Archive for August, 2009
Posted on August 29, 2009 with 1 Comment
Your garden may be looking a bit drab at this time of year and if you are looking for something to brighten things up for autumn, try introducing some pots or containers with some new flowers.
Bill Calkins from Simply Beautiful Flowers says, “Just as bright, lively varieties fill our flower beds and containers with cheer in the spring, autumn-coloured flower selections can add beautiful elegance to a home and accent the landscape as the colours begin to change.”
“Fall is a great time to experiment with texture and colour in your container gardens. While mums and asters can be spectacular and classic in a autumn container garden, there are lots of other choices that will last beyond the first frost. Try combining different heights and forms, or go simple and pot a single dramatic plant in a beautiful container.”
Go to your local garden center to see what is available and from there you have a world of choices. It is up to your creative time to make something beautiful out of your end of summer garden.
[Via: cleveland.com]
Posted on August 28, 2009 with No Comments
The Rose-of-Sharon is a fairly large summer blooming shrub that can reach up to 12 feet and spread just about as wide. It is a very adaptable plant, growing easily in most soil conditions, with the exception of extremely wet or dry.
The foliage of this plant leafs out fairly late in the spring, but stays green long into autumn, with very little yellow colouring.
However, what really attracts gardeners to this shrub is the beautiful large white, red, purple and blue flowers it produces, from the end of June to early July. If the plant is well cared for, sometimes the flowers bloom long into September. When this plant is at its best, the entire shrub can be covered with flowers.
Many gardeners get frustrated with this plant as it often fails to bloom or drops its buds, but the great thing about it is that even if it has a bad year, the next year Rose-of-Sharon can produce some amazing flowers. Patience is basically the most important aspect of caring for this shrub…
[Via: New Ark Advocate]
Posted on August 27, 2009 with No Comments
Mid august has arrived and many are wondering which flowers are growing in the garden. There is a world of flowers to choose from, perennials and annuals alike. Here are just some of the flowers that can be found at this time of year.
- The Black eyed Susan is a common favourite, and now they can be found in different varieties than the usual yellow daisy with a black center. You can now find ones with coloured petals, and green or yellow centers, and there are variety of sizes to choose from, as well.
- Meadowsweet is a wildflower that is currently in bloom, but it has also been cultivated to produce different colours and sizes of flowers.
- Hydrangeas are popping up in gardens, too. The blue variety is at its peak and is quite a traditional flower that has been neglected in many gardens — but it is seeing a comeback.
- Goldenrod is also a wildflower that grows amply on it’s own, and there are cultivated varieties which are a bit smaller than the wild kind, but grow better.
- Asters are just starting to grow, and they are great choice for any flower arrangement because of their light and very delicate nature.
Finally, it’s worth point out that there is no need to feel at a loss for flower choices as there is a world of them out there starting to bloom.
[Via: examiner.com]
Posted on August 26, 2009 with No Comments
Most of us have been worrying about gift ideas for some time now, as pockets are getting emptier and emptier. But what has been forgotten is that homemade gifts or gift wrapping often hit a heart-string with most people, and they cost very little.
Using dried flowers and herbs to make gifts is a wonderful and inexpensive idea, and it will definitely express how you feel about friends or family.
You can try making a gift box enhanced with flowers. You can buy or dry your flowers at home and both ways are cheap — doing it on your own will only take a bit more time.
The next step is to find a reusable cardboard box, preferably one that is made out of a more heavy type of cardboard. One idea is to find a box that held notes, cards or soaps. Use some craft paint to paint it the colour you like — this is where you can get really creative. Afterwards try gluing ribbons or anything else you might find suitable to the box.
Finally, you can start adding your dried flowers to the top of the box – it is best to use a hot glue gun to this, and make sure you do not overdo it. Once you’re finished, you can place the intended gift in the box. This gift box will surely get more appreciation than ordinary gift wrapping.
[Via: Star-Telegram.com]
Posted on August 25, 2009 with 1 Comment
For years gardeners who plant bulbs have really stuck to the saying “strength in numbers.” Planing masses of bulbs together to create an impact of colour at the end of winter and early spring.
But plant and flower design has started to evolve and one Dutch landscape architect has decided to create less of an impact and to give his bulbs a bit of space.
Coming up with new combinations of tone of and colour Jacqueline van der Kloet has been choosing her bulbs carefully and planting them between a scattering of perennials.
