Archive for the garden Category

Does Natural Weed Killer Work?

Does Natural Weed Killer Work?


I have been wondering if natural weed killer works.  I really don’t want to use any products with glyphosate.  It has been linked to so many bad things happening in the environment.  So I thought let’s do a test. Try out the natural stuff see if works.
Recently we relandscaped our front yard area that is in our large circle drive.  We live in Southern California in the coastal city of Oceanside.  I would describe our climate as fairly dry and but coastal and moderate.   When we relandscaped our circle drive. We dug out the existing dead grass and a few other plants that were not really looking very good.  Then we laid down weed cloth. Then over the weed cloth, we unloaded several loads of gravel.  The gravel was also donated by a friend of our landlord so that was wonderful. Then once we got the gravel spread out we went back and added plants.  I put out a notice on Nextdoor asking if anyone had any large Foxtail agaves I could have for free and low and behold one of my neighbors had a bunch.  So we picked them up and profusely Thanked my good-hearted neighbor and proceeded with planting the agaves.  We made holes in the weed cloth and dug out enough soil and then inserted the foxtail agaves. It was pretty easy and cleaned up the space from looking rundown to having some curb appeal.

I don’t seem to have a before photo but here is a pic with the weed cloth installed.IMG_8566

Here is a during the process photo.

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Here is a completed photo.

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Well after having hauled and heaved 3 truckloads of gravel on this frontyard and then to see weed springing up let’s just say I was disappointed in my weed cloth.  So upon the discovery of weeds, we decided we need an easy way to spray them and get rid of them. So hence the need to try the natural weed spray as mentioned above. So here are some photos of the invading weeds.

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I purchased a sprayer from Harbor Freight. And I went ahead and just wrote the recipe right on to my sprayer.

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Here is the recipe I used

Although I didn’t have Dawn I used Ajax Grapefruit Dishsoap because that’s what I had under the sink.  And I also used lavender-scented Epsom Salt, again that’s what I had. I bought my 1 gallon bottle of vinegar at Costco.
Here are my results after one day of spraying them.

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The center root has died just some long tendrils were still green.  They did die off after a few more days.

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These were dandelions. They to after one day were shriveled and dead. Now I need to go to work pulling all the dead weeds. So in this instance, I have shown here in Southern California in these conditions the Natural Weed Killer works well.  I will use it again.

Plants plants and more plants

Plants plants and more plants


Awhile back I was at a local yard sale and I picked up a book called Hawai’i A Floral Paradise by Leland Miyano.

You can buy it cialis sale and k:hawaii+a+floral+paradise+book&ajr=3″>here
When I started flipping through the book I knew instantly I had to buy it. It instantly took me back to Hawaii. Which coincidentally when we first saw our house and the tropical plants all over in the back yard reminded me of Hawaii and I was hooked and wanted it too. Hawaii has a warm spot in my soul.

Tuesday, I got a tip that Cedros Gardens in Solana Beach has Leucospermum or Pincushion protea which my book describes as looking like red sea urchins, which is dead on. When I got to CG I was delighted to find the plant below. Well I am going to have to save up to buy it. The good size plant was $149.00.
Leucospermum Species or Pin Cushion Protea
These are native to South Africa and Australia.

And also this Grevellea Banksii

Grevellea Plant I bought yesterday.
Grevellea Banksii, is also called the Kahili Flower

. I have another favorite Kahili flower which is Kahili Ginger. It is rampant in my yards. I came home with Grevillea, which I am told hummingbirds love, so the ones that frequent my yard will be happy. This exotic flower also had a smaller price tag of only $15.00. Well, I will be saving up for my Protea. And I also want a Purple Passion Flower vine like this. But I may opt for the edible variety, I just love Lilikoi juice.

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Succulent Inspiration

Succulent Inspiration






These succulent displays are from the Delmar Fair. Lots of great plant inspiration. The garden display was a complete surprise to me

. While I haven’t started much around my house with succulents I do plan to and they definitely intrigue me. Since I love collecting I am drawn towards collecting succulents.

Aqua Succulents

Aqua Succulents

Succulents-on-Aqua

Teal and Orange

Teal and Orange

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Love this outdoor garden furniture in Orange & Teal.  These are found in the Cedros Design Area in Solana Beach at Chicweed

Summer Fun

Summer Fun


A couple cool garden lanai items. I saw these fabulous cushions and futons at Leaping Lotus in Solana Beach. I just the love the fabrics, viagra sale drugstore they look Indian to me. One of the futons fold out to a bed size the other is a large bench size.

I also saw this cool snap together decking from Ikea. I am intrigued with the concept of snap together decking

. I love the instant satisifaction of it. Not sure how long it will last at Ikea. But what a cool space you could create with the decking some lanterns and the cushions….

The Caged Bird Sings

The Caged Bird Sings




My favorite Garden Blog, viagra sale here had this fabulous Bird Cage Swing. I just love it. This would be so fun have in your front yard

. I can picture it in some fairy tale music video as well.
Design is Ontwerpduo
Project: Garden of Eden
Photographers: Patricia Rehe & Lisa Klappe

Fabulous Garden from It’s Complicated

Fabulous Garden from It's Complicated







I recently went and saw It’s Complicated with Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. There is a particular scene where they are sort of dancing around in conversation in the garden and I was soaking the wonderful space in.

I just love the look of the garden. I could have sworn their were white rose bushes around the outside but I am not seeing them in these images. I found these wonderful images from a posting about the garden on the blog Remodelista

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I also found one more image on the Balitmore Sun web site.

My neighbor Holly is going to get super inspired when she sees these images. She just loves her Garden. I am hoping to expand my garden this year.

My Table – Deerful Delight

My Table - Deerful Delight


This week’s contribution to my Flickr group 64 Colors

. This weeks color is sepia, cialis buy tadalafil thought all the deer on my table were Sepia-ish.

Pods


I can’t remember where I found this picture but I just love it

. How cool are these fabulous pods.

Tendliving | Eco Gardens

Tendliving | Eco Gardens





I recently found an old schoolfriend from Hawaii, sildenafil Britton Neubacher, on facebook and found out that she is up to wonderful things. I love her sense of Modern Design and the fun she is having with interiorscaping. She has done some wonderful living walls, wall bubbles and hanging spheres. All of her projects are eco friendly and just delightful.

She has a wonderful site called Tendliving

. Check it out when you get a chance. Lots of great plant eye candy.