INSULATING AND HEATING A GARDEN OFFICE OR SUMMERHOUSE

‘Get the insulation right and everything else follows’ is a good axiom to follow whether considering a garden office or designing a new house. After six months in my office, one of my few regrets is not using more than the 100mm of insulation which I have in the floor, roof and walls. Its not that I am cold it’s just that, when the temperature is in single figures outside, the heating is continually cycling on and off and I would prefer a more even temperature. The way I look at it is this; most rooms in a house are surrounded by other rooms, at least on two sides, possibly three as well as having another room above or below. Sitting in a garden office with nothing but walls, roof and floor between me and the elements I reason I must need more insulation than I have in my house. So, how much is that? Without getting too technical, it depends on the thermal performance of the insulating material, usually represented by its u value. New houses have to be built to .. more »

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GROWING IMPATIENS IN YOUR GARDEN

Impatiens are a popular garden flower often seen as edging or used for splashes of color in window boxes. They belong to the family Balsamineaceae and can be planted in most any part of the garden. They are beautiful annuals that grow easily and are great for summer plantings every year. Like most any other garden flower, impatiens need some basic care to grow. Adequate sun, properly fertilized soil will insure lush healthy plants. Make sure you take care to provide enough water as the soft and ample stems of the impatien will wither rapidly if it becomes parched. Impatiens are typically planted around trees or under shrubs as an edging and this causes them to require more water and fertilizer to make up for that which is used by the other, larger plant. Impatiens Specifics: There are many varieties of impatiens and they can range from 8 inches to 2 feet in height. Impatiens can also have different types of flowers most of which grow 6 to 18 inches tall and 10 to 24 inches diagonally. They are classified as solo, partly doubled, and completely .. more »

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CARE FOR BOUGAINVILLEA PLANT

The Bougainvillea plant is one of the most popular tropical flora varieties that enhance the beauty of your garden to a great extent. The plant bears flowers during the spring and summer and attributes your patio or backyard with a colorful tinge. It is not very difficult to procure wholesale Bougainvillea from a nursery. It is true that, this plant needs very little care but often people misinterpret it as no care at all. Thus, the plant in most of the cases survives somehow but become unable to bear flowers. So, here is a set of tips for you regarding care of Bougainvillea Plant. Follow this simple rule and you will soon have your Bougainvillea tree thriving to glory.Soil and WaterThe Bougainvillea plants thrive well in almost any soil, which is fertile and bears water drainage capacity. Therefore there is no such specification for soil variety for the plant to grow well. It must be remembered regarding growing Bougainvilleas that the plant should not ever get completely dry in between the watering. This does not mean that you should have water standing at the base of the plant. It is just about keeping the container moist. Never put a saucer .. more »

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF SAVILE ROW

Savile Row, the name of the street is synonymous with bespoke tailors. The street itself and the surrounding areas are warren of tailor's shops both bespoke and off the peg. Since the early 19th Century tailors have flocked to the area and established businesses; businesses that favour quality and style above all else.To the north of Savile Row is the mad hustle and bustle of Oxford Street and to the east lays the grand sweeping vistas of Regent Street. Squeezed into this enclave in Mayfair is the delight for the style conscious that is Savile Row.The land on which the Savile Row now stands was formerly the gardens of the Burlington House. Construction of the houses in the row started in 1733. The street was christened after the Earl of Burlington's wife, Dorothy Savile. A number of wealthy residents soon moved in, including William Pitt and The Countess of Suffolk. It wasn't until much later in the 19th century that houses where built on the west side.In 1846 the founding father of Savile Row, Henry Poole opened for business at number 32 after relocating from Brunswick Square. The company is famous for amongst other things inventing the tuxedo. The arrival .. more »

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REINSPIREMENT REPLACES RETIREMENT – 2009

"Age to me means nothing.?I can't get old; I'm working.?I was old when I was twenty-one and out of work.?As long as you're working you stay young. ?Retirement at sixty-five is ridiculous.?When I was sixty-five I still had pimples." George Burns 1896-1996 ? One of the most unsettling aspects of the recent 2008-2009 economic downturn is the fact that many people on the horizon of their golden years have just had about 50% of their retirement portfolios wiped out. Hard-earned money put into 401(k)'s, IRA accounts, stocks and bonds or market funds as per the advice of a trusted advisor - virtually gone overnight! Not only have huge sums been erased, but now companies affected by the recession have frozen access to employee 401(k) accounts! Who knew? (401(k)'s Hit Withdrawal Freezes - Wall Street Journal May 5, 2009) ? If that wasn't bad enough, those depending on Social Security benefits to make ends meet just got some bad news. For the first time in 30 years they will not get their COLA (cost of living adjustments) for 2010 and 2011. Older Americans on fixed incomes who received a 5.8% COLA increase in 2009 will be hard pressed to keep up .. more »

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