Brighten Your Life with Flowers

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Bring Nature Inside

Adding  Fresh Flowers to the Mantle

Brighten Up Your Life with Flowers
It is so nice to have fresh flowers in your house. It feels like it brightens up your life in some little way. I like to scatter them throughout the house. This is when bud vases come in handy. One bunch can bring flowers to several rooms. Whether you buy them from a florist or at the grocery store or grow them in your yard, the are sure to brighten your life.

Live Plants

Sometimes I run across a great deal at the.99 cent store. The other day I found these planters and white Mum plants. The plants fit perfectly into the pots so I never needed to transplant them. Once their time is up I will add them to the garden and go back to the .99 cent store and spend another $3. What a great investment for your environment.






Picture of a Sun Flower

 We have been growing Sun Flowers for the last few years and are they a sight. The are so radiant they almost make you smile. This is a picture of one of the Sun Flowers we grew. Even a picture of Flowers can brighten your room. It might be a good idea to take a trip to your local park and take some pictures of nature to decorate your house with.

Yellow

I have been on this Yellow kick for the past few months. It might have something to do with the Yellow rose of TX. I like to get several different types of flowers while only using 1 color. I usually keep the same type together as well...it just depends.






I hope you can find some inspiration to brighten up your life with Flowers.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

The PERFECT Lawn and Organic Garden

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Sometimes We All Need A Do-Over



After the Do-Over

 The PERFECT Lawn and Organic Garden
It was 5 years ago when we moved into our house. We ended up removing several trees that were in bad shape as well making room to put in the pool. Due to the ground settling from the movement of the soil and the decaying of roots from the trees that were removed, the ground seemed to sink several inches. For the last 2 years we had snow and below freezing temperatures that took it's toll on the yard as well. This occured in both the grass areas as well as the Organic Planting beds. The planting beds run 2 sides of the yard from one end to the other. The entire yard is organic so we don't use fertilizer other than the Organic mulch. It has natural enzymes in it that will break down and enrich and feed the soil.


Lawn Before Do-Over



Lawn Before Do-Over

Not only did the soil sink, it also got taken over with weeds in areas so I decided it was time to start over from the beginning.

Lawn and Weeds Removed

Organic Planter Beds - Before

First all the grass and weeds needed to be removed with a shovel. It remove some top sol as well. This will ensure that the weeds will NOT grow back.

Marking Sprinklers

Now that we have a blank slate, it is time to rebuild. I added Enriched Top soil that is made for sod. The areas were filled so that they would be level with the top of the cement. It was recommended to plan for a 7% settling or the soil. The sprinklers were marked and the flood drains were covered so they would be easy to find and know where to cut the sod so it fits snug. The entire yard has drains that run under it both in the planting beds as well as the grassy areas to prevent flooding.

Lawn - After

Lawn - After

It feels so good to know  that the entire yard has had it's little face lift. The lawn looks great and in a month or so it will be even more lush. It just needs a to be watered.

Organic Planting Beds - After

Organic Planting Beds - After

The best thing about adding  the organic soil and mulch to the plantings beds is that it makes caring for them much easier. With an organic garden you get more birds and butterfly's and you never need to worry about your pets.


I added 4 inches of Organic soil and 2 inches Organic mulch to the planting beds.
This was alot of hard work and planning but definitely worth it. The yard won't need another Face lift like this. Not to say it won't need a little here and there, it just won't need this much work. My motto for this project is "give your yard what it needs to thrive". If you want to have a Perfect lawn and garden you might just want to start over from the bottom up so you don't need to play catch up every year. You may need to pay more to do it right but in the long run you will actually SAVE money because you won't be doing it over year after year. This project was so well worth it and makes for a not only a perfect lawn and garden but also a perfect space to relax and reconnect with nature.
I hope this inspires you to roll up your sleeves and create a QUALITY space that is all your own.

Enjoy your Zen.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Veggie Garden - Part 2

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Patience can Prove to be Bountiful

Veggie Planter

Veggie Garden - Part 2
OK it has now been 2 months since I planted my seeds. Some grow so fast while others are waiting for the heat to kick in to grow faster. Most of my garden is in my Stacked Veggie Planter. It really adds life to an other wise plain corner of my yard. I already have some veggies [just baby ones] and lots of blooms. We had a heavy rain last week that knocked off my biggest flower on my zucchini plant. If the flower gets knocked off too early a squash won't produce. It's just a part of nature.



