Backyard Ponds

Author: Robert Dorrance

Article: Backyard ponds are a great source of fun and enjoyment. With them come all kinds of different nature. From the fish and all of the other wildlife, to all the different pond plants and flowers. It truly is a relaxing hobby, once you get it all set up.

Backyard ponds are not extremely hard to build, and once you do, they’re pretty easy to take care of. The hardest part, by far, is the digging of the pond. Depending on what kind of soil you have in your region will determine how difficult it would be.

The kind of pond to have is entirely up to you. From a small preformed one, to one that’s several thousand gallons that needs a liner, or anything in between.

Try and picture where you sit the most while you’re outside. Now picture where a great place to put a pond would be. Is it a flat area? Is it close to an electrical supply? Is it close to a water source? These are just some of the questions you need to answer, if you’re going to have one of these backyard ponds.

If you’re going to have a pond of any size, you should know of some of the things that you’re going to need for it. Things you must have are a water pump, a pond filter, a UV filter, and some pond plants. Other things to consider are a good pond liner, some fish, an air diffuser, some pond lighting, fish food, and a skimmer.

These are some of the things to consider if you want to have a pond. Initially, they can be kind of expensive, however, you will get a lot of enjoyment, as many other people do from their backyard ponds.

About the author: Robert Dorrance has had a pond for the last eight years and would like to share all of his different pond experiences with you. Find out more at www.Backyard-Pond-Guide.com.

Fertilizing Your Lawn

Author: Chris Coffman

Article: Your lawn takes nutrients out of the soil that it is bedded in and uses these nutrients to aid its growth. If your soil lacks these nutrients your lawn will ultimately suffer. So while fertilizing makes your lawn greener it also provides a top of any nutrients that your soil is lacking helping grass to grow. When the nutrients are available, the lawn develops healthier roots which invariably grow deeper allowing the lawn to draw upon water and nutrients in the soil. Furthermore, deep roots reduce thatch and browning. Finally, fertilizer contains nutrients that grass needs to resist disease and drought.

Fertilizers also offer the additional benefit of including chemicals to inhibit or kill weeds. The three primary nutrients in a fertilizer are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. Each element has its own affect upon grass. Nitrogen stimulates grass growth and greening. Phosphorous stimulates the development of roots and seedlings. Potassium promotes disease and drought resistance.

As the weather changes, so too does your lawn have changing needs. In the heat of the summer, your lawn needs water and little else. In order to survive the cold weather, your lawn needs to have healthy roots and so a fertilizer to promote root growth should be applied before the cold weather sets in. At other times of year your lawn needs nutrients to enable growth and greening. Weeds also have their own growing seasons so you should fertilize at the beginning of the various weed growth seasons.

Where you live, the type of grass you have, the condition of your soil and the weather all affect your choice of fertilizer and when it should be applied. You also have a choice of organic fertilizer, liquid fertilizer, which is sprayed on, or time released granules which are distributed with a spreader. All of these factors result in the many choices of fertilizer. And of course you can always purchase your fertilizer via a wholesaler online, meaning that the more you buy the cheaper the deal.

About the author: Visit The Lawn Care Site today for more great free lawn care tips! http://www.lawncaresite.com

The Language and Meaning of Flowers

Author: Garry Gamber

Article: Sweet flowers alone can say what passion fears revealing Thomas Hood poem, The Language of Flowers

Flowers and bouquets of flowers have a meaning of their own. Most of us know that a dozen red roses means, “Be mine.” But did you know, for example, that a primrose means, “I can’t live without you,” or that a purple hyacinth means, “Please forgive me,” or that a pink carnation means, “I’ll never forget you,” or that a gladiolus means, “Give me a break?”

Flower meanings have been used to convey ideas, feelings and messages for centuries. The word, floriography, has been coined for the assignment of meaning to flowers. There is a meaning to colors of flowers, to numbers of flowers, and to groups of flowers. It is a silent language that has been largely lost to us through lack of use.

In addition to the obvious choices of color and variety, the language of flowers also includes the way flowers are worn or presented. Presenting flowers upright conveys a positive meaning, but if they are presented upside down the meaning is the opposite. If a ribbon is included with the flowers and is tied to the left then the meaning of the flowers refers to the giver, but if the ribbon is tied to the right then the meaning refers to the recipient. Also, flowers can be used to answer questions. When they are presented with the right hand the answer is “yes,” but when presented with the left hand the answer is “no.”

History

The Turks in the 17th century seemed to develop flower meanings. In 1718 the wife of the British ambassador to Constantinople, Lady Mary Wortley, wrote a letter expounding on the “Secret Language of Flowers” that she had discovered during her visits to Turkey. Europe quickly picked up on the concept.

In 1819 Louise Cortambert, under the pen name, Madame Charlotte de la Tour, wrote and published what seems to have been the first dictionary of the flower language entitled, Le Language des Fleurs. It was a small book, but it became a popular reference on the subject.

During the Victorian era, the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901, the meaning and language of flowers became increasingly popular. Victorian women especially picked up the silent language that allowed them to communicate feelings and meanings that the strict propriety of the times would not allow. Tussie-mussies, a bouquet of flowers wrapped with a lace doily and tied with a satin ribbon became a popular and valued gift of the times.

