How To Take Care Of Rose Plants During The Winter Season

There are a few things you need to do to properly take care of rose plants during the winter season. Roses are considered as being hard to care for, and indeed, some roses require more work than other plants. However, roses grow well under difficult conditions and bloom almost persistently from summer to frost. Going into winter, almost all rose plants will need extra attention. Here are a few tips on how to care for roses during this season.

Discourage New Growth

Before the beginning of winter, coax the roses into dormancy. In early autumn or at least months before the first annual frost date in your area, stop fertilizing and pruning. Fertilizing encourages roses to produce tender new growth that will most certainly not survive the cold.

Water, Clean, Wrap

Water the soil around the rose bushes after the first frost. Once the ground has frozen, the plant will have to take care of itself, so make sure that you give it a good soaking going into the season. Clear the ground around the bushes of fallen leaves and insects. This will prevent diseases and insects from overwintering.

Climbing roses need special care because they are at risk from strong, drying winds. To protect them, you can wrap the canes with straw for insulation. Alternatively, you can remove them from the trellis, bundle them together, and fasten them to the ground with landscaping pins. Cover them with a layer of mulch for added protection.

Protect the Graft Union

To protect the roots and the graft union, mound 6 to 12 inches of compost on all sides of the base of the plant. The graft should be at the surface or just below it. During milder winters, you can surround the rose with wire and fill the cage created with mulch. When temperatures reach ten degrees below zero, the mound made should be about a foot tall. For added protection, the whole plant can be covered with burlap or a heavy cloth.

Provide Extra Protection

Some roses, such as Bermudas, Noisettes, Grandifloras, Teas, and Hybrid Teas, are not able to adapt well to colder winters. For these plants, extra winter protection must be provided. You have three options: (1) bury the plant, (2) build a protective cage around the plant, or (3) transplant into a container and store indoors.

Mulch

It isn't the cold that kills rose plants during winter. It's the repeated thawing and freezing that puts a strain on the plants and kills the roots. Also, the winter sun and the dry winds sap moisture from the canes and cause winter damage. Mulching using peat moss, straw, or other materials is a recommended practice except in the extreme south, where temperatures do not get cold enough to warrant extra protection for the plants. The mulch controls the soil temperature and moderates the effects of constant freezing and thawing. After the first frost, pull the soil up around the plant while taking care not to damage the roots. Mulch after the ground is frozen.

Tips For Growing Tulips Indoors

As the gray skies of late Autumn and Winter threaten your joy, you probably want to turn to gardening. What better to brighten your drab Winter than pots of Tulips? Growing tulips indoors can be difficult, but with attention to details you can do it. Although they are a forgiving plant, they require a fine balance of quick draining soil and moisture retention. Mixing the right soil and choosing the right pots will take you most of the way toward balancing these critical requirements when growing your own Tulips indoors.

Choosing tulip bulbs in early Autumn, you should select those without blemishes, bruises, or soft spots. Remember that large flowers are produced by large bulbs. Some species can grow quite tall, requiring staking to keep them upright. If you want shorter species, try Tulipa batalinii and Tulipa humilis at only about 6 inches tall. If you want tulips indoors that put out a large blossom and come in many colors, then you should turn to Triumph tulips. They are quite easy to grow inside.

Your Tulip bulbs should be stored in a dark, cool location, approximately 35-45F, for 3-4 months. Ideally, you should keep them cooler for the first 4 weeks and then warmer for the last few weeks. Try putting them in the crisper in your fridge or an unheated shed. Do not keep them near either fruits or vegetables that might be ripening, since there will be ethylene gasses. Ethylene will destroy your Tulip bulbs.

Once your bulbs are ready, find a container that will allow for adequate drainage. Choose flower pots, wooden boxes, baskets, but not clay pots. Clay containers will suck the water out of the soil too thoroughly, drying the bulb out. The pot should have drainage holes. The ideal size is about 8 inches deep and 10 inches in diameter. Three bulbs can be planted together in this size of pot.

Remember that the better the drainage, the better you will avoid rot. Yet, you do not want your bulb to dry out. So choose a soil that drains well, but avoid the ceramic pots that sap water from your soil too quickly. Your soil should be a combination of potting soil, compost or manure, and sand, in three equal parts. Fill your container up with the mixture, leaving only 3 or 4 inches to the top. Lay the bulbs on top of the soil with the pointy side up and not touching each other at all. Be careful not to press the bulbs down. The roots must be able to easily penetrate the mixture as they grow. Turning the flat side toward the outside of the pot, the first leaves will end up growing out and over the edge. Fill the pot to the rim with more soil mixture, so the bulbs are covered and you can only see the tips peeping through.

The pots need to be kept in a cool, dark place. You can put them in your basement or garage, but make sure it is dark enough and cool enough (approximately 40-45F). Water very little, weekly, discarding any water in the bottom drainage tray.

As the leaves begin to show, in the form of young shoots of about 2 inches (in about 10-12 weeks), haul the pots out to a place with low light. The temperature should be a bit warmer than 50F, even as warm as 60F. Move the pots a little at a time toward a window with very bright sunlight, but not direct sun. If you will rotate the pots as you move them, the growth of the stems will be quite even. You should start to see the flowers after only 2 or 3 weeks.

Caring for forced tulips is quite similar to caring for any other indoor plants. Feel the soil to see if it is dry. Then water it. Tulips use a significant amount of water, so check the soil often. Keep your Tulips out of direct sunlight and away from any kinds of drafts. However, keep them as cool as you can in order to extend their time of blooming.

As far as humidity is concerned, Tulips require normal levels. Add fertilizer biweekly, diluted to half the potency. Maintain a pH between 6.0-7.0. Once the flowers of your Tulips are spent, you should not allow the foliage to die down into the soil. This will poison the bulb. So remove the bulbs before this happens. Allow them to dry on their own. Store them in a cool and airy place for planting the following season.

Know About All The Knowledge About Lavender Flowers

I believe that there are a lot of people love lavender flowers very much, because of their fragrance and pure color. Did you ever visit a lavender farm? It is the most beautiful place in the world. Last week I had the pleasure of doing just that-visiting a lavender farm in New Jersey. It was a wonderful and fragrant experience.

Lavender flowers and their essential oil are very versatile and can be used in many ways, the most common lavender flowers are English and French lavender. There are about 39 species all over the world, including some hybrids, of lavenders in the mint family lamiaceae.

Although the flowers tend to lose their vibrant color upon drying, they dry very well and still have their fragrance. Cut lavender make lovely bouquets and wreaths for decorating spaces. The dry buds can be used in sachets, eye pillows, teas, cookies and other baked goods. You may want to make some sweet lavender butter. Additionally, you can also purchase lavender honey and chocolate from most gourmet stores. Lavender hydrosol can be used in skin care products and to mist the face.

Lavender is noted for its relaxation properties and distinctive color. Did you know there are white, red and yellow lavender plants and that the flower of Spanish Lavender has large flowers and a dark lavender color? Grosso Lavender is the most fragrant.

Although I learned a lot about different species and varieties of lavender while studying to become a certified aroma therapists, there is still much to know; such as cooking with lavender, the uses of lavender in clinical practice, the proper distillation of lavender, the chemical properties of various lavenders. I purchased a Lavandula x intermedia Alba plant so I’m going to soon find out if I can grow it indoors. There nothing like actually seeing and smelling the plants growing outdoors!

The Dogbane Is Perfectly Adapted To The Butterfly

Dogbane has thin reddish stems that grow in spindly clumps up to three feet tall. When dogbane is cut, the stems ooze a thick, milky liquid.

The leaves of Apocynum cannabinumgrow opposite from one another, and sometime three or more leaves grow in from one place.

Dogbane leaves are shaped like a spear-point, and have smooth edges. On the top the leaves are smooth and waxy, underneath they have downy white hairs.

Let us watch. Bees, flies, moths, and butterflies, especially the latter, hover near. Alighting, the butterfly visitor unrolls his long tongue and inserts it where the five pink veins tell him to, for five nectar-bearing glands stand in a ring around the base of the pistil. Now, as he with-draws his slender tongue through one of the V-shaped cavities that make a circle of traps, he may count himself lucky to escape with no heavier toll imposed than pollen cemented to it. This granular dust he is required to rub off against the stigma of the next flower entered. Some bees, too, have been taken with the dogbane's pollen cemented to their tongues.

