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Ahhhh! Springtime! I love Spring, it is my favorite time of year. I can get my hands back in the dirt, and start working on my garden.

The trees are blooming, and everything is getting green. It is such a beautiful time of year.

Here is one of my favorite recipes to combat powdery mildew:
1 Tablespoon of Murphy’s oil soap
1 Gallon of water
3 Tablespoons of baking soda
A spray bottle, or sprayer
Mix all ingredients together and pour into the spray bottle, or sprayer. Spray on affected plants.

I know it’s not quite that time of year yet, but it never hurts to be prepared. When you don’t have recipes like this handy it is too easy to go purchase the first chemical remedy you see at the supermarket.

Another place to get great organic remedies (again it’s one of my favorite places)is Gardens Alive!

Several people have asked me what camera I use to take the photos I post here at Squidoo, and at The Virtual Garden at Squidoo, I have two cameras. When I am feeling serious about my pictures, and I need to get some special shots I use this camera: Nikon D70S 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm Nikkor Lens This is a great camera if you are trying to achieve special effects, or you need to use special lenses to get that perfect shot. I am not a technical camera person, with all the techno jargon. I just know I love this camera, and I can use it to get some great shots.

My other favorite toy, which I just got for Christmas last year is the Canon PowerShot A540 6MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom . I love this camera because it fits in my purse! I have it with me everywhere I go. I don’t have to miss a shot because I didn’t want to carry a big bulky camera along. It is easy to use, and takes beautiful pictures. Another thing I like about this camera is, it only needs two AA batteries to operate. It also doesn’t eat batteries as fast as some of the digital cameras I had in the past. I highly recommend this camera to anyone.

Are you ready to get physical? Gardening is great physical exercise, but if your only exercise over the winter was lifting the remote you may want to prepare for the gardening season ahead.

Taking a long walk or stroll and get back in touch with nature, it will also help you get your legs back in shape. Stroll down the street and check out what your neighbor has done in their garden.

Before you are bending and straightening to pull those weeds, you may want to do some toe touches, or knee bends to strengthen the backs of your legs. Do you remember last year when you could barely stand the day after you planted, and weeded for a couple hours?

If you have not been active during the winter, ease your way back into gardening slowly. Don’t start by working in your garden for five hours straight, or you may not be able to move the next day.

During the heat of the summer avoid working in the garden during the middle of the day. If the heat of the day is the only time you have to work in the garden you should take precautions not to overheat. Wear sunscreen, and a hat with a wide brim. Make sure you take frequent breaks, and find a shady spot to relax, and drink plenty of cool liquids to keep yourself hydrated. Or gather your children for an impromptu water fight to cool off.

Make sure you listen to your body, if it is screaming, “enough already!” Don’t push it. If you have heavy items to lift, ask for assistance. If you have more weeds than time to pull them, find a friend to help.

Most important of all, enjoy your garden! Gardening should be a pleasant experience, not something else to add stress to your life.

Need a way to spread those tiny seeds? Grab an old spice container, or parmesan cheese container. Put the seeds in the empty spice container, and twist the lid so the shaker holes are open. Shake out the seeds to spread them in the garden. The shaker helps spread the seeds evenly.

The tulips are blooming check out the blooms I caught on camera.

Here is a simple way to keep slimy green algae from growing in fountains and birdbaths. When you clean the birdbath or fountain and fill it with fresh water, add lavender flowers. Bind about eight lavender flowers together with a string or rubber band and lay the bundle in the water.

The anti fungal properties in the lavender will help keep the algae away for about two weeks. The lavender won’t stop algae already growing, but it will stop new growth. So it is important to wash out the fountain before adding the lavender bundle to get the best results.

Instead of buying expensive prepared seed tapes you can make your own. Cut newspaper into 1″ wide strips. Create a paste from flour and water about the consistency of thick gravy. Dot the paste on the newspaper strip at evenly spaced intervals and apply the seeds. Cover the seeds with more paste, then lay the seeds aside to dry. You can store the seed tapes in a plastic container or bag until you are ready to plant.

When you are ready to plant, simply roll out the seed tape, cover with soil and water them in with water mixed with your favorite organic fertilizer. The newspaper will rot away as the seeds grow.

Some herbs can be invasive, such as bee balm, costmary, mint, and wormwood. These herbs spread by aggressive underground runners. These herbs can still be enjoyed and controlled if you plant them in a container, or barrier the roots can’t penetrate.

Find an old bucket or pot. You want to look for a pot that will not rot or break under the ground. Be sure it is at least 6″ deep, and large enough to accommodate the plant, at the size you want it to be. Since these herbs soot their runners out to the side, you can punch small holes in the bottom of the pot for drainage.

Dig a hole in the garden and set the container in place. Make sure the rim is an inch or two above ground level so the runners can’t escape. Set the plant in the middle of the pot, and fill the pot with soil. If you want to hide the rim of the pot, place a layer of mulch around it.

Other herbs can spread aggressively by reseeding themselves, such as dill, lemon balm, chives, and purple perilla. The only way to control the spread of these herbs is by deadheading, or removing the spent flowers before they have a chance to produce seeds.

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