Plant Gardens 101

Preoccupying yourself in a hobby like gardening has grown to be a feel good hobby, that involves a considerable amount of work but at the end of the day, it can be satisfying and rewarding. Some people indulge in it as a personal therapy and others it is the time to bond with their family but one thing is sure that each hour spent on your garden will be paid back with moments of personal delight. Want to literally develop your green thumb, herewith, are some stress free gardening tips which could be your guide:

– If you think you are not gifted with a green thumb and don’t know anything about growing exotic hedge plants or rare orchids, leave them to the horticultural experts. Instead, focus on basic flowering plants or put up a small herbal garden in an area in your patio or any vacant lot.

– Expand your knowledge by reading about specific temperature, soil and proper care pertinent for your plants. You can ask your friends and relatives, who can share tips about plant care. Garden shows abound during the summer and its good time to visit, learn and be inspired. (more…)

Any of several triangular-shaped bugs that suck plant juices from leaves, stems, buds, or fruit and release a strong unpleasant odor when crushed or disturbed.

Having the pollen carried by the wind instead of by insects. Wind-pollinated plants include pines, birches, grasses, and many others.

eed a gift idea for someone who loves to garden? Think about greenhouse kits.

These greenhouses don’t take long to erect and they are well-made. They are available in different sizes and models and one can be found for almost anyone who is interested in gardening.

If you have a relative who is looking for a new hobby, easy greenhouse kits are a great idea. The whole family may want to go together to finance the gift. Think about how delighted mom, grandma or Aunt Susan would be. Easy greenhouse kits are not just for women, either. You may have a dad or grandpa who loves to garden and would enjoy a greenhouse. (more…)

As a species name, means “flowering in early spring,” as do cowslip, Primula veris, and Ozark witch hazel, Hamamelis vernalis.

Water that is applied to the soil too quickly or for too long a time and thus runs off and is wasted; fertilizer or pesticide that is washed from a field, a lawn, or garden soil into rivers or other waterways.

When you want to have your garden looking really great you think about totally revamping the garden. While there are some people who will go all out and hire expensive landscaping firms you have other routes available. These routes will include looking at suitable landscaping plants. Now this does not mean that you must buy an entirely new stock of plants in which to decorate your garden with.

Instead you can see which of your existing plants can be placed in pots or placed in clusters of a particular color or theme. The many plants that you will find in your garden are the perfect landscaping plants. Now before you start plowing up your garden, make full use of the any plants in the garden which you can move around. Also to make working in the garden more manageable, divide your garden into more small sections. (more…)

A thin twisting extension by which a plant grasps an object and clings for support; a modified stem, stipule, or leaf.

Bonsai trees have always held a fascination for me. The first time I ever saw a sizeable collection of many varieties of species was at the Longwood Gardens in the Brandywine Valley in Pennsylvania. There was a whole room filled with them with tags on what kind they were and how old they were. I couldn`t believe that a tiny little tree could be over 100 years old and not more than 2 feet tall. There were also bonsai forests, trees grouped together with little rocks covered with moss. I tried to imagine how small I would have to be in order to view them as full size. I figured I`d have to be about 2 or 3 inches tall, a mini me. But what struck me most were the odd and unusual shapes of these cultivated trees. They were more than just exotic plants, they were actually like sculptures. There was something interesting to see from any angle of the tree. All were potted in artful ceramic planters worthy of the beauty of the trees themselves.

So it got me wondering about bonsais, the origin of this cultivation process, their longevity, and just how many kinds of trees can be trained to become a bonsai. What I found out is that this kind of cultivation first began in China more than a thousand years ago and the techniques at that time were rudimentary until it caught on in Japan. There it was taken to a new level, taking on an art form that also incorporated their philosophy of harmony between man, the soul, and nature. There`s also an ancient Japanese scroll that said :”To appreciate and find pleasure in curiously curved potted trees is to love deformity”. Perfection was not at all the desired end result. The horticulturists of that time valued those dwarfed trees that had twisted and knarled formations both in the trunk area and on their branches. The best “knarling” I`ve ever seen by far were on the bonsai Redwoods. This type of tree is most popular in the California Bay area, the region of the giant Redwoods. (more…)

The botanical name for yarrow.

A perennial plant with woody stems at the base and tender new growth that dies back more or less each winter. The term is sometimes wrongly used to describe a low-growing shrub.

American pioneers from the time of the Mayflower cultivated and used herbs for everything from seasoning to cures for illnesses to making perfumes. As time went on and dried herbs became more readily available, herb cultivation fell out of practice. Current medical technology doesn’t rely directly on treatment with specific herbs. The cosmetic and perfume industries manufacture most of the lotions, soaps and perfumes. However, In the last couple of decades ethnic foods have become fashionable and people are beginning to cultivate herbs again.

Successfully growing herbs depends on properly managing the following: (more…)

A term used to describe a flower that is twisted or upside down. The vast majority of orchids are resupinate.

You want to eat healthy so you’re thinking about organic food, but the family budget is straining at the cost. What do you do? You grow your own. Growing some of your own organic vegetables is not as daunting as it may seem as long as you do a little planning ahead of time.

The two most important questions to ask are how much time and how much space you can allocate to the project. The answers usually are little time and little space. This is why square-foot gardening is becoming so popular. It is a space-saving concept that basically divides a four-foot square box into sixteen one-square-foot plots. (more…)

The botanical name for Jerusalem sage.

A pot for starting seeds, made from compressed peat. The entire pot can be planted and the roots of the seedling will grow through the walls of the pot, thus reducing any setback from transplanting.

Eventually we are all given a house plant either as a gift or a plant from someone who is moving and can’t take their plants with them, instantly giving you the basis for indoor gardening. Many times if you don’t know how to care for it the plant will wither and die. Other times people start to care for the plant and suddenly become avid gardeners.

Indoor gardens are similar to outdoor gardens, it’s just that you are caring for plants in your home instead of in your garden. A big plus to indoor gardening is that it can be enjoyed by people that live in the cities with no access to land. It is also a joyful hobby for people that are confined indoors. The real bonus is that they are healthy for us. Basically plants take in carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen (photosynthesis) thereby purifying the air that we breath. So you have attractive plants with added benefits.

Indoor gardens are ideal for people that live in hard, cold climates or for someone who lives in a climate that gets searingly hot. With an indoor garden the gardener can manipulate the environment so that their plants thrive. If it is dreary, cold and grey wouldn’t it be delightful to have gorgeous plants sprinkled around your home that not only add beauty but cheerfulness too? (more…)

Oval, with the broader end at the base.

Filling a bed with a mass of identical flowers to create an unchanging display of color or of designs. This rigid style was popular in Victorian days and is still seen in municipal plantings, some of which spell out the name of the town

Many of us buy our vegetables from supermarkets. With a little planning and some forethought it is possible to grow your very own vegetables. There are many vegetables that you can use, and there are some vegetable gardening tips that can help you to make the most out of your garden.

First off you need to decide where you will plant your vegetable plot. This section of the garden should receive at least 6 hours of sunlight. The more sunlight that your plants receive, they healthier and more fertile they will be.

For the best growth to be made, a good vegetable gardening tip is to see that your soil is a rich, sandy loam type of soil. If the plot requires more nutrients, then the addition of compost or manure will satisfy the problem. You will need to place the compost underneath and around your vegetables as well. (more…)