Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Canada's National flower

White Trillium
(Trilliium grandiflorum) Ontario chose the trillium as its provincial flower in 1937. This white flower grows in the forest in the springtime. It is called the trillium because it has three petals and three leaves. The “tri-“ part of trillium means three.
The trillium is also the logo of the Ontario government. Its white blossom is associated with peace and hope.
Did you know?
Trilliums are sometimes called “Wake Robins” because they appear at the same time robins return for spring.

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Famous quotes

“The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.”
― Abraham Lincoln

“A garden should make you feel you've entered privileged space -- a place not just set apart but reverberant -- and it seems to me that, to achieve this, the gardener must put some kind of twist on the existing landscape, turn its prose into something nearer poetry.”
― Michael Pollan, Second Nature: A Gardener's Education

“When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.”
― Herophilus

“The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don't want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don't have a soul.”
― Thomas More

“Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.”
― Rudyard Kipling, Complete Verse

For more quotes go to the website shown below.
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/gardening

Why garden?

Why garden? Many people think that gardening is a waste of time. I strongly disagree about this, gardening is more than just what it might appear. To me gardening is fun, peaceful and can be quite relaxing. Seeing the accomplishments and improvements of your garden over time are quite rewarding!! If you take care of your garden it makes it that much more rewarding. Its something that you can do anytime of the day, something to do on the weekends. Not only does gardens improve the look of your house but its a popular thing and can be for any age levels.

Friday, 14 June 2013

Shrubs

With so many different types of shrubs available, choosing a shrub for your yard takes more than just deciding on a color. You need to take many factors into account, such as climate, soil preference, sunlight, size, shape and surrounding foliage. Some shrubs need lots of sun and some need a well-draining soil. Some shrubs grow very fast and need space between them. Some shrubs produce flowers or berries. Some are evergreen and some are deciduous.

Evergreen Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs retain their leaves all year. Evergreens are the choice of most landscapers because they make useful hedges that can be trimmed to the desired shape and height, and many are attractive specimen plants as accents. Evergreens do best when planted in climates that are not extremely sunny or windy. Evergreen shrubs include azalea, boxwood, privet, holly, arborvitae and many others.

Dogwood Shrubs

Dogwood shrubs make good property borders; their dense growth blocks out wind. Dogwoods do best when planted in full sun, but can thrive in partial shade. They have showy and attractive stems and flowers ideal for birds and wildlife to feast on. Dogwoods prefer moist soil and need plenty of water. Varieties include Ivory Halo, Huron, Red Twig and Kelsey.

Hydrangea Shrubs

Hydrangea shrubs have a long blooming period, which makes them popular with gardeners. The plant produces large flower clusters in blue, pink or white. The large oval leaves have a slightly heart-shaped appearance. The lobed leaves resemble an oak leaf. Hydrangeas are deciduous; that is, they lose their leaves in winter. Hydrangea shrubs include Pink Diamond, Princess Beatrix and Nikko Blue.

Juniper Shrubs

Juniper shrubs grow low and some make an ideal ground cover. A few varieties produce berries. The leaves vary from dark to light green and blue-green to silver-blue. Be careful not to prick your fingers on the needle-like leaves. Junipers are evergreens that prefer full sun. They are drought tolerant and can be damaged by over-watering. Varieties include Andorra, Bar Harbor, Golden Pfitzer and Blue Rug.

For more information
read more at: Types of Shrubs | Garden Guides http://www.gardenguides.com/67822-types-shrubs.html#ixzz2WFLN2hqP

Thursday, 13 June 2013

Gardening Tips, hints, tricks and facts

Hey, here are some interesting tips, hints, tricks and facts and to help you with your garden.

