Herbs And Dragonflies

Christmas belemnite

2010-12-24T02:43:00.000-08:00

Festive belemnites, to go with your festive ammonites!

Thread beads onto a pipecleaner, starting with smaller ones. Glue the end ones in place. Leave enough pipecleaner at the end for a tentacle, and glue extra ones on. Glue on 2 googly eyes.

Make a loop from string to hang the festive belemnite, or attach to your tree with wire.

See here for more ideas.

Christmas brittlestar

2010-12-24T02:31:00.000-08:00

If you're decorating a Christmas tree with nerdily ammonites and belemnites, you'll need a festive brittlestar for the top.

Use a large flat bead for the centre. Glue a pipecleaner into the centre of it and cut this piece into a suitable length for a brittlestar leg. Cut 4 more pieces of pipecleaner and fasten all 5 around each other and have them pointing out from the bead like a star.

Take another pipecleaner and wrap the end around one of the legs. Thread on some beads, then loop around the next leg. Repeat until you're back to the first leg, wrap it around, and leave the excess pipecleaner for attaching your brittlestar to the tree. All you're brittlestar's legs should be firmly attached now.

Thread beads onto each leg and bend back the end of each one to keep them on. Curve the legs into crazy shapes.

Now attach to your tree!

See here for more ideas.

Christmas ammonite

2010-12-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

I really, really like fossils, so made a Jurassic Christmas tree! Also a nerd? This is how to make a festive ammonite!

Thread beads onto a pipecleaner, starting with smaller ones, and curve into a spiral shape. Glue the end ones in place. Leave enough pipecleaner at the end for a tentacle and glue on a few more. Glue on 2 googly eyes.

Make a loop from string to hang the festive ammonite, or attach to your tree with wire.

See here for more ideas.

Christmas reindeer

2010-12-22T02:09:00.000-08:00

You will need -

cork
string
pipecleaners
pom pom
beads
glue (I use one for sticking fabric, such as copydex)

Find a cork, wrap string around it and attach with glue. Cut 4 pieces of pipecleaner for its legs and glue them in place. You should be able to stick the wire from the pipecleaner into the cork to make it more secure. Next glue on a pom pom for its head, and beads for eyes and a nose. Glue on antlers and a tail made from pipecleaner.

Christmas penguins!

2010-12-22T02:01:00.000-08:00

If you have a selection of flat, oval and pear shaped beads, you could even make yourself some Christmas penguins! These are threaded and glued onto pipe cleaners, with googly eyes stuck on too.

Find a flat bead for the feet. Thread it onto a pipecleaner and glue in place. Next find a pear shaped bead for the body, and an oval shaped bead for the head, and thread them both on. Find a smaller bead for the bead, glue it on and trim off any extra pipecleaner. Find 2 oval shaped beads for the wings, thread them onto string and tie around the neck. Use the extra string to make a loop for hanging the decorations on the tree.

Glue on some googly eyes, or use small beads if you don't have any.

You may notice that they are not on a Christmas tree, but a Christmas twig. A bunch of twigs in a vase is a great eco-friendly alternative to having mini Christmas trees. You can add glitter to the sticks if you want to liven them up even more, then cover them in the decorations. Something else you can pick from the garden to make your own decorations are teasel seedheads. Make yourself a festive hedgehog!

Bead Christmas decorations

2010-12-22T01:54:00.000-08:00

Big jewellery is in. But it goes out, or breaks, or you accidentally buy far more necklaces than you have necks. If you have costume jewellery you don’t wear, recycle it into Christmas decorations. Dangly earrings can be hung on the tree as they are, and several necklaces can be fastened together to drape around a small-ish tree. If you have bead jewellery you can unstring it to create lots of different things. Tie a knot in some string, thread on a large bead and some smaller beads and tie the end in a loop to create some nice simple decorations like these.

Thread beads onto pipe cleaners instead and you can bend them to create spiral or star shaped decorations. If you have very small beads and thin wire, you can make more intricate shapes, and maybe some butterflies and dragonflies.

Wreath idea

2010-12-22T01:50:00.000-08:00

Made from cypress, yew, ivy and Skimmia.

See here for our top wreath making tips!

Wreath idea

2010-12-22T01:47:00.000-08:00

Made from cypress, yew, variegated holly and ivy.

See here for our top wreath making tips!

Wreath idea

2010-12-22T01:45:00.000-08:00

Made from cypress, yew, ivy and Cotoneaster.

See here for our top wreath making tips!

Wreath idea

2010-12-22T01:39:00.000-08:00

Made from cypress, yew, variegated holly, ivy and Berberis berries.

See here for our top wreath making tips!

our top wreath making tips

2010-12-22T01:33:00.000-08:00

For an outdoor wreath, it’s best to use mainly plant material – it will survive the elements better. You don’t have to use the traditionally Christmassy things like pine and holly, all sorts of evergreen foliage and berries look great.

Don’t steal holly from that nice big bush in the park or woods! It would go bald pretty soon if too many people did. If you’ve got a garden, there are lots of common garden plants that are great for making wreaths. If you’ve no garden ask a friend or see what’s in your work’s car park, etc. You could make a gorgeous wreath just from a branch you had to chop off your Christmas tree, a bit of overgrown ivy your friend was happy for you to prune for them and some Cotoneaster with red berries from a car park.

I usually use a frame from a florist supplies shop for making the wreath because I find it easier, and I can reuse it every year. But you can use an old coathanger made into a circle. Or you could use a hoop made from willow. You could even try small pieces of driftwood tied together. I attach the plant material using florists’ wire, although if you don’t have any you can try string, but it takes a little longer.

I usually don’t use pine; the sap is too annoying and sticky! To cover the frame I use some boring green conifer. Even the infamous Lleylandii will work! Yew is also good if you have some.

I next add some other evergreen foliage. You can use anything you have available – ivy is good, holly too of course, even herbs like rosemary. The advantage of getting holly from gardens rather than nabbing it from the local park is that many gardeners grow variegated holly rather than the plain green one, so it adds some extra colour.

Next add something with berries. Holly often gets berries in annoying places, or none at all if it’s male, so you might need another plant to provide some. Lots of really common shrubs have nice berries you can use – Skimmia, Pyracantha, Cotoneaster, Berberis, etc.

