"Flower Gifts" Be nice to yourself and indulge in one of nature's awesome creations - give yourself flower gifts from time to time! It's true we don't actually NEED flowers in our daily schedules but since when did us humans stick to what we need!Giving flower gifts is always a thoughtful, if not provocative, experience and is a gift that is definitely not about money. A large bouquet from the local florist will no doubt be beautiful and well worth the cash it costs. And equally, the small bouquet of wildflowers lovingly collected by an adored one will bring joy into your life.  Alongside the obvious pleasing attraction of flower gifts, there is an added bonus. Many blooms have traditional meanings attached to them. Roses for example are a sign of love, although roses are divided into colour meanings as well. Red = true everlasting love, yellow = friendship and pink = happiness.There are similar meanings to carnations as well. Red carnations are a symbol of admiration whereas white are a symbol of innocence, or pure love. Sprays of dried flowers and grasses can make beautiful displays in your home over holiday seasons, or maybe everyday? Flowers can be pressed into scrapbooks and journals. Why not create a journal of year round specimens - another flower gift idea. They are also pressed for their scent and many perfumes are flower-based. Oils are extracted for natural remedies and cosmetic applications. To create 'oil-based' flower gifts, you'll need to read some specialist material first. A little research can go a long way especially as ideas for other flower gifts may come to you. It doesn't matter what month it is or what the weather's playing at. You can still plan your flower garden. The choice of flowers, plants and herbs available is so vast, you may as well start planning straight away! Your flower garden can include all kinds of practical plants as well as looking gorgeous...  Herbs attract the nice guys in the bug world who in turn help rid your garden of pests! Thyme flowers are so delicate and beautiful they really shouldn't be allowed! See what I mean at this page: Growing Thyme Edible flowers include marigolds, nasturtiums and even some roses. NB: double check on edibility before you pop a plant in your mouth! Decide on themes, colours, scents and set about choosing your favourite blooms. A beautiful flower display takes a lot of careful planning - or alternatively you could buy a wildflower mix and scatter the seed randomly. Nature is often it's own favourite artist! If you're still not convinced, browse through a few gardening catalogues. Wake up and smell the flowers - you won't remember how you lived without them! For more green gift ideas go to this page...Green Gifts Happy Gardening! Grow Your Own Winter Food: A good diet incorporating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables is a must if you want to stay fit and healthy and keep the bugs at bay during the cold winter months. Growing your own winter food is just one way of ensuring you get the freshest, tastiest produce packed with goodness straight from the garden to the kitchen table. This easy-to-follow self-sufficiency book shows you how to grow your own fruit and vegetables for winter use and includes facts on each fruit, vegetable or herb as well as nutritional value, recipe ideas and storage suggestions.  Grow Your Own Winter Food is perfect for those with limited gardening experience, with gardens big or small who are looking to become more self-sufficient. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Winter Food Grow It, Cook It!: Many crops, including herbs, can be produced in a relatively small space with a little pre-planning and organizing: in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Herbs are perfect for enhancing the flavour of cooking, treating minor ailments, and preventing colds and flu. Your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping. Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. .  This book provides all the information you need to keep your family and friends healthy, fit and enjoying life to the full. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow It, Cook It! Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!  • Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake. • Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet. Grow Your Own Pharmacy Herbs and Spices: Some herbs grow vigorously, some are tender and need special growing conditions, some are annuals, some perennials, some you can grow indoors, all can be grown in pots or directly into the ground. There are also certain spices, such as chillies, that can be grown in temperate climates.  This clear and concise directory of herbs and spices provides all the essential information to help you grow a selection of these flavour-enhancing foods in small or large spaces. Ideas for which herbs and spices go best with which foods also accompany each description, so that you can really enliven your repertoire of recipes. Order it now direct from the publisher...("this book may help you decide on a few 'herbal' flower gifts this year") Herbs and Spices Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.  Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too. Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you! Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense Back To Home and Garden Back to Flower and Garden Tips Homepage Click here to subscribe to "Creative Gardening" - your FREE monthly ezine! http://www.flower-and-garden-tips.com/flowergifts.html |
'Abutilon Bella'
'Aconitum Carmichaelii'
'Daisy'
'Zinnia'