But suppose a fly call upon this innocent-looking blossom? His short tongue, as well as the butterfly's, is guided into one of the V-shaped cavities after he has sipped; but, getting wedged between the trap's horny teeth, the poor little victim is held a prisoner there until he slowly dies of starvation in sight of plenty. This is the penalty he must pay for trespassing on the butterfly's preserves!

The dogbane, which is perfectly adapted to the butterfly, and dependent upon it for help in producing fertile seed, ruthlessly destroys all poachers that are not big or strong enough to jerk away from its vise-like grasp. One often sees small flies and even moths dead and dangling by the tongue from the wicked little charmers. If the flower assimilated their dead bodies as the pitcher plant, for example, does those of its victims, the fly's fate would seem less cruel. To be killed by slow torture and dangled like a scarecrow simply for pilfering a drop of nectar is surely an execution of justice medieval in its severity.

Very small white or yellowish white flowers are in clusters on the top.

The flowers are shaped like a cup in nature.

Dogbane lives in moist areas, along rivers or creeks, and may also be found in swampy areas such as ditches or fields that are being watered.

It can be found from New England to Texas and California.

The flowers appear in late spring throughout the summer, and are pollinated by small wasps, flies and bees.

A naturally occurring cardia stimulant, called cymarin can be found in the plants roots, and is listed in a medicinal text in an early pharmacopoeia from the forties and fifties in the US.

The sap can cause the skin to blister when it is directly applied to the skin.

For Its Poisonousness The Scotch Broom Should Be Under Control

The Scotch Broom (Scoparius) is generally described as a perennial shrub. This is not native to the U.S. (United States) and has its most active growth period in the spring and summer . The Scotch Broom (Scoparius) has green foliage and inconspicuous yellow flowers, with an abuncance of conspicuous black fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the spring and continuing until summer. Leaves are not retained year to year. The Scotch Broom (Scoparius) has a moderate life span relative to most other plant species and a rapid growth rate. At maturity, the typical Scotch Broom (Scoparius) will reach up to 7 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 7 feet.

There are several methods of controlling Scotch broom and most are suitable for agricultural situations.

Herbicides are effective but expensive and only provide short-term control. Grazing by sheep and goats can prevent further spread, but this type of control is inappropriate for conservation and forestry areas.

This species is intensely beautiful in bloom but is nearly leafless on green stems the rest of the year. The tiny leaves are borne on stiff straight sticks that make wonderful brooms. But it was a hand-held whisk broom known as a "bisom" that made the plants essential to the baker's craft. In the days of brick ovens, the cooking surface had to be swept out between bread bakings. Dry broom would ignite immediately. Green broom bisom dipped in water resisted burning long enough to do the job. Clearly a baker required a good deal of living broom growing nearby to ensure a plentiful supply. So did the whiskey shipper.

Mature Scotch broom produces a large, upright shrub. (SHNS photo by Maureen Gilmer / Do It Yourself)Today there is a great struggle to stop the steady advance of broom. Aided by runoff, animals and even insects, broom's encroachment is alarmingly rapid where conditions are right. For homeowners in these areas, broom can disfigure surrounding wild lands, resulting in a monoculture. Wild plants distributing seed into the cultivated landscapes make it a pernicious weed.

The Magnolia Flower Has Been Associated With Beauty And Perseverance

The magnolia flower has been associated with beauty and perseverance, as well as dignity and nobility. The symbolic meaning of flower species has been passed down from generation to generation and arose from fables and legends connected to the flower. Unfortunately many of the origins of these meanings have been lost over time and such is the case with the magnolia. The magnolia has also been said to symbolize sweetness and a love for nature.

Typically grown as an ornamental tree because of the attractiveness of the foliage, flowers, fruits and bark, sweetbay magnolia adds a natural beauty to the surroundings. This semi-evergreen is native to the United States and grows best in partly shaded areas with moist and acidic soil. Caring for a sweetbay magnolia tree calls for annual pruning after the flowers have faded in the summer, since the buds emerge on growth that occurred last season. Does this Spark an idea?

Magnolia flower The Magnolia grandiflora flower starts out as a small bud at the tip of a branch, which often becomes a meal for squirrels, who love the taste of them. It is enveloped in a brownish sheath which will fall away and reveal a blossom with as many as 14 petals. The magnolia petals will open in layers, shaped like a cup, and they are white with a yellow stamen in the center. As they age they slowly turn brown before falling away.

Despite the fact that today these blooms have become very popular all over the world, the magnolia tree flower is one of the few plants that actually originated in the United States. Their roots also extend to parts of Asia; however, their earliest distribution to other parts of the world – such as Europe – began in America. In 1688 the first live magnolia was introduced to Britain by the clergyman John Banister – who was an avid student of botany. By 1737, the growth of magnolia grandiflora was in full swing, and the well known botanical artist Georg Ehret became a magnolia enthusiast – walking three miles every morning just to study the buds blooming. As well as having a long and interesting history, the magnolia tree flower is also said to be very useful. The bark of the tree is most commonly used – generally for curing skin conditions, but also for heart and respiration ailments – however, the flowers themselves are frequently used as a rejuvenating essential oil for baths, soaps and candles; they may be pickled and eaten or dried and used as a spice, and they may also be seen as the strong floral note of many perfumes.

To some, the magnolia tree flower is considered the “symbol of the South.” To others, though, they represent perseverance, sweetness and nobility – while the magnolia tree as a whole is considered to be an emblem of dignity. As a gift, these flowers are often given to represent a struggle that has been overcome, poise in the face of adversity, or as a simple token of respect and admiration. Although these flowers may be given in classic bouquets, they may also be presented as single cut pieces, or – for the gardening fanatic – as young, potted plants that may planted into the ground at a later date.

Calendula Has A Wide Range Of Medicinal Uses

Calendula,(calendula officinalis) is both beautiful and easy to grow, Calendula should be included in any herb gardener's list of must haves. Also known as pot marigold, this is a wonderful plant for the cooler regions as it tolerates lower temperatures well. Calendula is an annual. It must be grown every year but easily reseeds so this may be taken into account when planning a garden. I find calendula does the best when I let a few plants go to seed and reseed the area themselves vs planting individual plants every year. This does increase the chances of strays getting out of the area you wanted calendula to grow but these are easily pulled up if necessary.

Flavonoids, found in high amounts in calendula, are thought to account for much of its anti-inflammatory activity. Other potentially important constituents include the triterpene saponins andcarotenoids.

Investigations into anticancer and antiviral actions of calendula are continuing. At this time, insufficient evidence exists to recommend the use of calendula for cancer. Nevertheless, test tube studies have found antiviral activity for calendula. The constituents responsible for these actions are not clear, however, and the relevance of these actions for human health care has not been established.

How to Use It

A tea of calendula can be made by pouring 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water over 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 grams) of the flowers; the tea is then steeped, covered for ten to fifteen minutes, strained, and drunk. At least 3 cups of tea are recommended per day. Tincture is similarly used three times a day, at 1/4–1/2 teaspoon (1–2 ml) each time. The tincture can be taken in water or tea. In addition, prepared ointments can be used topically for skin problems, although wet dressings made by dipping a cloth into the cooled tea are also effective. Topical treatment for eye conditions is not recommended, as absolute sterility must be maintained.

Calendula has been used for medicinal purposes since the 12th century. It was used historically to treat upset stomachs, ulcers and menstrual cramps, although no clinical evidence has proven its effectiveness for these conditions. It was also used to relieve fevers and treat cancer. The flowers have also been used as a pesticide. This plant is not taken orally for any conditions, except in homeopathic preparations, in which it is extremely diluted.

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Ear infections, or otitis media, can be painful for children; by the age of seven, 93 percent of children have experienced at least one ear infection, according to a 2003 article written by Sarrell, Cohen and Kahan in the "Journal of Family Practice." The University of Maryland states that ear drops that contain calendula may be used to help treat pain related to ear infections in children. Sarrell et al write that the main goal for treating otitis media if there is no systemic infection is to alleviate pain. Calendula may be an effective treatment for some children.

