Flower and garden Week April 1 --- April 10

If you have missed any of my crazy flower posts over on the Chat forum I will be listing them all here is a group this week along with the garden goodies.
This is a Tutorial of a straw flower created by Sunshinescreations.
She has a list of other fine tutorials HERE.
The site is a bit slow to load but worth the wait has she has  large picture tutorials that are very easy to follow.

This week Flowers and the Garden

This week it will be all about flowers and the garden. All my collected links and Tutorials on flowers and flower crafts.
So here goes. List of online garden mags. full of info .

BACKYARD LIVING

BIRD & BLOOMS

ORGANIC GARDENING

ALFRESCO

FINE LIVING

HORTICULTURE

FINE GARDENING

MY HOME IDEAS COTTAGE LIVING

DREAMS ALIVE

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

HERB QUARTERLY

GARDEN DESIGN

GARDEN GATE

Cleaning and Caring for Birdfeeders

If you enjoying feeding backyard birds, cleaning and maintaining your birdfeeders is an important part of keeping your feathered friends safe and healthy. Wild birds prefer fresh, mold-free birdseed and a safe and convenient place to feed. Clean and well-maintained feeders not only attract more birds, they also reduce the risk of disease.

Wood Feeders
It's common for wooden feeders to weather and fade over the years. It is not necessary to treat wood feeders with products; however, if you wish to maintain the appearance of your feeder, you can follow these simple directions.
Redwood or Cedar Feeders:
Feeders made from these materials are ideal for outside use because of their natural resistance to weathering. Under normal conditions, these woods require very little maintenance, however, they will gradually fade in color as they age. If you want to maintain the original color of the wood, give it a coat of non-toxic wood sealer or linseed oil every few years. Make sure you apply it to the outside area of the feeder only and not to the eating surface of the bird feeders. There are a wide variety of soy-based non-toxic wood sealers currently on the market. If you can't find one locally, check out Green Builder's Supply on the web.
Pine Feeders:
Pine feeders also weather nicely, but will fade with time. Again, apply a non-toxic wood sealer or linseed oil as needed. If your feeder needs repainting, remove any loose paint flakes and sand the birdfeeder lightly. Repaint with an eco-friendly paint rated for outdoor use. Make sure the paint you use does not contain lead, zinc, or chromate.

As with all wooden feeders, inspect them for protruding nails and sharp points or edges each time you fill them with seed. Small cuts and scratches on feet and toes can quickly lead to infections.
Copper Feeders
Copper is highly resistant to corrosion, and if not preserved, acquires a beautiful green patina over time. Copper cleaners are considered toxic to birds, so if you want to restore the copper to its original luster, try one of these non-toxic recipes:
Non-Toxic Copper Cleaner:
Mix 2 tablespoons salt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Rub with sponge and allow to dry. Rinse with hot water and dry with a soft cloth. Or, apply a paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar and leave on for 5 minutes. Wash in warm water and dry with a soft cloth.
Keeping Feeders Clean
Cleaning your bird feeders regularly year round is important for the health of the birds.All you really need is a pair of rubber gloves, hot water, scent-free liquid dish soap, a scrub brush, and some white distilled vinegar. Fill a sink or tub with hot soapy water and let the feeder soak in it for 10 or 15 minutes to loosen up any caked-on debris. After soaking, give the feeder a good scrubbing, then rinse well and let it air dry. For tough jobs, refill with clean water and 4 cups of vinegar. Let the feeder soak for 1 hour. Rinse thoroughly and let it air dry.
Hummingbird Feeders:
Because hummingbird feeders are filled with a sugar solution, they need to be cleaned more frequently than other types of feeders. This chore is much easier if you start out with a feeder that has parts that are easy to disassemble and clean (stick it in the dishwasher!). Every time you refill your feeder with nectar, wash it out with hot water (no soap). Use small bottle brushes, toothbrushes, pipe cleaners, or cotton swabs to clean visibly dirty nectar ports. Adding a few rice grains or course salt and lemon juice can also be useful scrubbing agents for hard to reach places. Make sure you rinse everything thoroughly. How often you change the nectar depends on the weather.
Temperatures in the 70s = once per week.
Temperature in the 80s = every 3-4 days.
Temperatures in the 90s = every 1-2 days.
At least once a month soak the feeder in full-strength white distilled vinegar and clean with a bottle brush. Rinse well with warm running water. Evidence suggests that using bleach to clean plastics containing polycarbonates (like those found in some feeders) can accelerate the leeching of bisphenol A (BPAs). It's not yet known if this is harmful to birds, but it's better to be safe than sorry and avoid using bleach.

