Backyard Blog

Measuring Sunlight in your Garden…

admin — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:27:51 +0000

Hello Everyone!

I love springtime in the desert. All the local nurseries are bursting with colorful flowers and an assortment of veggies. Whether you’re a master gardener or amateur, we all get excited about this time of year.

One of the challenges of gardening can be getting the right combination of sunlight for your plants. I ran across this device this morning that takes the guess work out of where to plant based on sunlight requirements. It’s called “SunCalc.” Check out their website for more info….

Basically, it’s a small device that you place in your soil or in a pot and it will tell you how much sunlight the plant is receiving in that particular area. The “SunCalc” is based on the following formula:

Full Sun - 6+ hours
Partial Sun - Less than 6 and more than 4 hours
Partial Shade - Less than 4 and more than 1 1/2 hours
Full Shade - Less than 1 1/2 hours

“SunCalc” features a photo receptive diode that collects sunlight/solar radiation then converts it into an electric current. The electric current measures the light intensity over a 12 hour period.

I plan on ordering mine soon! If anyone out there has used one, please post a comment.

Until next time,

Happy Springtime Gardening….

Debra

Color and Design Trends 2008

Debra — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:25:46 +0000

www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

I missed posting in January due to a bout with a winter “bug.” While I was sipping hot tea and feasting on chicken soup, I was pouring over the mounds of home furnishings magazines I receive every month. The recent furniture markets were highlighted as well as the Color and Design Trends for 2008. Pantone and The Color Marketing Group have supplied us with a list of color and design directions that I thought I’d share with you. To see the colors and more visuals of what’s in store for the year, check out their websites.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:

Color:

· Blue Iris is Pantone’s choice to be the color for 2008 (Blue is the new “green” color, also represents patriotism in an election year; tones are to be clean, clear and watery) Look for blue to be paired with “biscuit” and “caramel” to represent the earth and our environment.

· Pantone’s other picks include intense colors representing a global influence (Rococo Red, Spring Crocus, Freesia), as well as softer pastels to take us into spring (Pink Mist, Cantaloupe, Daiquiri Green) and neutrals (Croissant and Silver Gray).

Design:

· Heavy Metals—Look for this trend to show up in fabrics, paints and furniture. From silver to brushed nickel and platinum, this “gray metal” feature is even popping up on traditional pieces to add a contemporary edge.

· Low Profile Luxury—Completely understated, this look incorporates just a hint of luxury; even some art deco influences reminiscent of “Old Hollywood.”

· Contrast—Saturated color accents against a neutral backdrop of off whites, beiges and black and white, set the stage for this trend.

· Simplicity—Driven by consumers that demand multi-purpose products with style, the trend features clean lines, good design that will make life less hectic and more organized.

· “Green” Influence—No longer dull and boring, products that focus on going green add texture and style as well as being good for the planet.

Let us know if any of you have adopted any of these trends personally or what your thoughts are about the 2008 Design Trends.

Debra

Quick Thanksgiving Stuffing

Debra — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:14:32 +0000

Visit our website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and thoughts of the traditional meal are swimming around in your head. If thoughts of the usual Thanksgiving fare of turkey and stuffing are boring you, read on.

All stuffings are NOT created equal! There are many variations on this Thanksgiving staple. My family tends to stick with the very traditional approach of bread crumbs, onion, celery, lots of poultry seasoning and sage and always made moist with drippings from the turkey pan and chicken stock. (Make sure it’s moist!) We never stuff the turkey, but instead prepare a large pan of stuffing. (It’s a favorite at our house.) But stuffings can be made in a variety of ways and I ran across a recipe from Rachel Ray that besides being quick and easy, sounded like something you could make any day of the week. Here’s the recipe:

MUFFIN STUFFIN

Heat a large deep skillet over medium to medium-high heat with 5 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces. To melted butter, add bay, celery, apple, 1/2 of an onion and zucchini. Season the vegetables liberally with salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes or until softened.

Add crumbled muffins and sunflower seeds to the pan and combine with the vegetables. Season the stuffing with poultry seasoning then adjust salt and pepper. Dampen the stuffing with 1 1/2-2 cups of stock. Pile the stuffing into a serving dish.