Calendula has a wide range of medicinal uses. It is a soothing tea for gastrointestinal problems, healing wash for skin wounds, easily infused into oil for a healing salve or balm. Great for baby diaper area.

Calendula also has the rare quality of keeping its color during soapmaking. Unlike most herbal additives, calendula will not turn brown or black in a bar of herbal soap. Add 1 tablespoon of petals to just enough oil to cover. After your soap reaches trace, stir in the oil and petal mixture throughout your soap batch. The bright orange petals will remain bright and offer even soothing properties to the finished soap. For soapmaking information, find someone knowledgeable in the craft before undertaking it yourself.

Radiation-Induced Dermatitis

Radiation therapy for cancer can cause dermatitis, which is inflammation of the skin that may be accompanied by a rash or itching. A 2009 meta-analysis published in the "Journal of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery" found that application of topical calendula prevented dermatitis caused by radiation. If you are receiving radiation, ask your oncologist or treatment team if calendula is safe for you to use.

Skin Injuries

Burns, cuts and bruises may be treated with calendula preparations. Tinctures, ointments and washes made with calendula have been used to encourage wound healing, ease bruising and also treat infections associated with wounds. Though the exact mechanism of action is not clear, it is thought that calendula helps blood circulation and encourages collagen production to heal the skin.

Potpourri Just Like Drugs To Some Extend

Potpourri seized from a Pascagoula convenience store in September was deemed to be illegal Friday, according to tests performed by the state crime laboratory.

The product was billed as the new Spice, a chemically laced incense that mirrored the effects of smoking marijuana but was banned by a new state law.

Lt. Curtis Spiers, commander of the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County, said BJ's Market on Market Street in Pascagoula was raided Sept. 20.

Drug agents collected numerous packages of Nola Diamond potpourri, crack pipes, handheld and digital scales, and flavored tobacco leaves used to roll marijuana or incense, Spiers said.

At least one cashier was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia following the September raid and Spiers said Friday that clerk and the storeowner would each face charges on sale and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.

"We'd like for them to turn themselves in," Spiers said, as he was busy obtaining a warrant for their arrest.

Gov. Haley Barbour on Sept. 4 signed a law that targeted smokable incense products that were being sold in many coastal convenience stories.

Handle your herbs and flowers carefully to avoid bruising them. Once the have been bruised you will have lost any value in them for their essential oils.

The best time to collect leaves, roots, flowers and seeds is in the early morning after the dew has evaporated.

Choose plants that are clean, free of any pests or diseases. Choose flowers that are newly opened.

Always collect 4 times the amount you will need for the final potpourri mix as flowers, leaves etc will shrink when dried.

Drying Methods

The drying process usually takes up to 2 weeks in general. There are two processes for drying flowers and herbs. Keep in a warm dark place that has good air circulation.

Air Drying: Using a window screen works quite well. It allows air circulation around the plant material. Place the flowers and or herbs on a single layer. Do not pack them tightly together or on top of each other or they will decompose. Takes about one week to be completely dried out.

Hanging: Fasten together several small bunches, tie the stems off with elastics or string. Hang them upside down to dry out.

Storing The Potpourri

Store your "New" potpourri in airtight containers or plastic bags. Store in a cool dark place until needed.

And then promptly goes on to blame women for not sorting their lives out. I do not debate the fact that my generation of women drives itself hard – God knows this is true, as I sit up at 1.33am rushing this post to get back to YET another case competition during my MBA which is littered with numerous examples of me taking on way more than I need to. What I do take offense to is that we get no credit for it, and are instead punished for it. Has the author considered the fact that there could be larger forces at play here, possibly even the same ones which have kept women out of boardrooms and executive management since time immemorial? It’s hardly like women were placed equally with men and then the Millennial women came along and spoilt it all!

Honestly, some days, I wonder if I should myself all this angst and turn housewife and watch daytime TV. But I’m too much of a Millennial woman and Type A for that. I’m seeing this fight through, and making my best attempt at breaking that ceiling – wish me luck! The ceiling is yet to be fully defined, but I’ll get there…

Hibiscus Flowers Are Generally Used For Ornamental Or Landscaping Purposes

Rosella is also referred to as Hibiscus sabdariffa and it has many uses. There is a substance in the flower that fights hypertension. The stem of hibiscus may be used for making bast fiber that can be used for making burlap. Nerve diseases, cancer, cardiac diseases are a few examples of the illnesses said to be treated by hibiscus. Hibiscus can be used to alleviate constipation and difficulties with urination.
　　
All across the globe, rosella is widely used in producing tea. Herbal tea made from the hibiscus plant is usually sold in Africa. It is also quite typical in Italy to make tea out of rosella flowers. In Trinidad and Tobago, they mix rosella tea with beer to produce Shandy Sorrel. To lessen cholesterol in their bodies, Thai's enjoy rosella tea.
　　
The hibiscus is a beautiful flower that is closely associated with the state of Hawaii. In fact, it is known as Hawai's State Flower. While there are over 200 distinct species of this floral plant, only seven of them grow natively in the state of Hawaii. Tourists to the islands today may see many varieties of the hibiscus, but few of these are actually native plants. Other varieties have actually been brought to Hawaii from other tropical and subtropical climates around the world, where they grow as both annuals and perennials.
　　
Hibiscus flowers are quite large, and are generally used for ornamental or landscaping purposes, either using cut flowers or the entire plant. These iconic flowers are often used in flower leis, though other flowers, particularly the orchid or plumeria, are also popular for this purpose. The cut flowers are often found decorating the side of a fruity tropical drink.
　　
There are many unique uses for the hibiscus, too. The strong fibers of hibiscus bark can be used to make grass skirts or paper. This plant has also been used for teas (known as karkady) and jams. Some people believe that hibiscus extract will relieve constipation or nausea. The flowers are used in shampoos, where they are said to prevent dandruff. The seed of the hibiscus is used in South America and in the West Indies as a remedy for snakebite wounds, while the Xhosa in South Africa use the leaf to dress wounds, and the Zulu use hibiscus lotion to treat skin ailments. Hibiscus juice can be found throughout Malaysia, where the hibiscus is the national flower.
　　
Do not to use any fertilizer high in nitrogen when fertilizing. This results in lots of vegetation growth, but hardly any flowers. Your plants will benefit tremendously from regular foliar feeding. It is important to spray both sides of the leaves. It is also very helpful to add a surfactant to your spraying solution. This will prevent the solution from running off the leaves.
　　
When your hibiscus plant grows out of shape, it can be pruned to the desired shape. You need to be careful that all danger of frost has passed. New growth can be easily damaged by a late frost.The hibiscus is a tropical plant that needs a warm climate and high humidity to thrive. If you plan to grow a hibiscus indoors to complement your tropical or tiki d�cor, they must be kept in temperatures between seventy and eight five degrees Fahrenheit, and you must never let the soil dry completely. In Hawaii, dozens of hibiscus gardens have been planted with both native and imported varieties, becoming a popular tourist attraction.
　　
Unfortunately, insects like to feast on hibiscus leaves. The insects include aphids, mealy bugs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. If this is the case a good spraying with insecticidal soap a few times or one application of a systemic insecticide should take care of the problem.
　　
Thailand and China handles the worldwide supply of hibiscus flowers. It is no mystery because these two countries are also the providers the biggest amount of hibiscus flowers. Thailand enjoys a better reputation for high quality because of their more strict quality control procedures. If you're trying to find the perfect rosella, you'll need to look at Sudan although their insufficient production and lack of processing technology can be an issue. Isn't it amazing how one can enjoy something and even make yourself healthier? Do not hesitate about drinking this beneficial and pleasurable flower tea.
　　
You can easily raise your very own roselle specifically if you are living in a sunny area. One benefit of raising your own roselle is the fact that you'll be sure that the hibisbus drink you'll be drinking does not come with any inorganic pesticides or other harmful nasty chemicals. The rosella bouquets are charming and you'll definitely enjoy cultivating them. As a bonus, you can enjoy a healthy physique at the same time.

Camellias Are Shade-Loving Plants That Prefer Morning Or Filtered Sun

Camellias are shade-loving plants that prefer morning or filtered sun. The sasanqua varieties can tolerate the most sun. Camellias aren't comfortable with salt-laden air and are prone to sulk even in protected places.

