May Day Crafts for Preschool Children with Paper

 

You can create several lovely May Day crafts with preschool children using paper. May Day, commonly overlooked, offers a lot of fun projects and ways of celebrating. This article provides you with instructions on creating May Day crafts using paper; these craft suit preschool children well.

Flower Crown

A flower crown is fun and easy to make. For this craft you need construction paper in a wide variety of colors, scissors, tape, yarn, and glue. Start by helping preschool kids cut a long strip of construction paper. Then help kids cut several flower shapes from different colored pieces of construction paper. Circles work well for flowers and diamonds work well for leaves.

While the children are practicing their motor skills and shapes, you can place tape over both sides of both ends of the strip of paper. Then use the scissors to poke holes in the tapes area. Cut a few pieces of yarn and tie them to the holes in the paper. This will allow the child to tie the crown around their head.

When everything is cut out and the yarn is tied, allow kids to decorate their crowns using the circles and diamonds. You can also add buttons or mini pompoms to the center of the flowers if these items are available.

Grass Basket

Another May Day craft using paper is a grass basket. This symbolizes spring and the job of this holiday. For this craft you will need green construction paper, scissors, tape, and glue. Help preschool kids cut several long strips from the green paper. Then help them shape a piece of construction paper into a cone. Use the tape to secure it in place tightly. Then help preschoolers trim the wide end of the cone to make it even.

Use one strip of paper to add a handle to the cone basket. Then help kids cut the other strips into grass. This is done by cutting several slits in the top of the paper. Remind kids to not cut the strip all the way through, but if they do cut it all the way through on accident it is ok because it will not affect the way the basket is created. When all the strips are cut attach them to the basket. Start at the top and slightly overlap the strips so the grass can be ruffled outward. When the glue dries, this basket can easily be used to store treats or flowers for your May Day celebration.

These easy paper crafts provide preschool children with fun May Day activities and memories.

Inexpensive May Day Craft for Kids

 

May Day is a great holiday for crafting with kids; these inexpensive crafts are a fun way to add spring to your home while bonding with your children. This article provides you with instructions on how to create May Day crafts with your kids without breaking your budget.

Flower Charm

This charm is fun and easy to make. For this craft you will need fake or dried flowers, ribbon, clear packing tape, ribbon, scissors or a hole puncher, pins or thumbtacks, and glitter. Start by choosing a small flower or a few tiny flowers. Then help kids arrange them in a design they like. If you are using fake flowers it is important to remove the plastic backing so you only have the flower bud itself. This can be done easily with scissors.

Then cut a large piece of tape and use the pins to secure it to a book or piece of paper. Make sure to keep the sticky side up. Then help kids lay the flowers on top of the tape in the arraignment they chose. Make sure there is excess tape left around the edges of the flowers. Add some glitter now if you like. Also cut a piece of ribbon and find the center. Place the center on the top of the tape.

Then use another large piece of tape to cover the first piece. Help kids press the pieces together to seal the flower in between. Use the scissors to cut the tape into a nice shape, but make sure there is enough tape around the edges to keep the flower and ribbon secure. Kids can add extra layers of tape to the outside of this May Day charm to make it even stronger. It can be worn as a necklace or a keychain.

Indoor Garden

Another fun May Day craft for kids is creating an indoor garden. For this craft idea you will need a large water proof container, dirt, and seeds. You can also purchase small plants if you like. Small toys, beads, knickknacks, and other items your child chooses to add detail to the craft are a good idea as well.

Start by filling the container with dirt, and add water to make the soil moist. Then help your kid plant the seeds by following the directions on the package. You can also use paint or paint markers to decorate the container beforehand if you like. Then place the unique items in the container and wait for your May Day craft to bloom.

These May Day ideas provide fun and fond memories for you and your children. Kids will be proud of their creations, and these inexpensive craft ideas barely cost a thing.

Easy Homemade May Day Decorations

 

You can make many homemade May Day decorations with these easy instructions. This holiday allows us to bring the beauty of spring into the home. This article provides you with step-by-step instructions for creating May Day decorations for your home.

Flower Ring Garland

An easy homemade decoration for this holiday is a flower garden. For this decoration you will need tissue paper in various colors, scissors, tape, glue, and construction paper. Start by cutting the construction paper into strips for a chain garland. Then cut several circles of various sizes from the tissue paper.

Then lay the strips out flat and glue a circle to each. Add more circles to create layers of lower petals. Make sure to add some glue in between each layer to secure it in place. The tear a few pieces from yellow or orange construction paper and crumble it into a tiny ball. Glue the yellow ball to the center of the flower.

When all the flowers have dried you can assemble the garland. Start by bending one strip of paper into a circle. Tape it shut and loop another strip through the first circle. Bend that strip into a circle and tape it shut. Keep adding circles to complete this easy May Day decoration.

Basket Door Hanger

For a pretty May Day door hanger you will need a paper plate, green construction paper, ribbon, scissors, fake flowers, and glue. Start by cutting the plate in half. Add glue to the curved edges of the plate and press them together. This will create the bottom of the basket. Then cut several sheets of green paper into strips.

Use the scissors to give the strips a grass like look. Do this by cutting lines vertically in the strips, but do not cut all the way through. Then glue the strips horizontally along the top edge of the basket. Add more strips overlapping the first one. Keep adding more strips until the entire basket is covered.

When the grass has dried, cut a hole in each side of the basket. Then add ribbon so you can hang your basket. Place some fake flowers inside the basket, and your May Day decoration is done.

These fun and easy crafts bring the spring spirit alive in your décor.

Five Vintage DIY Wedding Decoration Ideas on a Budget

 

Vintage themed weddings are one of the most popular styles right now. Adding this style to your wedding decorations can be fun and inexpensive when you do it yourself! This article will provide you with instructions on five vintage DIY wedding decorations ideas you can make on a budget.

