Everyone knows the importance of a diet rich in healthy fruits and vegetables.  Most people do not eat enough of these important foodstuffs, and increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables is probably the single most effective thing you can do to improve your overall health.  Eating enough fruits and vegetables does not need to be a chore.  After all, fruits and vegetables are delicious, easy to buy and easy to use.

In addition, fruits and vegetables are rich sources of antioxidants, which are thought to play an important role in maintaining good health.  Antioxidants have been studied for their effectiveness at preventing cancer, heart disease and even reversing the signs of aging.  Also, fruits and vegetables are excellent source of trace elements and other micronutrients.  These important elements are not available in any vitamin pill; they must be obtained from the daily diet.

<b>Tips for choosing the best fruits and vegetables:</b>

When possible, choose the freshest fruits possible.  Fresh fruits and vegetables may contain more nutrients than frozen or dried varieties.

Even though fresh is best, frozen and canned vegetables are great for out of season varieties.  When buying canned fruits, avoid those packed in syrup and opt for those packed in water or juice. When buying canned vegetables avoid buying those with large amounts of salt and sugar added.

Choose fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors.  Not only are bright, colorful fruits more attractive, but the different colors indicate different types and amounts of nutrients.  For instance, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables are good sources of beta carotene, while dark green leafy vegetables are rich in vitamin C and calcium.

Be careful when cooking vegetables.  A quick steam in the microwave with minimal water added is the best way to prevent loss of nutrients when cooking.

Keep your vegetables healthy by adding minimal butter, margarine and oil, although it is far healthier to avoid adding these fats.  Most vegetables can be flavored using a stock, if need be, a low fat yogurt or fresh fruit pieces.

Sue Baker
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/essential-tips-for-healthy-eating-with-fruits-and-vegetables-736875.html

From decorative trees such as evergreens, that just sit there and don’t drop their leaves in fall, to fruit trees which can provide you with apples or cherries in season, the choices of trees for your landscape are endless.

A lush green lawn is one of the joys of a backyard – providing plenty of room for children to play tag or catch, for those with a green thumb to indulge in their passion for gardening. And then there’s the people who simply like to sit on the patio and enjoy the beautiful landscape that has been created for them by others.

But whatever your landscape looks like, it has to be maintained, and one of the most time consuming tasks in caring for a front or back lawn is mowing. Unless you obtain a robot mower that does everything on its own (available now, these mowers cost more than the average homeowner cares to spend.)

One way to cut the maintenance time of mowing your lawn…is to reduce the size of the mowing area by breaking up the lawn with additions of flower beds, vegetable beds, herb gardens and trees.

If you currently have no trees in your lawn, and want to add some – not only to cut down on your mowing time but also because you think they might look quite attractive in your landscape – there are a few things you need to consider. First, just as you need to mow your lawn regularly every summer, come the fall – do you want to spend the first three weeks of the season constantly raking fallen leaves?

You will not be planting tree seeds, of course, but rather saplings that have already grown for a couple of years. These saplings can either be of decorative trees or fruit trees – each one requiring its own particular type of care.

Plant To A Plan
Once you’ve decided on what type(s) of trees you want to get, you’ll know if they need a lot of sunlight, or only a little sunlight. Then you must decide where to put them in your yard. If you want trees that require a lot of sun – there’s no point in planting them in an area that doesn’t get enough sun.

Don’t plant any trees within ten feet of your home. The root system can grow into your basement, for example, and during wind storms broken branches can damage your roof. (Once the tree grows that high, of course!) And never plant near overhead power lines.

On the other hand, don’t plant trees too close to your sidewalks. Kids like to climb on trees – and if they fall off and break an arm it will be you who is liable, regardless of how many times you told those same kids not to climb on your trees.

Call Before You Dig
One you’ve decided where your trees need to be planted for the appropriate amount of sunlight, and for the appropriate type of soil and drainage – you must call your local utility company to find out if there are any power lines running through your property. Indeed, in most cases it is the law that you must do so.

