A Garden in a Box: The Wonders of Planter…

Planter Boxes

Planter boxes come in all shapes and sizes. Teeny-tiny plant pots, hanging baskets full of cascading miniature plants, and even huge, wild gardens tucked away in woodsy areas. Whether you are planning out your very first foray into miniature gardening, or if you have been living amongst the fairies for some time now, there are always decisions to make. How big will your garden be?

Where will it grow? Who will see it? This year, I have been experimenting with miniature gardens in reclaimed wood planter boxes, and I think I have fallen in love! Small containers and flower beds still have my heart, but planter boxes are my new favorite location for building picture-perfect fairy gardens.

Sure, planter box gardens look nice, and they offer plenty of room to plant a variety of miniature plants and miniature trees, alongside fairy houses and accessories. But they also help me out in one big way. They are elevated! The boxes come up to waist height, so there is no need to crouch on the ground or get my knees muddy when caring for the miniature garden.

If you have never experimented with planter boxes before, now is the time! They make creating and maintaining fairy gardens a breeze. Drainage holes at the bottom ensure that your miniature trees and plants will have just enough moisture, and the box can be placed in the yard or under a patio roof to help control the amount of light. The accessible height makes planning out the garden, along with the “get your hands dirty” planting activities, a snap! A large box offers plenty of room for a neighborhood full of fairy houses, gravel paths, and sitting areas.

Planter Boxes

Some gardeners prefer to fill their planter box fairy gardens with fewer accessories and more miniature plants. In the summer, when leaves are green and flowers are blooming, a box full of miniature trees and plants can be an amazing showpiece for the yard. A smaller, sunny planter box could also be filled with succulents or cactus’s. A desert garden or Zen Garden would look spectacular in an elevated planter box. When planting a more traditional fairy garden or mixed container of miniature plants, I like to abide by the “thrill, fill, and spill” rule I learned many years ago. In the back-center of the box, plant a “thriller” miniature tree or plant. These are usually tall and feature bright colors, interesting textures, or impressive foliage.

After the “thriller” has been planted in the box, you will want to select “filler” plants. These are shorter and may spread or creep. Colorful flowers like coral bells or petunias make excellent filler plants. Then, of course, you choose a “spiller.” These are miniature plants that spill or cascade down the sides of the planter box. Vines and sedums are great spiller plants. Planter Boxes2

Come to think of it, in a tall planter, a spiller plant can also act as a ladder for the garden gnomes and pixies. They can just shimmy down the vine whenever they want to explore the rest of the yard on foot. Remember, you will have to inquire with your local fairies when it comes to creating a miniature garden in a planter box. They need to be comfortable up high, closer to the clouds. But something tells me, if you choose the right mix of miniature plants and fairy cottages, the garden residents will enjoy their new home as much as you do.

Happy Gardening!

Grow a Fairy Garden in a Planter Box allows you to grow miniature plants, accessories, fairies, garden tools & dollhouse furniture to create enchanting miniature landscapes for containers or your yard. Storytelling and imaginary fairy garden from ‘Miniature Gardening’ bring the playful kid out in all of us.

Filled with intrigue and mystique each little garden in planter boxes scene you create is a snapshot of such a dream.

How to Stop Puppy Barking: A Guide to Successful…

Stop Puppy Barking

Puppy Barking/Successful Dog Training. Before we train your puppy to avoid barking, we need to consider the explanations of why your pup barks to begin with.

The age-old question is, why do Puppies bark?

Stop-Puppy-Barking Some puppies decide to bark as they are after attention and the only method they could get noticed is via barking. The greater you take notice of the barking the greater you might be reinforcing the issue and behavior.

Puppies learned ways to get their mom’s attention once they were within the litter plus, they have discovered the fastest method of getting your attention is through excessive vocalization.

This behavior will not be natural to some puppies or dogs whatsoever which is learned behavior, the reason behind this is when they made lots of noise within the wild chances are they might have gotten negative attention from their wild animals.

One more reason behind excessive vocalization is the result of why dogs and puppies were first adopted as pets. Humans decided to obtain a pet (a long time ago) so they might have a person to guard the home as the owners were out – and a method to guard the home and also to scare off possible intruders was to get a dog that barked or made allot of noise.

One more reason why dogs and puppies bark is boredom, separation anxiety, and frustration. Simply by making a lot of noise your pooch is trying to be reunited along with you and also by creating a allot of noise your pooch is looking to get your attention (however far you may be) so you are reunited being a pack sooner. However, this occasional barking may progress to howling when it is permitted to continue for too much time.