Just apply plenty of water to your tree throughout most of the year and especially during the growing season and summer months. The best time to fertilize the camellia is after it has finished flowering. Also a second application should also be made to it during the later part of the summer. The best time to repot the plant is after it has finished flowering and it's probably best to do this every 2-3 years. Use an acidic soil when doing this as the camellia grows most healthily in this environment.

Finally there are some pests you need to look for. Vine weevils are a problem during the repotting season so take special care during this time, especially during the spring months. Greenfly and aphids can be a real pain and you can normally spot them with your own eyes and pick them off with your own hands. You also might have them if you start noticing ants on your plant. If they become a major problem get a can of insecticide and spray your tree gently.

The high content of these two substances contribute to the penetrative power of camellia seed oil capable of permeating deeply into the lower layers of the skin to significantly enhance the beneficial effects of elastin and collagen, thus restoring the skins elasticity and considerably improves skin texture by the elimination of fine lines and small wrinkles.

Since camellia seed oil is very similar to skin oil, it works in synergy with skins own natural system to nourish cell membranes and accelerate skin rejuvenation. Human skin will not reject these substances thus boosting its ability to utilize them and hence replenish itself, restoring moisture balance to dry skin, softens wrinkles and tiny age lines and reduces and heals scars.

Camellia shrubs and trees prefer light or heavy shade for growing, and pine trees or flowering magnolia trees are the perfect companion plants for the Camellia shrub. Full sun will burn the leaves of a Camellia shrub except for interior leaves and no one wants a plant looking like that in a landscape garden. The discovery of the plant hormone, gibberellic acid, with its accelerative growth effect on individual flowers of the Camellia became an important method of winning prizes at Camellia flower shows. A normal Camellia flower, teacup size, could be treated with a drop of gibberellic acid at an inferior (lower) bud, and the teacup size flower would continue to grow to the size of a dinner plate. This treatment process has become important in treating other plant products to increase growth size of flowers, fruits, leaves, and in rooting hormone mixtures and seed germination.

A unique characteristic of both the Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua is the beautiful and spectacular bloom-drop circle that forms beneath the tree, surrounding the plant after older flowers fall and shatter on the ground. The glow of the fallen petals in the circle increases as the season progresses and many gardener's view the bloom-drop circle as fanciful and beautiful as the fresh flowers remaining on the tree. The Camellia Sasanqua is often and commonly called simply, Sasanqua. The Sasanqua flower colors of red, white, pink, purple, and peppermint are the same colors, but smaller than the Camellia japonica blooms. The Camellia Sasanqua can grow 16 feet tall and blooms earlier (October to March) than Camellia japonica. The leaves are a glowing waxy green and evergreen with a slight curving habit. Single red, white, or pink flowers of Sasanqua are preferred by most buyers, but double flowering Sasanqua is stunning when in full bloom. The Sasanqua provides a perfect specimen landscape plant that will tolerate full sun, and is most often used in Zone 6-9 as a privacy hedge for screening out noisy neighbors.

Unforgettable Perfume Osmanthus Rotten In My Mind

The first time i know a flower, its perfume i will remember forever. It was in my high school one october day, when i walked along the path one perfume make me sink and latter i found it is Osmanthus. Years later i went to another city to further my study and said goodbye with Osmanthus too. But i have loved it so deeply,everything concerning Osmanthus will become my favorite no matter it is perfume or food with seemingly taste.

Osmanthus is derived from the Greek word Osma, meaning "fragrant", and Anthos, meaning "flower". Discourse and public gardens also grown as a background, or separation, because of being everygreen. But it can be planted in positions distributors smell the garden, under the window, and spice garden. Its flowers are used, infused with green or black tea leaves, to create a scented tea called gui` hua- cha' In Chinese cuisine, the flowers are also used to produce osmanthus-scented jam, sweet cakes,dumplings, soups, and even liquor.

Osmanthus is one of the 10 famous flowers in China and Taiwan. low growing and easy in cultivation, Osmanthus makes a good container plant. In the ground it can grow into a small tree or shrub that will take a wide range of conditions, from full sun to shade. Bloom Time in Late Winter/Early Spring. In autumn, winter and early spring white flowers cover the shrub. It also blooms sporadically throughout the summer. The flowers are white, pale yellow, yellow, or orange-yellow. Fruit tree that looks like cranberry beans, but difficult, is used for eating garden birds.

Osmanthus differs from other flowers a little sweety and  its light perfume seems no shape.It will not make you sneeze. So do not be worried about that you are allergy to flowers.

Ageratum Is Excellent For Boarders And Edging Of Your Garden

Ageratum is a plant that repels insects and nematodes. It is widely used in traditional medicine by various tribal cultures wherever this plant grows naturally. It acts quickly and effectively for topical turns. The Brazilian Drugs Central recommends this herb as an anti-rheumatic. Ageratum is used by some alternative medicine communities for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant treatments due some of its properties.

Ageratum is a genus of about three dozen plants, all annuals from the tropics. Ageratum grows quickly to form compact mounds of foliage, covered with blossoms most of the summer and fall growing season. This plant is short but showy. The blooms are striking colors of blues, whites and lavenders.

Ageratum, also known as floss flower, is a beautiful annual that is excellent for boarders and edging of your garden. This half-hardy annual produces fluffy, long-lived flowers in blue, pink, white and bicolor such as blue-white. The ageratum grows in small compact mounds that are covered with clusters of flowers all summer long. The main species grows to a height over two feet but dwarf varieties that grow to a height of six inches are available. This article will discuss how to grow ageratum.

The ageratum can survive in a range of locations. It is native to Central America and Mexico but it can prosper from Florida all the way to Ohio. USDA ranges from Zone 5 to 10. However, the plant is done when the frost hits. Locate ageratum in a sunny spot for the best results. The plant id a sun lover but those in Zones 8 or above should give the ageratum partial sun. The soil should be a well-drained and enriched with rotted manure of compost well ahead of planting. When using containers use multipurpose compost and ensure that there is good drainage.

Ageratum can be bought from most major nurseries or garden centers in cell packs of young plants or they can be started from seed. Seeds should be started indoors in 3.5 inch pots in February or March. Cover the pots and keep at 70 degrees Fahrenheit for about a week. Remove the cover when seedlings appear and move the plants to a cell tray with multipurpose compost when two leaves have been developed. Harden off the plant outside after the last frost. Tall varieties should be spaced at 12 to 16 inches apart and 4 to 6 inches apart for dwarf varieties.

In the summer months the ageratum needs water but be careful not to overwater. Overwatering can cause root rot. Fertilize the ageratum fortnightly to maintain strong growth or mix a long release fertilizer with the compost prior to planting. Spider mites and powdery mildew are the main problems for this plant. Most insect problems can be effectively treated with insecticidal soaps while fungicide can be used to treat disease problems.

The flowering season for ageratum lasts from early summer to the first frost. Remove flower heads or deadhead when flowers are spent to ensure continued bloom. The blooms are very fragrant and will attract bees and butterflies to your garden. You can also collect seeds from the plant by allowing the flowers to dry out on the plant. Once dry remove the flowers and collect the seeds.

As you can see, it is not a difficult assignment to grow ageratum. With the proper location, soil and light, water and fertilizer, as well as, watching out for the insects you will grow the most spectacular ageratum plants that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.

Solution For Your New Flower Bed Edging Ideas

Flower bed borders give flower beds the perfect polished look, that any gardener aims for. They add to a garden's style and landscaping. Flower bed edging not only provides the flower beds with good visual appeal, but they also provide for easy maintenance and the cutting down of mowing time. Flower bed edging also keeps grass from occupying the flower garden soil. Flower bed edging ideas know no boundaries and can be as innovative and funky as your imagination lets them be. Yet, I present some popular landscaping ideas for your flower beds, in the paragraphs given below. These landscaping ideas are fairly simple and even an amateur gardener can successfully experiment with them.

