Investigative journalist Arun Gupta offers an eyewitness account of the hate—and sense of belonging—on display at Donald Trump’s New York City rally.

New packaging options/flavor combinations were created to accommodate the needs/requests of convenience, warehouse, drug store and big box chains. 

Two-day, two-park tickets for SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay selling for $99.99.

Chicago's American Hydrotech, a Sika company, achieved FM Approvals for its Garden Roof Assemblies, ensuring reliability and eco-friendly benefits for urban spaces.

(The Center Square) — The new year signals new laws taking effect in New Jersey, especially in the health care industry.

Food and gardens combine at the NEC.

Volunteers recently helped rejuvenate a garden for pupils at Broadmeadow Junior School in Kings Norton.

Helping with the work-life balance.

Gardening helps Birmingham disabled residents stay healthy in lockdown.

Here's your chance to visit the popular NEC shows free.

Your chance to see the stars of TV absolutely free.

Jewellery Quarter-inspired Garden to feature at BBC Gardeners’ World Live/

Nature lovers are being asked to check their gardens for tigers in a bid to help conservationists studying the effects of climate change on moth distribution.

Celebrate the harvest in Birmingham's green oasis.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

image via pixabay.com

my inbox's thousands of unread emails could achieve sentience and I still wouldn't care about it — scruss. People are talking about how they handle their emails in response to Well I never's Ask Me post, "What's in your email inbox?"

Songbirds swarm their predators and seals appreciate a good rhythm

CONSTRUCTION will soon start on a massive new $3.7m play area in Centennial Park that is expected to attract 200,000 visits in its first year.

Gardeners care more about their zinnias and tomatoes than they do about fashionable overalls or clogs.

[Written by Dale Butler] On Saturday, March 18th from 8am to 5pm, Atlantic Publishing House will be hosting a Bermuda roses and plant sale with Jamaican coffee to taste. In addition to that, Nana Peggy Burns will have a great collection of Bermuda books on sale. This exciting event will be held at Rosalie Gardens, 35 […]

The Department of Parks advised the public of a “temporary road obstruction within the Botanical Gardens,” noting that a ”large tree, located near Camden House, suddenly snapped, blocking the roadway within the Botanical Gardens.” A spokesperson said, “A Department of Parks crew is working expeditiously to clear the obstruction and ensure the safety and accessibility of […]

The Mirrors Programme announced the return of the Field of Learning Gardening Club, a five-week initiative that will begin on November 7th, and is available for students ages 13-18. A Government spokesperson said, “The Mirrors Programme is thrilled to announce that the Field of Learning Gardening Club is back! A five-week initiative commencing on November 7th, […]

The Department of Health recently celebrated the graduation of 22 participants from the Grow Eat Save Gardening Workshop. A Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Health recently held the Grow Eat Save Gardening Workshop Graduation. 22 graduates persevered and completed the course. “Members of this graduating class will enjoy exclusive access to alternate garden plots […]

Bermuda Is Love held an event at the TN Tatem Community Garden in Warwick yesterday [February 11]. The event taught people how to plant and harvest vegetables from their gardens. Aaron Crichlow, one of the founders of Bermuda Is Love, said the event was a “community building exercise” and was for people “who cared about […]

The Department of Health and the Grow.Eat.Save Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is launching the 2024 Bermuda Parish Garden Competition, themed ‘Let’s Grow Together’ A Government spokesperson said, “This initiative encourages residents and organizations to participate in various categories, including School Garden, Community […]

The Hamilton Rotary Club has sponsored the Garden Club Programme at West Pembroke Primary School as part of its Adopt a School Programme. A spokesperson said, “The program was initiated last year under the direction of Past President, Mr. Rick Richardson, and is now continuing under the direction of President, Rotarian Greg Soares. This project […]

The Bermuda Zoological Society announced the release of a new guide, “A Practical Guide to Garden Management in Bermuda.” The Bermuda Zoo Society said, “A new guide that distills David Wingate’s decades of knowledge about Bermuda’s native and endemic plants will be available at the annual Agricultural Exhibition, as well as from the Bermuda Aquarium, […]

