KUSA - This little gadget is a spiffy way to create a starry night sky effect inside or outside your home, with thousands of moving pinpoints of light.

Blisslights Spright

The BlissLights Spright provides a different approach to interior and landscape lighting. This durable outdoor-rated landscape light uses laser and holographic technology to project thousands of pin-points of light onto a bedroom wall, on the side of your house, yard, trees, or any other surface.

This light is easy to install and use; you simply plug it in and point it. It uses less power and is more efficient than a standard LED Landscape light. The light offers a 7,000 hour lamp life andconsumes an average of just three watts,using low voltage (12V).

Learn more by visitingwww.blisslights.com

BluApples

BluApples help preserve the edible life of your produce, so you have more time to consume it instead of throwing it away.

BluApple works by absorbing ethylene gas, which is given off naturally by fruits and vegetables. If ethylene gas builds up in your food storage area, it speeds the ripening process and accelerates ripening. You just place one or two of these in your produce bin or fruit bowl.

BluApples use the samescience applied for years to prevent spoilage in industrial environments like ocean liners, trucks and warehouses. It uses the the non-toxic active ingredient sodium permanganate. Each BluApple can absorb ethylene gas in a typical home refrigerator, produce bin or storage container for about three months (after that, refill packets are available).www.thebluapple.com

Snack Ditty Bags & Wich Dittys

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Gadgets: A cool way to light up the night

Winter offers a peaceful opportunity for bird watchers to take stock of their yards.

With fewer chores to tend, we can look over the landscape like a farmer and see what's working and what's not. This is the time to build nest boxes and make a plan for spring landscaping to make the yard more friendly to wildlife year around.

Collectively, homeowners have huge potential to boost habitat for birds. Putting out feeders is mostly for our own enjoyment. Birds rarely lack food as much as they lack habitat - the sum of effective cover available to birds for dealing with weather, escaping predators, nesting and finding a diversity of nutrition.

Providing habitat takes more commitment than providing food, as well as the often ignored necessity of year-round water.

A perfectly manicured yard, dominated by mowed grass, barked flower beds and low maintenance tam junipers can verge on being a biological desert for birds.

Find ways to "rough it up" a little and your yard is more likely to attract house wrens to hunt in the shrub beds. That's all it might take to fill your yard with one of the most beautiful songs in nature this spring when the season finally warms enough to open the windows.

Now's the time to clean out nesting boxes built and put up to make up for the loss of decaying trees and other natural homes for cavity nesters. The bug-eating swallows and bluebirds will be showing up sooner than we might expect. And many birds, such as nuthatches, hang around all year. In the onslaught of bitter weather, they may take refuge in a nest box to sit out the storm.

If you're putting out feeders this winter for year-round resident birds, keep them clean and move them occasionally to reduce the chance of exposing ground feeders to disease from the molding leftovers that fall to the earth.

Always be mindful of placing feeders where they don't provide easy ambush points for free-running cats.

In addition to the seed feeders, put out suet feeders for the woodpeckers. Smear peanut butter occasionally in the bark of a pine tree trunk and watch the nuthatches and chickadees run the bark for the treat.

Link:
Beyond feeding: Birdwatchers create habitat in yards

Q. Could you tell me something about hardscape in the garden, and give me some suggestions for my small Somerville plot of land? Shelby A.S., Somerville

A. Hardscape is a term that refers to the permanent in-organic structures of a landscape such as walkways, patios, retaining walls, arbors, fences, or raised garden beds that are made with hard materials such as bricks, pavers, stone, cement or wood. The Softscape parts of the landscape are the living materials such as plants, grass, shrubs and trees.

Hardscaping helps to define the space. It adds interest, solid form, structure and contrasting texture. It also adds winter interest to the garden. Hardscapes like fountains, birdbaths, statues, benches or large rocks can be used as a focal point in the garden, giving ones eye a place to rest.