Lavendar Fresh

Growing Requirements :

As with most plants, your success in growing this coveted plant will depend both on what kind of growing conditions you can provide and which varieties you select to grow. Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Like many plants grown for their essential oils, a lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. An alkaline and especially chalky soil will enhance lavenders fragrance. While you can grow lavender in Zone 5, it is unlikely you will ever have a lavender hedge. More realistically you can expect to have plants that will do well when the weather cooperates and to experience the occasional loss of a plant or two after a severe winter or a wet, humid summer.

Lavender is a tough plant and is extremely drought resistant, once established. However, when first starting you lavender plants, don't be afraid to give them a handful of compost in the planting hole and to keep them regularly watered during their first growing season.

Special Considerations

It is dampness, more than cold, that is responsible for killing lavender plants. Dampness can come in the form of wet roots during the winter months or high humidity in the summer. If humidity is a problem, make sure you have plenty of space between your plants for air flow and always plant in a sunny location. Areas where the ground routinely freezes and thaws throughout the winter will benefit from a layer of mulch applied after the ground initially freezes. Also protect your lavender plants from harsh winter winds. Planting next to a stone or brick wall will provide additional heat and protection.

Pruning

Although lavender plants get regularly pruned simply by harvesting the flowers, to keep them well shaped and to encourage new growth, a bit of spring pruning is in order. The taller varieties can be cut back by approximately one-third their height. Lower growing varieties can either be pruned back by a couple of inches or cut down to new growth. If you live in an area where lavender suffers some winter die-back, don't even think about pruning your plants until you see some new green growth at the base of the plant. If you disturb the plants too soon in the season, they give up trying.

Containers
You can always grow your lavender in pots and move it to follow the sun or even bring it indoors for the winter. Keep in mind that although lavender has a large, spreading root system, it prefers growing in a tight spot. A pot that can accommodate the rootball with a couple of inches to spare would be a good choice. Too large a pot will only encourage excessive dampness.

Insure that the pot has plenty of drainage. To prevent water pooling in the pot, place about an inch of loose gravel at the bottom. Rot root is one of the few problems experienced by lavender plants. Use a loose, soilless mix for planting and remember that container grown lavender will require more water than garden grown plants. How much more depends on the environment and the type of pot. Water when the soil, not the plant, appears dry and water at the base of the plant to limit dampness on the foliage. Compact varieties make the best choices for containers. Some to try are L. angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’ and Spanish lavender (L. stoechas subsp. pedunculata)

Planting Lanvedar
Growing in Containers


How to Make Eye Pillow

This is what I used.
Silk scarf or piece of silk 5 inches by 20 inches or 10 by 10 inches.

1 cup of flaxseed
1/2 cup of lavender buds.
To make
Fold silk with right sides together so it is about 5 by 10 inches
Stitch the silk together leaving a small opening at the end.
Turn silk right side out.
Mix flaxseed and lavender buds.
Fill the silk with the lavender flaxseed mixture.
Sew closed.
Option
Make a slighter larger sleeve of silk for a cover for your pillow. This can be left open on one end so it is easy to remove the sleeve for washing. Add a few drops of lavender to refresh scent as needed. Squeezing the pillow will also help release the wonderful scent.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Potpourri # 1 This is a light sweet fresh scent.
Mix and set aside
1 1/2 tablespoons orris root
2 drops of peppermint essential oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
2 cups lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups lavender buds
2 cups rose buds and rose petals
Mix all ingredients or layer as desired in a dish or glass bowl. Sprinkle a few rose buds on top if desired. Cover and let oils infiltrate the flowers for about 2 to 4 weeks.

