How to Surround Yourself with Your Personal Rainbow

Before you put a new coat of paint on the wall, you need to consider what colors you want for your palette.  Don’t be overwhelmed because it really can be as simple as these 8 steps!  And afterall, it is only paint, and so transforming.

Here are 8 tips for choosing color and a palette:

1. Go to your closet.  Look at what you have. There is a reason you gravitate to those shirts and jackets of yours!
2. Find a piece of fabric you love with several colors that work together well and use this as your color scheme. It takes a lot of the thinking out of it!
3. Start small and pick 5 colors for your home. This breaks it down and simplifies your palette:

* A white/ or black for moldings, doors, ceilings, or a pop
* A neutral to bring everything together – a hall or a ceiling
* A color of your choice
* Another coordinating color of your choice
* Yet another coordinating color of your choice

This way you have colors that are pulled together and you know what you love! Now collect as many paint chips or samples as you can and play with them at different times of day with different lighting and narrow down the paint colors you love!


4.  Decorate your space from dark to light, vertically.
   A real “cookbook” way to make any space look good without much risk, is to use darker color values for the floor, medium color values for the walls and light values for the ceiling.
5. Use the color wheel.
   In general, colors next to each other on the color wheel, such as blue and green — are more casual and relaxing, and work best in informal or private spaces. This is a good strategy for a bedroom, where you want to rest and recover.
   Whatever color scheme you choose, put something black in every room. The black clarifies all the rest of the colors in the room. Try a black lampshade, a black vase or a black picture frame.
6. Use the rule of 60-30-10.
   When decorating a space, divide the colors in the space into components of 60 percent of a dominant color, 30 percent of a secondary color and 10 percent of an accent color. The walls will most likely be the majority, the upholstery would represent the secondary color and accessories such as a floral arrangement or throw pillows would make up the rest.The colors are properly balanced and there is a shot of color (the 10 percent color) for interest.



7. Go with the architecture.
   If you have a small room in your house, don’t paint it white to make it seem bigger. Instead, cozy up to its architecture with a rich, warm color scheme. Let your big rooms expand with light, and your small rooms wrap you up and nurture you.
8. Follow your personal style.
   If you decorate honestly, other people will appreciate it because it’s you, even if they’d never decorate their own house in the same way. That means if you want to make every room in your house red, white and blue, go for it. You can make any color look good as long as it’s your taste.

Once you’ve gotten the courage and the time to downsize your stuff, (your closets, the garage, that junk drawer,) getting your junk that you know is someone else’s treasure into the right hands, makes the de-cluttering process so much easier and so much better.

Here is our Home Wizards list of where and how to donate just about anything to someone who can really use it! Happy Spring Cleaning, Organizing and freeing your mind and space of stuff you really don’t love or need.

Books

www.booksforsoldiers.com  They will ship your books to American soldiers deployed around the world. Paperbacks are preferred.  www.bookcrossing.com You label your book, give it to someone or leave it somewhere like the post office, and if whoever picks it up registers the tracking number, you can follow your book’s travels. Almost seven million books are visiting 130 countries through BookCrossing.  www.bookstoprisoners.net will mail your old books to prisoners. www.paperbackswap.com You can trade books on this site. You pay postage to mail your books to members who request them, and you get books you ask for mailed to you without a charge!

Specialty or Collectible Items

Have a set of dishes missing a couple of plates? Individual pieces will sell on eBay

Building Supplies & Appliances

www.habitat.org  Donate your reusable and surplus building materials and appliances to Habitat’s “Restore” outlets.  Proceeds fund Habitat homes.

Cell Phones

www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com takes donated phones, sells them to a recycling company and then proceeds buy calling cards for soldiers.  www.wirelessfoundation.org has a donate a phone program that lets local groups collect used wireless phones with proceeds serving as a fundraiser for the local organizations. Also Verizon Wireless refurbishes donated phones for use by victims of domestic violence.

Computers and Electronic “e” Waste

www.earth911.com has links to local recyclers and refurbishers.

Prom Dresses

www.donatemydress.org provides prom dresses to girls who won’t have a gown for the ball. You can also sell prom dresses with no fees – buyers pay the shipping, at www.smashion.com

Clothing

Goodwill, Salvation Army and Big Brothers Big Sisters – www.goodwill.org, www.salvationarmyusa.org, www.bbs.org. Old Towels, Linens and Rugs – the ASPCA, and the Humane Society – always needs rags, towels of all kinds for pet bedding and pet baths and surgeries.

Kid’s Clothing

www.jcfsale.com Just Between Friends is a franchise the sponsors children’s and maternity consignment sales events around the country.

Worn-Out Clothing

Even if it’s torn or stained, the Goodwill and the Salvation Army will turn it to rag pickers for recycling!

Shoes

www.soles4souls.org Help children in Haiti who can’t go to school or church unless they have shoes.

What is your donation worth?

