Spool Pools Are Easy on Your Wallet, Rich in Features, and Save on Space

Butterflies are drawn to the scent of nectar, fragrant blossoms, and bright, bold colors. So, if you’re building a garden to tempt these stunning pollinators, it has to be one with extraordinary foliage and sweet fragrances, and these Climbers and Vines are exactly that.

Hi GPODers!

You're just a few steps away from creating the comfy outdoor space of your dreams—and the best part is that you don't have to spend a dime to bring it to life.

In 2004, over 70,000 Dutch children participated in the Seeds in Space experiment. They sowed rocket/arugula seeds in a rocket-shaped kit here on Earth, while ESA astronaut André Kuipers sowed his on board the International Space Station. The kits had light and dark chambers, to compare the growth of the seeds in the presence or absence of light. The seeds in the dark chamber grew taller, but were yellow. In the light chamber, the seedlings were shorter, with wider stems and a healthier green colour. The experiment was organised by Space Research Organization Netherlands (SRON).

Companion planting in the garden can serve several purposes, ranging from maximizing garden space to attracting beneficial insects and pollinators to luring insect pests away from other food crops.

It’s almost Bloom time, that weekend in the Irish gardening year when we collectively convince ourselves that the sun shines in Ireland all year round and that picnics on the lawn dressed in boater hats and gingham sundresses are a good idea.

As the weather warms up, bugs start coming out—it’s a simple and well-known truth. For home gardeners especially, cicadas can be tricky to deal with. Found commonly in the American South, these insects occupy treetops as summer approaches and the air becomes humid.

Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN may be part of the green industry, but sometimes rethinking a garden space (or creating a garden where there didn’t used to be one) can create a lot of very un-green waste material—especially true when you’re designing in an urban setting.

In the arc of an Irish gardening year, May is the month of magical things. The first rose. The first swallow. The first properly hot day. The first beech tree in full leaf. The first sighting of wisteria in magnificent lilac bloom, draping itself languidly against a high, sunny wall. As nature flashes its brilliant feathers, it’s also our last real opportunity before summer finally arrives to make a substantial difference to our gardens or allotments, whether that’s filling them with fast-growing annuals to provide plenty of homegrown produce for the months ahead, planting up spectacular summer containers, or fine-tuning flower borders for maximum impact. With all of this in mind, here’s a handy little to-do list to help you stay on course.

It seems that everyone wants to get away for summer, ditching their routines for a blissful retreat abroad. But the key to a relaxing mood all summer long might just be doing the opposite—by bringing the vacation atmosphere into your home. There are so many ancient design legacies across the world that can enhance your abode and turn it into a space you’ll never want to escape. 

Jell-O