Gardening

Sharing the Pinterest Love

Written on July 1, 2011 at 9:54 am , by Katie A Ketelsen

Apparently Pinterest has been around now for quite some time.  I however didn’t jump on the bandwagon until recently. Not to anyone’s fault other than mine: I just wasn’t aware of it! So I’m doing you a favor by introducing you to Pinterest.

Say hello.

Pinterest is about sharing–’pinning’ to be exact. Pinning what you admire. Pinning what you’re doing. Pinning what you’re envious of. Pinning what you’re aspiring to be.

Pin anything. Well…almost anything.

Pinterest to me, is like picking up my favorite magazine filled with images of inspiration tailoring to all my facets: vintage, burlap, gardening and so much more.

Pinterest is also about sharing goodness. If you find something interesting and think the world might also find it interesting this is your platform. That’s what I love the most (other than of course the inspiring images). This closely coincides with my love for Better Homes and Gardens.

What better platform than Pinterest to share the BH&G love! Here’s a sneak peek at what I’m particularly enjoying pinning these days:

To see more of my Better Homes and Gardens favorites…check out my board. Or make a board of your own! Happy pinning!

There are no snakes in this grass

Written on January 21, 2011 at 7:40 am , by Katie A Ketelsen

Ever since I was a child I’ve been fascinated with snake grass (also called horsetail, or Equisetum hymale) thanks to my babysitter who showed me how to disassemble each section and carefully snap them back together {also…the blades worked really well to whip at my little brother}.

But there is something more you should know about snake grass….she spreads. Like crazy. And will best serve your landscape if she was contained or left to flourish in her natural habitat.

Cleverly this homeowner notched out a piece of sidewalk for the plant to soften the dreary look of their mailbox.

In addition, the homeowner planted snake grass along her foundation–so the plant is still contained by the front sidewalk. The grass complements the modern, sleek characteristics of the house while providing an unique, low maintenance element.

Beyond your landscape, snake grass works well in wetlands–waterways, ditches, etc–to soak up some of the water and choke out unsightly weeds, similar to how cattails perform. Or use it for a filler within your cut flower bouquets. However you interject snake grass in your garden, please be mindful of its growing habit and plant wisely.

If you’ve grown this grass before–tell me about your experience–how you used it–how you contained it–or how you had fun with it!

planting by the numbers

Written on March 5, 2010 at 10:31 am , by Denny Schrock

With temperatures here in Des Moines forecast for the mid-40s this weekend for the first time in more than 3 months, we’re daring to think that spring may finally be on its way. It will take several more weeks for all the snow to melt away, but in the meantime I can plan and dream about what I’ll plant in the yard this year. We’ve recently come out with two new books that will help.

Both of these books feature plant-by-number plans for gardens that are sure to appeal to those who like a template to follow. Each plan lists how many plants of each type are needed, shows where to plant them in relation to the other plants, and has a picture of the gorgeous results you can get by following the plan. If you can follow a recipe, you can plant these gardens! If you’re more inclined to venture into uncharted territory, you’ll  find lots of inspiring plant combinations and ideas to incorporate into your own plans.

Both of these 224-page books are published by Wiley Publishing and retail for $19.95. They are available at major bookstores or you can purchase them online at Wiley Publishing or at Amazon.com. Here’s a link to details on Beds & Borders. And here are the details on Container Gardening.

Gardening Gloves

Written on November 4, 2009 at 7:43 am , by Justin W. Hancock

I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of wearing gloves in the garden. I know I should to protect my hands from blisters, cuts, etc., but I’ve never really gotten in the habit.

But this year I received a couple of samples that intrigued me. The first is the West Country Landscape glove. It caught my attention because it’s partially made from recycled soda bottles and also features Kevlar, which I recognize from television as being a product that some police body armor is made from. If it can stop a bullet, I’d think it could keep me from getting blisters. And it did.

The second glove I’ve only just received (this photo actually shows them sitting on my desk here at BHG headquarters). It’s the Cool Mud glove. I find this one fascinating because it contains an aloe additive and is supposed to moisturize my hands as I work in it. As gross as my hands can get after spending a day planting, pruning, and various other landscape tasks, I welcome the opportunity to keep them somewhat soft and clean.

I’d love to hear from you… Do you wear gloves while gardening? If so, do you have a favorite kind? Share your comments here!