If you can’t find anything with berries, add some fake ones. If you have some old broken bead necklaces you can recycle them; attaching beads in small groups looks effective.

You can add things like seedheads too. Pinecones are very Christmassy! Or try things like teasels, poppies, love-in-a-mist (Nigella) or fluffy grass seedheads such as Miscanthus. Paint some gold if they need livening up! You can also add things like unused small Christmas baubles, etc.

Finish it with a bow. If you’re given a present tied with ribbon, it will probably be the perfect amount for making a bow for your wreath, so recycle it!

Another way to use a wreath is indoors as a table centrepiece; you can lay it on a plate and stand a candle in the middle. For indoor wreaths you can add more delicate things that wouldn’t survive on your front door: lots more ribbon, Christmas ornaments, paper things, etc. Another thing you can add is old cinnamon sticks, slices of dried fruit, etc.

We got the grant!

2010-08-13T00:27:00.000-07:00

Posted more about it here - http://herbsanddragonfliesdiary.blogspot.com/

our thrilling new possible future project! we need votes!

2010-08-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

Working with loads of volunteers, we are hoping to create a garden using native plants. We'll show the garden at Gardeners' World Live, a big flower show, next year, before planting it in a permanent home in a community garden in Leeds.

I'm on the shortlist for a grant from the Big Challenge and all votes would be really appreciated! http://www.bigchallenge.org.uk/shortlisted_entry.aspx?id=b9cc5539-d13b-419b-b244-f385fd20983a You only have to click 'vote', no emailing or anything.

If we get the grant we're hoping to propagate as many of the plants as possible ourselves, working with lots of different voluntary groups. We're hoping to have loads of alpine strawberries in the garden! We're also going to run events where people can work together to create art for the garden. We're thinking of doing mosaic-making days, maybe clay too.

Not decided on a final position for the community garden yet so feel free to recommend a site.

Voting closes 3pm on Wednesday.

more stuff

2010-07-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

been pondering this blog and will shortly be adding more stuff to it. Might do a bit more pondering first though, I love pondering.

Holly

2009-12-22T20:30:00.000-08:00

You will need:

florists' wire
green Dip It Fantasy Film paint
red beads

1. Make a spiky oval shaped loop from a piece of wire (I found it easiest to bend the wire into a zig-zag pattern first, then carefully bend it into an oval). Dip it into the Fantasy Film paint. Stand it in a piece of foam, half a potato, etc, to dry. Repeat to make the second leaf.

2. To make the berries, thread beads onto a piece of wire and twist to secure them.

3. Twist the 2 leaves and the wire with the beads on together. Twist the stalk into a loop if you want to hang the holly onto a Christmas tree.

Mistletoe

2009-12-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

You will need:

florists' wire

green Dip It Fantasy Film paint

white or clear beads

1. Make a loop from a piece of wire and dip it into the Fantasy Film paint. Stand it in a piece of foam, half a potato, etc, to dry. Repeat to make the second leaf.

2. To make the berries, thread beads onto a piece of wire and twist to secure them.

3. Twist the 2 leaves and the wire with the beads on together. Twist the stalk into a loop if you want to hang the mistletoe up or attach it to a Christmas tree.

Christmas wreath

2009-12-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

You will need:

wire frame (bought from a craft or florist supplies shop) or one made from an old coathanger, a circle of willow, etc.
florists' wire
ribbon
foliage from your garden

This wreath is made from: cypress (conifer), yew, ivy, holly and Skimmia (for its red berries).

1. First attach conifer foliage to the frame with the florists' wire - conifer is a good thing to start with to make sure you don't leave any of the frame visible. You can even use Leylandii!

2. Attach the other foliage with wire, such as yew and ivy (and pine if you're using it). Leave the holly until near the end to avoid its prickles as much as you can.

3. Attach the plant material with berries (Skimmia on this one) last to avoid snapping them off. Check there are no gaps left and add more foliage if required.

Other common garden shrubs with berries you could use include Cotoneaster, Berberis and Pyracantha.

4. Make a bow and attach with wire. Make a wire loop to hang the wreath from.

Alternatively, place the wreath on a plate and stand a candle in the centre to use as a table decoration. If you light the candle make sure you blow it out before it burns down to the level of foliage.

Troll insect shelter

2009-10-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

You will need:

log

acrylic paint

Select/chop a log with a side branch for a nose.

If the log still has its bark on, this might be difficult to paint on. You could remove pieces of the bark, drill large holes for eyes or saw out a wedge shape for the mouth.

Paint on the features. When the paint is dry you could varnish over it to make it last longer.

Drill some holes in it if you want to provide extra places for insects such as solitary bees.

Teasel hedgehog

2009-10-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

You will need:

teasel seedhead

pom pom

2 googly eyes

glue and scissors

1. Pick a teasel seedhead (carefully - they're spiky!) and shake to remove seeds if necessary.

2. Cut off most of the stem, leaving about 1cm for its nose.

3. Trim off all the bracts around the base except for 2 - these will be its ears.

4. Glue on the eyes. Sit the seedhead in an egg cup to keep the face upright while you glue it.

5. Glue on the pom pom for its nose and leave to dry.

Planting up an unusual container video

2009-10-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

Insect shelter

2009-06-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

You will need:

a log
string
drill and scissors

Drill holes approx 5mm in diameter in the log.

Drill a hole through the top and thread the string through. Make a loop to hang it up by.

The insect shelter should attract things like solitary bees.

Plant up an unusual container

2009-02-16T20:47:00.000-08:00

You don't have to just grow plants in pots, try something different! This is a biscuit tin shaped like a van planted up with sempervivums.

You will need:

a container

sempervivum plants or cuttings

peat-free compost

gravel

1. Select a container. Fill with gritty compost (half gravel, half compost mixed together).

2. Position your plants. Sempervivums root very easily so you can put cuttings in rather than whole plants.

3. Plant the sempervivums and add extra compost if necessary.

4. Add a layer of gravel over the compost.

Sempervivums are drought-tolerant and the rain will be enough water for them. They can also survive with little soil (they can grow in cracks in walls) so can be planted in even the smallest container. They are hardy and prefer a sunny spot.

You could also use other hardy succulents such as sedums.