Potpourri # 2 This is nice and spicy, it reminds me of Christmas.

1 cup lavender leaves
1/2 cup peppermint leaves
2 cups dried flowers, (any kind)
1 cup lavender buds

Mix together
10 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon of orris root
5 drops of lavender essential oil
4 drops of sweet orange essential oil
4 drops of cinnamon essential oil
2 drops of clove essential oil
Add all ingredients and store in a closed container for a couple of weeks to absorb the scent.

Potpourri # 3 This is a simple lavender recipe.

2 1/2 cups of lavender buds
1 cup of rose buds or rose petals
4 drops of lavender essential oil
Potpourri isn't a science. Put in what ever kinds of plant material you have on hand. Orange peels, cedar chips, pine cones, and spices. Play with it and add any spices you like or any combination of oils that are pleasing to you. Just have fun!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Lavender Bath Salt
This bath salt recipe is is a simple one.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
18 drops of lavender essential oil
mix and store in a jar or bottle,
Add 1 or 2 tablespoons to your bath water. Soak and enjoy this relaxing bath.


Lavender Orange bath salt
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of sea salt.
10 drops of lavender oil.
8 drops of bergamot or sweet orange oil.
Mix and bottle.
Use 1 or 2 tablespoons per bath.
This lavender bath salt recipe shouldn't be used in the summer or if you're using a tanning booth. This can cause photosensitivity for about 24 hours. I love this scent in the winter months. This recipe is very uplifting for the spirit.

Immunity booster bath salt
This is a good recipe for when you feel like you're coming down with something.
2 ounces or 4 tablespoons of salt
8 drops lavender
8 drops tea tree oil
2 drops lemon myrtle
Mix and bottle.
Use 2 tablespoons per bath. Then go to bed and try to get some rest.

Baking and cooking with Lavendar
Joys of Lavendar
Everything Lavendar
Lanvedar Craft Recipes

Butterflies

Tutorial Found HERE

Butteryfly rearing

thebutterflysite.com

thebutterflyfarm.com

butterflywebsite.com

joyfulbutterfly.com

How to Make a Butterfly House:

What You'll Need:
•Hand saw
•Pine lumber (6"x1/2"x7')
•Scrap of pine (8" wide)
•Hammer
•Nails
•Pieces of tree bark or floral moss

Step 1: Cut pine boards to the following dimensions:
Two sides: 6"x18" (Cut the top at an angle so that one side is 18 inches long and the other side is 17 inches long.)
One back: 4-1/2"x18"
One front: 4-1/2"x17"
One bottom: 4-1/2"x6"
One top: 7"x7"

Step 2: Cut three 12-inch long slits in the front. Make the slits one inch wide, with one several inches higher than the other two. (See illustration above.) Nail the bark or moss to the back piece to give the butterflies something to cling to.

Step 3: Lay the back down, bark side up, and stand one of the side pieces up against it with the longer sides in back. Hold and nail in place. Do the same with the other side.

Step 4: Put the front in between the two side pieces and nail in place. Nail on the bottom and the top. Mount the house on a post in the shade.

Thinking about the Birds Think Gourds:

 Crafts and Growing For you and the Birds

Gorgeous Autumn Gourds
Sunflower gourds
Lively Gourd
Snowman and Santa gourd
How to Grow Gourds
Gourd Tips & Information
Birdhouse Gourds/pdf
Gourds
Grow a Gourd Birdhouse
Far North Gourd Growing Info
http://www.lake-butler.com/pbgourds.htm
http://www.justgourds.com/
http://www.geocities.com/tgs_southeast/Documents/GrowingGourds.html

http://www.craftybirds.com/gourdbirdhouse.html
http://home.att.net/~DLeddy/freepattern.html
http://www.thegourdpeddlers.com/
http://www.turtlefeathers.com/
http://www.geocities.com/tgs_southeast/Documents/GrowingGourds.html
 sign up for her free newsletter.
artist
http://www.valkyrie.net/~rehmje/tutorials/lamp.html

Glass Garden Totem Lights

I have the pattern figured out but have not glued or staked.
What I really would like is to figure out how to put lights inside where I can change the light bulb.
I will post again when finished.