Governor Rena Lalgie met with Victor School Primary and Dellwood Middle School students for the last day of their ‘school gardens’ project at Government House Government House said, “Over the school year, the students planted and maintained their gardens each week and their hard work paid off with both schools winning a “First Place” prize in […]

A new café and garden lounge, The Botanist, has been launched in Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens A spokesperson said, “Founded by three food and drink lovers—Stuart, Henric, and Pete—The Botanist offers a unique fusion of fresh food, great drinks and art in Bermuda’s Botanical Gardens. Come for the food, stay for the drinks and uncover the […]

A recently published video is showcasing the work that the Living Reefs Foundation is doing with the help of 11th Hour Racing to help protect Bermuda’s coral reefs. The Foundation’s website says, “Living Reefs, a Bermuda Registered Charity, was formed in 2014 to help implement some of the measures needed to keep Bermuda’s reefs and […]

The Bermuda’s Living Reefs Foundation will host a ‘Coral Garden Party’ on May 19 at 6.30pm at the Rosewood Tucker’s Point Resort. A spokesperson said, “Have you ever heard of Coral Gardening? This relatively new approach to restoring coral reefs is now launched in Bermuda. Since August 2016, Bermuda’s Living Reefs Foundation has installed two […]

[Written by Dale Butler] Rosalie Gardens at 35 Angle Street, opposite Hubies, under the banner of Atlantic Publishing House, is pleased to release its first major activity for the summer season. The Rosalie Gardens Heartbeat Film Festival will take place at 8.00pm each night with the following: a short history of the area a tour […]

On August 23, Finsbury Garden will host an event with Arijahknow Live Wires, The Kings Band, surprise performances, the Gombeys and more. The event promotion said, “This August 23rd at the newest and hottest outdoor venue in Bermuda, Finsbury Garden. Arijahknow Live Wires and The Kings Band performing local and international hits like Reggae Highway, Gombey Warrior, […]

At first glance: a simple, one-light portrait of activist gardener Janssen Evelyn.

Dig deeper: a look at tonal mapping via specular highlights, stretching the range of your modestly powered flash, and how to discover your next project.

Read more »

Hi Everyone! The garden at my house hasn't been making very many fruits and vegetables lately, so I am trying to help it a little bit.
I hope you are having a great summer.
Grace

Today's pizza a day diet pizza came from the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. at 1305 W. Oltorf (right next to the train tracks).

I hit the place in mid-afternoon, so it was pretty empty (Happy hour is from 3 pm to 7 pm, though, so it filled quickly :-)).  You order food and beer at the bar and they bring it to your table.  Inside are long wooden tables with benches, for social/communal beer-gardening in the Bavarian tradition.  Outside are round tables under the live oaks for beer gardening in the Austin tradition. :-).

I ordered a sausage pizza (boring, I know :-), but I like to try new places out on the basics).  It was delivered hot and fresh; the crust was somewhat soft but firmed up after I let it cool a little.  It had a nice chew and stood up to the ingredients.  The sausage had a more subtle flavor than I was expecting, but I really liked it and its freshness.  The cheese and sauce were also quite good.


One of their "by the slice" choices had also caught my eye, so I ordered it as well.  This was venison, spinach, pesto, white bean, roasted tomato, roasted garlic, and ricotta.  This one was amazing (not that the sausage was bad).  The crust had just the right amount of crispness and chew, but the combination of toppings really made it.  It had a richness from the venison without being gamy or overwhelming, and the remaining ingredients provided a terrifically contrasting texture in every bite.


Oh, and the beer was darn good, too. :-).

Garden ponds are increasingly becoming popular among homeowners. The scramble for ponds can be attributed to their aesthetics, growing appreciation for wildlife and environmental awareness. As homeowners increasingly become aware of the need to maintain a sustainable ecosystem, they are more willing to adopt unique ideas such as keeping garden ponds. But are garden ponds really sustainable?[...]

The weather blocking patterns created by climate change have caused increasing challenges for home gardeners. They have to deal with drought for extended periods even if they don't live in a traditionally dry climate, and then flooding next. Moreover, the pest pressure alone can be frustrating in these situations. But you can do quite a few things to save water when taking care of your home garden, even when the weather is extreme. Here are some tips on how to save water on your home garden, year round and in all climates.[...]