1. Vintage Glass Centerpieces

Centerpieces are a great way to display your vintage style. You can find inexpensive vintage and vintage inspired glass vases, bottles, and jars on the internet, thrift stores, and at yard sales. Simply gather a bunch of these glass pieces together on a table and flowers, painted branches, or feathers to the jars to create a one of a kind centerpiece that can also be used as a party favor. You can also add lace or ribbon to the bottles to bring in your color scheme!

2. Suitcase Card Box

A vintage suitcase is a wonderful and unique way to add charm to your wedding decorations. For this DIY project, all you will need is some pretty fabric, fabric markers, some fabric glue, and a small vintage suitcase. Drape the fabric on the inside of the box and add the glue to secure it in place inside. Then use the markers to make a sign for the cards on a smaller piece of fabric. Glue this to the inside of one sides of the suitcase. Just stand the suitcase halfway open to display your sign, and you will receive tons of cards and compliments.

3. Book Page Flowers

Vintage book pages make great flowers that can be added to all different parts of your wedding décor. To make these paper flowers you will need vintage paper, skewers or wooden dowels, hot glue, a glue gun, and scissors. Start by cutting a five-inch circle from a piece of paper. Start on one edge of the circle and use the scissors to cut the circle into a spiral. Then glue the beginning of the spiral to the end of the dowel. Wrap the spiral around the dowel, gluing along the way, and you will have created a lovely flower for your wedding day.

4. Mason Jar Lanterns

To make mason jar lanterns on a budget, simply check out your local dollar store for jars and votives. Then remove the flat part of the lid and add a votive to the inside of the jar. You can tie cord around the lips of the jars to make them hang able if you like. You can also add ribbon or flowers to the outside of the jars to make the DIY decoration even more special.

5. Distressed Fancy Frame Signs

Another useful decoration is a framed sign that is hand distressed. Simply purchase some inexpensive fancy frames from your local craft or dollar store. Then paint them white. Using sand paper, steel wool, or a metal brush, lightly rub the frame to distress the paint and give it a unique and vintage look. Then print out or handwrite the signs on nice paper and add them to the frames.

These DIY projects are inexpensive and easy. They will help you make your own wedding decorations on a budget while incorporating your own unique vintage style.

Inexpensive Wedding Favors for Winter Weddings

 

There are plenty of inexpensive wedding favors for winter wedding available; you just have to know what to look for. When choosing wedding favors for your big day it is important to keep with your wedding theme. This article will discuss several inexpensive wedding favors for a winter wedding.

Candles

A traditional wedding favor is the candle, and you can find plenty of inexpensive winter themed candles for your wedding favors. Candles can come in snowflake, snowmen, or snow capped tree shapes that are great for a winter wedding. You can also choose a plain candle with a wintery smell like hot coco, sugar cookies, pine, mint, and cinnamon.

Snow Globes

Another wedding favor that is perfect for your winter wedding is a snow globe. These can be purchased inexpensively at local dollar stores, or they can be personalized through several different wedding favor companies. Snow globes are an inexpensive and unique wedding favor for your winter wedding.

Sapling Evergreens

A wonderful way to symbolize the growth of your love is by giving out sapling evergreen trees as wedding favors. This is also nice for a winter wedding because they are reminiscent of the season. These inexpensive favors can be placed in champagne glasses or small coffee mugs, and sapling trees can be purchased very cheaply.

Ornaments

Since winter weddings are so close to the holiday season, it is the perfect wedding season for giving ornaments out as favors. There are a large variety of wedding ornaments that are appropriate for winter including snowflakes, snowmen, icicles, bells, and sleighs. These ornaments can be purchased cheaply, and they can even be personalized.

Personalized Mint or Candy Tins

A popular wedding favor is personalized mint or candy tins, and this can be a great wedding favor for a winter wedding. Chocolate and mint is suggestive of winter, and you can get any special message printed on the tins to make this inexpensive favor special.

Snowflake Soap

Snowflakes are a favorite winter wedding theme, and they can appear just about everywhere for your winter wedding. Snowflake shaped soaps are pretty and inexpensive. They can be wrapped or placed in small cellophane bags for a one of a kind winter wedding favor.

When choosing winter wedding favors you do not have to spend a fortune. Try these favors for your winter wedding, and you will love the special touch they add to your special day.

Inexpensive Homemade Red Wedding Favors

Homemade wedding favors are personal and inexpensive, and they can be made with any color scheme in mind. Red is a popular wedding color, and it is closely associated with love. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating inexpensive homemade red wedding favors.

Jam Jars

Making jam jars is a one of a kind wedding favor idea that can be done with red. You can use strawberries or raspberries to create jam, and this homemade wedding favor is also inexpensive. All you will need is canning jars, ribbon, berries, sugar, pectin, a large pot, water, and some heavy paper or sticky labels. Start by making the jam accordingly and filling the jars. Seal the jars correctly and set aside. Simply write the names of the couple on the labels and attach them to the jars. Tie the ribbon in a pretty bow and this inexpensive red homemade wedding favor is complete.

Red Rose Candles

You can make a red themed homemade wedding favor using classic red roses. For this project you will need fake red roses, a hot glue gun, glue sticks, small glass jars, red ribbon, and red silk roses. Start this project by pulling the buds off of the stems, but make sure to keep the buds intact. Next glue the ribbon around the top edge of the jar, and decorate the jar with the red roses. When your candle holder has cooled place the candle inside, and it is an elegant red wedding favor that is also homemade and inexpensive.