50 Tips, Hints, Tricks and Facts for Natural Gardening

Pest management begins with healthy soil. It produces healthy plants, which are better able to withstand disease and insect damage.
Organic fertilizers are safer than chemicals. Chemical fertilizers may, in time, build up salts.
Apply compost to your garden about two to four weeks before you plant, giving the compost time to integrate and stabilize within the soil.
New beds need soil amendments and double digging for that extra starting kick.
Soak finished compost in water to "brew" compost "tea," a nutrient-rich liquid that can be used for foliar feeding or for watering plants in your garden, backyard, or houseplants.
Specimen plants which need a warmer climate zone than you have do well in sheltered, south-facing walls. The wall acts as a solar collector, absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at night, creating a small zone that is warmer than the rest of the garden.
Begin deep watering your trees and shrubs in the spring if you don't get a soaking rain every 10 - 14 days.
Outdoor potted plants and baskets are the only plants that need daily water on the hottest, driest days of the summer.
Once a seed sprouts it must be kept watered. If it dries out, it dies. If seeds are lightly covered with soil, they may need to be gently sprinkled with water once or twice a day to keep them moist.
When planting in clay soil, cover seeds with vermiculite instead of clay. Clay absorbs heat and may bake the seeds and stop germination. Clay also forms a top crust, forming a barrier for the young seedlings.
Throw a handful of finished compost in the hole for a flower or vegetable transplant before transplanting. The compost gives the transplant a bit of an extra boost that lasts throughout the season.
Check moisture in container plants often with your fingers. Potting soil is often lightweight and dries out quickly.
Short on space but like vining vegetables? Train your squash, melons, and cucumbers onto a vertical trellis. Support the fruiting vines gently and thoroughly.
Watering is necessary when transplanting, but be careful not to over water.
Water your gardens and plants in the early morning or dusk to save water. Watering during the heat of the day burns plants and increases evaporation and loss of water.
Picking off flowers frequently encourages most annuals to flower more abundantly.
To continue blooming, container plants need large amounts of nutrients and water. Since water tends to wash out the nutrients, use finished compost or a good organic fertilizer as top-dressing.
Whenever possible use natural and organic fertilizers such as compost. Chemicals build up toxicity in soil, which leaches into drinking water.
Botanical insecticides are plant derivatives, and can be more toxic than some synthetics. They are, however, better in the long run because they break down rapidly and do not accumulate in the food chain as synthetics do.
Morning sun is more beneficial than afternoon sun.
Fertilize before a rain whenever possible.
Transplant seedlings to larger containers after they have grown 2 pairs of leaves.
Don't use garden soil as potting soil in containers. Its quality and texture is variable; it may drain poorly or be too loose and drain too quickly. It is also more likely to contain diseases, weed seeds and insects.
When choosing plants for your yard or garden, analyze your specific sunlight, soil, and climate first. Choose plants accordingly.
Water well before and after applying mulch to give your landscaping a good beginning.
Use a color wheel to find neighbors and opposites. Begin with a color wheel to design a beautiful, purposeful garden. Avoid simply throwing colors together but put a little time into planning.
Soak bare root plants in water for several hours to prepare them for planting after their dehydration.
Prepare beds for annuals and small plants by working in plenty of organic material, layer mulch on top, then gently stick the transplants through mulch to the appropriate depth.
Garden hydrangeas' color can be manipulated with the soil pH. Pink and red hydrangeas turn blue and purple in acid soils, while blue hydrangeas turn pink in alkaline soils.
Late spring and early summer is the best time to side-dress with compost your rapidly growing plants. Gently scratch the compost into the soil, taking care to start it about an inch away from the stem.
Do not fertilize during the fall or the winter.
In general, thinner leaved plants need more water to stay alive, thicker leaved plants need less.
Beneficial insects are attracted to your garden by coreopsis, feverfew, and sweet alyssum.
Egg cartons make excellent seed starters. Punch a hole in the bottom for drainage, fill with potting soil, plant your seeds and watch them flourish!
Cinnamon makes an excellent natural fungicide. Mix in your potting soil when planting seeds to prevent damping off of the seedlings.
Compost is not a fertilizer. It builds up organic matter in the soil.
Coffee grounds make excellent mulch around acid-loving plants.
The longer the growing season, the more compost is needed in the soil. A longer growing season requires more nutrients and organic matter in the soil.
Mulch prevents weeds.
Use newspapers as weed barriers when creating a new bed. They are printed with soy ink and decompose nicely, and are simple to lay out again when decomposed. Don't use slick colored advertisements or colored pages .
A five percent increase in organic material quadruples the soil's ability to store water. This is especially important information in dry climates.
Make compost tea by mixing equal parts compost and water and let it sit. Pour this liquid directly onto the soil around healthy, growing plants. Dilute this to 4 parts water to 1 part compost for use on smaller seedlings. Any compost that hasn't gone into solution can be used to make more tea or used in your garden.
Test any old seed you have stored by germinating it between moist paper towels. This saves precious time and effort.
Gently brush your hands across your tiny seedlings several times a day. This stimulates them to grow slightly slower, resulting in stronger, sturdier stems.
Control powdery mildew with milk. Dilute 1 part milk in 9 parts water and spray on the plants.
Cleanliness is absolutely necessary in gardens and greenhouses, especially when starting seeds. Clean your flats or pots with warm soapy water and sterilize before reusing.
Avoid using railroad ties in or around your vegetable garden; the chemicals used as preservatives are now thought to be toxic and harmful.
Caffeine is a natural herbicide. Tea and coffee grounds make excellent compost, but don't add too much.
Keep dirt out from under your fingernails by scratching a bar of soap before beginning. When you're finished, wash your hands thoroughly. The soap will wash cleanly out of your nails.
Less than 2 percent of the insects in the world are harmful. Most are beneficial.

