Lauritzen Botanical Gardens

There isn't a place more peaceful than the botanical gardens.  I've visited the Botanical Gardens of Atlanta, Dallas and the Lauritzen Botanical Gardens which is located in Omaha.  The Lauritzen is a tranquil place that has a ton of rare species of plants. This garden did not limit itself to just plants.  It also has a beautiful train track that runs through it.

The theme of trains are quite dominant throughout this botanical garden due to Omaha history with the railroad system.  There is also other themes such as the rose garden, children's garden and others.  My family has visited a few times and we really enjoyed it.

If you live in the Omaha or Area I suggest getting a membership and visiting frequently it is worth it. The Lauritzen Garden is located at : 100 Bancroft St, Omaha, NE 68108

The Sunflower Challenge

Sunflowers are a relatively easy plant to grow.  They usually take about
7 to 10 days to germinate from seed and  80 to 120 days to bloom.  The blooms usually stay last a long time and when they cease to bloom they are great for birds and squirrels to munch on.  I took a sunflower challenge with a few youtube friends and displayed beautiful flowers.  The fun thing about the challenge is that there are so many variety of sunflowers and different sizes. So you can decide to    grow sunflowers that have the traditional look, fuzzy flowers like teddy bear or sunflowers with a variety of colors.  I decided to purchase a mix of sunflowers so I could enter the best looking one in the contest.  But, this summer I want to grow something really tall so I might grow mammoth sunflower.

Garden Chatter

Although, gardening outdoors is seasonal there are things that can be done during the winter.  I usually purchase and research what seeds I am going to add to my garden. This is helpful since seeds are on sale and you can find great deals online.  You also can find pots cheaper during the fall and winter.  I also had to bring my plants indoor so I have been experimenting with grow lights.  Check out the video below of some of the seeds that I purchased.  

Strawberries are essental for the home garden

Strawberries are a absolute necessity for the garden, especially if you have children.  Nothing brings me more joy than watching my children eating June baring strawberries straight from our own garden.  The most rewarding thing about strawberries is how they reproduce quickly and in more than one way.  They throw out runners that create more strawberry plants  you can enjoy even more the next year.  The seeds also can plant themselves and spread. You can start with a few strawberries and essentially end up with a large strawberry patch.  It beats paying $3.50 at the grocery store a few times a month and it is a healthy lifestyle in general.  We just aren't eating as many fruit as we used to .  Check out the youtube video below of my garden.  I encourage you to grow your own strawberries, whether you plant them in the grow or in pots.  

Gardens and Grasshopper

Today's children don't get out enough and enjoy the sun.  It seems they are less in tune with nature and have compensated outdoor playtime with indoor video games.  I made it a priority to makes sure my son goes outside when the sun is out.  This way he is able to get in touch with nature and explore his environment.  During my sons playtime he discovered a variety of species of grasshoppers and how they have different looks, behaviors and abilities.  Check out the video below where he rants about different grasshoppers and tours the garden.

How To Grow Baobab Trees

I have always admired the beautiful Baobab tree.  I think it makes a wonderful bonsai. The trunk is so shapely, and it functions as a interesting way to store water. I know in the US its uncommon just grow a beautiful Baobab in your front yard due to the climate. Baobabs usually grow in Africa and Australia where it is warmer. But it is not impossible to grow them in the US.  

I started My Baobab from seed and it was not a hard thing to do!  I started my seeds with a unique process of using boiling water. Yes, you heard me right boiling water, a seed, and dirt was all I needed. .

I simply took the seeds and planted them 1/2 a inch deep in a pot of soil.  Then I poured the boiling water over the dirt and did not allow my plant to dry out. Keep in mind I  only used the boiling water method just once.  Once the plants sprouted I only watered when needed.

Please check the video below where I demonstrate the technique. Please subscribe to my YouTube channel because I am constantly finding interesting ways of growing amazing plants. If you would like to purchase baobab tree seeds they can be found at the following link.

July Update

                                     

Everything is vining and taking off.   The jellymelon is up and climbing the cucumbers are flowering and the corn is growing quickly.  Since, I am in an apartment I am not able to plant most of my plants into the ground.  So I grew most of my plants in containers.  I find that plastic planters hold water much longer than terra-cotta pots.  With terra-cotta pots you have to frequently water the plants.

I am most impressed with how the herbs are growing.  I grew moringa, lemon balm and basil.  The smell of the herbs are such therapy for me.  Moringa is also known as the miracle plant because it has a great reputation for healing many ailments. It has gained popularity as a medicinal herb over the past five years.

The basils I chose to grow are both the normal green basil and a beautiful purple basil.  The lemon balm is growing to be very bushy very quickly.  I will re-pot the lemon balm as soon as possible since lemon balm is known to spread out quickly.  Overall, July has been a gardening success.