It is best to use a container with holes in or make some holes in it so excess water can drain out. You could use a container with no holes if you keep it out of the rain at the wettest times of the year.

If you want to keep your container inside or in a greenhouse you could use other types of non-hardy succulents, such as echeveria, adromischus or crassula.

Growing cacti from cuttings

2009-01-26T21:13:00.000-08:00

You will need:
a cactus
a pot
peat-free compost
gravel

Select a plant. This one is a Mammillaria gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap'.

Remove a head or segment of the cactus. On some species it may need to be cut off with a knife, however, with this cactus they will pull off easily (or fall off!)

Leave the piece you remove on a windowsill for a few days or weeks. The end will dry out and callous over. This will allow it to grow roots easily.

Place the cutting in a pot of gritty compost (half gravel, half compost). Cover the compost with a layer of gravel. It should now grow roots and you'll have a new plant.

The best way to water is by standing the cactus in a saucer or tray and soaking it until water runs out the bottom. Leave it standing in the tray of water for about an hour, then remove. Only water if the compost is dry. Cacti don't need watering in winter.
Cacti like to be in a sunny spot. If you keep it in your house, place it on a south-facing windowsill. Many cacti will grow in an unheated greenhouse and can be placed outdoors too in summer.
Feed your cactus in summer. You don't have to buy special cactus feed; you can use pretty much any type of plant food, such as houseplant or tomato food.
It is best to plant cacti and other drough-tolerant plants in peat-free compost. Peat-based compost shrinks when it dries out and doesn't absorb water when you next water it.
Many cacti species will flower in spring or summer. Mammillaria gracilis 'Arizona Snowcap' will get lots of small cream and peach flowers in rings around the heads.

Plant a bed of sun-loving plants

2008-11-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

Plants used:

Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' (yellow daisy-like flowers)

Achillea 'Cerise Queen' (the bright pink plants near the front)

Knautia macedonica 'Melton Pastels' (round burgundy and pink flower heads to the right and back)

Heuchera 'Frosted Violet' (purple stems with small white flowers. Also has attractive purple leaves)

Stipa gigantea (evergreen leaves. Also gets tall dramatic flower spikes and seed heads)

All these plants are easy to grow in a sunny spot and will tolerate poor or dry soil. The vibrant burgundy, bright pink and golden yellow colour scheme gives a dramatic effect. These plants are all great for attracting bees and butterflies too. The evergreen heuchera and grass foliage means it will look good all year round.

Plant them in early spring or autumn and water them in well, after that they'll need little care. They are planted in quite a random way to give a natural effect. No need to draw a plan, just lay them out on the soil first and plant them where looks good to you. Cram them together to surpress weeds.

The rudbeckias, achilleas and knautia will die back for winter; either cut their dead stems off in autumn or leave them until early spring to feed and shelter wildlife.

These are all hardy perennials so will live for many years. It is cheap to create this look too; small plants can be bought for around £1 each and grow to the size shown by the end of summer. In future years you can divide them to get lots of free plants.

Easy to grow perennials for shade

2008-10-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

There are a wide range of plants that grow in shade, some preferring moist soil and some tolerant of a dry spot. There are plants that flower every time of the year, particularly in spring, and many have evergreen foliage too. The ones listed are some of the easiest to grow and most unusual.

Aquilegia viridiflora
Aquilegias come in a wide range of colours such as pink, red, purple, cream, white and yellow. Most are very easy to grow and will often self-seed around the garden. This plant is an unusual species with scented green and brown flowers. It will grow in different soil types and gets to 20 or 30cm tall.

Heuchera ‘Green Spice’

Heucheras are easy to grow and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. They are evergreen and also get 60cm tall spikes of small usually white, green or pink flowers in spring and summer. There are many cultivars available with leaves in shades of purple, green, silver, orange, brown, pink, red or lime. They are easy to propagate by cuttings - simply remove a side shoot and stick in compost. They can also be grown in containers; striking displays can be created by planting purple heucheras with bronze grasses, for example.

Dianella tasmanica (flax lily)

Evergreen perennial with tough strap shaped leaves and tiny pale purple-blue flowers in spring and summer. Bright purple berries follow these later in the year. 60cm tall or more. Dianellas are tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including dry shade. Variegated varieties are also available and Dianella ‘Tas Red’ has reddish leaves, particularly in winter.

Digitalis ferruginea (foxglove)
This is an unusual foxglove with brown flowers in summer. Very easy to grow from seed and will grow in poor soil. Flower spikes are 1 to 1.2m tall. Foxgloves are loved by bees.

Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’

Epimediums are tough plants and will happily grow in dry shade. Many species are evergreen. This variety has small yellow flowers, often hidden under the attractive bronze and green foliage. Grows to 30cm tall and can be propagated by division.

Dryopteris erythrosora
This fern has striking red-orange new fronds, which turn green with age. A semi-evergreen plant, evergreen in mild winters, that prefers moist shade. Grows 40 to 60cm tall and can be propagated by division or spores.

Many other species of dryopteris can be grown in dry shade, as well as species of polystichum and polypodium.

Geranium phaeum ‘Lily Lovell’

Hardy geraniums are tolerant plants and many varieties, such as this one, will thrive in dry shade. Can be propagated by seed or division. This one has purple flowers, which are attractive to bees. 60cm tall and evergreen.

Pinellia tripartita
Pinellias are unusual plants with lime green flowers. They grow from tubers and flower in spring or summer. Lime green berries follow. Seeds germinate easily if sown fresh on the surface of a pot of gritty compost and will flower in 3 years. Small plants around 30cm tall; could be grown in a pot. Easy to grow and prefers moist but well drained soil.

Tricyrtis formosana (toad lily)

Has unusual spotty pink flowers and grows 60 to 80cm tall. Prefers moist but well drained soil in partial shade. Easily grown from seed or plants can be divided in spring.

Roscoea beesiana

Roscoeas are in the ginger family and are easy to grow in moist but well drained soil. They grow from tubers and flower in summer. This plant grows 30 to 40cm tall and has cream flowers, often striped with purple. Can be grown from seed.

Easy to grow perennials for sun

2008-10-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Perennials are great to grow because they live for many years, getting bigger and better. Plant them in early spring or autumn, give them an initial watering in and then just leave them. Most of these will grow in a dry spot or normal moist but well drained soil. They will flower in summer and attract a lot of beneficial insects to your garden.

