Interior Decorating..Looking at the different Sizes of Patterns used on Wallpaper and Fabric

Posted on March 20, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

A Trade Secret..Measuring Small and Medium sized patterns on Wallpaper

This post is the second in a series of three articles covering the topic Using Pattern in Interior Decorating.

In my first post in this series titled Looking at Patterns used in Interior Decorating on Fabric, Drapes, Wallpaper and Carpeting, I covered the six basic pattern / design motifs and variations on the six patterns. This article is all about looking at the different sizes of patterns used on wallpaper and fabric. I have come up with an easy way for you to measure them, so you know what size patterns on wallpaper and fabric you are looking at. Continue reading →

Posted in Interior Decorating Principles | Leave a comment

Fertilizing Tulips / Fertilizing Daffodils

Posted on March 14, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome


It’s that time of year again, when people are thinking about / are really interested in Tulips and Daffodils, and their planting, fertilization and maintenance. To read two of my past articles on the subject  Continue reading →

Posted in The Autumn(Fall) Garden, The Spring Garden | Leave a comment

Looking at Patterns used in Interior Decorating on Fabric, Drapes, Wallpaper, and Carpeting

Posted on March 10, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Color ties DIFFERENT patterns together, a secret of the pros

This post is the first in a series of three articles covering the topic Using Pattern in Interior Decorating.

Mixing fabric and wallpaper patterns has always been something that is considered a difficult thing to do by most people. Being visually bombarded by, what seems to be endless options of pattern choices, has struck fear into the hearts of many would-be home decorators. This post I hope will demystify the myth, and help you see how easy it really is.

In the world of fabric and wallpaper patterns there are really only six basic design motifs, and variations on the six patterns. Continue reading →

Posted in Interior Decorating Principles | 7 Comments

Two EASY Projects to make your Bathroom Shine.. Cleaning your Bathroom Tile and Grout with Oxi Clean Versatile..Caulking the Tub like a Pro

Posted on February 25, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Oxi Clean Versatile Stain Remover works Wonders in the Bathroom

Have you ever moved into a pre-owned house and loved the place, but found the bathroom grout stained and dirty? Are you one of those people who no matter what kind of cleaning product, and no matter how much elbow grease you use, the bathroom never looks sparkling and clean as you would like it to be? Well you are not alone, I experienced the same thing.

Recently I purchased some new products that I used to clean the bathroom grout and tile, and to caulk the tub, and they worked. Continue reading →

Posted in How-to | 5 Comments

It’s Easy to Grow PUSSYWILLOWS

Posted on February 15, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Growing Long Branched Pussywillows

Over the years both my parents and I have had pussywillow trees at our houses. Our pussywillows came to us, via my Mother’s sister Mary’s garden. Aunt Mary, garden maven that she was, most likely started her own tree from a branch picked off of a pussywillow tree, that grew at the edge of the woods, by Grandma’s house.

To get some pussywillow branches to start your own tree with, Continue reading →

Posted in Bushes, Shrubs, Trees, The Spring Garden, The Winter Garden | 18 Comments

Planting RASPBERRIES, Pruning RASPBERRIES

Posted on February 9, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Heritage Raspberries growing in the garden

I’ve had raspberries growing in my garden for the last 22 year. The raspberries came my way via my maternal grandmother’s garden. She planted hers in the 1920’s or 30’s. The variety she grew are Heritage. A friend who runs a public garden at a historic site in my area says, mine might be a heirloom variety, grown before more contemporary changes were made to the plant. Before moving here, I also had a small planting of grandma’s raspberries at my first house, and my mother still has grandma’s plants at hers.

Planting Raspberries..Spacing Rows Continue reading →

Posted in Plant Tomatoes / Raspberries, The Autumn(Fall) Garden, The Spring Garden, The Summer Garden, The Winter Garden | 4 Comments

Looking at Evergreens in the Garden

Posted on January 31, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

The Four Branching Habits of Evergreens

Evergreens to me provide the most interest in the Winter garden, and are really the backbone or foundation on which a really nice year-round garden is built. They can be planted along with herbaceous perennials in the garden, to add height and act as focal points, or planted as specimens, spread out across your property. A mass planting of different sizes and kinds of evergreens can make a wonderful living fence, or border by themselves.

Evergreens come in basically four colors: Green, Blue-Green, a Grayish Green, and Golden/Chartreuse.

Evergreens seem to have four common Branching (not growth) Habits. Continue reading →

Posted in Bushes, Shrubs, Trees, Garden Design Principles, planting a SHADE GARDEN, The Autumn(Fall) Garden, The Spring Garden, The Summer Garden, The Winter Garden | 7 Comments

Evergreens are the Winter Interest in My Garden

Posted on January 24, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Evergreens in the Winter Garden

As much as I like a garden filled with flowers, there is another part of me, The Zen Part, that likes the look of just the evergreens, standing alone, in the Winter Garden. Continue reading →

Posted in Bushes, Shrubs, Trees, Fred's Garden at Whimsey Hill House, planting a SHADE GARDEN, The Winter Garden | 4 Comments

Picking a Color for Your Front Door

Posted on January 17, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

How to Pick a Paint Color for Your Front Door

So, you live in a white house, with black shutters, and a gray roof. In the back of your mind your thinking that the outside of your house needs something. A bit of color to brighten it up, give it some pizzazz, personality, and curb appeal. You think maybe by introducing some color on the front door, that will do the trick. But, What Color, You think?? In this post, I have a solution that I hope will help you with your color selecting dilemma. Continue reading →

Posted in How-to, Interior Decorating Principles, Picking Paint Colors Interior / Exterior / Front Door / Roof | 13 Comments

Straightening the Fringe on an Oriental Rug…It’s Easy

Posted on January 10, 2012 by fredgonsowskigardenhome

Straightening Tangled Fringe on an Oriental Carpet

Do you Love your Oriental carpets, but hate the look of the tangled fringe that edges them? Do you try to pick up an end and drop it quickly toward the floor hoping all the fringe lands straight and perfect? If neatly laying carpet fringe is a concern of yours, maybe my way of straightening the fringe might interest you.

For the past 28 years I’ve owned Oriental carpets, and this is how I keep my fringe straight. Continue reading →

Posted in How-to | 9 Comments