Anxiety and fear may also cause excessive vocalization – this is used as a technique by your puppy to scare off something that they might perceive being a danger. High-pitched barking also makes your pup feel much better too.

Prevention and Cure

Whenever your dog or puppy is making all of that noise – a good thing that can be done would be to ignore him. In case your pooch is making a lot of noise for attention by acknowledging your puppy’s s behavior whether this is reprimanding him or coming whenever he will make a noise – you might be simply reinforcing that your pup wants your attention.

In case your dog or puppy whines as he is within the crate or playpen – don’t allow him to out or acknowledge him until he or she is quiet – so when he or she is quiet reinforce the behavior by allowing him or from the crate (don’t allow him to out until he or she is quiet)!

Never encourage your pet or puppy to bark – either by teasing him or some other method.

Start puppy socialization as soon as possible – the greater experiences that the puppy gets utilized the less frightened he is going to be as well as the not as likely he will bark.

Provide your pet or puppy with a lot of methods to be stimulated – this can stop your pup from becoming bored or frustrated; it’s also a great way for the pooch to convey himself non-verbally.

Reinforce good behavior – in case your puppy utilized to bark when cars went past and are also now quiet – reward him – start using these techniques whenever he or she is quiet around previous experiences as he might have barked.

Proper Dog Training Frequent exercise is an excellent method to use with dogs and puppies that bark – as excessive vocalization is extremely tiring and when your pooch is tired, he is going to be not as likely to bark.

In case your puppy is a guarding type; then don’t allow him to use places where he can see traffic passing, mail arriving, or people walking beyond the window.

Anyway, hopefully, you enjoyed our page regarding how to stop dog barking. The greater you utilize these techniques the greater your pooch will stay quiet, not as likely to bark, happy and anxiety free.

Successful Dog Training

Watching your children’s eyes illuminate whenever you bring a brand-new puppy house is truly a heartwarming experience. Your pet includes unconditional love and warm genuine friendship. If you’ve owned a pet dog before you are already aware that along with the delights of the new doggy;- it may also include frustration, unconditional messes, and genuine destruction. Do not worry, with some obedience training you can head off unwanted dog behavior.

5 Wonderful Benefits of Proper Dog Training

It builds a good relationship with both you and your dog and establishes you because of the pack leader. Enough time you may spend together cooperating, and researching one another, deepens your bond.

A properly trained dog is a welcome dog that can be taken almost anywhere and is also fantastic to become around when camping, hiking, as well as just taking a walk, as he will not be high-risk or perhaps a nuisance to others.

Stop-Puppy-Barking 6 Proper dog training corrects undesirable dog behavior. Chewing your furniture, digging your flowers, barking at everyone who passes from your yard as well as bolting the door could be resolved with some concentration on obedience training.

Whenever you train your pet, it stimulates your dog’s intellect and allows him to make use of his brain; dogs are curious naturally and wish to find out about both world as well as the people around them. Dogs possess a deep need to please us, it’s instinctive, then when they could know what you want of this plus, they react to our commands; they think vital and needed, a powerful member of the pack.

It will save you money and time! Making the effort to teach your pet to behave properly in your house saves time cleaning messes and will save you money by lacking to change torn-up pillows, shoes, or any other valuable possessions.

There are lots of wonderful benefits to some properly trained dogs, a lot to completely list, but among my favorites is the companionship, using a dog that will protect our family when I’m not around. It had been best said by an unknown author: “He or she is your friend, your lover, your defender. You might be his life, his love, and his awesome leader.”

The top proper dog training technique is the usage of Positive Reinforcement to teach your pet. This is just rewarding good behavior that you would like to find out repeated, and ignoring bad dog behavior.

This can be a direct contrast to some now outdated ways of obedience training which by today’s standards was cruel, (like using shock collars, hitting your pet with rolled-up newspapers, as well as rubbing your dog’s nose in poop.)

Your pet instinctively would like to make you happy and if you use positive reinforcement to teach your pet you will notice that your pet learns quicker as well as the instruction is remembered throughout your dog’s life. This is the best way to a properly trained dog.

5 superb pieces of advice to facilitate your pet training efforts

dog-training Make sure to use meaningful rewards. Most dogs become bored quickly and don’t respond with only a pat on the head or perhaps a good boy. To help keep your training to the highest standards use tempting incentives permanently dog behavior.

