Weeds & Seeds Swap

I love writing about gardening and looking and gardens and getting my hands into the soil, but is it my passion?

I was thinking about that the other day as I looked at this blog and all the posts that have accumulated over the years…and the many more that will be posted in the days to come. I thought about it more while looking out at my struggling gardens because of the unusual heat and dryness we have experienced this year.

Yes, I love gardening, but not the way some do…those who are out there all the time, tending to their plants, making artistic creations out of their gardens. Part of me envies them.

I have to be honest and say that what I love is all that has to do with the outdoors, green…I love green, plants, and all the wildlife, animals, butterflies, insects.

So yes, I like gardening, but enjoy gardens that almost take care of themselves, hence the planting of so many perennials. I like experimenting with container gardening on my deck.

There is a peacefulness that comes while weeding and working in the garden, it’s a time when I, for some reason, find myself remembering things from my childhood, things from my past.

The gardens have struggled this year, but there is much green out there. It’s time to cut back the plants that are just not going to make it, hope that the late blossoms that are coming on some of my vegetables will have time to bear fruit, and begin to think about the things of Fall.

I hope this is a super September for all of you!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iNetVideo.com. All opinions are 100% mine. It also contains a lot of personal information.

We have been experiencing heat like I don’t remember experiencing in many years, and because of water restrictions gardens are suffering a bit. The desire to be outside working in the garden is there, but the heat is just too much.  We are getting a welcome break this weekend, and in the coming days…I hope we are seeing an end to it, but know many of you out there are still waiting for the heat to break.

So, for those of you who aren’t getting the exercise that you expected and need, what are you doing as an alternative?  My husband and I like to walk, but there are days when it’s just too hot…and up here we also have bears that are making their way down to the lake to get a drink or get wet because of the heat.  So we’re doing what we can indoors.  Hubby wanted to get some form of fitness equipment that he can use in the house.  We live in a small house, so there is no room for large gym equipment, so he purchased an old single piece of equipment called a Bull Worker.  He and I have both been taking turns building muscle tone with it.

For me, I like to watch a video…I mean DVD (I’m showing my age) to see what I’m supposed to be doing, and because of this appreciated having the opportunity to look through the fitness DVD’s offered at the site I’m sharing with you…the prices were so low that I have no excuse for not buying them. Some are only $3 and change. After I am done here, I’m going to look through the Tai Chi, Yoga and Stretching videos because I am not as young as some of the girls on the first page I went to appear. I am going to be looking to see what I can find for a baby boomer like me. I already have a Leslie Sansone video that has you take a two mile walk in place to music…it goes so fast! I also recognize Kathy Smith and Denise Austin, I do believe I had a couple of Denise Austin Videos, yes, Videos, some years back. There are so many to choose from, maybe it’s time to get to know some new instructors. The prices are truly great, and should I be trapped inside due to heat….or cold (winter will be here before we know it!) I’ll be all set. How about you?

The post just before this one is about allergies caused by ragweed pollen, something that a saline nasal spray may be able to help.  It seems that each season has a common allergen.  For example, spring brings tree pollen, summer brings grass and various pollens from flowers if you are sensitive to them…as well as molds if the season has been particularly humid.  Many wild flowers bloom throughout the summer and fall season, ragweed discussed in the earlier post being one that has quite a reputation for causing allergies.  In the fall there is also leaf raking and leaf molds.

Most of the symptoms caused by breathing in these pollens and allergens may be helped by using a saline spray right away.  Here are some facts about a saline nasal spray that I have used in the past:

1. Saline spray can replace nasal sprays that contain chemicals that can irritate the sinuses, or cause you to become dependent upon the spray.
2. Using the spray can loosen congestion and remove pollen spores…use as soon as you have been exposed to pollen or feel symptoms.
3. Saline sprays are great for moisturizing dry nasal passages and sinuses in a dry climate or during dry spells.
4. Saline Spray helps by clearing the sinuses of a build-up of pollen and even pet dander, it is very likely that you are preventing the development of sinus infection.
5. Saline Nasal Spray should be 100% drug free and natural.

One of the nasal sprays that I use is called Sea Breathe, click here and page down to find it.

I always used to run when I would see Goldenrod, but now think it is a beautiful plant.  The picture below was taken during a recent walk through a the New Jersey Botanical Gardens.  It wasn’t being cultivated, just growing wild on the way to one of the woodland paths, just like it grows wild along the road.

It took watching an episode of “Farmer’s Almanac” on television to remind me that Goldenrod and Ragweed are not the same thing.  In fact the man speaking mentioned that tea can be made from the Goldenrod flower, aerial parts, that may actually help with some allergies.  Often if Ragweed is growing, it won’t be hard to find some Goldenrod nearby.  So often the cure for what ails you in one herb will be found growing very close by.

Another example is poison ivy and Jewelweed…my husband is fearful of poison ivy as he gets it so easily, so pointed it out along the same path as we saw the Goldenrod, and I pointed to the Jewelweed that as growing right next to it.

Here is a picture of Goldenrod that I took last weekend.

Photo Licensed & Copyright Restricted through Flickr

This weekend it was my husband’s birthday, and we enjoyed day of driving, just enjoying nature. We love to do that, and I had my camera with me. I took a few pictures, and then thought it would be fun to take a part of one from the collection I’m building to share on this blog every now and then. This is the first one, I’ll be adding the full picture at a later date, below. For now, if you happen to stop by, guess in a comment, or just enjoy.

ANSWER added 7/16/10:  You can find the full picture by clicking here at my photo blog.