Pest Repellant Plants

By Keith Markensen

Did you know that you can grow plants in your garden that will repel pests and have other beneficial qualities? If you are an avid gardener, consider the following pest repellant plants to make your job of caring for your plants easier.

Mosquitos can be very annoying when youre trying to enjoy your garden at dusk. However, there are several natural ways to keep them at bay so you can use your garden at night. You can plant certain varieties of plants that naturally repel these pests.

Not only will these plants help repel mosquitoes that are a bother to humans, but they will also protect your other plants from different kinds of pests, keeping them from destroying your flowers and crops. If you plant them throughout your garden, they will help ensure the health of your favorite plants. Your plants will thrive without being attacked by pests, and youll be able to enjoy your beautiful garden.

Garlic has amazing pest repellant qualities. It can help to repel many different kinds of insects and other pests that can destroy your favorite rose bushes. Plus, it will keep mosquitoes and other annoying bugs away. Plant lots of garlic around your yard and garden to enjoy it as a natural pest repellant. However, dont plant it too close to your vegetables, because they can soak up the flavor of the garlic. An alternative to planting garlic is garlic chives. This plant can also work to repel pests in your garden.

The strong smell of onions has pest repellant qualities as well. If you dont like the smell of garlic in your garden, try onion instead. You can vary the types of onions you plant to add a little variety to your garden. Like garlic, onions will keep the bugs away.

In addition to the oil-producing neem plant, mint is naturally pest repellant, and its easy to grow, too. It will spread out on its own, so you only need to plant a few mint plants. However, it can be a little invasive, so plant it where it can have plenty of room to spread, or cut it back to keep it contained. Just like using herb oil, mint has a wonderful smell, and it will naturally keep bugs away from your plants.

Lemon balm is another scented plant that can be a wonderful addition to your garden. It is particularly effective against mosquitoes. You can even rub the leaves on your skin to keep mosquitoes from biting you. A fast grower, lemon balm needs room to spread and frequent trims to keep it in control.

Many other herbs and plants are also effective pest repellants. In fact, most that have a strong smell will work against pests. For a natural pest repellant that also provides a wonderful scent in your garden, try lemon-scented herbs and plants. These are much more pleasing to humans than garlic, onion, or other pungent varieties. - 1432

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Cherry Blossoms in Georgia

By Ian Kleine

The city of Macon is dubbed the Cherry Blossom Capital of the World with good reason. The streets are filled with the numerous blossoms, all from the trees in the sidewalk. The place reminds you of a modern Japanese-American themed city, as the usual-Japanese flowers float amongst modern American buildings and asphalt-lined streets.

The area is bustling and filled with Yoshino cherry trees, and every Spring, they fill the air and the ground with their pale pink petals. It is a very extravagant display of color, which leaves their audience speechless and breathless for the first time.

History relates that the cherry trees came from the late William A. Fickling, Sr. who was a local realtor in the area. He had discovered a Yoshino tree in Macon, and with confirmation after three years, had found out what the species was. Took him a trip to Washington DC just to find out the tree was actually a Yoshino specie!

His generosity and enthusiasm had urged the residents to participate in his vision of filling the whole city with the pretty cherry trees. Years passed and the vision had started to materialize. A lot of its current residents had moved to Macon just to be near the trees. One of them being Carolyn Clayton, the festival founder.

She had urged Fickling to go on with their project, and the dream became true. Through a big community effort, 500 trees were planted along the streets across Macon. The project was encouraged when they had finally proposed the first Cherry Blossom Festival.

Soon it had become one of the Top 20 events of the South, and news had begun to spread. From three days, it had reached 10 days of festivities.

The trees keep growing too, and like their number, the dreams of Mr. Fickling will live on and grow more and more. - 1432

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Chicken Batter

By KC Kudra

There are many people who prefer to cook their chicken without a batter, but there are many more who crave that crispy crunch of battered chicken. You can batter whole pieces, wings, or nuggets or breast strips... they all turn out delicious. People all over the world use batter on their chicken in one form or another. There are almost as many different batter recipes as there are chickens!

Different Types of Batter

Batter can be made with corn meal, wheat flour, rice flour, or graham flour. Ethnic chicken recipes often use different flours. Each region will have their own special blend of spices and herbs as well, giving the fried chicken a flavor that will be recognizable from that corner of the world.

An example would be a batter recipe from India that combines nutmeg, red chili powder, ginger, cloves, and curds with graham flour. This batter is used on boiled chicken meat, which is then fried until crisp. A good taste of Asia can be found by marinating your boneless chicken in soy sauce, five spice powder, onion, and garlic and sesame oil. Batter the chicken in rice flour, salt, water, and baking powder. The result is a distinctive flavor of Asia with a crisp translucent coating.

Beer batter is the one preferred by many Americans. The yeasty taste of the beer adds a tang and makes the batter light. Buttermilk also adds a tangy flavor. Just soak your raw chicken in a bowl of buttermilk before dusting with seasoned flour. This mixture will turn to a moist batter on the chicken before cooking.

There are many ways to get that crunch on your chicken. Crushed cornflakes, breadcrumbs, or crushed crackers are used by many home cooks. Others prefer wet batters that turn crisp in the hot oil. Japanese Panko breadcrumbs make a light, crispy surface. For those cooks who like a light batter, tempura is a good choice.

For those who prefer southern batter fried chicken, there are many different recipes to be found. Some are as simple as flour, salt, pepper mixed with milk or eggs. Others have a long list of herbs and spices to add as well.

How to Cook Fried Chicken

There is an ongoing debate on whether it is best to deep fry battered chicken, cook it in a cast iron skillet or use a pressure cooker. There are cooks who are devoted to their own preferences, each sure that their method is the very best. The deep-frying camp will try to convince you with the quick cooking time and lack of spatter. The cast iron camp will wax eloquent about even heating and the perfect crisp to the skin. The pressure cooker camp are not truly frying their chicken... they must brown it first, then cook it in the pressure cooker for about 15 minutes to get juicy chicken. You must be cautious with a pressure cooker... do not open it until all the pressure has been removed.

With all these options for batters, you are sure to keep busy in the kitchen for years. Enjoy your battered chicken, no matter which method appeals to you! - 1432

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Looking for a healthy tasty southern fried chicken recipe? If so why not stop by our website and scroll through our selection of tasty fried chicken recipes.

The Secret On How To Grow A Healthy House Plants

By Thomas Fryd

Lighting

Indoor house plants prefer an environment where they can get sunlight in a doorway, archway or other location. Direct sunshine for a portion of the day will happily tolerated by plants as long as it is not direct sunlight for long periods of time. Morning or filtered sunshine is ideal and bright light coming through colored or frosted glass panes makes a pretty background for a group of potted palms and can be highly beneficial to their growth. Such glass as this however, can transmit heat and this makes the plant need more frequent watering and attention to humidity needs to be added if needed. Solar films can be applied to windows to reduce heat and glare can be very important to house plants.

Humidity Needs

An indoor environment generally has low humidity and will fluctuate with considerable changes in the outdoor environment, heating and cooling. Plants do not tend to do well with low humidity though there is a wide range of responses within any given group of plants. Some species will not be tolerable of low and varying humidity and will lose their luster and seem dull and can become the victim of a pest attack such as by spider mites or mealy bugs.

The solution to low humidity is to change the environment around the plant and this does not mean you need to increase watering though the plants should not be allowed to dry out either. Many indoor palms have been killed by over watering because its leaves seem to advertise dryness. However, in fact, this dryness is a result of low humidity and cannot be fixed by increasing the amount of water a plant gets. You need to increase the humidity level around the leaves, and this will most likely be a viable solution. This can be done by putting groups of plants together so they can benefit each other. For this reason, a number of plants in each separate pot is way more successful than simply having one. Standing the pot up in a large pan of water or scoria is another useful technique for increasing humidity levels and you can also mist the leaves as well.

Temperatures

Many plants are tropical in nature and therefore do not like low temps, though some indoor species grow quite well in temperate areas. Tropical plants experiencing active growth may experience or damage from temps around 14 C. However, if they are dormant, or growing slow, they can stand lower temps. The period of time the plant is exposed to low temps also has a considerable influence. Low temps are not an issue in tropical climates, however in highland districts and temperate zones, the winter temps inside can drop to a level low enough to damage.

Homes with internal heating can avoid the issues of cold damaging indoor plants, but the resulting dry environment can also cause a lot of water loss. Indoor plants grow more slowly in the winter, not only because of lower temps but also because of a reduced light intensity and shorter daytime hours.

Watering Requirements

Though watering house plants is simple common sense, for many reasons it can create more problems and frustrations than any other dimension of plant care. Healthy plants need to be watered regularly and depending upon the prevailing temps and humidity, these two factors will determine with what frequency. In the summertime, plants can be watered daily if needed, however in the winter time their needs change. The same requirements for an indoor plant applies to plants that grow quickly, they need to be water more frequently then their slower growing counterparts or perhaps not at all, plants need more water in the summer and less in the winter. Plants in bright lighting conditions need to be watered more often because they dry out faster then a plant in a dimmer position.

Other things that need to be thought about, such as the size of the pot, what type of soil mix is being used and how full the pot is of roots and the prevailing temperature and humidity conditions. The potting mix must be allowed to drain properly, but also be able to retain enough water for the plant to be able to grow. Heavier soils can become soggy when watered and are not of any use to plants, as they only lead to root rot and growth retardation or possibly death.

Plants that are kept in drier conditions will lose the shine on their leaves and generally appear unhealthy and possibly droop. Plants that are overly wet suffer damage to the tips of leaves which will turn brown and die. If the plant suffers root damage such as from rotting of root tips, the waterlogged plant will droop and wilt because the bad roots will not be able to extract any water from the soil. Wilting in plants is not a predominant as in other types of plants.

The best watering regime will keep the potting mix in sufficient moisture and keep adequate oxygen and water which will be available for the roots to be able to grow. Regular topping off of the plant will be satisfactory but sometimes the potting mix will need to be soaked until there is water flowing out of the drainage holes. This is to ensure a complete watering of the roots and it also removes salts which may have built up from the breakdown of any fertilizers used. This process should be done outdoors on in the sink or bathtub.

In many groups of indoor plants, some of them are going to require more watering than others. It is tempting to water all the plants at one time, however this should not be done and the individual needs of each plant need to be taken into consideration. If all the plants are watered at the same time, more vigorously growing plants can dry out and the less vigorous ones will be overloaded with water.

Resting & Recuperation

Indoor house plants, just like any plant inside, will appreciate an occasional refreshing up sometimes. This may consist of hosing down the plant to wash the dust from the leaves and to refresh the plant in general. This act is very important because it removes pest build up and discourages mites, which prefer a dry environment. It is also good practice to put plants outdoors on a rainy day, but not to leave them outside in direct sunlight. Sudden over exposure can result in plants being burned up, because they are not used to it.

To help your indoor palms get a rest, move them into a shady position in the garden or bush house can be very beneficial. They are well watered, repotted and fertilized if needed and generally allowed to just recuperate and achieve new growth. Once done the plants can be moved back inside and with careful planning, you can do a series of plants in this type of cycle. Those indoors will reach their peak and maintain that state. Your plants should be moved outside for a rest period every 2-3 weeks after an initial two month period indoors.

Fertilizer Needs

Indoor palm trees benefit greatly from having fertilizer applied, but this should only be applied during the warmer months of the year when the plant it actively growing. Fertilizers that are applied during the winter time when growing is slower, to plants that may be starving or sick, will provide no added benefit and may result in the plant being burned up. Fertilizers are best when applied in smaller doses and at regular times, and the soil should be watered completely and regularly after it is applied. Quick-release fertilizer should never be added to plants that are newly potted or to those who have damaged root systems, weak or newer roots are extremely easy to burns.

There is a wide array of products that can be used for indoor fertilizer, and most will work with plants. The best fertilizers are usually mixed with the potting soil to increase initial growth and this can be supplemented with side dressings if growth needs a quick boost. Complete mixes are usually used in the potting mix and these can either be a quick or slow releasing type. Organic manure and fertilizers can be extremely helpful, but some such as blood and bone are not the best idea because they produce a bad odor and draw animals to the garden.

You can do supplementary fertilization of plants using a slow-release product, plant pills or a liquid preparation. Liquid mixes are extremely beneficial and are safer except when the plant has been over watered. A cheap and useful nitrogenous solution can be mixed by adding 1 " tsp. of urea or ammonium nitrate to a can of water. Commercial preparations have the amounts on the back of the packet and these instructions should be followed to the letter. Some nutrients can be applied through the leaves directly and this process is known as foliar feeding. This method is less satisfactory than the ones mention previously, and it is also more expensive than other root mixtures.

