Gentian family
Gentianaceae
Sen-tor’ree-um. A genus made up of about 30 herbs, most of them annual or biennial, widely distributed, mostly throughout the northern hemisphere.
Description
Leaves opposite, simple. Flowers pale pink to rose or red, in clusters.
How to Grow (more…)
http://www.adsence-dollar-factory.com http://www.100earningtips.com “>Give the same plants to several people, you will see several arrangements. Each one distinct and different, yet, using the same plants.
This is the ultimate reward of gardening- a means to express, to create with the help and inspiration from the gifts of Nature.
Gardening is not just physically and aesthetically rewarding. It enriches the spirit. It awakens one’s creativity that lies dormant from neglect, or lack of motivation, or a popular excuse, not enough time.
Gardening is fast becoming a popular hobby of the times. From the tropics , to the frigid climes, gardening centers are offering more choices to tantalize even the most conservative taste. (more…)
You do not have to be a plant lover to have a home garden. If you do not have the aptitude for gardening for reasons best known to yourself, you may opt to keep butterflies instead by planting a butterfly garden. It is the most natural way to add color and movement to your garden without having to use a lot of labor. Another plus to having a butterfly garden is the knowledge that you will be helping in saving these beautiful creatures from extinction.
First things first, you need to attract them. Butterflies love flowers. However big you want your garden to be is entirely up to you. It will look better though if you put it in a corner. They need to have water otherwise they will not stay in your garden long enough for you to call it a butterfly garden. Provide clean water in the butterfly garden. You may put the water in a container or better yet; a tiny pond on the ground will do.
The garden environment should be as natural as possible. If you live close to pollution of any kind then you will not be able to attract these cute creatures. Noise pollution, air pollution by insecticides, water pollution etc are some of the turn offs for the butterflies. (more…)
You’ve struggled, you’ve toiled and, at last, you are satisfied with your garden. It just couldn’t be better. But what’s this? Pests! Now you’ve got to prevent the invasion of destructive bugs in your garden. Here’s the best kind of gardening advice you can find for that purpose: Try growing companion plants.
Companion plants are very useful to gardeners or farmers. They have natural substances in them that will repel or attract insects. In specific cases, they can even increase the growth rate of plants, even improve the flavors these plants produce. Not only that but they help to bring a balanced ecosystem to the landscape. Overall then, growing companion plants will result in much healthier and productive plants and better crop production.
There are many kinds of companion plants available. If this is the first you’ve heard of them, you’ll probably be very surprised by what you’ll find. These are some examples of companion plants: (more…)
If we could garden without any interference from the pests which attack plants, then indeed gardening would be a simple matter. But all the time we must watch out for these little foes little in size, but tremendous in the havoc they make.
As human illness may often be prevented by healthful conditions, so pests may be kept away by strict garden cleanliness. Heaps of waste are lodging places for the breeding of insects. I do not think a compost pile will do the harm, but unkempt, uncared-for spots seem to invite trouble.
There are certain helps to keeping pests down. The constant stirring up of the soil by earthworms is an aid in keeping the soil open to air and water. Many of our common birds feed upon insects. The sparrows, robins, chickadees, meadow larks and orioles are all examples of birds who help in this way. Some insects feed on other and harmful insects. Some kinds of ladybugs do this good deed. The ichneumon-fly helps too. And toads are wonders in the number of insects they can consume at one meal. The toad deserves very kind treatment from all of us. (more…)
Carpetweed family
Aizoaceae
Dor-o-thee-an’thus. A small genus of succulent herbs native to South Africa and formerly included in Mesembryanthemum .
Description
Leaves opposite or alternate, forming rosettes. Flowers solitary, petals few to many, calyx 5-lobed.
How to Grow (more…)
Composting with Worms in the Winter Times
Composting worms in the winter is not quite the same as composting worms during the summer times. There are no white flakes falling to make a 3-foot thick layer of snow during the summer time. There is no howling wind bringing chills to your bones in the summer time. There is no freezing temperature threatening to freeze you to death in the summer time. And there is no need for that thick jacket that you have been hiding in the closet just for that occasion. Overall, the living conditions during winter are not the same as the living conditions during the summer time. This applies to humans as well as red wiggler worms. That is why we need to understand one very basic and important note in worm composting during the winter.
What do you need during winter? (more…)
As a species name, means “covered with stiff bristly hairs” (not soft and fuzzy). For example, the annual black-eyed Susan or gloriosa daisy, Rudbeckia hirta, bears leaves and stems that have a rough texture because they are covered with short stiff hairs.