They are all very low maintenance; simply cut back dead stems once a year in autumn or early spring. You could also divide them every few years in the same seasons if plants are getting too big. This is a great way to get new plants for free!

You could try growing them from seed too, all these are very easy and some will flower in their first season.

Echinops ritro (globe thistle)
Has spiky silvery green leaves and stems and round blue flower heads. 60cm

Eryngiums (sea hollies)
Eryngium tripartitum (left) grows 60 to 80cm tall and has bright blue flowers with spiky bracts. Eryngium agavifolium (right) has larger greenish white flowers, evergreen leaves and grows 1 to 1.5m tall.

Cephalaria grandiflora (giant scabious)
Tall plant 1.2 to 2m in height with pale yellow flowers that attract butterflies.

Verbena hastata

Spikes of small purple flowers on plants 60 to 120cm tall. Flowers first year from seed.

Agastache

Scented foliage; different species can smell of mint, aniseed, lemon or sherbert. Purple, white, pink or orange flowers. Very drought tolerant. Will flower in its first year from seed and is easily propagated from cuttings. 30 to 50cm tall.

Echinaceas (coneflowers)
Daisy-like flowers on plants 80 to 120cm tall.
Echinacea purpurea (left) has pink blooms and will flower in its first year from seed.
Echinacea ‘Art’s Pride’ (right) is one of several new cultivars with unusual orange-ish pink flowers. Yellow and orange hybrids are also available.

Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’ (daylily)

There are thousands of hybrids available with flowers in shades of yellow, orange, pink, red, purple or white. The leaves are lush and grassy. This variety is one of the most popular and has pale and reddish orange striped flowers. They can also be grown in moist soil and get to 60 cm tall.

Oenothera (evening primrose)
These are small perennials in the same genus as the evening primrose plants that grow wild in Britain. They get to 30cm tall and the flowers are scented, especially at night to attract moths, so are perfect if you’re hoping to spot bats in your garden.
Oenothera speciosa ‘Siskiyou’ (left) has silky pale pink and white flowers up to 5cm across.

Oenothera missouriensis (right) has larger pale yellow flowers. Flowers first year from seed.

Centaurea macrocephala

This is a tall plant in the cornflower family 1 to 1.5 m high with large bright yellow flowers, followed by attractive seed heads.

Kniphofias (red hot pokers)
Have bright flower spikes and lush grassy leaves. Many species are available in shades of red, orange, yellow, cream, coral, pink or brown. Great for creating an exotic look. The 2 varieties shown grow to 90cm tall.
Kniphofia ‘Brimstone’ (left) is an evergreen plant with bright yellow flowers.
Kniphofia ‘Toffee Nosed’ (right) has cream and pale brown flowers.

Hardy, easy to grow exotic plants

2008-10-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

There are lots of exotic-looking plants that are actually very easy to grow, including many gingers with brightly coloured flowers. Most of these plants like moist, well drained soil in partial shade. They are great for creating a jungle effect and will actually be much less work and more environmentally friendly than growing bedding plants.

Gingers can be bought as plants or rhizomes. They die back for winter and start growing again in spring or early summer. Plant them with evergreens, such as grasses, bamboos or ferns, to provide interest all year round.

Hedychium 'Assam Orange' This is a very hardy ginger which usually grows to less than a metre tall. It gets bright orange flowers in late summer or autumn which smell of slightly overripe fruit.

Hedychium 'Tara' This is a taller plant which can get up to 1.5 to 2 metres tall. It gets dramatic fragrant orange flowers in late summer or autumn.

Hedychium greenii This ginger has attractive red foliage, as well as red flowers. It grows to about 1.5 metres tall. In this picture it is just starting to get buds. The gingers above are all pretty hardy but might appreciate being mulched with bark chippings during winter.

Roscoea beesiana This ginger grows 30 to 40cm tall and flowers during summer. It (and the 2 roscoea species shown below) is very easy to grow and will survive winter easily. It will get lots of flowers during summer and also looks great with other shade-loving plants, such as ferns.

Roscoea scillifolia (left) is a smaller plant to about 20cm tall. There is a pink form, shown above, and also a dark form which has impressive deep purple, nearly black flowers.

Roscoea purpurea (right) is about 30cm tall and gets lots of bright purple flowers during summer.

Cautleya gracilis This ginger grows about 60cm tall and has many pale yellow flowers during summer. It likes similar conditions to roscoeas. There is a similar taller species, Cautleya spicata, which has red bracts and yellow flowers.

Musa basjoo This is a hardy banana. It gets big impressive leaves and can make a large plant; after a few years it could get huge! If you do want it to grow big you have to protect the main stem: wrap some fleece around it in autumn. If not the main stem will die, however, it will get lots of new stems from the base of the plant next spring and these can get quite large in one season. If you protect the main stem you may even get it to flower eventually, but you won't get edible fruit.

Phyllostachys nigra This is a bamboo with black stems. It can grow huge so plant it somewhere with plenty of space or restrict its roots. It could be grown in a pot, however, it would require a lot of watering. It can be grown in sun or partial shade. The new stems are green but they turn black in their second year.

Celeriac, pepper, carrot and onion soup

2008-10-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

serves 2.

10g butter
half a red onion, sliced
1 carrot, peeled and sliced
100g of celeriac, diced
half a yellow pepper, peeled and chopped
300ml chicken stock
30ml milk
thyme and oregano

(adult assistance may be required)

Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat and add the red onion. Cook for 5 minutes.

Add the carrot, celeriac and stock and extra boiling water if necessary and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the yellow pepper, then bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the thyme and oregano.

Liquidise and add the milk. Season to taste.

Living stones garden

2008-09-03T21:59:00.000-07:00

Lithops, also known as living stones, are a type of succulent which have evolved to look like rocks to avoid being eaten in their natural environment.

You will need:

lithops plants

a bowl

peat-free compost

grit

stones

1. Select a bowl and fill it with gritty compost (about half grit half compost).

2. Remove the lithops from their pots and decide where you want to position them. Carefully plant them in the bowl.

3. Add more gritty compost if required, then cover with a layer of grit.

4. Place rocks on top on the grit. Try to choose ones that look like the plants.

Keep the bowl garden in a sunny position; it could be grown on a south facing windowsill or in a greenhouse.