Place in oven to just crisp up the top along with turkey or, if the pan does not fit, when the turkey comes out, switch on the broiler and crisp the top of stuffing - it should only take a couple of minutes, tops.

For this and other quick Thanksgiving recipes visit Rachel’s website.

I haven’t tried this yet, but plan to do so soon.

If anyone has a favorite recipe for Thanksgiving, or you decided to give Rachel’s “Muffin Stuffin” a try, please add a post to this blog.

Happy cooking!

Debra

Easy Plant Identification

Debra — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:22:15 +0000

Visit our website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

This came across my desk this week and I wanted to pass it along.

As an amateur gardener, I’ve run across a few plants I couldn’t identify. So, to find out what I was dealing with and how to care for the “mystery plants”, I’ve taken a clipping and headed for the nearest nursery. Now the information is available at your fingertips!

“Ask Mr. Smarty Plants” is a website authored by the University of Texas at Austin, that allows you to email a picture of your mystery plant and get a plant ID without having to trot down to your local nursery or garden center.

They ask you to provide them with some information and photo and they’ll do the rest. That is just too easy….no more mystery plants! Check out their website…

Keep checking back for more tips and news. You never know what I’ll post next!

Debra

Going Green with Pop Bottle Carpeting

Debra — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:14:30 +0000

Visit our website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

I found this new product so exciting that I wanted to share it with all of you. Greenlivingonline.com featured this story this month about carpeting that is made from recycled plastic pop bottles. They have been nicknamed Pop Bottle Carpets or Pet Carpets. (Probably because of their stain resistance properties)

The process is fairly straightforward. This unique flooring is basically made from recycled plastic, ground into fine chips, cleaned and melted. The liquid is then forced through molds that produce thin fibers. Those fibers are then spun into yarn and woven into carpets. The process itself was actually invented in the 1970’s. Currently Mohawk Carpets is offering up this alternative solution in about 30 colors.

And besides the recycling of the bottles, this carpeting is considered green because of the dyeing process which requires less energy and is less polluting. Good news for our environment! Benefits for us as consumers? Stain resistant, colorfast, durable and competitely priced.

For more information about Pet Carpets visit greenlivingonline.com or visit the Mohawk website for more information.

If anyone has purchased this product or has any additional knowledge, please post a comment on this blog.

Have a “Green” kind of day!

Debra

Tucson Home and Garden Spot wins award!

Debra — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:24:05 +0000

Visit our website: tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello Everyone!

I’m proud to report that Tucson Home and Garden Spot won a Judges Choice Award for our Booth Design at the recent SAHBA Home Show. Thanks to the designing eye of Kate Fox from the Rearrangers, our booth came together with flair. Also represented in our booth was Beautiful Paint & Design Concepts, Urban Garden & Home, Magellan Trading, Desert Survivors and Video City. A big thanks to everyone who participated in the show and gave up their weekend to greet the public and let everyone know what TucsonHomeandGardenSpot.com is all about!

Be sure to check our listings for all your home and garden needs. If you’re looking for something special and you can’t find it on our site, give us a call or send us an email. We want to be your source for all your home and garden needs.

Until next time, stay healthy and happy,

Debra

Tucson Home and Garden Spot at SAHBA Home Show

Debra — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 21:30:46 +0000

visit out website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone,

Great news! TucsonHomeandGardenSpot.com is going to have a booth at the SAHBA Home and Garden Show. The Home Show runs from Friday, October 12th through Sunday, October 14th at the Tucson Community Center. You can find us in booth #1922. If you’re planning a visit to the show, make sure to stop in and say hi. For more information about the show check out this link.

We’ll be displaying a sampling of the products and services you can find on our site. It’s our goal to be your number one choice for finding home and garden resources in Tucson. You can help by recommending businesses you think should be on our site. Just post a comment to this blog or go to the “Contact Us” page on our website. We welcome any and all feedback.

