Easy, Low-Cost DIY Costume Ideas for Halloween

By: Nikki Phipps


Let's face it, not everyone can afford to spend a lot of money on elaborate Halloween costumes, especially if you're living on a fixed income. Likewise, not everyone can afford to spend a lot of time making them either, especially those without sewing abilities. Wouldn't it be nice if you could create your own costumes with little time or money invested? Well you can. In fact, there are numerous costume ideas that can be created yourself for next to nothing. Better still, there's little or no sewing involved. All you need is a little imagination and some creativity, something most of us already have tucked away somewhere inside us. And if for some reason you don't have it, I'm sure the kids do.

An interesting way to come up with ideas for costumes is to keep a trunk or box somewhere handy and fill it with miscellaneous items. This can help spark the imagination. For instance, load it up with old clothing, fabric of varying lengths, pantyhose, fashion accessories, artificial flowers, pipe cleaners and other craft supplies, aluminum foil, yarn, old sheets or curtains, etc. Nearly anything can be used. Instead of traditional Halloween bags for candy, use other items related to your costume and store them in the 'imagination box.' For example, you can implement items such as old pocketbooks, pillowcases, garbage bags, baskets, doctor's bags, small backpacks, or even diaper bags.

Ever since my kids were old enough to participate in trick-or-treating activities, I have made their costumes. Once Halloween approaches, I begin asking them what they would like to be. Then I scour the house and our box of goodies to find whatever I might already have on hand, making a list of the items with which I need. Generally, these few items can be purchased at the local thrift shop or dollar store so there usually isn't too much money invested in the project.

For safety reasons, I prefer to use make-up or face paint as opposed to masks. You can easily make your own out of food coloring and corn starch. This is not only safer than using masks, but it's also cheaper, easier to apply, and comes off just as easily with mild soap and water. A simple cream can be made with one part corn starch and two parts food coloring to create the desired shade for your costume. Apply to the face with your fingers just like foundation. And with a few drops of red food coloring and a little corn syrup, you have home-made blood for those ghoulish costumes.

One year my daughter went as a witch. It isn't as difficult as you might think to come up with creative ways of putting this outfit together. In fact, they can be as easy or difficult as you can handle. For the witch ensemble, I simply used a tattered black dress and a witch's hat my daughter already had. I mixed up some green face paint and added a wart with an eyeliner pencil. For her hair, I used some fiery, red-orange yarn that I attached to the hat with Velcro. Add a small broom and there you go.

Another year, she was a butterfly. The butterfly was fashioned together by cutting a pair of wings out of some cardboard, which I decorated with multi-colored pieces of felt (you can also use aluminum foil and decorate with sequins, glitter, etc.). The body of the butterfly consisted of nothing more than a black sweat suit; however, a dark-colored leotard should work just as well. Wings can be attached in whatever way is easiest for you. They can be sewn onto the back of the sweatshirt or fastened with elastic bands fitted around the child's arms. You could also try using Velcro for felt-covered wings. This not only sticks to the felt but to the shirt as well. Add an antennae headband and, if desired, some face paint. The headband can either be purchased from the dollar store for a couple bucks or put together yourself using an ordinary black headband with black pipe cleaners attached.

I transformed my son into a lively jack-in-the-box one year. This idea came about through my own childhood memories. My mother also made a lot of our costumes growing up. Aluminum foil would incredibly become a tiara, a wand, or antennas. Lacy curtains would suddenly become flowing gowns. Her creativity was amazing, and one costume in particular stood out above all others-a kitchen table. She had taken a simple cardboard box, cut out a hole in the bottom, and slipped it right over my head. After draping a tablecloth over the box, my protruding head became the centerpiece with a carefully placed 'hat' made from a pair of pantyhose and artificial flowers.

And from this kitchen table costume, another one was born-the jack-in-the-box. It uses the same 'box' concept and originality. I simply took a box, decorated it, and attached it to my son with suspenders (can use elastic as well). On one side of the box I fashioned a handle. He wore dark sweatpants and a regular long-sleeved shirt that I attached ruffles to. I painted his face to mimic that of a joker.