Lithops are very easy to look after. Each year the pair of leaves will split in half and a new pair of leaves will appear between them. When the old pair of leaves has fully died back, begin watering. Keep watering every 2 weeks until autumn.

The best way to water is by standing the bowl garden in a saucer or tray and soaking it until water runs out the bottom. Leave it standing in the tray of water for about an hour, then remove. Only water if the compost is dry.

Lithops will flower every autumn. They get yellow or white daisy-like flowers.

mosaic mirror

2008-09-03T21:33:00.000-07:00

A mosaic is a great way of recycling: you can use old tiles, broken crockery, beads from old necklaces, sea shells, etc, and make them into a decorative frame for a mirror.

You will need:

mirror (or a frame, vase, bowl or another item you wish to mosaic)

a selection of tiles, beads, shells, glass nuggets, pebbles, mirror, broken crockery

grout

squeegee or other grout spreaders, cloths, gloves

Adult assistance will be required

1. Choose a mirror and a selection of items to make your mosaic from. You could use special mosaic tiles, or recycle old tiles and other items. Be as creative as you like!

2. Spread a layer of grout over the frame (if it is a large frame do one side at a time so the grout doesn't dry out before you can mosaic it). Wear gloves while grouting and put lots of newspaper down.

3. Press your mosaic pieces into the grout in any pattern you like. Leave to dry for a day.

4. If you are using tiles or something smooth, spread grout over your mosaic, working it into the gaps. Remove the grout on top of the tiles with the squeegee and a cloth. An old toothbrush might also be handy for removing grout.

Any areas containing seashells or anything fiddly are best left ungrouted. As you can see in the picture above, the tiles have grout between them but the bits of shell have just been pressed into the grout.

5. Leave for a day and wipe with a cloth to remove any remaining grout. You can now hang your mirror.

easy to grow annuals

2008-08-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hardy annuals are very easy to grow; just sow the seeds straight onto the ground where you want them to flower, water them in, then wait! They'll start flowering about 6 weeks later. Annuals only live for one year, but produce lots of seed so you'll have lots more plants in future years. The plants shown below all like full sun and grow in well-drained poor soil. Many attract beneficial insects, especially bees.

Seeds can also be sown in autumn to flower earlier in the year.

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens' (honeywort)
Purple flowers and blue bracts. Other species of cerinthe have yellow flowers. 30-60cm tall.

Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium)
Red, orange, yellow, salmon or cream flowers. Large green leaves (variegated varieties are available too). Flowers and leaves are edible and can be eaten in salads. 30cm high, spread from 30cm to over 1 metre, depending on variety. Some are climbers and some can be planted in containers.
Malcomia maritima (Virginia stock)
Pink, purple, cream or white flowers. 15 - 30cm tall. Can grow in cracks in paving.

Nigella (love in a mist)
Blue, white or pink flowers. Attractive seedheads. 30-45cm tall. Can grow in cracks in paving.

Centaurea cyanus (cornflower)
Blue, white, purple, pink or red flowers. The variety 'Black ball' has striking dark burgundy flowers. A native wildflower. 45-90cm tall.

Iberis umbellata (candytuft)
Pink or white flowers. 30cm tall.

insect-eating plants

2008-08-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

There are a range of carnivorous plants, not just the famous venus fly trap! Most live in bogs and evolved the ability to digest insects to cope with the low nitrogen levels in the soil. There are lots that are easily grown as house or garden plants; you can even grow lots of new plants from seed or cuttings too.

Many need to be kept moist using only rainwater and to be planted in low-nutrient, acidic soil, such as peat or sphagnum moss.

Sarracenia (pitcher plants)

Easy to grow. Require full sun and wet, acidic, low-nutrient soil. Water with rain water. Are hardy and can be grown outdoors.

They catch insects in their long tubular leaves, which can have white or red markings. They also get weird flowers which can be red as shown in the picture above or yellow/green.

Pinguicula (butterwort)

Very easy to grow. Require full sun and wet, acidic, low-nutrient soil. Water with rain water. The most commonly grown species need to be grown in a house or greenhouse. Plants can be split easily to make lots of new plants.

They can catch a huge number of flies on their leaves. They can be used as an alternative to yellow sticky traps to control insects in a greenhouse even. They also get lots of purple/pink flowers, like the ones shown below.

Nepenthes (pitcher plant)

Require partial shade and moist soil, prefer a moist atmosphere. Water with rain water. Nepenthes grow in jungles so need to be kept indoors, although they can be put outside for summer. Can be trickier to grow than other types.

They have big glossy green leaves with the pitchers hanging off the ends. The pitchers can be quite big and often have red markings.

Drosera (sundew)

Require full sun and wet, acidic, low-nutrient soil. Water with rain water. Some species are hardy, others need to be grown in a house or greenhouse. The most common, drosera capensis, can't be grown outside but is otherwise easy to grow.

Their leaves are covered in red or white hairs covered in sticky blobs which catch flies. They flower easily and get lots of flowers on a long stalk. Drosera capensis has red hairs on the leaves and gets pink flowers. There is a white form as well which has white hairs and flowers.

The picture above shows a pot of seedlings. Drosera capensis is especially easy to grow from seed, it will often self seed in pots all over the greenhouse.

Thyme and cheese straws

2008-05-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 packet of ready-made puff pastry
100g (4 oz) grated cheese
thyme leaves
1 egg

Method:

Preheat the oven to 180C (350F/Gas mark 4).

Roll the puff pastry into a square (approx 25 x 25cm). Coat with beaten egg.

Cover one half of the square with cheese and thyme. Fold the other half over to cover it.

Roll with the rolling pin to stick the 2 halves together.

Cut into strips, approx 1cm wide. Twist each strip.