Gardening is one of the most ecologically conscious projects that most people can practice. With concepts such as net-zero gardening taking shape, gardeners go to unimaginable lengths to avoid harming the environment. The one aspect most gardeners never consider is that a garden fence can have negative environmental effects and must be installed with consciousness. Creating a sustainable garden only to install an unsustainable fence negates the entire purpose of your project. Interestingly, installing a sustainable fence is easy and often more affordable than traditional options. [...]

From droughts to flooding and heat waves, the weather has been tough all across the country recently. Did you know that pests can significantly reduce your garden yield? According to the Connecticut State Agricultural Experiment Station, you could be dealing with several kinds of pests that drastically impact your garden. [...]

If you've grown a garden for a while, you may have noticed that the last few years have been brutal due to climate change-related patterns. One month it's drought and the next it's flooding. What is the best watering system for your home garden and can it help you navigate the climate ups and downs? Here are some great options with the pros and cons so you can decide the right garden irrigation system for your micro climate.[...]

Outwardly, gardens look like sustainable spaces that help absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere. While this might be true, not all gardens help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Some gardens contribute to carbon pollution. Unfortunately, most gardeners are not even aware that their gardens are a source of carbon and other greenhouse gas pollutants. Even so, it is possible to attain a net-zero garden and in some cases, create a carbon sink in your garden. [...]

Today's architecture is no longer about creating the best space just for humans, though of course that has to be a factor. It's also about preserving and living in harmony with the natural world. But being harmonious with nature presents a unique set of challenges. The Hidden Garden House by RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + Architecture) is a showcase of creative and innovative solutions for just such a challenge.[...]

Cut flowers sounded easy when I started gardening. Just plant some flowers and then cut them, right? Well, there is a lot more to it than that. Cut flowers are often grown from specific varieties that tend to have long, sturdy stems and big, beautiful blooms, and each variety has its own tips to keep them healthy. It also can be hard to find the right varieties in sustainable versions. [...]

From Ride Appreciation Society.

Robert Smith with Mark Gardener of Ride and Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine at Troxy London.

As followers may recall, I started hand stitching hexies for a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt in March, 2012... three years ago. Watching my friend, Christy, basting sweet, reproduction fabrics around paper forms, making little stacks of 3/4-inch hexagons, I just couldn't resist! These Beadlust posts show the various steps to making the quilt top and the start of  hand-quilting in more detail than this post.

Although I'm still hand-quilting, the end is in sight now. I'm hoping to finish in time for our County Fair in August.

In this post, I thought it might interest you to look at how much time it takes to complete each of the steps in hand piecing and quilting a 3/4" hexie quilt, and the total number of hours involved. I'm basing time estimates for all of the repetitive steps on how long it takes me to do a large number in one sitting, after having practiced... in other words, at my best speed.

Step 1 - Planning the Quilt and Getting Fabrics - time: 20 hours

I decided to make a version of the traditional 1930's Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt that is less common than the one with a path or ring around each of the flowers. I chose this design. Note the green hexie leaves, which form a vertical-horizontal grid.


The final size is 72 x 92 inches, a comfortable size for a twin bed, a total of 4,694 hexies. I wanted to use as many different fabrics in this quilt as possible.

• flowers = 280 different print fabrics with any background color except green or white.
• leaves = 150 different print fabrics in green
• flower centers (repeats OK) = 25 different solids
• double border = 1 print + 1 solid

Although I had collected 30's reproduction fabrics for a few years, I certainly needed more. From a selection of fabrics given to me, fabrics purchased in an eBay auction, and my stash, I found enough to make each of the flowers unique. Although there were not enough greens to make the leaves unique, I had about 60 different green prints, such that each is not repeated more than 3 times in the quilt. So, in the end the quilt includes more than 360 unique fabrics!

Step 2 - Wash and Iron all of the Fabrics - time: 15 hours

Yikes! A few of the fabrics I wanted to use were already washed; most were not. Knowing it should be consistent, and worrying that the reds might bleed, I decided to pre-wash and iron all of the fabrics. Doing this step in stages, as I acquired fabrics, I'm not really sure how long it took, perhaps quite a bit more than the above estimate.

