Archive for the Summer Category
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 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 14, 2009 with No Comments
Most of us are feeling the heat at this time of year, but the lantana is having a field day. The summer heat only makes this vivid flower bloom in overdrive. While other plants are drying out, it is at its peak.
In southern climates, these flowers grow in dense thickets and start climbing into trees and growing into shrubs, while northern climates get to see a more moderate version.
The lantana is able to bloom in four seasons, it produces a large quantity of berries, which birds spread far and wide. This truly is a flower that is ideal for heat and drought, while filling gardens and wild lands with colour.
The blooms of lantana are really incredible, which makes it one of the most popular and most heavily bred flowers in South America.
[Via: The Seattle Times]
Posted on August 10, 2009 with No Comments
Flowers are truly blooming their best at this time of year. There are beautiful colours, scents and textures to be found in the garden. It is not all that difficult to bring this beauty indoors and to make it last through the last months of summer and autumn.
There are some measures you can take to make sure that you bring the best out of your beauties.
Flowers should be picked early in the morning or late in the evening — at these times of day flowers are not stressed by the heat and their stems are fully hydrated.
As you gather the flowers, you should have a bucket of water with lukewarm to put them in. The stems should be cut with a clean knife or pruners at an angle, allowing the stem to take in a greater amount of water.
After all of the flowers have been picked, the stems should be re-cut under water, and foliage should be stripped from the stems.
Finally, the vase you put them in should be clean, and the water at room temperate. Ensure that the arrangement is placed out of direct sunlight.
[Via: brantfordexpositor.ca]
Posted on July 16, 2009 with No Comments
Summer flowers are one of the most beautiful things you can decorate your home with. However, it is important to pick out the flowers that suit you the most and give the most impact.
Everyone likes to make their home beautiful with flowers, but at the moment it can be expensive to allow ourselves this privilege. There are some things we can to achieve the results without spending a fortune.
One way to really save money is to buy and plant flowers that are in season.
If you visit your local farmer’s market (usually held on weekends) you will find in season flowers at great prices. If you go at the end of the day, growers will give you the best and lowest prices.
By using vases and containers that you have at home, you can save a lot of money and make your flower displays more interesting and creative.
Finally, remember that it is summer so your design should be fun, easy and casual!
[Via: ABC]
Posted on July 15, 2009 with No Comments
If you are looking for a luxurious flower to decorate your summer wedding or party, the lisianthus is a great flower to consider. For any garden-type celebration, this flower is perfect as it can be combined with many types of flowers like roses and hydrangeas in anything from bouquets to table decor.
There are both single and double flowers available and a variety of colours to choose from.
For starters you could try to create a bouquet in water using white lisianthus, mixed with blue hydrangea, pale pink roses and a stock of able blossom. Place them in a glass vase lined with some bigger pieces of foliage. This bouquet can be used as a centerpiece. It is a good idea to use some kind of patterned linen to place the vase on, as solid colours will probably draw the eye away from the beautiful bouquet.
The lisianthus is also a very durable flower and does not need any special attention. For summer looks, it is a good idea to choose the paler varieties of this flower, but lisianthus can be used for decoration in almost any season as it is available all year round.
[Via: examiner.com]
Posted on July 10, 2009 with No Comments
If you are looking for lilac blooms that last and last, your dreams have just come true.
There is a new variety of lilac called Josee and according to experts it will bloom all summer long. The first blooms in spring are, of course, the most eye-catching. But it continues to bloom at intervals throughout the warm months of summer.
The blooms of this plant have more of pink shade, which create a really beautiful contrast with the dark green, heart-shaped leaves of the plant.
This is not the only type of lilac that blooms repeatedly — Miss Kim is another similar type of plant. This variety differs in the fact that it blooms quite vibrantly in the spring, and then once more during the summer. They do not bloom in between the way that the Josee does.
[Via: canada.com]
Posted on June 15, 2009 with No Comments
Daisies are a great choice for any gardener for many reasons: they are easy to grow even for beginners, they spread so you can share them or use them elsewhere in the garden, and they are immune to disease. Moreover, this variety is also great because it attracts bees and butterflies and when cut it lasts for quite a long time.
A seven-year study was done recently on the Shasta daisy by the Chicago Botanic Garden. This daisy has a beautiful yellow eye and bright white petals, making it a favourite. The researches found that it grows best with bee balm, catmint, sage and ornamental grasses.
This type of daisy also likes well-drained soil in full sun, and needs to be deadheaded regularly as this will help them flower longer.
Other popular types of Shasta daisies are Amelia, Becky, Filigran and May Queen.
According to the botanical garden study, the most popular type of Shasta daisy is the Becky as it is dependable and sturdy.
[Via: dailypress.com]
