Archive for February, 2010
February 28th, 2010 | 
Author: Human beings have ever depended on the trees and plants around them to provide food, clothing, shelter, medicine and above all oxygen. Now, various researches are increasingly revealing that plants and flowers can also contribute to better physical, mental and emotional health.
We can easily trace the fragility and beauty of life through flowers. They evoke and share the feelings of love, health, trust, age and the fleeting fragments of time. Flowers and people and flowers – they have been identified with each other through life’s greatest and darkest moments.
Over the time, flowers have gained much importance in our daily lives and it has become part of our daily lives and we use them for all purposes such as to express something to someone, to greet, to congratulate, to welcome and most importantly for rituals and weddings. We place them even on graves.
Gardening of flowers has become an important aspect of our lives. A small garden filled with various kinds of flowers in front of our house is a delight to everyone. Everyone admires and even dream of such a house. If we have a special love for any flower then we can make it an everlasting beauty of our garden with innovative cultivation and enjoy the beauty of the flower of our choice even though the climate and other conditions are not quite favorable. But then if we want to divide the flowers on the basis of their life cycle then there will be three divisions, namely, annuals, biennials, and perennials though we can certainly go out of our way and plant flowers according to our choice.
Annual flowers complete their life cycle in one season so it is easily changeable and it also gives a bright color to our garden. These flowers are quite comfortable in the summer season and they are sun-lovers. Some names of flowers that can be grown in March and April – ageratum, aster, balsam, celosia, cone flower, cosmos, crotalaria, cypress vine, dahlia, floss flower, globe amaranth, gourds, marigolds, morning glory, nasturtium, petunias, rose-moss, salvia, sunflower, torenia and zinnia. There are also bright shade loving flowers like impatiens and bedding begonias.
Biennial flower plant
Flowers grow more during the fall and spring. The life cycle of biennial plants begins during the fall continues all through the winter season and ends at spring. During the fall the biennial plants produce only leaves. Then the winter period passes and they bloom in the spring, produce seeds, and then die. Some popular biennial plants include foxglove, hollyhock, stocks, and sweet williams. The only disadvantage of biennial flowers is that it produces too much of leaves.
Perennials are considered to be ornamental plants that do not die after one season of growth. This does not mean they live forever. In fact many perennials are considered to be short-lived, lasting only 2-3 years. Rose campion is a short lived perennial, but because it self-seeds so readily, it appears to live much longer. Some important perennials are; Pink Astilbe, Blue Pincushion Flower, Blue Perennial Sage, Purple Coralbells, Threadleaf Tickseed, Russian Sage, Blue Speedwell
Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan and Purple-Leaved Beard-Tongue.
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The design and implementation of a plan for a beautiful yard and garden can set your home apart. It can also have other important advantages, including increasing the value of your home, reducing the cost of creating and increasing satisfaction while reducing the time required to keep it beautiful and personal.
There are many ways to create a design plan for a yard and garden including hiring a custom designer, purchasing and using design software, or by doing your own research through the many magazines and do-it-yourself books. The goal is to upgrade a yard or garden from poor or average to good or excellent. It has been researched and proven that the monetary return can be anywhere from 7 to 14% when a home is sold. It may be the attraction that sets your home above the competition when you decide to sell your home.
There are many ideas to consider when creating a yard and garden design. The most obvious is cost and time. You will also need to consider the size of the area, your personal style and environment you live in. It has been common practice to have a lawn mainly of grass and a garden of green plants. Alternatives can include choosing to use natural elements, planning for maintenance efficiency, adding a variety of height and size, and choosing décor to highlight the natural plantings of your yard and garden. In this economy, another option is to consider ways to add a vegetable garden to the décor of your yard and garden, either by area planting or container gardening.
A well designed yard and garden should include color. When choosing plants for your design, remember to give serious consideration to their life span and their space requirements. You need to evaluate the amount of sun, shade and water your areas provide and what plants work well in those environments. You also need to consider the variety of color and color compliments. Ask a garden specialist or a university extension agent if you need help.
Gardens can also provide décor to attract birds. Many people are bird enthusiasts, but even those of us who know little about birds can enjoy their playful antics and enthusiasm for life. There is a wide variety of garden décor items that entice our feathered friends to make your yard and garden home-such as bird feeders, bird houses and bird baths.