Radish

 I have a few Radish plants that are almost at maturity and ready to harvest. Fresh veggies have so much more flavor than ones in a produce store. Here you just pick, rinse and eat. The joys of Organic Gardening. Whether you like radish or not you should still grow them. They are the fastest and easiest out of all the veggies to grow so it makes you feel super successful right off the bat.







Zucchini Squash


Both the Zucchini and Yellow squashes are doing great. I noticed there were 2 getting more water and they grew much faster. They are strong and the blooming has begun. Stuffed squash blossoms with pasta makes a great meal. Don't forget about having it grilled, fried and of course zucchini bread.
I just started more squash seeds so I will have them til October.

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My nephew started his own veggie garden with me. He is 81/2. The first plant we planted was his favorite...Green Beans. When I say this kid love green beans, I really mean he loves them. I have seen him take a bag of beans out if the freezer, put them in the microwave and eat the entire thing. I told you he loves them. Needless to say we planted allot of beans and we should have them all season long.

White Pumpkins

Doesn't it seam like you pay a small fortune every year by decorating with pumpkins. We decorate with them all the way thru Thanksgiving. This year we decided to try and grow some. They are doing really good so far. We are expecting ALLOT of pumpkins this year at NO cost. The pumpkins will be 10-12 inches in diameter and weigh 10-12 lbs. You can either carve or decorate them or even use them for pies and soups. I am so excited.

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I am so excited that my cucumbers are doing so good. They are in the bottom level of my 7 level stacked planter. They are just about big enough to start growing up the trellis. The thing I am most excited about is making my own pickles. Lets hope I get allot.







If you didn't get a chance to plant your veggie garden by seed, don't worry. Just go down to Home Depot and pick up some small starter plants and way you go. Just think of all the fresh organic veggies you will have. They make great gifts for your neighbors or give a co-worker a jar of homemade organic pickles. Very thoughtful.
I hope this inspires you to grow your own veggie garden. Just think of the money you will save as well as some peace and quiet while tending to it. Enjoy your gardening meditation with a Happy Hour Cocktail with Your Gay Husband.
Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Border Planting

Your Gay Husband Tip of The Day :

When It is Time to Change...It is Time to Change

Border Planting with Rock Garden

Border Planting
Doesn't everyone have at least one area in your yard that is difficult for one reason or another. Well I did. It is at  the bottom of a retaining wall so it is wet and get part sun so I have problems with the grass growing up along the retaining wall itself. It is near the pool so it get lots of use and is also in a high visibility area. After much thought, here is what I did...
COST - $45 for everything
TIME - 2 hours
LEVEL of DIFFICULTY - 2 on scale of 1-5 [based on number of steps]

Before

To start I needed to remove any grass or vegetation 20" from the wall. I will be planting in one portion and creating a rock garden directly next to it for drainage, not to mention aesthetic. Take your time and don't miss anything. You will be happy later when you don't have to weed.

Laying Edging

To create perfect lines as well as creating clear lines of demarcation I use a plastic item that is used to keep bricks in line when laying pavers. It is perfect for this application as well. First lay down the track on the prepared area and using 8 inch plastic spikes secure the edging. Then cut out weed fabric and lay down in section where rock garden will go. All these Items can be purchased at Home Depot.

After

When choosing your planting material make sure to consider the amount of sun, moisture and check to see what kind of maintenance they will require. Don't forget that after planting you will need to mulch. I needed plants that could be in wet or dry conditions, that will stay year after year, that will get denser but not bigger, low maintenance, and part sun. This will save you both time and money in the long run by not having to constantly buy new plants.




This area is now ready for all the pool parties and FUN for summer. Take a look at your yard and see if it is Time To Make A Change. I also stained the fence. I hope you find inspiration and add your personal touches to your own space.
Happy Gardening.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Spring Day Outside

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Go to a Park and Enjoy Nature

You Can Call Me FLOWER

Spring Day Outside
I think one of the healthiest things to do for both physical and mental well being is to spend time in nature. Now that the weather is starting to change it is the perfect time to reconnect with nature. There are several ways to do so such as...a walk in the park, going to the Arboretum, going to a lake, on a hike, flying a kite, renting a bike, going to the Zoo or beach, etc. As you see it doesn't matter where you live...Nature is EVERYWHERE. We had such an amazing time I wanted to share some of our experiences at the Dallas Arboretum. It has one of the Largest displays of spring flowers in the world. It is called Dallas Blooms.

