Ecological Floral Containers
The main reason houseplants die is losing the struggle for just the right amount of water. If we put too much, then the roots can start to rot and die, killing the plant. If we put too little, the plant stops growing, wilts and eventually dies. There is also a potentially deadly salt buildup that browns the tips of plants.
The right amount of water varies with temperature and humidity. A plant on a patio in winter does not need anywhere near as much water as a plant inside with central heating going full blast.
Porous pots such as unglazed clay are better because they provide some aeration laterally through the sides of the pot, and tend to hold moisture. Non-porous pots such as glazed or plastic pots tend to hold moisture longer and restrict airflow. But the amount of aeration and moisture capacity is rather limited, and plain clay pots don’t always fit in with the other decor.
Plant pots need drainage. Usually pots come with holes in the bottom to allow excess water to flow out of the soil, which helps to prevent root rot. Posts with no drainage holes can be double potted, so the inner pot can be lifted out and the excess water poured away. However, in practice the excess water level in the outer pot rises over the roots in the inner pot, risking root rot.
Ecological floral containers (EFC) is a plant potting system that mimics the natural moisture environment of plants. This new system grows better plants and simplifies watering, providing the exact amount of water the plant needs for longer. With the system, over watering is impossible, and under watering less likely due to the built in storage capacity of the EFC.
For more about how to preserve your plants using EFC’s call us at The Secret Flower Garden on 415 3461001.
November 17, 2006
Profitability of Small Garden Centers
This article lets you in on a secret of niche retailing.
The Garden Center Experience
By Anita Campbell on May 25, 2004
The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine II and James Gilmore suggests that we have entered an age when consumers expect an “experience” when they shop. Having good products and excellent service is no longer enough. Consumers want to be drawn into the offering so that they feel pleasurable sensations and emotions when they shop. They want it to be memorable.It seems that savvy owners of independent garden centers have read The Experience Economy. Gardening has become the ultimate consumer business. Independent garden centers, virtually all of them small businesses, have found a way to be profitable and compete even against the mammoth chains, by creating a shopping experience.
October 6, 2006
Fresh Flowers Aren’t Just for the Dining Room Table
By Claire Bowes 
Fresh Flowers in All the Traditional Places
When you think of a beautiful floral arrangement, you often think of the dining room table, especially if it is holiday time. And why not? Beautiful dining centerpieces have graced our tables for centuries. Whether you are having a party, decorating for a holiday, or simply adding a beautiful touch, keep in mind that floral arrangements should complement the décor and mood of the room. Remember, too, you don’t have to have a traditional arrangement just because you find it in a traditional location. Instead of one big center arrangement, you may want to try a series of vases and candles on a fabric runner for a stunning effect.
Another traditional location for fresh flowers is in the foyer or entranceway. What a great way to make a terrific first impression. Regardless of your style, flowers in the entryway can create the mood from the moment someone walks through your door. Is your home formal? Try an elegant centerpiece or a piece of artwork on a pedestal draped with a garland and flowers. For a homier, friendlier look, place a basket with a garden bouquet on the entry table. No matter what your style, flowers can enhance your home.
Beyond Tradition
Let’s not stop with tradition! Fresh flowers are so beautiful that they should not be relegated to the dining room and entryway alone. Why not brighten every room in your house? Let’s look at a few ideas to help you think outside the box.
There is nothing wrong with tradition – a big floral arrangement on the dining room table is always a welcomed addition to the décor of the room. Fresh flowers, however, don’t have to stay in the dining room. Be creative! Think unique! Put them in all your nooks and crannies! And yes, even put them in your bathroom!
You Don’t Have to be a Floral Designer
You’ve been to the florist before and know that you can’t create the gorgeous centerpieces you find there, nor can you afford to buy them already made. Don’t worry! Simply buy some fresh flowers, take them home, and experiment. Anything that can hold water is a possibility for a flower arrangement.
Once you have a few containers, the fun begins. Try filling a clear glass with flowers and fill with colored marbles. Create a cluster of different sized flower-filled bottles on a coffee table. Use bowls and shallow dishes for floating flower heads or petals and add floating candles for a bright and shining effect.
Mother Nature has created great beauty in flowers and you simply can’t go wrong. Develop your own personal style and taste by experimenting with different colors and types of flowers. Each week try a different look, color, or kind of flower.