Mr.Andrew Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/trees-a-beautiful-addition-to-your-landscape-126812.html

In mid-summer the perennial border is at its peak with a wide variety of sun-loving flowers in bloom. There are even some long lasting, early blooming flowers still providing color as well as some signs of the later blooming perennials. Choose flowers for the mid-season garden which work well with your favorite annuals. Annuals are at their peak during the mid-summer months. Fully leafed out shrubs can serve as a wonderful back drop to the garden and the yet to bloom perennials act as great filler giving the garden as lush look.

Perennial and annuals are the focus of the mid-season garden. With a few exceptions most of the flowering tree and shrubs have finished blooming by the middle of summer. Autumn foliage is still a few months away. Flower gardens are in full bloom, however. Lingering until mid-season are some of the spring bloomer and toward the end of this period, the late season bloomers begin to show some signs of flowering.

Where as the early border consists of those flowers which are suitable for the shade and the woodland garden, the mid-season border revolves around the more sun loving varieties of flowers. They’re also, in general, taller than the spring perennials. Many of the these perennials have been cultivated from the wildflower prairies of the mid-west.

Daisies are a classic summer flower. They produce abundant flowers in a variety of colors and sizes. After flowering, deadhead the stems to encourage a flush of new growth. Hollyhock and delphinium are old fashioned, tall growing colorful perennials for the full-sun garden. They’re both suitable for the cottage garden. Daylily, another classic mid-season bloomer, offers an abundance of short lived flowers. Lady’s Mantle, a great edging perennial with yellow flowers, and geranium, a low growing flower are ideal for the front of a perennial garden.

Blooming along with the perennials and annuals are hydrangeas, one the most versatile shrubs available to the gardener. In fact, they are indispensable in the garden for summer color and foliage texture. No garden is complete without them.

Hydrangeas prefer part shade, rich organic soil and afternoon shade after some morning sun. If they get shade in the morning and sun in the afternoon they may look stressed due to the sudden rise in temperature. Hydrangeas need lots of water especially young plants since they tend to dry out quickly during the hot weather. After planting be sure to mulch well. Fertilize the shrubs in the spring and then again in late summer.

Lacecap hydrangeas are identified by its ring of flowers surrounding a center of florets and nikko blue hydrangeas by their large pom-pom like flowers.

Oak leaf hydrangea has a much different appearance than the other hydrangeas as its leaves resembles that of the oak. Its white blooms fade to pink in fall. Climbing hydrangeas are a white blooming, deciduous vine which clings to garden structures, walls and fences with aerial roots.

Hydrangeas are treasured for their long lasting, summer blooming flowers. Whether among a shrub border, climbing a wall or planted on its own as an accent shrub, hydrangeas are a beautiful addition to any garden.

Since there are so many summer blooming flowers to chose from, plan your garden in advance, before you plant. Though you’ll probably find a plant you haven’t thought of, you’ll be glad you have a prepared list when you get to the greenhouse.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/colorful-summer-gardens-94970.html

If you are looking for stones to use in your landscaping design, then you are in luck. Stones for landscaping come in a wide variety of different colors and sizes to enable you to find exactly the right look for your particular landscaping design.

Finding the Right Stones
You may be able to find some great stones in your own yard. If you live in an area that is rocky, then you may be able to find some rocks simply by digging in your yard. Your landscaping design will thank you for the added visual interest and texture.

Purchasing Stones for Landscaping
You should have no difficulty in finding stones to purchase for your landscaping design. Most garden stores and home improvement stores carry a wide variety of different colored and sized stones. You may also be able to locate a private landscaping company that sells stones, as well. They may even deliver them right to your home if needed.

Color and Shape Variety
You will be able to find any color, shape, or sized stone that you want or need for your landscaping plan. You can find anything from perfectly round stones that are manufactured to more natural looking stones that are more free-formed in size and shape.

