Getting ready for the planting season.

0

utside, the birds are singing and
bits of green are popping up all
around. As seasons change from
winter to spring, the gardener's mind
quickly leaps to growing flowers and pro-
duce.
Before getting out there and planting,
follow these basic garden preparations to
get the most out of this growing season.
ScottsMiracle-Gro gardening expert
Ashton Ritchie strongly recommends that
every gardener keep a garden journal. "My
wife and I keep a garden journal so we
know what we planted, when we planted
and harvested, what problems we had
to treat, what we used and how well it
worked:' he says. "We start each growing
season by reviewing last year's journal."
In fact, many successful gardeners, like
Ashton, take notes or keep journals. It can
be as easy as taping seed packets into a
small notebook or sketching out where
the tulip bulbs are planted. Keeping track
of gardening experiences can simplify the
gardening process and will be an invalu-
able reference in the future.
Whether planting a new garden or
bringing life to an old one — a smart
design is key. Light, water and space
requirements vary from plant to plant,
and region to region. Therefore, a well
designed layout can make the difference
between a bountiful harvest and withering

leaves.
From fancy landscaping software pro-
grams to simple charcoal sketches, creat-
ing a garden layout is a great way to plan
the optimal design. A few measurements
of the space and observations of the
amount of sunlight or moisture will prove
helpful in the planning process. Consider
what the garden will look like from all
angles to maximize enjoyment.
In addition, seed packets, garden books,
potting labels and nursery experts are
always great resources on a plant's grow-
ing requirements.
Varieties of plants available in today's
market are virtually endless. That is why
seed catalogs are a priceless tool for any
gardener. Leafing through these resources
can make plant selection easy and fun.
With a garden design and journal from
last year in hand, it will be a cinch to
narrow down the choices for this year's
garden.
A successful gardener doesn't have to
grow all the plants from seed. Most nurs-
eries offer a wide range of small herbs,
vegetables, fruits and flowers to transplant
directly into the garden. However, start-
ing plants from seed does provide more
variety, is usually less expensive and can
grow plants that are more disease resis-
tant. Selecting plants native to your region
attracts wildlife and makes your garden a

Transformation

Revamping a home with ceramic tile.

R

evising the look of the home does not need to
be a costly, complicated process. And with an
increasing focus on sustainability, homeown-
ers are more concerned with using durable products
that will keep their beauty and functionality for years.
Remodeling your home with ceramic tile is a great
way to establish a contemporary look that will last.
The technical specifications and aesthetic applica-
tions that ceramic offers are affordable and do not
necessarily involve major work. Ceramic tile is easy
to clean and maintain, durable and resistant to most
common forms of wear. The other notable feature
is that tile comes in a multiplicity of shapes, colors,
textures, finishes and weights. This range of options
in ceramic floor and wall tiles makes them the perfect
ally for turning original design ideas into personal-
ized spaces.
The tile experts at Tile of Spain offer these tips to
consider when working with ceramic tile:
• When using ceramic tile to tackle a renovation
project, make the material's versatility work as much
as possible for you. Plan the kind of ambiance you
want to create in any given room and select colors
and finishes that will help achieve it.
Bright colors help enhance the light. Earthy and
ochre colors transmit serenity. Blues, greens and

66 Apri114 t' 2011

browns can create natural spaces while the con-
trast of black and white adds simplicity and ele-
gance. The possibilities are as boundless as your
imagination.
• The broad spectrum of this material's design
versatility has helped it become a popular decora-
tive element. The old-fashioned view of ceramic
as a simple, functional product to be used only in
very specific rooms, such as the kitchen and the
bathroom, has lost ground over the years as the
material has become more versatile. When work-
ing with tile, be open to the various propositions
— metallic finishes, finishes that mimic the look
of fabric and wood, relief work, new sizes and for-
mats. Choose those that enhance the personality
of the targeted design space.
• Combinations of finishes and textures help
break up the linear nature of a room and make it
more dynamic. Relief and "volume" finishes, as
well as large-format tiles, enable you to change the
apparent dimensions of a room and play with the
light. Imitations of wood and leather give a greater
sense of comfort and create references to natural
elements.
Because tile now provides such versatility and
beauty, there is a growing quest to apply the qual-

Ceramic tile can transform a room or the entire house.

