In February to March I was really lucky to have a break away to South Africa and I visited my close pal at her self-catering establishment. She really is such a good hostess.

On my third to last day in Cape Town we made a day trip to the most beautiful part of the world. Ok, I’m biased. There are many many beautiful spots in the world. But for me this is one of the best. It’s a straight forward drive from Cape Town to Muizenberg, then through all the tiny little sea side resorts which have all joined into one long suburb, but surely many years ago Fish Hoek and Simons Town for instances where the navy base is were their own towns, up a very windy road towards Scarborough. At the top of that hill, you look down onto Simon’s Town and it is the most perfect viewing spot.

Then you drive on a plateau through quite sparse shrub, depending of course how dry the summer was. The Western Cape has winter rainfalls, so it can get really brown and yellow in summer. Then you come out on the ‘other’ side via Kommetjie Road. Love the names. Of course if you don’t go up the hill at Simon’s Town and just drive along the coast line you get to Cape Point.

Along the Kommetjie Road, which takes you onto Chapman’s Peak Road which winds a torturous way around the mountains. And as you drive around a precarious corner each view is more stunning of harsh mountain cliffs diving into the most incredibly blue sea water. An engineering feat keeps the mountain from falling onto the road.

Then you get to the Republic of Hout Bay, or so the residents would want you to believe. Right at the harbour mouth of a fishing boats docking area, is the tattiest fish and chips shop which under the most primitive but clean conditions sells the best fish and chips ever. It has remained the same as long as I can remember. This time around I saw they had added on another section for outside sitting. It started its life as a take away but you can now sit under shade cover and feast on amazing sea food.

On the final leg of the journey the choice is whether to drive over the mountain via Constantia, Kirstenbosch and past the University back into town, or take the equally lovely route along the coast line, which will generally take you slap bang into heavy heavy traffic in the wannabee upper class Camps Bay. Once in Camps Bay one can decide again whether to hike up a very windy road toward Table Mountain on the one side or Lion’s Head and Signal Hill on the other and drive into Cape Town in that way which is a wonderful view, or whether to carry on along the coast line via the famous V & A Waterfront and the City Bowl. Either trip is really worth while and gorgeous.

We did the coast line for each choice and it was truly worth it. We had a wonderful warm day without the normal heavy wind that keeps Cape Town cooler, but also a little bit more uncomfortable. Leads to many ear infections and chest colds.

Just for that trip around the Cape Town area, a trip to this city is worth it. And should you consider it, then think of At Cheryl’s for super friendly great accommodation. For more information visit http://atcheryls.co.za

Anja Merret lives in Brighton, UK. She has recently started a blog and writes on issues that interest her from self-improvement, wealth generation, motivational thinking and anything else that amuses her. You are invited to follow her journey on http://www.anjamerret.com.

She now looks after the business interests of her daughter who is a Flash and Accessibility expert at http://www.niquimerret.com

If you are interested in designing a lawn or a yard but do not have enough ideas to do it then garden landscaping software is the perfect tool for you to use. Garden landscaping software is created specially to give people ideas on how to design their yards and gardens.

Designing a garden is not an easy job, if you are not creative or artistic then you will get stuck and will experience difficulties in coming up with a plan. If you are that person then you will definitely need to use garden landscaping software. By using this tool, you will be able to easily project the outcome and appearance of the design that you want because they can be displayed on the screen of your computer.

The step-by-step instructions are guaranteed easy to follow from the start to the end of your design. Also, you will see the dimensions of the area that you will be working on plus the materials that you will need to begin with the project. Once you finish your computer landscape design, have it printed and then you are ready to begin with the landscaping.

Using garden landscaping software is a good way to show your imagination and creativity. Since you are able to view the actual design of the landscape, you can easily add some effects to it by choosing the plants and other decorative features. The ideas in the garden landscaping software are virtually limitless and using this software can be very exciting.

Using garden landscaping software is also perfect if you are in the landscaping business. You can instantly show a customer a picture of the design that will be done on their garden or yard. This will save you and the customer time, effort and money because they can immediately tell you if they like the design or not.

Using garden landscaping software is just one of the examples of how technology has made jobs and tasks easier. Garden landscaping software can be purchased from computer stores or online with different types to choose. The price range varies widely depending, of course, on the features the software has.