A few years back, my kids decided that they wanted their costumes to match. We looked around the house and soon enough found ourselves with a cowboy and an Indian. For the cowboy, my son donned a cowboy hat and boots, a western shirt, blue jeans and a denim jacket. All of which we already had. To accessorize the look, I tied (loosely) a red bandana around his neck and fastened the holster (complete with toy guns) around his waist. Once again, these were items that we already had on hand.

My daughter, of course, was the Indian. Her costume was also something we had just lying around. I took an old brown pillowcase and cut a v-neck hole in the bottom that was large enough for my daughter's head to fit through. I then cut two more holes in either side for her arms. I hand-stitched designs around both the neck line and bottom of the 'dress' and with a pair of scissors, I carefully cut slits along the edges to give it a frilly look. If you don't sew, that's ok; you can easily use fabric paint to decorate the dress instead. To set off the dress, my daughter wore braided pigtails with a feathered headband around her forehead. The only item I purchased for this was a pair of moccasin slippers from the dollar store. To hold all their candy, my son carried a pillowcase 'loot bag' while my daughter used an old harvest basket lined with an orange towel.

Ever had the option of dressing up for work with the most original taking first prize? This one worked for me. Once again, I borrowed the idea from my mother, giving it my own twist-a tomato plant. For this costume, I wore a dark green leotard with green hose and slippers. I found a dark green table skirt and simply cut out holes to allow me to both slip it over my head and run my arms through. I pinned some green artificial leaves onto the leotard and table skirt along with little tomatoes made from Styrofoam balls that were painted red and topped off with green stems (you can also use tomato pin cushions found in craft stores). I finished it off with a green beret full of leaves. By the way, I took the prize.

I have found balloons to be quite useful for costumes; however, they should only be applied to those of older children or adults. Once again, safety is important and balloons tend to pop easily and small children can accidentally try to eat the balloon peices. Balloons are inexpensive and come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. You can create one-of-a-kind costumes with hardly any work involved. Imagine a bunch of grapes (like that from Fruit-of-the-Loom). Choose a purple sweat suit or leotard and attach purple balloons carefully with small safety pins. Add some ivy vines and top it off with a matching hat full of ivy leaves. This could also be used for other berries as well with appropriate colored sweats and balloons. For instance, you could try raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries.

Then again, why not go out as Mr. Bubble? Wear white and use some white balloons to instantaneously become soap suds. Accessorize with a scrub brush and a hat or bag made up of bath materials such as sponges and empty shampoo, bubble bath, or soap containers. When you apply balloons to any costume, however, try not to put any on the backside. This could make it difficult to sit down.

Other interesting costume ideas might include a scarecrow using denim bib overalls, a plaid or flannel shirt, rope or twine for belt, a straw hat, gloves and boots. Stuff all the pockets with straw. Turn an old sheet into a ghost. Create a hobo from some old clothes and add a hat. Paint the face with a five o'clock shadow and fashion an old hankie to a stick. What's autumn without leaves? Use a dark-colored sweat suit (with hood) and pin silk leaves all over it. Walk around carrying a rake and gather candy in a leaf bag.

Remember, a little imagination can go a long way; and best of all, it's free to use.

Author Bio
This article was written by Nikki Phipps and was sponsored by DareToScare.com.

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An Autumn Garden for Halloween

By: Nikki Phipps

There's no better time to enjoy the spectacular beauty that nature has to offer than during the autumn season. This is an ideal occasion for entertaining friends and family, especially around Halloween. Why not take advantage of all the vibrant colors and stimulating textures that autumn provides by creating a garden themed around this exciting holiday.

Halloween parties provide a great opportunity to bring the bountiful harvest from the garden indoors; or better yet, invite guests out into the garden instead. Bathe the garden or patio with soft lights. Set autumn or Halloween-colored votive candles inside small jars or glasses and place them on terra cotta saucers adorned with colorful leaves. These charming, little lanterns can be used as attractive centerpieces for tables or scattered throughout the garden.

