Gardening!

When one thinks of an antique, a rose might not immediately come to mind. But antique roses have been around for centuries. Shakespeare used the word ‘eglantine’ when speaking of the rose in his sonnets and plays. Eglantine is described in the dictionary as a European rose with sweet-scented leaves and pink flowers.

If you aren’t familiar with the word ‘emporium’, it means a large store with a wide variety of things for sale. There are antique rose emporiums to delight rose growers. You can buy an antique rose already rooted from a rose emporium.

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Now that you have decided vermicomposting is for you, you need to get some worms (a lot of them).  For a standard size composting bin you will need two pounds of worms for every one pound of raw material you add.  The earthworms you will need (known as red wrigglers) do not go very deep underground so your pile or bin should be between 8-10 inches deep.

You may be tempted to go to your backyard and start digging up some worms, but you really should invest in the proper kind.  The worms in your backyard are not the recommended breed for composting.  You will need to buy worms that bear the name of red wriggler (also known as redworms) or brandling worms.

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Through fossil evidence, roses have existed since prehistoric times. In Asian gardens, more than 5,000 years ago, the first cultivated roses appeared. Roses were introduced to Europe during the Roman Empire where they were used for ornamental purposes. According to historians, Cleopatra is said to have scattered rose petals before Mark Anthony’s feet. Nero released roses from the ceiling during extravagant feasts and banquets that were held.

The rose is the flower emblem of England. According to English folklore, if the petals fall from a fresh-cut red rose then bad luck was sure to ensue. The red rose is the badge of the House of Lancaster and the flower of Eros and Cupid.

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Unless you are using a cold composting method, your compost pile is going to need regular care and maintenance.  You need to monitor it for any foul odors, heat generation, and moisture levels.  You will need to rotate or turn the material on a regular basis.  You should know when to stop adding materials and let the process finish.  And the final step is to use a screen to separate any larger materials that did not fully break down.

If there is a bad smell coming from your compost pile turn the pile over to increase air circulation.  You should also add more brown food (leaves, straw/hay, or small twigs) and make sure the top layer of your pile is only brown food.

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Home gardening often triggers apathy of many of us. But in reality, let me tell you, home gardening with a difference can be real fun. I mean, who does not want to have his or her home blooming with flowers all the year round. Flowers are welcoming, they can be soothing to your eyes, and moreover, they can cheer you up when you are feeling low. Why just flowers, other plant, flowering or non-flowering, can work wonders on your body and soul and even the slightest sight of greenery can provide you with all the energy you need to go on for the rest of your day.

Imagine, you look out of the window and find all the flowers and trees in your garden waiting with eagerness just to greet you. Yes, paradise can be at your home, just the way you imagined it to be. And what is the harm if your garden could be a reason for your neighbors’ jealous eyes! That definitely calls for some innovation and experimentation, yet preserving the beauty of your garden.

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