It is important to study what exact software you need before making a purchase. This is to be sure that you will get all that you need without spending too much money. For more information on what is the best garden landscaping software to use, you can surf the Internet or visit a computer shop and seek assistance from a store clerk.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

With the help of guides, ideas, inspiration and recommendation, the average gardener or landscaper can make his own landscaped garden with little help or none at all.

However, when the owner of the property wants to have automated sprinkler systems or if he wants to have a truly spectacular front yard, he needs to hire a professional to do the work for him.

There are a lot of contractors, companies and professionals around who are experienced in landscaping and gardening. Most of them offer a variety of garden landscaping services.

One of those services is consultancy. Often, property owners do not know exactly how they want their garden to look like. Sometimes, they do not even know what plants to grow! To solve these problems, he can hire garden consultants to advise him on what to do. Normally, the consultants arrange a visit to the property to observe. After a few days, they can visit the owner and submit to him some recommendations.

Another garden landscaping service that is being offered is site clearance. This service is about removing unwanted weeds, shrubs, trees and other vegetation. However, it is not limited to soft landscape. Site clearance is also about getting rid of old fences, pathways, buildings and concrete. This is a labor intensive service.

Aside from soft landscaping, landscaping companies also offer hard landscaping service. This service includes rockery works, pond excavation and construction, patio and terrace construction, pathway and driveway layout and fence layout. The service also aids in the construction of garden buildings such as pagodas, sheds and pump stations. Another aspect of hard landscaping service is setting up garden ornaments such as decorative benches, trellis sections and fences.

Another garden landscaping service which requires a lot of expertise is water works. Here, the contractor helps the property owner to lay out pipes for irrigation and automatic sprinkling. This is quite a complex job since it involves digging around the garden and calculating the exact water pressure for the spray. Needless to say, this service is quite expensive.

Garden landscaping service also includes plant care. The contractor regularly visits the property to take care of the plants. Maintenance of the plants usually involves trimming and pruning, weed and pest control and irrigation.

As seen, there are a lot of garden landscaping services that a property owner can choose from. The only limits are his budget and his imagination.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

Your meridians are the channels through which your emotions flow.

The natural and free flow of life force energy (your e-motions - energy in motion) coursing through your meridians ensures your health and longevity.

While blocked or suppressed emotions result in clogged meridian channels and imbalances of health.
Essential oils help restore the flow of chi through your meridians. The results of using aromatherapy to restore energetic balance and flow of chi may be enhanced through a regular practice of diaphragmatic breathing.

EARTH ELEMENT MERIDIANS: Stomach (yang), Spleen (yin)

PROPERTIES OF THE EARTH ELEMENT

SEASON: Indian summer
TASTE: sweet
EMOTION: desire/worry
BODY PARTS: stomach, spleen, muscles,mouth
COLOR: yellow
SWEET ACTION: Warming, soothing, nourishing, body-building and tonic. Most foods are classified as sweet. There are complex sweet flavors like grains, beans, dairy products and meat. Simple sweets are less satisfying. Examples are honey, sweet fruits and juices. Simple sweets intensify your craving for sweet rather than satisfy it.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS OF IMBALANCED EARTH ELEMENT MAY INCLUDE:

Arthritis
Heart Burn
Indigesion
Shoulder and neck tension
Stomach ulcer
Sinusitis
Eczema
Rashes
Fatigue
Food allergies
Diabetes
Sweet cravings
Poor lymph circulation
Frequent urination
Low blood sugar
Insomnia
Bed wetting

AROMATIC ENERGY MEDICINE - ESSENTIAL OILS FOR BALANCING THE EARTH ELEMENT:

Geranium
Fennel
Rosemary
Vetiver
Cedarwood
Sandalwood
Ginger
Peppermint
Marjoram
Lavender

Your body is the physical expression of your Subconscious Mind and your Emotions are the Language of your Subconscious Mind.

I highly recommend Dr. Candace Pert’s excellent CD on this subject entitled, “Your Body Is Your Subconscious Mind.”