Pests

It is also important to mention that potted plants may have more of a susceptibility to pests than other plants that are garden grown. The three most common pests that can attack potted plants are; mealy bugs, spider mites and scale insects. Spider mites love dry conditions and are a prime pest of indoor plants. Their damage can be reduced by frequent misting or hosing with water. Mealy bugs and scale insects can be present on any tupe of palm, however they may become very severe to those plants that are compromised or neglected. Healthy plants are better able to resist pests than a weak one. - 1432

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Methods of Combating Dahlia Deficiencies

By John Simpson

My favourite trick for feeding is to use one of the commercial complete fertilisers (with a blood base) plus additional potash and magnesium. For convenience sake it is best to make this up in a concentrated form if to be used as a liquid feed, in say a 3 gallon container.

If only slightly acid, lime is not required, but if the reading is well below neutral then lime by all means. Usually a dressing of not more than 4 to 6 ounces to the square yard of hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) or a little more if calcium carbonate (ground chalk) is used, will be sufficient to bring the pH up from say pH 5.5 to a level of pH 6 to 6.5, but up to three times this quantity may be required if the pH level is much lower.

In the early stages, a two gallon can will be sufficient for say eight to ten plants, but as the plants become larger increase the quantity given to each, up to say half a gallon a plant once they start to bud up for flowering. The ground should be well watered before giving the supplementary feed if rain has not fallen for a few days.

With regard to feeding generally, it is usually done for one of two reasons, either because the soil is naturally rather poor, and thus generally deficient in plant foods, or to give exceptional results when growing for exhibition. The requirements in both cases are almost identical, that is a compound or complete fertiliser which will supply both the main plant foods and the minor elements in a balanced form suitable for dahlias.

Incidentally when testing the soil for pII value, it is advisable to make tests in different parts of the dahlia plot, as soil values often vary quite considerably within a limited area. Suspected iron deficiency can be rectified by adding sulphate of iron, at the rate of one ounce per square yard, or by iron sequestrene at the rate recommended by the makers. Magnesium can he replaced by using commercial Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) at one ounce to the gallon of water, giving each plant about a quarter of a gallon of the solution.

If it is present, if anywhere, on excessively alkaline soils; in the main it causes the tubers to be particularly prone to rot, and, if suspected, it should be corrected by watering with a weak solution of boric acid. One ounce of the powder to two gallons of water will be sufficient for say fifteen to sixteen plants, but be careful not to overdo the dosage as boron in excess will kill even dahlias. It is extremely unlikely that any other of the minor elements will not be present, either already in the soil or supplied by the materials dug into the ground, in sufficient quantity for the dahlia's requirements. - 1432

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Dahlia needs sufficient nutrients and fertilizer so that it can thrive in your garden.

Using Artificial Fertilizer on Dahlias

By Helen Dakota

Without any doubt the dahlia plant has a lot to offer to the grower who wishes to brighten the house with flowers, the smaller types being particularly useful. The wide colour range, probably greater than that of any other flower, and the variations in form and shape lend themselves most effectively to intriguing arrangements.

It is better to choose varieties especially for the purpose than to rely upon the general range of garden dahlias, particularly if space is limited. For one thing it is preferable to have varieties with long, thin and strong stems as these are easier to arrange in any form of container.

It is also an advantage to select varieties in a particular colour range rather than to make a random selection of colours which may or may not blend effectively. And, most important, the flowers should be comparatively long lasting in water.

The form and shape of the dahlias need consideration, for the ball type dahlias and the pompons tend to be a little heavy and so have a rather limited appeal, unless used carefully in the more solid arrangements, whereas the cactus and the looser petalled decoratives can be used to create quite fairy like floral arrangements.

However, if given a light feed with one of the liquid quick acting fertilisers, the plant will usually be able to assimilate these quite easily and will continue growing. Only two feeds will be necessary at most, one about ten to fourteen days after planting, the other ten to fourteen days later. Then change over to the more suitable general feed.

I think it will be as well to stress that these foliar sprays are excellent for checking a diagnosed deficiency, as the plants react so quickly that it will be soon apparent as to whether the diagnosis was wrong or not, but they have no great lasting effect. Having correctly diagnosed a deficiency and proved it by foliar spraying, it is best to apply the longer lasting chemicals to the soil to give a more permanent cure. If this is not clone, it will be necessary to continue to feed through the foliage from time to time as symptoms return. - 1432

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Garden dahlia can be used to decorate your home.

Palm Tree For Your Home or Garden

By Keith Markensen

Palm trees might remind you of the tropics, but actually there are many palms that can be grown in cooler weather. These wont be banana trees swaying in the breeze under a hot sun, but theyll still bring a bit of the tropics into your garden, or even inside your home. They are quite adaptable, and are both attractive and unique. Palm trees are easy to care for even for a beginning gardener. The variety you choose should be based on the palm trees intended location. Here are a few choices to consider:

King Palms are great shade trees for your yard. You can start tem off indoors, but they can grow very tall, so expect that youll need to transplant them to your yard after a couple of years. Indoors, they can shield smaller plants from the direct sunlight entering through your windows.

There are a few other varieties that are similar to King Palms but should not be started inside. Majesty Palms, for example, will grow to be ten feet tall in just ten years. In as little as seven years, Queen Palms can grow to be 25 feet tall, making it a bad choice to keep indoors.

If you live in a cool climate, there are still a few palm trees you can grow. In fact, there are hundreds of different species of palm tree. Among these, there are a few that adapt well to lower temperatures. Date Palms can survive temperatures as low as 18 degrees. Texas Sabal Palms and Canary Island Date Palms are a few other choices if you live in a cold climate. Windmill Palms can even tolerate temperatures as low as just five degrees.

If you want to grow a palm as a houseplant, of course, you need not worry about temperatures this cold. However, keep in mind that you can grow houseplants in containers just outside your front door, or on an enclosed porch.

Palm plants need good soil and attentive care, just like any other plant you purchase. Palm trees can benefit from a beneficial fungus such as mycorrhizal fungi, which is added to the soil. Do not use regular plant fertilizer for your majesty palm plants; they require a different type of fertilizer than most houseplants. Look for a slow-release fertilizer with 3-1-3 NPK ratios Also make sure that your palm receives enough magnesium and calcium, too. This may be already mixed into your fertilizer, or you may need to purchase it separately. Also look for a small amount of Manganese in your fertilizer, as this is another important element that your palm tree will use in small quantities.

Palm trees can have issues with salt buildup, but you can easily prevent this. Just flush with water every few hours and measure the salt content with a simple soil testing kit until the levels have been reduced. Palm trees can thrive with very little water, since they are used to the tropics. When you do water them, you can give them plenty of water, as theyre also used to monsoons.

When potting your palm tree, make sure it has a large enough pot to prevent bound roots, and good drainage. Your pot will need to be large and heavy enough to support a large palm. - 1432

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How to Make the Best Tasting Stew Recipes

By KC Kudra

Stews are very popular, especially when the weather is cool, and you want something warming and tasty. A stew is a combination of solid foods, usually meat, or fish with vegetables that have been simmered or cooked slowly in a liquid sauce to allow the flavors to combine well. The sauce is served as well as its contents.

Chicken, meat, seafood, potatoes, fish, beans, fruit, and carrots are all popular stew ingredients and you can use water, wine, bouillon, or beer in the stew liquid to give flavor, as well as seasonings.

What is the Difference between Stew and Soup?

First of all, stewing is the only cooking method, which will tenderize cheap, tough cuts of meat, which is how it developed. A stew contains large pieces of meat, fish, and vegetables and there are more of these ingredients in the finished dish than liquid.

Soup is usually served as an appetizer and stew is served as a main course. Stew always contains chunky ingredients and more solids than liquid. Soup is mostly liquid and is served in a bowl or deep dish. Chunky stews can be served on a plate.

Making Your Stew Rich and Flavorful

There is a limit to how flavorful a combination of meat, vegetables and water can be, which is why it is useful to know how to make your stew recipes flavorful.

You can use different combinations of meat; fish, herbs, vegetables, and spices in stew recipes because the dish is so versatile. It is a good idea to season the meat with salt and pepper and sear it in a hot pan before adding it to the liquid.

You can roll the raw meat in flour too for a thicker stew. Make sure the meat chunks are browned all over before adding them to the stew liquid, so they retain their juices. This applies to chicken stew as well as beef stew or any other kind of meat you are going to use.

The next step in making an exciting stew is to saut some vegetables in the pan, then add water, wine, juice, broth or whichever liquid you are using and scrape the bottom of the pan to incorporate any stuck on bits into the liquid. Put the meat back into the pan and cook slowly.

You should check the stew now and then to see if it needs more liquid, more seasoning, or a stir. When it is cooked, you can add some parsley, crumbled bacon, cider, or lemon juice to liven up the flavor. You can serve it with some warm bread on the side for mopping up the tasty juices.

Stew is a lot of fun to make and it is also very easy. Whether you want to make a green chile chicken stew or an authentic Irish stew, as long as you bear the above tips in mind your stew should come out great. - 1432

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Want a delicious chicken soup recipe why not try our chicken noodle soup recipe or one of the dozens of our other tasty soup recipes.

The Proper Watering For Your Lawn

By Thomas Fryd

Five Top Watering Basics For Maintaining The Perfect Lawn

One of the most important things to remember when keeping a lawn healthy and green, is that watering has to be done properly. If you do not water the lawn correctly, it may cause the grass to wilt, or it may cause brown spots on your lawn. Here is the top five list of watering techniques that should be used when watering the lawn, in order to keep it in the best condition.

You need to know how much water your lawn needs. It is very important to note the climate you live in, the type of soil you have and which nutrients you need to give your lawn. By determining these things, you will know what the proper amount is to water your lawn. Each area is unique and can be measured easily by bearing those factors in mind.

By knowing how long to water the lawn, prevents it from being over watered after the spring and summer are over. However, if you think its going to snow a great amount, then starting in the late fall, it is best to keep watering your lawn. Because of the colder temps, the climactic shift will result into a somewhat desert type and the lawn will need a larger supply of water, rather than less as most people may believe. By this time, the cold will overtake the water and ice will form and freeze the ground, this will make it so that the grass will not get the same nutrients that it needs.

Irrigation Systems Are Important

There are several different ways that a lawn can be watered, which makes it easier for the homeowner to handle the lawn care tasks. There are automated irrigation systems that are a good option for keeping the lawn watered. Using these systems is one of the basics of money and time-saver advice when caring for your lawn. If you have a fairly even surface, then best option is the spray lawn sprinkler. This will provide a lot of water to the lawn in a short period of time, which will result in water being soaked up at a much quicker rate. If the lawn is on a slope, it is a good idea to use a rotor lawn system. This results in water flowing at a slower rate but it waters larger uneven areas. By knowing which type of water system you need to use, it can save time on maintenance and water supply as well.

What Kind Of Soil Do You Have?

It is important to know which type of soil you have, so that you can determine the amount of water the lawn will need. There are three different kinds of soil; clay, which does not need as much water, loamy which is average and third, is sandy which requires more water than normal. You can tell the difference between these three soils in because of the size. The larger soils soak up more water and keeps it in the lawn. The clay soil will be thicker and can be rolled into balls and not fall apart. Loamy can not be rolled into a ball and sandy soil will fall completely apart before you are able to control which form it takes.

What Time Should You Water Your Lawn?

Knowing what time to water your lawn is crucial. Watering in the middle of the day, will probably mean you need to water it more frequently, without the lawn getting nutrients it needs for long time periods. This is very important when the weather grows hotter and the sun will take the water and cause it to rapidly evaporate instead of setting back into the soil. This will help with preserving water and preventing the need to take extra care of the lawn.

The main important factor to bear in mind when trying to determine the factors that will influence how much and how frequently you will need to water the lawn so that it gets the proper nutrients. By doing this, your lawn will be healthier and green through the years. - 1432

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There is much more to explore on the subject of lawn care advice. Visit us at http://www.plant-care.com/lawn-care-tips.html.

Dahlia Exhibition

By John Richard

If in any doubt move the vases round experimentally with the flower arrangement until the most pleasing result is obtained; a few minutes spent in this fashion may well make the difference between a first and a second prize.

It is also inadvisable to combine too many varieties of similar colouring, as this will tend to make the group uninteresting, and therefore less likely to catch the judge's eye in close competition.

The really good exhibitor is almost invariably an excellent judge because the ability to recognise good points in one's own blooms is the essence of showmanship.

It is comparatively easy to grow excellent blooms, but not always so simple to select the best from those available. If only it were possible to lay down accurately a scale of points to which blooms could be judged, with so many points for stern, condition, size and so on, the task of the judge and the exhibitor would not be so hard.

But this is not practicable although many attempts have been made to render it so; the fact is that it is not possible to attain a sound basis for comparison, or to assess accurately the respective merits of the various parts that go to make up the ideal bloom.