Pumpkins are an absolute must for decorating a Halloween garden. Create a variety of Jack-O'-Lanterns and spread them throughout the surrounding landscape. Light them up with candles. You could also choose to hollow out varieties of pumpkin, gourd, and even squash to use as festive containers for cut-flower arrangements. Fill them with various mums, Chinese lanterns, stems having berries attached, sunflowers, dried peppers, twigs, etc. Wicker harvest baskets also make lovely containers. Gather a few bales of hay or straw, add some corn stalks and pumpkins, and accent with Indian corn and small decorative gourds. For additional interest, you could cover tables with old burlap sacks. Create cozy seating around these tables; or perhaps, self-contained, rock fire pits.

Autumn-themed gardens are generally rich with colors such as crimson, gold, dark green, and burnt orange. These beautiful colors result from a variety of flowers, foliage, berries and seed heads. In keeping with a traditional Halloween theme, there are several ways to accomplish a spook-tacular garden. If you desire, your focus can be centered on orange and black. However, too much dark color can result in making the garden dull and unappealing. Your goal is to achieve an inviting atmosphere. Good choices for adding orange color might include zinnias, marigolds, tiger lilies, Gerber daisies, poppies, and butterfly weed. Near-black beauties could include a variety of tulips and irises. Don't forget to throw in some orange and black-colored pansies as well.

Keep in mind, however, that a Halloween theme does not need to be limited to just these colors. Flowers that are deep maroon can also help set off your Halloween effect. Look for these shades in favorite varieties of cosmos, bachelor buttons, or snapdragons. Complimentary colors such as orange mums and purple asters can add additional interest. Mix in some gray or blue grasses.

Likewise, try implementing some dark maroon roses in the garden; allow them to climb along an old iron trellis. Place stone benches in various areas for seating, allowing different views, and maybe a nearby water basin to wash away troubles. Additionally, you might want to include plants that have creepy names such as devil's tongue, blood lily, spider orchid, bat plant, bleeding heart, bloodroot, etc.

Did you know that at one time having certain plants within your garden made you guilty of being a witch? Many types of herbs, weeds, and flowers were once considered to be used solely by witches for making up magical potions and spells. Some of these included Hellebores, lavender, poppies, dandelions, and even ferns. Foxglove, known also as witches thimbles, and yarrow, referred to as devil's nettle, are also commonly grown plants in many gardens today that have a ghoulish connection with witchcraft.

Just for fun you might consider designing a witch's garden filled with various herbs. These gardens are generally circular in shape as it was once believed a sacred symbol by witches. Plant rows of red beauties around the perimeter of the garden. Red blooms were said to keep out evil doers. Try geraniums, zinnias, nasturtiums, red spider lilies, or firecracker flowers.

On the other hand, if you're wishing to ward off a witch, try a border filled with vibrant yellows and rich greens. There are many varieties of flowers such as marigolds, sunflowers, green zinnias, etc. and foliage plants such as hostas, ornamental grasses, or evergreens that will achieve this effect easily. Within the witch's garden you may find an array of native plants.

Add further interest and drama by incorporating ornamental plants as well. Enhance your theme with various features such as gargoyles, toadstool ornaments, broomsticks, and small cauldrons. Allow these objects to crawl out from beneath or behind plants to create an air of mystery.

An autumn garden can easily be designed to fit a Halloween theme. With only a dash of imagination and a few Halloween-related props, you can create an autumn garden that will amaze your family, friends, and neighbors. Happy Halloween.

Author Bio
This article was written by Nikki Phipps and was sponsored by DareToScare.com.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

Halloween Activities for Kids

By: Nikki Phipps

There's no doubt about it; kids love Halloween. They love dressing up in costumes and collecting loads of candy. But did you know that kids also enjoy participating in other fun, creative activities as well? There are tons of interesting ways to entertain a child's imagination, including simple craft projects and games. Why not take advantage of this amazing holiday by spending some extra time with the children and doing these activities together?

