'Bird Watching'

I 'shot' this aircraft flying overhead while taking photos of spring flowers of my garden. Turned out to be good - ain't it!!

Follow @HobbyShobbys

Read more »

Gardening: Companion Plants

Those of us who love gardens and gardening are always in pursuit of finding ways and means to improve the look of our gardens and improve the health of the plants and flowers. Of many remedial measures to save the plants from insects and other harmful effects, planting of companion plants is one of the best remedial measures. I hadn't heard f this terminology or the technique before, until I sowed the bright coloured marigold flowers for this season.

Beside its majestic broad shaped flower spread, which comes in orange, gold and yellows, Marigolds are considered companion plants that keep insects away. So was I told by the wise man at the nursery, who confided that he gives this advice to everyone buying Marigolds from him to grow Marigolds amid a wide variety of flowers and vegetables. Marigolds not only ward off insects but its leaves and stems are also used in preparation of the organic insect sprays.

When I came home, I did a small search on the internet about the companion plants and came to know that besides marigold, garlic, basil, nasturtium, rosemary, sage, thyme, borage and mint are also some of the best companion plants. The concept of companion planting hinges at the establishment of two or more plant species in close proximity so that some cultural benefit (pest control, higher yield, etc.) is derived.

• Plant garlic in your rose beds – the mere smell of garlic would ward off aphids, insects and pests.
• Basil when planted with tomatoes, marigold and peppers, keep the mosquitoes and flies at bay.
• Plant nasturtium with squash, pumpkins and other vegetables to ward off cucumber beetles, aphids and squash bugs.
• To deter cabbage worms, plant thyme with cabbage.
• Mint and Rosemary are also best to keep the cabbage worms when planted with cabbage and broccoli.
• Sage helps the carrots by keeping the carrot flies away.
• Carrots are the best companion of English Pea, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato.
• Celery yields desired effects when planted with onion, cabbage, tomato, bush beans and nasturtium.

I could go on and on as there is much more to companion plants. But for home gardeners, the above information should suffice as normally the plants and vegetables listed above are generally sowed in home gardens. Try it – it would help. Happy gardening.

via The Fire Within
Follow @HobbyShobbys

Read more »

Spitfire - made of Egg Boxes

Hobbyists are starnge people - they can go to any extenet flexing the muscles of their innovative minds and coming out things that are not only eye catching but mind boggling as well.

Take for isntance the egg boxes that we buy eggs in almost routinely. What does an ordinary do like me and you? Well throw away the egg box after eating all the eggs. But some innovative hobbyist who makes things out of everything won't throw away these empty boxes.

Instead they will make a lifesize Spitfire out of it.



Yes that is exactly what a pair of hobbyists spent six weeks in crafting a life size Spitfire from some 6,500 empty egg boxes. Charlotte Austen, 27, and Jack Munro, 26 also used five litres of glue, 5,000 nails, ten litres of paint and 10,000 staples. In addition to that, they also used 772 ft of wooden batten, 100 square metres of canvas and 82 ft of steel.

The 36ft-long Supermarine Spitfire was constructed using Eggs for Soldiers cartons and will go on display at Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, reports Mail Online.

The aircraft did not come cheap: While constructing the model the pair also drank 120 cups of tea and chomped their way through six packets of chocolate hob nobs and 18 cream eggs.

Jack added: ‘The project has been hectic due to the enormous amount of work, which resulted in a number of sleep-deprived nights.

‘There were a few bangs and accidents along the way too - one our helpers even had to go to A&E for stitches after she slipped and sliced a chunk of her thumb off.

‘I suffered a gash to the head after bumping into the model and also got the inevitable cuts and bruises you would expect with building a model like this.

Follow @HobbyShobbys

Read more »

Colourful Spring Signs

Gardening is one of the most creative hobbies of all. You plant saplings and seeds and then watch for the nature to sprout colourful flowers slowly changing the otherwise barren look of winters.

The Early Spring Signs

I being an avid gardening lover am also one of those who take pains all along the winter, starting November  preparing flower beds, buying seeds and saplings and planting these all along the winter. Protecting the fragile leaves from severe cold by shielding these with green cloth and cellophane sheets and tending these just like small kids.

What was just a few flowers two weeks ago are now bunch of colourful Nemesia and Musummary majestically shinning with their bright and multiple colours and freshness.

This is how the bed looked like about two weeks ago

And now that the spell of rains is seemingly over hopefully, the first signs of springs have started to show.

The remaining beds have blossomed with buds visible but flowers are still shy of the cold breeze whizzing past - may be they need a lot more warmth to come out of their buds and ornamate my little garden.

 Two weeks earlier

Today and still growing

Petunia in waiting

Hopefully soon enough I shall be able to write about my gardena dn my flowers when the entire carpet of these present these in a full turned out parade.

Follow @HobbyShobbys

Read more »