After the judging has been completed, and the results made known, never hesitate to hold an inquest. If your exhibits have not taken prizes or have only been awarded seconds and thirds, examine the prizewinning exhibits to see why they were adjudged superior. If you are doubtful or cannot see why you lost, try to contact the judge, and ask him. It is an old saying that one benefits from mistakes, but it is only true if you first find out what the mistakes were, and then resolve never to make them again. - 1432

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Tips on Disbudding Dahlias

By James Jordan

Not all varieties give entirely satisfactory blooms from side buds; some will produce blooms very much under size and somewhat lacking in petals, even, in a few instances, showing a tendency to an open or "daisy-eyed" centre.

Usually most varieties will give excellent results if the side shoots are removed from the top four pairs of leaves. A few varieties such as Jescot Jim may however require even more severe thinning as there is a very strong tendency towards loss of size in the secondary flushes.

Such varieties, if grown on a side bud, will produce blooms only slightly less in size, if at all, but with less petals and a better centre, so that the bloom is more refined and thus more likely to take prizes; Vargas Gardner and Nearest Blue are examples.

If the giants are grown for garden decoration only-few except the exhibitor seems to grow them as cut flowers-it is not necessary to disbud so ruthlessly. But a good many of the side shoots should be removed as the main attraction of these dahlias is their size, otherwise why grow them! Usually it is sufficient to remove the side shoots for about four pairs of leaves down from the bud and two of the three buds. The successional crop will be heavy, and the individual blooms very much undersize, but this will not matter very much, as the second crop, particularly of the giant decoratives, is seldom of such good quality.

From the exhibitors' point of view, many of the giant decoratives are really only first crop flowers, the succeeding crops only being valuable as garden decoration, or as an insurance policy should better blooms not be available. This also applies to many of the giant and large cactus, although there are a number of exceptions.

Medium pompons may be treated similarly for the first flush, but more branches may be carried on the second flush, and it may not be necessary to do more than remove weak and distorted growth. Naturally disbudding should be more severe on subsequent flushes than on the first crop. The baby of the family however requires somewhat more complicated treatment. A knowledge of the performance of an individual variety is almost essential, as the object is to produce a perfectly globular flower somewhat under 2 in. in diameter. This is almost impossible on the first flush on certain varieties. - 1432

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Cutting Dahlia Blooms for Flower Arrangement

By James Church

When the jug is full carry it back to the house or shed and transfer the blooms into deep receptacles filled with clean cold water. Old distemper drums or very large paint tins, provided these have been well cleaned out, make ideal containers-the ordinary domestic buckets are not really satisfactory as the stems will tend to ride up the sloping sides with disastrous results to the heavy blooms.

Incidentally, if the blooms have been cut fairly early in the evening and are still a little limp, it is as well to make a second cut when transferring the blooms into the cold water.

The variations on this theme are innumerable. I have outlined only the basic principles. For instance, one keen exhibitor I know has had cases made from light battening covered with hessian, with a plywood base into which metal tubes have been screwed. The case has a series of horizontal rods running the width of the box at strategic positions to which the stems of the blooms are tied after being set in the metal tubes.

Once the bloom is removed from the water the cells will collapse and literally seal the end of the stem. Of course the damaged area must be cut away before the blooms are vased up.

There are a number of methods of carrying the blooms to the show. Dealing with blooms taken to the show in water first, because this is the best of all, there are two main methods. The first is delightfully simple, provided the show is not very far away, and a car or lorry or even a handcart is available together with a careful and co-operative driver. The blooms are just carried in the buckets in which they have been standing after cutting. They should be very carefully arranged, fairly tightly packed together to avoid movement, but at the same time not so badly congested that the florets are crushed and damaged.

Arrange the big blooms around the outside and fill up the middle with the smaller blooms; a surprisingly large number can be transported with ease and safety by this means. But do drive slowly and very carefully on the way to the show. Of course if only a few blooms are required it is possible to get them to the show by hand, provided you are not too sensitive about public interest in your dahlias. - 1432

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A gardening tip is choosing the right container is important in dahlia flower arrangement.

Chocolate Fondue Fountains

By Richard Tripper

The easiest way to have a successful party is arm your guests with sharp pointy forks and have them coat all kinds of foods with chocolate. Everyone loves chocolate so why not give them what they want? And a chocolate fondue fountain is a great additional to any party.

Chocolate fondue is a great dessert to serve at small gathering but quite difficult to serve at larger parties. Now with chocolate fondue fountains, your guests can still experience the taste of chocolate covered strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake or anything else they want to dunk into the delightful chocolate waterfall that flows out of the fountain. You may have enjoyed a chocolate fountain at the last wedding or graduation party that you've attended.

Chocolate fountains are making their way into more and more homes. It has become a popular kitchen appliance to give at weddings and showers. And it's jazzing up more and more house parties than ever before.

Here's how a chocolate fountain works. You have to melt the chocolate before adding it to the fountain. Most home fountains have a heating element built in but they're only hot enough to keep the chocolate flowing. The microwave or a double boiler is the melting method that most fountains manuals recommend. Vegetable oil is usually added to the chocolate so that it can run through the fountain.

You can use couverture chocolate which is made with more cocoa butter than regular chocolate in your chocolate fondue fountain. You won't have to add any vegetable oil it because all that cocoa butter makes it perfect to be pumped through a fountain. Any chocolate can be used but be sure you don't jam your fountain by making it too thick.

The easiest way to get ready for a chocolate fondue fountain is to buy a fruit platter. Either that or be sure to cut up all of your dunking ingredients before the party. Remember bite sized pieces will be the easiest for your guests to eat. Have some marshmallows or Angel Food Cake available and don't forget the salty treats too.

Cleaning up after the party will be a nightmare if you turn off the chocolate fountain early. Leave it running with the heating element on so that the chocolate doesn't get hard. Trying to get cold, hard chocolate out of the fountain pump is no way to spend your late night.

A chocolate fondue fountain is a great way to jazz up any party. Now you can even use them at smaller house parties. Once you've seen one in action, you'll be running to the store to get a chocolate fondue fountain for your next party. - 1432

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Are you looking to buy a Chocolate Fondue Fountain, then you need to visit, GoFondue.com.

More weird Valentine's Day gifts

By Tracy Anderson

Having a hard time figuring what to get your loved one on the day of hearts? Thinking of making a big impression on Valentine's Day without resorting to the same traditional gifts?

If you want to rise above the crowd, choose from this strange selection of weird and wacky Valentine gifts that will make you the talk of the town.

If you have money to burn, why not buy your girlfriend or wife a heart-shaped car? Designed by special effects house Asylum, the Danacol Heart Car is a sporty coupe that smacks of Valentine's Day wherever you take it. It's red, comes in the shape of a heart and seats two people comfortably.

Of course, when Valentine's Day ends, so does the appeal of this odd vehicle. But no problem: hide it in your garage for next year's celebration.

Can't get enough of your loved one? Willing to accompany him or her to the far reaches of the earth just to show how much you care? Take your affection to the extreme with the TwoDaLoo Two Person Toilet.

This designer's nightmare enables two people to sit facing each other while answering the call of nature at the same time. With this toilet, you can't accuse your loved one of not being there when you need that person the most.

"The couple that excretes together, stays together. If you are comfortable enough to plop down on the toilet with your loved one, I'd say your bond is strong enough as it is. But perhaps this is the kick in the pants your relationship needs," according to Seth Plattner of InventorSpot.Com.

"Take your intimacy level to the extreme and see one another in one of the most vulnerable acts of nature there is, and you're sure to see your partner in a whole new light. It may not be the most romantic Valentine's Day present, but it will surely make a statement," he added.

Want to look younger and sexier for your husband or boyfriend this Valentine's Day? Treat yourself to fantastic shades of Malibu Blue, Hot Pink, Brown and Auburn with Betty Color.

This unusual hair dye is specially formulated for pubic hair or "the hair down there" as the manufacturer politely calls it.

"Get rid of ALL your gray with the first safe color specially formulated for 'the hair down there.' This easy-to-use, no-drip formula colors naturally, covering gray and enhancing color to match your glorious locks above. Each kit contains one application of hair color, a tray, customized application wand, a mixing spatula, gloves and easy-to-follow instructions," said the people at BeBeautiful.Com. - 1432

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Of course, when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts, nothing beats a bouquet of beautiful red roses or other special flowers professionally designed and hand delivered by your local florist. This is a classic expression of love that will surely captivate anyone's heart. For details, visit http://www.discountflowerdeliverycanton.info/.

Free Tips on Dahlia Flower Arrangement

By Helen Johnson

As far as colour is concerned, the general colour scheme of the house will have a great bearing on the choice of material; rather dull coloured rooms, for instance, are an ideal setting for the scarlet hued varieties and the brilliant yellow and orange shades, while pink and salmon shades look exceptionally well in the light modern rooms in which the decorations are of a neutral tone or consist of pale greens and fawns and so on.

Dahlia foliage should never be used, as it will become rather messy after a short while. Usually foliage from trees and shrubs is to be preferred, particularly foliage such as that of golden privet and berbcris, where the for the roundness of the blooms.

Bowls can be used for all round arrangements for the centre of a table and for the very effective "line" arrangements which are so popular today. The term "bowl" must be interpreted very loosely, because it may vary from a deep soup plate to a hollow log of wood with a water container inserted, as well as covering a wide range of diverse articles capable of holding water.

Whatever the type of arrangement, remember that the deeper shades tend to attract the eye more than the paler shades, except that white, being a blend of all colours, can be termed a dominant colour also. Usually, therefore, one or more blooms of the deepest shade, or white, are placed low in the arrangement, to act as the focal point, with the paling shades radiating away from this to encourage the eye to take in the arrangement as a harmonious whole. It is as well to allow at least one of the flowers to cut across the lip of the container to break the hard line; this is of particular importance when a vase is used. White can be used, sparingly, to separate colours which might otherwise clash, and to create a feeling of lightness.

The choice of container is also very important, in fact the colour and shape of the bowl or vase will often dictate the colour and style of the arrangement. Deep bronze containers, for example, are beautiful vehicles for the golden and autumn shaded varieties, whilst the delicate shades of an old piece of china may suggest the coolness of the pale lavenders and mauves.

The focal point should be kept very low and usually more or less central, although it must be placed to one side in the right angled type of arrangement, or a little off centre in the tilted types. The exact placing will undoubtedly suggest itself when the style is being built up. This form of arrangement sounds most horribly mathematical but is, in actual fact, one of the most popular and lovely styles of all. It is both economical on blooms and simple to arrange. - 1432

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You need to know gardening tips on choice of containers and color scheme so that you are good at dahlia flower arrangment.

Tips on Shading Dahlias for Exhibition

By Peter Darlings

One other point must be stressed, a very important point at that. Do not put the shades into position when the blooms are wet if this can be avoided. Not all varieties will be affected equally but there is always a risk of petal damping. Annette, for example, is very prone to this fault, in fact it is almost essential to cover this variety before even the first splash of rain has touched the florets, otherwise the bloom may be marred by blackish blotches.

In a few instances colour loss is so great that it is inadvisable to shade at all, except perhaps for the last day or two before the show. Lavender Perfection is a good example of a shade intolerant variety.

Shading must therefore be done with some care. Whites and yellows may be shaded almost from the day when the buds show colour, whereas red varieties are usually shaded when the florets have begun to turn back, but before the sun has bleached any of the full rich colour.

Salmon and apricot varieties should be covered at about the same stage of development although there is some variation from variety to variety, some being a little more prone than others to colour loss. Most of the true pinks arc best left unshaded until seven to ten clays before cutting; again there is a great variation in the tolerance of individual varieties and experience alone will be the ultimate guide to the most effective time of shading because, as was said before, a few varieties are extremely sensitive to colour loss under shades.

As a complete contrast some of the very hard pinks, Frieda Gaylord is an example, benefit from shading at a much earlier stage as the loss of colour renders the blooms more attractive.

The majority of the purple and wine coloured dahlias also require shading from an early stage, as they are very liable to sun bleach, noticeable on the back petals which have, of course, been exposed to light for a long period. - 1432

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One method of shading garden dahlia is using a brown paper or parchment cone, secured by wire tacks.

Securing Dahlia Shade

By James Zacchaeus

Apart from this inhibiting effect a lack of balance will have other though perhaps lesser effects on the plant growth. The three main elements mentioned, nitrogen, potash and potassium, are particularly important.

Alternatively two canes may be used, but in this case it is best to cut away one of the sides of the box and to secure the box to the canes with wire to prevent movement, the open side facing away from the direction of the prevailing wind. As with the other method the blooms are secured into position by tying the stem to a cross piece between the supporting uprights.

Even the above methods do not exhaust the possibilities. Some growers use old umbrellas lashed between two canes. I have even met one grower who uses old dustbin lids, and there is certainly a possibility here-after all the lid of a dustbin is often in good condition when the bin has passed into limbo. In fact, provided the grower is prepared to put up with a little leg-pulling from his or her friends, the choice of materials is limited only by the amount of individual ingenuity.