Candy Champagne Glass

Another inexpensive homemade wedding favor is a candy filled champagne glass. For this wedding favor you will need red candies, and there are many different types of red colored candies on the market to choose from. You can also pick a variety of red colored candies, and you can purchase inexpensive champagne glasses at your local dollar store. If you but multiple different red colored candies for this inexpensive wedding favor you can layer the different candies. You can also add a ribbon bow to the handle, and it is nice to write the name of the couple and the date of the marriage on a piece of paper or ribbon and attach it to the glass.There are many inexpensive homemade wedding favors, and red is a great wedding color for creating wedding favors. There are many sweet and romantic red colored wedding favor ideas that can be made inexpensively; try these homemade favors for your wedding or the wedding of someone you care about!

Inexpensive Homemade Blue Wedding Decorations

 

Making homemade wedding decorations is a fun and inexpensive way to add a personal touch to your wedding. The color blue is a popular wedding color and it can be incorporated simply into homemade wedding decorations. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on how to create several inexpensive homemade blue wedding decorations.

Garland

Creating a blue garland for your wedding can be inexpensive; for this homemade decoration you will need various blue cupcake liners, a hole puncher, big blue colored wooden beads, and thin ribbon. Start this homemade wedding decoration craft by flattening all of the cupcake liners and punching a hole in the center of them.

Next string a couple cupcake liners onto the ribbon, but make sure to tie it in a knot at the end first; it is helpful to tie one of the blue beads to the knot to make it larger. After you have strung some cupcake liners onto the ribbon add a bead. String some more cupcake liners and another bead onto the ribbon, and continue in this fashion until your garland is complete. This inexpensive homemade wedding decoration is an easy and quick wedding craft.

Topiary

You can make an adorable blue topiary decoration for your wedding. For this inexpensive, homemade wedding decoration you will need coffee filters, blue watercolor paint, a stick that is 12 inches long, two small foam balls, a tin can, some blue pebbles, a hot glue gun, hot glue sticks, water, and a paintbrush.

Start this homemade decoration by painting all of your coffee filters blue. This can be done easily by running all of the coffee filters underwater and adding a few drops of paint to them; the paint will swirl and expand because of the water. Allow the blue coffee filters to dry while you are assembling the rest of the decoration.

Now place a foam ball inside the tin can, and poke the stick into the middle of the ball. Place the other ball on top of the stick and push it through to secure it in place. Fill the can the rest of the way with the blue pebbles to secure the tree in place.

Find the center of the coffee filters and pinch it to gather it; next glue the pinched section of the coffee filter to the ball. Continue adding coffee filters until the entire ball is covered, and when the glue has dried your inexpensive, homemade wedding decoration is ready.

Making blue wedding decorations is more fun and personal when they are homemade, and you can do this without spending a ton of cash. These inexpensive decoration ideas are a great way to emphasize the color blue in your wedding while adding a custom touch.

Inexpensive Homemade Blue Wedding Centerpiece

 

Everyone picks a color theme for their wedding, and creating homemade centerpieces with the color blue is easy and inexpensive. This article will provide you with detailed instructions on creating several inexpensive homemade blue wedding centerpieces for your big day.

Carnations

Flowers are always a wonderful addition to any wedding centerpiece, and carnations are an inexpensive flower for your homemade wedding centerpiece. For this homemade wedding craft you will need carnations, blue food coloring, water, a vase, scissors, tin cans, and blue ribbon.

Start this project the night before by filling the vase with water; add at least 20 drops of blue food coloring to the water to make it a dark blue. Next use the scissors to cut the stems of the carnations so they fit nicely in the tin cans, but remember to cut the stems under water to prevent air from getting in. You can also cut slits in the sides of the stems to allow the blue food coloring to work faster.

Tie the blue ribbon around the tin can in a bow, and fill it with some water; you can feel free to use the blue water again if you like. Place the carnations in the tin cans and your inexpensive homemade wedding centerpieces is ready!

Underwater Centerpiece

For a one of a kind and inexpensive homemade wedding centerpiece you will need some large glass bowls, blue food coloring, water, fake flowers, a hot glue gun, glue sticks, permanent paint markers, and old cd cases. Start this inexpensive wedding craft by writing the name of the couple and the date of the wedding on the cd cases.

Next place the cd case in bottom of the bowl, and add glue to secure it. Glue flowers around the edges of the cd case, and when the glue has dried fill a pitcher with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water and fill the bowl with the blue water. This blue wedding centerpieces is a special homemade addition to any wedding.

Champagne Glass Candle Holders

Another inexpensive homemade wedding centerpiece that features the color blue is the champagne glass candle holder. For this centerpiece you will need champagne glasses, blue beads, marbles, or pebbles, blue taper candles, and ribbon.

Start this homemade wedding centerpiece by tying a piece of ribbon in a bow around the stem of the champagne glass. Next place the candles in the glasses and fill the glasses with the pebbles. This will hold your candle in place, and your inexpensive wedding centerpiece is done.

Making homemade centerpieces for your wedding table can be inexpensive, and it is easy to incorporate the color blue into these inexpensive homemade wedding centerpieces. So try them today!

Three Shabby Chic DIY Wedding Decoration Ideas on a Budget

 

Shabby chic themed weddings are romantic and unique. The popular theme can be incorporated into your wedding decorations easily and without costing a fortune. This article will provide you with instructions on creating three shabby chic inspired DIY wedding decorations that can be made on a budget!

1. Tissue Paper Garland

This shabby chic inspired DIY decoration is simple and inexpensive. All you will need is cord or ribbon, scissors, and tissue paper. Feel free to use whatever colors you like to match your scheme. Start by cutting the cord to your desired length. Then cut the tissue paper into strips that measure about 12" by 1 inch.

