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Last year, I succumbed to the lure of a whim to train cucumber vines up in the air, and found the method so fine that Ill never go back to growing them on the ground again.

My “espalier” manner of growing cucumbers was good looking and good fun. It kept fruit out of the mud and made it easy to find and pick. I recommend it unqualifiedly, especially to those who have but limited garden space, as I do in my garden.

To make a fence for the vines to climb on I got three 8-foot lengths of pipe and drove them 2 feet into the ground at about equal intervals. I then strung two 3 foot widths of chicken wire between the posts and tied them at four or five points up the length of the posts with wire.

The soil was then dug deep on one side of the wire fence at five points, say 2 feet in from each end post and at three other equidistant points between. This was done just far enough out from the wire fence so as not to touch it anywhere with a shovel.

The beds were only a foot wide and practically round. In the bottom I put 4 quarts of well-rotted manure and mixed it with the soil. On top of that I put some rich compost and leveled it off with regular garden soil. It was then ready for seed.

I have used the disease-resistant, drought-resistant hybrid cucumber seeds for years with great success. The vines do stay green longer and bear longer than the regular run-of-mine cucumbers. Also, with the hybrids the larger 8 and 10-inch fruit is tender, green, crisp and small-seeded, whereas the ordinary cucumber vines begin to wilt and get brown in about a month and the larger fruit develops large seeds. becomes yellow and loses its crispness.

I push about five of the hybrid seeds into each hill and pack it down firmly. If all five germinate and no accident befalls them thereafter, I pull out all but three. I put brush over them for a couple of weeks to keep off dogs and cats and water the seedlings frequently until they are well rooted. After that they can take care of themselves in all kinds of weather.

When the vines begin to topple over from their own weight, I begin to train them onto the chicken wire. Sometimes they can be strung through the openings in the wire and sometimes they need to be tied.

I use a thick, cotton yarn bought at the dollar store, wind it around the vine three times and three times around the wire and tie it. As more runners develop, each one is tied to the wire similarly. Some of the vines will find their own footing on the wire but they have to be watched as they grow rapidly. Some vines have to be tied once or twice a week to keep up with the 2or 3-inch daily growth.

Its fun to watch little blossoms form into tiny cucumbers and then grow bigger and bigger each day.

More and more blossoms open and more and more tiny cucumbers develop until in a matter of a few weeks there are 6and 8-inch cucumbers there for you to pick off.

Some of them hang down through trellis, fences or fabricated fences until they reach the ground. Some are knee high. Some waist high and pre-fabricated fencing may be applied on those that are as high as your shoulder. When you pick them they are dry, clean and straight. No vines are trampled in looking for the fruit in a forest of leaves on muddy ground. Most of the fruit is in plain sight looking right at you.

I shall dig my beds on the opposite side of the fence this year. Thus, Ill avoid pulling up stakes and changing my location.

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The benefits of lavender in its many properties are almost endless. It can be applied in a variety of forms and for a variety of purposes. The medical application of lavender essential oils and scents has been well documented throughout history.

Commercial bath products that advertise lavender scents and ingredients do so because they know their customers are keen to the soothing and calming effects of lavender. Medically it is known to help patients suffering from insomnia and anxiety. The oils are useful for rubbing onto the skin for a variety of ailments such as headaches and digestive problems to open cuts and wounds.

There are many ways to apply lavender. It can be made into liquid oil or cream for rubbing over the skin or it can be used as a scent for inhalation through diffusers. Lavender is also often added to bath products to create lavender scented body wash and lavender shower gels. Another way to take advantage of the scent is by mixing lavender into water and sprayed through the air.

The lavender itself is only used sparingly because of its potency. The oil needs to be diluted with water or some other oil to make it useable. Common mixtures include olive oil, jojoba, avocado or grape seed oils. When prepared properly and in conservative amounts lavender is safe for anyone.

When it needs to be stored, lavender takes a few particularities to the environment in which it is kept. The plant itself remains effective long after the flower has been dried. The oil and the dried flower should be stored in a glass container and ideally in darkness. It really just needs to be out of direct sunlight or heat.

The uses of lavender oils and the flower are almost many and the effects make it a great herbal treatment to many health problems. Common relaxation products such as lavender shower gels and body wash are popular for their soothing and calming effects because of the lavender added to them.

Read more about the application of lavender in bath and spa products such as lavender shower gel and body wash or just find more information about natural body wash products at the Lavender Body Wash website.