For any sized garden, particularly in an urban setting that has so much paved area already, you need to plan very carefully:

Consider the landscaping. Will you be hardscaping the entire area of your yard or just a part of it?

Research draining issues. Consider how the drainage will be affected with hardscape in place. Design the water runoff so it can be captured and used on site.

If you have children that will play in the yard, plan your hardscape with them in mind to keep them engaged in the landscape. Put in a small pond (not too deep) with fish, position large flat rocks or sections of a felled tree in the garden for hopping and climbing.

Create a focal point that your eye will travel to, such as a fountain, small weeping tree, or sculpture.

Q. What can we do in the Boston area that is garden related to help us feed our winter non-gardening woes? Todd & Phil, Belmont

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Garden Q&A: Hardscapes and winter events

Youve heard the drought warnings and emergency declarations. You see your utility bill. You know youve got to do something to save water.

With looming cutbacks, its time to rethink the lawn. But what will replace it in the New Front Yard?

Imagine a fertile greenbelt of colorful California native flowers alive with hummingbirds and buzzing with bees. Picture a garden space ripe with home-grown fruit and blueberries. See substantial water savings and no more mowing.

Yet many homeowners are reluctant to take out the turf; they know what the grass looks like and arent quite sold on alternatives. Now that Sacramento city officials have voted to ask residents and businesses to slash water use by 20 percent, however, many consumers will be pushed into action.

This situation offers an opportunity here, said water-efficient landscape expert Cheryl Buckwalter, executive director of EcoLandscape California. Its time to actually take action and do what weve been talking about. If people really started these things some time ago, wed be in a much better position today. But if you start now, well be in a better position in the future.

Landscape irrigation accounts for about 65 percent of household water use in the Sacramento area, according to local water agencies. Turf grass ranks among the thirstiest landscaping, needing 2 inches of water a week (or more) during hot summer months.

Even with cutbacks, that water use adds up quickly: A half-inch of irrigation for a typical front lawn uses as much water as about 104 showers, 52 baths or 52 loads of laundry, according to efficiency experts. Faced with rationing, do you want clean kids and clothes or green grass?

Unless you have horses grazing in front of your house, theres no reason to grow grass there, said Sacramento radio host Farmer Fred Hoffman.

He saw the water savings firsthand at his own 10-acre property in Herald. Hoffman removed about 2,600 square feet of Bermuda grass and replaced it with fruit trees, blueberries and California natives. He slashed his water use for that former turf area by 88 percent.

The sprinklers used 2 gallons a minute, Hoffman observed shortly after the makeover. The drip system uses 1 gallon an hour (once a week). Its a fraction of the water and very low maintenance.

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The ‘New Front Yard’ saves water, supports wildlife

From herbs and seed saving to lawn care, composting and plant diseases, you'll find awide variety of topics at the 18th annual "Nursery School: Lessons in Gardening."

The event will beSaturday, Feb. 22, at the iWireless Center in Moline, sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and the Unit 7 Master Gardeners.

The day will begin with a keynote address titled"Landscape Design: Basics and Beyond," byMark Dwyer, the director of horticulture at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wis. He will help youmake the most of your landscape by following simple, goal-based steps.

After that, there will be a choice of16 different classes, including a "make and take" miniature garden session.Participants may choose one class from each of these sessions:

Session 2:10:15-11:30 a.m.

"Tried and True Performers: Annuals and Perennials." How to select, incorporate andcare for a solid cast of performers.Bud LeFevre, Distinctive Gardens, Dixon, Ill.

"Growing Heirloom Vegetables." Choosing theright varieties for your particular space is critical.Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah, Iowa.

"Aromatic Composting and the Bins to Support It." You'll learn how easy and inexpensive it is to compost, as well as the right bin for your use. DaveArensdorf, Unit 7 Master Gardener.

"Newly Emerging Plant Diseases in the Home Landscape." Symptoms and tips on how toavoiddisease problems.Monica David, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener coordinator.