Mix in the rewards, don’t always provide the same treatment while training your pet. All dogs have different favorite treats; I’ve trained dogs that will practically rob a bank for any liver treat. Try to look for 2 or 3 special treats which you can use just whenever you train your pet.

Make use of the right timing whenever you reward your pet for obeying a command. Your ultimate goal would be to mark the required dog behavior by having a treat timed so your dog understands what behavior earned the treat.

Some dog trainers recommend a clicker while training to mark the actual moment your pet does everything you desire, then immediately provide the reward. This is effective but so does a higher-pitched “whoop,” or some other sound the dog can identify because of the reward sound.

Directions to become a good Canine Citizen: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Heel, Off, and No.

Be clear and consistent together with your commands. Decide your verbal clues before you begin your training and stay with them. Make sure that the whole family uses the same commands as well as your dog’s rate of obedience training is going to be higher and you’ll see quicker alternation in dog behavior.

Take time to learn proper dog training techniques – it can help to have it right the very first time out. If you’re a newcomer to obedience training or perhaps an experienced trainer; it’s smart big dividends to read through trusted sources to understand more about the advantages of training your pet.

You happen to be the best person to teach your pet! It’d be easy to teach a pet dog to accomplish just about anything. Beyond understanding basic dog behavior and obedience training, I’ve trained dogs to seal the doorway, dance, speak, play bang you’re dead, catch Frisbees, as well as other cute and impressive tricks.

-special thanks to Gloria for all her insights!

The Secrets to Successful Dog Training

Best Dog Training we can do for our Dogs

We’re always told how important it is to teach our dogs, but precisely what is proper dog training, and the reason why it is essential anyway?

This list explains why it is vital we provide proper socialization and training to canine friends.

Please read these 5 undeniable explanations of why we owe it to the dogs to teach them:

Proper dog training helps you to build and strengthen a wholesome and productive relationship together with your dog.

Proper dog training opens the lines of communication between both you and your dog. A genuine type of two-way communication is established through positive non-violent proper dog training. Both you and your dog will become familiar with to have interacted with one another in a mutually respectful manner, according to cooperation and understanding.

A properly socialized and trained dog can become an excellent lifelong companion, workmate, and friend. An untrained dog can easily turn into a burden as well as an endless supply of frustration. Rather than using a lopsided relationship that your location is continually yelling at or reprimanding your untrained dog, why not set your pet as much as succeed by offering some leadership and clear guidelines for him/her to adhere to?

An experienced dog is a highly regarded and trusted part of society that is welcomed almost anywhere. This needs to be an optimistic thing for the relationship, doesn’t it?

Training prevents many common “dog problems” from ever arising.

An entire selection of common dog behavior problems could be prevented through some obedience training. Dogs are creatures of habit why not utilize this to your benefit by helping your pet to build up good behavior habits from an earlier age? In case you are proactive and set up some simple guidelines and routines for the puppy to adhere to you might never need to deal with destructive behaviors like digging, chewing, excessive barking as well as separation anxiety. Don’t forget the poop bags!

Whenever a so-named behavior problem does arise both you and your trained dog is going to be well-equipped to operate through it. It is possible to communicate to your dog the behavior is unacceptable. You may also decide to get the dog to execute a different behavior instead of the current problem. A good example of this could be in case your dog was up surfing your countertops for food scraps you can get him/her to “visit your spot” instead.

The majority of “bad dogs” or dogs with behavior problems eventuate since the dog has never been taught any better. A pet dog will not chew your expensive shoes to obtain back to you or as he/she is evil. They do it just since you left the shoe lying around having a bored and stressed dog. Most likely in the event, you provided a tasty chew toy and did some chew toy training in that case your dog will be delighted to chew around the toy only.

An experienced dog is another pleasure to consider for any walk (no pulling!) and trips to your Vet or Dog Groomer are never an issue.

Best Dog Training 6

Training your pet is a necessary safety measure for you personally, your pet, and exactly what enters into connection with your pet.

Getting your dog under voice control in almost any situation is an extremely reassuring position to stay in – it might even save your dog’s life one day. In case your dog is going to bolt out onto an active road or get something dangerous it is great to immediately intervene and alter their behavior by having an obedience training command like “no”, “come” or “let it rest”.

A suitably socialized and trained dog is a much safer proposition around other dogs and animals. Proper dog training plays an important role in educating your pet on how you can act appropriately around yourself, your kids, and visitors to your house.

An experienced dog is confident, secure, and comfy together with his/her devoted family.

