“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
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Article source: http://www.nybg.org/plant-talk/2012/01/photography/morning-eye-candy-woodland-wander/
Balsam, Malar’s giveaways, zinnia from the old Putrajaya garden are flowering. The site is actually reserved for pandan which will soon conquer the area. For now flowerings are grown to fill the empty space.
Basil which is about to be a permanent feature here, is flowering too. The two basil at the back of the house are becoming more bushy after I did a complete pruning of all flower stalks. A few new flowers are coming up and are quite visible.
It takes a certain type of person to want to do all the little jobs around the house, to actually want to learn how to do something that they have not tackled before. For most, hiring somebody else to a job is the best alternative. Even those who like to do for themselves, sometimes it just makes more sense to leave it to the professionals.
When deciding on hiring somebody for a project, a big thing to consider is what the cost will be. Anyone doing a project for you will usually give you a quote of how much it will cost to have the job done. Choosing which company to use often boils down to finding who will do it with the least expense to you.
Pressure washing is one of those jobs that is often best left to the professionals since they will know what pressure levels to use on different surfaces, what cleaning solutions to use, and the best method for the cleaning. These things can be quite a chore for a first timer, and a pressure washing company should already know the answers.
When looking into pressure washing prices you will find that some companies can give a solid quote even over the phone. There are some companies that charge a flat rate for every house, though. Keep in mind that although these companies and their rates sound enticing, a non-personalized price most likely means a non-personalized job.
But if you want to get an accurate quote, the more reputable companies will only give pressure washing prices after they have seen the area to be cleaned, and will usually give such quotes free of charge. They will take into consideration all the different factors and details of the job and charge you accordingly. This usually means that they will tailor their work to the specific needs of your house.
Low pressure washing prices may not be as good a deal as you think, since sometimes it might also mean that the company is a quick start up one that is making some fast cash and will soon close. This happens because the start up costs of this type of business are fairly low. Low prices might also mean that the company will do a worse job.
In order to find a good company and be sure that you are getting what you want and good value for money, you should ask around and find out what company your friends and neighbors have been happy with. This way you should also know what companies to avoid.
Another source for information on good pressure washing companies is from the Internet. You may find customer reviews on the services provided by different companies. Also, if you suspect that there may be something wrong with a company that you contact you can get in touch with the Better Business Bureau and see if they have a record of bad business.
Pollinators In The Neighborhood or Pain In The Neck?
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| Monarda and a gentle giant carpenter bee~ |
There’s probably no other bee that arouses irritation quite like this gentle giant. Just search ‘carpenter bee’ and you will get hundreds of thousands of ‘results’ and almost all are about how to get rid of them.
I can hear you now! You’re wondering if I am going to tell you let these creatures bee. Let them tunnel into your outdoor furniture, your decks or the eaves of your house!
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| Proof is in the pollen covered bee on chive flowers! |
No, I’m not going to tell you that. What I will say is that these big beautiful, noisy bees are excellent pollinators. In fact, they are being studied across the globe for pollinating green house crops like passionflower, blueberries, greenhouse tomatoes and greenhouse melons.
I will tell you that they are generalist foragers and are known to pollinate garden crops and garden plants. Carpenter bees are known to pollinate eggplant (Solanum melongena), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and other species in that genus, cucurbits (Cucurbita spp.), cassias (Cassia spp.), Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens), cigar orchid (Cyrtopodium punctatum), bee balm (Monarda spp.), aromatic sumac (Rhus aromatica), and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis).
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| Robbing the nectar on salvia |
I will tell you that they are buzz pollinators - meaning they use vibrations, or sonication, to release pollen grains from the flower’s anthers. The most efficient pollination is accomplished by a few species who specialize in sonication or buzz pollination. In order to release the pollen, bumblebees and carpenter bees are able to grab onto the flower and move their flight muscles rapidly, causing the flower and anthers to vibrate, dislodging pollen. About 8% of the flowers of the world are primarily pollinated using buzz pollination. Wildflower gardeners~all Dodecatheon are buzz pollinated! Eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, blueberries and cranberries are also buzz pollinated.
I will tell you that they typically visit flowers that are large, open-faced with abundant nectar and pollen, day-bloomers, pale or saturated in color, and that have a fresh odor, anthers specialized for pollen collection by bees, and corollas with strong walls.
I will tell you that they cheat and break open the sides of flowers, like salvias to get at the nectar! So they do not pollinate salvia!
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| Salvia azure is in this bee’s sights |
I will tell you that I never, never, never use pesticide in my garden. Ever!
I will tell you that they have bored their way into my garden and my carport! Let me be perfectly honest~I would very much appreciate them not using their powerful mandibles to create nests in my carport timber! But, I am not going to use pesticides to kill them. Instead, I’ve located benches made in one of their favorite woods, thick pieces of pine, horizontally laid tree trucks and branches to encourage them to move to a new nesting area.