Place on a non-stick baking tray and bake in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown.

attractive and easy to grow wildflowers

2008-05-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

wood anemone (anemone nemorosa)

These grow in woods and are easily grown in a shady spot in the garden. They can be grown from rhizomes planted in autumn; they will flower every spring.

ox eye daisy (leucanthemum vulgare)

Ox eye daisies flower from spring to summer and are loved by insects. They are easily grown from seed and are perennials so will flower every year. They prefer a sunny spot and can grow in poor soil.

meadow cranesbill (geranium pratense)

This perennial flowers in summer and is easily grown; it will grow in poor or dry soil in sun or shade.

cornflower (centaurea cyanus)

Cornflowers are annuals which are easily grown from seed. Sow the seeds outside where you want them to flower. In future years they will self-seed. They prefer full sun and can grow in poor soil. They flower in summer and are loved by bees.

cowslip (primula veris)

Cowslips are perennials which prefer to grow in sun or partial shade, in normal or moist soil. The flowers are scented and attractive to insects. They flower mainly in spring but may also flower in autumn too.

water avens (geum rivale)

This is a perennial which can grow as a marginal plant by ponds, but will also grown in moist soil. It prefers sun or partial shade. It flowers from spring to summer.

red campion (silene dioica)

This is a perennial plant which can grow in sun or shade. It prefers moist soil. It flowers in summer.

fox-and-cubs (pilosella aurantiaca)

This is a perennial which flowers in summer. It can grow in poor soils and prefers full sun. It is originally from Central Europe but has naturalised in the UK. It can spread a lot. It is loved by insects.

Dragonflies

2008-05-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

These are the dragonflies we will make at Pudsey Carnival

You will need-

Dip It Fantasy Film paint
florists' wire (4 pieces per dragonfly)
pipe cleaners (2 per dragonfly)
beads (2 per dragonfly)

You will also need something like a block of florists' foam or a potato to stick the wings in while they dry.

1. Make a loop of wire the shape shown in the photo below and twist the stem (you may want to wrap it around something, a rolling pin for example, to help you make it).

2. Choose which colour Dip It Fantasy Film paint you want to use and carefully remove the lid. Hold the loops of wire as shown below and dip it in. Make sure you hold it vertically when you remove it or the film may break. Shake it a little or wipe it against the rim of the tin to remove any excess.

3. Stand the wings in something while they dry, for example a piece of florists' foam, as shown below. Make 4 wings in total.

3. Select a pipe cleaner and put 1 bead in the middle of it. Fold the pipe cleaner in half and twist it round. Select another pipe cleaner and bead and do the same with these.

4. Hold these together with the beads both at the same end. Twist these 2 pieces together to form the dragonfly's body.

5. Now the wings should be dry. Carefully hold a wing close to the dragonfly body ad wrap the spare bit of wire around. Repeat with the other 3 wings, putting them in positions similar to the ones shown in the pictures above. Watch out for the sharp ends of the wire.

Now you have your dragonfly. You can attach them to things, hang them from the ceiling or make them into mobiles, for example.

Adult assistance may be required. The paint has a strong smell and has to be used in a well ventilated area or outdoors (there are instructions on the tin). It will stain so you might want to put down newspaper and wear aprons. Both the wire and pipe cleaners can be sharp so take care with these.

Ponds

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A pond will attract a wide range of wildlife: amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts, and insects such as water boatmen, pond skaters and dragonflies. Other animals, such as birds and hedgehogs, will come to the pond to drink or bathe.

It is best if the pond is at least around 60cm (2 feet) deep at its deepest point, but has sloping sides in at least one place so animals can get in and out of it easily. Ideally the pond should be in a sunny position. Don’t keep fish in the pond if you want lots of wildlife; they’ll eat things!

Planting your pond

You’ll need different types of plants in and around your pond. Use oxygenators, such as elodea, to keep the water full of oxygen.

It is best to cover about half of the surface of the pond with plants. You could grow a waterlily; a wide range is available in different colours and sizes, including miniatures, so you will be able to find one that is perfect for your pond. Nymphaea pygmaea rubra, which has deep pink flowers, only grows to around 30cm (1 foot) across so is great for small ponds.

Nymphaea 'Attraction', which spreads to about 1.2 metres.

Also grow marginal plants around the edges, things like caltha (marsh marigold), menyanthes trifoliata (bog bean) and sagittaria (arrowhead). If you want something more exotic looking, grow zantedeschia aethiopica (calla lilies).

Marsh marigolds

Plant pond plants in baskets of aquatic compost. Don’t use normal compost because it will contain too many nutrients and cause algae to grow. Also avoid using plant food around the pond.Avoid more rampant plants such as yellow flag iris (iris pseudacorus) and bulrushes unless you have a large pond.

Bog plants

You can create a bog area next to your pond by digging a hole, lining it with punctured pond liner and replacing the soil. You may also have a boggy area of the garden you could plant bog plants in.

Plants you could grow include astilbes, lobelia cardinalis, geums, iris ensata (Japanese iris)and iris sibirica (Siberian iris).

Geum rivale white

A wide range of primula species will grow in boggy areas, such as primula vialli, p. denticulata, p. beesiana, p. bulleyana, p. japonica and other candelabra primulas.

Primula denticulata and primula vialli

Some ferns like boggy conditions, such as osmunda regalis (royal fern) and matteuccia struthiopteris (shuttlecock fern). For really dramatic foliage, if you have a large garden you could grow a gunnera; they have huge leaves and can be up to 2 metres tall.

osmunda regalis frond unfurling

More pond ideas

You could create a mini pond in a waterproof barrel, sink, bath, pot or other container.

Even if you don’t have a pond, you could still have a bog area, pebble pool or bird bath and it will be beneficial to wildlife.

Break the ice on the surface or ponds or birdbaths in winter so birds and other animals can still drink. If you have a birdbath or very small pond, the water will evaporate away quickly in summer so fill it up. Bird will visit your garden regularly if they know water is always available.

Providing food and shelter for wildlife

2008-04-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Logs

A pile of logs could provide shelter for hedgehogs, frogs and many different insects.

Nest boxes

Put bird boxes up in around the garden at varying heights because different birds like different nesting positions.

Also have trees and shrubs for birds to nest in. Don't prune them in spring while they are nesting in them.

Put bat boxes up facing different directions; bats will change roosting site depending on the temperature.

Ladybird house

Ladybirds and other insects will over winter in a ladybird house. They like small holes to live in. They will also use the hollow stems of herbaceous perennials if you don’t cut them back in winter.

Feeders

Bird feeders can be filled with different types of food to attract a variety of bird species. You can feed them peanuts, mixed seed, sunflower seeds or niger seed, which is loved by goldfinches.

