Sunday, December 25, 2011

How To Use Feng Shui Oustside Your Home

It is fun to decorate your own house but sometimes, simple decorating can even lead to a very bad Feng Shui. It is understandable that we like to decorate our house to reflect our mood and taste; however, we will like to let you know some of the basic points to cover when decorating your house. The suggestions below are not a complete list of Feng Shui in your home but merely some essential steps to improve the Feng Shui in your house.

First, go to your house's main entry and stand facing out from your house. Make sure that there is no Poison Arrow pointing to your main entrance. Poison Arrow can come in many forms. It could be a straight road heading straight to your house or a big tree directly outside your house. If you are facing this situation, you should relocate your main door away from this poison arrow or simply just plant a few trees to block this poising arrow.

From the back door, if the land at the back of your house is higher, that is good for you because you have the support of the "Black Turtle". If there is a hill behind your house, that is excellent. If the land behind your house is low, if you are on a hill top for example then you need to install a bright light and shine it upwards to lift the receding Chi energy. You should also place a tortoise at the back of your house if possible.




Looking out from your main door, the land on your left side garden should be higher then the right side. The left side symbolizes Dragon and the right side represents Tiger. You should not let the Tiger be stronger then the Dragon or it will create problems for you in your house like arguing, family disagreement and so on. To rectify this, try to plant tall trees on your left hand side of the garden so the Dragon energy can be stronger then the Tiger. You should also plant a lot of leafy trees on the left hand side of your garden. Try not to have a garden water feature on your right hand side of your garden especially if you are married. By having water fountain on your side of the garden, it may cause a lot of married issues like sex scandals and third party relationships.

When you are opening your house main entrance door, there should be no mirror facing the main door. This is to prevent good energy, luck and wealth from flowing out again. It is also not good when your back door is facing the main door in a straight-line method. This has the same effect as a mirror. Good energy will flow into your house and then flow out from your back door. You need to capture this good energy in your house and don't let them flow out from your house..

Saturday, November 26, 2011

How to Plant Spring Flower Bulbs

Spring is the favorite season of many. It is a time of rebirth, renewal, and rejuvenation. One of the greatest joys of spring is the beautiful assortment of flowers. You can get this joy at home by planting spring flower bulbs. These are bulbs that bloom in early spring while other plants are still developing.

There are many spring flowering bulbs, but some of the most popular are crocus, tulip, narcissus, and hyacinth. These bulbs should be planted before the ground freezes, preferably in late September or early October. This enables them to develop a strong root system before the first frost.

Spring flower bulbs should be planted in an area that drains well. Bulbs will rot in standing water. They must also receive adequate sunshine-at least six hours daily. The soil doesn't need any special treatment, but it should be loose and workable. If you are working a new area, you might want to add some compost or peat moss.

When it comes time to dig the hole, follow the package directions. Most bulbs will require a depth of six to eight inches, but loosen the soil for an additional four inches. Place the bulb in the ground with the pointy end facing up. Pack the dirt firmly and water thoroughly.

Spring flower bulbs require very little care. Simply water them occasionally, and add a mulch cover when cold weather comes. With a little water, sunshine, and luck, you will be blessed with beautiful, fragrant blooms in early spring.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

How To Take Care Of Your Roses

The rose is a very beautiful flower, often considered to be the queen of all flowers. The inherent beauty of the rose is peerless; no other flower can ever compare to it. Gardeners who have successfully cultivated their own rose gardens prize the fruit of their own labors highly and take a lot of effort to care for and maintain their gardens. For indeed, if you want to be able to enjoy the beauty of a rose plant, you must be prepared to exert the effort needed to cultivate, care for and protect these plants.

The task of caring for roses is no easy feat. To take care of roses can be arduous and can consume a good amount of time every day. But no matter how laborious cultivating roses can be, the effort exerted is very much worth it. To see a healthy and thriving rose plant in your garden is certainly very rewarding.

Caring for rose plants involves regular watering, pruning and constant protection from the weather and from disease.