Phosphorus will partially counteract the effects of excessive nitrogenous feeding and, far more important, it also promotes strong root growth and tuber formation, and helps to build up a plant reaction to disease. In excess it will tend to cause yellowing of the foliage and too hard growth, and if deficient it will retard growth.

Potassium is the plant tonic, promoting strong healthy growth and improving the quality of flower, as well as building up stocks of sugars and starches for use in storage elements. It helps also to build up the dahlias' resistance to adverse weather conditions. Potassium would appear to be in some measure complementary to nitrogen in that it helps to combat the effects of excessive nitrogen concentration, and also enables the plant to use the available nitrogen to the best advantage.

If the soil is deficient in potassium, the dahlias will tend to produce rather dwarfed and poor growth, whereas if potassium is contained in excess growth will tend to be extremely hard and the flowers will be produced late. Of the other elements there is sometimes a deficiency of iron, which will cause poor colour in the flowers and yellowing of the leaves, and, much more rarely, an excess which will have much the same effect as excess of potash although to lesser degree. - 1432

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Dahlia needs a lot of sunshine, and appropriate watering in order that it thrive in the garden.

Dahlia Support

By Kenneth Carlson

For the same reason it is best to leave this de-branching until the side shoots have reached a reasonable length, say some 4 to 6 in. long, before attempting to remove surplus growth. At this stage it will be fairly obvious which shoots are suitable for retention and which are not. The surplus growth should be removed with a very sharp knife, cutting through the growth as closely as possible to the junction with the main stem. In addition, though not completely essential, it is as well to dust a little flowers of sulphur or hydrated lime on the cuts to prevent any possibility of infection entering the open wound.

It follows that it is advisable to take plants struck at different times if a wide variation in blooming period is required, and to pinch the tops out at varying times. This will ensure, not so much that a bloom on a particular plant will be ready at a certain date, but that blooms will be available at that date, rather than a big flush of blooms all within a few days of each other, which might he at a period when there is not a suitable show.

It is also possible by careful timing to ensure that the majority of plants can be induced to flower around a given date, by stopping plants of one variety at intervals of a few days, but to apply this system effectively it is essential to build up a considerable knowledge of the potential of all varieties grown.

The main thing to remember is that there is an immense variation in the time taken by individual varieties to produce blooms, and that it is best to find out before stopping time, when growing a new variety, whether it is naturally early or late blooming, and to stop accordingly, basing the calculation on the assumption that the majority of varieties will bloom approximately io to 12 weeks from the date of stopping. This is a very approximate guide, but it will give a sound basis to work upon until an accurate knowledge is built up from the variations from the normal displayed by different varieties. Exact timing will never be achieved but it will be possible to ensure that blooms of a particular variety will be available over a period covering the specified date.

Although this may seem a great deal of trouble, it is better to take such precautions than to have the heartbreaking sight of a strong healthy branch broken off later in the season, particularly on a plant well thinned out for giant blooms of exhibition quality. For the same reason it is essential to tie in the branches as these develop, and this is a task that must never be neglected.

But the danger here is the tendency for the whole plant to swing in a circular fashion around the stake during high winds. - 1432

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As the dahlias in your garden grows so does its need for water grow, and some attempt must be made to cater for the increasing demand.

Watering Dahlias

By Tim McDonald

No two dahlia growers ever agree on this subject but assuming that it is considered necessary to feed, and ignoring the type of fertiliser used, the treatment will vary according to whether the fertilisers are applied as a dry top dressing or in liquid form. If applied dry it is as well to apply prior to watering, and to give a thorough soaking immediately afterwards.

Remember also that it is useless to give a light watering, as this will do no more than encourage the roots to the surface, and ead to the consequent death of such roots as the top soil dries out. Always thoroughly soak the ground.

Whether it is better to apply the water to the soil direct, or to water overhead, is a moot point. When watering overhead all insecticides will be washed off, so that it will be necessary to redust or spray immediately after watering. If the facilities exist a overhead spraying system will undoubtedly save a great deal of time, as the sprays can be set to cover a certain area, moving the stand as each area has received sufficient for its needs.

As an alternative to overhead spraying it is possible to devise quite an effective watering system by punching a series of holes in a length of hose pipe or iron pipe, on one side only, in such a fashion that when connected to the hose and laid on the ground between the plants a series of fine jets are directed over a limited area.

Apart from watering and feeding the plants will benefit by overhead spraying during the evening following a very hot day. This should not be a heavy spray, just sufficient to freshen the leaves without washing off the insecticides which the wise gardener will have applied from time to time.

Following on as a natural sequence from watering comes the question of supplementary feeding. No two dahlia growers ever agree on this subject but assuming that it is considered necessary to feed, and ignoring the type of fertiliser used as this will be dealt with in a later chapter, the treatment will vary according to whether the fertilisers are applied as a dry top dressing or in liquid form. If applied dry it is as well to apply prior to watering, and to give a thorough soaking immediately afterwards. - 1432

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A stout central stake with lighter supporting canes may be used when planting dahlias in your garden.

Hogarth Dahlia Flower Arrangement

By Emily Dickinson

I have said that it is best to keep to blends of one tone, or of colours very close to each other in the spectrum. It is also possible to make up very spectacular vases and bowls by using colours which are in direct contrast to each other.

It is basically simple and effective, for, although quite elaborate arrangements based on this principle can be devised, the less elaborate and easiest arrangements often look the best.

It is also desirable that blooms should be allowed to stand in deep water for a few hours, preferably in a very cool place, before packing or staging, so that it is seldom possible to cut in the morning except for a very local show, or where facilities for transporting the blooms in water are available. Most growers cut as late as possible the night before the show and in the majority of circumstances this is usually perfectly satisfactory as a compromise.

As well as foliage, sprays of berries can be used; arranged to trail over the edge of the container at a suitable point, they will often add just that final finishing touch that brings the arrangement from the pretty to the really attractive. Lots of unusual material can be used, begonia rex leaves, variegated kale, and so on. It is quite good fun experimenting with all sorts of foliage.

When plants have been grown on exhibition lines and admirable blooms obtained, the problem remains of how to get them from the garden to the show, and having got them there in good condition how to stage them to the best advantage. It sounds simple enough, but like all simple things there are unexpected snags. To start with the dahlia, being rather coarse celled, does not take up water very well after cutting, and has a tendency under certain circumstances to refuse to take up water at all clue to the formation of an air lock at the base of the cut stem. It will be appreciated that sap will continue to rise after cutting and that air will therefore be drawn into the lower cells to take the place of the sap.

The amount of air will vary according to the length of time that expires before the stems are put into water and also the rate of transpiration. The intake of air can be minimised by cutting when the transpiration of the plant is low and both stem and bloom are turgid, that is the cells are full of water and stretched to their fullest limit so that stem and bloom are stiff and solid, and by plunging the cut stems straight away into water, preferably warm water as this tends to be taken up more quickly and thus breaks any air lock. - 1432

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In order to make beautiful dahlia flower arrangement, you must know gardening tips on dahlia flower arrangement.

Dahlia Support

By Kenneth Carlson

For the same reason it is best to leave this de-branching until the side shoots have reached a reasonable length, say some 4 to 6 in. long, before attempting to remove surplus growth. At this stage it will be fairly obvious which shoots are suitable for retention and which are not. The surplus growth should be removed with a very sharp knife, cutting through the growth as closely as possible to the junction with the main stem. In addition, though not completely essential, it is as well to dust a little flowers of sulphur or hydrated lime on the cuts to prevent any possibility of infection entering the open wound.

It is important to remember that the dahlia, although a very strong growing plant, is at its weakest during the first few weeks after planting, and that two things are essential during this period.

The first is the removal of all competition from weeds. The ground should be kept scrupulously clear of weeds by using a dutch hoe at reasonably frequent intervals during the first few weeks after planting. Later the use of a hoe will be inadvisable owing to the presence of feeder roots close to the surface.

To prevent branches from being forced out of the socket by their own weight (this is particularly prevalent in branches developing low on the main stem), it is an excellent plan to insert short lengths of cane exactly parallel with each branch and to tie the branch to this support. This will give ample support until such time as the branch becomes long enough to be secured in the normal fashion to the main stake or wires.

Once the dahlias start to grow strongly the question of staking and tying will become of increasing importance. The central stake, unsupported, is seldom sufficient, unless very stout, when the developing branches may be simply looped back to it by soft string.

If several canes are used it is simple; all that is needed is a circle of string round plants and canes to hold all in place. If only one stake is provided the developing growth should be carefully looped back to this, striving to provide support but at the same time keeping the plant open to allow the free circulation of air through the foliage and also to prevent bunching of flowers when these appear. Overcrowding can only lead to bruised and malformed florets. If the stakes have been wired together some of the branches could he secured to the supporting wires. Where a cane has been provided for each branch all that is needed is a simple loop of string round branch and stake at regular intervals. - 1432

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As the dahlias in your garden grows so does its need for water grow, and some attempt must be made to cater for the increasing demand.

Providing Good Koi Care Can Ensure Your Fish Live For Many Years

By Paul S. Lake

The Koi fish has been on the planet for hundreds of years. A descendent of the Japanese magoi carp they are prized for their beautiful shapes and brilliant colors, especially with the right Koi care. There are several varieties including the fancy fantail Koi which has draping fins and tails. The beautiful fish can be a combination of black, red, yellow, white and orange and it has been known to grow to three feet long and weigh more than forty pounds with the right Koi care.

The Koi is known to be a hardy fish that seldom sickens or dies without an underlying reason. The original magoi carp was known to survive harsh conditions and nasty parasites with little to no affects. However, man has weakened the strain as the Koi has been inbred to obtain the most prized shapes and colors. Even so, with proper care the Koi can still live for decades.

When Koi dies it is usually because the water is lacking oxygen, the water quality is poor; the fish has ulcer disease or parasites. Other factors in the death of the fish include toxic pesticides, virus, tumors, and medication overdose. So as you see, these are all things that could have been avoided with the proper diligence. Predators are also a problem as is the fish jumping out of the water.

Selecting the correct size for your Koi pond can help keep your Koi healthy. The Koi get their exercise from swimming and they prefer to swim up and down rather than across the pond. Therefore the deeper your pond is the happier your Koi will be. Proper care also means not having a pond that is too shallow because it allows more exposure to the heat of the summer sun and dangerous predators such as raccoons and birds.

Providing good care will require being involved in every aspect of Koi life. Be careful that you do not end up with an overcrowded pool. Koi reproduce rapidly and grow just as quickly. Be mindful that you are utilizing the entire pool and ensuring good water circulation in all areas. Dead areas could mean dead fish.

When considering care, you will want to be mindful of the pond temperature. Koi will not be as active in cooler temperature; they will go to the bottom of the pond and stay. While the Koi is able to withstand the cold, you will need to insure that your pond does not completely freeze. Adding a pond heater can help you not only to maintain the proper temperature needed to keep you Koi happy, it can also help you to avoid disease and sores.

While Koi care specialists recommend that you hand feed your Koi watermelon and lettuce to develop a relationship with them, they also need a daily diet of nutrients provided in the form of pellets. On of the great things about the fish is that they learn to recognize their feeder and will gather to be fed. Feeding time is a wonderful time to get to know the fish as they have distinct personalities.

While most people love the Koi for their brilliant colors and beautiful shape the Japanese see them as symbols of love and friendship and the Chinese see them as symbols of good fortune. Whatever you think of the Koi it is certain that with good Koi care these interesting fish can live for decades and provide much enjoyment. So make sure you provide great Koi care. - 1432

About the Author:

About the author: Paul S. Lake is the founder of Koi Fish Center and is called an expert in koi care. Paul has been caring for Koi Fish for over 20 years. Get his ebook about koi at http://www.koifishcenter.com.

Providing Good Koi Care Can Ensure Your Fish Live For Many Years

By Paul S. Lake

The Koi fish we have today is a descendent of the magoi carp from Japan. With the proper Koi care the Koi can live for twenty years and there have been reports of fish living for hundreds of years. They have been known to weigh over forty pounds and be three feet in length. Known for their brilliant colors, they can be any combination of black, red, orange, white and yellow. You can even choose the more decorative fantail Koi with long draping fins and tails and keep them that way with the proper Koi care.

While the original magoi carp had the ability to endure parasites and survive in poor conditions, the current species is not quite as hardy. The fish has been a victim of inbreeding to capture the shapes and colors that are so prized. Even so, the Koi still can live for decades and it seldom sickens or dies without an underlying reason.

When Koi dies it is usually because the water is lacking oxygen, the water quality is poor; the fish has ulcer disease or parasites. Other factors in the death of the fish include toxic pesticides, virus, tumors, and medication overdose. So as you see, these are all things that could have been avoided with the proper diligence. Predators are also a problem as is the fish jumping out of the water.

