Gardening - Articles about growing from seed

Saving Seeds

With proper storage, gardeners can save seeds for next year

Reading Seed Packets

Reading fine print on seed packages is good gardening advice

Damping Off

Damping off is the single term used to describe underground, soil line, or crown rots of seedlings due to unknown causes.

Wales Book of the Year

The 2006 Wales Book of the Year Shortlist is: (English) To Babel and Back by Robert Minhinnick; ,Body Beautiful by Ifor Evans, Ice Trap by Kitty Sewell; and (Welsh) Gwynfor Rhag Pob Brad by Rhys Evans, Llen Yr Uchelwyr by Dafydd Johnston, Rara Avis by Manon Rhys.

Details at: Wales Book the Year

Cajun Recipe

The Mrs. Dash brand has teamed with Jimmy Bannos, chef/owner of Heaven on Seven restaurants, to suggest a combination of unique seasoning blends and fresh ingredients to create Cajun-inspired grilling specialties. Jimmy Bannos has written "The Heaven on Seven Cookbook: Where It's Mardi Gras All The Time!" and "Big Easy Cocktails, Jazzy Drinks and Savory Bites from New Orleans" inspired by the Creole and Cajun cuisines from New Orleans. His new Bayou Shrimp and Veggies with Creole Mustard Sauce is an interesting example


Cajun-inspired Grilling Specialties

Guacamole Recipe

This classic, creamy recipe for Guacamole (Avocado dip) comes from Hass Avocado from Mexico and makes 4 servings:

Guacamole

Avocado Recipe

To celebrate the spring season, the California Avocado Commission has developed a recipe that combines these two refreshing ingredients, Eggs in California Avocado Cups with Asparagus and Lemon, creating a complex layering of tastes that will leave your guests craving more.


Avocado and Asparagus Recipe

Victorian Health and Medicine

Some new articles (of different lengths) including some fascinating details about Vitorian Health and Medicine:

Abdomen

Aberration of Mind

Ablution

Abrasion

Abscess

Abstinence

Accidents

Acidity of the Stomach

Adder Bite

Aether (Ether)

Age

Ague

Air

Stress

Stress is associated with a number of physical conditions including back-pain, susceptibility to viruses, chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disease.

More at Stress in the 21st Century

St Vincent and the Grenadines

St Vincent and the Grenadines is a group of about 30 islands in the Caribbean. They were used as a location for Pirates of the Caribbean. St Vincent is the main island. A mere 8% of the population live on the exquisite, and highly varied, Grenadines

Edwardian Gardens

Two gardens with different fates. The first has gone. The second is a major film location.



The lost garden at Campsea Ashe

The garden featured long stretches of water, avenues of elms, limes and horse chestnuts, cedar trees, an elliptical bowling green and the Great Hedge. This yew hedge was over 600 metres long, 3 metres thick and 2-8 metres high.



Haddon Hall, Derbyshire

By the early 1900s the gardens were hoplessly overgrown and a massive clearance was required. Yew trees and herbaceous borders were planted and the ivy stripped from the balustrades to be replaced by climbing roses.

Victorian mourning

Something light for the weekend:

MOURNING, ETIQUETTE OF. The various degrees of relationship which the living bear to the dead, regulate the depth of the mourning worn, and the length of time that it is to be retained. Mourning for a husband in the widow's cap and crape is usually extended over twelve months, and after that period the wearer may either adopt a half mourning, or put by mourning altogether, without appearing singular or wanting in feeling. In cases of this kind, the wearing of mourning beyond the prescribed interval depends, as a matter of course, greatly upon sentiment, the degree of affection which subsisted between the parties, the length of time which the marriage existed, &c.

More at The Victorian Etiquette of Mourning

Indian Ocean

Two fantastic but very different islands in the Indian Ocean:

Madagascar: Great Leaping Lemurs!

Mauritius

Gardening - Victorian Pear Tree Cultivation

Victorian Pear Tree Cultivation

The pear requires a good, naturally rich, loamy soil, not however enriched by artificial means, as that would only have the effect of producing a luxuriance of growth that would require much skill and labour to overcome.

Barcelona

Second city of Spain and major Mediterranean port, bustling Barcelona incorporates a delightful historic mix of Roman remains, medieval quarters and 20th century avant-garde art.

More at: Barcelona Spain - That Sensational Second City of Spain

Gardening - articles

Introduction to the Victorian Flower Garden

'The elder brethren of our profession, who can look back, for instance, to the introduction of the Dahlia, give us but a poor idea of flower-gardening as it was practised in the first decades of the century.

Gardening for Stress

In its purest form, gardening is about connecting with the earth and resetting our clocks to the simple, natural rhythms of life.

Safe Gardening

Bad backs and accidents can spoil the pleasure of gardening. Taking an ergonomic approach to gardening can help ensure that it is a safe and enjoyable hobby.

Gertrude Jekyll and Gardening

Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) aimed for 'beautiful effect' and had a lasting effect on gardening.

Top Ten Destinations

Three articles with lists of the top travel destinations:

* Top Ten Lesser-Known Beaches

* Top Ten (International) Travel Destinations

* Top Ten Travel Destinations USA

Victorian Alexandria

An antiquarian description of this Egyptian port from the 19th Century:

Victorian Alexandria

Gardening - Japanese Red Maple

How to Grow Japanese Red Maple Trees from Seed

Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown.

Vancouver

Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the world's premiere destinations. See these three articles about the city:

* A Guide to the Best Vancouver Vacation Attractions

* Vancouver, Hidden Jewel Of The Pacific Northwest

* Beautiful Vancouver, City of the Sea & Mountains

Gardening - Books

A selection of the best gardening books is available at:

Best Gardening Books

Japan travel articles

The Story Behind Japan's Notorious Ninja

The Story Behind Japan's Famous "Bullet Trains"

The Influence of 'Characters' On Japan’s Culture