When you have several strips cut, start you garland by folding a strip n half. Place the folded loop underneath the cord and stick the opposite end pieces through the loop. Pull gently and your first strip will be firmly attached to the string. Fill the entire garland with strips. Remember to leave a few inches on the ends of the string to tie your garland.

2. Felted Balls

Felted balls are a fun way to incorporate your colors and style into your wedding. You will need warm water, felting wool, dish detergent, and two bowls. You will also need a place for your felted balls to dry. I use a paper plate on the counter.

Start by breaking the wool into pieces depending on the size ball you want. You can experiment with different amounts until you get the size you like. Then fill a basin with warm water and a little dish soap. You want the water soapy but not all bubbles. Now dip your wool in the water and slowly roll the felt in your hands. Keep the dry basin underneath your hands during this part. The water will cool as you push it out. Remember to roll the wool gently and after a few minutes you will have a wonderful tightly packed felt ball. Leave the ball to dry and continue until you have enough for your wedding decorations.

These felted balls can be glued to skewers and used as flowers. They can be strung on cord with a needle to make a garland, and they can be used as bowl filler.

3. Butterfly Jar Centerpieces

These shabby chic centerpieces are budget friendly to make and also double as party favor gifts. For this DIY wedding decoration you will need mason jars, moss, rocks, sticks, dried flowers, and any other nature items that are inexpensive and available. You will also need butterfly stickers, a printer and scanner, scissors, and glue.

Start by decorating the jar with the nature items. Make a pretty little habitat for your butterflies. Then use your scanner to scan the stickers. Print out the image to the same size as your stickers. Turn the printed sheet upside down and attach the stickers to their matching image. Then cut out the image to have a beautiful double sided butterfly. Fold along the middle and use the glue to attach the butterflies to different parts of your nature scene inside the jar. These special shabby chic jars are easy and fun to make.

These ideas are a budget friendly and fun way to add shabby chic style to your wedding decorations. They are guaranteed to make your big day just as special as you are!

Autumn Crocus: History, Uses and Cultivation

 

This pretty plant is not very big, and it has strong medicinal purposes, but it is also so poisonous that it can kill you. This herb flowers in "September," and it has pretty lavender or light pink flowers; it grows to only about "12 inches" in height, and it is native to "Europe and North Africa" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18). This herb looks very much like a regular crocus, but it is not a part of the iris family like most crocuses; it bears six stamens which is the easiest way to identify it. This herb has strong medicinal purposes, but it can also be deadly.

The history of the autumn crocus started way back in the time of the "Egyptians;" they used this herb to treat "gout 4000 years ago" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18). The healing popularity of this plant decreased when people started to recognize the deadly powers of this herb. The powder of the bulb f this plant is ground up to create a poison, and it is said the "Greek naturalist Theophrastus wrote that when slaves became angry with their owner, they ingested tiny bits of the corm to make themselves ill and thus unable to work" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18). This plant was widely used in history as a poison, and the ground up bulb was often added to wine.

This plant is a great healing herb, but it is better not to be experimented with. The most common use of the autumn crocus is still for the gout; it is taken in a "tablet form or intravenously," but this is the only form of arthritis that this herb is used for; the active ingredient in this plant is "colchicines," and this chemical "inhibits cell division" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18). In the 40's colchicines was considered a possible cure for cancer, but the toxicity level appeared to be too high to be safe. An overdose of this plant will cause "nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, purging, extreme thirst, weak pulse, coldness and pain in the extremities," and this plant can also cause "damage to the kidneys and blood vessels" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18).

Autumn crocuses easily grown from bulbs, and they enjoy moist, loamy soil. These plants are accustomed to full sun or partial shade, and they live in "zone 5" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.18). The autumn crocus is planted in early fall like many other bulb plants. They enjoy enriched soil, and they like to be planted two to three inches deep. This plant can also be planted from seed, but they will not bloom for several years if started this way.

The autumn crocus is a lovely plant that has an interesting and slightly criminal history. Its medicinal properties do not outweigh its toxicity so leaves this plant out of your
medicine collection.

Growing Sunchokes in Your Perennial Vegetable Garden

 

Growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden is a great way to add variety to your garden. This perennial vegetable will produce hardily year after year. This article will provide you with detailed instructions and tips on growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden.

Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem artichokes although they are not grown in Jerusalem or related to artichokes. The flavor of this tubular vegetable is similar to the flavor of the artichoke. The tubers produced by the sunchoke are delicious vegetables that are low in starch.

Sunchoke tubers should be planted in your vegetable card about 3 weeks before the last frost date. Sunchokes take 100 days to harvest, but they produce many vegetables. This perennial can be planted in winter in warmer climates, and the soil they prefer to be planted in will be a temperature of about 59 degrees ferinheight.

This hardy vegetable is a perennial that can grow up to 10 feet in height. Sunchokes can deal with frost well, and they can even survive a very hard frost if they have a layer of mulch covering them. Sunchokes should be planted in full sun, and they enjoy loose soil that drains well. Adding sand and compost to the soil will increase the production of the plant as well as increase the ease of harvesting.

When deciding where to plant this vegetable in your perennial garden it is important to choose a place that will not be disturbed because your sunchokes will remain there for many years. This perennial spreads quickly, and they will take over any area they are planted in. Sunchokes should be planted in rows that are at least 3 feet apart. They should also be planted about 3 or 4 inches deep and a foot or so apart. Water them regularly, but make sure drainage is adequate. Too much water will cause the tubers to rot. Sunchokes are drought tolerant, and can be planted in containers as well. A large container is required for these plants because they spread very quickly.

When growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden it is recommended that flowers are removed when they first appear. This will allow the tubers to receive the majority of the energy produced by this plant. When harvesting sunchokes you should wait for the leaves to die back. Leave tubers in the grown to produce a new crop in the following season.

