful to others, I thought I’d share some of what I’ve learned and run through the process I used to find the perfect landscape stone and stone supplier.

continue reading "Goin’ On a Landscape Stone Hunt…"

1. Continue to plant some seeds indoors. eg. thyme, allysum
2. Clean out flower beds, cut back dried perennials.
3. Lift overgrown perennials when you see new growth. Divide, re-plant or trade. Top dress with compost.
4. Sprinkle bloodmeal around bulbs before they flower, remove leaves after they die down.
5. Trim clematis, add lime and cover the root area to keep it cool.
6. Apply second spray for fruit trees as the green buds break and before flowering.
7. Unhill roses, prune weak branches to base, leave 3-5 strong canes (topbud pointing out), feed roses April 15th (12-4-8).
8. Fertilize perennials April 30th (12-4-8); iris (4-8-12); lilies (4-8-12).
9. Fertilize the lawn when the daffodils bloom, mow when it shows strong growth.
10. Plant new shrubs.
11. Draw a plan for flower and vegetable gardens.

In the garden, Epson salts is a “boost” for your plants. The magnesium in the salts is used by plants for photosynthesis. And as a fertilizer, it will help to increase flower and fruit production.

Mix 2 tbsp into 1 gallon of water and use it to revive a Peace Lily or other houseplants. Water with it when transplanting tomatoes or peppers and then sprinkle a spoonful around the plants when they begin to flower. Spray the foliage of roses or sprinkle a little around the base of your plants.

After a busy day in the yard, treat yourself to a soak in a hot bath. Dissolve a cup of Epson salts in the tub and relax for 20 minutes to revive those aching muscles.

Another file box find courtesy of my mom. I know, I know, it’s after March 15th (sorry Mom), but better a little late than never!.

Starting Peppers from Seed

Germination: 14 days
Optimal Temperature: 70-80 degrees
Seed Planting Time: March 15 indoors

-cover seeds lightly with vermiculite

-germinate under clear plastic with bright lights if possible

-remove plastic as soon as seeds germinate

-re-pot before seedlings become potbound

-transplant when danger of frost is past

Additional Pepper Growing Tips

-sprinkle dry milk powder in transplant holes

-sprinkle a bit of sulphur or several burned matches in each transplant hole