CasaSugar

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 05:30:26 -0800

This flower has one of the most fabulous scents in the flora world (in my humble opinion), and is native to the eastern Mediterranean region. Can you tell me its name?

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0800

I've been forcing these bulbs at my house. Can you tell me what they're called?

Open House: Holiday Flowers

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:00:25 -0800

One of my friends presented me with two forced paper white narcissus bulbs a few weeks ago. The bulbs had barely started to sprout, but they'd sunk down roots into the watery pebbles in their container. Then, a few days before our annual holiday party, the bulbs had a growth spurt, and sprouted delicate, white flowers for the party. What perfect timing! Unfortunately, some of the other bulbs that I'm forcing look like they're going to bloom right around Christmas - when I'm in Wisconsin visiting my extended family.

Have you forced any bulbs this holiday season? Have you made it a tradition to do so? If not, what holiday flowers do you decorate with? Do you have favorites, or do you range all over the floral map?

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Garden Therapy: Inside Inspiration

CasaSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:00:20 -0700

I recently cashed in the Smith and Hawken gift certificate that my mom, auntie, and grandmother gave me as a bridal shower present. These green ceramic pots caught my eye, so I bought a trio of them to use for an indoor plant project.

To see how I'm using them, read more.

I'm using them to force hyacinth bulbs! Instead of pebbles, I used plate shards from a mosaic project to anchor the bulbs. So far, so good. The bulbs have put down good roots, and they're in a shady spot to encourage growth. I just have to make sure to keep these little guys watered!

How Big Is Your Bulb Know-How?

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:24 -0700

Now's the time to get those Fall bulbs in the ground! Do you know the who, what, when, where, and how of Fall bulb planting? Take my quiz to test your knowledge.

Question 1 of 5

Which of the following bulbs should you NOT plant in the Fall?

Did You Force Any Bulbs This Winter?

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:00:53 -0700

Source

Garden Therapy: Preventing Creatures From Eating Fall Bulbs

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Ann Whitman, the green goods supervisor at Gardener's Supply, recently offered some advice for preventing squirrels, deer, and other critters from digging up and destroying your Fall bulbs. Check out her tips below.

Squirrels love to dig in newly disturbed soil, so prevent them from exploring by disguising your newly planted bulbs. Cover the planting area with rocks, boards, buckets, or chicken wire. Once the ground freezes, you can move the rocks or other materials.
Since deer don't care about bulbs until the Spring, protect tender leaves by covering them with wire mesh once they start popping up next Spring.
Avoid damage from chipmunks and voles by surrounding bulbs with sharp gravel and oyster shell. You can also plant them inside a wire cage.
Deter rascally rabbits by spraying repellents, such as Liquid Fence, or predator urine, around bulbs in the Spring.
Try planting bulbs that animals find unappealing. Chief among these are daffodils, alliums, fritillaries, grape hyacinths, and many other spring-flowering bulbs.

Source: Flickr User Gilles Gonthier

Casa Quickie: Extend Your Forced Bulb Blooms

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 06:15:49 -0800

If you're forcing bulbs this Winter, you don't want your hard work to disappear in the blink of an eye! When your bulbs bloom, try to keep them in a cool area to extend their flowering lifespan. After you're done displaying them for the day, keep them in a cooler section of your house or basement. The cooler temperatures will help the bulbs to keep their flowers longer, since dry and overheated homes tend to cause the flowers to fade quickly. Also keep the flowers well watered and out of direct sunlight.

Open House: What's Blooming?

CasaSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:30:23 -0700

My front porch is overwhelmed with the scent of freesia and jasmine flowers right now. Of course, since I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'm pretty lucky to always have something in bloom here. When I lived in the Midwest, I remember the thrill of seeing the first crocuses peek through the melting snow. In this photo, daffodils are dappling the US capitol with brilliant Spring colors. Are Spring flowers peeking through the soil at your home? Have you planted any annuals? Did you plant any bulbs that are now blooming? Tell me about your home's flower power!

Source

Found It! Gender-Neutral Bedroom Table Lamp

CasaSugar — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:30:11 -0700

I noticed that several of you mentioned your love for the table lamp in my recent gender-neutral bedrooms slideshow. I'm with you on that one; it's definitely a statement piece and it does a fabulous job of picking up the subtle blue colors in the bedding. Lucky for you, I know who makes the lamp, and I've actually written about the designer before. To hear where it's from, read more.

The lamp is the Doug Buffet Lamp ($500) by Stray Dog Designs, who also designed this Crave Worthy lamp. The lamp is made from hand-painted tinplate, has a paper shade, and can take a three-way bulb. I love its spiky flower finial; it really makes the lamp. It's also available in green . . . if you're into that kind of thing.