The event will be broadcast live on the Google site and all you have to do is follow this link and sign up (Free) to register and watch the event online!
After the live event, Hometalk will post a recorded video on their YouTube page for those who couldn't attend the live event.
We're going to have a good time talking about great design ideas, plant combinations and tips for planning your garden.
Have you ever wanted to make a "string garden" but didn't know how to do it?
I'll be demonstrating the basics on the show and writing a step by step blog post later this week for you to enjoy.
String gardens are "no-container" hanging plants and are also known as "kokedama" planting arragements.
These unique hanging plants are expensive when bought but very inexpensive to make!
Set your recorders for the "Home & Family" show, and if you like what you see, please post a comment on the Hallmark Channel discussion forum!
Check your local listings for broadcast time in your area.
The Home & Family show is a unique talk show centered on home and family topics!
Hosts, Cristina Ferrare and Mark Steines welcome experts from every facet of lifestyle including cooking, crafts, design, gardening, relationships, celebrities, fashion and more!
Let the producers know how much you appreciate seeing gardening segments on the show.
I imagined a lightweight, portable, and affordable vertical garden system to grow lots of herbs indoors, during the winter, or outdoors yearlong in mild climate areas.
1. Tomato Support Cages
I had to look no further than my metal tomato cage which was on it's way to the garden shed once tomato season was over.
The tomato cage with its gridlike design and sturdy composition is the perfect structure to hold a number of metal hanging baskets filled with herbs!
If you prefer wood, you can use an inexpensive wood vegetable support trellis like this one- cost $6
2. Casters and Plant Dollies
Casters and plant dollies, ($15 +) are the centerpiece of the living spice rack, enabling you to spin and move the rack as needed!
Buy some metal planting baskets and cocoa liner and fill them with your favorite herbs before attaching to the tomato cage with gardening tape.
The baskets should wedge into the tomato cage openings, mine are snug.
Make sure to select the right size metal planter by checking to see that it isn't too large or small for the opening.
That's it!
Watch Video: "Vertical Herb Garden That Spins and Functions Like a "Living Spice Rack!"
Watch the videos of the Living Spice Rack that I did for my "Way to Grow" show on Digs channel and take a look at the segment I did for the Home & Family Show on
This beautiful, lush, green plant isn't only ideal as a privacy hedge in your zen garden, it can also be harvested for food.
You've probably tasted bamboo shoots in Chinese cuisine?
Same plant!
There isn't a stronger, more sustainable building material than bamboo.
Bamboo is also an unparalelled multi purpose plant used as construction material, in cookware, fabric for clothing, industrial applications, bio-fuel and flooring!
Growing at an astonishing, forty-inches per day, (depending on the species), bamboo is the ultimate renewable resource.
Because of it's aggressive growth rate, many bamboo species are invasive.
Make sure to plant a "clumping" variety of bamboo in your yard or you will be responsible for colonizing your neighborhood with this phenomenal plant!
Aloe Vera
'Blue Elf' aloe vera plant from Monrovia plants has narrow, upright blue-gray leaves and orange flowers.
This striking succulent doesn’t ask for much; it's not fussy about soil and
subsists on little water.
In return, aloe vera earns it's space in the garden by providing gel that can be used as tooth paste,
as a salve for burns and dried, cracked skin, as an ingredient in diabetes medicine, shampoo, and as a treatment for psoriasis.
Aloe vera is one emollient that comes with it's own fancy packaging!
Aloe Vera serves as a tonic to strengthen the immune system and is one of the few vegetarian sources of vitamin B-12.
Who knew that this unassuming, sculptural succulent could contribute such vast ingredients for our well-being!
Grapes
I love my grapevine. It provides edible shade!
Grapes, or "nectar of the Gods," is a plant that blesses humanity from the moment it enters our mouths, to the time it leaves our bodies.
We love the delicious fruit it provides, the juice, the confections we make with it, the wine, the sturdy twine we craft with.
But there's also less sexy, but important applications that grapes serve.