Growing sunchokes in your perennial vegetable garden is fun and easy. This perennial vegetable is easy to grow and will spread fast with little care.

Perennial Vegetables for Your Garden

 

Pulling up the annual vegetables plant at the end of the growing season can be disheartening, but there are perennial vegetables for your garden. Growing perennial vegetables in your garden is a great way to grow crops that will produce without effort for years to come. This article ill discuss several perennial vegetables you can grow in your garden easily.

Asparagus

The perennial vegetable that most people are aware of is asparagus. Asparagus is a great perennial vegetable for your garden that comes in a wide variety. White, purple, and green asparagus are common types of asparagus that can be grown. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that can be started indoors from seed or crowns can be purchased and planted 3 or 4 weeks before the last frost. Asparagus will not yield for the first 2 or 3 years, but it will produce a bountiful harvest for decades once it has established itself. Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that needs room in your garden to spread.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is another delicious perennial vegetable for your garden. Rhubarb is one of the few vegetables that need cold weather to produce and thrive. Rhubarb needs temperatures below 40 degrees to grow well in the following season. Rhubarb does not do well in warmer climates because it stops growing when temperatures reach 90 degrees. Rhubarb enjoys rich soil and excellent drainage, and should be spaced a few feet apart to provide room for expansion. Rhubarb is a wonderful perennial for your vegetable garden.

Sorrel

Sorrel is a great perennial vegetable for your garden. It can be grown easily and with little care. This perennial can be sown and harvested in roughly 2 months. Sorrel is a leafy green herb that needs little maintenance. Weeding and moisture are beneficial to this perennial vegetable. Growing sorrel in your garden is simple and the leaves should be harvested young. Plants should be placed at least a foot apart, and thinning can be eaten as well. Sorrel is a great addition to any perennial vegetable garden.

Sunchokes

Another perennial vegetable for your garden is the sunchoke. This plant is also known as the Jerusalem artichoke, and it produces tubers that look similar to potatoes. These low starch tubers will grow quickly in an 18 inch space around the original tuber. Sunchoke need good drainage to prevent tubers from rotting. This perennial vegetable can be planted a few weeks before the last frost, and they take over 100 days to harvest. Leave tubers in the ground to produce new sunchokes in the following growing season.

Artichokes

A tasty perennial vegetable that is very popular is the artichoke. Artichokes are tender flower buds that have yet to bloom. This perennial vegetable will grow up to 6 feet wide and 4 feet high. It will provide you with many vegetables, and it enjoys full sun in your garden. Rich soil with good drainage is important. Artichokes prefer warmer climates, but they can be winterized in cooler zones using a heavy application of straw mulch and coverage.

These perennial vegetables make a great addition to your garden. Try growing these vegetables this year, and the following years you will be supplied with a bountiful harvest with very little effort or cost.

6 Flowering Shrubs that Love Shade

     

It is often hard to find flowering shrubs that love shade, and shady areas of your garden can suffer because of this, but there are plenty of flowering shrubs that love shade you just need to know what to look for. This article will provide you with a list of several flowering shrubs that love shade and details about how to grow them.

Butterfly Bush

Another wonderful flowering shrub that loves shade is the butterfly bush. These popular shade loving shrubs flower during summer time, and they come in a very large variety of styles. These flowering shrubs can be planted in full sun to shade, and the colors available are endless. Butterfly bushes smell lovely, and grow to various heights.

A great flowering shrub that loves shade is the glossy abele. This shrub has several pink and white colored flowers. This shade loving shrub has a very long flowering season, and it has pretty red tinged leaves. This shrub does well in zones 6-9, and it enjoys acidic soils.

Banana Shrub

A shrub that loves shade but can also live in full sun is the banana shrub. This flowering shrub bears medium sized yellow flowers and warm weather. The banana shrub enjoys acidic soil that has good drainage. It is a hardy plant that grows to only about 12 inches high.

Mountain Laurel is a flowering shrub that loves shade and well drained soil. It also prefers acidic soil and flowers in spring. This flowering shrub will grow to about 3 feet height; it also grows about 3 feet wide. This flowering shade lover is perfect for your shady spots because it produces bright purple flowers that will attract the eye. This shrub grows hardily and is good in a wide variety of climates.

Juneberry

Another shrub that loves shade and produces lovely flowers is the Juneberry shrub. This flowering shrub loves shade and bears large amounts of white flowers. The white flowers then turn to red berries in the summer and fall for more interest and detail in your shady areas. This flowering shrub likes well drained soil and full to partial shade.

Bottlebrush buckeye is another shade loving shrub that bears pretty flowers. This flowering shrub can grow up to 12 feet high and 15 feet wide. These shade lovers should be trimmed and maintained in order to prevent overgrowth of your garden. They prefer well drained soil and love shade. This shrub cannot tolerate drought and produces flowers in the summer time.

Shade loving shrubs can be flowering if you know the right shrubs to choose. These flowering shrubs will make a great focal point for the shady part of your garden.

Companion Planting Part 2: Plants Need Friends Too

 

Companion planting is a great way to enhance the productivity and efficiency of your garden. Many plants will help each other grow in many ways. Companion planting can help add nutrients to the soil, prevent pests from attacking plants, and help with wind, rain, and other climate conditions. Companion planting is helpful to any garden, and it will produce positive results; this article will discuss companion plants alphabetically from H through P.

Horseradish is a good plant to group with potatoes, but it should only be planted in a couple of corners of a potato plot.

Kohlrabi is a plant that grows nicely with beets and onions, but do not plant them with tomatoes or pole beans.

Leeks grow really well with celery, celeriac, and carrots. Leeks help repel carrot flies so they grow well together.