The complementary colors of flowers can brighten any part of the house, from the kitchen to the family room to the bedroom. Expand your ideas to different areas throughout your home. The important thing is to have fun and enjoy.
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Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of Online Home Improvement Ideas. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Claire_Bowes |
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September 10, 2006
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci: Leonardo’s Animals Part 1 of 2
Copyright 2006 Melanie Light
Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1492 at a Tuscan farmhouse in Anchiano, Italy, near the town of Vinci where he spent most of his childhood. He was the son of Ser Piero and a girl called Caterina who worked for him. After Leonardo was born, the father and mother did not remain together. Only recently have details of Leonardo’s birth mother come to light. In 2002, Alessandro Vezzosi, Director of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Vinci, Italy, told the press they had found substantial proof Leonardo’s mother was a slave girl and not a peasant girl, as previously believed.(1) Vezzosi went on to report that Leonardo’s father was a craftsman who owned a Middle-Eastern female slave named Caterina. And, according to their discovery, a few months after Caterina gave birth to Leonardo, she was married off to one of the workers.
Leonardo lived in Anchiana and in Vinci until he was eight years old. Afterwards, he moved to Florence with his father. When Leonardo was 14, he became an apprentice under the famed sculptor and painter Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence. In that period, Verrocchio was the leading Florentine artist. By the time Leonardo was between 21 and 23 years old, he had become a very skilled painter. Verrocchio permitted Leonardo to help with an important painting, The Baptism of Christ (Uffizi Gallery, Florence). Leonardo painted the background and the kneeling angel. It is said that when Verrocchio saw that Leonardo could paint better than anyone he had ever seen, including himself, he gave up painting for good. Verrocchio decided he would concentrate on sculpture.
Leonardo da Vinci was said to have a great love for animals, and his journals further illustrates this. He was a vegetarian, at least in the latter part of his life (we don’t have definite proof that he was a strict vegetarian in his early life). He wrote, “The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men.” He also remarked, “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.”
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In the 1480s, Leonardo painted Lady With The Ermine. The Lady in the painting is Cecilia Gallerani, the 17-year-old mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. She carries an ermine for three reasons. First, for the Duke of Milan, having been appointed to the Order of the Ermine by Ferdinand I of Naples, the ermine was the symbol of heraldry on his coat of arms. Second, the ermine was considered to be a symbol of virtue and purity. And finally, it was a play on Cecilia Gallerani’s name since the Greek name for ermine is “galee”.
In Leonardo’s notebooks, he wrote that the ermine eats every other day. Most likely the ermine, an animal related to the sable and weasel, stayed in the studio while the painting was being completed. In the Renaissance period, soft-hair paint brushes were made of ermine tail tips. Brushes were also made from squirrel fur and fastened into goose or hen feathers � another reason the ermine might have been at home in the studio.
Leonardo da Vinci included cats in many of his sketches. On one sheet of animal sketches in his notebook, the artist portrayed more than twenty cats, and one dragon. He drew cats in different poses, alone, with other cats, and being cuddled and held. His sketches are lively and reveal the solemn affection he had for felines.
Throughout the mid to late 1470s, Leonardo worked on a series of different studies relating to the theme of the Madonna and the Christ Child, holding a cat. It was originally thought that no paintings existed beyond his initial studies for these paintings. Recently; however, Madonna with the Cat, which is in the collection of industrialist Carlo Noya in Savona, Italy, was discovered to be a painting by none other than Leonardo.(2) The painting is based on a legend about a cat being born at the same moment as the baby Jesus.
Other sketches for paintings that feature animals and are based on a legend or myth is that of Leda and the Swan. Although no actual paintings exist, there are countless drawings. The story is that Leda was seduced by the God Zeus in the form of a swan and bore two eggs, which resulted in the creation of Helen of Troy with Clytemnestra, and Castor with Pollux.
Although there are countless studies and sketches made by Leonardo, only 13 or 14 actual paintings exist today. One of these is Madonna and Child with St. Anne, painted from 1508 to 1510. The figures depicted all relate to one another, and the baby Jesus is shown tightly holding a little lamb. Da Vinci painted the lamb with sensitivity and detail. The lamb is symbolic of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death for mankind. Leonardo�s animal subjects are based on reality and are filled with vitality.