Step 3 - Cutting and Trimming all of the Hexies - time: 28 hours

For each of the  4,694 hexies, I cut a 2" square of fabric, and trimmed off the four corners. Of course, I cut and trimmed in multiples, except for a few that I fussy cut individually. Again, since I did this step in stages, the above time estimate is a bit rough.

Step 4 - Basting the Fabric to the Paper Hexie Forms - time: 235 hours

Once I learned that using YLI quilting thread for basting makes it go much faster than using regular sewing thread, I was able to baste 20 hexies per hour.

Step 5 - Stitching Hexies Together to Make Flowers - time: 105 hours

Averaging 2.5 complete flowers per hour, it took me about two and a half 40-hour-work-weeks to whip-stitch all 238 full and 42 partial flowers. There are 14-17 whip-stitches per 3/4 inch seam.

Step 6 - Stitching a White Hexie Ring Around 130 of the Flowers - time: 130 hours

On average, it takes me 1 hour to whip-stitch 12 white hexies around each flower.

Step 7 - Layout Flowers for Quilt Top; Note Position on Each - time: 4 hours

I didn't fuss too much about the layout, spreading out the flowers randomly, making sure the red ones were evenly spaced, and that no areas were overly dominated by one color. Assigning each row a letter and each position within the row a number, I marked each flower on the back (writing on the center paper piece).

Step 7a - Half Flowers and Double Border All Around - time 90 hours

This is an update, added Feb. 2018. (I can't believe I forgot this important step when writing the original time line.) To make 42 partial flowers to fill in the gaps around the edges of the top, I cut fabrics, basted hexies, joined petals, and then stitched the partials into the gaps. To make the outer border, I made 522 individual hexies, stitched them into rows, and then stitched the rows onto the top.

Step 8 - Sew Flowers into Small Groups - time: 90 hours

To assemble the quilt top, I grouped 8-12 flowers, and whip-stitched them into a solid piece. There were 30 pieces, which took about 3 hours each to complete.

Step 9 - Sew Small Groups Together to Complete Quilt Top - time: 123 hours

I first sewed the small groups into rows, then stitched the rows together. As the sections got larger, the stitching took longer, making it difficult to estimate the time with total accuracy. I did a couple of time tests at different stages of the process in order to figure the above total. I completed this step on March 1st, 2013, one year after basting the first hexie.

Step 10 - Iron/Starch Top, Remove Papers and Basting Stitches - time: 33 hours

Removing all the basting stitches and papers took a lot longer than I would have guessed. But when I look at the pile of basting threads, it begins to make sense.

Step 11 - Assemble Quilt Layers, and Baste - time: 12 hours

Christy and Lunnette helped me layout the back, batting, and top on the floor; then baste in a 4 inch grid. I think we pinned it first, then basted, then removed the pins. On our knees for most of the time, it sure was wonderful to have their help!

Step 10 - Quilt and Embroider the Flower Centers - time: 70 hours

Choosing a floss in a similar color to each flower center, I embroidered a flower. Intentionally, some of the stitches act as quilting stitches, while others slip between the layers and don't show on the back. Around the edges of the quilt, it took about 15 minutes per flower center. Toward the middle of the quilt, it took about 20 minutes per flower center.

Step 11 - Quilt Flower Petals - time: 106 hours

Quilting around the petals of each flower requires turning the quilt 270 degrees for each petal, which is why it takes at least 20 minutes per flower, longer toward the middle of the quilt when the whole weight of the quilt must be constantly shifted. There are 238 whole and 42 partial flowers. I'm figuring an average of 25 minutes per whole and 10 minutes per partial flower.

Step 12 - Quilt Around White Rings - time: 65 hours

Like quilting the flower petals, quilting around the outside edge of each of the 130 white rings requires turning the whole quilt as I work, which adds a lot to the time it takes. I believe quilting the entire top in a diagonal grid of straight lines would take about half the time it takes to follow the curved, zig-zagging path of the hexie flowers, leaves, and rings.