You can also have a bird table for putting leftover food, such as bread or fruit, on.

Plants to attract wildlife

2008-04-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Plants to attract butterflies:

A buddleia (butterfly bush) is the best plant for attracting butterflies. They also love scabious, oregano, asclepias and sedums. If you want lots of butterflies in your garden, don’t kill their caterpillars earlier in the year.

scabiosa 'Chile Black'

Plants to attract bees:

Bees will visit a wider range of plants, including most common herbaceous perennials. They especially love plants in the daisy family, such as sunflowers (helianthus), heleniums and echinaceas.

echinacea 'Arts Pride' and helianthus 'Pastiche'

Other plants they love include: achillea, agastache, alliums (including chives), aubretia, borage, cerinthe, centaurea (cornflowers), digitalis (foxgloves), echinops, echium, hebe, lavender, liatris, limnanthes (poached egg plants), monarda, nasturtiums, salvia, scabious, teasel, thyme and verbena.

liatris spicata, cerinthe major 'Purpurascens', agastache and monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet'

Plants to attract moths:

Moths will visit plants which flower or are scented at night, such as honeysuckle, nicotiana (tobacco plants) and oenothera (evening primrose).

oenothera missouriensis and nicotiana sylvestris

Plants to attract birds:

Birds will be attracted to trees or shrubs with fruit, such as apples, cherry, crab apples, elder, hawthorn, honeysuckle, holly, ivy, pyracantha, quince, roses, rowan and viburnum. They also like to eat seeds, especially teasels and sunflowers. If you leave the seedheads on your plants over winter they will provide food for the birds.

malus 'Royalty' (crabapple) and chaenomeles japonica (Japanese quince)

Birds also use plants to nest in so have some shrubs or trees in the garden. Don’t prune shrubs in spring while birds are nesting.

More about plants

A wide range of plants will attract wildlife; you don’t have to grow anything weird, ugly or expensive! Many of the best plants for insects and birds are popular, attractive perennials and shrubs.

Insects usually prefer single flowers; frilly double flowers are too difficult for them to get inside. And they love scented plants.

It is best to use a wide range of plants that will flower all year round. Winter and spring flowering bulbs and shrubs will feed insects when there is little food around. Perennials such as helleborus and primulas are a good source of nectar in early spring.

primula

You don’t have to grow wildflowers to attract wildlife, although many wildflowers are attractive as well as beneficial to a wide range of creatures so it is well worth growing some.

Plants to avoid:

Spanish bluebells (hyacinthoides hispanica) can hybridise with native bluebells and take over.
Himalayan balsam (impatiens glandulifera) spreads by seeds which explode from the pods. It can invade riversides and woodland.

Ladybird house

2008-04-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

This ladybird house will be used by ladybirds and other insects in winter.

Adult assistance will be required to make it.

You will need:

a piece of plywood (for the back)
logs (use sawn wood if logs aren’t available, at least 10cm deep)
bamboo canes
small sticks
screws
small nails
wire
power drill
hand saw

1. To make the frame screw or wire together the logs.

2. Cut the plywood to the shape of the frame and nail it to the back.

3. Cut the bamboo canes into pieces the same depth as the frame.

4. Cut pieces of log the same depth as the frame. Use a drill to make holes around 5mm in diameter in them.

5. Stack the bamboo and log pieces into the frame. Push them in as tightly as possible so they don’t fall out.

6. Fill any gaps with small sticks or moss.

7. Make a loop from wire to hang it from.

8. Hang on a wall, ideally facing into the morning sun. Position it near plants because ladybirds like to eat aphids. If it is low down and near a pond it may be used by dragonflies and solitary bees too.

make a miniature garden

2008-04-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

You will need:

a container
peat-free compost
plants (small houseplants work well)

and any other things you might want to add, such as: sand, gravel, rocks, slate, tiles, ornaments, furniture, lolly sticks, plant saucer or yoghurt pot.

1. Choose a container - a bowl or a seed tray works well - and fill it with compost.

2. Choose your plants, and decide where you are putting them. Remove from their pots, plant them and water them.

3. If you want a lawn, either grow some grass seed and cut it short, or use moss.

4. You could add a pond; make one from a saucer or a yoghurt pot, for example. Fill it with water.

5. If you want to add paths, stepping stones or patios, use gravel, sand, slate or tiles. Mosaic tiles are good for making individual paving stones from.

6. Use small plant pots if you want containers for on the patio, or make some from modelling clay. Plant them up with small plants; succulents work well because they don't need much water.

7. You could use dolls' furniture in your miniature garden, or make your own from lolly sticks or twigs. You could also make fences, arches or bird tables.

8. To add some sculptures use small ornaments, rocks, glass nuggets or fossils, or make some from modelling clay.

9. Add anything else you think it needs; your miniature garden can contain anything at all.

Which plants to choose

Small-leaved plants will look most like they are large plants in miniature, but ones with medium sized leaves could be used to give a tropical look. Using cacti and succulents would be another way to do an exotic-looking miniature garden.

The miniature garden in the photo is planted with ophiopogon planiscapus nigrescens (black grass) and sempervivums. The lawn is made from moss found growing in an old plant pot.

Glass painting

2008-04-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

You will need:

glass vase
tube of glass paint outliner
glass paints
brushes
pencil and paper

1. Choose a vase and clean it. It is easiest to use a square vase so you can lie it flat and the paint won't run. Decide what you are going to paint on it and draw your design onto paper. Stick this inside the vase so you can trace it.

2. Use the outliner to draw the design onto the vase. Squeeze the tube gently to get smooth lines and don't leave any gaps or the paint will run out of them.

3. When dry, fill in the outline with coloured glass paint. Paint quickly and make sure you use enough paint if you don't want brush strokes to be visible.

other ideas

Many glass items can be painted, such as candle holders, clip frames, plates, bowls and mirrors. But other materials can be painted with glass paints too, for example plastic and acetate. Glass painted acetate sheets can be used for card making. Sticky-backed acetate sheets are available for making window decorations.

Glass painting is a great way to recycle a boring old vase into a more decorative item.

Growing succulents from leaf cuttings

2008-04-18T20:54:00.000-07:00

Many succulents, such as echeverias, sedums and adromischus, can easily be grown from leaf cuttings.

