Saturday, July 21, 2018

In the Garden – 5 Water-Saving Tips

Ruth de Jauregui
Golden Barrel Cactus
Credit: AcrylicArtist / Morguefile.com

Water-saving measures in the garden help both the budget and environment, especially during the hottest days of summer. While some gardeners prefer a rock garden that supports a variety of cacti and other succulents, others yearn for a tropical paradise. No matter what your preference, you can design a garden that nourishes your soul while saving water and money.

Compost
Credit: suezoo / Morguefile.com
1) Amend the soil with compost and well-decomposed manure. Adding organic matter helps sandy soil hold moisture and lightens clay soil so it drains better. Slowing the water as it moves through sandy soil gives the plants' roots an opportunity to soak up the moisture. Amending clay soil with organic matter helps water move through the soil. This reduces the all-too-familiar cycle of clay soil -- sticky and heavy when wet and transforms into a concrete-hard surface when dry. In addition, compost and manure add nutrients to the soil.

Salvias
Credit: tony7 / Morguefile.com
2) Select plants that tolerate some drought. Nearly all plants require some water, but a willow tree requires much more water than a maple or oak (and its roots may invade your water and sewer lines). Salvias, for example, not only provide color but also attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Several varieties are native to the Southwest and tolerate dry conditions. Native plants are already adapted to local conditions, though plants from other parts of the world that feature similar climatic conditions may also thrive in your garden.

3) Add a rain barrel under the downspouts to save rainwater for a dry day. Rain barrels vary in size and design, but essentially allow you to save water and use it in the garden later. Build a solid base under the rain barrel; water weighs 8 pounds per gallon and a barrel may hold up to 50 gallons. Raising the barrel allows the water to travel through a hose from the spigot to the garden.

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Credit: AcrylicArtist / Morguefile.com
4) Install soaker hoses or a drip-watering system. A simple battery operated timer allows you to set up a watering schedule that automatically turns the water on before the sun rises and turns it off before the water runs off into the gutter. If possible, water in the very early morning. The plants have a chance to soak up the water before the sun rises. A drip-watering system also allows you to apply the correct amount of water to each plant according to its needs by simply adding more emitters over the rootball.

Wood Chip Mulch
Credit: louiedemo / Morguefile.com
5) Mulch. Add 3 to 6 inches of organic mulch, such as bark chunks, over all the bare soil in the garden. Pull the mulch 4 inches away from plants' stems. Mulch shields the soil from the hot sun and slows water evaporation, thus helping maintain a consistent moisture level around the plants' roots.

#InTheGarden  #SaveWater  #RuthDJ  #OurAuthorGang

COMMENTS

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Tricia Drammeh via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great gardening advice for those hot, dry summer days!
 
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on #OurAuthorGang, author Ruth de Jauregui talks about gardening and gives us 5 tips for saving water.
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Joe Bonadonna

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Good stuff, Ruth. I don't have a green thumb, even though I am all thumbs. I have many friends who garden, and I hope they check out your blog.
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Joanne Jaytanie via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
You don't want to miss today's post. How to save water and still have your garden thrive. #OurAuthorGang
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Joanne Jaytanie

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Awesome tips! Thanks, Ruth.
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Grace Au

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great post today, Ruth! Thanks for sharing. I'm filing this away for future use. I do container planting and even though our temps have been high with high humidity, we've had a lot of rain. I have a couple containers out that catch it, so use that for the plants.
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
My contribution to our blog today. #OurAuthorGang With the current heat wave and smokey skies, it seemed like the right time to share these tips.

Don't forget, I write garden articles for online publications. I LOVE gardening (and speculative fiction too!).
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Erika M Szabo

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great gardening advice Ruth! I was wondering why the willow trees only grow in my backyard close to the creek, now I know :)
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A willow tree's roots may extend three times the height of the tree (or more) to reach water. It's best to plant them near streams, rather than right by the house or septic system!!
 
+Ruth de Jauregui The previous owner always mowed the back of the property close to the creek, but we decided to let the vegetation grow in to provide hiding place for small animals that come to drink from the creek. That's when the willow trees started to grow and now, twenty some years later, they're still thriving :)

Toi Thomas

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Whenever I get a space big enough to have an outside garden, I will definitely use these tips. Thanks. Great post.
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No place for a container garden? As long as you have a south facing window, you can grow all kinds of plants, even tomatoes!
 