Plant Edging

The most obvious and also the most traditional way of edging your flower beds, is by using plants. These plants can be flowering plants, perennial herbs, shrubs or even small trees. Plant borders should be large enough to catch the eye, yet small enough to not require heavy maintenance. While wide plant borders look good with flower beds with tall flowering, layering and variations in their shapes give the garden a nice overall look. Plant flower bed borders with tall foliage, also provide for privacy and can be used near garden benches. Asters, geraniums, chrysanthemums, day lilies, tulips and other flowers make for bright flower bed edging material. Herbs like sage, keep the cats away from your flowers and give the perfect hedge-like flowerbed borders. While mixed herbs and shrubs look good as borders, climbing vegetation like clematis and ivy also give a good feel.

Mowing Strip

Mowing strips are the ultimate solutions for all those who have less time to spend on gardening. Mowing strips are flat surfaces surrounding the flower beds, that make mowing and maintaining the bed and lawn easier. Brick mowing strips can be made by almost fully burying the bricks, just outside the flower bed. Only one side of the bricks should be showing outside, and all the bricks should be aligned properly with no spaces in between. Brick paver edging strips can be used to hold all the bricks in shape.

Rock Lining

If you do not wish to do any extra work and yet require an effective flower bed border, rock linings are your sure answers. Lining the flower beds with rocks and boulders, in natural shapes and sizes, can actually do the trick for you. It does not require any laying and just needs someone to arrange the rocks in the required stylized shapes. Rock linings look natural and classic when the flowers in the garden are bright and tall. There is a great opportunity for creativity when working with rocks, as one can easily mix and match the sizes and shapes to create patterns like waves, loops and scallops.

Eccentric Edgings

Are you eccentric enough to think differently? Try the recycled bottle edging. Collect bottles, of preferably the same sizes and shapes. Bury them either neck down or bottom down (as you like), consistently, throughout the flower bed perimeter. You'd be amazed at how beautiful this seemingly nonsensical idea looks, once the whole perimeter is completely lined. Similar things can be tried with large seashells. Try scallops or shells, the outcome is sure to be interesting and different. Don't lay constraints on your imagination. Try out new eccentric ideas on a small patch, carry them on to your garden only when the testing result is appealing. Try colored pebbles, I am sure they'd look good too.

Edging with Cobblestone

Cobblestones remind me of old castles. They remind me of horse hoofs making clocking sound on old cobbled roads. Nostalgia aside, cobblestones give a very rugged look to the flower bed edging. They look classy and are easier to keep clean as well. Flowerbed edgings with cobblestones, are very popular, as they require no extra gardening skills like the plant edgings do. The only drawback is that they are very difficult to lay down.

Terracotta Tile Edging Idea

Terracotta tiles (that come in different colors) can be cut in different decorative shapes and sizes. These are then partially buried near the end of the flower bed to form your perfect flower bed landscaping idea. Terracotta tiles cut down on edging and trimming chores, provide an artistic opportunity and look extremely decorative in your flower garden. Let your imagination run loose and come up with new and innovative designs for using them. Then, even plain old terracotta will make your garden look surreal, right out of a fairy tale.

Edging with Diagonal Brick

The raw material for this type of edging is mainly bricks. Even old mismatched bricks can be used to look really nice if arranged well, leaning in one direction, to give a domino effect. Though red bricks give a classic effect, even colored ones can be used to customize your flower bed edging. The best advantage of this type of edging is that it is very good to let off the excess water in the flower bed, and it is very easy to lay down as well.

Edging Made of Cast Concrete

Cast concrete edgings give a very neat and clean look to the flowerbed, and this can be seen in the photo given at the top of the article. Not only do they give the flower bed a more professional look, the raised concrete edging platforms provide for good water vents for raised flower beds. Concrete edgings are difficult and messy to construct, but the task can be made a whole lot easier if an expert is hired to make them. They can be made in various shapes and sizes, customized to suit your flower garden.

Flower Bed Edgings Using Flagstones

The space between the lawn and the flowerbed can be impeccably separated using a flagstone or bluestone stacking. Not only are they a secure form of edging, but they also provide an English country feel to your flower garden. Since the flagstone rocks are aligned loosely, they provide for water let outs as well. Flagstone linings make mowing easier.

There are many more flower bed edging ideas that you can try in order to adorn your garden as well as the exteriors of your house. Make your flower bed the most talked of gossip in your neighborhood. The above mentioned flower bed edging ideas, can materialize in some admirable flower bed borders that complement your flower bed design. Do try them, they do not require as much effort as you think. More importantly, just imagine how jealous your next door neighbor will be, when she actually spends twice as much time in her flower garden, yet yours is the more enviably talked about one.

Colorful Impatiens Flowers Hues To Your Garden

If you are keen to add character to your garden and create a swish landscape design, here is an opportunity to do so. Opting for Impatiens flowers would be a wise decision on your part. Your garden should perpetually remain green, but it also craves to get crazily colorful. Impatiens flowers colored in striking shades will give your garden the look that you wished your garden could achieve. Your garden would thank you deeply for doing such a colorful favor!

Lay your hands on some hardy yet colorful facts about Impatiens flowers. Here they are:

• Impatiens flowers are aboriginals of Eastern Africa and bloom in abundance throughout North America.
• It is a popular annual that provide a dash of color to your garden throughout the year, thus being an active bearer of flowers in all seasons.
• In scientific nomenclature, the flower is called Impatiens Walleriana. The common name for this plant is 'Busy Lizzy'. This is, however is a strange case of identity where the scientific name adorns the cap of predominant usage, eventually becoming a common 'scientific name.
• Impatiens don't encourage a frequent feed of fertilizers. To witness a prolific growth pattern of flowers, it is suggested that the soil assumes complete dryness in between the watering cycles.
• The foliage has a thick, bulky appearance that promotes a phenomenal flower burst.
• The height range oscillates between 8 to 21 inches and the mature spread ranges between 12 to 18 inches. As it is an annual plant, the bloom begins with early spring until winter strikes. It requires intermittent watering cycles and should be ideally planted in shaded or partially light deprived areas.
• Impatiens could be used for making hanging flower baskets. They also serve as garden borders or ornamental plants and bedding plants.
• Impatiens flower bloom in variegated colors, vibrant reds, soft yellows, baby pinks, rich purples, and creamy whites. All in all, Impatiens flower colors are to die for!
• Well drained soil fortified with the properties of humus encourages foliage that is rich and thick.
• Impatiens flower care includes trimming off a small part of their botany. The method of pruning their stems will also prove purposeful. This will give the foliage an overall look of freshness.
• Impatiens glower essence is used to relieve pain. Impatiens instead of morphines possessed a supreme power to heal and relieve pain. Its magical properties of healing were discovered by a famous authority on medicine by the name of Dr. Bach in the year 1928. its essence also helps one to get rid of irritability, impatience, mood-meter swings, and oscillating behavior patterns. It is also a helpful remedy that assists one to deal with stressful and tension filled situations.

Impatiens flower diseases are of two types: bacterial, and fungal.

• Impatiens bacterial disease causes sudden withering, decaying and collapsing stems of the plant and a yellow tint on the underside of the stem. These are indicators that the Impatiens are affected by bacterial infections.
• Impatiens fungal disease causes brown colored bumps and spots on the stems and leaves, decaying stems with yellow pigmentation on the foliage. These are signs that point toward the plant being invaded by a fungal disease.
• Get rid of the plant as soon as possible by using garden tools. Wash the garden tool with hot water and bleach to remove the disease.
• A good spacing strategy and effective weed control measures can prevent Impatiens flowers from countering bacterial and fungal diseases.

So what are you waiting for? Splash your garden with colors that are vibrant and full of life. Keeping in mind, these pointers, facts and the given taxonomy of the Impatiens flowers, caring for them and seeing them bloom, is indeed, not a far-fetched idea!

Chrysanthemums Flower Is A Gentleman

Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus (Chrysanthemum) constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.

Chrysanthemums are broken into two basic groups, Garden Hardy and Exhibition. Garden hardy mums are new perennials capable of being wintered over in the ground in most northern latitudes. Exhibition varieties are not usually as sturdy. Garden hardies are defined by their ability to produce an abundance of small blooms with little if any mechanical assistance (i.e., staking) and withstanding wind and rain. Exhibition varieties on the other hand require staking, over-wintering in a relatively dry cool environment, sometimes with the addition of night lights.