Step 13 - Quilt Around Each of the Leaves - time: 79 hours

Not only does this step require turning the quilt as I stitch 360 degrees around each leaf, it also requires knotting and burying the tail at the start and finish of each leaf. Also I'm changing color of thread to more or less match the fabric color for each set of 4 leaves. Around the edge, it takes about 9 minutes per leaf; toward the center 11 minutes per leaf. There are 474 leaves total, at an average of 10 minutes/leaf.

Step 14 - Assemble Hexies for the Border Facing - time: 37 hours

To face the double (print + blue) border on the back of the quilt requires 522 hexies. To sew them together, forming the border strips, takes about 1 hour per 14 hexies.

Step 15 - Trim Backing and Batting; Blind-stitch Facing to Border - time: 13 hours

There are 264 hexies around the outside edge of the quilt top. Since I have not done this step yet, the time estimate (blind-stitching 20 hexies together per hour) is somewhat rough.

Step 16 - Remove Paper Pieces and Basting from Border and Facing - time: 10 hours

Again, since I have not done this step yet, the time estimate is based on the time it took to remove paper pieces and basting threads from the quilt top.

Step 17 - Blind-stitch Facing to Quilt Back - time: 13 hours

Step 18 - Quilt Around Print Fabric Border - time: 13 hours

Step 19 - Blanket Stitch Around Outside Edge of Quilt - time: 10 hours

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Total Time to Complete Hand-Piecing the Quilt Top: 873 hours

This is equivalent to nearly 20 weeks or 5 months on a 40 hours/week job. It took me a year. Mostly the time flew by as I basted and hand-stitched the little hexies together. Always there was a new print to enjoy, a new stack mounting in size to admire, a growing quilt top to thrill me.

Total Time to Complete Hand-Quilting: 428 hours

Since this job isn't completed yet, the time is only a rough estimate, based on the times it took to do some of the already completed steps. In all, hand quilting will take the equivalent to 10 or 11 weeks of full-time work. I find the quilting rather very boring. After taking a break for more than a year, I started working on it again and hope to be finished by August this year. Audio books are the answer to the tedium for me.

Total Time, Start to Finish: 1,301 hours

With Steps15-19 still to complete, the total is a rough estimate. Still, it is obvious that making a quilt like this, start to finish, requires more than 1,300 hours or the equivalent of over 8 months of full time work. If I were to be paid only minimum wages (2015, Seattle, WA - $11/hr.), the cost of the quilt would be $14,311 + about $500 in materials, or a total of $14,800.  Good thing I intend to keep and use it myself!

UPDATE, July 4, 2016

By June, 2015, I completely finished one corner, an area big enough to photograph so I could submit an entry form to the 2015 La Conner Quilt Festival, sponsored by the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum. On August 7th, 2015, I received notice that it was juried into the show. Wow! That sent me into high gear for sure. After working non-stop, 7 days a week, and an average of 10 hours per day, I inserted my needle into that quilt for the last/final time on Aug. 24th, 2015, just days before delivering it to the museum. It took me 3 years and 3 months, start to finish!


I was surprised, honored, and incredibly pleased to find out it won the Curator's Award of Excellence, one of the top awards, which then qualified it to be shown at the museum for the month following the Festival. Note, the finished size is 71 x 93 inches, and there are 4,700 individual hexagons in it.


Big work for both hands, but sooooo satisfying!


In fact it was so satisfying that I've started another hexie quilt... Can you believe it? So far, I've made 733 hexie flowers for it! Although they are the same size hexies, there are no reproduction fabrics and the arrangement will be anything but traditional. Don't know why I love the hexagon shape so much... but it's certain that I do.

Featuring intricately crafted wooden-style puppets with hand-drawn eyes and mouths, the short serves as a fitting coda to McHale’s masterpiece.

Within the vast musical landscape, songs dedicated to flowers have blossomed as lyrical tributes to the natural wonders that captivate and inspire. The countless compositions celebrating the beauty and symbolism of flowers highlight their enduring allure and universal appeal. In this article, we embark on a detailed exploration of the world of songs about flowers, ... Read more

The post Songs About Flowers: Exploring The Vast Melodic Garden appeared first on Star Two.

The journey of this year's tree from the West Midlands to the West End ahead of tonight's switch on.

Carefully planned gardens provide visitors a place to relax and reflect during their visit to the Smithsonian.