Check the value guides at Goodwill Donation Value Guide and The Salvation Army.

Who doesn’t love to receive fresh flowers?

When I recently got a vase of Peruvian Lilies, aka Alstromeria, I realized, it’s time to plant a few of them in my garden to have fresh flowers that really last. These stay fresh up to 3 weeks!

First, to begin your cutting garden, figure out the location, the sunlight and the soil, if it holds water or drains quickly. Perennials are the backbone of any cutting garden because these guys live and bloom for years. Staggering the bloom time you will have plenty of fresh cut flowers from Spring, to Summer to Fall!
Consider making it part of your vegetable garden. This is a production garden; created to be cut down, so do not worry about design correctness.

Here are some of my favorites:

Alstromeria

Alstroemeria, also known as the Peruvian Lily, is a perennial flowering plant native to South America. The plant flowers in the garden in spring thru summer and produces lily-like blooms in colors of white, yellow, orange, pink, red and purple. The flowers are often streaked with darker colors and appear in loose clusters. Alstroemeria flowers are commonly used in arrangements and as cut flowers but are quite easy to grow. Plants can be left undisturbed for years once planted, and require only minimal maintenance once established.

Columbine

From April to June, columbines are beautiful. The petals have spurs that project behind the flower which gives them an unusual look. And the long stem is great for cutting and in a vase. In cooler climates the plants can tolerate sun, but require shade in warmer climates, and enjoy rich well drained soils. Cut when the blooms just begin to open.

Dianthus

From lowly groundcovers to the taller varieties, dianthus performs well in almost any garden. They bring a spicy fragrance to your garden and now your home when you cut them for display. Dianthus do best in full sun and come in colors ranging from pure white to purple. The lovely grey green foliage makes a nice contrast to the flowers

Peonies

These are a must for any cutting garden, easy and hardy. They love full sun but can handle some shade.The colors range from white to red with a few yellow varieties. The double flowers tend to be the most fragrant, but single flowers have a lovely form.

Oriental poppy

These look like large crepe paper and are very showy. They love full sun and well- drained soil but only bloom a few short weeks. Cut the flowers in the cool morning before the flowers fully open.

Summer Color

As the warmer weather of summer approaches, the spring bloomers slip away, replaced by the incredible array of summer bloomers.

Shasta daisy

White daisies compliment any flower arrangement and the perennial Shasta daisies are great bloomers. As a cut flower it is excellent due to its sturdy stem that holds up well in arrangements. Plant is full sun, and be prepared to share this plant with friends since the clumps will grow quickly.

Delphinium

The tall stately beauties of the cutting garden, these plants produce masses of flowers. Strong stems make them great cut flowers in arrangements. Known best for brilliant blue flowers, they also come in pink, red and white. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil for the best results.

Coneflowers

Native to the North American plains, coneflowers have lovely flowers with drooping petals. These hardy, adaptable plants produce excellent cut flowers and deserve a place in any cutting garden. The standard coneflower has bright pink flowers, but ‘White Swan’ is an excellent cultivar with white flowers. Exciting new coneflowers varieties now come in shades of mango, orange and gold. Look for ‘Sunrise’, ‘Sunset’, and Sundown’ if you want these colors in your garden. Coneflowers tolerate many different conditions but do enjoy a fair amount of sun, and can be cut at any time. At the end of the season, don’t remove the spent flowers, the birds love the seeds.

Phlox

If fragrance is a must in your garden, be sure to plant phlox! Ranging from white to purple, you are sure to find a phlox that fits your garden needs. Look for varieties resistant to powdery mildew, a common problem of this plant. “David’, has wonderful white flowers and is very disease resistant. ‘Robert Poore’ has rosy purple flowers with strong stems for cutting. Lovely lilac blooms and sweet scent make ‘Franz Schubert’ one of my favorite phlox. When half of the flowers are open is the best time to cut to take in for arrangements.
zones 4 to 8

Russian Sage

This plant packs a punch! The silvery green foliage contrasts nicely with the lovely spikes of lavender blue flowers and an added bonus is the herb like fragrance of the plant. Russian sage blooms till frost and produces plenty of flowers. Plant size reaches four to five feet tall by three to four feet wide, with an open airy look. Tolerant of poor soil, drought and a range of pH, Russian Sage can grow in a variety of conditions. This plant deserves a sunny place in any cutting garden. Cut when most of the flowers are open.
zones 3 to 9

Coreopsis

For your garden border, try coreopsis. Growing from 8 inches to 2 feet, these sun loving plants produce flowers for a long period of time. Thread leaf coreopsis, has fern like foliage and blooms profusely. The yellow, pink or red flowers are small but the foliage adds a nice texture to an arrangement. Taller growing ‘Early Sunrise’ has large, bright yellow semi-double flowers and is one of my favorite coreopsis. Harvest when the flowers are open.

