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Archive for December, 2010

Access to adequate water supply is the lynchpin of gardening success. But public water sources aren’t always available, even in heavy rainfall areas, supply can exceed demand. Installing a water reclamation system is easier than you think and can deliver a water supply for happy gardening year round.

It is likely that your property already has some elements of a water reclamation system. As a giant rain catcher, a rooftop can be exposed to thousands of gallons per year: an ample supply for maintaining a stunning garden. Rainfall calculators like which can be easily found with a Google search will show you how much water you are missing out on by not reclaiming it, whether your region is arid or temperate.

The gutter is the key component, after the roof, of a typical water reclamation system. Gutters run along the eves of the house and utilize downspouts to channel the water into storm drains. Downspouts can also divert water to a rain barrel with about a 70 gallon capacity. You can reclaim even more water for future use by adding a rain barrel at every corner of the house.

As an aesthetic alternative with equally efficient operation for water reclamation, rain chains can be attached to gutters in place of conventional downspouts. In contrast to galvanized metal downspouts, rain chains consist of ornamental sculptures, funnels, or tiny cups that channel rainwater in tiny waterfalls to a pebbled area, basin, saucer or rain barrel. Rain chains can transform an ordinary water reclamation system into an ornamental one, enhancing the design of your garden.

Try planting a variety of lush ferns, Sugar Maple, Indigo Bush, or Red Chokeberry to create a “rain garden” around your water source. Rain garden plants like these absorb excess moisture that gathers around the source, be it a rain barrel, basin or other receptacle.

Even with a rain garden to absorb excess, runoff is still likely with heavy downpours. Help reduce storm drain runoff by planting water-loving plants along decorative retaining walls. Altering terrain levels to create natural irrigation systems serves to channel water to plants further from the source. Attaching soaker hoses to rain barrels helps distribute water to drier areas, like succulent or less-thirsty flower beds, without using pumps.

To assure a consistent water supply, save money on bills, and keep plants happy, a water reclamation system combining rain barrels with rain chains and varied terrain for irrigation, can also result in a unique mini ecosystem that resembles the surrounding environment. This natural landscape contributes to a healthy, water conscious and beautiful garden.

Are you looking for some basic home decor tips? I can help you with that in this short article. Basically all you need to begin with is to have a clear understanding of what you want to accomplish with your home project. That will always be a great start when it comes to decorating.

It is always a good idea to have a plan. Start with having a clear vision of what you would like your home to look like after you are done decorating it. Do your research first and there are a few good places where you can start.

Maybe you have a neighbor or a friend whose home you truly admire. There is no shame in imitating the good things that you saw in their homes especially if you are just going to use these for inspiration in your own decoration. Aside from that there are countless coffee table books of beautifully decorated houses. You can begin your research there and then slowly add to your own list of what you would like to include in your project.

One definite thing that you need to have is an overall theme. Ask yourself this question: what is it exactly that you would like to convey through your interior decorations? Do you want your guests to know how to effectively blend simplicity with elegance? Maybe you want to use only antique pieces and have that old and elegant look and feel in your home? Maybe it is a Japanese influence that you are aiming. Whatever theme you may come up with, the important thing is that you do have a theme upon which you will be basing all parts of your home decoration.

When you already have your theme, then it is time to look for the best places where you can get the decors for your home. Among the best home decor tips that you should follow is this: do not go to just one shop. Go from one shop to another and look for the exact thing that you want for your home while of course trying to find the best bargain price. But keep in mind that if you want the best, then often you will have to pay a premium price for that.

And always consult with a professional when you need to do a serious make over to any part of your house. For example if you are planning to make some major changes in the bathroom, get an expert plumber that you can consult with. Because while you may have a unique idea on how to make your bathroom look better, if your plumber thinks it is not feasible to move things around or it is not that practical, then you should seriously consider his advice and suggestions.

And finally while you can come up with the general idea for your home decorations and also the best home decor tips, when it comes to the actual work sometimes it would be better if you get an experienced interior designer to help you with your project. He or she will know best if your idea can be put into life and also how you can still improve it.

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