You can keep you Koi safe and healthy simply by choosing the correct size and depth for your Koi pond. Koi prefer to swim up and down rather than side to side and if you are offering the proper care you will ensure that your pond has enough depth for the Koi to exercise by swimming deep in the pond. It also important to avoid having a shallow end that exposes the Koi to too much heat and predators.

Providing good care will require being involved in every aspect of Koi life. Be careful that you do not end up with an overcrowded pool. Koi reproduce rapidly and grow just as quickly. Be mindful that you are utilizing the entire pool and ensuring good water circulation in all areas. Dead areas could mean dead fish.

When considering care, you will want to be mindful of the pond temperature. Koi will not be as active in cooler temperature; they will go to the bottom of the pond and stay. While the Koi is able to withstand the cold, you will need to insure that your pond does not completely freeze. Adding a pond heater can help you not only to maintain the proper temperature needed to keep you Koi happy, it can also help you to avoid disease and sores.

Koi require daily feedings of pellets that contain the needed balance of nutrients to keep them healthy. Feeding on the water also encourages the fish to come to the top of the water. However Koi care specialists advise that you can keep the fish healthy and stimulated by feeding fruits and vegetables such as lettuce and watermelon. One of the most interesting things about the Koi is that they learn to recognize people and will come to the surface to greet you. They can also be taught to take food from your hand.

According to the Japanese, Koi are symbols of friendship and love and the Chinese believe they bring good luck. Regardless of whether they can change your fortune, they are beautiful, interesting fish and with the correct Koi care they can live in your garden and bring you decades of enjoyment. So make Koi care a priority. - 1432

About the Author:

About the author: Paul S. Lake is the founder of Koi Fish Center and can be considered an expert in koi care. Paul has been caring for Koi Fish for nearly 20 years. Get his koi keeping ebook at http://www.koifishcenter.com.

Cleaning The Air With Air Purifier

By Kent Higgins

If you are an allergy sufferer, then you probably know the benefits of using an air purifier to keep your allergies at bay. However, there are many other uses for air purifiers. Even if you dont have allergies, an air purifier can allow you to breathe in cleaner air. There is a wide variety of air purifiers available at different price levels. Choose the type of air purifier you purchase based on its use.

For example, there are freestanding air purifiers that are great for one or two rooms. They will clean the air in a space of this size quite effectively. Try placing one near where your pet sleeps or where there are people smoking. Cigarette smoke and perfumes can be cleared from the air quite efficiently using an air purifier, making the indoor environment much more comfortable for everyone.

While nobody is technically allergic to cigarette smoke, it can be very irritating. You should not have to breathe in the smoke if you do not choose to. In fact, bars and restaurants in New York State are all required to be non-smoking, as a recognition that cigarette smoke is very irritating, no to mention annoying. Some places have a closed off area for smokers. Air purifiers can efficiently clear out the stale smoke smell from these rooms, and help alleviate cigarette smoke damage in the area.

If you want to purify the air throughout your home, and not just in one or two rooms, consider hepa home filter systems. Although this is a little more expensive, it can be beneficial, especially if you have pets or live in a high smog area. Breathe easier by installing air purifier or air filter systems. You can also install such a system at your workplace, which can help your employees breathe easier, especially those with allergies or asthma.

Before you buy an air purifier, make sure you look at all of the options, and ask for recommendations from people who have purchased an air purifier system. Some types and models work better than others, and an air purifier is an investment that you should research beforehand. It can be a costly mistake if you buy an air purifier that does not work well. Consider the price of new filters along with the cost of the air purifier system. Some air filters cost much more than others. Also take a look at warrantees and the availability of service, in case you need it. - 1432

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Find out for yourself why so many people are interested in hepa filter systems. You're only a click away - http://www.plant-care.com/hepa-filters.html.

Tips on Dahlia Manure

By Midori James

Light soils should not be dug too early in the winter, otherwise many of the natural mineral salts will be leached away by the heavy winter rains. Lime, if necessary, should he scattered over the surface only early in the winter; on light soils this dressing should never be forked in.

Hydrated lime is usually recommended, and is probably best, for all soils except those which are very light or porous, whereas ground chalk, because it is rather more sticky in constitution and will therefore help to hind the soil, is preferable on the lighter soils.

The dahlia is intolerant of stagnant ground, and will give poor results under such conditions, so that, though the provision of such a system is undoubtedly a laborious task, the improved results due to better drainage will justify both the expense and hard work involved.

It will seldom be necessary to lime the plot more than once in every three or four years, except on peaty soils. Though there is a strong school of thought nowadays in favour of "no digging", which simply means leaving the ground undisturbed but adding a heavy top-dressing yearly of compost, animal manures, etc., the majority of gardeners still prefer the older method of cultivation which entails turning the ground over thoroughly each year.

As far as the dahlia is concerned this normal practice seems to give the best results, and, in view of the current shortage of bulky manures for top-dressing, is economically the soundest method.

The dahlia is not a deep rooting plant, so that a great depth of well dug soil is not essential, unless there is a hard "pan" of clay immediately below the friable top spit; this hard layer may cause waterlogging on heavy soils, and on light soils, particularly if the plot slopes, it will often lead to the soil drying out excessively in hot weather as rain will tend to drain off the impervious clay, instead of penetrating and remaining as a reserve deep in the ground. - 1432

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When planting dahlia, you need to make sure the garden soil is suitable for the plant.

Dahlia Garden Beds

By John Mauve

Beds to take the tubers may be prepared direct on the staging, which should consist of sheets of corrugated asbestos or iron, with a little shingle and charcoal in the channels to ensure good drainage, covered 3 or 4 in. deep with a good open mixture of soil, peat and sand. John Innes No. i potting compost is ideal, though any similar soil mixture will give good results.

It is an advantage to dress the beds before planting with Gammexane at the rate of 1 ounce per square yard to discourage pests. And it is as well to put down slug bait as there may be slug eggs in the soil which will hatch out. When the beds have been prepared, the sets of tubers should be gently pressed into the compost, covering the tubers only, leaving the crown free of the earth.

Fit the tubers together carefully so that the maximum number can be put into the available space. This is no more exhausting than doing a jig-saw puzzle and does make fairly certain that no tuber has to be left out because of lack of space. Remember that it is best to put up at least two tubers of each variety, in case one is blind, that is, does not produce shoots or is diseased; also some varieties are comparatively shy in producing cuttings. As an alternative deep boxes may be used. Any stout box at least 4 in. deep will be suitable though it,is an advantage if all are of a similar size.

Some varieties such as Doge will produce very thick stubby growth, often with hollow stems and in comparatively small numbers; these growths if taken as cuttings are usually very slow in rooting, in many cases proving almost impossible to root. It is advisable in such cases to remove the very stout growths close to the eye, quite early after development, in order to allow the subsidiary buds to develop.

The secondary growths are usually of normal size and more suitable for propagation. Great care must be taken when removing these primary shoots to ensure that the circle of dormant secondary eyes surrounding the primary eye are left untouched, or the tuber may become blind. A very sharp, thin bladed knife should be used, and the shoot severed by making several cuts from different sides to avoid slicing through the remaining eyes.

Still it is unlikely to cause harm and there may be some value in this pre-plunging treatment; certainly it is likely that any dormant fungus or bacterial infection present will develop under spraying and that this will be easily detected and preventive action taken, whereas it may develop unseen under cover of the soil and remain unchecked if the tubers are benched up immediately after trimming. - 1432

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To get rid of pests on dahlia in the garden, you can spray insecticide on the plant.

Planting Dahlia

By John Trains

First of all the dahlia plot or beds should be lightly forked over, only an inch or so deep is quite sufficient.

A five pronged cultivator is a very good tool to use at this time, removing any weeds which have grown up at the same time. Then mark out the plot to correspond with the plan, either driving a stout stake in at the appointed position, or marking the spot with a short piece of stick or cane. A line is almost essential to ensure straight lines on long rows.

If planted in double rows a wider pathway should be allowed between each double to allow access for cutting.

The same thing applies to these as far as ground conditions are concerned, though of course they are planted much earlier, unless they have been grown on in large pots (in which case they are treated as pot plants and not as tubers).

If the plot or bed is large enough to take a number of rows it is very much a matter of choice whether the rows run the full length of the border or crossways across the border; the main point is accessibility.

The soil on three sides of the plant is never trodden on, a very worthwhile consideration when it is realised that the roots of the dahlia come very close to the surface later in the season. - 1432

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You need to take care of your dahlia plant in order that it thrive in your garden.

Dahlia Grown for Exhibition

By Gary Maya

If grown for exhibition, it is almost essential that the dahlias should be allotted a separate site, and it is definitely best to keep to groups or rows of similarly sized blooms as this simplifies the task of feeding and disbudding, as well as making the task of selection much easier when cutting for the shows.

Colour blending will perhaps not be so important, but even in this section it is as well to plant a colour scheme if possible. After all, there is no reason why plants grown for exhibition should not also be an asset to the garden from the decorative angle.

If this plan is adopted it is best to plant in groups of three to six dahlias, again carefully chosen as to height, putting a block of taller varieties at the back of the border, with dwarfer perennials - not too dwarf of course - in front ; or a group of varieties of medium height, in front of tall perennials such as the rudbeckias and so on. The variations on this theme are unlimited.

It is referred to the taller growing fully double types, and the use of the dwarf bedding varieties has been ignored. This is perhaps unfair, as a bed of these can look rather wonderful.

Admittedly there is practically no skill required in growing these varieties but they are certainly as attractive as any other plant commonly used for bedding purposes, and have a season of growth greater than almost any other flower. Not much planning is required with these little beauties, as the colours seem to blend very effectively.

One of the major troubles will be insect damage, as the pests will tend to migrate from the less herbaceous stuff to the rich fare offered by the succulent dahlias. Dusting or spraying with good insecticides will minimise this undesirable factor. - 1432

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You can set aside a small plot of land in your garden to grow dahlia.

The Various Types Of Ivy Plants Available

By Keith Markensen

If someone plans to grow one or more plants at the same time, the chances are likely that most of them will be described under the heading of foliage plants. While not as showy as other flowering plants that have been previously discussed, they make up for what they lack, by being able to be easily grown, simple propagation, and easily acclimating to any environment they live in.

Choices offered as to size, leaves form and color is almost an endless possibility. The plants we have discussed are capable of being grown in any of environment or region in the country with relative ease and are easily found in many places.

Dumb cane is a member of the Arum family of species, it has a white sap which when chewing the leaves can cause speechlessness and pain for short periods of time. There are several kinds of this plant species, the leases are splotched with white or yellow. They can grow up to several feet tall and have leaves of up to a foot in length. There are often than not, few leaves of any plant. These plants can be placed near African Violets because they too, require high humidity and a temp of around 70F, constantly to grow properly. They can be easily propagated by simple stem cutting.

English ivy is a common house plant, perhaps the most common in the country. People who have no other house plants oftentimes, have a pot of ivy growing somewhere in the house. First, and most importantly, it is very versatile and can be trained to climb or vine with relative ease. This feature gave the idea to landscapers to tap the possibilities of using English Ivy in hillside landscape designs. Secondly, its simple to care for and will survive some very extreme conditions indoors and even outdoors when used as a landscaping plant. Ideally, most varieties prefer a moist, cool and shady environment.

In theory, they prefer a normal room temp and will be happy, especially if you mist the frequently to increase moisture levels and clean the leaves from any dust or insects. Ivy is easily propagated by stem and leaf cutting. There are many varieties of ivy, the number is too great to list all of them. The five pointed leaves trail or climb, others grown in a shrub form, some have leaves that are bordered by white or mother midget types. If you find yourself interested, you should take a visit to your local floral shop or nursery and look at the various types of ivy available. You will be surprised at the amount of shapes and forms this plant has. - 1432

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What better time than right now to explore and learn more on the subject of hillside landscaping. Click on the link to visit http://www.plant-care.com/1528-hillside-landscaping.html.

Propagating Dahlia

By John Morrison

Erecting a close boarded fence is not effective to prevent frost pocket if the garden is in the lowest position in the neighbourhood. In this case a close hoarded fence all round may help a little, but really it is very difficult to prevent frost damage in such situations by structural alterations.

Individual plants can be protected at planting time, but apart from this it will be as well to become resigned to losing the plants a little earlier than the luckier gardeners in more ideal sites.

On the other hand, increase of stock is slow, the plants will probably produce more than one stem from ground level and thus make untidy plants, and, from the exhibitor's point of view, such plants are harder to time for bloom.

Other than this there are two means widely used today, both of which are designed to increase the clone, that is the stock of one variety without variation of size or colour. This can be done only by vegetative propagation, that is to take one part or other of the original plant and to make this part into a separate plant, producing stems, flowers and root stock identical with the original.

The usual argument in favour is that the plant raised from a cutting has a completely fresh circulatory system, for no part of its nourishment is obtained via old tissue. As the divided tubers produce fresh stems from the crowns, and as fresh roots develop from these, it is doubtful whether this argument has much weight.