These are not the only garden décor items that add to the eye appeal of a garden. You should also consider figurines, statues, arbors, trellises, stepping stones, lights, planters and more. Browsing through a garden store or website will provide your with many ideas and options. Each should be chosen according to your style and design.
With your special touch, your yard and garden will be an extension of your home where you and your family will enjoy time together. If done correctly, your yard and garden design planning will reduce having to re-plan and replant at a later time. It will add to the curb appeal of your home and provide a place of comfort and joy.
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It is important to design a deck that complements the yard rather than dominate it. The best approach for how to deckscape a yard is to allow elements from the yard to intrude on the deck.
A guaranteed way to achieve this is to use some of the same plants blooming in the yard on the deck. Clumps of impatiens or mums on and off the deck would perform the task micely. For a more permananet effect, create room for an island bed of perennials or shrubs that already exist in the yard.
Hosta, false spirea, day lilies, yarrow, sedum and peonies are suitable perennials. Dwarf spruce, spreading juniper, lilac, holly, ornamental grasses and ornamental quince are compact shrub specimens that offer slightly more mass and staying power. The best long term solutions are dwarf ornamental trees.
Nonplant materials such as large stones, a yard sculpture or a water feature can be used to naturalize a deck. Planters, trellises, arbors and pergolas are special deck features that can be used as opportunities to bring greenery and color to the deck area.
Ground level decks as well as multilevel decks that step down to near grade level are the easiest to link to gardens and the yard. This is especially true if allowances have been made in the planning and design stages. The work is made easier by not having to deal with deck railing systems and staircases.
If a deck is rectangular in shape a formal look can be achieved by choosing border plants that mirror it such as a hedge of boxwood, yews or holly. Hedges provide an easy transition to the yard and a contrast to other more colorful plantings.
If the deck is squarish and its edges need to be softened, train vines to grow along the skirting and railing system. Several wisteria vines can quickly enclose a large deck and convert it into a private refuge. However, pruning several times a year might need to be done.
An upper level deck could benefit from a few tall trees planted in close proximity. Fast growth pines, firs and arborvitae can be used to draw attention away from unsightly spport posts or provide a measure of privacy.
Avoid planting them where they will eventually block a scenic view. Do not plant them too close to the deck or bird and tree droppings will become maintenance issues down the road.
Deck planters are the simplest way to integrate the deck with the yard. They generally take the shape of boxes or large pots or containers.
Deck gardens are great choices for growing herbs. Plant containers can also be matched with trellises to create living privacy screens. They can also be hung or placed on railings to soften the look of this deck barrier. Choosing plant varieties that blossom at different times of the year will guarantee a steady array of color.
For a formal deck style, make use of several containers with the identical shape. Blend in a contrasting shape such as an urn with rectangular planters to create a focal point. Use planters and pots with a variety of shapes and colors to develop a look that is more informal.
Railing boxes or rail planters keep decking surfaces free from clutter and are easy to make. Create several but remember to bore drainage holes in the bottom along the outboard edges in order that the top of the railing does not stop the water. Placing a couple of spacers under the box will permit ventilation between planter box and railing.
The use of a liner for a rail planter is a good practical decision. Cut holes in the liner to align with the drainage holes in the bottom of the planter. This will reduce the chance of the soil becoming saturated following a heavy rain.
An ideal way in which to integrate the yard with the deck is to create a through-the-deck garden. It has several advantages over planters that are positioned on the deck. The soil in planters tends to dry out more quickly than ground level soil. An in-ground planting bed does not need to be emptied and stored away in a shed the way that containers do during cold weather months.
Through-the-deck gardens benefit from being well lit at night as well as benches or planters that border them for safety purposes.
Integrating one or more trees into the deck plan can create a very dramatic look. Extra framing is required for support such as doubling up adjacent joists and installing headers to carry the joists that must be cut. For a younger tree space must be allowed to accomodate future growth.
Plant choices are nearly limitless for ground level decks. Perennials perform the best job of filling in large areas. Annuals are best used in planters because they offer color all season long.