Craft projects are a great way to get your child involved with Halloween traditions. Children love the chance to use and show off their imagination. Why not allow them to help out with the Halloween decorations? Sure, you could go out and spend lots of money on decorations that are already assembled, but wouldn't it be nice to save some cash by making your own? And as a bonus, you get to share the moment with your children.

Here's a nifty idea for adding Halloween charm to your porch or patio. Thoroughly clean and remove the labels from empty 2-liter pop bottles and pour a little bit of orange paint inside, replacing lid afterward. Let the kids shake the bottles around until the inside is covered with orange paint. Once dry, allow them to decorate faces onto the outside of the bottles with black paint. Add a green ribbon or bow to the top of the bottle and set on the porch. To lessen the chance of your pop-bottle pumpkins from blowing over, you can add a handful of sand using a funnel.

Another fun project for the kids involves making pumpkin pouches from ordinary paper plates. These creative little pouches will look great hung on the wall or door. Use them for holding candy or other items. In fact, use them all year long. They can easily be created to change as the seasons do. Take two plates and cut one in half. Secure the half plate onto the whole one using either staples or weaving ribbon through punched-out holes. Paint the plate pouch orange and allow it to dry. Decorate the pumpkin with funny or spooky faces and hang (pouch out). You could also have the kids create a festive Halloween handprint wreath for hanging on the front door. Choose autumn-colored pieces of construction paper and trace around your child's hand. Cut the little hands out and glue them together in the shape of a wreath. These can be further decorated or left as is. The size of the wreath is up to you.

Planning a party? Get the kids to help out with the invitations. Create adorable ghost print cards using their own footprints. Your children will not only enjoy making them, but your guests will love the cute designs as well. Simply grab some black and orange-colored construction paper (amount will vary depending on how many people), white tempera or other washable paint, and some gold gel markers. Lay down some newspaper and fill a shallow container with paint. Fold each piece of construction paper in half and place, one at a time, onto the newspaper. Have each child dip his/her foot into the paint and 'stamp' the card with a footprint. Allow the cards to dry; afterward, let the kids add a face onto the ghost and print a small message inside using markers. You could use glue for this instead and decorate with glitter.

You could attach some lively little ghost pops onto each card. Just have the children cover a tootsie pop with tissue and secure it in place with a piece of orange or black yarn. Use a marker to add a face to the ghost. These also make fun treats to give out to the trick-or-treaters.

Other interesting ideas for the kids to make and give out to party guests as well as trick-or-treaters include bat bags and candy cups. Use an ordinary brown paper lunch bag and some brown construction paper. Have the kids draw a bat's head onto the piece of construction paper and cut it out. Let them decorate it with markers, glitter, etc. Fill the bag with treats, fold the top over, and staple (parent/adult should do this). Of course, you don't need to feel limited to bats; allow them to choose whatever Halloween design they want or one that goes with a party theme.

Candy cups are good for party guests. Simply allow kids to decorate Styrofoam cups with markers relating to Halloween theme. Meanwhile, fill some plastic baggies with individually wrapped candy and tie the tops with decorative yarn or ribbon. Let the kids drop one baggie into each of the cups; these can also contain the names of guests or allow the guests to become involved as well and include the activity as a party event.

While children are always fascinated with creative craft projects, they simply love the opportunity to play. Games are another fun way for them to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Traditional games such as Snap Apple are always a hit. Hang an apple from the doorway with a string and have the children take turns trying to bite the apple, with their hands behind their back. This game was thought to bring good fortunes to those accomplishing the task. Of course, you could give a prize instead.

An interesting alternative to the more traditional Halloween games might include a good old-fashioned game of Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin. This game is played in the same way as Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Create a pumpkin from a piece of orange poster board and draw a mouth and eyes onto it with black marker. Create the nose from a piece of black poster board or construction paper and attach some double-sided tape to the back of it. Blindfold the players, having them turn around a couple of times, then allow them to 'pin' the nose onto the pumpkin. Winner gets a small prize.