+Ruth de Jauregui I have an herb garden in my front window, but the space is too small for anything more.

Toi Thomas via Google+

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Ruth de Jauregui offers 5 easy water-saving tips for your garden. #OurAuthorGang
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Nikki McDonagh

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Timely information for me Ruth. The Uk is experiencing a heatwave that has lasted for months and shows no signs of letting up. Where I live we haven't had rain in three months and won't for at least another. Thanks so much for the tips.
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If you can't do anything else, mulching is a true water-saving technique. Combined with drip watering, it can save your plants, and money too!

Lorraine Carey

6 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great information here, Ruth. I lived in Arizona for years and always had a hard time with a garden. Wish I knew these tips back then. I plan to make another one here in Florida and will be utilizing your great tips here. Thank you for posting this.
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Thank you!! We're in the midst of high 90s and low 100s right now, plus the annual smoke-filled skies, so water is always a concern.
 
+Ruth de Jauregui I would imagine. Please stay safe.

Friday, July 20, 2018

Five Things Cats Can Teach You About Writing

Five Things Cats Can Teach You About Writing



If you’re a writer, or if you happen to know one, you’re probably aware that writing is a constant work in progress. As writers, we are always learning and evolving. From creative writing courses to inspirational books written by our favorite authors, there are a variety of ways to expand our knowledge about the craft of writing. But, did you know that everything we really need to know about writing can be learned by watching our feline friends? Cats might not be able to teach us about grammar, but the lessons you learn from watching them can definitely be applied to your writing. Here are five things your cat can teach you about writing:


1. Be patient.
It takes time to write a quality book. If you’re a writer of non-fiction, there is research involved. For authors of fiction, there is world-building, keeping all our characters straight, and making sure you haven’t left any loose threads or plot holes. Can your cat teach you how to pen believable characters and realistic dialogue? Maybe not, but your cat can teach you the art of patience. Ever notice how cats are absolutely still as they watch their prey? How they wait for the perfect moment to pounce? Cats are patient. They know that a nice, juicy mouse is worth waiting for and if they rush, they might miss out on something delicious. You can try to rush your creativity, but you run the risk of missing out on an opportunity to create something truly spectacular.

2. Rely on all your senses.
Cats use all their senses to explore and conquer the world around them. They watch. Listen. Smell the air around them. Feel the breeze rustling their whiskers. When writing, if you really want to pull the reader in, engaging all the senses is the best way. What is your character seeing, hearing, and smelling? Smell is one of the most powerful senses, but many writers fail to use this to their advantage. Do you know who doesn’t forget to use their sense of smell? Cats.

3. Trust your instincts.
Cats are very intuitive. When I lived in Missouri where tornados were frequent, I never became truly alarmed when the sirens went off – not unless the cats panicked and tried to hide. Cats always seem to know when something is amiss or when something is coming. If you want to write the best book you possibly can, you would be wise to trust your instincts. Yes, feedback from beta readers and editors is essential, but if you’re receiving conflicting feedback from a variety of readers, who do you trust? Who is the tiebreaker? You are. It’s your book. You wrote it. Trust yourself.

4. Write with reckless abandon.
Anyone who has a cat has, at one time or another, become frustrated when that pushy feline walked across their keyboard, sending a trail of “awsedrftgygyhu” across their document. For the most part, humans are better typists than cats (and better spellers too). Still, there’s a benefit to just letting go and writing without overthinking. Sometimes we are too careful. We are so focused on writing a perfect first draft, we forget there’s no such thing! Rewrites and edits exist for a reason. If you’re struggling with writing your book, let go of the idea of perfection. Just sit back, relax, and write! Once you’ve accomplished the monumental task of completing your first draft, there will be plenty of opportunities to achieve perfection during the editing stage.

5. Take a break.
After a writing spree, cats like to take a break, usually by plopping down in the middle of your keyboard and taking a nap. In fact, cats will nap just about anywhere. You should too. While establishing a good writing routine is important, it’s equally important to take breaks. Some will advise you to write every day, but this isn’t always possible. It’s okay to take a break. Take a break between chapters, between books, or between rounds of editing. You need to recharge your batteries. Pushing yourself will lead to exhaustion and eventually creative burnout.


Hopefully, these five valuable lessons from our frisky feline friends will help you tackle your next writing project. Remember writing is a process and it’s different for everyone. The next time you’re stuck on a project, just ask yourself, “What would Mr. Whiskers do?”


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