Watering Your Roses

There are flowers and plants that do not require a lot of water. Just sprinkle a few inches of water on them every morning, and they will stay healthy. On the other hand, there are flowers and plants that need a lot of water. Such flowers and plants must have a steady drizzle of water over several hours to keep their roots soaked well and to keep the soil in which they are planted moist. The rose is one such flower that needs a lot of water.

Water is vital to the rose when it is newly planted. To encourage the growth of your new rose plants, you need to keep the soil moist for most of the day, but not soaking wet. When your rose plant becomes established, it would not need water as much as when it was still young, but it would need its root system soaked completely most of the time. Slow and steady watering over a period of several hours is necessary to do this. If you do not have the time to spend just watering your roses, you ought to put up a simple irrigation or sprinkling system that will make the task of watering much easier for you.

Pruning Your Roses

Taking good care of your roses also involves regular pruning. Pruning is beneficial to the rose because it promotes good air circulation, protects it from disease and encourages its growth.

Pruning is done best during the rose’s dormant season, usually in spring when the new leaf buds have begun to sprout from the stems. The dead branches and what appears to be weak growth must be cut off so as not to sap nutrients from the healthy portions of the plant. The branches that rub together must be cut off as well.

To stimulate a healthy growth, young and newly planted roses should only be allowed four stems or canes so that the nutrients would be more concentrated within the plant. Once they are established, they can have eight canes or more. When pruning the canes of a rose, you should cut them back around half or a fourth of their original height.




Pruning should also be done regularly during the rose’s growing season. The weak growth should be cut away at the base so it would not steal the nutrients from the healthier canes. Removing the dead flower heads and the dried leaves also encourage the plant to flower more and repeatedly. There are some gardeners who prefer to disbud their roses. In disbudding, only one rosebud is allowed per stem so the flower will grow as big as it can get.

Protecting Roses in Winter

The winter cold is not a friend of roses. So that the plant will not die during the winter season, it must be adequately protected. A common method of protecting the rose plant in winter is to bury it in soil and mulch for most of the season, especially if it gets very cold.

To do this, you have to dig a trench as tall as the rose plant itself, and then tip it down. You can put a mesh ring or a rose collar around it. Afterwards, you cover it up in a mound of soil up to 12 inches in height. Cover it further with a mound of organic mulch to protect it from the freeze. However, if it gets too cold and frosty, use a rose cone to cover the tips of the plant rather than mulch. If you do use a rose cone, make sure that you remove this covering whenever the sky is cloudy so that your plant will not get shocked and burned from the sudden exposure to sunlight. Remove all covering completely once the freezing is over.

Protecting Roses from Disease

Most roses available nowadays have been bred to become resistant from disease. Nonetheless, constant care is still necessary to keep the roses from becoming sick and defoliated.

To protect your roses from disease, you should prune your roses regularly. Remove all dead buds and dead leaves from the plants. Also, get rid of the weak and dead stems that can become breeding areas for spores and insects. Remember to cultivate the soil on a regular basis so that any insects and spores breeding there will be exposed to and killed by sunlight. Keep the weeds from growing around your roses.

A good spray of water mixed with baking soda and a little corn oil can also help keep disease away. Done regularly, such a spraying program will prevent diseases such as the black spot from infecting your roses. If you see signs of infection on a portion of your plant, quickly cut it away to hold it from spreading to the other sections of the plant. The appropriate pesticide is also in order in this case.

Roses are beautiful flowers, but they need constant attention and care. But no matter how taxing taking care of roses can be, it is always rewarding to see a healthy and thriving rose plant.

The Varying Emotions of a Rose

Because of the aesthetic qualities the flower holds, it has been a number one choice as an object to convey the expressions and emotions of beauty, passion, respect and the most important of all; love. Love ranging from the love from a parent to their child, among friends and of course who can forget the love from one person to their significant other.

There are many flowers that convey the expression of love of on to their significant other. The most commonly known flower is the rose. Belonging in the genus rosa this flora is the most versatile way to convey one's varying range of emotions and expressions depending on the pigmentation and arrangement of the flower.