Lettuce is a wonderfully easy plant to grow, and it is aided by strawberries, carrots, radishes, and onions. Lettuce, cabbage, and beets enjoy each other's company.

Mulberries will help grapes grow, and grape vines can be easily trained to grow on mulberry trees.

Oats should not be planted near apricot trees.

Onions enjoy the company of beets, chamomile, savory, and carrots. Onions have a negative impact on peas and beans.

Peas like being grown near radishes, cucumbers, corn, beans, and turnips, but it should be kept away from onions and garlic.

Potatoes are a great crop, and early potatoes and regular potatoes have different companion plants. Early potatoes like growing with corn, cabbage and peas. These potatoes like growing with peas especially because the peas add nitrogen to the soil and potatoes need nitrogen to be healthy. If potatoes are planted in an area after a rye crop has grown there they will also grow well. Broad beans, eggplant, and horseradish grow well with regular potatoes, but potatoes should not be grown with tomatoes and pumpkins.

Pumpkins enjoy growing close to corn because corn provides shade and protection from wind, but pumpkins do not grow well with potatoes.

It is easy to understand why companion planting is such a good way to improve your garden; these methods of planting will help aid the nutrient content of your soil, provide climate control, and they will help take care of unwanted pests. People have been practicing companion planting for years, and it is a great way of gardening that more people should take advantage of. I hope this article has helped you understand your plants a little bit better, and I hope it has inspired you to get out in your garden.

American Hellebore: History, Uses and Cultivation

 

American hellebore is a plant that has a rich history in medicinal use, but it is not a plant that should be used for such purposes. This plant has the ability to make you very sick if ingested. It can grow up to "eight feet tall in the wild," and it flowers in "midsummer" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.8). This plant is a perennial that has greenish-white flowers. It lives in swamp land, woods, "wet meadows, stream edges," and it is "indigenous from Canada to the Carolinas" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.8). This plant grows well in nature, but it should be left there.

This plant was used for many different medicinal purposes in the past. The root was ground into a powder by the "American Indians" and the "early colonists;" this powder was then used to treat wounds and cavities (Kowalchik, 1987, p.8). This plant has serious side effects and using it for toothaches can produce fatal effects. American settlers boiled the sliced root with vinegar and used it to treat "rashes and sores," and they also used it to remove "head lice" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.8). This plant has very strong implications for poisoning, and it amazes me that people used it so much in the past. This plant was even used to treat "epilepsy, convulsions, pneumonia, and peritonitis" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.8).

The toxicity of American hellebore is so high that it should not be used by the home herbalist. There are some medicinal purposes of this herb though; it contains "alkaloid" that slow down blood pressure, heart rate, and stimulate "blood flow to the kidneys, liver, and extremeties" (Kowalchik, 1987, p.9). The uses of his plant unfortunately do not outweigh the toxicity level of the plant. The toxicity level of this plant is so high it should not be used at home. American hellebore can cause "abdominal pain, nausau, diarrhea, faintness, shallow breathing, spasms, loss of consciousness, paralysis, and sometimes death," and one of the only reasons it is not more fatal is because it quickly induces vomiting (Kowalchik, 1987, p.9). This plant is a serious herb that should not be ingested.

Although the American hellebore is a plant that can dangerous results when consumed; it is a very striking plant to have in a garden. These plants enjoy shade, and they grow very tall. The flowers form beautiful "panicles", and the foliage is a bright green color that is very attractive (Kowalchik, 1987, p.9). This herb enjoys moist soil and a hardiness zone of 4.

The American hellebore is an herb that is rich in medicinal history, but it has such a strong level of toxicity that it should not be used for its medicinal purposes. It is great for growing in the shade, and it is lovely as an ornamental plant.

The Hanged Man: Understanding the Tarot

 

The hanged man is a symbolic card in the tarot that is well known and very popular. When someone refers to himself as the hanged man, it means that he is incapable of moving forward. This tarot card is part of the major arcana, and its meaning is important in understanding the tarot completely. This article will describe the meaning of the hanged man in depth.

The hanged man is symbolized by a man hanging upside down by one foot from a tree branch. This man is not looking worried; he is looking peaceful with his arms crossed. He is not flailing about looking for a way off; he is simply hanging in wait. This is symbolic of the meaning of this card because the hanged man is a card of release, change, sacrifice, and stillness. The hanged man hangs still with an air of calm about him.

The hanged man card represents release of ideas, emotions, struggles, and control. This card suggests giving up searching and trying and waiting. This card also suggests allowing fate to guide you instead of struggling against life. This is a card of letting go and acceptance. This is why the hanged man does not look worried; he is at peace with acceptance.

The hanged man is upside down, and this is symbolically important to the meaning of the card because he is changing his mind. His beliefs about life, the world, and priorities are changing completely, and he is seeing things from a new perspective. The hanged man has stopped and reversed directions; he is ready to face a new path with new found ideals.

Stillness is another aspect of this card, and through stillness the hanged man has found a new perspective. Stillness is importantly reflected with this card because it is needed as a means to breathe and just exist. This card suggests that you must stop actions and take time. The right opportunities will find you when it is time. Living in the moment is advised by this card.

Sacrifice is another meaning behind the hanged man, and it is apparent through the symbol of the man hanging. This man can not move forward or backwards; he is simply stuck to hang there and waste his time. He is sacrificing himself for a greater good, and putting others before himself. This card suggests the sacrifice of oneself for more than him, and this is why the hanged man does not try to struggle.

The hanged man is a card of change, inaction, reflection, sacrifice, and letting go. This card is a powerful symbol of how giving away can in return bring peace and a greater understanding of the world.