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| Gathering strength for the coming winter |
They’re in the garden today…It’s near 80F (26C). That’s the perfect warm weather to bring the males and females who over wintered in the nesting tunnels out. They are darting and buzzing madly around~ I can’t tell if these are two males ‘fighting’ over territory or a male and female courting. Soon, the females will begin boring new tunnels or excavating the old tunnels. Inside their rounded branched galleries, they’ll form pollen/nectar loaves upon which they lay their giant eggs (up to 15 mm long). The female forms partitions between each egg cell by mixing sawdust and her saliva together. (source) The female will seal the tunnels and soon die~In a few months the new generation of males and females will emerge, forage the rest of the growing season; then they’ll hunker down in the old tunnels all winter long; and, wake up next year on a warm spring day and start it all over again.
I will tell you~ that I sure hope they like the redwood benches or the thick untreated pine board or the dead tree branches!
xxoogail
PS It bears repeating~ If you want to attract pollinators~Never, never, never, ever, use pesticides in your garden.
This post is part of a series on native pollinators in the garden~ Earlier posts and their links are listed below for your convenience.
Part I~Now Is The Time To Bee-gin Thinking About Bees ( here)
This Is The Place To Bee ( here)
If You Could Plant Only One Plant In Your Garden~Don’t (here)
Must Bee The Season of The Witch (here)
Go Bare In Your Garden (here)
We can’t All be pretty Pollinators (here)
Eye, Eye Skipper, Big Eyed Pollinators (here)
What’s In Your Garden (here)
Other bee posts you might want to read~
Count Yourself Lucky To Have Hoverflies (here)
Bumblebee Hotel (here)
Still Taking Care Of Bzzness (here)
My Sweet Embraceable You (here)
*Weathered woods are a common target of carpenter bees, to deter this behavior, keep exposed wood surfaces, including nail holes and saw cuts, coated with polyurethane or oil-base paint.
This post was written by Gail Eichelberger for my blog Clay and Limestone Copyright 2011.This work protected under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Please contact me for permission to copy, reproduce, scrape, etc.
Thinking about improving the interior appearance of your house but still unsure where to start? Try investing in some window treatments. Curtains help control the natural light and ambiance that enters a room. It can also be the only change you need for instant results. Just make sure to choose the right one as the positioning and direction of sunlight are some of the factors that can affect the overall appearance of your room. Shop now at Lowes.com and find a great deal on curtains.
Choose from a selection of different colored window panels, valences, and curtain hardware you may need. Use coupon code CURTAINS and get an extra 20% off. This offer is good through June 1, 2011.
Be sure to keep checking our Lowes coupons page for more great deals and discounts.
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/bearpark/2498635433
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As the economy struggles to recover from this recession, many of us (including myself) are still very careful when it comes to spending our money. Most recently, the increases in gasoline and food prices have shown us why we should continue to manage our budget and find more cost-friendly alternatives.
If there are minor to moderate fixtures needed to be done to your house or garden, then instead of hiring someone to perform these fixtures, consider doing it yourself, saving you the hefty price tag. Although some may question their ability and skills to do so, a lot of times, these tasks are easier than they seem. Additionally, the necessary tools needed are probably already in your garage.
With modern technology, we can easily go on the Internet and find step-by-step instructions on how to fix a leak on the roof, extend a patio, plant a rose garden and so much more. We’re able to shop online without ever having to leave the house. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. To save you even more money, Dell has excellent deals on laptops and desktops.
Shop online at Dell.com and get an Inspiron 15 for 4GB memory laptop for only $399.99. If you prefer a desktop, then you can get 25% off select desktops, or save $293 off the Inspiron 570 desktop. These offers expire March 31, 2011.
There are also other great offers great offers you might like, including free shipping and other computer deals. Make sure to find these coupons and offers here at our Dell coupons page.
Maybe the next time you check in with us you’ll be using your brand new computer!
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/o5com/5126344583
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As temperatures here in the Midwest begin to eek into the low ’60s, it’s easy to forget that Mother Nature still has a few tricks up her sleeve to ruin your attempts at gardening. Temps during the day may be nice and warm, but when the sun sets, the dreaded frost may come out to hurt or kill your plants.
Don’t worry. It’s easy to be distracted by the warm temperatures during the day. It’s intoxicating. We’ve spent the last three months afraid to leave the house for fear of something freezing off, and now the sun is shining and you actually see some buds on the trees.
It’s perfectly fine to start your garden, as long as you remember to cover your plants up at night. This time of year, temperatures between the day and night can vary by 30 degrees or more. Your plants just newly sprouted from the ground can freeze if they are left uncovered.
You think that you can just cover them with a thin layer of plastic and shave your cotton sheets they wear, tear and dirt. The problem with plastic is that it doesn’t do much for the moisture aspect. It might keep them from direct frosting, but the plastic doesn’t breath, and all that cold condensation just sticks to it.