Grapes have anti-inflammatory properties used as an ingredient in hemorroid cremes.
Sweet relief, oh grapes, you are amazing!
Grapes are pressed for wine and essential oils extracted for use in medicine, cooking, cosmetics, cleansers, and moisturizers.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers add sunshine to the world!
More than just a pretty face, the sunflower is a significant contributor
to society.
Sunflowers are a special in that every part of the plant can be used.
Nothing goes to waste- it's so eco-friendly!
The sunflower's seeds, flowers, leaves, stem and root all have utility.
Sunflower seeds offer life-sustaining food for birds, animals and humans.
You can sprout the seeds and enjoy a nutritious meal.
Use sunflower oil in cooking, in aromatherapy, as a hair conditioner; pulverize the stems to make paper!
The sunflower is a very important plant in industry and is grown and traded as a commodity.
I love it because it's warm, yellow face makes me smile!
So, don't throw away your food scraps and coffee grounds!
In case you don't know what vermi composting is, it's the amazing process where worms and micro organisms transform food waste and organic matter such as newspapers, cardboard or straw into the most nutritious garden compost available!
All you have to do is prepare a suitable living environment for them and they'll reward you with their castings- "worm poop!"
Get started worm composting this Fall so you'll be ready for the Spring- those worm castings are "gardener's gold!"
Detailed, Step By Step Instructions for Building a Red Worm Compost Bin!
One of the most unique and entertaining shows to emerge recently for daytime television is Hallmark's Home & Family Show, a daily, two-hour live show!
Created by Woody Fraser, and his multi-award winning production company, Home & Family is a home and garden talk show hosted by Paige Davis, (Trading Spaces) and Mark Steines, (E Entertainment).
I have to admit, I'm a bit partial to the show since I've been appearing as a garden lifestyle expert and enjoying putting together my gardening segments!
Don't we need more garden programs friends?
I dropped in on the set during taping of their Halloween show to prepare for my garden segment, airing on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 between 10AM and 12PM PST on the Hallmark channel.
Boy, was the cast and crew having a good time!
Nothing like a group of "Hollywood" people in costume.
Expect the unexpected!
Paige and Mark were dressed up as "zombie" versions of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley.
Those of you who are familiar with Paige Davis, know that she's a Broadway actor with musical theater chops, so donning other personas comes natural to her.
As the show has evolved during the past four weeks, Mark has revealed a very playful side and his inner "character actor" is emerging.
This guy is not only a gracious host, DIY enthusiast, and skilled photographer, he's funny and a talented actor too!
Who knew?
Here are some behind the scenes photos of the Home & Family show, Halloween program.
Creator of the show, Woody Fraser, getting his hands and head dirty!
Woody's passion for television shines through the green slime and huge smile!
Marilyn Monroe rises from the grave through Paige Davis!
Paige kisses one of the cute dogs featured in the dog costume fashion show!
If you get the Hallmark channel on your cable package, watch my appearance on Friday, Nov. 2 as I demonstrate how to create a raised garden planter with straw bales!
The show airs on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 from 10AM- 12PM PST.
Thanks to De Wit tools for supplying their legendary tools for the segment- they customized a bulb planter for easier cutting through the bale and sent an assortment of tools from The Netherlands!
De Wit tools are handmade in The Netherlands and are made with the highest quality Swedish boron steel and FSC-accredited European ash.
De Wit customized their bulb planter making it extra sharp and long so I could cut into the straw bales easily!
Bonnie Plants supplied an assortment of fall herbs and greens as well as their liquid plant food.
Thanks Bonnie Plants!
Please check your local listings for accurate time and leave your questions for me below!
Bio: Hi! My name is Shirley and I'm an "EdenMaker!" I'm a happily married mom of 4 kids and I design gardens for a living in Los Angeles.
But there's more! You may know me from my garden makeovers on television or for my many web series!
If not , start watching my shows!
http://GardenCenterTV.ning.com & http://Blip.TV/Garden-World-Report
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