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Holistic MindBody Therapy, including pure essential oils, are gentle, noninvasive complementary forms of health care for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind and spirit and a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being. Holistic health care may produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

KG has developed massage training and holistic health programs for the spa industry, health clubs and clinics, schools, resorts, as well as for individual clients. She is a MindBody Therapist and Health Educator with advanced certification and training in Bowen Therapy, BodyTalk and Aromatherapy. She is the owner of Springhill Wellness Center and the founder & director of PurePlant Essentials aromatherapy products.

Click to learn more http://www.kgstiles.com/pureplantessentials.html about each of the essential oils listed for balancing the Earth Element and to order

Click to learn about http://www.kgstiles.com/consulting.htm KG’s Consulting Services

Click to learn about http://www.kgstiles.com/presentations.htm KG’s Presentations and Workshops

More Info? Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315 Mahalo!

In most places, gardens can be incorporated in lawns. As usual, the gardener finds an open patch of space and grows the garden foliage there. However, a garden could be placed anywhere, aside from a loan.

Take for example a small, unused backyard swimming pool. A great garden landscaping idea would be to convert it into a sunken patio surrounded by vegetation.

It would be a good idea to create levels in the design. In small areas, this is quite useful because it give the illusion of more space. The pool’s steps could be used to as a guide to determine the level. In our example, the floor level of the patio can be set at the second step. The steps themselves can be covered with flagstone so they would have a more natural feel.

For this garden landscaping idea, the floor could be made out of red bricks. The walls of the pool starting at the first step could be lined up with vertical flagstones that act as barriers to hold the garden soil in.

Flagstones can also be placed at selected areas at the lip of the pool, particularly the corner. When the mortar holding the stones is dry, the inside can then be filled up with garden soil for the plants.

Finally, to cap off this unusual garden landscaping idea would be to install an outdoor fireplace in one side of the converted pool. Fireplaces are great if the person wants to relax outside for a night picnic.

Another creative garden landscaping idea is to make a place that is attractive to birds. The view of visiting birds hovering above a garden lets viewers enjoy a wonderful sight.

Since many species of birds love fruits, planting fruit trees will surely draw birds in the area. Also, many fruits give off pleasant scents that will make the air fresh and fragrant.

A gardener can also install a birdbath in the garden. Birdbaths look like decorative basins on a pedestal in the middle of a garden. Birdbaths provide birds with water to drink. It is important to replace the water quite often to make sure that it is safe for the creatures to drink.

A nice touch would be to put bird swings on trees and other structures. It allows birds to perch and rest. It’s very simple to construct. Just tie two long pieces of strings at each end of a twig or stick. Then tie the other ends on the branches of trees or protruding parts of structures in the garden.

These are just two unique garden landscaping ideas. A lot more could be found on the internet or garden magazines. With a touch of creativity, a person could transform an otherwise typical or unused place into a stunning garden.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

Designing a garden seems to be easy. However, when the garden is finished, some gardeners become disappointed with the result. The final product is messy and not appealing to the eye.

That is why it is important to study the basic elements of garden landscaping design and apply them during the making of the garden. By familiarizing the five elements of landscape design, a gardener can put up a garden that is both visually appealing and organized.

The first element of garden landscaping design is form. Form is defined as the shape of something. A tree for example, may have a form involving upright branches like pines. Or it may have a droopy form like that of a mulberry tree. The position of plants with careful consideration on their form gives the garden a unified feel.

The second element of garden landscaping design is line. Line refers to the fact that a person’s eye movement is unconsciously guided by the garden’s borders, the arrangement and outline of plants and other structures. This is quite useful when the gardener wants to emphasize a certain point in his garden. The line of plants can subtly guide the eye movement to that area.

The third element of garden landscaping design is texture. Texture refers to how the surface of the plant is distinguished and seen, relative to the plants and other objects around it. The viewer usually perceives the texture of the plants by judging the size and shape of its leaves.

The fourth element is proportion. It is the requirement that the size of the plants and structures in the garden should fit into the whole landscape harmoniously. An out of proportion garden disrupts the landscape since the height and size of the plants and objects do not offer a good transition. Good transition refers to the gradual change in size or height of the object.

The final element of garden landscaping design is color theory. Color theory is the relationship of one color to the other. Expert gardeners use color theory to provide unity or contrast in their gardens.

Color theory can also set the atmosphere of the garden. For example, using flowers with warm colors such as red and yellow excites the viewer and gives off a feeling of liveliness. On the other hand, using flowers with cool colors such as blue or green, invokes a feeling of relaxation and serenity.