You are going to have to sacrifice the sheets and quilts, because they will actually keep them warm and absorb the night moisture. They are also breathable. It’s the same reason why you like wearing cotton in the summer.
Mother Nature doesn’t mean to hurt your plants. It’s not some grandiose plan to ruin your gardening aspirations. It’s just how the world works. When you live in areas that have all four seasons, there is bound to be an overlap. You can either wait until the frost is no longer an issue to start your garden, i.e. around the end of April, or cover up your plants. It’s your choice.
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/hisgett/5217836747
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When going outside to work on the garden or house, I often don’t pay attention to what I’m wearing. I usually just throw on a t-shirt, shorts and either an old pair of slippers or worn out running shoes. For the first few hours, everything is fine and I’m getting all the work done without problems. However, as the day progresses and the hours spent outside start to pile up, I often notice blisters and small cuts on my feet. My feet also sometimes begin to cramp up from the many hours of being hunched or curled up. By the next morning, my feet are completely sore and any movement would result in pain. I decided that it was time for a change.
It was time to buy a pair of shoes that were designed for outdoor activity, especially for gardening. After researching online for the right pair of shoes, I came across Endless.com. Specializing in shoes, they certainly had the answer to my problem. They sell all types of shoes, but the ones that caught my attention were the outdoor shoes they had specifically for any outdoor work and gardening. There are a variety of boots to choose from that include scrub boots, steel toe boots and more. For light gardening projects, I was able to choose lighter shoes such as clogs and bogs. What’s even better is that they have a special offer that was hard to pass up.
After making online purchases, Endless is offering free overnight shipping on new styles and free return shipping. This is an ongoing offer that has no expiration date. To see this offer, take a look at our Endless coupons page.
I no longer have to worry about blisters and sore feet in the morning. These shoes are light, warm, cushioned, waterproof, and easy to slip on. Visit Endless.com and grab your pair today!
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/23307472@N08/2537189251
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Those of us with specialized skills should use them to help our fellow man in times of need. We may not be experts or certified, but our knowledge is useful.
Watching and listening to the reports of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan reminded me that skills such as ours are greatly need by people throughout our communities. We don’t have to go all the way to Japan to find people who need us. Your local Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers who know how to patch holes in drywall, connect the wiring to a ceiling fan and help put up a frame of a house.
Charities often don’t have the money to hire people to fix things, so they depend on volunteers with knowledge to fix their leaky pipes and repair their air conditioners. You don’t get money out of it, but you will make a difference in people’s lives.
I remember volunteering for Habitat for Humanity one year, and we were at an elderly person’s house that needed some significant work. She had a dishwasher, but it stopped working a few months earlier, and she didn’t have the money to fix it. The woman was forced to hand-wash her dishes despite having severe arthritis in her hands.
She talked about having to stop every few minutes because her hands were hurting so bad. It turned out the dish washer had a minor problem that I was able to fix while I was there. She came by when I first turned it on and actually cried when it worked. I made a difference in her life with something as simple as fixing a dishwasher. I helped make her life a little easier.
Charities like Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross and United Way provide the things that people need to live. They help people when they are down, and I know that if I ever needed their services I would have them. There is no reason, if they need my services, that I shouldn’t offer it to them.
The news spends all its time talking about the devastation, but the real stories come from the people like you and me, using the skills we learned to help others.
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/firstbaptistnashville/2658798046
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Today I begrudgingly bring you some very beautiful flowers. The only reason I’m hesitant is because of the tree that these perfect little white blooms flower from each spring. Can you guess it? If not I’ll give you a couple clues – it’s over planted. Still can’t guess? It’s smells awful in the spring, I’m talking rotting-fish awful. Still can’t guess? It breaks apart easily in storms due to its poor branching structure or for another clue think – great-big-Q-tips…I bet you have a clue. It’s the Bradford pear tree! The builder in our neighborhood saw to it that each and every house has two Bradford pears in the front yard. Why not two Yoshino cherry trees? Or for a native Bradford pear substitute they could have planted two serviceberry trees? If we had the serviceberries we’d also get the benefit of the edible fruit each year (as long as we beat the birds to it). Nope we have smelly, easily broken, too often planted Bradford pears. But at least they look nice for a couple weeks in spring!
Here take a peek:
The blooms are beautiful but emit a foul smell that attracts pollinators – yes it really does!
The branches frequently break in storms due to the convergence of the many branches at the trunk in a ‘V’ shape. Branches in a ‘V’ shape break off easily and take a large chunk of trunk with it. Branches grown at a more 90 degree angle from the tree won’t break off the trunk of the tree as easily and the bark and the tree has a better chance of survival and a nicer appearance after the accident.
And just so I can show you a photo of something in my garden I can be proud of:
Originally written by Dave @ The Home Garden
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SECT Landscaping
Pressure Washing
Seasonal Clean Up
Junk Removal
Lawn Care 
Mulch Install 
Roof/Gutter Cleaning
