One of the major concerns for the herb gardener is how to protect plants from insects, plant diseases, and even animals such as deer from nibbling away at their prize herbs. Companion plants are the natural bug repellants for the home herb garden. They not only aid other plants to grow better, but they deter insects, disease, and animals from eating anything in close proximity. In so doing, they protect your plants without you having to use expensive insecticides which enable you to stay organic. This is particularly important since much of what you grow you probably intend to eat. There are many herbs and flowers that act as companion plants. While you can certainly experiment, start with plants that are native to your area that insects already recognize. Some of the more popular companion plants used as natural bug repellents are:Anise – attracts wasps that will devour aphids that attack nearby plants. Basil – repels flies and mosquitoes.Borage -- repels tomato hornworms, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, and cabbageworms, but attracts bees and wasps.Catnip – repels mice, ants, aphids, flea beetles, and weevils. Chives – drives away Japanese beetles and carrot [more..]

Built as far back as 1760 by Mysore ruler Haider Ali, the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden is a sprawling parkland of 240 acres in the heart of Bangalore's breathtaking suburbs. Originally constructed in the style of a Mughal garden, this idyllic landscape has seen its shape and form evolve over the centuries at the hands of British and Indian horticulturists. Renowned worldwide for its botanical artwork, plant conservation and progress in the scientific study of plants, this at once formal and informal garden is a true landmark in the garden city of India, Bangalore. Lind with paved paths, walkways, open and shaded spaces fountains, lotus pools and lawns, Lal Bagh offers guests a tranquil haven away from the bustle of the city. Bordered by a stone walled enclosure, four gates open the garden's lush landscapes to the masses. Home to an extensive collection of exotic flora sand plant varieties, today the garden displays nearly 1854 plant varieties and 673 genera of plants. Housing a plethora of native plants the garden also boasts plant species from across the globe including Eriobotrya japonica, Couroupita guianensis, Cola acuminate, Corypha umbraculifera and Castanospermum austral. Other [more..]

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> If you are looking for modern house designs especially designed for style and functionality, then choosing Minimalist house designs and plans is right for you. It makes use of clean, geometric lines to create a sleek look. This is great for house design with limited area space. You will be able to make full use of all the space. It is simple, stylish and effective. To achieve a full minimalist effect, most houses use multiple function elements. The heater, for example, could be directly installed in the floors or walls.   Lighting is also very important when it comes to minimalist architecture. It makes use of only high quality lights, because the idea is to create a simple effect. Also, the colours black and white are very common. They are usually the basic colour of minimalist design houses. Sometimes, dark wood is also used for the floors. The roofs are usually flat, unlike regular houses. This is to further create a simple effect. It pays attention to the cleanliness of the joints of the walls as well. This is another reason why [more..]

When it comes to large garden designs my first piece of advice is to get in touch with a professional garden designer. Having such a large open space probably means that you will need an expert to help you plan out a beautiful, effective and manageable garden. After all the bigger the space the bigger the project! However there are plenty of designs for you to consider and plenty of research for you to do. One of the main problems with substantial gardens is filling the space with a variety of plants, trees, grasses, colours, fragrances, pathways and patios. Much of the time people get this wrong by simply having too much of the same look or simply so much variety that the garden looks thrown together. So plan your garden carefully and think about your end goal. It can be a great help to divide your garden into several sections or even rooms. For example think about having a patio and seating area for entertaining guests in one area and a formal Edwardian style herb garden in another. When designing and researching be careful not to divide your garden into too many smaller [more..]

The city of Los Angeles is the largest in the state of California. From its sun kissed beaches, trendy shopping and dining options to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, there are many sights and sounds to take in when visiting this cosmopolitan city. One of the metropolis’ most popular attractions is the famous Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The zoo was founded in 1966 and has rapidly grown into an attraction of international repute thanks to their efforts in animal conservation and breeding. The zoo is home to a diverse array of animals and exotic vegetation from around the world. Some of the popular activities and shows at the zoo highlight up close encounters with the zoo’s inhabitants and fun filled awareness programs for families. The World of Birds Show highlights rare and exotic species of winged wonders from cunning predators to colourful tropical varieties as they perform tricks and stunts to wow the crowds. Within the large expanse of the Los Angeles Zoo premises lies the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo. This enclosure is home to the Animals and You program. The program allows kids and [more..]

Buying a home is a service that provides various forms of home by sharing the contents of the supplement will complement the beauty of a home. With these services you can get a large house and width making it easier for you in doing various activities in the home. This service also provides a variety of rooms with a number of very much for you and your family can freely take another brother to stay at your house. This service can also be obtained with a very affordable cost and a variety of very useful tools that will provide a variety of comfort when you settle.