February is a time of excited anticipation. This month a gradual heralding of early spring begins in the lower parts of the region and steadily advances through the entire area.

Planning

Detailed planning of areas of general development should be completed by the middle of the month. In fact, any plan work not well in hand by now may very easily be crowded out entirely by more pressing programs. Detail planning means the actual decision necessary as to placement, quantities, and space allotments for the various plants to be used this season.

Planting

This is the last call for planting of dormant trees and shrubs. Growth activity will begin by the end of the month and later planting will hamper the ideal development of these plants. Give the plants a chance to reward you with their season’s growth without being stunted by late planting.

Rose planting should begin about the 15th of the month. Great expectations are kindled in a gardener when he receives his order of rose bushes for the season, and one can easily dream of the warm days ahead when the lush foliage, beautiful blooms and perfume will fill the garden.

Steps for Successful Rose Planting

1- Unpack carefully and prune away any broken or damaged stems or roots; prune plants for shape and paint the end of each cane to prevent damage.

2 - Plunge the roots in water, preferably overnight, making sure that all the roots (including the bud union) are completely immersed. The roots soak up a full amount of water and are ready to resume growth activity.

3 - Dig a deep hole sufficiently large enough to accommodate all roots without crowding.

4 - For each rose bush, add one gallon of peat moss mix thoroughly by digging in sides and / or bottom of hole.

5 - Plant bush with roots extending downward and pack soil securely around bush for about two-thirds of the depth.

6 - Fill the hole with water and pull in more topsoil around and upon the bush into a mound up to 12 inches in height. This mound will prevent dehydration of the canes which is caused by frequent high winds in this region and also will protect the new plants from undue cold weather that may occur for the next few weeks.

7 - After growth begins, gradually work the mounds away and carry on regular maintenance.

For general planting activities the above procedure is recommended for all deciduous trees used in dried potpourri as well as for shrubs (those that lose their leaves during the dormant season). Use a general all-purpose fertilizer. Other fertilizers may have to be resorted to, especially if your soil is deficient in any particular nutrient.

Soil Preparation

If this important job has not yet been done, by all means do it now. Get the planting areas for the seasonal color plants ready. Scatter a balanced fertilizer (5-10-5) and spade it in as deep as possible then wet-down. A light mulch of rotted organic material over the shrub beds now will give a good supply of nitrogen for spring growth.

Tags: Landscaping, Kids, Home and Garden

Designer lamp shades are expensive. So what do you do if you like the designer look but don’t have the designer budget to match? Consider these four ways to get the designer look for less.

1. Browse for Bargains

If you want great deals on designer lamp shades check out online lighting stores which generally offer very good value for money. You can browse around as many stores as you like and check out the various prices and options on offer. Being able to go quickly from store to store allows you to compare prices too.

Auction site eBay is another option online. It’s worth checking out to see what is currently on offer there as many small lighting stores now use eBay to create an online store and many offer lamp shades and lighting at fixed prices.

2. Keep Your Eyes Open for the Best Deals

Local department stores often have sales. Look in the lighting department to see if you can get a great lamp shade on sale. Avoid buying anything which looks dirty or damaged however as lamp shades are difficult to clean and stains and damage will show up even more when the lamp is switched on.

Discount stores often have great deals on lamp shades too. You’ll find the cheaper plain lamp shades here, of course, but you often find that the discount stores follow trends in interior design and they will have the most popular looks of the season at great prices.

3. Think Trimming

Plain shades are available cheaply in discount stores and online. Give them the designer look by adding some gorgeous trimming to the edges. You can decorate them with a row of beautiful bead fringing which catches the light or add some contrasting or toning braid for a smart formal look. Get some inspiration by looking at all the trimming available in your local department store.

Designer shades are often in plain shapes and it’s the trimming which gives the lamp shade the designer look. If you see a shade you love look out for similar trimming in your local store and copy the look for your own home.

4. Recover an Old Lamp Shade

Lamp shades that are past their best can be given a new lease of life by covering them as long as the structure of the shade is sound. Select a fabric to go with your decor - you’ll have a lot more choice in fabric than you will find in ready made lamp shades. Add trimming to complete the designer look.

It may even be worth recovering a new plain lamp shade if you don’t have an old shade (though you can often pick them up in garage sales for a song.) Just get the right shape and size for the base when looking at lamp shades and you can choose the finished look yourself by completely recovering your shade.

Tags: Interior Decorating, Kids, Landscaping

Having a live in nanny has many wonderful advantages, especially for busy parents. Although nanny services can be hired on a part-time basis, such as only during weekends or for several days during the week, an in-house nanny works best for many families. Here are a few reasons why you might want to consider paying for a full-time nanny.

One of the advantages of a nanny who is living with you is that you can easily count on them anytime needed. During emergency situations, you will have access to immediate help, which is not often the case with part-time nannies. A part-time nanny leaves the house when working hours are over, so you may have difficulty contacting her when you need her immediately.

With a live in nanny, she will serve as your eyes and ears at home, even while you’re away and not with the children physically. A nanny who stays at home can also be a big help for household chores and for keeping the home as safe and secure as possible.

Every parent not at home worries for the safety of his or her children almost the entire time. This is why a full-time nanny can be an excellent source of help for any working parent. If the domestic helper is employed for short hours during the day, busy parents would need to head home on the dot in order to take care of the kids.

However, with a live in nanny, you are assured that the house and the children are in safe hands. Even during times when office hours are extended, you can leave the children in the care of the nanny, knowing that she will be able to attend to their needs effectively.

Then again, many families still choose not have a full-time nanny due to the salary expenses involved. Of course, a full-time helper is inclined to request a bigger salary than a stay-out nanny. However, with the clear benefits of having an in-house nanny, many families opt to hire domestic nannies for longer periods of time.

A live in nanny can help you run an entire household efficiently. Nannies can also accompany the children to school if the parents are not available. Even if work engagements force you to leave the kids for a while, having a nanny will ease your worries at home.

With the benefits of an in-house nanny, many parents choose to employ nannies for the long-term rather then for a brief period of time.

Tags: Kids, Hobbies, Home and Garden