Halloween isn't just about the candy or the costumes; nor is it about the ghosts, goblins, or witches. Halloween is an ideal occasion for spending and honoring time with family and friends. From small decorating projects to fun games, the Halloween season offers plenty of easy and interesting activities for the kids as well as the parents.

Author Bio
This article was written by Nikki Phipps and was sponsored by DareToScare.com.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com

Just an amazing site!

I came across this web site, and I have to admit it's amazing. Phil Nauta is the smiling gardener, but with all his helpful tips and videos the one's who will be smiling are the one who follow his advice.

Check his site out I bet you'll learn something new, I know I did. Www.smilingGardener.com








Source: Smiling Gardener

It Bee All about You.

I have been working on establishing an urban farm yard for over a year now. It will always be a work in progress. As change is the never ending processes of a garden. What started out as seeds grows into fruit yielding plants. Which with the changing season will have then served their purpose wilt and be added to the compost bins for next years black gold. The continuous cycle of reusable fertilizer the life of a garden.  Nevertheless, it is nice to know that their are like minds out there with the same passion of the natural world who keep me inspired. The following pictures come to me from a fellow beekeeper who's has been at this much longer than I have. From Cape Cod, Massachusetts fellow beekeeper Mr. Murphy raises chickens, grows vegetables and is a beekeeper on his quarter acre.

   Hoping these pictures will inspire you as they have me. Thank you Mr. Murphy for sharing your world with.us, and thank you for keeping it green.

There She Blows!

My love of the natural world was forged at an early age. My mother is always telling my wife stories of how I, as child would run off and play in the bushes instead of playing on the playground. It was always about the scavenger hunt for me. I was always looking for a new bug or little critter to bring home. My moms favorite story is how I, on one winter afternoon decided to bring home a jar of carpenter bees which  I had accidentally unearth, and didn't want them to die, therefore I re-homed them in my parents bedroom. Needless to say, my parents were not pleased with my intent in saving the bees. Till this day i am afriad I am not quite sure of whatever became of those bees, I never dared to ask!

However, as hurricane Irene tore through the east cost I was again in a situation where I had to save the bees. I had to admit when I decided to create my urban farm yard, keeping chickens and becoming a beekeeper, the thought of a hurricane never entered my mind. But now the threat was real. Irene was coming, and all my hard work was in real danger. I knew from the News forecast that Irene would be heading straight for us. My wife and I knew we had our work cut out for us, and no time to waste. Getting our home ready for a hurricane is one thing, but when you have livestock in an urban setting this becomes a whole other matter. I don't think a city shelter was ready for us and our livestock. Imagine the conversation with the evacuation shelter when I ask them if they have room for two adults with chickens and 10,000 bees. I don't think a conversation like this would of faired very well.

The first thing I did was to make sure our home was not situated in a flood zone. Thankfully we are not, however that's never a guaranty we wouldn't be flooded. But it's a start. I moved the bees to the highest point on our property and anchored them down with cinderblocks to keep them from being blown away. Then crossed my fingers and prayed! I then had to secure the hens. Those little ladies spent a good part of the hurricane in dog kennels which we had kept from previous pet dogs we had owned. They were then moved from their coop and temporarily occupied one of the vacant bedrooms which I have yet to renovate. Yes, thats right I had to bring in the chickens!  OMG!, I think they believed they were being crated up for the butcher the way they were clucking!

Now that the livestock was secured. We had to get the house ready for the storm. We had to make sure we had enough food and water for the both of us and the hens. Made sure the car had a full tank of gas just in case we did have to evacuate. However the current plan was to wait out this storm at home. So then began the waiting game!

I can't say I wasn't worried , the truth of the matter is, I was! New York hasn't seen a hurricane of this magnitude since hurricane Gloria, and I remember all the damage she did when she payed us a visit. Our home was built in 1899, and she's no stranger to hurricanes. However, I Had my reservations. We'd soon find out, as hurricane Irene was only 7 hours away.

