search engine ranking

The Garden Principle

I've had several gardens over the years, but each time they're overrun by weeds, and we end up eating whatever can survive. It usually starts after the first heavy rains after planting where the ground stays wet for several days. The next time I step out there, the weeds have taken over and I can't tell the difference between them and the seedlings. So I just have to let them grow alongside each other and from there it's completely out of control.

As a side note, last year I sent a Utah friend a picture of the lush vegetation on our property. She asked, "How do you water all that?" I could hardly contain my laughter! How do we water it all? Northwest Georgia is in the middle of a rain forest. Weeds and trees grow up spontaneously here; nature takes care of our watering.

Anyway... back to my garden story. This year, I decided it would be different. Along with setting several other goals and keeping them on a slip of paper in my back pocket, I set this goal: "I choose to find it easy and fun to grow a tidy garden full of delicious tomatoes, beans, squash, cucumbers and fresh herbs."

I began by training myself to be consistent. Instead of having my husband till the garden with a tractor, I dug it myself with a shovel. It's about 40 ft by 12 ft, and I did it all by hand. No, I didn't kill myself doing it either. For a couple weeks, I went out there and dug 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there. Digging in the dirt gave me an escape from my work for a few minutes. I could look out over our property and count my blessings - truly realizing just how "rich" we are. It brightened my mind and shifted my thinking to grateful abundance. Soon, I used my garden time as a way to deal with stress, solve problems, or get some quiet time for prayer and contemplation.

In time, I'd dug the garden. Planting came next. My three younger children wanted to be involved in that. We did the majority of it in an evening, and it was quite enjoyable. Gradually, I dug a little more garden space and set out a few more plants. Because I'd developed the habit of digging in my garden, it's been easy to continue it and keep the weeds out. So here we are several weeks into the growing season and my garden is still neat and tidy.

Here are a few insights I'm learning from this garden experience.

• First, small moves made consistently over time bring great results.
• Second, having a picture of the end result in your mind ( in this case: a clean tidy garden full of delicious vegetables) makes it easy to work with purpose.
• Third, my garden is symbolic of all the other goals I set at the same time. When I read them throughout the day, I remember that even though there may appear to be no "fruit" or even progress toward their outcome, they are forming and growing... just like my garden. If I give them just a little time and attention each day as I've done the garden, they'll materialize as well.

---

Feature Articles

Content Syndicated by www.IdeaMarketers.com

Know Your Birth Month Flowers
Birth month flowers are those flowers that over the centuries have come to represent certain months. The next time you want to send flowers, remember what month it is then consider selecting a flower that truly expresses your feelings.

Exotic flowers in the Philippines
The Philippine Islands is blessed with a wide range of beautiful flowers. Moreover, the country's list of flora includes rare species of flowers that can only be seen in tropical countries. This article discusses some of the rarest flowers in the wor

Elegant Osiana Roses
Memorizing the right special date for every important person in your life could be fussing for some of us. But thinking for the perfect gift for them is even harder. However, the apricot roses will do the trick. This article suggests of the best apri

Flower Giving in the Philippines
Nowadays, giving a bunch of flowers to a girl is no more a common practice. Moreover, giving some blossoms to a girl is rarely done since many of us find it kind of impractical. However, handing flowers to that special someone should be a habit not o

Island Rose wins an Agora Award
Island Rose wins an Agora Award for outstanding achievement in entrepreneurship from the Philippine Marketing Association. The awarding ceremony was held at the Hotel intercontinental in Manila Philippines.

Pink Roses in the Victorian Era
Flowers play an important role in the Victorian Era. With pink rose as one of the most popular flowers in that period, Victorian men and women express their feelings through this flower. This article takes us back in time and shows how flowers, parti

How the Flower Industry Works
Receiving a bouquet of fresh flowers is always a delight. But have you ever wondered how these flowers arrive at your doorstep? This article explains how the industry of flowers works and continues to bloom its way to success.

Stop! Don't Call the Florist This Thanksgiving! How to Make Your Own Holiday Centerpiece on a Budget
In this do-it-yourself era, why not learn how to arrange flowers like a pro and create your own holiday centerpieces and other festive floral arrangements? Learn something new, fun and rewarding AND save money at the same time!

Restaurant Flower Design
Serving your diners with your restaurant's scrumptious meal may be an accomplishment, but giving them a more enjoyable dining experience is another fulfillment. Adding some fresh blossoms on the dining table not only make your restaurant look chic bu

Tips for Making Your Fresh Cut Flowers Last Longer
Use these tips to keep your cut flowers looking fresh and full as long as possible.