The name Chrysanthemum is derived from the Greek words, chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower). The Chrysanthemum flowers bloom in various forms, and can be daisy-like, decorative, pompons or buttons. Chrysanthemum blooms come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and in a wide range of colors. In addition to the traditional yellow, other popular colors are white, purple, and red. 

The genus once included more species, but was split several decades ago into several genera, putting the economically important florist's chrysanthemum in the genus Dendranthema. The naming of the genera has been contentious, but a ruling of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature in 1999 changed the defining species of the genus to Chrysanthemum indicum, restoring the florist's chrysanthemum to the genus Chrysanthemum.

Chrysanthemums thrive in fertile, well-drained soil and full sunlight. They grow from cuttings or root divisions. They are either annual, lasting only one year, or perennial continuing to live from year to year. Gardeners like to grow chrysanthemums because of their variety of size, shape and color. The 3000 varieties in cultivation may be divided into two main types those that are cultivated in a greenhouse and forced for winter bloom and hardy varieties that grow outdoors and bloom in late summer and fall. All chrysanthemums bloom outdoors if they are protected from frost.

The only species of economic importance are certain forms of pyrethrum, Chrysanthemum coccineum. Their flower heads are the source of pyrethrum powder, an insecticide.

Make Your Mom Happy For Flowers

Not anything brings more happiness on the face of your dear ones than to see a wonderfully arranged bunch of flowers on answering the door bell! Whatsoever be the event, flowers bring marvelous happiness and are the perfect way to say that you actually care. So be sure that you order an attractive bouquet for that exceptional event well in time. Mothers Day Flowers Delivery can be made to make your mom happy. Flowers express a thousand words. There are flowers going with every event and they just add incredible enthusiasm and fascination to the event. Whether it is, they are definitely the portent of bliss.

Perhaps the best effect of flowers on our traditions can be seen on Mothers day flowers Delivery, an event which celebrates love and revolves around the concept of giving flowers to your loved ones. The event is truly a flower festival and surely the best time of the year to communicate your feelings. Do it with a lot of elegance and charm with the help of Flowers Delivery UK services. Mothers Day can be not whole without flower bouquets. It is just the sweetest and the most innocent gift that you can offer to your mother. A wonderful collection of orchids will certainly enlighten the day of the individual and make him memorize this special gift all his life. The worldwide florists deliver these attractive flowers along with appropriate gift baskets comprising soft toys for Mothers Day Flowers Delivery.

Mothers Day flowers are the greatest gift to bring bliss into the life of the most extraordinary person in your life. A beautiful collection of roses, daises and Lilies will bring tears of happiness to your mother's eye and you certainly do not want to miss that! The flower worldwide delivery permits you to send these attractive flowers to your mother from anywhere in the world. Mothers Day Flowers Delivery thus can make your mothers day most memorable.

Mothers Day Flowers Delivery is the best way to express your best regards to your mother on this special day. The sense of achievement achieved on carrying out one year of your marriage must be celebrated with dazzling champagne and an attractive bunch of flowers. The flowers in fact adore and adore Mothers Day but the reality is that you do not need any particular event to give flowers. So you can catch your mother completely uninformed by sending her surprise flowers and actually make the day for her. Flowers are perchance the only thing in the world which is by your side in good times plus in bad times. Thus, Mothers Day Flowers Delivery help you make your mom happy.

This Brief Is Based On Growing Gladiolus

The gladiolus is an easy-to-grow flower, especially valued for use in floral arrangements. Gladioli produce tall spikes of large blossoms, in a rainbow of colors. Only clear, true blue is missing; white, pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, salmon, and even green gladioli are available, along with many bi-colors.

"Glads" grow from corms (bulb-like structures) that are not winter-hardy in Minnesota. They must either be dug in September and stored until planting time the following May, or replaced annually. Some gladiolus experts recommend treating them as annuals because you are more likely to get large, healthy blooms each year that way, and you don't have to fuss with storing them.

Planting LayoutIf you are growing glads primarily for cut flowers, you may want to plant them in rows, as you would vegetables. It is easier to prepare the area, stake and tend the plants, and harvest flower stalks when they grow in neat rows.

Glads can also be used to provide color in annual beds and borders, though they are very stiff and upright and a bit awkward to work with. Plant gladioli in groups of seven or more corms of the same cultivar (cultivated variety) for best effect.

SiteChoose a location in full sunlight. Although newly purchased corms are ready to bloom and should flower even in the shade, flowers will be larger and brighter and stalks will be sturdier when they're planted in sun. The glads will also be able to store more energy for the following year's bloom, which is critical if you plan to re-use your corms.

Well-drained soil is essential for successful gladiolus growing. If your soil is heavy or tends to be wet, create raised beds for your glads (and most other annuals, perennials, and bulbs). Whether or not you garden in raised beds, loosen the soil to a depth of ten or 12 inches. Fertilize, if necessary, according to recommendations based on a soil test.

PlantingStart planting in mid-May, then again every two weeks through mid-June. This schedule will keep the flowers coming form July through August. You could also choose early, mid-season, and late cultivars, plant them all in May, and still enjoy continuous bloom for much of the summer. The final strategy to extend bloom time would be to plant different sized corms. Larger corms bloom somewhat earlier than smaller corms of the same variety.

Corms smaller than ¾ inch in diameter may not produce flowers. To ensure large-sized blooms, plant corms that are 1¼ inch or larger in diameter. Choose corms that are relatively tall and plump, shaped like a chocolate kiss, rather than wide and flat. Thick corms produce good quality flowers.

Plant corms with the pointed side up, about four times as deep as their diameter. Measure the distance to the bottom of the planting hole, then plant the corm. (A one-inch corm would be planted four inches deep, a 1¼-inch corm, five inches deep, and so on.) Space the corms six to eight inches apart.

Label your corms and put in stakes or other support structures when you plant them. Gladiolus flower spikes blow over easily in the wind. If you stake them first thing, you can avoid the likelihood of damaging their roots with the stakes.

Summer CareApply a layer of mulch such as straw, grass clippings, or pine needles to help keep weeds down. Pull or hoe any weeds that come up. Mulch will also help conserve moisture in the soil, cutting down on surface evaporation. Adequate rainfall or watering is still needed for best quality blooms, so be sure your glads receive an inch or water each week, if possible.

Cutting for BouquetsBring a sharp knife or florist's shears and a tall bucket of lukewarm water to the garden with you. Cut the flower spikes first thing in the morning or at night, not during the heat of day. Cut spikes with only one, two, or possibly three flowers open; the rest will open in order, up the spike. Allow at least four leaves to remain on the plant if you wish to re-use the corms.

Cut diagonally through the stalk and place it in the lukewarm water immediately. Once you've collected all the glads you want cut, put the bucket in a cool, dark place for a few hours so the blooms "harden off". Use floral preservative in the vase water before arranging the glads. As lower flowers fade, nip them off. Cut about an inch of stem off the bottom of each spike every few days.

StorageDig gladiolus corms once the foliage has been killed by frost. Shake off excess soil and sort the corms by cultivar. Cut the stem off just above each corm. "Cure" corms for about three weeks in a warm, dry, airy place. At this point, the corms you planted in spring will easily break off the bottoms of the new corms that developed over the summer growing season. Discard the old, spent corms and save the new ones. Leave their husks intact, and treat them for insects if they appear infested. (See "pests" following.)
Place the new corms in paper bags, cloth sacks, or nylon pantyhose legs. Store them in a well-ventilated place that's dark, dry, and cool. Ideal storage temperatures range from 35° to 45° F; the cooler the better, as long as they are not allowed to freeze.

When you dig the corms, you'll notice a number of miniature corms attached to the main one. These are called cormels. They should be able to bloom in two or three years if you save them and replant them each spring. Save the largest ones, at least ½ inch in diameter. Plan to plant them about 1½ to 2 inches deep.

Pests
Glads are susceptible to a number of diseases and are prey to insects, as well. To minimize the chance of disease or insect problems, always start with sound corms. Toss any that look odd or feel soft or crumbly. Practice "crop rotation" if possible, planting glads in different locations from one year to the next. If plants are yellow or stunted assume the worst--virus infection, for which there is no cure--and destroy them.