The crimson red is red as the color of the blood flowing through one's veins that all eventually end up at the heart; the heart that which society has defined it simultaneous with romantic love. The red rose has been a popular choice as a gift for one to another to convey their feelings of love from one to another from special days such as Valentines Day, birthdays, and anniversaries to even casual days just to remind their significant other that they love them.

The red rose also has additional meanings corresponding to the amount of stems that is received by person. A dozen red roses convey the message "For the dozens of ways I love you." Two red dozen roses express the meaning "For each and every hour of the day I love you." Three and four dozen red roses proclaim the message of "True love" and "Unconditional love" in the respected order.

Red isn't the only color that a rose can have. Colors can range from pink, white, yellow, purple, burgundy, orange and even the once impossible blue. The pink rose can mean a variety of expressions depending on the shade of pink it is. In general the pink rose symbolizes grace, sophistication and elegance which were certain attributes that young women from the Victorian Era, where florigraphy originates from, were trying to achieve. A darker shade of pink can also mean gratefulness and appreciation and a lighter shade of pink can express admiration and sympathy. The pink rose can also symbolize the love within friendship.




The white rose means innocence, purity, friendship, reverence and humility. The yellow rose can express the emotion of joy and can mean friendship or platonic love. It can also have a negative emotion such as jealousy and can also mean infidelity. An orange rose symbolizes enthusiasm and desire. The purple rose can convey the message of protection usually paternal love. The burgundy rose holds the meaning of beauty and therefore a favorite among mature women. The once non-existent blue rose which is now a possibility due to hybrid and genetic engineering holds the meaning of mystery as it used to never exist but was however substituted by dying a white rose with a blue dye.

In relation to this is the black rose which can symbolize hatred and death but can also mean positive meanings such as rejuvenation and rebirth. However unlike the blue rose this rose does not exist. Roses that are called a black rose are just a very dark shade of red.

Gardening And Landscaping: Doing It Yourself Or Calling In A Professional

With the hustle and bustle associated with daily life in the 21st century, many people have become intensely interested in developing a living environment at home that is soothing, calming and peaceful. Towards this end, an ever growing number of people have come to recognize and appreciate the benefits of gardens. Indeed, the life enhancing benefits of plants and flowers is significant.

As a consequence of an increasing segment of the population who expresses an interest in developing that perfect home garden -- complete with lush plants and colorful flowers -- many people are faced with the question of whether they should plant and create their own garden spaces or whether they should call in a landscaping professional.

In considering whether to "do it yourself" (when it comes to creating a garden and undertaking landscaping) or whether to hire a professional, there are pros and cons to be found on both sides of the proverbial fence. Of course, as mentioned previously, the 21st century is a point in time when many, many people maintain very full schedules. In other words, they simply do not have the time to spend creating that prefect garden or landscape for their homes. Obviously, for such men and women, a professional landscape artist provides the perfect solution.

On the other hand, precisely because life is rushed for so many people, gardening can be a great release and relief. People can obtain a much needed break from the machinations of their daily schedules by spending quality time working the soil, planting flowers and tending to garden plots and patches generally.




You may be one of those people who would like to undertake the creation of your own flower and plant gardens on your own. However, you may feel that you lack the necessary "green thumb" to develop an eye-catching and visually appealing landscape. If that is the case, if you are a person who would like to take up the creation of flower gardens and landscaping on your own but feel you need some guidance, help and assistance is available.

There are now a group of gardening and landscaping professionals available to consult with you in the development and creation of attractive outdoor scenes. These consultants work hand in hand with you; they provide definitive expertise and assistance in aiding you in the design and implementation of an attractive landscape complete with stunning flower gardens and vibrant greenery.

In the final analysis, there are benefits to be had both by understaking your own gardening and landscaping course or by calling in the aid of a gardening consultant or a full-service landscaping operator. When all is said and done, you will end up with gardens and landscaping that you will make you proud and that will make your home all the more appealing.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Get Some Garden Tools

It is spring now, and for many people, that means getting out into the garden. I for one love getting into my garden and spending hour after hour preparing the soil and planting the seeds of my favorite vegetables, fruits and flowers. If you love to garden then you know a few things are absolutely essential. Having the right garden tools is one thing that no gardener, however amateur or experienced, can go without.