There she blows,Irene finally reached us. She dumped about 12 inches of rain on us, but I suspect more. I can say this with gusto as I am the proud owner of  a new in door swimming pool in our basement, as a result of hurricane Irene. With wind speed of 56mpr, wind gusts of 65 Irene hammered Staten Island. We slept in our living room, as the storm had her way with us. All we could do is wait her out, prayed a lot and hoped for the best.

It was 4 a.m., when I remembered the bees. I wondered if the cinderblocks I had placed on top of them had been enough to keep them from blowing over. I made my way to the kitchen window which has the best view of the hive. At first all I could see is trees swaying back and forth as if they had received the Holy Spirit on Sunday mass. Then I saw it in the distance, a small little brown box, held down by the weight of those concrete blocks. I couldn't help but feel overjoyed, at least for the moment they were ok. But we still had several hours of storm yet to pass.

Then thankfully, it was over ten hours later. We'd had made through this storm unharmed and stepped outside to survey any damages caused by Irene to our property. The worse we had received was the flooding in the basement. I considered ourselves blessed with that alone. The bees road out the storm just fine, and the hens were glad to get out of the those pens and forage through the landscape once again.

All and all I was thankful that this storm gave us a pardon. However, we may not be so blessed for the next one. Yet I am some what grateful to Irene, for with out her threat and other storms such as her, I would have never known what it takes to prepare an urban farm for disasters such as these. It has given me a better perspective on disaster preparation.

Old-Time Favorites: Plants for Your Garden Worth Remembering

Old-Time Favorites: Plants for Your Garden Worth Remembering

By: Nikki Phipps

     Remember the almost magical feeling of your grandmother's garden, bursting with loads of colorful, fragrant blooms and magnificent foliage? There was always something going on in the garden; and nearly every plant had a specific purpose, whether it was for the kitchen, treating ailments, or keeping up appearances.

     Gardeners of the past created beautiful landscapes with many of the same plants commonly seen today. Heirloom plants are quite hardy, and many of these vintage flowers have managed to survive on their own throughout centuries, while others have been cultivated into more modern varieties. Nonetheless, these old-time favorites are worth remembering so why not rediscover the past by incorporating some old-fashioned beauties into your own garden.

     One of my personal favorites has been around since about the 17th century. A spectacular showpiece during the spring, the Lilac has sweet-smelling lavender blossoms. Today, there are numerous cultivars available, including some with yellow or white flowers.

     Another exceptional plant in its own right is the rose. The modern varieties are typically grown for their form and color; however, the old-garden varieties, such as Tea or Damask roses, are sought after for their intense aromas. While these traditional favorites tend to be more like shrubs and very thorny, they combine well with many perennials, bulbs, and ornamental grasses. Old-garden roses are always the perfect choice for country or cottage gardens.

     There are many types of plants that are grown for their fragrances. Creeping Thyme is one of them. This beautiful groundcover creates a carpet of scented lavender-pink color and looks just as attractive spilling over stone walls or containers. Keep it near the house for use in the kitchen or making potpourri.
You can even grow Creeping Thyme alongside another fragrant old-timer-Lavender, my grandmother's favorite. Varieties of lavender include unforgettable scents with spikes of lavender to dark purple flowers. Lavender also makes a great groundcover and commonly used in potpourri or massage oils.

     Garden Heliotrope was once just as popular in the garden as geraniums. These plants, with white or purple vanilla-scented blooms, enjoy plenty of sun and make lovely cut flowers. Who can possibly ignore the sweet aromas on summer evenings radiating from a bed of Petunias? There are numerous colors and varieties, all providing the same charm of long ago.

     The Sweet Pea has been a long-time favorite in many gardens. This flower is great for cutting and its strong scents will fill the area with pleasant aromas. Although sweet peas generally prefer cool summers and plenty of moisture, there are many varieties which are heat tolerant, allowing virtually anyone the ability to grow them.