Simply remove a leaf from your plant and leave it to dry for a few days. Then put it into a pot of gritty compost, water it and leave it in a sunny spot. It will grow roots and then a new plant.

It is very easy to propagate succulents this way.

The picture above shows a young adromischus plant grown from a leaf cutting. The large red leaf on the left is the leaf that was originally planted; the rest of the plant has grown from this.

Taking fuchsia cuttings

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Fuchsias have colourful flowers and can be grown in the garden or in containers. Some are hardy and will survive winter outdoors, others have to be brought into a greenhouse. The onw shown above is 'Hawkshead', which is hardy.

Fuchsias are very easy to grow from cuttings.

Remove a shoot from your fuchsia plant that has about 3 pairs of leaves and no flowers. Cut it below the leaf nodes (where the leaves join the stem).

Remove the lower pair of leaves from your cutting and insert it into a pot of compost. Water it.

Place it in a propagator or cover the pot with a clear plastic bag held on with an elastic band. Keep it in a warm, fairly sunny spot and in a few weeks it will have rooted.

Pinch out the growing tip to make the plant more bushy and if it gets buds when it is still a small plant remove these to make the fuchsia stronger. Re-pot it into a larger pot if it gets too big and when all danger of frost has passed you can plant it outside.

Growing new plants from plantlets

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Ferns

Some ferns, such as asplenium bulbiferum (hen and chicks fern) and polystichum setiferum (soft shield fern), produce plantlets on their fronds.

To make new plants from them, remove a frond that has plantlets and lay it on a seed tray of compost. Weigh it down with stones to keep the leaf and compost touching.

Keep it in a greenhouse or cold frame and keep it watered and the plantlets should grow their own roots. Then you can remove them from the old leaf and put them into their own pots. When they are big enough you can plant them in the garden.

A polystichum frond with plantlets down the middle (left) and a small plant grown from a plantlet (right).

piggyback plant

Tolmiea menziesii, the piggyback plant, produces plantlets on the back of its leaves. It can be grown outside or as a houseplant. To make a new plant, remove a leaf with a plantlet and put it in a pot of compost and wait for it to root.

A plantlet growing on the back of a leaf

spider plant

Chlorophytum comosum, the spider plant, makes plantlets on the end of long trailing stems. These can be removed and planted into their own pots.

succulents

Kalanchoe tubiflora (mother of thousands) and kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mexican hat plant) produce tiny plantlets on their leaves. These can be removed and placed onto compost and you will soon have hundreds more plants.

other plants

Perennials such as hemerocallis (daylilies) and sisyrinchiums sometimes make plantlets on their flower stems. These can be removed and planted into individual pots until they root, then planted out in the garden.

Plant a cactus garden

2008-04-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

You will need:

container
cacti (the ones shown above are 2 mammillarias and a rebutia)
peat-free compost
gravel
rocks (optional)

1. Choose a container. It is best to use one with drainage holes in the bottom.

2. Mix together some compost and grit, about half of each. Fill the container nearly to the top with the gritty compost.

3. Choose your cacti and decide where you want to plant them. When you are happy with their positions, remove them from their pots and plant them in the container. You might want to wrap the plants in newspaper or wear gloves when you touch them.

4. Cover the compost with a layer of gravel. The cacti should be planted at the same level as they were in their previous pots. Put some rocks around your plants if you like.

5. If there is compost stuck to the plants you can remove it with a brush, or just leave it to get washed or blown away. Water your cactus garden.

How to care for your cactus garden:

Place your cactus garden on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse. However, in summer you will be able to put it outside if you wish.

Water it about once every 2 weeks, but not at all in winter. In very hot weather it might need watering a bit more often. To water, stand it in a tray of water, leave it for an hour to soak up as much water as it wants and then remove. Only water it when the compost is dry.

Feed every 2 to 4 weeks in summer; you can use pretty much any type of food, tomato food for example.

Many cacti flower every year. Rebutias get large flowers in a range of colours from the base of the plant. Mammillarias usually get a ring of small pink, yellow or white flowers around the top of the plant.

Deer rock painting

2008-04-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

You will need :

a rock
chalk
acrylic paint and brushes

1. Choose a rock and clean it.

2. Decide what animal to paint and draw it onto the rock with chalk. It doesn't have to be realistic; you could make it longer, fatter or more angular, for example.

3. When you are happy with the shape, paint it with acrylic paint and leave to dry.

4. Next you may want to add some pale patches, for example on its belly.

5. When dry, you can paint some darker bits. You could add some shading - maybe on the back of the neck - and paint the muscles on the legs. You may also want to add some patterns. And don't forget its eyes.

6. When all the paint is completely dry wash off any remaining chalk marks.

Painted pebble ladybird paperweight

2008-04-17T21:17:00.001-07:00

You will need:

a pebble
acrylic paint and brushes
googly eyes

glue

1. Paint the pebble with red acrylic paint. Paint the top first, leave it to try and then paint underneath.

2. When dry, decide which end is going to be the ladybird's head and paint it black. Also paint a black stripe down its back and some spots.

3. Glue on the googly eyes.

Butterfly card

2008-04-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

You will need:

cardboard
tissue paper
scissors
glue

1. Fold the card. On the inside of the front draw a random shape and the butterfly's body in the middle of it, splitting the shape in half.

2. Cut out the 2 sections either side of the butterfly's body, leaving 2 holes in the card.

3. Now make the wings. Fold a piece of tissue paper in half, cut out a wing shape and then unfold it to get a pair of wings. Put glue just down the centre of the butterfly's body and then stick on the wings so they will flutter about.

4. Cut out a long thin body for the butterfly from tissue paper. Cut out 2 small antennae from tissue paper and stick these to the back of the body, pointing up, and then glue the tissue paper body onto the card in the middle of the wings.

5. makes some leaves from long pointy triangles of green tissue paper and glue them on.

Dragonfly card

2008-04-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

You will need :

cardboard
tissue paper
scissors
glue

1. Fold the card. On the inside of the front, draw a dragonfly shape in pencil. When you are happy with how it looks cut it out, leaving a dragonfly shaped hole.

2. Put glue around the hole on the inside. Cut some small pieces of tissue paper in different colours and glue them over the hole.

3. When the glue is dry, fold the card in half. Viewed from the front you will have a colourful dragonfly.