For raised decks consider the use of flowering vines, shrubs, and trees. Flowering vines soften edges of decks and give a deck a rich, secluded feeling while cutting down on glare and heat from the sun.
Avoid plants that create a mess such as berry bushes and sappy trees. If maintenance is an issue avoid fast growing vines. Perhaps the wise thing to do is choose well behaved, low maintenance plants such as ornamental grasses, lavender, ferns and coniferous or broadleaf evergreens.
The very best approach as to how to deckscape a yard is to do the research required to make informed and practical decisions that will integrate the yard and deck so that they complement each other.
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Farming is a massive operation. Having farmer insurance is most necessary when you consider all the risk involved in owning and running a farm. Farm insurance can help protect you from the loss of a bad crop or the unforeseen disaster of the loss of a heard. Tragedy strikes at inconvenient times, but thankfully there is protection available.
Regardless of whether you inherited your farming business through your family, or decided to take the plunge and start a farm, the costs involved are enormous and the loss of a crop due to frost or hail can be devastating. Farmer insurance acts as protection against complete financial ruin if the unforeseen happens. Not only are crops and animals at risk, but the equipment needed for operation is also very costly. The term ‘farming’ encompasses many types of farm operation; thankfully there is farmer insurance available for each source of revenue.
Farmer insurance covers many potential incidents. Not only does it cover many accidents that may occur on the farm, but it guards against possible litigation. For instance, a consumer could purchase a jar of your jam, get ill and then decide to sue your business. Farmer insurance not only helps cover you in this instance, but will represent you in court if need be. A common policy coverage also involves accidents while operating your farm equipment or performing farming duties. When you stop to think about it, there truly are many ways that a farm is endangered to liability.
Available Farmer Insurance
Before choosing farmer insurance there are factors that must be considered. The most important issue is the type of farm that you operate. Also, how is business commenced? It may be best to write a list and include how many people you employ, the amount and types of equipment that need to be insured and possible liabilities that worry you. The following is a general list of items that need to be insured when operating a farmer.
Crop Insurance: Crop-yield and crop revenue are big concerns to farmers. Since the outcome of the crop determines the livelihood of the entire farm, coverage for the crop is paramount. Farmer insurance generally covers loss due to natural causes. This may include bugs, pests and hazardous weather.
Farm Contents: Most farm equipment is quite costly and can run into the hundreds of thousands. You will want insurance that lists specific equipment individually and provides comprehensive coverage for your equipment. Some policies also cover loss of livestock because of electrocution.
Theft: Theft coverage is not limited to stolen machinery. Often time’s theft on a farm involves livestock including cows, sheep, goats and hogs.
Employers Liability Insurance: If a farmer has one employee, he or she will need liability insurance. The employee needs not to be full-time, they can be an occasional work-hand, but accidents happen and this insurance will cover many potential liabilities.
Fatal Injury of Livestock: Many companies offer farmer insurance that covers the loss of an animal either while on the farm or even while in transit. If an animal dies coverage generally is available for a maximum amount per animal and a maximum per accident. Even working dogs, such as herding dogs, may be covered if fatally injured.
Sheep Coverage: This item helps to cover veterinary bills and loss of sheep due to injury or death.
Business Disruption: Farmer insurance will help protect a farmer when business costs either increase dramatically or profits are suddenly down due to unforeseen incidents.
Shipment of Goods: Your strawberries are safely on their way to market and boom, they’re gone. A loss of income due to crop damage while in transit is protected with this coverage. Loss of livestock is not covered under this coverage since animals are covered separately.
Personal Accident Coverage: If an accident that leads to injury occurs on a farm, this coverage protects against this. As a farmer you are entitled to a settlement if an injury occurs that effects your ability to run the farm as needed.
Personal House and Contents: The farmer’s residence and any additional buildings are covered. If specifically stated, the contents of the home may also be covered.
Summary:
When the protection of farm equipment, livestock and crops are in question, Farmer insurance must be purchased. Farmer insurance will safeguard against financial ruin due to unforeseen occurrences. Common coverage includes loss of income due to theft, crop failure and the death of livestock. A farmer’s personal home and contents are often included with this insurance. Farming is an important line of work and there is insurance available to help protect not only the farm, but the owner.