Sources: 1. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,81 0926,00.html
2. http://www.lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/cat.html
Submitted 9/03/2006
About the Author: Melanie Light is an artist and art educator. She is the site owner of Pet Lovers Art and Classic Pet Art. You will find more pet artwork, gifts, and information on these web sites.
August 30, 2006
What is Niche-Shaping About?
Niche-shaping can optimize your web site or business quickly and efficiently. If your web site consists of a few static pages, here is a process where you can grow your web presence cost-effectively.
Search engines find your web site by matching queries on keywords from your web pages. For example, if you sell ‘children’s clothes’ or your blog is about ‘Celebrity Gossip’ then these keywords, and the ranking of your site are critical to people finding you when they search in Google.
The Internet is now so complex and interrelated it has become like a living ecosystem. As such, the laws of ecology are beginning to apply to survival on the web. One of these ecological laws, is that species must constantly evolve to optimize their performance in a natural domain or niche, or they will be out-competed by more dynamic species and eventually become extinct. The theory from niche modeling can be used to develop your business or blog.
The hits on the keywords currently on your site represent your current or realized niche. Your potential is a function of the overall numberf of searches on keywords related to your web site. The process of consistently introducing new but related keywords with original content will optimize your niche, increase the chances of people finding your site, and increase your traffic or revenue.
Figure: The hits on keywords both shift and increase from A to B by posting quality content.
The figure above shows the process of introducing quality content with new but related keywords to both shift and increase your web presence.
- The horizontal axis represents keywords.
- The vertical axis represents the response, measured as numbers of hits, sales or some other performance measure for that keyword.
- The dashed orange line represents a potential niche, the potential traffic your site may achieve if optimized for some set of keywords.
- The blue line represents your site now with the area under the line your total hits or sales.
- The red line represents the potential hits on keywords possible for your site after a campaign of introducing quality content on related subjects containing new keywords.
The area under the red line represents the much greater numbers of hits or sales achievable with the optimized site. When optimized, the red line would coincide with the orange line. If your site is already centered on the natural market niche, then adding content would increase the depth and frequency of traffic.
If you have had experience with other ways of increasing traffic to your site you know that while traffic may increase temporarily, it fades back to almost the original level when the campaign ends. As this process produces a permanent body of high quality content on your web site, the increase in hits is also permanent. While results take longer to achieve, they last longer too. Overall, the process is highly cost competitive with advertising, as visits from natural search are essentially free.
The strategy of introducing high quality content to your site is consistent with the image of high quality sites. Thus it is possible to both refine your market niche and simultaneously build traffic. You do not need to resort to risky ‘black hat’ SEO techniques, tacky advertising methods, tiresome click programs or any of the numerous dubious ways of increasing traffic.
What we provide in the Web Dominance package is everything to increase your search hits and grow your traffic and business. You don’t even need a clear idea of where you are going. The process uses information from your existing site to generate topics that will boost hits via new information. We also install a blog on your site and supply the posts daily for your review.
For example, imagine your have an aShop selling a line of products and want to expand. We start a blog on your site about your existing products. Based on the feedback that we get on possible new terms, you publish an increasing variety of posts on related products, while simultaneously adding these products to your product line. Over time, you will overtake your opposition in the search engine rankings as more and more users come back to your site for information, and you increase profits from the additional purchases.
In the Niche Dominance package we make this equation work for you. Any one of them if done incorrectly could lead to poor results and waste time. Among them are:
- Ensuring your site has the usual search engine optimizations to be compeditive.
- Choosing the related keywords and topics to grow your business into. Part of the secret is a recent breakthrough process called HitTailing which identifies those searches that led to your site despite turning up relatively low on the list of results.
- Another part of the equation is cost-effective supply of creative posts based on the topics identified by HitTailing.
- Another part of the equation is the installation and maintenance of a blog on your site.
- Finally your site is monitored for effectiveness of the process.
Of course, the first part of the equation is getting started. It should be clear that you can no longer expect to be found on the web with a few static web pages. Now is the time to upgrade your web strategy before your competitors do. Just go to the products page to order the Web Dominance Package to see your business grow and your advertising costs wither.
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