If the leaves appear streaky, or if flowers fail to open or are misshapen or streaked and discolored, the problem is probably thrips. Thrips are tiny insects that overwinter on stored corms. They use rasping mouthparts to feed on gladiolus foliage and flowers, often while the flowers are still in the bud. Spray the plants when you first see damage, using acephate (Orthene and others) or carbaryl (Sevin). Repeat according to label directions if damage continues.

The best way to control thrips is to treat the corms as they go into storage. There are several methods you can try, including keeping the corms cool enough. At temperatures between 35° and 40° F, thrips will not survive.

Beautiful Pansy Flowers That Resemble Butterflies

Pansy flowers have another name for viola tricolor. This flower blooms in the fall and spring. Usually Japanese people really like pansies. Pansy flowers have a variety of sizes. Anyone has a diameter of 3 cm, there is also up to 10 cm. This flower is almost like a butterfly.

Usually pansies have multiple colors in each flower, there is usually 3 colors. Pansy flowers have a dominant color is purple, yellow, red, orange, light blue, dark blue and orange. You can get the pansies in a nearby flower shop at a price not too expensive.

Pansy flowers will only last a few days, and will wither. To grow, you need a shady spot. These flowers do not like hot places. Below we provide images of beautiful pansies. Pansies almost resembles a butterfly. Welcome to explore our website and hopefully fun.

Violas and pansies are irresistible with their cheeky little flowery faces. I enjoy looking at their different colour patterns and trying to work out possible parents. I love what my designer bees do to pansies!

es, pansies are edible and are healthy for you too. Pansies contain Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Pansies will make beautiful colorful garnishes for many vegetable dishes, salads, sandwiches and even desserts. Because of the beautiful and varied colors of the sweet little pansies, they can be matched to just about any tablescape you may want to create for a summer luncheon party or an evening dinner party.

Pansies are from the viola family just as their cousins; the violets, violettas and "johnny jump ups" are too. These are just a few of the many edible flowers that we have on our planet, but they are the ones that we will be sharing recipes about here. Pansies are my favorite because I just love how they look with their little bright, happy, smilin' faces. They are so pretty and cheerful that you can't help but smile when you see them.

These plants have big hearts. They appear in the toughest places and can flower at all times of the year.

Some of my favourite pansies in the garden are either blue, or yellow, or combinations of these colours. I conscientiously collect and label seed each summer. My colour descriptions are quaintly precise - for example, how could I forget the 'light blue top yellow bottom maroon blotches' ones?

Spring flowers are what everyone looks forward to seeing. From the Crocuses that bloom at the very beginning, to the many different perennials, such as peonies or poppies, that finish blooming at the end of spring.

Some of the flowers listed below grow both during spring and summer. People love when the flowers of spring begin to bloom, because they know warmer weather is on the rise.

There is nothing like walking through a beautiful garden full of brightly colored, beautiful looking and smelling, springtime flowers. This is one of the busiest times for gardeners.

With all the different types of flowers for spring to choose from, one must decide how they want to arrange their garden: by color, style, (meaning bulbs or perennials), or even just your favorites.

They come in many different bright and beautiful colors. The main colors of flowers planted during this season are: red, pink, orange, yellow, blue, purple, and even white.

If you are planting white flowers, be careful of where you plant them. Some white flowers that are planted in the early spring can turn brown due to frost.
Tulips are a beautiful flower to plant, and remind everyone that Easter is on the way. They come in colors such as, pink, orange, yellow, and white. You could have a whole garden on tulips alone. Beautiful!

Spring is the time to plant perennials. Perennials grow in late spring, through early summer. Some examples of perennials are Lily of the Valley, Geraniums, Candytuft, and Forget-Me-Nots.

Flower Bulbs are also popular among spring gardens. Crocuses are a very popular type of bulb to plant for spring. Spring flowering bulbs are usually planted in the fall and then grow in the spring. They are planted in the fall because they need the cold in order to grow.

Spring is also the time to get your summer annuals started. Some great annuals to start planting towards the end of spring are, petunias, marigolds, and nemesia.
Another wonderful sign of spring is the many wonderful trees that grow flowers. I know I love to ride down a street full of beautiful cherry flowering trees. All that pink just reminds me that my favorite season has arrived.

There is definitely a lot to think about when it comes to what flowers for spring to plant. Review the many different flower names we have listed below, and have fun picking out your spring garden!

Facts And Information About Tiger Lily

Most of us refer to the flowers in this picture as an Orange Lily, or a Tiger Lily. But, some people call this Day Lily a "Ditch Lily". It's because this  prolific wildflower is commonly found in ditches around a wide area of America.

There is much confusion about Tiger Lilies. An oriental variety is very similar. The major difference is that the oriental Tiger Lily propagates through a bulbs that forms at leaf axils. The common wildflower Tiger Lily  is a profuse propagator by means of tuberous roots. Both varieties have edible roots and have been used for medicinal purposes. We will focus the remainder of this article on the wildflower variety.  

Do you want to know about tiger lily flowers? Yes! This name sounds strange. Actually tiger lily is an orange flower having dark spots on its petals. These flowers have sweet fragrance and have various other names like ditch lily, Wood Lily, Leopard Lily and Oregon Lily etc. Here in this post, I have collected some facts about tiger lily flowers. If you are interested in knowing about these flowers, then this post will be of great interest for you.

Growing Requirements

These flowers are not difficult to grow at all. All you need to do is to keep the soil wet since tiger lily flowers like dampness. This flower produces bulbs instead of seeds which can be planted in the fall for having mid-summer blooms.

These flowers don’t require to be fertilized. They only need fertilizers if you are planting them in somewhat poor soil. Unlike other bulb flowers, tiger lilies require winter cold to grow healthily. While planting bulbs of tiger lilies, you must make sure that the distance between them should be from 9 to 12 inches. Moreover bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep in a sunny location.

Types of Tiger Lilies

There are two types of tiger lilies named:

• Common wildflower
• Oriental

Wildflower type grows from tuberous roots while oriental tiger lilies are planted by bulbs and they are dug up later and then they are divided.

Other Characteristics

• Bloom size of tiger lilies is from 4 to 6 inches long
• These flowers are 3 inch wide
• Flowers have bright orange or red color having black spots on the petals with six stamens
• Since it stands tall, it makes a beautiful backdrop to garden area
• This plant creates leaves having a width of 2 inches

Interesting Fact

Bulbs of these flowers are dug up and are boiled and then eaten by Americans. This practice is also common in other oriental countries. They taste like potatoes and are commonly used in Chinese dish moo shu pork. Brown pear dessert dish is also prepared from tiger lilies by placing the bulbs inside a pear along with sugar. Then they are steamed and eaten.

These were some basic and interesting facts about tiger lilies. I hope that this post will urge you to grow these flowers in your garden.

Straw Flowers In Hanging Baskets

Strawflower is a tall herb grown for its yellow, orange, red, or white flowers. It is cultivated as an annual— that is, for one growing season. However, the straw-flower is actually a perennial and thus can live for more than one year. The flowers are dried and used in winter bouquets. The strawflower belongs to a group of plants called everlastings.

All everlastings have flowers that last a long time when dried. The strawflower originated in Australia, and is now grown in Europe and America. It grows 3 feet (91 centimeters) tall.Scientific classification. The strawflower belongs to the composite family, Asteraceae or Compositae. Its scientific name is Helichrysum bracteatum.

For something a little different but certainly dramatic consider planting a hanging basket of Strawflowers.Planted alone or mixed in with other annuals strawflower look great and perform well in hanging baskets and hanging planters.

Native to the Australian Outback, Strawflower is a flower with many names. It is also known as a Paper Daisy or an Everlasting Daisy.Botanically they are called Bracteantha bracteata or Helichrysum bracteatum.Don’t despair if you can’t find these plants at your garden centre they are easy to grow from seed – see below.

Great in hanging baskets and excellent as a dried flower for floral arrangements you may become hooked on this great plant.Strawflowers like warm, dry conditions so hanging baskets are ideal for them.While Strawflowers grow best in full, direct sun they also can be grown in semi shade / morning sun positions.

Strawflowers grow to a height ranging between eight and thirty-six inches and will spill over the edges of your hanging basket or hanging planter.Strawflowers are available in dwarf varieties as well as taller varieties – we recommend the choosing taller varieties for your hanging baskets.

