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Three Aralias for your indoor gardens
If one of your gardening friends mentions a houseplant called "aralia," ask "which one?" There are at least three indoor tropicals called aralia. They are said to adapt to most light levels, except for strong sunlight.
California
El Segundo
Yes, Joyce, there is a Money Tree (Pachira)
Ugh, tax time! Are you wishing that you had a magic money tree? A minor point but one that some readers may find importantMoney Tree art at left by the incomparable "Inky" Used here with permission, Thank you! Inky Art not to be used elsewhere without...
California
El Segundo
Garden Crafts: How-to Instructions For A Macrame\' Hanging Planter
Many gardeners love the look of the macrame hanging planters, but few want to spend hard-earned plant money on something that isn't living. If your cords are bigger than your bead, or, if you're like me and forgot to get beads the proper size, you can...
California
El Segundo
Bad luck with houseplants? Try lucky bamboo
Pour out and fully refresh the water frequently, and immediately do so if you notice any unpleasant rotten odor. Is your Spider plant perpetually spindly? Four is not a good number as the Chinese word for four is similar to the word for death.) For what...
California
El Segundo
A Grapevine Christmas Tree
I wound them in and out among the grapevines and pushed some up into the center of the cone and wired them in place as needed.Decorations included a dozen or so ready-made red velvet bows.
California
El Segundo
Warm and Cozy Buckwheat Seeds?
Most of my winter was spent trying to stay warm, until one day an unexpected gift arrived in the mail. I wondered about its name until I found that it comes from its triangular seeds, which resemble the much larger seeds of the beech nut from the beech...
California
El Segundo
My favorite, versatile, new gardening tool is my \
He felt sure that my next phone upgrade should be to a "smart phone," a tool that could give me some of the functions of our computer and more. Cell phone cameras are getting better all the time.
California
El Segundo
Hummers at your window - a great gift idea!
One day when the bottle feeder needed refilling, I cleaned it but didn't put it back out. All the feeders were used, but, selfishly, I wanted them at the window feeder. My reading suggested placing multiple feeders out of sight of one another.
California
El Segundo
Party Favors From the Heart: African Violets and Handmade Containers
Any stress I had about the wedding disappeared into finishing this relaxing task.I decided to raku many of the pots. It truly didn't matter what shape the plants were in, I was just looking for maximum number of leaves.
California
El Segundo
Gardening Gifts A to Z
Small citrus are generally hardy in frost-free regions, and are well suited to life as a large potted plant.lists Meiwa kumquat as an "unusual citrus that thrives indoors." Read about kumquats in thisfor vendor information if your local nursery doesn't...
California
El Segundo
Diana\'s Anise Biscotti
Fennel or anise provides the distinctive flavor in Italian sausages and in other savory dishes, such as pork or tomato sauces. Once rooted, it should not be relocated. Our family's favorite recipe for Sicilian anise toast cookies, Biscotti all'Anice,...
California
El Segundo
What the Gardener Gets for Christmas
Admittedly, in winter months a picture of a bloom can lift the flower gardener's spirits, but of course said photo will never take the place of an actual blossom. Nowhere is the misunderstanding more prevalent than in the gift exchange.
California
El Segundo
Plant Profiles For New Gardeners: Sempervirens tectorum, Hens and Chicks
It was thought to protect inhabitants from thunder and lightning strikes, so was a common sight planted on thatch and sod roofs. This plant is an excellent choice for all. They may wither a bit, but if given a drink, they'll bounce right back with no...
California
El Segundo
Gifts from and for Gardeners: How to Make a Discharge Printed Vest
Spray with the nozzle set to a mist, as opposed to a hard spray. This process can take between three and ten minutes. Don't be alarmed if an orange color comes out in the water. We will be Discharge Printing a denim vest with botanical material.
California
El Segundo
Handmade decorative paper with added flowers, seeds, leaves
If you enjoy making paper, you may want your deckles to last longer. As fall rolls around and we begin to put our gardens to bed for winter, we also begin to think of holiday cards and gifts.
California
El Segundo
Plant Profiles for New Gardeners: Zinnias
Zinnia seeds are cheap and they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors.They are one of the easiest plants to start from seeds and they grow so fast that it is somewhat pointless to pay for pricier bedding plants when there is such a short...
California
El Segundo
Clay Critters for Plant Pots: A great kid craft for inside days
With a toothpick, press a shallow line down the center of her back, between her wings.Ladybugs need spots, of course! Roll small balls of black clay and press them gently onto her back.
California
El Segundo
Just add water, Paperwhites bring a hint of spring
Paperwhite bulbs can be so eager to grow that you'll see green leaf tips, and that's OK.Now choose a water-holding container (a vase, a glass bowl, even a large drinking glass) and filler (rocks, marbles or other non absorbent material to support the...
California
El Segundo
Plant Profiles for New Gardeners: Daylilies
If your cross is successful, a pod will start to grow when the flower falls off. Let them dry inside for about a week and store them in the refrigerator.Seeds germinate best when they've had about 3 weeks of the cool treatment in the fridge, but you can...
California
El Segundo
How Strong Is Birch Wood?
Yellow birch and sweet birch usually are harder, heavier and stronger than the other species, according to Purdue University.Birch is a straight-grained wood with fine, even texture.
California
Santa Monica
How to Measure Board Feet in a Log for Timber Logging
A scaling stick is like a yardstick, but it has printing that shows the number of board feet in logs at different diameter and length combinations. Lumber mills pay according to the number of board feet, or board footage, in the logs.
California
Santa Monica
Weeping Cherry Tree Problems
The fruits, though inedible for humans, attract many birds. Weeping cherry trees can bring beauty and grace to any landscaped environment. Loss of leaves can be severe if diseases become serious, which can further stress the tree.Dry conditions can stress...
California
Santa Monica
Is Spruce a Hard or Soft Wood?
Deciduous angiosperms like oak are hardwoods, while gymnosperms like spruce are softwoods.Softwoods like spruce have a simpler structure than hardwoods and the structure varies less between different species.
California
Santa Monica
How to Make Pine-Sap Salve
Place the soft sap into a saucepan you don't mind ruining. This remedy also removes splinters. Beeswax and 3 oz. Add the sap pieces to the saucepan.Add 1 oz. Place the beeswax and olive oil into the saucepan with the pine sap.
California
Santa Monica
How to Extract Oil From Cedar
Fill the jar full with cedar leaves, berries and bark. Screw the lid on and store in a cool dark place for a week.Pour the oil or vodka and cedar through a strainer into a bowl. The equipment for CO2 distillation is expensive and it is difficult to purchase...
California
Santa Monica
What Are the Characteristics of Mahogany Wood?
Mahogany grows mainly in parts of Central and South America, West Africa and the West Indies.Mahogany is typically red, pink, or salmon-colored when first cut. Mahogany is a much sought-after wood, based on its hardness, resilience and beauty.
California
Santa Monica
African Hardwood Tree Types
It is indigenous to Madagascar and southern Africa. The African continent is an immense area, densely wooded in many regions, with wide variations in climate. It is also very dense, durable, and resistant to moisture.Also known as Gambeya, Longhi is a...
California
Santa Monica