Sally Ferguson, spokeswoman for the Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Center says, “Jacqueline’s idea of liberating tulips and other bulbs from drifts is radical. Perennials become the bones. The underlying tulips, daffodils and other flesh out the early growth with their subtle colours.”
She is not the only one who has caught onto this idea, many landscapers have been using bulbs in a more natural way. Most bulbs originate from Asia, where they grow in solitude in mountainous areas, and this trend in gardening is really bringing them back to nature.
[Via: freep.com]
Posted on August 24, 2009 with No Comments
In August, Californians really start feeling the heat. Many escape the cities to go fishing or someplace cool, and not many are thinking about gardening.
But many towns are still in full bloom.
Most gardeners feel that this time of year is not worth the hard work, but there are many flowers that are at their best in the heat. Mopheads have beautiful creamy blossoms, which start to droop elegantly at this time of year, and they change into a rosy pink by the end of September.
The sturdy Rose o’ Sharon is also a great choice as this shrub can grow just about anywhere and they really start to bloom at this time of year.
Butterfly Bushes are also a favourite with many. The flower have a “bottle brush” look and a beautiful purple colouring. The shrubs they grow on are rather unruly, but once the flowers start blooming and the butterflies begin to arrive – it all becomes worthwhile.
Finally, Black-Eyed Susans are dependable and often taken for granted, but at this time of year when not much feels like blooming, it is a welcome guest in any garden.
[Via: The New York Times Blogs]
Posted on August 22, 2009 with No Comments
Zucchini flowers will catch just about anyone’s eye, they are a bright yellow and most market shoppers have been tempted to buy them at least once or twice. The only problem is that most people don’t know what to do with them.
One way to deal with them is to deep fry them, them mix flour and water together to make a batter. Afterwards the flowers should be dipped into the batter and fried until they are crunchy.
You should choose the flowers that are tightly closed, they are the ones that were picked earliest in the day, and they are the leas likely to be full of bugs.
If you don’t want to use them right away they should be refrigerated. If you don’t want to try them fried they can be cut up and used for filling in risotto or quesadillas.
[Via: myfox8.com]
Posted on August 21, 2009 with No Comments
Cynthia Daniel has become a household name in East Dallas, she is well-known for her artistic work. Her large backyard is full of tree flowers, which she creates herself.
She visits garage sales nearly every weekend searching for materials, often surprising people with her enthusiasm for seemingly useless merchandise.
Where her friends see junk she sees art, even a broken wheelbarrow temps her artistic eye. The flowers she creates can fool even the best of us as – they seem to grow on the trees she puts them on.
These tree flowers are becoming ever more popular especially in Texas. They have won several awards at state fairs, so if you want your garden to have an especially artistic and modern touch try to make a tree flower of your own out of something deemed to be junk…
[Via: examiner.com]
Posted on August 20, 2009 with No Comments
Scientists in China have discovered that the raindrop might have played a far more important role in the evolution of the flower than we can imagine.
Research showed that among nearly 80 different species of flowers, many of the shapes and structures developed to keep pollen from getting wet, whereas other types of flowers solved the problem by developing pollen resistant to water.
Many flowers rainy areas either have droopy petals or close them when it rains, which may be a result of this kind of evolution.
Though researchers like Darwin had some idea of this kind of evolution, there was no conclusive research done in this area until now.
One of the researcher at Shuang-Quan Huang of Wuhan University says, “Animals as well as ourselves like to be sheltered when it rains. We were wondering how flowers reduce rain effects on pollen grains given that plants are immobile.”
[Via: BBC]
Posted on August 19, 2009 with No Comments
The lotus flower is not only one of the most famous flowers in the world, it is also one of the most beautiful.
This flower produces nourishment, medicine and natural chemicals, it was a part of the everyday lives of indigenous people and is a subject of intrigue for scientists today.
It was a symbol for many religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, representing reincarnation and being a part of lessons in ideal conduct. The fruit and flowers of this plant can be found in many pieces of artwork through the ages.
Many lotus viewing festivals take place in Japan at this time of year, and lakes, tubs and paddyfields are full of the blooms of this plant. There will be many opportunities for tourists not only to view the flower but taste it as well.
Finally, lotus is a vital part of the Japanese diet in its seed and blossom form. As the middle of this month nears, most of these flowers will be harvest and the beauty of the lotus flower will be brought into Japanese homes.
[Via: The Guardian]