It is sometimes possible to obtain a proportion of clean healthy plants by taking cuttings from a tuber which may later show symptoms of disease. It is probable that if such tubers had been divided, all the plants obtained would have been diseased. - 1432

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Dahlia is a beautiful plant to grow in your garden.

Cultivate your Soil

By Cynthia Ramona

How do you cultivate a garden? What does that even mean? It's pretty simple actually. It means you are improving the soil for planting. You wouldn't expect to throw some seeds down in your front yard and expect anything to grow without giving the soil a hand.

Cultivating the soil means you are prepping it for a garden. For example, if you have a grassy hard and you want to start a garden, you will do best to use a motorized tiller to break up the dirt. A tiller will break through the grass and roots and prepare the soil for planting quickly and easily.

Tillers are the best for this project, but they can cost a lot. If you are fortunate enough to have a friend or neighbor who already owns a tiller, as if you can borrow it. If you think you'll get a lot of use out of a tiller, buy your own.

If you dont have access to a tiller, dont worry, cultivating your garden is not impossible. First, you will need a shovel and maybe a pickax. At the very least you will need a shovel to begin with. Use the shovel to trace out your garden plot and dig up all the grass. I prefer to remove the grass and add it to my compost so that the garden plot has room to add new fresh soil.

The pickax is especially helpful for tough grass and very rocky dirt. If you have clay in your dirt, it can help a lot as well. When all the grass is removed, use the pickax to keep breaking up all the large clumps. After the big stuff is done, you can use a garden hoe to chop up the rest.

A garden cultivator can help you break up the rest of the clumps and rake out the rocks and roots left. You want to soil to be smooth and free of rocks and roots.

When the soil is ready and cultivated properly, add in some nutrient rich compost or soil and some fertilizer. Now you can start gardening and planting. Keep using a garden hoe to cultivate the soil around the plants throughout the season to keep them healthy. - 1432

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Looking for more about the importance of soil in gardening? Get more information about how to plant seeds quickly and vegetable gardening.

How To Water Dahlia

By Catherine Howard

Provided the ground is fairly moist it should not be necessary to water the plants in. The roots will enter the soil is advisable to water in, not heavily but giving about a pint of water to each plant.

Some growers on heavy soil consider that this practice is liable to lead to waterlogging, when the plant to all practical purpose drowns in stagnant water, but this is unlikely. On the other hand, making the hollow is hard work and if the ground is mulched well, it will still soak up a great deal of water without the surplus running off.

Supposing that it is decided to plant in a shallow depression, it is best to use a spade or fork for preparing the soil for each plant. With the spade take out a shallow depression about 18 in. to 2 ft across and about 2 to 3 in. deep, the soil taken out can be mounded round the edges of each depression. If the ground is poor it is useful at this stage to fork in a handful of bone meal and a little general fertiliser plus, on chalky or light soils, a couple of handfulls of granulated peat; hop manure may be used if this is preferred.

At the risk of becoming boring by repeating what was said in an earlier chapter, when planting do consider the height of each plant, and also the colour, and plant accordingly to allow the maximum amount of light and to gain the most beautiful display. And also remember that for exhibition it is best to keep plants of a similar classification close to each other as this helps when thinning, disbudding and feeding.

Drop the plant into position, and gently but firmly replace the soil round it so that there is approximately 1 in. of fresh soil above the original ball of soil. If the stake is not already in position, drive this in at once, as close to the plant as possible, without actually damaging the root system, and tie or wire the label to the stake immediately. This last point is very important.

Personally I prefer to plant in a hollow, and to keep this hollow free from earth throughout the growing season as this then forms a reservoir for water, whether given by hose pipe, by watering can or by the goodness of nature in the form of rain. - 1432

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When watering dahlia, make sure you water thoroughly so that the water will go down into the garden soil.

History of Classification of Dahlia

By Mia Johnson

At the present day the dahlia has a bewildering range of sizes, formations and colouring, more so than perhaps any other garden flower-a wonderful tribute to the immense amount of work accomplished by hybridists since its introduction into Europe in producing varieties so vastly different from the original seedlings which were grown from seed sent over from Mexico.

The so-called decorative dahlia would appear to be of extremely mixed origin. Interest in this particular variation developed at about the same time as the cactus flowered hybrids from Juarezii were becoming popular, and it is probable that they were no more than a parallel development, with some of the same blood in them.

It also seems probable that it was cultivated by the Aztecs, possibly for use as animal fodder, as the tubers have some considerable food value, being extremely high in sugar content, or even for the beauty of their flowers.

Anemone flowered dahlias has blooms of various sizes composed of an outer ring of ray florets surrounding a dense central group of tubular florets, shorter than the ray florets but longer than the disc florets in the normal flower. Both disc and ray florets may be of any colour, including yellow. Collerette dahlias have one or more rings of flat ray florets, with an inner ring of small florets approximately half the length of the ray florets. Although fully double and semi-double varieties could conceivably be raised, only varieties with a single row of ray florets and one collar surrounding a central disc of ray florets are grown today.

The finely quilled varieties were styled cactus, and those with broader petals were classed as semi-cactus. The decorative were similarly divided into two classes, formal and informal. It was finally decided that the classification was becoming too complex.

The native name given to the plant was Acocotli or Cocoxochtl, from the hollow stems which resemble water pipes, but it was renamed "Dahlia" in honour of Dr Andreas Dahl, a famous Swedish botanist, by the Abbe Cavanillas when the dahlia was introduced into Europe. The name Georgina was at one time also used, but this has been superseded. - 1432

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Dahlia seedlings opened the door to the wonderful garden flower that today we know.

Online Flower Delivery: What You Need to Know

By Samantha Aston

Sending blossoms or gifts to any part of the world these days is extremely easy. This can be assigned to the advent of the Net after which the business of delivering fresh blossoms to multinational destinations has flourished. Depending on your location, blossoms can be conveniently delivered at your doorstep in a foolproof manner within a short time. Plenty of on-line florist allege that they are superior to all their competitors, but are they trustworthy?

Several florist shop have neglected to keep their promises and deviated from the multinational norms where blossoms delivered are soiled and stale. Moreover, many times florists doing business via the Net, demand extravagant fees while some never reach their destinations, so how can you be completely sure about whom to trust in terms of quality and timely delivery? Several market researches online florists have resulted in a shortlist for customers like to educate yourself on what aspects to look for when you buy flowers on-line.

The price: The World wide web is full of online flower store offering a large variety of flowers, but do a thorough search for finding one suitable to your needs in terms of the merchandise as well as affordability. Check out whether the web site has a Contact Us or a customer help page, as this is crucial, since these assure you of the companys existence and might come handy if you want to talk to someone in the company. Look for client endorsements: customer recommendations are helpful in the sense that it tells you about customer satisfaction as well as whether the company is trustworthy or not. Though these testimonials may sound biased, it still throws the company in good light.

How secure is their payment facilities? All online transactions must be 100% secure in order to protect your identity, so check out whether payments through PayPal, WorldPay, BPay, etc are acceptable. How efficient and quick are they with delivery? Remember blossoms crumble after about a week at room temperature. They should always look fresh on arrival, and this ensured through a shop's network of foreign on-line florists so deliveries should take on average 3 business days.

Making purchases from flower store can be one of the most convenient ways to wish a loved one sitting miles away from you with the use of a few clicks of your browser. Be that as it may, on-line purchases can also have some dangers and risks.

With the basic pointers in mind, it will surely eradicate the sites that have a question of credibility in mind. - 1432

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If you are looking for Bundaberg flower delivery or Byron Bay flower delivery then give us a call - we have all of your flower delivery needs covered.

The Nutrients You Need for Your Hydroponic Garden

By Greg Holmes

If you want to grow the best plants possible in your hydroponic garden, you need to start with the right nutrients. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are three of the most important hydroponic nutrients. However, there are lots more. Magnesium, iron, calcium and several others are also essential for the healthy growth of hydroponic plants.

During normal growth, your plants go through a predictable cycle. Hydroponic nutrients work to help your plants develop faster and better in each stage of their growth. This requires the use of different hydroponic nutrients at different stages if you wish to maximize your crop.

Some people like to make their own hydroponic nutrients. If you're an experienced hydroponic gardener, this might be very effective. If you're new to hydroponics, however, using a hydroponic nutrients kit can make things a lot easier.

You can find pre-made solutions that will give your plants the nutrients they need in the right quantities. These commercially prepared solutions are the result of considerable research and testing. They're designed to cater to your plants' growth needs.

It's critical to administer the correct amount when you're hydroponic gardening. At various times throughout their growth cycle, plants will require differing quantities of nutrients. The nutrients contained in the solution that you give to your plants must have the right balance.

Plants that are grown hydroponically are more susceptible to varying nutrient levels. Feeding your plants nutrients in amounts over those that are recommended can be deadly. Your plants might die off, or simply not grow to their full potential. They're not capable of self regulating like plants in soil-based gardens can. Since the roots are immersed in water, they are unable to get rid of the excess nutrients.

It's important to keep a close eye on the pH level of the water when you're using nutrient solutions. It should be kept as near to neutral as possible. While the nutrients are being taken up by the plant, the water becomes more alkaline. You can neutralize it by adding a bit of sulfuric acid. If the water is too acidic, use sodium hydroxide to restore it to a neutral pH. A pH testing kit is essential in order to correctly monitor the levels.

Water and temperature conditions are important factors, as well. Nutrient solutions should always be fed at room temperature. The water too should be kept at room temperature. This enables the plants to more easily take in the nutrients they need. - 1432

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Hydroponics is an increasingly popular technique for year-round, indoor gardening. Find out more at Hydroponic Gardening.

Dahlia Windbreak

By John Maddox

It is not always possible to achieve the ideal site, that is one that is both open to the sun yet sheltered from the full force of the wind. Certainly if the choice has to be made between a sheltered but overshadowed plot and one that is open but exposed, it is better to choose the more open site and to endeavour to minimise the danger of wind damage by careful use of windbreaks, particularly on the cast and south-west sides of the plot.

The addition of bulky humus forming materials on a generous scale over a period of years will go far towards rectifying these difficulties by gradually binding the soil together. At least such soils are usually well drained.

However, though bulky material is essential, it is inadvisable to incorporate this early in the winter. Any available animal the ground after Christmas, never before; in fact on light ground it is really best to retain as much manure as possible for the provision of a mulch in July.

It will sometimes happen that one part of the garden forms a frost pocket. Usually this occurs at the lowest point of the garden, often against a solid fence or wall, and this particular position should not be chosen for the dahlia bed if another, more suitable, site is available.

As it may not he possible to avoid siting the dahlia border in a frost pocket, and sometimes the whole garden may seem to attract frost, the effects can often be reduced by careful screening. Frost tends to roll downhill and to concentrate in hollows and against solid barriers.

Peat will help a great deal and, in any case, most animal and vegetable manures are substantially acid so that generous addition of any of these materials will go far towards settling the problem. It may also be necessary to add additional nitrates during the growing season. - 1432

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To make sure that your Dahlia is healthy and thrive, you must give the plant right proportion of manure and garden compost.

Rind Grafting

By Patrick Samson

Rind grafting is a method that can be employed only when the sap is already running in the stock and the bark can be loosened easily. With this method a T-shaped slit is made in the bark and the scion, cut with a thin tail, is slipped between the wood and the bark.

Another method of vegetative propagation is budding, a form of grafting used for roses, lilacs, medlars, hawthorns and other woody plants. The best time for this is summer (from late June till mid-September). A well-developed bud with a piece of leaf stalk and shield of bark is cut from the plant to be propagated.

Likewise, old hedges beginning to thin markedly at the base should be pruned hard or cut back by one half. Today the trend is to make gardens and the open spaces between blocks of apartment houses an extension of man's living space. Vegetables and fruit trees are being replaced in large part by terraces, lawns, pools and ornamental shrubs. Because gardens and the open spaces between apartment blocks are far smaller than public parks, smaller trees and above all shrubs are being widely used.

The finest and most abundant display of flowers are borne by shrubs that have ample young wood. Shrubs left untended rejuvenate themselves by throwing out new shoots from the base and it is therefore necessary to aid them in this process. Pruning should not be left until too late so as to prevent the need of removing wood that is very old, for the shortening of strong thick branches mars the shrub's overall appearance.

Several different forms of grafting are used in the propagation of shrubs. The simplest is whip or tongue grafting, employed where the stock and scion are of similar thickness. With this method the scion, cut downward at an angle, is placed against the stock, cut at a corresponding angle to the scion.

The time for pruning is the winter, but not when the temperature is below freezing point. Shrubs that put out leaves early in spring should be pruned earlier; those that put out leaves later may be pruned later - any time up to the beginning of May. Wherever possible, the cut is made just above the bud so that there will be no remains of the old, dead and dry wood above the new shoots. - 1432

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In garden planning, with solid panelled garden fencing it is easier to build in steps, keeping the tops of the panels horizontal and building up or cutting down at ground level where necessary.

