| Protect the garden lawn with home insurance
Green-fingered Britons are being advised to make sure their home insurance extends to the garden to protect high value items such as lawnmowers and garden furniture.According to the Daily Mail, the value of many gardens now amounts to thousands rather than hundreds of pounds, with burgled items ranging from decorative pots to entire lawns.The publication states that garden furniture and equipment should fall under home insurance policies, however some will not cover plants and others will have strict limits on how much they will pay out.In order to avoid having to claim on a home insurance policy at all, the publication suggests that statues, pots and urns are secured with chains, while planting thorny shrubs around the garden's perimeter should help to deter thieves.Sheds should be kept padlocked and secure and tools should not be left on show, it adds.Co-operative Insurance recently urged householders to make sure their home insurance covers the garden as summertime nears and rises in crime are predicted.Householders receive up to £500 contents cover for their garden as part of their home insurance policy with Kwik-Fit Insurance.© Adfero Ltd
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Manure's allure
Chicken, horse, cow, bat and even human manure are nothing to turn your nose up at when it comes to soil enrichment, according to local gardening experts.
Using manure for gardening and lawn care is a timeless agriculture practice proponents swear by for its value in adding nutrients and organic material to soil.
What sets manure apart from commercial fertilizers is the organic component, according to Charles Guthal, owner of Guthals Nursery in Clovis.
Southwestern soil can lack organic content because of less natural composting compared with forested regions, Guthal explained.
When enriching soil through use of commercial products, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash are added. All can be found in manure with the added benefit of organic compounds from digested roughage, the lifelong gardener said.
Floral jackpot: Not all of the shows in Vegas are on stage
It's a safe bet that almost no one heads to this gambling mecca in the Nevada desert looking for pretty flowers and lush landscaping. But if you look past the slot machines and green-felted blackjack and poker tables, you can find some natural greenery. Best of all, the view is usually as free as a casino cocktail, and you don't have to gamble to drink it all in. The Bellagio is the big winner here, with a 30,000-square-foot conservatory and botanical garden near its lobby. Although best known for its musical, dancing fountains, the hotel/casino has been creating five seasonal flower shows (including one for Chinese New Year) since it opened in 1998. Each one is unique, with a clever blend of plants, ornaments and water features. Less colorful but almost as impressive, given the intense heat, are the Bellagio's grounds, which feature privet and boxwood amid rows of olive, cypress and pine trees.
RBG offers kids gardening programs in May
Saturdays, May 12, 26 to June 23 and Wednesdays, July 4 to August 15; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at RBG Centre/Hendrie Park Gardens. Members: $110; Non-members: $125. Or, Saturdays, May 12, 26 to June 23; 9:30 to 11:30 a.m and Wednesdays, July 4 to August 15; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at RBG Centre/ Hendrie Park Gardens. Members: $200; Non-members: $235. Now in its 60th year, this popular program for eight- to 13-year-olds provides an opportunity for kids to learn about gardening. Each child is given a garden plot to plant, cultivate and harvest. All plants, tools and supplies are provided. Activities include cooking, nature hikes, games and crafts. The group wraps up on August 15 with a flower and vegetable show and awards night. Please note a new option(#2) for kids that would like to stay for the entire day during summer holidays.
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