We often see instructions “Water occasionally” or “will withstand drought” – we recommend to water well, then to let your hanging basket just dry out before watering it again.

While your strawflower will survive drought conditions it will shrivel up and take time to recover - and your basket will not look great.

For the healthy happy plants, Strawflowers need moist, but well drained soil, they don’t like “wet feet” nor do they do well left without water for several days.

For large flowers and plenty of them - Strawflowers should be fertilized every other week with a low phosphorus fertilizer.

To keep your hanging basket of Strawflowers looking their best you must feed them and most important you must deadhead the flowers regularly to keep the plant(s) looking good.

Deadheading actually encourages continuous blooms.Strawflowers have a long blooming period, from the middle of summer until the first frost.Consider growing strawflowers in your hanging basket if you want annual flowers that will draw lots of attention from your friends and family.

The colors of strawflowers are unique and extremely vivid so your baskets will draw lots of comments.Strawflowers are available in various shades of yellow, orange, tan, red, pink, purple, creamy white and also available in unique bi-colors.

One Gardener wrote of Strawflowers.”The colorful blooms of strawflowers shimmer in the sunlight, and they appear to be coated by fine satin varnish.”

“The beautiful blooms of strawflowers are offset by narrow green leaves on tall graceful stems. The leaves of some varieties of strawflowers are grayish green and extremely eye-catching”.

Yes it is true people love strawflowers for both their lovely foliage as well as the beauty of their brilliant annual blooms.Strawflowers have an added bonus - they work very well as a dried flower.

For dried flower arrangements it is often recommended that Strawflowers should be cut just as they begin to open, then dried head down, hanging by the stem in a dry, shaded area for a couple of weeks.

For the brightest colors hang your Strawflowers upside down in a dark and well-ventilated place.
After drying take them, untie the flowers and use them in floral arrangements in a position away from direct sunlight.

As they tend to be brittle – often their bright flowers as used as in the photo above.
Propagating Strawflower from Seed.Strawflowers are easy to grow from seed. So if you’re searching for strawflowers to grow in your hanging baskets and can’t find any don’t despair - grow them by seed.

Amaryllis Referring To The Bloom

Amaryllis is a genus of plant that has only one species, the belladonna lily (Amaryllis belladonna). Many lily like plants of the same family, however, are commonly called amaryllis, including the daffodil, snowdrop, tuberose, century plant, and more than 1,000 others.

The belladonna lily, which is native to South Africa, grows from a bulb. Its stalk is 18 to 30 inches high. It is topped by a cluster of 6 to 10 trumpet-shaped flowers which grow about 3 inches long. The fragrant, six-petaled blossoms are typically rose red, but they may be pink, purple, or white striped. Long, narrow leaves appear after the flowers wither.

The plants in the amaryllis family have long stems and many long, narrow leaves. The flowers are made up of six petals, and they may grow in clusters or as a single blossom. Some of the amaryllises are especially fragrant more than half of the amaryllis family are grown from bulbs. The remaining plants are grown from cons or rhizomes.

The belladonna lily is a popular amaryllis that blooms from August to October. This lily-like plant grows from a bulb. Its stalk is 18 to 30 inches (46 to 76 centimeters) high. It is topped by a cluster of 6 to 10 flowers. The fragrant blossoms are usually 3 inches (8 centimeters) long and may vary in color from rose-red to white. The narcissuses and snowdrops are other popular members of the amaryllis family.

Tall stemmed, with trumpet-like blooms, the amaryllis symbolizes radiant beauty. However, Greek mythology has it that the flower got its start from a shy shepherdess, who pierced her heart and created a crimson flower.

Amaryllis was a shepherdess who loved Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' strength and Apollo's beauty. However, Alteo only loved flowers. He'd often said that he would only love a girl who bought him a new flower. So, Amaryllis dressed in maiden's white and appeared at Alteo's door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a golden arrow. When Alteo finally opened his door, he found a crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's heart.

The word "amaryllis" comes from the Greek word "amaryssein," which means "to sparkle," referring to the bloom. Today, the amaryllis symbolizes pride, determination and radiant beauty--the kind that emanates from an inner source and flowers outward.

Beautiful Orchid Flowers As Structural Make-up

Orchid flowers differ from the majority of flower species in both their pollination systems and structural make-up; the male and female parts of the orchid are actually fused together and located to one side of the flower.

Orchids come in all colors except blue and black, and have flowers, depending on the variety, from the size of a pinhead to the size of a pie plate. Some leaves are thick, some are thin, some are tiny, some plants, such as the Vanilla Plant, grow over 15 feet tall.

About 80 percent of orchids are from the tropics in both the New World (Central and South America) and the Old World (Asia and Malaysia). A smattering can be found in North America and Europe.

Orchids have a reputation as being difficult, if not impossible, to grow, especially without a greenhouse.

Orchids are extremely popular as house plants, garden plants and corsage plants and can today be found all over the world. Some people believe that orchid care is very tricky to keep, but the truth is that even novice plant keepers can reach great success as long as they chose the right orchids and are prepared to do some reading.

The orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants and there are over 20,000 accepted species of orchid. The exact number varies depending on which classification system you use. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew in the United Kingdom lists 880 different genera and almost 22,000 species, and several hundred species are added each year. Since orchids are so tremendously popular in the floral trade, horticulturists have also created over 100,000 orchid hybrids and cultivars.

By providing these plants with proper orchid care, you can make them last for years and years to come and offer you new delicate blossoms each year. Some orchids can even be coaxed into blossoming more than once a year, while others will retain their flowers for several months if provided with the right kind of orchid care.

Six very important aspects of orchid care are watering, nutrients, light, temperature, medium, and repotting. On this site you will therefore find detailed information about recommended water habits, proper fertilization, how to find the ideal light combination, how to mimic the natural orchid habitat climate, which type of potting medium to pick, and when your orchid should be repotted.

Sunflower Wallpaper

Some folk see a Sunflower as a flower. Others, see it as a vegetable. It is, of course, both a beautiful flower, and a great vegetable! Healthy, nutritious and attractive, Sunflowers have it all. That is probably why sunflowers have spread from their native home in North America, and are now grown around the world!
As homeowners, we adorn our yards and gardens with our choice of dozens of sizes and varieties. We use it to attract birds to our homes. We also enjoy eating the seeds. They are high in protein. Sunflowers are popular as a cooking oil, too.

Sunflowers are also great for kids. The seeds are big and easy to handle, and they require minimal attention. Kids like to grow big things, so a sunflower fits the bill. The end product is not only eye appealing, but makes a great snack. We put Sunflowers, along with pumpkins, as the top two plants for kids to grow.

Varieties of Sunflowers:
There are many types of sunflowers. And, gardeners like to grow a wide variety of them. Sunflowers are basically separated by size. The giant varieties grow over ten feet. Regular sunflowers typically grow from six to ten feet. Miniatures are gaining in popularity as borders. They are very popular in Asia, and grow two to four feet.
Some varieties of sunflowers have one big head or flower. They are usually the giant sunflower varieties. Other large headed varieties, have a few much smaller heads that form on lower branches. Some varieties have multiple heads. These are typically mid sized sunflowers, and are perfect for flower gardens in attracting birds.

Sunflower seeds are usually a dark brown to black, or large, grey and white striped. The latter is the most popular for eating due, to their large size. Don't worry over selection. The birds will eat ample quantities of both, and so will you. Whether you are feeding the wildlife or not, there are plenty of wildlife that enjoy sunflower. They include all sorts of birds of course, squirrels, and rodents.
Giant Sunflowers - Many people find growing these to be addicting. A giant sunflower can be either a very tall plant, or an enormous flowerhead.
Tithonia, or Mexican Sunflower- Grow 4-6 feet tall, with daisy-like flowers. Blooms summer to fall.If you have a pet hamster,mouse, gerbil or bird, adding a few sunflower seeds in their diet as a nice treat.
The sunflower is indeed a remarkable flower. It's brilliant colors, it's towering height; they exude a sense of cheer and a reminder of summer. This page is dedicated to the enjoyment of their wonderful blooms.
You'll find sunflower pictures to enjoy, and to purchase if you wish, as well as some tidbits to help you enjoy them in your own yard or home. Take a look around the page and your day may be better for it!