Hydrangea Tree

 I have seen alot of specimen trees but I have never seen on like this. There was a part of the Arboretum that had these everywhere. They are Hydrangea Trees. I only saw them in white..my favorite especially when there were huge pink rhododendron behind them.












Specimen Tulips




Specimen Tulips

There were these gardens where you would see hundreds of Specimen Tulips in every color and size imaginable. I was like a kid in a candy store..just less fattening.



Garden Sculpture





Garden Art

 









You never knew what to expect around each corner. There was original art through out the garden and it was great to watch people of all ages enjoying their beauty. We both found such inspiration.


Tulips



Tulips...



and more Tulips

I am not even kidding when I say Tulips... Tulips... and  more Tulips. They were everywhere in every size and color and everywhere you looked. I have never seen so many tulips and that is saying alot because I used to sell them at the SF Flower Mart.  If you are lucky enough to live where they have an arboretum or Flower conservatory you may just learn a thing or two while enjoying the scenery. They usually have the plants labeled.

We had such a great day. I hope this inspires you to get out there and enjoy the beauty in Nature...sight, sounds and smells delight the senses.
Please leave a comment on about your Spring NATURE experience.
and DON'T FORGET YOUR CAMERA !









Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Veggie Garden part 2-Transplanting Seedlings

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Be Healthier...Grow Organic Veggies

Zucchini Seedling Planted on a Mound

Veggie Garden part 2- Transplanting Seedlings
I can't believe my seedlings are already big enough to transplant, thank goodness I live in the south because the temperature is over 70 degrees on a cool day. Seedlings love this environment. If you live in a cooler place you can still transplant your seedlings by putting them in everyday items such as empty yogurt or soup containers, empty cool whip or even an old shoe box filled half way with soil until it warms up outside. This way you are ready to reap your rewards before anyone else in your neighborhood not to mention the money you will save. Just be creative !

Ready to Transplant

Once the seedlings are big enough [follow seed package for directions] to transplant, I remove one at a time making sure to be gentle...remember they are BABY plants and need to handled that way. Zucchini prefer to be planted on a mound. This help with preventing disease by keeping the stem dry and the roots wet.

Digging the Hole

With the bottom of a screwdriver, I make a hole in the soil deep enough so that less than 1" is above soil. Drop seedling in either with or without the egg carton. It will dissolve and the roots grow right through it. Very "Green".

String Bean String Trellis 

String Beans are one of the fastest growing veggies in your garden. These are a must for the first time gardener. My 8 year old nephew LOVES string beans ...he always has...go figure. You will get such a good feeling when you see how successful you are with them. A good TIP is when you water beans make sure NOT to touch them, this will prevent disease from spreading.

Making the Trellis

I screwed in some screws at the Top and Bottom of my fence and Ran string twine up and down and diagonal. The String Beans will make their way up the string and start producing beans in no time. This can be done with other vine veggies such as Peas and Cucumbers.






Remember these veggies will not only be good for you, but they make GREAT Hostess gifts as well.
I hope this inspires you to start your garden from seed. For directions on "how to" start seeds click here. I will keep you up to date as the season warms up and my garden grows,
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Starting VEGGIE Seeds

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

Share your seeds...you will have Tons

Everything you Need

Starting VEGGIE Seeds

I love fresh VEGGIES the best when you grow them yourself by seed. They always taste sweeter and are more intense in flavor. I just started my seeds a couple of weeks ago. I store my left over seeds in individual zip lock bags in a dry location. I will be planting more seeds later as well as giving some away to friends and family to start their own VEGGIE garden.

Preparing Empty Egg Carton

I love re-purposing things, here I use left over egg cartons. Before I add soil I make sure to cover the large holes on the Tops with paper towel. I only use 1 layer of paper towel. The egg cartons are great because they are bio degradable and can really be planted directly into the ground if you wanted too.

Time Frame and Seed Map

I can't stress it enough to make a Map of your seeds when planting. It can help to right on the egg carton top and bottom for easy reference. I have also noted  the next time I want to start more seeds. I am starting the next round 3 weeks later to ensure long production time. You can do this a few times during the growing season as long as you have enough space.