Stone Retaining Walls
Stones can be used for other purposes besides a walkway. If you see a retaining wall in your landscaping plan, then using stones or rocks will be great. Stones and rocks will help give your landscaping design beauty and security.

Borders and Gardens
If your flowerbed or garden needs a border, then stones and rocks are a great choice. They will help to enhance the beauty of your garden or pond. They can add color and texture to your garden to make it more visually appealing and interesting.

Best Stones To Use
Two of the many kinds of stones are flagstone and river rock. These rocks are great for any landscaping project – from retaining walls to borders to stepping stones. Flagstone comes in many different colors to help match your outdoor décor. River rock is a little smaller in size, but it comes in the same variety.

If you need to fill in areas, then river rock is an excellent choice for this purpose, too. It will work well to keep weeds from coming up in spaces left in flowerbeds.

Using landscaping stones will most assuredly add beauty and interest to your landscaping design. Why not try it?

A.Caxton
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/using-stones-in-your-landscaping-design-93915.html

Whether your sending Birthday Flowers toy your beloved, a relative or a friend, A Birthday Flower Delivery is a perfect and cheerful gift. Birthday Flowers can match the recipient’s personality, be a bouquet of their birth month flowers or a just a bright arrangement reflecting your affection for them. Birthday Flowers can vary for a formal or informal occasion, a big birthday or whether they are for a man or woman. Order Birthday Flowers such as a bouquet of fragrant roses or an elegant arrangement of exotic orchids for someone your love. A basket of spring flowers will symbolize tenderness and admiration for a young woman. If Birthday Flowers are being sent to a man, consider a bouquet of tulips or an elegant rose arrangement.

Send Birthday Flowers: Birthday Flowers are a warm way to send wishes to someone special on their birthday. Birthday Flower Arrangements Birthday Flower Bouquets can vary according to the person and occasion. For a more formal celebration, chose an elegant arrangement of roses, graceful orchids or a variety of sophisticated but cheery flowers in a tall vase or beautiful basket. For an informal setting or arrangement, Order Birthday Flowers such as a sunny arrangements of daisies, seasonal flowers, a sweet-smelling bouquet of orange roses, a mixed variety of flowers or a garden basket. If you are recognizing a special birthday, send an impressive arrangement with number of flowers for marking each birthday year such as forty or fifty bright long-stemmed roses. Send Happy Birthday Flowers to commemorate their special day.

Birthday Flowers by Month: Birthday are a perfect occasion to send a loved one flowers, be it a friend, a family member or someone you have a relationship with Learn about Birthday flowers and which flower to send based on their birth month flower.

AQUARIUS (February Birthday Flower) Jan 20-Feb 18 Daffodil and Primrose
PISCES (March Birthday Flower) Feb 19-Mar 20 Freesia and Cineraria 
ARIES (April Birthday Flower) Mar 21-Apr 20 Tulip and Calceolaria 
TAURUS (May Birthday Flower) Apr 21-May 20 Iris and Hydrangea 
GEMINI (June Birthday Flower) May 21-Jun 20 Alstromeria and Geranium 
CANCER (July Birthday Flower) Jun 21-Jul 21 Rose and Gloxinia 
LEO (August Birthday Flower) Jul 22-Aug 21 Carnation and Begonia 
VIRGO (September Birthday Flower) Aug 22-Sep 22 Gladiolus and Chrysanthemum  
LIBRA (October Birthday Flower) Sep 23-Oct 22 Dahlia and Cyclamen 
SCORPIO (November Birthday Flower) Oct 23-Nov 21 Gerbera and African Violet  
SAGITTARIUS (December Birthday Flower) Nov 22-Dec 20 Anemone and Azalea 
CAPRICORN (January Birthday Flower) Dec 21-Jan 19 Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia

Flower Guru
http://www.articlesbase.com/gifts-articles/birthday-flowers-know-before-sending-715296.html