"Gardening for Birds and Butterflies." Plants and practices to maximize the number of those creatures in your yard.Martha Smith, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

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From herbs to lawns, Nursery School covers many topics

David Hughes, a Doylestown landscape architect with an affinity for native flora and natural landscapes, often finds himself ripping out dead, overgrown, or otherwise undesirable plants to make way for new.

But he doesn't haul that nasty Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese white mulberry, or Norway maple to the dump, curb, or chipper. Hughes is that rare soul who prizes what other designers and gardeners despise, more so if it's scarred by deer browsing, insect damage, or disease.

That's because, in addition to designing ecologically responsible landscapes in the Philadelphia region, Hughes, 46, is a skilled woodworker who makes rustic furniture from garden "debris," a kind of plant-world Dumpster diver.

"To me, it's a nice marriage, landscaping and woodworking," says Hughes, whose five-year-old business, his second, is called Weatherwood Design. It comprises about 70 percent landscaping and 30 percent woodworking.

Storm-felled trees and gnarly vines make good raw materials. So do pruned branches, old barn boards, and stuff plucked, with permission, from the side of the road.

An arborist friend scouts out intriguing branches and discarded trunks. Hughes helps the Natural Lands Trust and local preserves thin out invasives or dead trees. And every July Fourth, again with permission, he rescues unwanted driftwood from death by bonfire at a public beach on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The wood might sit for years on the one-acre property Hughes shares with his widowed dad, Merritt Hughes, a retired English teacher. Logs, planks, oddball sticks and scraps are stacked along the driveway, in the yard, and in and around Hughes' densely packed, unheated 8-by-12-foot workshop.

"It's hard to throw anything out," he says a bit sheepishly of the jars of nails, screws, and bolts, the bits of this or that, and the saws, planes, and other tools of his trade.

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Recycling nature: He makes rustic furniture from garden 'debris'

Before starting your landscape remodel, survey your space and consider how best to fill it based on your interests. If you love working outdoors, a large rose garden or vegetable garden is the perfect way to use your space. On the other hand, kids might enjoy a large yard, along with a playground, swing set or pool. Think about what your family would use the most, as well as what would help boost your resell value in the long run. In the end, be sure to consider your front and back yard as separate entities; after all, they usually serve two very different purposes. What should I add to my front yard? When revamping your front yard, think about curb appeal above all else. This space is your chance to make a great first impression, so it should be inspiring, well thought out and consistent with the style of your home. A flower garden is a great option, but if maintenance is an issue, you can simplify the process by opting for low-maintenance succulents, bushes or hedges instead. If you don't have a green thumb, stick with grass and use a gravel pathway, water feature, wood fence or stone wall for variation. What should I add to my backyard? The backyard is for entertaining and playtime, so incorporate seating, dining areas, play spaces and sunny relaxation spots. A vegetable garden or rose garden is a common yard staple, especially if you add an interesting element like a pergola, arbor, raised bed, border, walkway or fence. You can even add fun accessories like birdbaths and feeders to aid with birdwatching. For the ultimate party house, incorporate a pool and patio or deck with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, barbecue and outdoor kitchen. If you're an active, sports-loving family, add a basketball court, volleyball court, bocce ball or croquet. And don't forget about outdoor furniture! A bench in a garden makes a great reading or meditation spot, while a weatherproof chaise lounge, sofa and chair are nice for taking in those sunny days.

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Landscape Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodels and Decor

Earth-Kind landscapes combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Kathleen Phillips)

GEORGETOWN An Earth-Kind Landscape Design School will be held Jan. 31- Feb. 1 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office for Williamson County, 3151 S.E. Inner Loop, Suite A in Georgetown.

The school will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 31 and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Feb. 1. It will consist of an in-depth classroom program, plus a personalized 30-minute landscape design consultation with a landscape professional, said Fred Hall, AgriLife Extension agent for Williamson County.