In 1884 a whole book on the subject and entitled, The Language of Flowers, by Jean Marsh and illustrated by Kate Greenaway, was published in London. It became popular and respected and has been the standard source for Victorian flower meaning ever since.

Selected Flower Meanings

Here are some selected flowers and their meanings, a short dictionary.

Almond flowers -- Hope Anemone -- Forsaken Aster -- Symbol of love Balm -- Sympathy Basil -- Best wishes Bay leaf -- ""I change but in death"" Bell flower, white -- Gratitude Bergamot -- Irresistible Bluebell -- Constancy Borage -- Courage Broom -- Humility Campanula -- Gratitude Carnation, pink -- I'll never forget you Carnation, red -- My poor heart aches for you Carnation, striped -- Refusal China rose -- Beauty always new Chrysanthemum -- Love Clover, four leaved -- ""Be mine"" Coreopsis -- Love at first sight Cuckoo pint -- Ardor Daffodil -- Regard Daisy -- Innocence, new-born, ""I share your sentiment"" Fennel -- Flattery Fern -- Sincerity Forget-Me-Not -- True love Furze or Gorse -- Enduring affection French Marigold -- Jealousy Gardenia -- Ecstasy Gentian -- Loveliness Geranium -- ""You are childish"" Hare bell -- Grief Heartsease -- ""I am always thinking of you"" Honeysuckle -- Bonds of love Heather -- Admiration Hyacinth -- I am sorry, Please forgive me Ice Plant -- ""Your appearance freezes me"" Ivy -- Fidelity, friendship, marriage Jasmine -- Grace Jonquil -- ""I hope for return of affection"" Lavender -- Luck, devotion Lemon Balm -- Sympathy Lilac -- First love Lily -- Purity, modesty Lily of the Valley -- Purity, the return of happiness Lily, Calla -- Beauty Marigold -- Health, grief or despair Marjoram -- Kindness, courtesy Myrtle -- Fidelity Oregano -- Joy Orchid -- Love, beauty, refinement Pansy -- Loving thoughts Periwinkle -- Happy memory Phlox -- Agreement Poppy, red -- Consolation Primrose -- I can't live without you Rose, cabbage -- Ambassador of love Rose, red -- Love Rose, pink -- Grace, beauty Rose, yellow -- Friendship Rosemary -- Remembrance, constancy Rue -- Contrition Sage -- Gratitude, domestic virtue Snowdrop -- Hope Star of Bethlehem -- Purity Sweet Pea -- Departure, tender memory Sweet William -- Gallantry Tuberose -- Voluptuousness Tulip, red -- My perfect lover, Reclamation of love Violet -- Loyalty, modesty, humility Violet, blue -- Faithfulness Wormwood -- Grief Wheat -- Riches of the continuation of life Willow, weeping -- Mourning Wallflower -- Fidelity Yew -- Sorrow

The Rose

The Rose is the flower whose meaning we most understand, but here are some details of the meaning of the Rose that may be of further interest.

Rose, Black – You are my obsession Rose, Champagne – You are tender and loving Rose, Leonidas – Sweet love Rose, Nicole – You are graceful and elegant, aristocratic Rose, Orange – You are my secret love Rose, Pink – Brilliant complexion; the glow of your smile; perfect happiness Rose, Red – Passionate love; I love you Rose, Single Stems – Simplicity Rose, White – I am worthy of you; spiritual love; Innocence and Purity; Secrecy and Silence Rose, White and Red – We are inseparable Rose, White and Red Mixed – Unity; Flower emblem of England Rose, White, Dried – Death is preferable to loss of virtue Rose, Yellow – Friendship; Jealousy; I am not worthy Rose, Bridal – Happy Love Rose, Dark Crimson – Mourning Rose, Hibiscus – Delicate beauty Rose, Tea – I’ll remember always Rose, Thornless – Love at first sight Roses, Bouquet of Mature Blooms – Gratitude

Multiple Roses

Single bloom red Rose – Love at first sight or I still love you Single Rose, any color – Gratitude or simplicity 2 Roses – Mutual feelings 3 Roses – I love you 7 Roses – I’m infatuated with you 9 Roses – We’ll be together forever 10 Roses – You are perfect 11 Roses – You are my treasured one 12 Roses – Be mine 13 Roses – Friends forever 15 Roses – I’m truly sorry 20 Roses – I’m truly sincere towards you 21 Roses – I’m dedicated to you 24 Roses – Forever yours 25 Roses – Congratulations 50 Roses – Unconditional love 99 Roses – I will love you all the days of my life 108 Roses – Will you marry me? 999 Roses – I love you till the end of time

What To Do

With the lists above you should be able to assemble a meaningful gift of flowers or a bouquet that conveys a complex thought. Wrap the flowers appropriately and present them in a significant manner. Then, just to be certain that your efforts are not misinterpreted, include a card that fully explains the meaning of your flowers.

After a few flower presentations you should be able to drop the explanatory notes and begin enjoying and sharing the silent language of flowers.

About the author: Garry Gamber is a public school teacher. He writes articles about politics, real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com