elements backyard garden » Uncategorized

I Got A New Toy Today

element — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:07:10 +0000

Yesterday I went shopping for new faucet covers and other outdoor supplies to prepare for the arctic blast that we were going to receive. While shopping I came across an end cap display at one of the local big box supply stores and they had the Black and Decker ACCU-MARK™ 36″ Level on sale. They had it on sale for only $10 regularly pricedat $30 at most stores. I have been wanting one of these for quite a while and I finally got it! This weekend I will have to put up our pictures. I have been putting off hanging pictures for almost two years, now I have no excuse to hand the pictures. Afterwards when I get the chance to the put the pictures I will give review.

New Direction for Element’s Backyard Garden

Admin — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:37:31 +0000

Over the last few weeks I have been thinking about different ways to add content and to get readers to comment. The first thing I have done is to turn off disqus, and run the intregrated comment system with the CommentLuv plugin and turn on DoFollow using the DoFollow Plugin to insure each new post is DoFollow.. What this means to you as a reader, is that

“DoFollow is simply an internet slang term given to web pages or sites that are not utilizing NoFollow. NoFollow is a hyperlink inclusion that tells search engines not to pass on any credibility or influence to an outbound link.” – Via http://www.squidoo.com/dofollow.

I will have a policy and more information about DoFollow up in few days. I will also write an article over at www.evolutionarydesigns.net/blog about DoFollow and NoFollow soon. But in general terms this means, whenever you add a comment using commentluv, you will be able to leave a link from your latest blog posting with your comment. This will help with link love as well. Each person that reads a blog posting with your comment with link will be able to see your latest posts and click on your link to see your latest postings.

My next step is to change the format of the blog postings to not only about gardening, but also about organic living, and being environmentally responsible posts. I will be posting news reports about the latest green projects and news, eating healthy, and generally any thing that helps the environment.

The third step is to have regular guest writers post new and interesting articles from time to time. If you are interested in volunteering, send me a message on the contact page with a link to some of your other articles. If you haven’t any that’s okay to. This a place of learning and sharing with the world.

Datura Fastuosa ‘Double Purple’

element — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:26:53 +0000

'Double Purple' Datura -

The Double Purple Datura is a shrub that is an annual or a short-lived perennial if frost is present. Daturas are woody-stalked and have green to purple foliage with long trumpet-shaped flowers with the outside edge of the pedals that roll back into tendrils pointing towards the sky. Flowers are a double purple with a white center that only blooms in the summer and at night. Daturas produce a spiny fruit that will split open and seeds will spill out. The Datura grows to the height of two to four feet and has a spread of four to five feet. Daturas need a lot space and are consider weeds and invasive in certain areas, and are easy to grow. Daturas grow best in fertile soils high in magnesium and phosphates.

Daturas are tropical in nature and either originated from India or South America. They now are considered Fastuosanative to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. They will survive temperatures as low as 20F degrees and will die back and come back next spring. Daturas can be grown in USDA Zones, five to ten and in zones eight and nine they can survive the winters underground and sprouts again from the roots. Zones five through seven, are grown as annuals.

Daturas need at least six hours of full sun. They prefer full sun, but in the south, filtered or partial shade in the afternoon is preferred.

Moisture Levels:

Double Purple Daturas are somewhat drought tolerate and will thrive in most well drained soils. But Daturas will show their true beauty when grown in rich organic soils that have been large amounts of compost and manure.

Angel’s trumpets (Burgmansia) and other species of Daturas have been cultivated for a variety of medicinal, hallucinogenic and religious uses throughout. But in modern time it is grown as an ornamental. WARNING! The leaves and seeds of Brugmansia and Datura contain several alkaloidal drugs that contain narcotic properties. Brugmansias and Daturas are poisonous to humans cattle, horses and sheep. Please check with your local communities city ordinances, in some communities it is against the law to cultivate them.

Double Purple Datura

Double Purple Datura Seed Pod

Greenthumb Sunday

element — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:01:21 +0000

Took some pictures of my most recent blooms…Enjoy

Brugmansia

Zinnia

Pink Knockout Rose

Red Knockout Rose

Join

TerraCycle: What is Garabage?

element — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:39:19 +0000

One of my favorite companies that I buy gardening products from is TerraCycle. The company recycles garbage to make products or containers to contain fertilizers or other products they produce. They do this to reduce the wastes that would normally end up in your local land fills. The company offers to give 1-3 cents to your favorite local charity for every item you or recycling team sends them.

Excert from TerraCycle:
TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. With over 50 products available at major retailers like Walmart, Target, The Home Depot, OfficeMax, Petco and Whole Foods Market, TerraCycle is one of the fastest growing eco-friendly manufacturers in the world. Our hope is to eliminate the idea of waste by finding innovative, unique uses for materials others deem garbage.

Founded in 2001 by a 19 year old Princeton University freshman named Tom Szaky, TerraCycle started as an organic fertilizer company and has grown into a multi-category, eco-friendly powerhouse. Tom’s dream was to find way a new, more responsible way of doing doing business that would be good for the planet, good for people and good for the bottom line! TerraCycle has won many awards and accolades for its environmentally responsible business model from Inc. Magazine, Red Herring, The Home Depot, The Environmental Business Journal, The Social Venture Network, Zerofootprint and many other highly regarded organizations.

TerraCycle also runs free national collection programs that pay non-profits and schools TerraCycle has exclusive partnerships with major CPG companies such as Kraft Foods, Frito Lay (Pepsi), Stonyfield Farm, Mars Wrigley and many more. The partnerships create free collection programs that pay schools and non-profits nationwide to collect used packaging such as drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, yogurt cups, cookie wrappers, chip bags and more! The collected materials are upcycled into affordable, high quality products ranging from tote bags and purses to shower curtains and kites. In addition, TerraCycle works with these partners to find innovative uses for all of their waste streams and, by making products from these various waste streams, TerraCycle prevents 1000’s of tons of waste from going to landfills.

You can be a part of our eco-revolution, just sign up for one of our FREE Brigades or look for TerraCycle products at your local retailer.

Take a look at this video from Tom Szaky the CEO of TerraCyle. For information please check their company out.

Just had my site added to Alltop

Admin — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:51:24 +0000

Last night www.elementsbackyardgarden.com was accepted to Alltop. Check them out. You can get all your news about gardening and more. I have started a list of garden blogs that are listed with Alltop. I check the banner links. One will go to my garden links.

Giant ‘meat-eating’ plant found – MUST READ Article from BBC

Admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:28:28 +0000

Picture from BBC

Early this morning I came across this article from BBC about Giant ‘meat-eating’ plant found. The giant carnivorous plant has been discovered in the highlands of the central Philippines. Apprently this large pitcher plant is so large it can catch rats along with insects. This pitcher is one of the largest of all pitcher plants.

Form more information please read the rest of the article. Giant ‘meat-eating’ plant found

Blog Roll and Link Exchange request

element — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:42:00 +0000

If anyone would like me to add their blog or website please post a message and give me your link. If I post yours please post mine as well. Thanks.

Blog Roll Adds and Link exchanges

Admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:38:23 +0000

If anyone would like me to add their blog or website please post a message and give me your link. If I post yours please post mine as well. Thanks.

Element’s Backyard Garden is moving

element — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Element’s Backyard Garden is moving. I have my own host and domain name now. Please visit and bookmark my new site please. Element’s Backyard garden

This site is still underconstruction. Once the site is complete I will let everyone know. Thanks