For more information check out this website: http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/natural-gardening

Helpful garden tips and advice!!

Here are some helpful tips

1. Let all your planning ahead be for your plants;  a year ahead for annuals, two years ahead for the biennials, an indefinite number of years ahead  for the trees. — Christopher Lloyd

2. Walk through your garden to scout for insects and diseasesat least once per week; caught early, problems are easier to treat. — Stephen Westcott-Gratton

3. Try to get a plant in the right place the first time around. Given the proper conditions, the plant will be happy and you’ll save yourself a lot of transplanting work. — Karen York

4. Never plant trees that will become large with age too close to your  house. — Stephen Westcott-Gratton

5. Consider your garden private territory. Critics are not welcome! Be honest about  what you want, and don’t be concerned with what others may  see. If you like woody plants, design a four-season shrub border. Besotted with peonies? Make  a peony walk. Grow plenty of what you love; you don’t need an excuse  for excess. Are there ever too  many rose petals? — Judith Adam

6. Set your lawn mower blades at 7.5 centimetres or higher, and allow your  lawn to go dormant during periods of drought. — Stephen Westcott-Gratton

7. Light in a garden is a quarter of the battle. Another quarter is the soil of the garden. A third quarter is the skill and care of the gardener. The fourth quarter is luck. Indeed, one might  say that these were the four Ls of gardening, in the following order of importance: Loam, Light, Love and Luck. — Beverley Nichols

8. Don’t be afraid of change. Gardens, and gardeners, are always evolving. It’s part of the process  so step in boldly and revamp that rockery, yank out those overgrown shrubs or transform that border into a veggie garden, a pond,  a knot garden—wherever your imagination takes you. — Karen York

9. Always spend five minutes doing some warm up stretches and bends before undertaking strenuous garden work, and never do one task for too long at a time. — Stephen Westcott-Gratton

10. Climbers are among the most useful plants in any garden. They take up little ground space, and they can be employed for many purposes: to clothe a boring fence, to scramble over a dead tree, to frame an archway, to drape a wall, to disguise a shed, or to climb lightly onto a pergola. They demand comparatively little attention, once they have taken hold of their support, maybe a yearly pruning or a kindly rescue if they have come adrift in a gale. — Vita Sackville-West

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Garden Quotes

Rain, Roses, Trees

God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
Francis Bacon

God, Human, Garden

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.
Gertrude Jekyll

Trust, Patience, Teacher

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.
D. Elton Trueblood

Life, Human, Start

Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors.
Oscar de la Renta

Another, Playing, Relax

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.
May Sarton

Nature, Patience, Help

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
Alfred Austin

Nature, Heart, Soul

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.
Gertrude Jekyll

Rain, Roses, Trees

God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures.
Francis Bacon

God, Human, Garden

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.
Gertrude Jekyll

Trust, Patience, Teacher

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.
D. Elton Trueblood

Life, Human, Start

Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors.
Oscar de la Renta

Another, Playing, Relax

Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.
May Sarton

Nature, Patience, Help

The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.
Alfred Austin

Nature, Heart, Soul

The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.
Gertrude Jekyll

1. Gardening is an instrument of grace" (May Sarton).

2. "You are the kind of FRIEND who would overlook my broken fence to admire my flowers."

3. "The less help you have in a garden the more yours it is".

4. "We come from the earth.
We return to the earth.
And in between we garden."

Monday, 10 June 2013

Did you know?

Here are some neat facts that I have found.

1.Most variegated plants are actually mutations!
Chlorophyll is the green pigment needed for photosynthesis. In variegated leaves, the cells that are genetically unable to produce this pigment appear white; some pigments in the mutated cells can produce pink or yellow. These interesting and attractive plants are prized by most gardeners, and highly cultivated by nurseries. A variegated plant will grow more slowly because of its reduced ability to produce food energy.

2.There are more than 2,50,000 species of flowering plants in the world.

3.In earlier times the juice from bluebell flowers was used to make glue.

4.As the name suggests, Moon flowers bloom only at night closing during the day.

5.Gas plants produce a clear gas on humid warn nights. It is believed that gas can be ignited with a matchstick.

