Wind Chimes: The Chi in Your Garden

Scientist might not agree but wind chimes can powerfully influence your health, happiness, love life and your all around good fortune. Not only do wind chimes add artistic flare and acoustic serenity to your garden, they move Chi to bring positive energy to your surroundings.

Chi, also known as Qi, Ki and Prana, is the Chinese term for universal energy. Chi is everywhere; it's the life force that permeates our world.

The quality of the Chi you keep company with
determines the quality of your own energy and life force.

Think of how you feel in your beautiful garden, at church or in the company of a loved one. Now compare that to how you feel at a funeral or around angry people or frightening strangers. You have just experienced, in your mind, two very different qualities of Chi.

Naturally, we strive to be around life enhancing energy and avoid depressing or damaging elements, but sometimes the Chi in our environment just gets stuck. Use your imagination again and recall how stifling it feels in a basement or a room that has been closed off for awhile. Instinctively, we just want to fling open the windows and let the light and air in.

While a garden is hardly a place that needs light or air, areas can become stagnant and evoke a heavy feeling where even the hardiest of plants won't grow.

Feng shui, is the ancient Chinese practice of the proper placement of elements to enhance and increase a positive flow of energy. Proper placement in or outside the home is critical to keeping the Chi moving effectively.

Block the path for a smooth flow of Chi and you have blocked your and your plants' energy quality. According to the principles of feng shui, physical blocks can create energy blocks in your garden and eventually in your body if not corrected.

If you have an area with large plants or hedges, you have a disruption in the energy flow. Likewise if you have an area where plants have taken their last breath of carbon dioxide or where there is unpleasant noise such as traffic or barking dogs, you have tumultuous energy.

If your garden is uneven, Chi will settle and become stagnant in the lower areas. Try to hang a wind chime above the lowest point to lift the energy.

Wind chimes have been used for centuries to add a spiritual experience to the environment. They move stagnant air and increase energy with their physical movement, musical resonance and meditative vibrations. Wind chimes will restore balance and harmony to your garden and to your soul.

Solar Lights Up Your Garden

If you can't get enough of your garden during the day or just love the romance of midnight and roses, solar landscape lighting is for you.

Modern solar lighting is durable and comes in charming, elegance, sculptured and whimsical designs that light not only your roses but your patio, deck and pool while adding safety and security to driveways and walkways.

NO electricity means no fear of weather damage or risk of electrical shock even in water.  Solar lights have panels that absorb sunlight and recharge their NiCad battery during the day. Automatic sensors activate the light at dust and produce a beautiful soft white/blue LED light so you, your love ones and guests are never left out in the dark.

NO wiring, minimal installation effort and made of durable materials such as  stainless steel, polyresin, plastic and copper; solar lights are fast, easy and made to last.  The lights will run for eight to ten hours on one charge.

So What Are You Waiting For. Solar Light up that Garden Now

Solar Light Buying Tips

• To get it right, first scope out your property at sunset. No need to add lights next to a street light or a neighbor's porch light, which you may not even notice during the day!  Look for dark areas, line pathways and highlight your best work in the garden. Mark your spots and sleep on it.

• Next, check out your solar light markers during early, mid and late afternoon. Remember, solar lights need sunlight to charge. So that perfect spot may not be so perfect if it never sees the light of day.

• If you live in an area not so blessed with sunlight, buy solar lights with extra solar panels, more LED lights and longer battery life. Also check recharging time; some are as low as 2 hours while other lights require 6 hours of sunlight.

• Now, stake your solar lights and be patient. It may take several days for the panels to fully charge.  Wait for the brightest light then make any necessary adjustments. So easy, just unstake the light and restake in its new location until you get it just right. Do loosen the soil a bit if the stake doesn't go in easily.

• Solar lights look best when they aren't competing for attention and have something to show off! Don't put them near other artificial light sources or you will be robbed of their true beauty.

• How many do you need? That's a tough one with so many variables so you'll have to try a few and add more as desired. Don't go crazy and get more than you need - you can always get more. Lights usually come in packs  so pick up one or a few packs to get started.

Solar lights are so easy, lovely and inexpensive.
If they're not using solar lights, you're missing half the fun of your garden.

Gargoyles to Protect & Enchant

Who doesn't love a gargoyle. These little grotesque creatures  add character and intrigue to any garden.  If your garden is lacking one (or several) of these mystical friends, pick one up today.

Gargoyles stir our imagination. Where did the concept of these strange looking creatures come from and why were they cherished by so many different cultures. Their legend has been lost over time keeping their mystery alive forever. You can find gargoyles all over the world and while each is a product of artist liberty, over the centuries and across the globe, gargoyles remain unmistakingly gargoylic in makeup.

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Originally, gargoyles were artistic sculptures that served as waterspouts to project rainfall from roofs. The word gargoyle is derived from the French word for throat: gargouille. It's also where the word gargle originated. Gargoyles were used until the early eighteenth century when their adoring faces were replaced with functional and quite blasé looking downpipes.

The Egyptians used gargoyle water streams for washing their sacred vessels. The Greeks decorated their building with lion faces. East Indians called their gargoyles Yali and made them a welcome addition to their temples.

The creatures have also been discovered keeping watch in Japan, the Czech Republic, France, the U.S., Canada, Italy, England and South American. Their diligent eyes are likely keeping watch throughout the world, if not the universe.

Far from the demonic association that their reputation has fallen victim to over the years, the sole purpose of the gargoyles' villainy looks was meant as protection to its owners from evil spirits. As a testament to their gentle and benevolent nature, gargoyles stand watch as guardians on many churches and cathedrals.

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There are just a few caveats for owning a gargoyle:

• Due to their unique personalities and infused mystical spirit you would be wise to let your creature pick you.

• Make eye contact, gargoyles have no fear but to fully protect you, they will need to see through all of yours.

• Listen and through your own throat you will hear the intelligence of your new friend.

• Keep them in areas that need protection, they like to work for a living.

• Not all gargoyles like the great outdoors so if yours is an indoor creature, by all means let his protection be an inside job.

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If gargoyles aren't watching over you and your love ones, better get your protector today.

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Gardening Hand Tools

To get the job done right, you need the right tool. When ancient man, and likely woman, first decided to plant roots and cultivate instead of hunt and forage for food, they used their bare hands.

They soon found that running after gazelles was easier than digging in the dirt and soon the first gardening tool was born. Innovations in gardening tools have made all the difference in whether you struggle to maintain your garden or enjoy the fruits and beauty of it.

If it has been awhile since you updated your tool inventory, take a look at what's available.

Basic Tools Check List:

• Scissors: small, heavy duty and sharp for thinning. Don't try to get by with fabric or household shears, they simply won’t cut it.
• Pruners: small, heavy duty, comfortable hand held for managing overgrowth and thinning thicker and larger stems.
• Loppers: your basic hand pruner with long handles, for thinning the higher growth.
• Forks: hand held for weeding and loosening soil.
• Trowels: hand held mini-shovels to dig holes for seeding and transplanting.
• Dibbles: when forks are not enough you need this sharp pointed bladed tool for breaking through and turning hard soil.
• Bulb planter: get your bulb planting done correctly with this precise and quick digger.
• Hoses and trigger nozzles: retractable hoses and adjustable sprays will keep your garden area neat and your plants happy.
• Gloves and kneeling pads: connect to Mother Earth in comfortable with hand and knee protection.
• Hand caddy or carrier: keeping your tools organized, clean, and protected and always in reach will greatly enhance your gardening experience.

NOW GET YOUR TOOLS AND GET GARDENING!