How to make

step 1

Collecting your glass pieces
Look for pieces that will stack well together and have a flat gluing surface on the bottoms.
This will help prevent water and air from getting inside once they are glued together and
it will help the totems look level when you have a flat gluing surface to work with.

step 2
Preparing the glass pieces
Clean all glass well with warm soapy water and make sure they are thoroughly dry
and lint free before gluing. I used a microfiber cloth to "polish" the glass before gluing.
You can use denture cleaning tabs for hard to clean vases (1-4 tabs per vase usually works).

step 3
Gluing
Use a clear silicone glue or Lexel for best results.
Make sure the adhesive you use is weather resistant.
Glue up pieces in sections, letting each section cure before putting them all together as one piece.
Try gluing the pieces during low humidity to reduce condensation.

step 4
Displaying your totems
You can make free standing totems or use an upside down vase glued to the bottom
to mount them on poles. Copper is a popular choices, but with prices being so high
these days, I use PVC conduit pipe (the gray stuff in the home improvement stores).
You can paint it using a spray paint specifically for plastics to give it the look of copper or
any other color you may like. R…

step 5
Displaying them in your garden
They really sparkle in the sun and look great in the garden. The options are endless.

Printable Seed Packets

Found some really cute seed packets to  print and share.
Link found   HERE

Now if your looking for a seed swap
This is a big swap going on and anyone can join.
There are hundreds of seed swappers there.
Check it out.  HERE

Plants for your Butterflies

Blooms for Butterflies

While a flower's color, shape or scent will attract butterflies to some degree, the biggest draw by far is the bloom's nectar.
Adult butterflies typically have very cosmopolitan tastes, best served with a smorgasbord of nectar-rich flowers, especially those with flower clusters or daisy-like blooms, such as purple coneflower, mums, yarrow and butterfly weed, as well as tubular or bell-shaped flowers.
Not every nectar flower is suitable as food for butterflies. The amount of nectar a flower produces can vary within the species. Sometimes more fanciful double-flowered varieties are bred to impress the eye and not the appetite. So go with species plants whenever possible, rather than cultivars.
Don't Forget the Caterpillars
In addition to attracting adult butterflies, you can transform any small area into a butterfly nursery. Just grow a few containers of host plants, such as milkweed, mallow or asters. Adult female butterflies lay their eggs on these plants, and young caterpillars feed on them after hatching. Growing caterpillar foods also will bring in more butterflies for longer periods of time. You might even catch sight of species you've never seen before.
Unlike adult butterflies, caterpillars are very picky eaters. As a result, each species seeks out a specific plant or plants for its eggs.
Monarch caterpillars, for example, feed exclusively on milkweed, while skippers mostly feed on grasses, sedges and legumes like wisteria and peas. Host plant preferences can vary within a species. Tiger swallowtails seek out trees like poplars, cherries and tulips, while black and anise swallowtail caterpillars dine on dill, fennel and parsley.
Some winning container combinations to attract several species are milkweed, fennel and grasses; and dogwood and violets with mallow.
With a little planning, you can also make your container garden do double duty. Some nectar sources, like penstemon and nasturtium, also are tasty meals for caterpillars.
Remember that a butterfly container garden isn't limited to patios, decks and entrance areas. Use potted plants to fill in bare spaces in a newly planted perennial bed or garden border. Stagger them on steps, encircle a tree or use them to line a walkway or path. Northern gardeners will need to provide protection for their overwintering plants and shrubs.
One thing is certain: A group of containers in a bright, sunny area can go a long way to providing habitat for butterflies...and a beautiful oasis for you.

Wonderful Garden Wedding Cake Stand

This cake stand was created from wooden logs by Oncewed.

They have posted a tutorial and can be found HERE

Check out there other wonderful wedding and everyday projects.

Easy to make stunning cake stand will find a place in my kiotcken year round.

Enjoy