6.Angelica was used in Europe for hundreds of years as a cure for everything from the bubonic plague to indigestion. It was thought to ward off evil spirits.

7.The Agave, also known as the century plant spends many years without growing any flowers, after which it grows one single bloom and dies.

8.Bamboos produce flowers once every few years. And when they do, all flowers of the same species bloom at exactly the same time.

9.Inter flora is the world’s largest and most recognised flower delivery service, supported by a network of 50,000 florists worldwide, delivering to approximately 150 countries

For more facts check out this website for more facts.
http://sharpexblog.com/2012/02/15-interesting-facts-about-flowers/

Sunday, 9 June 2013

Article

This is an article that I found very interesting. Hope you enjoy as well. This study was based on how salt stops the growing of plants.

Article | January 30, 2013 - 4:49pm

Washington, D.C. —Until now it has not been clear how salt, a scourge to agriculture, halts the growth of the plant-root system. A team of researchers, led by the Carnegie Institution’s José Dinneny and Lina Duan, found that not all types of roots are equally inhibited. They discovered that an inner layer of tissue in the branching roots that anchor the plant is sensitive to salt and activates a stress hormone, which stops root growth. The study, published in the current issue of The Plant Cell, is a boon for understanding the stress response and for developing salt-resistant crops.
Salt accumulates in irrigated soils due to the evaporation of water, which leaves salt behind. The United Nations estimates that salinity affects crops on about 200 million acres (80 million hectares) of arable land and not just in developing countries, but areas such as California as well.
As Dinneny explained: “An important missing piece of the puzzle to understanding how plants cope with stressful environments is knowing when and where stressors act to affect growth.”
Roots are intimately associated with their environment and develop highly intricate branched networks that enable them to explore the soil. The branching roots grow horizontally off the main root and are important for water and nutrient uptake.
The scientists grew seedlings of a laboratory plant (Arabidopsis) that is a relative of mustard using a custom imaging system, which enabled them to measure the dynamic process of root growth throughout the salt response. This ability to track root growth in real time led the scientists to observe that branching roots entered a dormant phase of growth as salt was introduced. To determine how dormancy might be regulated, Lina Duan surveyed the role of different plant hormones in this process and found that Abscisic Acid was the key signaling molecule.
“We are familiar with how animals use a fight or flight strategy to face external challenges. While plants can’t run for safety, they can control how much they grow into dangerous territory,” commented Dinneny. It turns out that Abscisic Acid, a stress hormone produced in the plant when it is exposed to drought or salty environments, is important in controlling the plant equivalent of fight or flight.”
To understand how Abscisic Acid controls growth, the investigators devised a strategy to inhibit the response to this hormone in different tissue layers of the root. They developed several mutants in which the response to the hormone was suppressed in different root layers. They found that a significant portion of the salt response was dependent upon how a single cell layer sensed the hormone. The live imaging allowed them to watch what happened to root growth in these mutant plants.
“Interestingly, the ‘inner-skin’ of the root, called the endodermis, was most critical for this process. This tissue layer is particularly important as it acts like a semipermeable barrier limiting which substances can enter the root system from the soil environment.” remarked lead author Duan.
“Our results mean that in addition to acting as a filter for substances in the soil, the endodermis also acts as a guard, with Abscisic Acid, to prevent a plant from growing in dangerous environments,” said Dinneny.
“Irrigation of agricultural land is a major contributor to soil salinity. And as sea levels rise with climate change, understanding how plants, particularly crops, react to salt might allow us to develop plant varieties that can grow in the saltier soils that will likely occur in coastal zones.”
----------------------------
This study was conducted in collaboration with Malcolm Bennett at the University of Nottingham, U.K. Funding of the portion of this work performed at the Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory was provided by the Singapore National Research Foundation. Research performed at the Carnegie Institution for Science was supported by the Carnegie Institution.

Frequent plant questions and answers

Q: Should I move my houseplants outside during the summer?
A: Your house plants will be more healthy if you put them out in the summer. The key when moving plants outside is to check the temperatures. If your nighttime temperatures are above 50 degrees F and the danger of frost has passed, you can begin transitioning your plants outside. Place the plants in a shady spot for the first few days. Protect them from wind using screens made of burlap, shingles or canvas, or by placing them in a protected area. Gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sun.
If you are going to plant the house plants into a garden make sure you plant them either in the early morning or in the evening when it is cool. Planting them at these times of the day will prevent shock.

