HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-05-09, Page 15Soothing
The stunning colours and heady fragrances give plant8 and
flowers the power to seduce.
By Nathalie Houde, Botanix ful, aesthetically pleasing and some-
Landscape Architect times strange, flowers and plants
So alive, stunning, varied, colour- have the power to seduce and hypno7
CONSTRUCTION LTD.
R.R. 2 Bluevale
• LICENSED SEPTIC INSTALLATIONS
• SCREENED & FIELD TOPSOIL
• BARK MULCH • SAND • GRAVEL • FILL
• BACKHOEING • BULLDOZING • EXCAVATING
• LOADING & HAULING
Give us a call 887-9061 Fax 887-9999
Dig gardening? Try it with the kids • • • • •
Plant the
garden of„,.
your dreams...
WE HAVE MOVED BUT CHECK OUT
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Seed Potatoes Onion Sets
Bedding Plants Peat Moss
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185 Josephine Street
WINGHAM
357-3333
We have everything
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• rakes
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MANNING'S BUILDING SUPPLIES
1.!0 Hamilton St. E ,
(519) 523-9305
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001.
Home & Garden 2001
Scented gardens evoke and create vivid memories
Want to introduce your child to
prdening? Try starting with these
hid-friendly gardening tips.
( :cuing Ready..-
Plant the Seed, Check out the
children's section of your local
library or neighbourhood bookstore
for how-to books on gardening.
Want to take it a step further? Try
calling your local parks office for
information on gardening programs
-for kids.
* Garden Gadgets. Half pints go
crazy over kid-sized equipment. So
find tools that look like the 'real
thing' (remember, kids can always
tell the difference!). A bit short on
cash? Plastic spoons and shovels
always work well in garden boxes.
* Even Steven. To avoid arguments,
divide materials - such as seeds and
tools - as evenly as possible when
working with a group of children.
* Are We Done Yet? As young chil-
dren have short attention spans -
instant gratification is a must!
Plant radishes (never mind, if you
don't like them). In a mere three to
four days, kids will see the fruits of
- their labour. Still looking for a sure-
fire kid pleaser? Digging holes
always holds endless appeal!
Getting Dirty.
* Dream On...Tweak your child's
imagination by developing a 'secret
place' in your garden. Spaces
between the stalks of easy-to-grow
sunflowers or beanpoles (so kids
can crawl inside) are ideal!
* The Wow Factor. Kids like
extremes. Try planting huge plants
like sunflowers, or tiny _vegetable
plants like cherry tomatoes.
* Fun & Fancy. Want to get adven-
turous? Try these theme gardens -
your child will love developing or
adding to your ideas.
* A-B-C... An alphabet garden is
an enjoyable (and educational) way
to learn the art of gardening. From
azaleas to zinnias, let your child
pick and make signs for each row.
Just make sure you have enough
room for 26 plants!
* It's A Pot of Gold. Grow a bloom-
ing rainbow garden by planting
arched rows of different coloured
flowers. To maximize the visual
effect, use small-growing plants.
* Slice of Life. Build your pizza
garden by planting wheat, garlic,
tomatoes, green pepper and onions
tize us. They're ready for the taking,
waiting to test our imaginations; we'
can recreate the garden of our
dreams, to help us bring back memo-
ries and keep them from fading. As
we know, olfactory memories are
among the longest lasting in our
minds.
Nature, in all its lush abundance,
expresses itself through this garden
that lets your emotions run wild and
evokes your most precious memo-
ries. Flowers and aromatic herbs
speak their own special language, the
language of scent; a sweet sensation,
a glimmer of light and warmth can
move us in time. Scented gardens
offer us a special peek at hidden
treasures, where each bouquet brings
back images...images of that first
encounter, of the satisfaction you felt
when you finally reached a much
sought-after goal, of the elation you
felt as you frolicked through the
'fields as 'a child, the warm summer
breeze softly caressing your cheek
and running its warm fingers running
through your hair.
The Soft Scent of Flowers
Enormous bouquets of peonies
with their intoxicating scent, lush
bouquets of lilacs or more modest
bunches of lily of the valley with
their refreshing fragrance...each pro-
vide as much sensorial pleasure as an
entire garden. The choices are limit-
less, offering something for every
taste and for every part of the. sum-
mer.
. The perfume given off by flowers
is most often picked up by our sens-
es when the weather is mild, _humid
and slightly breezy. A setting protect-
ed by hedges, windbreaks or a fence
in wedge-shaped patches. Just like
magic. together they form a giant
pizza!
Getting Green.
*. Green -thumb. Children love
learning about the environment,
and composting is a great way to
start. Find a place behind a tree, or
dig a hole in the ground away from
the house. Toss in rinds and peels
from fruit, coffee grounds or
eggshells. Don't forget about your
used tea bags.
are therefore desirable.
If you expect to spend time in your
garden in the evenings, choose plants
that emit their perfume late in the
day, such as the Datura.
Many flowers and plants are par-
ticularly appreciated for their unique
smells: caraway, the basil family,
chives, fennel, scented geranium,
lavender, marjoram, the mint family,
monarda (aromatic mint), oregano
and thyme.
Herbal aromas
Aromatic foliage exhales its per-
fumes under the warm rays of the
sun, when touched lightly by a soft
wind or rubbed gently. These plants
should be located in full sunlight,
alongside foot paths, bordering the
terrace, or in pots.
Decorating your home with fra-
grances
Use the trumpet-flowered or Asian
lily or fragrant roses to scent your
porch; place potted geraniums along
the walkways so that their astringent
fragrance can be released every time
they are brushed by passers-by; place
aromatic 'herbs in decorative contain-
ers next to the kitchen window; add
some scent to your slumber by plant-
ing lilacs next to the bedroom win-
dows; or embellish the 4ont of your
house with flowering crab-apple
trees.
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