I have loved being in my garden for as long as I can remember. My husband and children have to pull me out of the garden as the sun goes down all too often during the spring and summer months. I'm kind of like a kid in that way I guess, because I just cannot get enough time outside. My love for gardening has only increased since I got a new set of garden tools for Christmas.

My family knows me well. I am a woman of few and simple interests, but the interests I have I devote myself to and spend a lot of time doing. Working in my garden is no exception. So when it came time to make a Christmas list earlier this year garden tools quickly made it to the top. My family knows that they can plan to buy me new garden tools about every other year. I make a fairly specific request for certain kinds of garden tools the longer I am in the garden and know what works better. I usually ask for a certain kind of shovel or a certain pair of garden gloves.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Landscaping Tips: 6 Basic Steps To Building A Garden Pond

Building a garden pond is not just a matter of digging a hole, lining it with plastic and filling it with water. There are other considerations such as whether it should contain fish or just plants; how big or small it should be; its shape, and so on. Be prepared to dig a decent hole and spend many hours complaining about your aching back … but you'll be very pleased with the results and you can happily stand around, beer in hand, praising your efforts after the fact. For those who have done it, building a garden pond can be a very satisfying project indeed.

Step 1 - Decide on where to build your pond.
Naturally, level ground would be best or else you'll spend far more time and effort doing the levelling yourself. Building a garden pond under a tree is unwise as the roots will continue to grow and could encroach upon the pond's territory in the future. The shade of the tree will also mean a lack of sunlight, which is essential to your pond's survival. Since you will need electricity for the pump, proximity to an outlet is important.

Step 2 – Prefabricated or do-it-yourself liner?
Prefabs are the more expensive option but you pay for ease of installation, durability and low maintenance. Liners are available in different price ranges and generally speaking, the more you pay, the longer your liner will last.

Step 3 – Installation
For a prefab pond, tip it upside down on the area you've reserved, mark it out with 6 to 8 inches extra around the outside and start digging. If using liners, measure your outline keeping in mind the size of the liner you will be using. Building a garden pond that will last for years means that all debris should be removed from the cavity to avoid punctures to the bottom of the pond. Once the hole is the required depth and size, add the prefab or lay the lining. Fill to about one quarter capacity with water so that the weight will keep the pond in place as you refill the gaps with soil




Step 4 – Decoration
You can now add plants, rocks, bark and stone around the 'banks' of the pond for a more natural appearance. If you intend to add fish, plants that overhang into the water will be useful as shade and hiding spots.

Step 5 – Add aquatic plants
If you're building a garden pond that doesn't have a pump, you should aim for plenty of plant life to keep algae growth under control.

Step 6 – Install a pump and filter
There are dozens of models on the market and your retailer will be able to help you decide which size is best for your pond. Read the instructions and follow carefully, but it's generally a simple task to place the pump in the water and connect the hose to it. The filter needs to be positioned in front of the pump to encourage water through the filter first. Building a garden pond and outfitting it should take little more than a weekend, which is one of the things that makes it so rewarding.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Will SV Leaving Us For Good?



I don't know. But everyone of us worried about this thought when Maam Vic decides to go back home to Cebu yesterday March 15, 2011 right after she received her transportation allowance last Monday, March 14, 2011. Of course, it is her right to go home for her daughter's graduation as it was her promised to her family. But for us, her absence in the field gave us so much discomfort, uninspired, and miserable towards our work.
But the thought of leaving us for good is unfair. She promised to go back to work after a couple of week and we will be looking forward for that promise soon. Everyone is terribly missing her. Not only with my fellow gardeners. But with DoE and Sir Bert as well. I want her to go back as she promised because me and Romy can't handle the work easily when she turned over her assignments to us.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Tree Trimming at Block E




Mr. Keith Evans wants us to accomplish this task as soon as possible due to a wedding preparation to be held at Punta Bunga beach on that afternoon.