Earth-Kind landscaping uses research-proven techniques to provide maximum gardening and landscape enjoyment while preserving and protecting our environment, Hall said. The objective of Earth-Kind is to combine the best of organic and traditional gardening and landscaping principles to create a horticultural system that emphasizes water conservation, energy conservation, reduction of fertilizer and pesticide use and a reduction of yard wastes.

This program will be especially useful for homeowners in homeowner associations considering changing landscape requirements to be more water efficient, he said.

Lunch for Feb. 1 and refreshments are included in the $125 per-household registration. Per household refers to either one or two people living at the same address.

Dr. Steve George, professor and AgriLife Extension landscape specialist and creator of the Earth-Kind Environmental Landscape Management System, will be the programs lead instructor, Hall said. When the course is complete, attendees will have been given a wealth of landscape knowledge and will leave with a labeled working landscape plan for either their front or backyard.

Hall said potential attendees may wish to contact their local nursery or landscape professional to see if there are any tuition scholarships for this program.

There will also be an opportunity for an extended consultation on Feb. 2 with Dr. George, he said. Anyone interested is encouraged to ask about the fee for this consultation and the availability for this opportunity when they register.

Hall said each household will be required to bring a scale drawing of the landscape they wish to work with on the first evening of the school. Graph paper and an information packet will be provided when attendees register.

The rest is here:
Earth-Kind Landscape Design School slated Jan. 31-Feb. 1 in Georgetown

Photo by Carol A. Heiser

Trumpet honeysuckle, or Lonicera sempervirens, attracts hummingbirds; it?s a native counterpart to the invasive exotic Japanese honeysuckle, and is cold hardy to Zone 4. (Carol A. Heiser/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by Carol A. Heiser

Blue mistflower, or Conoclinium coelestinum, is a native species that helps pollinators, and is cold hardy to Zone 5. (Carol A. Heiser/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by Carol A. Heiser

Eastern sweetshrub, also known as Carolina allspice, or Calycanthus floridus, is an attractive flowering shrub that?s native to Virginia and southeastern states to Zone 5. (Carol A. Heiser/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by Carol A. Heiser

Common milkweed, or Asclepias syriaca, is an important pollinator that benefits fritillary and tiger swallowtails, and is cold hardy to Zone 4. (Carol A. Heiser/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

Photo by Carol A. Heiser

Native shrubs Virginia sweetspire, or Itea virginica, and oak leaf hydrangea, or Hydrangea quercifolia, bloom early spring; both display colorful fall foliage. Both are cold hardy to Zone 5. (Carol A. Heiser/Newport News Daily Press/MCT)

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Diggin' In: Keeping the garden native, integrated

PLATTSBURGH Some new faces are visible in downtown Plattsburgh.

Carolyn Tetreault opened A Beautiful Mess gift shop at 74 Margaret St. on Nov. 30. There is a second entrance at 43 Durkee St. and up one flight of stairs, which provides easy access from the Durkee Street parking lot.

Tetreault said she used to own The Station Cafe and Gifts in Chazy until it closed in September 2011.

I really missed the whole atmosphere of the business so I knew someday I would open another gift shop, she said.

Former Merkels store

Tetreault, a certified public accountant for more than 20 years, continues that practice in Chazy and hopes to add new clients in the Plattsburgh area.The new space has its own office space, so she can concentrate on that when business is slow at the gift shop, as well as meet with clients before or after store hours by appointment.

The new store was once home to Merkels department store. The interior still features brick walls and a tin ceiling, features that attracted her to the property.

A Beautiful Mess specializes in unique gifts, including re-purposed furniture she finds at flea markets and yard sales. The sales counter is a antique buffet she found at a yard sale and converted.

The shop offersMaison Blanche Paint Co. paints for restoration of older furniture pieces. Tetreault plans to offer workshops to show people how to restore their own pieces of vintage furniture.

She carries the Homestead Maple products line, produced by Angela and David Swan in Chazy. Also available are skin-care products from the Farmhouse Fresh line, which features natural vegan, gluten-free,paraffin-free products.

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Downtown Plattsburgh business landscape changes