Beginner vegetable gardener advice

If you're a beginner vegetable gardener, here are basics on vegetable garden planning: site selection, plot size, which vegetables to grow, and other gardening tips.
Remember this: It's better to be proud of a small garden than to be frustrated by a big one!
One of the common errors for beginners is planting too much too soon and way more than anybody could eat or want. Unless you want to have zucchini taking up residence in your attic, place carefully. Start small.

The Very Basics

First, here are some very basic concepts on topics you'll want to explore further as you become a vegetable gardener extraordinaire:Do you have enough sun exposure? Vegetables love the sun. They need at least 6 hours of full sun every day, and preferably 8.

Know your soil. Most soil can be enriched with compost and be fine for planting, but some soil needs more help. Vegetables must have good, loamy, well-drained soil. Check with your local nursery or local cooperative extension office about free soil test kits so that you can assess your soil type. See our article on preparing soil for planting.

Placement is everything. Avoid planting too near a tree, which will steal nutrients and shade the garden. In addition, a garden too close to the house will help to discourage wild animals from nibbling away your potential harvest.

Decide between tilling and a raised bed. If you have poor soil or a bad back, a raised bed built with non-pressure-treated wood offers many benefits.

Vegetables need lots of water, at least 1 inch of water a week or more based on the location.

You'll need some basic planting tools. These are the essentials: spade, garden fork, soaking hose, hoe, hand weeder, and wheelbarrow (or bucket) for moving around mulch or soil. It's worth paying a bit extra for quality tools.

Check your frost dates. Find first and last frost dates in your area and be alert to your local conditions.

For more advice check out this website:
http://www.almanac.com/gardening

Thursday, 6 June 2013

Fantastic facts!

Fact #1.
Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world; it can grow 35 inches in a single day.

Fact #2.

Tomato juice is the official state beverage of Ohio, honoring the part A. W. Livingston of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, played in popularizing the tomato in the late 1800s.

Fact #3.Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that grapes were grown to make wine about 8,000 years ago in Mesopotamia (today's Iraq), although the ancient Egyptians were the first to record the process of making wine about 5,000 years ago.

Fact #4.During the 1600s, tulips were so valuable in Holland that their bulbs were worth more than gold. The craze was called tulip mania, or tulipomania, and caused the crash of the Dutch economy. Tulips can continue to grow as much as an inch per day after being cut.

Fact #5.

Vanilla flavoring comes from the pod of an orchid, Vanilla planifolia. Though the pods are called vanilla beans, they're more closely related to corn than green beans.

Fact #6.

The word pineapple comes from European explorers who thought the fruit combined the look of a pinecone with flesh like that of an apple. Pineapples are the only edible members of the bromeliad family.

Fact #7.From a botanical standpoint, avocados and pumpkins are fruits, not vegetables, because they bear the plants' seeds. Rhubarb, on the other hand, is a vegetable.

-Facts from: Better home and Garden.

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

Useful tools

Some gear that will make gardening easier are: a spade, watering can(or some source to water your plants) a fork, shears or scissors( for dead heading your plants, to help them bloom more), a edger and a trowel. These tools will not only make it faster to plant but will make your garden look like a professional did it!

Planting your garden

If you've been having a hard time keeping your plants alive, I would recommend using Bone meal when planting your flowers. What this product does is feeds your plants and give them the nutrition they need. After planting your plants you can also use mulch around your plants, not only does it make your garden stand out but it helps keep the moisture in and prevents weeds from growing.

Tuesday, 4 June 2013

Did you Know?

Fact#1. Scientists discovered the world oldest flower in 2002, in northeast China. The flower, named Archae Fructus Sinensis, bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembles a water lily.

Fact#2. Foxglove is an old English name derived from the belief that foxes slipped their feet into the leaves of the plant to sneak up on prey.

Fact#3. Dandelions might seem like weeds, but the flowers and leaves are a good source of vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and potassium. One cup of dandelion greens provides 7,000-13,000 I.U. of vitamin A.

Flower facts are from the Gardening Channel.

Monday, 3 June 2013

Fun Flower Facts

Fact #1. Roses are related to apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and almonds.

Fact#2. Flowers and plants have been used for different types of medicine for thousands of years.

Fact#3. The largest flower in the world is the Titan Arums, which produce flowers to 10 feet high and 3 feet wide.

Starting your garden.

When planting your summer garden, make sure that you read the instructions of where the proper location of the flower will grow best (full sun, part shade etc.). Plant the flower in a location based on how large it will grow, make sure you give the plant lots of room to grow. The plants information will be on the small card connected to the container, make sure you read the plants information carfully, and plant it accordingly.

Gardening tips and facts