Tips on Dahlia Borders

By James Goose

Should the dahlia plot be an island site, with paths all round so that it may be seen from several sides, it will naturally have to be planned rather differently; the colour grouping will still be necessary, but the taller plants will have to be placed in the centre with the shorter plants graduating down on all sides to the pathways.

Even if the doubtful truth of the saying that "flower colours do not clash with each other" is accepted, this will not eliminate the fact that all dahlias do not grow the same height, and that if a dozen dahlias are planted, it is desirable that a dozen should be seen.

The relation between the dahlia plot and the rest of the garden should also be considered; if the plot abuts on to the herbaceous border, for instance, try to ensure that the softer colours, and dwarfer plants, are sited at the junction. Try, in effect, to blend the dahlia plot into the garden as a whole so that it does not look an isolated block of rather garish colour.

From the garden landscape point of view, it is sometimes an advantage to have a comparatively small group of dahlias interspersed with the other flowers. Strictly speaking this is not so good for the dahlias, as they will undoubtedly fare much better in a plot devoted entirely to themselves. But after all the garden is for pleasure and with care they will not suffer overmuch.

If this plan is adopted it is best to plant in groups of three to six dahlias, again carefully chosen as to height, putting a block of taller varieties at the back of the border, with dwarfer perennials - not too dwarf of course - in front; or a group of varieties of medium height, in front of tall perennials such as the rudbeckias and so on.

An admixture of different sized blooms, together with a variation in formation and colour, graduating down from the back to the front, will stop any tendency to look formal and stiff. - 1432

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Dahlia produces beautiful flowers for your garden.

Growing Dahlia Through Seeds

By Edward Williams

This method is really only suitable for the raising of single and semi-double bedding varieties. It is probably the finest as well as the cheapest method of raising these types. Seed of the taller fully- double varieties will give disappointing results, as the majority will be only semi-double and of nondescript form, quite unsuitable for garden decoration.

The cheap wooden handled knives sold as cobblers' knives are particularly suitable for the job as they have a straight cutting edge with an angled point, as well as being strong and so capable of standing up to the strain of dividing tough material.

Once the plants are growing strongly they may be moved closer to the glass for a few more days, and after this should be ready to go out into the cold frames for hardening off. But do be certain that the roots have taken a very strong hold before attempting to put them into the less congenial atmosphere of the cold frame.

It is far better to retain them in the house if there is any doubt, particularly in the more exposed areas and in the north. Usually the first plants are ready to go out, in the south at least, about mid April, somewhat later in the north and in Scotland.

Water the pots or boxes by immersion after sowing. Cover the seed receptacles with a sheet of paper and glass and place in a warm corner of the greenhouse or frame to germinate. Germination should take place in about ten to twenty-one days, depending on the amount of heat provided, and the seedlings should be ready to be pricked out a week later.

This crown is easily broken away from the tuber if carelessly divided, and it would be useless to plant any tuber which has no crown, as this would produce roots only without any top growth. In a few varieties, particularly cactus varieties with clusters of comparatively thin individual tubers, the crown is very small and very closely knit to the tubers. These types are very easily divided, in fact it is possible to pull them to pieces and each piece will make a good plant. Unfortunately this is not true of the majority of varieties, some decorative varieties producing almost ball like tubers of comparatively small size, merging imperceptibly in crown and then into stem. In this case it is inadvisable to divide into more than two. - 1432

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You can grow garden dahlia through cuttings and seed propagation.

Chicory Herb

By Jocelyn Peyton

Costmary, native to the Middle East, was known to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who probably introduced it via Europe to England. Nowadays it grows wild in the eastern and mid-western United States, where it was introduced by the colonists.

The one-time fame of this herb is documented by its many different common names. In the USA it was called `biblelear because the first colonists used the long leaves as bookmarks for the bible. In England it was used to flavour ale, hence the name alecost.

The German name Marienkraut, meaning costmary, is now only a reminder of an almost forgotten spice, once highly prized and widely grown in gardens. The parts used for flavouring are the large leathery leaves with an aroma slightly reminiscent of menthol. They are used fresh or, dried to flavour soups, salads, pies, stuffings for fatty meats, poultry, game and especially veal.

Besides varieties with thick roots there is also a variety C.i. foliosum which is grown as a vegetable for use in salads: It is forced during the winter in sand in a dark cellar, or in a frame covered to exclude all light, for chicon production.

The chicons are tender, pale yellow and have a mildly bitter taste. Salads are also prepared from other cultivated varieties that have not the slightest resemblance to the type species; one such being `cicoria di Treviso' with decorative red foliage, which is very popular in Italy and Switzerland.

Sachets filled with a mixture of dried costmary and lavender are placed between linen to give it a pleasant scent. Also popular is tea made from costmary. - 1432

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A great herb garden design is an asymmetric, balanced garden design with a variety of herbs grow in informal clumps round the geometric centerpiece of box hedge.

Dahlia and Frost

By James Bohling

If frost does seem likely, then the plants should be covered if possible. A sheet of newspaper, twisted into a cone and dropped over each will give complete protection. Large pots may be used to cover the dahlias.

Similarly the giant and large cactus should be restricted to five branches on light and seven branches on rich soils.

Should the plants become frosted, due to a completely unexpected frost, they may often be saved by spraying with very cold water. This must be done before the sun has risen, or at least begun to shine on the affected plants. The damage caused by frost is clue not so much to the chilling but to the fast expansion of the chilled tissue when the sun's light falls on the leaves and stems, causing a rupture of the cell walls and a rapid break down of the tissue.

Small decorative and cactus will require little de-branching, unless the plants produce an unduly high number, when it is advisable to thin out the weaker shoots. Again variety and soil considerable bearing on this point, a weak growing variety on light soil for instance should be restricted to no more than eight or nine side branches. Treat miniature varieties similarly.

Double Show and Fancy should be treated very similarly to the giant cactus if really heavy globular flowers of maximum size are required, but it is fairly obvious from the blooms exhibited at most shows throughout the country, that this point of view is unpopular. Most exhibitors prefer to treat this class of dahlia in similar fashion to the medium cactus; this will give perfectly good blooms of reasonable size in greater quantity.

The medium and small pompons should be accorded similar treatment to that given to the small decorative and cactus, that is only the weak growths are removed when grown on rich soils, reducing a little more severely on poor soil. The small pompons require very little thinning unless the soil is particularly poor. - 1432

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Dahlia has many beautiful varieties. Dahlia can be planted to decorate your garden.

Valentine's Day dangerous to health

By Tracy Anderson

This sounds like a bad joke but it isn't. Researchers say that Valentine's Day can be dangerous to your health. The reason: the most romantic day of the year is also the time when a lot of couples break up.

This shocking news comes from Arizona State University researchers who found that couples are five times more likely to split apart on Valentine's Day than on any other day. This often occurs during the two-week period before and after that occasion.

This startling fact was uncovered after researchers studied 245 students. The subjects were interviewed about their personal relationships.

"One group was asked to fill out a questionnaire a week before Valentine's Day and then repeat the same questions a week after February 14. The other three groups had to answer the same questionnaire on two occasions a fortnight apart but did so in September, November or April," reported Robin Yapp of the Daily Mail.

"After allowing for other factors that may influence the likelihood of a split - such as length of relationship and number of former partners - couples were five and a half times more likely to break up close to Valentine's Day," he added.

Professor Steven Neuberg, a psychologist and lead author of the study, said the stress of Valentine's Day that causes these problems appears to stem from the fact that the occasion is often a no-win situation.

If you're romantic, some people may interpret that as a false gesture that goes with the holiday. If you do nothing, it may be perceived as a sign that you don't care. Either way, you lose, Neuberg said.

"Seeing others enjoying candlelit dinners, exchanging gifts or kissing can lead us to think other couples enjoy more romantic relationships," Yapp said.

"We suggest that Valentine's Day may be less beneficial to relationships than those who market cards, flowers, chocolates and jewelry would have one believe. Indeed, we propose that Valentine's Day is harmful to many relationships," Neuberg concluded.

Of course, sincerity is the name of the game here. If you have feelings for someone and truly care for that person, your sincerity will shine through and stay with you no matter what day it is.

To show your sincerity, be faithful, respect your partner and be sensitive to his or her needs. That way, your relationship will grow stronger everyday and it will feel like Valentine's Day every day of the year. - 1432

About the Author:

There are many ways of showing that you love your partner. But nothing beats a bouquet of beautiful red roses or other special flowers professionally designed and hand delivered by your local florist. This is a classic expression of love that will surely captivate anyone's heart. For details, visit http://www.discountflowerdeliveryredding.info.

Soil Types for Dahlia

By John Maiya

Unline many flowers grown for their beauty alone, and thus forgiven for their many faults in other directions, the dahlia, though worthy of inclusion in any list of the world's loveliest flowers, is peculiarly lacking in temperamental likes or dislikes.

Double show and Fancy dahlias (why the term double is still retained is somewhat of a mystery-except that there used to be a single show at one time) have fully double, almost globular, flowers, with central florets like the outer, but somewhat smaller. The florets are incurved at the margin, tubular and blunt at the mouth.

The advice which follows is given to help the enthusiast who desires the utmost perfection from his plants, and the average gardener who, though he may grow them under difficulties, still desires to get the best results possible.

Although these ideal conditions will not be available to many gardeners the site and soil nearest approximating to them must be chosen, and, if really good results are desired, an attempt made by careful culture to minimise the natural disadvantages.

Should the soil be deficient in lime, that is, strongly acid, this must be rectified by spreading lime during the winter. Calcium is an essential plant food, though there is a considerable variation in the amount which different plants require. In addition it makes available to the plant other minerals, particularly phosphorus, which is an essential element for strong root growth and tuber development. Poor tuber growth is often evident in soils which are strongly acid and low in phosphates.

Although these are the main groupings at present, there is no doubt that this classification will not remain unchanged for long as the dahlia exhibits new variations in form each year, some of which will ultimately have to be recognised. For example, there are an increasing number of cactus varieties in which the tips of the petals are laciniated, in many cases quite deeply. These frilled or lacy varieties are at present handicapped in competition against the more normal varieties, so that if the number increases it may well be advisable to institute a separate class for such varieties. - 1432

About the Author:

You can search on the internet for gardening tips on growing dahlias.

How to Propagate Dahlia Through Cuttings Properly

By Bob Patrick

If pots are used bed these down in well dampened peat, as this will prevent the compost drying out quite so quickly, as well as maintaining a moist atmosphere round the leaves of the cuttings, and so minimise flagging. It is important to realise that losses through damping of are usually greater in close, warm stagnant conditions, so glass. The glass should be removed as soon as possible each day.

The cuttings should be inserted into the chosen medium with the aid of a dibber, making a hole approximately 1 in. deep, and firmly but gently pressing the cutting into position, making sure that the base of the cutting is brought into contact with the compost at the bottom of the dibber hole. The compost should then be gently pressed against the base of the cutting with the dibber, inserting this at an angle to avoid compressing the top layer; five or six cuttings may be inserted round the edge of a large 6o (4 in.) pot. If boxes or cutting beds are used the cuttings should be dibbered in approximately 2 in. apart in all directions. Label all cuttings at once.

The soil compost used is very much a matter of personal choice. The one thing that is essential is that it must be light, well drained and reasonably rich. John Innes No. 1 potting compost is very suitable, although a little extra peat and sand could be added, but any similar compost can be used quite effectively, provided it contains a reasonable amount of plant food, and a considerable amount of coarse sharp sand, plus peat and/or leaf mould.

The John Innes base fertiliser in any case makes an ideal addition to any compost as it is nicely balanced for plant growth. The soil used for potting up should be only moderately damp, never saturated. It should hold together when squeezed but If only a comparatively small number of plants is required, or if only a cold frame is available for propagation, undoubtedly the best method of increasing stock is by division of the ground roots.

In some ways this is the finest method of propagation, most nearly approximating to the natural order-the stock will seldom deteriorate if this method is used throughout-and it is very valuable when dealing with varieties which are naturally late in flowering. Varieties such as Mentone, Regina and H.M. Queen Elizabeth in particular are very difficult to flower early except when divided tubers are used. I t must be realised in addition that it is desirable to divide rather than to plant whole tubers. The object is to leave sufficient tuber to keep the plant going until it forms new roots, but no more; an excessive amount of old tuber will only delay the formation of the new roots, and as these are the beginning of the fresh tubers which will ensure the continuance of the plant life it is good to encourage early growth. Another factor is that far too much top growth is produced by the undivided root, and the flowers will probably take second place to leaf growth-obviously not the reason for which dahlias are grown.

Mains water can be used; there is no reason whatsoever to believe that this is deleterious, but a little warm water should always be added to avoid chilling the compost too much. - 1432

About the Author:

In order to propagate Dahlia by cuttings in your garden, you need to know the methods to carry out the propagation.