Two of Pentacles: Understanding the Tarot

 

The tarot is a deck of cards that symbolizes the many possible outcomes of mankind; this deck has been used for centuries to help advice and enlighten. The tarot is made up of a major and minor arcana. The minor arcana consists of 4 different suits. The suit of pentacles is a suit that discusses finances and prosperity; it also pertains to luck and happiness. This article will discuss in detail the meaning of the two of pentacles.

This card depicts a young man. He is possibly a jester, and he stands with one foot in the air. He is juggling two coins with a smile on his face. The ocean appears in the background, and the waves rise and fall behind the image of the juggler. This card represents juggling life, being adaptable, and having fun.

The two of pentacles is strongly represented by the juggler, and this implies keeping things in balance. Juggling is a tricky game of knowing when to catch and when to release, and this is a message of the two of pentacles. You have many things going on right now, and you must put equal amounts of effort into all of these projects to keep the game moving along smoothly. There are many demands on your time, and this card suggests finding a balance

The two of pentacles also suggests that you are able to adapt quickly, and this aids in your ability to balance the many demands of life. The two of pentacles recommends feeling open to new ways of action, and changing with the course of events thrown your way. You are flexible and fluid like the water depicted in the background of this card. You are up for challenges, and you are able to change directions and paths with ease. This is important because this card also suggest that there are many things going on in your life right now, and you will have to be flexible in order to maintain everything productively.

These many demands are not dragging you down; they are adding a thrill to life. You are enjoying the game, and you are taking time to play. You are in good spirits and you are enthusiastic. This card recommends taking the time to enjoy life. It also recommends enjoying the work you are doing, and the two of pentacles suggest that there is passion behind your actions. You can see the humor in a situation, and this makes it less burdening and more enjoyable.

The two of pentacles is the juggler of life's many demands; he is flexible and sees his work as a game in which he is having a great time.

The Fool Understanding the Tarot

 

The major arcana of the tarot tells a story of the path of the fool. The fool starts the arcana is number 0 and the first card, and the rest of the major arcana reveal itself to the fool. The fool comes to learn many lessons through the teaching of all of the other cards of the major arcana, and here I will discuss the meaning of the fool inn depth.

The fool is the first card, and it is depicted by a smiling lad. He is setting forth on a journey, and he carries with him a stick and bundle filled with his belongings. He stands on the edge of a cliff, and has a dog yapping at his heel. He naively stares into the sky and holds a flower in his hand. He does not see the cliff that is one step ahead of him. This is very symbolic of the fool card because it means the beginning of a journey, spontaneous behavior, faith, and naivety.

The fool is the first card of the tarot, and this represents the beginning of a new path or a new phase in ones life. The fool card implies that a new adventure is starting, and you are leading the way The fool also suggests broadening of horizons both mentally, spiritually, and physically. In some cases the fool represents travel. The fool is about to leap into the unknown.

Spontaneity is suggested strongly by this card, and the fool is a great example of it. The fool lives only in the moment, and he relies mainly on impulse in order to make decisions. He is a carefree and light hearted soul, and he revels in the unexpected. He acts on a whim, and has no set goal expect to have no set goal. This card recommends letting go of expectations, and following instinct instead of reason. Living in the now is a strong meaning of this card.

Faith that fate and destiny will keep you on the right path is a strong suggestion of this card, and the fool card also recommends letting go of fear and worries. This card suggests believing that things are moving on according to a larger plan and trusting in this plan. The fool feels protection and love naturally and has the faith to act without contemplation.

As the fool is spontaneous and trust, he is also naive, and this can lead him into some troubles. The fool takes the foolish path if that is what his heart tells him. The fool follows his heart and dreams even if they are unrealistic. The fool takes risks that do not seem to be in his favor. The fool is carefree, and this may sometimes lead him on a path that is unhelpful.

The fool is the first card of the major arcana, and it represents beginnings, faith, spontaneous actions, and naivety. It is a positive card that comes with a warning.

The World Understanding the Tarot

 

The world is the final card in the tarot, and from it comes great meaning. All of the cards in the major arcane lead up to this card, and the world card symbolizes just this. The fool has traveled through all of life's lessons as you have traveled through all of the cards of the major arcane, and now you rest at the final card the world. This article will describe the meaning of the world card in depth.

The world card pictures a beautiful woman entwined in a long silk scarf. She stands there with her arms wide holding two batons or wands. She is encircled by a wreath that has a bow on the top, and in each corner of the card is a creature. The angel, eagle, ram, and lion are depicted in the imagery of the world card. This card is a card of wholeness, accomplishment, involvement, and satisfaction through fulfillment.

This card symbolizes the feeling of wholeness, and the world is everything together so this is a logical meaning for this card. The world represents a dynamic balance, and it implies the combination of many smaller parts to complete a perfect whole. Unity is implied through this card, and it suggests that a feeling of togetherness and power through wholeness is apparent. A coming together of many aspects of your life may be occurring.

Accomplishment and completion are symbolized by the world card. You have come to realize your goals and dreams. Your true hopes and desires are coming true, and you are becoming prosperous. The world card suggests that everything you have wanted is coming to pass. Fruition of past efforts is obvious and apparent. A wonderful solution that allows you to integrate all aspects of your dreams is available to you, and you are flourishing.

The world card of the tarot also symbolizes being actively involved in life. You may be serving others, or using a talent, but either way you are feeling engaged. You are helping and healing others, and this has become possible because of the journey you have taken through the rest of the cards. Without learning all of the lessons of life, you would not be able to use your gifts and knowledge to help. You are making a contribution when this card is evident in a reading.

A strong sense of fulfillment is also implied by this card, and it suggests that you are happy, and you are finding pleasure in life itself. You are content and blessed. The world card suggests that you are at peace with yourself and your surroundings. You have been through much but now you have your time of rest and comfort. Life is pleasurable.