Flower Exporters from Around the World
The largest gathering of flower exporters from around the globe is annually held at Aalsmeer flower auction. The occasion gives opportunity to wholesalers to directly buy from flower-growing countries. This article discusses the advantages of having

How to Make Your Own Flower Arrangement
Even if you're not an expert flower arranger, you can still put together a nice flower piece for your home or for your office table. For starters, how to mix colors and what kinds of flowers should be considered. This article cites some pointers on h

Sending Farm Fresh Flowers
When sending flowers to your special someone, there is no excuse but to only send the freshest bunch. The freshest and premium roses may cost more than the usual flower shop but they are definitely worth every cent you spent. This article explains wh

Thinking of You
This article contains information about sending flowers by post to your close friends and on intimate romantic occasions such as Birthday's and other special like New Year.

Talking Flowers
This article discusses the convenience of sending flowers by post to newly friends and wishes to be cherished and embraced and conveys the beautiful message and thoughtful gesture.

Ross Flowers counsels the inner athlete

Ross Flowers says the transition from high school to college will test a student-athlete like few high-stakes games ever could.

"In high school these players were the proverbial big fish in the little pond," said Flowers, a psychologist at UC Davis in Counseling and Psychological Services and for the Intercollegiate Athletics Department. "Suddenly, in college, they are the little fish in the big pond, and they are competing in a more concentrated talent pool of student-athletes."

Flowers, who counsels on average 15 student-athletes a week at UC Davis, says the college transition is the most frequent problem he encounters with student-athletes. Along the way athletes can lose their confidence or find solace in any of the numerous distractions in a college environment.

"When confronting a challenge like this," he said, "it is important to learn how to relax, focus, motivate oneself, manage your time and find positive, supportive relationships."

The balancing act for UC Davis student-athletes is all the more important these days with the university in the midst of its move to Division I that will become official in 2007-08.

"It's not that different, but our programs seek to be competitive at this new level," he said.

Overcoming his own hurdles

Flowers should know about the inner mind of the athlete. In high school, he won the 110-meter hurdles in Washington state in 1988 and 1989 and then became an All-American and Pac-10 champion at UCLA. Perhaps the greatest hurdle he cleared was recovering from stress fractures in his shins while a freshman at UCLA -- he has a titanium rod in his leg that stretches from his knee to his ankle.

"I felt like I was losing my identity as an athlete," added Flowers.

He had surgery during his sophomore year, and the ordeal gave him time for introspection about life beyond athletics. "I became more aware of my family life, spiritual life and values outside athletics. I integrated this back into my sport and became a better athlete and a more well-rounded person," he said.

Flowers went on to become the captain of the UCLA men's track and field team his senior year. Following graduation from UCLA, he competed nationally and internationally in the 110-meter high hurdles. And he earned his doctorate in psychology at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

While at that university he coached the men's and women's track teams, which had never won a title before. But under Flowers they won six conference championships.

A firm believer in the powers of relaxation, Flowers often suggests deep breathing exercises as a way "to center oneself in the moment and clear away the distractions." He noted, "You focus only on what you can do and dedicate yourself to the present moment."

Flowers talks to student-athletes in both big and small groups as well as individual sessions in his North Hall Office. He works with coaches on particular issues facing teams and may speak to an entire squad about motivational issues.

"Ross has certainly made a positive impact to our program," said MaryClaire Robinson, women's soccer coach. "He brings a different aspect to the competition. We spend a lot of time preparing on the technical side, the team's shape and on tactics. Ross completes the picture in terms of the mental aspects of the game. While not tangible, these certainly make an impact on our student-athletes and the program's success."

Fear is a prevalent issue, whether it's about coping with failure or injury rehabilitation. "We talk about those fears and address them," said Flowers. "We discuss what is inside one's control, for example, how you can manage the pain of an injury."

Visualization is one tool he often uses with athletes. "We talk about envisioning each step of progress toward the desired goal. You close your eyes and paint a picture in your mind."

He said an athlete may use visualization techniques three to five times a day in the build-up toward the game or event. "That way you've done it 50 times in a week before you actually compete," said Flowers. He is also a believer in positive psychology, which, to oversimplify it, puts an emphasis on the strengths and virtues that constitute character. "We build the individual up based on their many talents and traits."

