Thursday, April 26, 2012

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

Camellias
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.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Unforgettable Perfume Osmanthus Rotten In My Mind

Osmanthus

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.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

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.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

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.