Armed with this understanding, the gardener can now incorporate these elements to make a unified and beautiful garden of his dreams.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

Each garden designer has his or her own signature style of landscaping the area. Depending on preference and style, the garden may either have a complex design with an obviously manicured landscape. Or, the garden’s design may have a wild, natural look.

One of the most common designs being adapted all around the world is the English garden. English Garden landscaping combines an appealing visual blend of natural and groomed beauty. The design is simple but pleasant to the eyes. In fact, it is the design that is chosen for many public places and buildings.

As what the name implies, English garden landscaping originated in Europe. Interestingly, this style of garden landscaping was inspired by paintings that depict European landscapes. Garden designer William Kent applied the idea into gardens. There were other influential designers such as Humphrey Repton and Capability Brown who added their own ideas.

Kent got his influence from old European culture. Repton wanted a garden that would look like beautiful places in the English countryside. On the other hand, Brown wanted flowering plants to be placed right next to a structure. This was an idea that has been lingering in his mind but was not implemented by gardeners at that time.

Traditional English Garden landscaping involves lines that curve and wind around the area. This is quite evident in the garden’s winding pathways. The points of interest in the garden are marked and emphasized by things such as benches and statues.

Also, English garden landscaping is characterized by a huge assortment of plants. The large amount of plants gives the garden a natural feel, although it is obvious that the plants are taken cared of and pruned regularly.

A lot of parks and places make use of pure English garden landscaping. These places include the majestic gardens in famous places such as Castle Howard, Stourhead, Blenheim Palace, Stowe and Rousham House. The gardens in these places give the viewer an idea of how these places might look like a long time ago.

With the advent of minimalism and other recent gardening styles, the popularity of English garden landscaping had declined a little bit. Most of today’s gardens that still use this design of landscaping are influenced with a smattering of Chinese gardening style, making it less distinctive than the original design.

But without a doubt, English garden landscaping remains one of the most famous and influential garden designs in the world.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

A custom landscaping design allows you to make your garden landscape as unique as you want it to be. There are many resources available where you can get creative ideas to incorporate in your custom landscaping design. While landscape design requires careful planning and execution, it can be done not just by professionals but also by people who are willing to learn.

Even if you have a custom landscaping design in mind, you need to learn about the fundamentals of landscape design to guide your work. There is vast information about landscaping. You can in fact take a bachelor degree course on landscaping in many colleges and universities. But of course, that will take a good four years so for the purposes of creating a custom landscaping design for your yard or garden, you can simply consult various resources on landscaping such as books, magazines, and websites.

If the project becomes too overwhelming, you can always hire a professional to create a custom landscaping design for you. In this case, the benefit of reading up about the basics of landscaping is you can easily communicate to the designer your ideas because you are already familiar with different terms, styles, and themes in landscaping.

When working with a landscape designer or design company, the custom landscaping design is both the creation of the designer and the client. It usually starts with what the client wants to achieve in the garden or yard. It could be as specific as a water garden or a simply an idea such as rustic, classical, minimalist etc.

The designer will work on developing the client’s concept into the blueprint of the custom landscaping design. There are several factors that the designer will consider aside from the client’s wishes such as more practical concerns including choice of plants, hard landscaping materials, light, climate, use of the area, and other features of the landscape.

Throughout the process of creating the custom landscaping design, the designer is in constant communication with the client. Every plan is presented to the client for review and approval. In-depth discussions between the designer and client as well as revisions are necessary until the client is fully satisfied with the custom landscaping design.

Once the client has approved the design, the designer will present the client with the final design materials needed for construction, which may include complete materials list, a 3D perspective of the design and a 2D color rendering. Some landscape design companies also include a customized handbook to guide the client on how to maintain the plants and feature that will be installed in their landscaped yard.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=>http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

Each kind of garden has its own function. A flower garden, for example, features vegetation that decorates the area around a house or building. Vegetable gardens provide vegetables for food.

Another kind of garden is called a cottage garden. Originally, they were created for crops. They were immensely useful to stave of starvation of poor workers during the 18th and 19th century.