Blanket flower

Easy to grow Blanket flower is a lovely addition to the cutting garden. The daisy like flowers have yellow tips and rust centers and a long bloom time. For dwarf plants look for ‘Goblin’ and ‘Baby Cole’. ‘Burgundy’ is taller and has solid red flowers while Dazzler’ had the bicolor red and yellow flowers. ‘Red Plume’ has a dark red, double flower .Plant them in full sun and well drained soil then sit back and enjoy. Cut the flowers when they are fully open.

Fall Bloomers

When cool weather arrives, the summer perennials decide they are done, and the fall bloomers begin their show.

Sneezeweed

Once used in place of snuff to induce sneezing, this wildflower is finding a home in the fall garden. The yellow, orange or red daisylike flowers open in late summer and the plant grows 3 to 5 feet.. This plant is excellent if you have clay soil and enjoys a sunny spot. Cut when the flowers just open.
zones 3 to 9

Goldenrod

Because ragweed and goldenrod bloom at the same time, goldenrod has long been wrongly blamed for causing hay fever. This incredible plant is finally getting the respect it deserves in the fall garden. Unlike native goldenrods, the new varieties are more compact and less invasive. ‘Fireworks’ grows three feet and blooms vigorously till frost .’Golden Fleece’ is a more compact variety that grows about 18 inches tall. Give goldenrod plenty of sun and once they are established, they are tolerant of drought. Cut these flowers when some of the florets are just opening

Asters

In shades of pink, red, purple, blue and white, these delicate daisy-like blossoms add punch to the autumn garden. There is an abundance of varieties available, with dwarf plants and ones that grow 3-5 feet. I particularly love the dark purple of the ‘Purple Dome’ and the brilliant red of ‘Winston Churchill’. The airy foliage is a nice contrast to the flowers and helps fill in fall bouquets. Give them a sunny site and enjoy the show. Cut the flowers when most of the flowers are open.

Turtle head

Don’t let the name of this perennial put you off! Nick-named for blossoms shaped like turtles heads, this plant adds a lot of interest to the fall garden. Coming in shades of white, pink or red, turtle head has attractive foliage and generally, the plant is 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Partial shade to full sun and a consistently moist to wet, organic soil are ideal conditions for growth. Cut the flowers when they are just opening.

Japanese Anemone

Tall and stately, the anemones add pink or white flowers to the fall garden. An excellent selection is ‘Honorine Joubert’. This vigorous plant grows up to five feet and produces masses of single white flowers. ‘Max Vogel’ is another tall plant with single pink flowers. Where you need a shorter plant, look for ‘Prince Henry’. It only reaches two feet and had semi-double flowers that are rosy pink. Japanese anemones need well draining soil and shade. Cut the flowers as the buds open.
zones 5 to 8

Sedum

Sedum makes a great cutting garden plant. It requires minimal attention and is drought tolerant. ‘Autumn Joy’ is the traditional variety but newer varieties such as ‘Bertram Anderson, ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Matrona’ are excellent choices. Give sedum full sun and well-drained soil and sit back and enjoy the show. Cut when most of the florets are open.

Tips to keep your cutting garden plants alive longer!

1. Use clippers or shears instead of household scissors to avoid crushing the plants vascular system and prevent proper water uptake
2. Remove all the lower foliage that would be submerged in water. This will retard bacterial growth, which shortens the vase life of flowers and makes the water smell foul.
3. Professional florists and commercial growers always use lukewarm water for their cut flowers. The water temperature should be 100°F to 110°F. (An exception is when you are using bulb flowers, such as hyacinths and tulips, which need cold water.) Warm water molecules move faster than cold water molecules and so can be absorbed by flowers with greater ease. The objective is to get water and nutrients as quickly as possible to the head of the flower.
4. Remember flowers need 3 ingredients to survive: carbohydrates, biocides, and acidifiers. Carbohydrates ( sugar, 7-up) are necessary for cell metabolism; biocides ( bleach, aspirin) combat bacteria and are necessary for maintaining plant health; acidifiers ( vinegar) adjust the pH of water to facilitate and increase water uptake.

Homemade Flower Preservative

Home mixes can be as effective as commercial preservatives. This easy-to-make recipe is my favorite.
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon household bleach
2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice
1 quart lukewarm water

5. Cut the stems underwater always – When you cut it in open air it exposes the veins, and prevents the plant from absorbing the maximum needed water.
6. Cut stem at an angle to open up more stem to pull in more water
7. Put freshly cut flowers in container full of water that is slightly acidic to prevent the cuts on stems from sealing up – add vinegar or lemon juice.

Bring the Scent of a Spa to Your Rooms

The secret to giving your home that spa like scent is as easy as these 5 oils you can keep in a spray bottle mixed with water, an oil diffuser or cotton balls in a dish. Here we talk about how the different scents will make you feel – so add these oils to your shopping list the next time you are at a vitamin or health food store:

Lavender, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lemon Oil, Tea Tree Oil

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