Category Archives: Summer projects

Sunflowers are Summer’s Glory

Are you enjoying the act of gardening this summer? Do you like to water plants, till soil, and watch flowers sway with a warm breeze? What does your garden have growing in it this time of year?

Sunflowers are a main attraction in many yards. Helianthus (as they are scientifically known) seem to catch everyone’s attention. They are popular because of their unique appeal. The flower is commonly associated with happiness because of its unusual height and brilliant color.

The tallest growing flower, with potential of reaching between 8 and 13 feet, is a summer favorite in North America and throughout the world.

Cheer Up Your Garden

Has this summer inspired you to add more color to your life? If yes, consider cheering up your garden with sunflowers.

There are many types of sunflowers you can plant. Some grow taller than a person and develop bright yellow blooms the size of dinner plates. Others come in shades of orange and red.

With tall stems and large, colorful blossoms, sunflowers are known to be useful too. They can create a natural fence to block a neighbor’s unsightly yard and distract from the view with pops of color.

Why Plant Sunflowers

Sunflowers are native to North America but can be found all over the world now. They are easy to maintain and can begin growing within six months of planting seeds. In addition, seeds can be planted up to 100 days before freezing temperatures strike. Any seeds that fall on fertile soil (as this is important for sunflowers) may surprise you by shooting up quickly next spring.

When autumn begins to sweep in, you can cut the head of the flower off a few inches down the stem. Hanging it up in an airy place to dry will produce many seeds. You can gather the seeds and use them for cooking or save them to plant the following year.

Interesting Facts about Sunflowers

Sunflowers are not only a beautiful addition to any garden, they are also interesting. There are many surprising facts about sunflowers. Wet your curiosity with these four truths. Then, learn more by reading this blog:

A single sunflower is made up of thousands of flowers joined together- each pedal represents one flower.
Sunflower heads track the sun, which is correctly known as heliotropism.
Sunflowers are the national flower of Russia.
The tallest sunflower grew to be over 25 feet tall.

Sunflowers are summer’s glory. There are many ways you can express your creativity this season, and many mediums that allow for artistic expression. Gardening can be a canvas to those who like to be outside in nature.

Yard work does not seem very artistic at times, but think about it this way: no two gardens are the same. By all means, get outside and create your unique art garden this summer.

Read more Segmation blog posts about Gardening:

Garden Art Knows No Limits

Where Urban Life Meets Natural Art

Tulipmania Art

Be an Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details here)

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Summer Sand Castle Challenge

Beach Towels: Where Art and Function Meet

Create Fun, Everyday Art by Tie Dying

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Art comes in more forms than paintings, drawings, songs, dances, and the like. Art can also consist of a simple product that comes from a creative activity. For example, knitting a sweater is creating a piece of art. After all, the knitter created the article of clothing; this act of creating makes him or her an artist. Another fun and easy way to create art is by tie dying.

How exactly does one tie dye an article of clothing, an old cotton t-shirt for example? That’s the question that this Segmation blog post answers. To be honest, tie dying is a lot easier than what you probably believe it to be. The first step in tie dying a shirt is simply preparing your materials. To tie dye a t-shirt, you will need:

— A cotton t-shirt

— A tie dye kit from a craft store (this kit will include the dyes, rubber bands, rubber gloves, urea, soda ash, and directions)

After you have set up a station to tie dye your t-shirt and prepare your materials, you are ready to begin creating your piece of art! You will begin by soaking your t-shirt in lukewarm water that has been treated with soda ash and 2 spoonfuls of salt for 10 minutes or so. After that, ring out your t-shirt well.

The next step will be to lay the t-shirt out flat. You will then create a “pie shape” in your t-shirt and tie it with rubber bands (please see http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-dye-an-old-white-shirt-or-a-new-shirt-/?ALLSTEPS to thoroughly learn techniques that will help you achieve the look you want).

To dye and finish your t-shirt, follow the dying instructions that came with your tie dye kit. In just a few hours you will have a beautiful tie dyed t-shirt that is summer-ready!

Are you an “everyday” artist who creates beautiful meals, welcoming rooms, scrapbooks, or tie dyed items? If yes, feel free to tell us about your artistic passion in the “comments” section below. Segmation would love to know how you make the world a better place through creating different types of art!

Sources:

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-tie-dye-an-old-white-shirt-or-a-new-shirt-/

Note: Top image was found at http://blog.woodalls.com/2010/09/oregon-state-fair/tie-dye/.

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