A properly trained dog appreciates the guidance, structure, and boundaries you provide through training. It’s much better than using a nervous, anxious, and confused dog that is continually being yelled at for things he/she doesn’t even understand. Training relieves a lot of the frustration and stress that exists between both you and your dog.

my best friend Training creates proper household etiquette for the dog to adhere to. It addresses such issues as bolting the entryway, chewing, jumping on guests, and excessive barking.

Proper dog training offers a brilliant release or outlet for all your dog’s pent-up energy. This energy needs to emerge in one method or another why not channel it into something productive like obedience training?

An experienced dog’s life requires a far different way from those of an untrained dog.

Most dogs that wind up in animal shelters arrive there simply because they have a minimum of one behavior problem – a number of these problems can easily be controlled through some fundamental obedience training. Untrained dogs often turn into a pest and therefore are pushed further and additional from the family. This only compounds the current problems. Behaviors like jumping up, mouthing, and cheeky barking that you regarded as cute with your young puppy suddenly turn into a real problem because the dog grows up.

kids-dog-training

Whenever we bring a brand-new dog into our everyday life, we have been bringing another species right into a world that is completely foreign to them – our human world. We owe it to the dogs to assist them to squeeze into our lifestyle by clearly showing them what exactly is expected of them and what exactly is acceptable behavior – this is exactly what proper dog training provides.

So, there they may be, the five reasons I think every dog deserves a minimum of some fundamental training for everybody’s benefit.

Just for a second ignore all the benefits in the above list that obedience training provides. Could you still train your pet even when all the benefits listed failed to apply? I would personally because training your pet is among the real joys of having a dog, it is extremely fun. Time spent training your pet is time wisely spent – for many involved.

HKZOOI Dog Training Collar

Hands down one of the best human training tools to better your dog

Don’t Let the Rash Trio Ruin Your Summer: Poison…

Poison Sumac, Poison Ivy, or Poison Oak itching is not always the first symptom to occur when one comes in contact with these poisonous plants.

For many of my patients, the first realization that they might have come in contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, occurs when they consult with me about a rash that they have developed. These vicious weeds are the single most common cause of allergic reactions in the United States.

Furthermore, a rash from these weeds develops when the skin comes in contact with an oil called urushiol. Urushiol is found in the sap of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. It oozes forth from any broken part of the plant, including the roots, stems, and leaves. After exposure to air, urushiol turns brownish-black, making it easier to spot.

Poison Ivy generally climbs trees and mimics tree branches as a vine with short rootlets and dark fibers south of the Great Lakes or close to the ground as a small shrub-up to a foot tall, north of the Great Lakes. It is legendary for its cluster of three almond-shaped leaves that are highly variable; some are hairless while others are slightly hairy amid glossy or dull luster, and some are toothed, smooth-edged or lobed.
Distinctively look for an end leaflet that is pointed with a longer stalk than the other two leaflets. This plant grows just about anywhere; open woods, rocky areas, fields, or it may also be in your garden or along your patio walkway. Beware the small, white, and hard drooping clusters of berries. Resilient and tough, winter months merely camouflage its virulent oils leaving an innocent small stem exposed from the ground. The Spring is the best time to spot Poison Ivy when the leaves are reddish but take caution it’s the time when they are at the most potent as well.
Poison oak is universally found as a shrub with thick and sturdy stems, although it can also emerge as a vine in some areas. The leaves resemble oak leaves, arise in clusters of threes, and are usually shiny and green. In the Spring, the leaves are light bright green with white green flowers clustered on the stems. During the Summer months leaves often contain yellow-green, pink, or reddish hues with clusters of small white or tan berries and transform again during the Fall season when the leaves turn russet brown or bright red while the fruit becomes darker.
Poison Sumac is found in wet areas or marshes and partly-wooded swamps usually on wet ground or standing water as a shrub or small tree, 6-20 feet tall with compound leaves that have 7-13 pointed, smoothed-edged leaflets that distinctively angle slightly upwards from the leaf stem. The stems, twigs, and buds are hairless with dark smooth bark and speckled with dark spots. Its berries are similar to Poison Ivy – small, white, and hard drooping clusters. In the fall the leaves are ecstatically pleasing to the eye with their brilliant red hues but don’t be tempted to add them to your Thanksgiving bouquets.

poison sumac

Coming in contact with urushiol can occur in three ways:

Direct contact – touching the sap of the toxic plant.
Indirect contact – touching something to which urushiol has spread. The oil can stick to clothing, animal hair or skin, sports equipment, and any object that has come into contact with any broken part of the plant.
Contact with airborne urushiol particles – which can occur from the burning of the poisonous plants. This can cause a rash if and when it comes in contact with your skin.