But hardship did not dampen the workers’ pride. They started to throw handfuls of seeds randomly throughout the garden. Soon, flowering plants sprouted and gave the garden its aesthetic beauty.

Today, cottage garden landscaping features a mixture of helpful and ornamental plants. In this type of garden, there are more useful plants that are used for food, medicine or animal forage, than decorative ones. The ornamental flowers are added as an afterthought to brighten up the garden.

The idea of cottage garden landscaping is to plant useful and decorative plants in a small area. Unlike cottage gardens of the past, today’s cottage gardens are designed to be pleasing to the eye by carefully arranging ornamental plants, herbs, vegetables and other ornaments. Vacant lawns are quite small since most of the space is attributed to vegetation.

Cottage garden landscaping involves the construction of paths. These are important components in a cottage garden. They are usually straight and they often have a garden island in the middle. The materials for these paths are subtle. Such materials include crushed gravel and old bricks. Pieces of broken pots or terracotta tiles are used to line up the edge of paths and garden beds.

Another important aspect of cottage garden landscaping is the presence of garden accessories. Wooden arches, for example, are built so that climbing plants can grow on them. Picket fences are used for bordering the garden. Sometimes, even weatherproof furniture is placed in a cottage garden.

In cottage garden landscaping, even the most mundane items are used for decoration. Items such as rustic water pumps, weathervanes, sundials and figurines are quite common. The aim is to generate a sense of peacefulness of past times.

Of course, the most important thing in cottage garden landscaping is plants. Most gardeners choose fast growing plants so that the garden will look dense. Self seeding plants are also grown to spread the dense effect. A nice touch would be to add scented plants to bring fragrance into a cottage garden.

Truly, cottage gardens are one of the most practical types of garden that a person can make. With it, a household can save money, use the plants and decorate their homes at the same time.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive http://landscaping.need-to-know.net landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=> http://landscaping.need-to-know.net

Some of the most beautiful animals in the world are butterflies. Rich in color and life, these insects are a pleasure to behold. Unfortunately, many species of butterflies have become instinct as their living space and food supply are threatened by humans.

However, a person can help protect them or even increase their numbers by making a butterfly garden. Butterfly garden landscaping works by growing plants that attract butterflies. Done properly, this kind of garden can be paradise for insect wildlife.

The first thing to do in butterfly garden landscaping is to locate a sunny spot in the garden. Butterflies need the sun’s warmth for their wing muscles to work efficiently. In fact, one can usually see them stretch their wings out in the sun, warming up enough to fly.

It is also important to put up the garden in the area that is clear of strong winds. Butterflies do not like strong winds and will avoid those kinds of places.

The next thing to consider in butterfly garden landscaping is to choose the plants well. There are four factors to keep in mind when making the selection. First, they should be brightly colored and scented. Butterflies are attracted to bright colors and strong fragrances.

Second, the plants should produce nectar since nectar is a staple food for butterflies. Nowadays, nectar producing plants are easy to grow. Planting different varieties of nectar producing flowers will attract even more species since some species are particular about the kind of nectar they eat.

Third, choose flowering plants that will bloom at different times in season. This will ensure that the garden will always be colorful and attractive to butterflies. Furthermore, it ensures a steady supply of food for different species of butterflies.

Fourth, the garden should also have an abundance of host plants for the butterflies to lay their eggs on. The best host plants are the leafy ones where they can be source of shelter and food for larvae and caterpillars.

Providing an area with a rocky ledge is also a good idea for effective butterfly garden landscaping. Butterflies often perch on rocks to bask in the sun.

With the garden being an ideal habitat for butterflies, it is important to avoid the use of insecticides. These chemicals are toxic to butterflies.

Instead, use plants that are native to the area. Such plants already developed resistance to local pests and disease, reducing the need for pesticides. Also, introduce other creatures such as earthworms, ants or beetles. These insects eat up other insects that prey on flowers. Let nature take its course.

Effective butterfly garden landscaping will reward the gardener with a beautiful view of these lovely creatures. But more importantly, they provide these creatures a chance to survive and enjoy life of their own.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Landscaping and Gardening and runs a highly popular and comprehensive http://landscaping.need-to-know.net landscaping web site. For more articles and resources on landscaping designs, landscape ideas, garden landscaping and much more visit his site at:

=>http://landscaping.need-to-know.net