In counseling, Flowers notices a gender gap -- more female student-athletes make appointments than males. "Women tend to feel more comfortable talking individually about the issues they are dealing with," said Flowers, who often speaks to males in large group settings.

For Flowers, the parallels between sports and mainstream society are clear. "A lot of what happens in sports -- from the challenges to the adjustments and coping with success and failure -- happen in life. And so we teach our students to apply this knowledge and wisdom to their careers and lives beyond college."

'A rough situation'

Flowers arrived at UC Davis in 2001. A newly minted doctor of psychology, he served as an intern in the Counseling and Psychological Services unit where he started developing the sports psychology service. It grew into a full-time job and a consulting role to Intercollegiate Athletics.

Growing up in a Seattle neighborhood -- "a rough situation, what they call the 'hood,'" Flowers noted -- he fell in love with soccer and basketball. Then he started running track and setting records while earning a 3.5 grade-point-average, all of which prompted UCLA to offer him a full scholarship. Along the journey of his life, he has learned many lessons.

"It's important to understand the demands of balancing academics, athletics and a social life in a demanding environment," Flowers said.

Along his personal journey, one of Flowers' greatest sources of inspiration is the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. "You see confidence in him, whether inside or outside the ring. Look at how poised he was and how he carried himself. He did not let outside distractions affect him."

More Information on the Art of Drying Flowers

With summer in full bloom, so to speak, all of those lovely, colorful and endless varieties of blossoms are available for one of several drying methods. If you start soon, you could harvest a nice selection of flowers and foliage that will last throughout the summer and into the fall and winter seasons.

Overall, there are numerous ways to dry flowers. All are relatively easy so you can experiment to find the method(s) that gives you the best results. Some flowers dry better using one method versus the other so I've added several links to sites that explain the methods and that will also give you additional useful information.

I also suggest you check out my article, Storing Your Dried Flowers .

METHODS OF DRYING

SILICA GEL- This is by far the most expensive of the drying methods but the good news is, the gel crystals can be used over and over again. If you plan on doing numerous drying projects, the cost will equal out. But if you just plan on a one-time shot, I would suggest the next method.

BORAX & CORNMEAL MIXTURE- I use this method the most. It's easy and inexpensive. Purchase a box of 20 Mule Team borax and a bag of cornmeal. Mix 2 parts borax to one part cornmeal and place a layer in a container (I usually use a shoe box or a plastic deli pastry/pie container), and place the flowers to be dried on the mixture then cover with another layer of borax/cornmeal. Process can take from two to three weeks.

AIR DRYING- Another simple and inexpensive method. Depending on the type of flowers to be dried, you tie the flowers in a bundle and hang them upside down in a dry, dark room. A closet or utility room works just fine. Leave the flowers to dry for several weeks.

MICROWAVE DRYING-For a quick, easy and fast method, please visit this link Clemson University for "how to's" and suggestions for flowers that do well using this process. They also have information about the other methods as well.

Next, this link Drying Roses will tell you how to dry roses using either the drying method or silica gel. Garden Guides has a variety of tips for drying methods along with a list of herbs that dry well and flowers that can be pressed.

Go To Page: 1 2

The copyright of the article More Information on the Art of Drying Flowers in Dried Flower Crafts is owned by . Permission to republish More Information on the Art of Drying Flowers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Flower consumption

Some general rules to follow before consuming flowers:

• You must make a 100% positive identification. If you are unsure if you have picked the correct variety of flower for the recipe, do NOT eat it. Some flowers are toxic and some flowers only become edible after appropriate preparations. There are many sources available to help you identify and properly prepare flowers for consumption, make sure that the information is up-to-date and reliable.

• As you would with other foods, if you have food or pollen allergies, check with your doctor before consuming flowers to avoid allergic reactions.

• Always use flowers that have NOT been sprayed with pesticides. To accomplish this, you can either grow your own flowers or if you are purchasing flowers from a commercial grower, ask if pesticides were used in treating the flowers. Make sure the grower knows that you plan to consume the flowers.

• Do not use damaged or excessively dirty flowers. Check flowers for an overabundance of insects as this may be a sign of unsuitable flowers to consume. Wash flowers thoroughly (but gently) in cool water and dry them on paper towels.

• Always remember to remove the reproductive organs (pollen area) of the flowers if possible.

• Just because flowers are edible does not mean you should eat them at every meal. Marigolds and Daylilies for example, should be sensibly consumed.