Rashes occurring from any one of these plants can affect almost any part of your body, especially where your skin is most thin. Redness and swelling occur first, usually followed by blisters and severe itching. Blister fluid from these rashes does not spread the rash. In a couple of days, the blisters may become crusted and begin to scale. The poison sumac rash traditionally takes 10 days or longer to heal.

The best advice I can offer to help prevent the misery of a poison sumac rash is – to STAY AWAY. The best way to know which plants to avoid is by learning to identify these poisonous plants. Their appearance may change slightly through the seasons, but they remain toxic year-round. A key feature in identifying poison ivy and poison oak is in the leaves: they consistently come in threes. Therefore, the popular saying “leaves of three, beware of me,” is a good rule of thumb to follow.

poison-sumac

Follow these simple rules if you think you have been exposed to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac:

First, wash the exposed area(s) immediately with running water. The water should keep the urushiol (oo-roo-shee-ohl) from spreading to other parts of your body. Do not use soap at this point. Soap can pick up some of the urushiol and spread it to other parts of your body.
Take a regular shower with soap and warm water within 30 minutes of being exposed. Make sure you have already cleansed the exposed area with running water before using soap.
Remove and wash your clothing as soon as possible. Don’t wait and do not do a full load of laundry with the clothing you think has been exposed to the poisonous plant. You can transfer the urushiol to rugs or furniture if you’re not careful.
Make sure you clean any other item(s) (like camping equipment, fishing gear, etc.) that may have come in contact with the oil.
You can relieve the itching of mild rashes by taking cool showers and applying over-the-counter products like calamine lotion or Burrow’s solution. Equally important is soaking in a lukewarm bath with an oatmeal or baking soda solution can be used to ease itching and dry oozing blisters.

There are 4 solutions you can mix to make a paste and spread it over the affected poison sumac area(s);

•Vinegar and Baking Soda;
• Cornstarch and Water;
• Salt and Water – this will sting but will relieve the itch;
• Apple cider vinegar and water.
• Aloe reduces blistering and also accelerates healing of rashes;
• Catnip juice, which can be taken from its leaves, has anti-inflammatory properties;
• Plantain reduces itch and stops the spread of the rash.
• Mix a teaspoon of Goldenseal, in a powdered form, with a pint of water and spread it over the affected area. Other ways to use Goldenseal, drink it in a tea or taking it in a capsule.
• Try Jewel weed. Rub it on the affected poison sumac areas to reduce the itch and dry blisters.
• Spread Oatmeal on affected skin – mixed with boiling water – cooled down to lukewarm temperatures is a handy remedy. In addition soaking in a hot tub of Oatmeal can also be used in most of the body was exposed. Oatmeal coupled with a sock and swirling it around in the tub of water. Leave the coating of Oatmeal on your skin after the bath will ease the symptoms dramatically. I always recommend you consult a Board-Certified Dermatologist if you know you have been exposed to one of these weeds. A dermatologist can properly diagnose your rash and may prescribe cortisone or other medicines that can prevent blisters from forming.

Leaves of Three – Let Them Be

Dr. Abrams is a licensed Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine who is A.O.B.D. Board Certified in Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery. He is noted as being one of the top dermatological surgeons in the Sarasota, Florida community. You can learn more about Dr. Abrams by visiting his website at http://www.abramsderm.com

Bradley Abrams, D.O. “Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, And Poison Sumac Rashes – Advice from A Sarasota Florida Dermatologist.” Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, And Poison Sumac Rashes – Advice from A Sarasota Florida

poison sumac

A Garden in a Box: The Wonders of Planter…

Planter Boxes

How to Stop Puppy Barking: A Guide to Successful…

Stop Puppy Barking

Puppy Barking/Successful Dog Training. Before we train your puppy to avoid barking, we need to consider the explanations of why your pup barks to begin with.

Successful Dog Training

-special thanks to Gloria for all her insights!

The Secrets to Successful Dog Training

Don’t Let the Rash Trio Ruin Your Summer: Poison…

Poison Sumac, Poison Ivy, or Poison Oak itching is not always the first symptom to occur when one comes in contact with these poisonous plants.

For many of my patients, the first realization that they might have come in contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, occurs when they consult with me about a rash that they have developed. These vicious weeds are the single most common cause of allergic reactions in the United States.

Leaves of Three – Let Them Be

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