Plant Gardens 101

In keeping with our theme of features you can use in your landscaping other than plants, we’re now going to take a look at some more elements that aren’t generally thought of as garden decor or accents. Common and functional elements storage sheds can be accent or decorative additions to your landscape which can fill blank spots, create a sense of depth, and give your yard a more ‘complete’ and fulfilling appearance.

While objects such as sheds or lighting aren’t usually thought of as design elements, they can be. And many others not mentioned here can be hand-crafted or obtained inexpensively at yard sales and flea markets. Without further ado, here are a few more attractive and creative ways to make your yard and gardening areas more functional and inviting. (more…)

Daisy family
Compositae
Kat-a-nann’ke. Of the 5 known species of this genus, only the Cupid’s Dart is grown in the garden for its showy blue heads.

Description
Leaves mostly basal and narrow. Flowers in long-stalked heads, the rays flat and toothed.

How to Grow    (more…)

The language used to denote the scientific names of plants. In the 18th century, when Carolus Linnaeus invented the binomial system for plant classification, Latin was the universal language of scientists. In his system (still in use today) the first Latin word indicated the genus and the second pinpointed the species. Since that time, many new names for plants have been derived from other languages, especially Greek, or from the name of the place where a previously unknown plant was first found or the person who discovered or cultivated it. Whatever their origin, however, all scientific plant names are treated as Latin. Thus the redbud tree is Cercis (from the Greek) canadensis (from the place where it was first identified). The Siberian wallflower is Cheiranthus (from the Greek) allionii (after the Italian botanist Carlo Allioni).

One of the most rewarding parts of gardening is the frequent visitors combined with compliments. Visitors can be people like ourselves. The most appreciative visitors, however, are the “winged” kind…..Birds.

These feathered creatures add dimension to every part of your garden. There songs create a lovely atmosphere, and showy colors rival even your most elaborate blooms in beauty. Birds do not flock to just any garden, however, so you’ll need to know what kinds of factors birds look for in a habitat.

The relationship between the birds and your garden is a a symbiotic one.The birds give your garden a beautiful atmosphere, while the garden provides food, water, and shelter for the birds. Your garden may very well become a regular resting spot for many different species of birds if you take their needs into consideration in the creation of your garden. (more…)

A is for Alyssum, which makes a carpet of tiny blooms in whites, reds, and pinks.

B is for Begonia, which have dainty pink, red, or white flowers.

C is for Celosia, which have velvety red and orange plumes.

D is for Dahlia, which produce huge flowers in purple, red, pink, orange, or yellow.

E is for Everlasting, which annuals are not – they only bloom for one year. (more…)

Basic Styles
There are five basic styles for bonsai trees: formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, and semi-cascade. These classifications are based on the overall shape of the tree and how much the trunk slants away from an imaginary vertical axis. The numerous Japanese bonsai styles are principally variations of these five basic styles. The single trunk style is the basic design that is simplest to shape because the one trunk determines the overall composition.
Formal Upright The formal upright style has classic proportions and is the basis of all bonsai. It is the easiest for a beginner bonsai to develop because it requires the least experimentation, avoids the problem of selective bonsai tree pruning, bonsai trimming and should almost immediately become a displayable bonsai plant. In this style, the form is sometimes rounded and the bonsai tree has an erect leader and horizontal branches. One of the branches is lower and extends a little farther from the trunk than the others .

Bonsai in the formal upright style look best in bonsai pottery that are oval or rectangular. Do not center the plant when placing it in the container. Plant it about a third of the distance from one end.

Informal Upright The informal upright bonsai style has much the same branch arrangement as the formal upright style, but the top — instead of being erect as in the formal upright style — bends slightly to the front. This bend makes the bonsai tree’s branches appear to be in motion and enhances the look of informality. (more…)

Loosestrife family
Lythraceae
Kew’fee-a. A large group of over 200 species of tropical American herbs or shrubs.

Description
Leaves opposite or crowded. Flowers irregular, the calyx tubular and corolla-like, often longer than the 6 unequal petals, sometimes swollen and pouchlike, or curved at the based. In the species below there are no petals. Stamens generally 11.

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