• Do not serve edible flowers along with inedible flowers. Some guests may not know the difference and inadvertently eat an inedible flower.

Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers

Lurie (The Volcani Center)

Description

An increased understanding of the developmental physiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology during early growth, maturation, ripening, and postharvest conditions has improved technologies to maintain the shelf life and quality of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Postharvest Biology and Technology of Fruits, Vegetables, and Flowers provides a comprehensive introduction to this subject, offering a firm grounding in the basic science and branching out into the technology and practical applications. An authoritative resource on the science and technology of the postharvest sector, this book surveys the body of knowledge with an emphasis on the recent advances in the field.

TopTable of Contents

Table of Contents

1. Post harvest Biology and Technology: An International Perspective

By: Gopinadhan Paliyath, Dennis Murr, Avtar Handa, Susan Lurie

2. Common Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers and their Quality Characteristics

By: Gopinadhan Paliyath, Dennis Murr

3. Biochemistry of Fruits

By: Gopinadhan Paliyath, Dennis Murr

4. Biochemistry of Flower Senescence

By: Ajay Arora

5. Programmed Cell Death During Flower Senescence

By: Ajay Arora

6. Ethylene Perception and Gene Expression

By: Willis Owino, Hiroshi Ezura

7. Enhancing Post Harvest Shelf Life and Quality in Horticultural Commodities using 1-MCP Technology

By: Susan Lurie, Gopinadhan Paliyath

8. Structural Deterioration in Produce: The Breakdown of Cell Wall

By: Pradeep Negi, Avtar Handa

9. Structural Deterioration in Produce: Phospholipase D, Membrane and Senescence

By: Gopinadhan Paliyath, Krishnaraj Tiwari, Haiying Yuan, Bruce Whitaker

10. Phospholipase D Inhibition Technology for Enhancing Shelf Life and Quality

By: Gopinadhan Paliyath, Jayasankar Subramanian

11. Heat Treatment for Enhancing Post Harvest Quality

By: Susan Lurie

12. The Role of Polyphenols in Quality, Postharvest Handling, and Processing of Fruits

By: Vasantha Rupasinghe

13. Isoprenoid Biosynthesis in Fruits and Vegetables

By: Andrew Schofield, Vasantha Rupasinghe, Gopinadhan Paliyath

14. Postharvest Treatments Affecting Sensory Quality of Fresh and Fresh Cut Products

By: Elazar Fallik

15. Polyamines and Regulation of Ripening and Senescence

By: Savithri Nambeesan, Autar Mattoo, Avtar Handa

16. Post-Harvest Enhancement of Phenolic Phytochemical in Apples for Preservation and Health Benefits

By: Kalidas Shetty, Ishan Adyanthaya, Young-In Kwon, Emmanouil Apostolidis, Byungjin Min, Paul Dawson

17. Rhizosphere Microorganisms and their Effect on Fruit Quality

By: Victor Olalde, Hortencia Mena-Violante

18. Biotechnological Approaches to Improving Tropical Fruit Quality

By: Miguel Gomez

19. Post Harvest Storage and Quality of Potatoes

By: Jayanty Sastry

20. Biosensor-based Technologies for the Evaluation of Quality

By: Barry Byrne, Neil Carolan, Richard O'Kennedy

21. Changes in Nutritional Quality of Fruits and Vegetables during Storage

Care

Making your flowers last longer		Each cut flower variety has a different life expectancy. When buying flowers, be sure to ask your florist how long you should expect your arrangement to last. Whatever variety you choose, a little TLC will go a long way to keep your blooms looking fresh longer. Here are a few handy tips that can help add days to their beauty!
Floral food and why you should use it		Floral food is a combination of additives that help to nourish the flowers and discourage bacteria from growing in the water. It is one of the best -- and easiest -- ways to extend the life of your flowers. It is very important to follow the directions on the package correctly. Improperly mixed floral food can do more harm than good.
When your flowers arrive in wet foam		Keep the floral foam soaked in water. The floral food added at the time of design by your florist will stay active.
When your flowers have woody stems and branches (such as Quince, Forsythia, or Lilac)		Cut the stem with sharp pruning shears. Place in warm water containing fresh floral food to promote flower opening.
WARNING..regarding cats and lilies		According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, certain types of lilies can cause renal failure in cats that have ingested any part of the lily. We strongly suggest keeping lilies out of the reach of cats. For more information, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at www.aspca.org/apcc or call 888-426-4435. It is important to note that lilies do not pose a problem for other pets or humans.