We’re also working on another radio show time slot. Right now it looks like we’re going to be back on the air in November. Check back with our Backyard Blog for updates on times…

Until next time,

Plant something and keep smiling!

Debra

Our Radio Show for August 31

Debra — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:22:58 +0000

Visit our website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

This week just zipped by! It’s almost time for another show. This show will be our last for awhile. What started

out as just a “fill-in” for another vacationing host has turned into a possible permanent show for Tucson Home and Garden Spot on Tucson’s JOLT! So keep checking this blog for updates about another time slot. We’ll keep you posted when that all comes together.

In the meantime, we’ve still got Friday’s show coming up. This week we’re going to be talking about Furniture & Accessories and how to put it all together. My first guest is Kevan Daniels of Magellan Trading and I’ve also got Interior Designer, Kate Fox from the Rearrangers joining us again. Kevan’s store is a delightful mix of treasures from around the world. From jewelry to mexican glassware, nativities, masks, primitive furniture and more, there is a lot of eye candy in this place!

Kate Fox has been designing interiors for many years. Among Kate’s many talents she is anKate has a great eye when it comes to pulling it all together. She loves to combine her client’s existing pieces along with a few new accents and make it all work. She works by the hour so hiring her for an overall “plan” can actually save you lots of money by preventing those decorating mistakes!

I’ve got some great trivia questions again this week, so tune in and test your knowledge. We’ve always got giveaways, even when you answer incorrectly!

Speaking of giveaways, a big thanks, AGAIN, to all the businesses that have continued to be generous with their merchandise and gift certificates: Magellan Trading, Dunn Edwards Paints, Fabrics That Go, Western Paint Distributors and Do It Yourself Pest and Weed Control.

So tune in, call in and let us what you think of the show! We’d love to hear from you! You can also post a comment to this blog.

Remember to stay cool and have a safe holiday weekend.

Until next time,

Debra

Tucson Water Garden Tour

Debra — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:52:39 +0000

Visit our website: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

For those of you that caught last week’s Tucson Home and Garden Spot Radio Show you heard Gail Barnhill from the Tucson Watergardeners talking all about water gardens, ponds and bogs. She also gave us information about this year’s annual water garden tour. Off air she was telling me about the incredible water gardens that are being featured on the tour. There will be all sizes and shapes represented; something for everyone regardless of your space or skill. For a mere $7.00 on Sunday, September 9th, from 8:00am to 4:00pm, you can treat yourself, get some ideas and view some amazing water gardens all over Tucson.

This is the ninth year for the tour and a portion of the proceeds go to assist area non-profit groups that want to build water gardens for educational purposes.

Tickets are being sold at the following locations:Civano Nursery, Magic Garden Nursery, Mesquite Valley Growers & Nursery, Natural Pools & Gardens, Rillito Nursery, Tohono Chul Park & Tucson Botanical Gardens or you can go the the Tucson Watergardeners website for tickets or more information.

Enjoy the tour and send me your comments about your experience! I want to hear from you.

Have a magical day,

Debra

Our Radio Show for August 24

Debra — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 20:15:04 +0000

Visit our website at: www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com

Hello everyone!

It’s time for Tucson Home and Garden Spot Radio Show. This week is a bit of home and garden potpourri as we go inside the house to talk about “Fabrics” and then we move outside to talk about “Watergardening.”

Robert Grunstein from Fabrics That Go is our fabrics expert. Robert grew up in the business and is the third generation of textile aficionados. The second half of our program we’re going to have Gail Barnhill from Tucson WaterGardeners telling us everything we need to know about watergardens and ponds.

I will have more trivia questions this week, so test your knowledge and tune in. Who knows, you could win a gift certificate from one of our businesses…

As always, we are so appreciative of the businesses that have agreed to provide giveaways for our program. Thanks to Fabrics That Go, Dunn Edwards Paints, Magellan Trading, Western Paint Distributors and Do It Yourself Pest and Weed Control.

Hope you can catch the show. We’re on every Friday from 5:00-6:00pm on 1330AM Tucson’s Jolt. If you don’t have a radio, try online at www.tucsonsjolt.com where they’re streaming live.

Until next week,

Debra