     Feverfew not only smells great, but did you know that its foliage can repel insects, making them a good plant to have around. The plant looks quite at home mixed with old-time roses and foxgloves.

     I have always enjoyed the honey-scented blooms of Sweet Alyssum. It makes a perfect edging for beds and blends nicely with nearly any type of landscape.

     Since many old-fashioned gardens were surrounded by fencing, flowering vines were often used to enhance its appearance. They were also used in other areas to help provide much needed shade. Dating back to the 1800s, Clematis has long since been known as a vigorous grower with abundant blooms. Don't limit them to fences; however, they look stunning climbing along a trellis or pergola.

     The Passion flower can be traced as far back as the 1600s and has religious significance, deriving its name from the crucifixion of Christ. This lovely flowering vine produces masses of scented blooms bearing luscious fruits, and many grow naturally in some areas.

     The Balloon Vine (love-in-a-puff) was a commonly grown plant in the 1800s, delighting children with its light-green, inflated seed capsules (puffs) that appear after the vine's white flowers have faded.

     While some people may not appreciate its presence, due to its ability to climb anything within reach, the Morning Glory is another unforgettable plant. Morning glories are easy to grow and thrive in all types of soil conditions. Although they can be found growing in the wild, the cultivated varieties are less likely to take over the garden. These beautiful morning bloomers make quite a statement summer through fall-what a wonderful way to welcome each new day.

     Numerous annuals and perennials were found growing throughout old-fashioned gardens. As far back as the 1800s, Ageratum has been a garden favorite. The long-lasting, fuzzy blue flowers are great for cutting. It's also a self-sowing plant, popping up in some of the most unlikely of places. Plant them with Heliotrope and sweet alyssum; you won't be disappointed.

     Poppies are hardy, cool-weather annuals that are easy to grow. These old-time plants prefer fertile, well-drained soil and come in numerous shades and varieties.

     Once grown for its edible properties, especially for salads, Nasturtiums are among the easiest annuals to grow. You can find them in a variety of colors which will bloom profusely for extended periods. Trailing varieties look great in containers or tumbling down slopes; the compact types are good for use as edging.
An old-time favorite loved for its brilliant foliage is Coleus. This plant is ideal for containers or as a colorful edging.

     No garden is ever complete without Zinnias. These colorful showstoppers are excellent for cut-flower gardens.

     The interesting flowers and foliage of Foxgloves earn these plants a welcome place in the garden; however, foxgloves are considered poisonous so keep young children away.

     One look in grandma's garden and you're sure to find some old-fashioned Hollyhocks. These summer-blooming beauties have found popularity in informal country settings or growing alongside fences and other structures.

     Violets have been around awhile and well loved for some time. They make a good groundcover or grow them in containers.

     Columbine has been popular since about the 1600s and can be found in white, pink, or blue varieties. Use them as cut flowers or simply mix them in a natural setting with hosta, iris, foxglove, and lady's mantle.

     Another personal favorite of mine includes the mixed shades of Sweet William. This perennial flower goes well with many plants, such as foxgloves and peonies.

     Some of the most beloved flower favorites come in the form of bulbs and many are ideal for cutting. Dahlias have lavish blooms during late summer and early fall and are available in a variety of colors.
Who doesn't enjoy the lovely blooms and aromas of the Iris? There are numerous varieties to suit nearly any garden.

    Another old-time favorite with a wide range of colors and growing conditions is the Lily. Lilies have a long history and have been grown for centuries.

     Cannas have also been popular for their dazzling array of colors. Plant them in masses and enjoy waves of colorful blooms summer through fall.

     Some of the best plants for your garden, big or small, can be taken from the old-fashioned gardens of the past. These plants have lasted through many generations; and if you want to capture the nostalgia of grandmother's garden in your own, they will continue to do so for many more.

Author Bio

This article was written by Nikki Phipps and sponsored by Gardening Know How.  http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/.

Article Source: http://www.articlegeek.com/