The world is the last card of the tarot, and it is a positive card that suggests fulfillment, joy, contributing, and success. This is a card of completion and prosperity.

Judgment: Understanding the Tarot

 

The tarot deck is a collection of cards that people use for advice and understanding of their lives. This deck is a powerful tool for seeing circumstances and situations I a new light and with a new perspective. The tarot deck is compromised of the major and minor arcane, and this article will discuss the meaning of the judgment card of the major arcana.

The judgment card is depicted by an angel in the sky. This angel is dressed in glorious robes with wings spread wide. This angel plays a trumpet and bears a flag. There are men, women, and children staring at the angel with open arms upraised. This card symbolizes judgment, rebirth, knowledge of what you must do, and atonement.

Judgment is one of the main meanings of this card, and it suggests that you will be held accountable for our actions. This card also means you will have to make a critical decision based on right and wrong. You will have to make a choice or someone will have to make a choice about you, and this is based on your inner self. An honest judgment will be made, and this will have a serious impact on you.

Rebirth is another meaning of this card, and it implies that you may feel a new hope. This card suggests that you may be experiencing a transformation, and this transformation may be coming from a new perspective of the world and life. This new sense of joy is allowing you and aiding you in making a new start in life, and the judgment card promises that this new start will be positive because it is based on honesty.

You may finally be becoming aware of your true calling, and you are feeling drawn to this destiny. The judgment card suggests that your life's path has recently become apparent to you, and you are feeling the urge to follow it. A need and desire inside of you to do something is evident, and you must act on it. This card recommends hearing a call and listening.

Finding forgiveness for yourself and others is recommended by this card. The judgment card also suggests that you will be able to release yourself of guilt by repenting for the sins you have committed. This requires that you atone for wrongdoings in the past. This atonement will allow you to feel refreshed, energized, and free.

The judgment card of the major arcana is a promising card that allows you to make a decision with honest judgment, find forgiveness, find a true purpose, and start over fresh. This card is a positive card in a reading.

The Sun: Understanding the Tarot

 

The sun is one of the last cards in the tarot, and it follows the moon. Just as the hours pass, the moon will go to rest and the sun will rise again. The sun card of the tarot is a welcomed relief after the confusing message of the moon, and this card will explain the meaning of the sun card of the tarot in depth.

The sun card of the tarot is so rightfully depicted with a glorious sun and a field of flowers. Through this field rides a child on a white unicorn. This is a happy card with the bright flowers and magnificent sun beams, and it represents the meaning of this card in its imagery. The sun symbolizes many promising ideas such as enlightenment, power, renewed energy, and assurance, and it is illustrated in the magnificence of this card.

A new found understanding is suggested by the sun, and it shows a greater knowledge of the world. The sun card represents having a breakthrough of thought and understanding. This card also symbolizes an epiphany of truth. This could be an answer you have been searching for, or it could mean a greater understanding in general. This card means the sun will break through the clouds and shine greatly upon you.

The sun also symbolizes a new level of status. This card suggests gaining attention and power, and being represented as a great person. You ma be receiving the praise for your accomplishments that you have been striving for, or you are being recognized for your talent or intelligence. Either way this is your own personal moment of glory.

A new sense of strength and energy is implied by the sun. This card pictures a child, and this symbolizes a new found feeling of youth. Your health is high, and you feel well. Your energy and enthusiasm is up, and you are motivated. You are excited about things in your life, and this is filling you with a natural glow. Joy and zeal are filling ones life is an apparent theme when the sun card is in a reading.

Confidence and assurance are also suggested by the sun. The sun card recommends believing in yourself, and trusting that you are capable. Believing that you can succeed is also implied by this card. The sun recommends having faith in yourself and being happy with whom you are. It means you are honoring your true feelings and ambitions.

The sun is a glorious card that suggests very positive things. It implies good health, energy, confidence, enlightenment, and becoming the center of attention.

3 DIY Kitchen Window Treatments

 

Adding a nice window treatment to your kitchen can really brighten up the mood, and it is easy and fun to do on your own. Making your own kitchen window treatment can be inexpensive as well as personal. Here are three methods for making your own perfect window treatment.

For a thrifty and resourceful kitchen curtain simply pick out two kitchen dish towels that are long enough and wide enough to cover your window. Next find a think piece of ribbon that matches your towels and your kitchen. Fold the ribbon in half and attach it to the towel on the top. This will create a pocket to stick a curtain rod through. You can sew the folded ribbon to the towel or you can glue it. The hem tape that you iron to activate also works well for this project. You can add fake flowers, more ribbon, buttons, or other embellishments to the curtains if you like. Finally string the curtains on the rods and hang.

Another fun and unique kitchen window treatment requires the use of scarves. You can use several pretty scarves, or you can simply use one. If you are using one scarf you can fold it to make a triangle and hang the corners through the hooks for the curtain rod. If you have a couple more scraves that are long braid or twist them together in the middle and drape around the window. Let the ends hang loose for a dramatic effect.

For a very personal and attractive look utilizes handkerchiefs or bandanas. You can use many different colors and patterns to make this window treatment even more exciting. Simply tie the end of each handkerchief around a curtain hook and string onto the curtain rod. For another neat handkerchief look fold the handkerchief into a triangle and tie one end of a handkerchief to a curtain hook. Next tie the other end to another curtain hook, but also tie the end of another folded handkerchief to that hook. Continue until you make a chain slightly bigger than your window. Finally finish the window treatment by stringing the hooks onto the curtain rod and hanging it.

Creating a fresh look in your kitchen is as simple as creating your own custom window treatment, and these three ideas will help you get started on renewing your kitchens appeal. The techniques you have learned here will inspire and delight you and your kitchen guests for long to come. So go get crafty!