Planting Seed

Add soil that you have pre moistened to the top of the egg carton. Poke a hole about a 1/2" deep and put in 2-3 seeds and cover. I plant more than I will use for back up if for some strange reason one won't grow. This will also allow you to keep the strongest. If I need 1 I plant 2 and so on. The soil is JIFFY MIX made for Starting Seeds and it only cost $3.97 at Home Depot.

Water Seeds

 At this time you will want to water thoroughly. This sounds easier than it is. Here is the deal. The soil is VERY airy and will blow away extremely easy until wet. I use a spray bottle. It takes a little longer but I am 100% certain everything is wet and not one seed was missed. Put in a warm place. You can also lightly tent them with plastic wrap for added humidity. I have mine on top of a freezer in the garage.

4 Days Later

Here they are just 4 days later. It is NOT too late to get your garden going....so go for it.







Happy Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Stacked Planter for Veggie Garden

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day :

When lacking space to Plant ... Go Up !



6 Level Stacked Planter

Stacked Planter for Veggie Garden

I have been having an inching to plant a veggies garden but I didn't want to spend a lot of Money of give up the Planting space in my Yard. Through the years I have used planters for several things from annuals to trees. If you keep your eyes open you can find them for free. Neighbors are always tossing their old things out or a thrift store or garage sales are great places to look. I will take a pot and referbish it. Needless to say I already had most of these pots. I only had to buy the one on the top and it was only $3.97...Not Bad.

Paint Supplies

I started will a 6' long piece of rebar. I threaded the pots through the rebar [filling each pot with soil as you go] until you reach the top. If the pots don't have a hole make sure to drill at least 3. If it does have holes already but not where you need them if you tip the pot...then drill some. I used Rustoleum Paint from Home Depot. The entire project took less than 2 cans. I used 2 complimenting colors to make them look more fluid. In this case Gray.

Potting Soil

I used Scotts Potting Soil. I recommend putting at least 2-3 inches of 3/4" gravel at the bases to ensure proper drainage. You don't want the bottom pots to be wetter than the other pots. [you can possibly rot the roots] After plants are in the soil you can top with 2 inches of mulch. I use cedar to reduce insects and weeds while holding in moisture.

Tomato Cages

Here I have used 2 Tomato Cages to provide more upward planting. The one on the Top Right will have a Cherry Tomato Plant, while the one on the bottom left will contain Cucumbers. I also have twill up the fence for additional room to grow forthe cucumbers. 
This was a Fun project. I can't wait for Veggies.
COST - $40 I had most of the Pots
TIME - 2-3 Hours
Level of Difficulty - 2.5 on Scale of 1-5





I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Happy Gardening !...and remember you burn calories Gardening !
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband

Happy Plants = Spring Mulch

Your Gay Husband Tip of the Day:

Mulch and Fertilize NOW for a Happy Garden All Season



Spring Mulch

 Spring Mulching
I love being surrounded by beautiful things. The one thing I have learned that it does not happen itself. Take the time to give your plants what they need to thrive and the will give you back 10 fold.
COST - Organic Mulch $3.88 per 2 cu feet bag [I used 10 bags]
TIME - 1 hour
Level of difficulty 2 on a scale of 1-5 due to labor

Cedar Mulch

I use a Cedar Mulch that does not float away with water. It is able to do this because it is shaved rather than chips. Using cedar will also assist in pest invasion. This is critical if you are doing organic gardening.

Wild Iris

This is a great plant that comes back every year. It will get about 24"-30" high and stay in a compact area up to 12"-14" in diameter. Add up to 4" of mulch surrounding the plant. The plant may "look" dead but it is just sleeping.

Colored Calla Lilies

Repeat adding 4" of mulch to all of your plants. I recommend adding 4" of mulch to your entire yard excluding grass areas. Not only will this help feed your plants it will keep down on pests, keep soil moist and reduce weeds BIG time. Once your are done give your garden a heavy watering and pour yourself a tall cold drink...You deserve it.







Take the time on a beautiful day and give back to your plants...and they will give back to you. The other benefit you reap from gardening is a workout. Yep you burn lots of caleries so you can eat more...
Happy Gardening.
Til Later,
Your Gay Husband