Scouting The Best Sunroom Contractor

By Andrew Caxton

Choosing the ideal contractor that would manage the construction of your sunroom is extremely important. This is vital if you want to make sure to get the best sunroom outcome. For this, you only need to hire the best contractors. By best, it only means that the contractor is fully dependable and experienced. Take note at some of the hints in order to make sure that you only get the best sunroom contractor around.

First thing that you should keep in mind is that a house builder must be completely insured so that you can also be protected. If in case you encounter some problems with the sunroom construction, then you need to find some possible measures that would help you iron out all the glitches. And one of the most effective ways is by scouting the best sunroom contractor.

Another problem that you might encounter is that the insurance coverage includes if it covers that costs of the injuries and damage once the contractor or workers encounter accidents. For this, you need to ask first the contractor if a subcontractor will be used. If the reply is positive, then you need to ensure that they are at licensed and at the same time insured.

It is also your responsibility to check out with the best business bureau in your location so that you won't face any problems against the contractor. This will then help you gauge if they are really reputable and credible as what they claim to be.

Now that the legal matters are already settled, then you can now decide on what kind of sunroom style you want to build in your home. If the contractor that you are hiring features a showroom, then you might want to take some time to visit it so that you can personally witness the things that they have to offer. If they don't then some testimonials from their past clients would surely be a big help. Clients who are fully satisfied with the contractor's work can say nothing but all the affirmative things. These testimonials can be a huge help in weighing out your decision. You may even ask some of the clients to visit their sunroom which is done by your target contractor. This way, you can also personally witness how they have worked on the sunroom. If you are convinced, then it's high time that you hire the contractor that you are eyeing on.

The next thing you need to work on is to get the quotes for the construction of the sunroom. In this task, you need to choose a company that features free on-home visits and of course, free quotes so you can get as much quotes as you want for your sunroom. Just make sure that all the things you need are already included in the quotes so you can also compare them with other companies. And lastly, ask is the quote covers a warranty.

They say the most effective way to make sure you get the best sunroom contractor around is through the recommendations of friends. Those who have already experienced on how the contractor work can give you information on how professional and good they really are.

Read more articles about sunroom designs and sunroom prices available here at this web. - 1432

About the Author:

Andrew Caxton is the author of more resources published online .Find at http://www.allsunrooms.com/designs.html more articles about sunroom designs

Dahlia Routine Pest Control

By Matthew Joy

Routine pest control is common to all cultivation, whether in frame or greenhouse. In the greenhouse most pests may be kept at bay by using smoke bombs or aerocides. There are many proprietary brands of these, all of which are good, or the plants may be sprayed regularly with a good insecticide. Gamma B.H.C. is a good all round spray that controls a great number of pests and can safely be recommended.

Having made a careful selection, obtain catalogues from well tried, reliable nurserymen; remember also that a personal recommendation from a keen dahlia fan is often of more value than an appealing advertisement, and place your order with a grower offering most of the varieties you require. If in any doubt, split your order between two or more nurserymen. You may save a little money by this, as varieties vary somewhat in price from catalogue to catalogue according to the amount of stock held. In any case it is an insurance policy, because if one purchase is poor the chances are that the other will not be, and you will have already gone some way on the road to selective buying.

Place your order as early as you can, because by so doing you make it possible to stipulate the time you want the plants, with a fair chance that you will get them at that time, which might not be so if you left ordering until the last minute.

Besides ordering directly from the nurseryman it is often possible to purchase nicely grown plants from florists in all the big cities; these are usually from excellent nurseries and often represent good value.

Although it is probably inadvisable to admit much air for the first seven days, after this some ventilation should be given on all but the coldest days, providing no direct draught is caused. The amount of ventilation should be gradually increased during daylight hours until on fine days the lights may be removed completely.

So, either go over the plants displayed for sale and select those that you know are good. - 1432

About the Author:

When buying dahlia, you must choose the type of dahlia you want to grow in your garden instead of listening to what the nursery man say.

Lights Are Important Elements In Growing Plants

By Keith Markensen

I am building another lamplight greenhouse, so I can expand my study of roses under artificial lighting. I had some very astounding results from cuttings made during the winter and, believe it or not, several are blooming at this very moment in the garden.

My failures were also ever present, but from each 1 learned a lesson, be it in rooting mediums, temperature, hardening off, or what- ever problems beset the indoor gardener. One thing I do know is that it works if you know how to properly balance the lights and take certain other precautions.

I bought a dormant rose the second week in March, planted it in a pot and set it alongside my propagating box under lights. On April 27 I cut my first rose of the year, and I believe the first one in this area. It caused quite a commotion. When I told people I raised it in a basement they said I was "nuts." The rose had never seen daylight until it was cut and brought out of the house.

The only limiting factor in this process has been space. The same issue when I was planting caladium bulbs. I am in constant competition with the basement as it is the only place for me to get things done during the winter including propagating caladium bulbs and roses. Consequently my lighting units will have to be kept within a 3 x 5 foot lighting setup, which limits me to 40 watt tubes six across.

When I mention a lamplight greenhouse, people expect a greenhouse on the order of the type used by nurseries. They hardly think a board of lights that practically blind a person as conducive to growing anything. - 1432

About the Author:

Find out more as Keith Markensen shares his experiences on lawns, landscape and indoor plants at http://www.plant-care.com. We've created an excellent resource for you on the topic of planting caladium bulbs.

The Dahlia

By James Marissa

The habits and formation of the dahlia are peculiarly suited to its natural environment. A native of Mexico, it experiences a high rainfall during the growing season, followed by an almost complete drought during the resting period.

The stamens in a bisexual floret tend to produce fertile pollen before the stigma is receptive, so that the chance of self pollination is extremely small. This does not mean that it is not possible to transfer pollen, either naturally or artificially, from another floret or bloom of the same variety to receptive stigma, and so iiiduce self pollination.

The individual florets are separated by scales (bracteoles) which serve as calyces for the protection of the seed case (the ovary). These remain on the flower head after the florets have been removed or have dried out, closing round the developing seed to form a protective sheath.

This explains why it is sometimes possible to obtain seed from ray florets, even though the petal has dropped; in this case the seed has been fertilised before the petal has fallen out, and is retained within the bracteole to finish development. Each floret is capable of producing only one seed.

Doubling in the dahlia is not of recent origin as it is evident that at least one species, D. Variabilis, produced some semi-double blooms naturally. It is not surprising therefore that shortly after its introduction into Europe fully double dahlias were raised. The earliest had more or less flat florets and from these evolved the ball-shaped formal blooms which were to exclude practically all other forms for many years. A later variant had short tubular florets incurving at the margin: the forerunner of the Double Show and Fancy and the pompons still widely grown today.

At first the plant relies upon nourishment obtained from the tuber but at a later stage fresh roots develop from the base of each green shoot to supply the growing demands of the plant. These fresh roots themselves develop into tubers by the end of the growing season and the old root system then gradually dries out and will eventually rot away. - 1432

About the Author:

Dahlia is a great flower to grow in your garden.

Jenny and Her Pretty American Girl Dolls

By Karen Hoffman

One thing I remember most about Jenny when she was still in her very young years is that she is very fond of dolls. You will always catch her grabbing dolls of other young girls and then would try to own them. And whenever her birthday comes, or even Christmas season is up and coming back then, all you will hear from her is that she wants dolls and nothing else.

Her parents love her so much so have given her what she wanted - dolls. On her 4th birthday, her parents gave Jenny her first ever doll, an American Girl Doll with a name of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was in a rich berry-red dress made from a brocade fabric when Jenny got her. The dress looked very nice to Jenny most especially that it was highlighted by a contrasting gold panel then on. Not to mention that there was also delicate cream-colored lace with a metallic gold detail that spilled down the bodice and trimmed the sleeves. There were also the ruby-colored faux jewels that sparkled against the lace and a cream lace cap with a berry-red ribbon which have really lighted up not only Elizabeth's look but also Jenny's face.

Jenny took care of Elizabeth very well and her parents have seen this so they gave her another American Girl Doll on Christmas day following her 4th birthday. They bought Samantha as a Christmas present to her. Samantha was just a perfect doll for Christmas as she was wearing then on a velveteen coat with faux trim. She was wearing as well a wide brimmed hat with matching velveteen band and black knitted mittens. She looked very gorgeous back then. Not to mention that she was also holding flowers. Jenny felt so delighted having Samantha in her hands; her second doll.

Before Jenny turned 5, her parents got some financial problems so can't afford to give her another doll present so instead just gave her a simple birthday bash. Jenny wasn't upset at all as Elizabeth and Samantha were already there around.

Christmas time came but still her parents was in a financial trouble so still can't give Jenny present. But Jenny as a loving and understand kid she was, didn't still mind not having another doll but instead just took care of her two dolls, Elizabeth and Samantha.

On her 6th birthday, she wasn't already expecting any doll but then surprisingly on the morning of her birthday, she woke up having another doll beside her in her bed. She ran as fast as she could to her parents' room and then thanked them by kissing them on both cheeks on and on.

Name of the doll she got on her 6th birthday was Julie. She was in a casual dress and got a doll trunk wardrobe. Julie got a bag, hairbrush, and accessories. Julie seemed like perfect for travel. Jenny was so happy back then having Julie, another addition to her pretty doll collection.

Now that Christmas time is again up and coming, then her 7th birthday follows, Jenny is still hoping to get additional pretty dolls. But if her parents can't afford them for some reasons, for sure Jenny will understand. Most especially now that she already have pretty dolls in her care - Elizabeth, Samantha and Julie. - 1432

About the Author:

This author is a Huge fan of American Girl Doll and American Girl For Sale.

Wilmington Discount Flowers Has Something For Everybody

By Victor X Smyth

With all of the different discount flower services out there, why should you choose discount flowers Wilmington to handle your flower delivery? Well, there are really four reasons. And with two major 'flower' holidays coming up, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, you'd better be sure that the service that you choose is a reliable one. The discount flowers Wilmington site has partnered with one of the most dedicated and reliable flower delivery services in the industry.

No matter what discount flower delivery service you decide to go with, there are four qualities that you should look for when deciding. The difference in doing your homework could mean a wonderful Valentine's Day (and evening) with the one you love versus you sitting by yourself on your sofa in the dark watching reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond" because your partner won't talk to you!

The first criteria is the reliability of the service. Have they been in business for a while or did they begin to deliver flowers this morning? Chances are that if the company has been doing business for a while the likelihood that they have happy satisfied customers is pretty good. A great example of reliability is the discount flowers delivery service. They have partnered with another flower company that has been connecting customers with the nation's best florists for more than 70 years- a terrific sign of reliability.

The second quality that you should look for is the quality of the flowers. And how would you judge this by looking at a website? Well, as simple as it sounds, you look at the pictures of flowers on the site and decide if they look nice. Why should you care about the pictures? Because if someone went the extra mile to make the pictures look good on the website, chances are they will be just as professional when making the presentation look good when the flowers are actually delivered.

While you're evaluating the quality of the flowers also check to see if there is a variety of flowers that the service delivers. If you're online and looking at a mega website with thousands of pages, you should also be seeing thousands of flowers. If you're not chances are it's because they don't have a wide variety. Then it's time to keep looking. When you click on the link to the discount flowers Wilmington site, you'll notice a wide variety of flowers for not only Valentine's Day but for any other occasion as well.

The third quality is the affordability of the flowers. Is there a range of prices to choose from or do all of the flowers start out at $149 dollars? Again, a good flower delivery service will offer a range of choices for everyone, regardless of whether you have a part time income or you're the CEO of an automobile company. And the flowers or arrangement should look nice no matter what package you choose.

The final quality that you should consider is that of reputation. How long has the company or service been around? And if they're a new service, do they have good follow through? Let me give you a personal example. Whenever I go into the supermarket there always seems to be someone hanging just outside of the exit selling single roses. And they ask everyone that comes out of the supermarket if they'd like to buy a rose. Now while I am a firm believer in budding entrepreuners, (pardon the pun) I want the roses that I buy for my wife to last a week or two. And I'd also like them to look professional when they are delivered.

By keeping track of these four ideas, namely reliability, quality, affordability and reputation, you should be able to tell the winners from the losers in terms of flower delivery services. And it doesn't matter if you're thinking about going into a store to buy flowers yourself or ordering flowers online, these four qualities should steer you in the right direction. - 1432

About the Author:

Victor X Smyth helps people to safely purchase flowers using the internet. Check out his discount flower site at discount flowers Wilmington. Need a reputable flower delivery company that delivers same day? Click on Discount Flowers Delivery

How to Propagate Dahlia Through Cuttings

By Morgan Lionel

Providing the job has been done well the result should be a short-jointed cutting some 22 to 4 in. in length with one pair of fully expanded leaves, a pair of partly expanded leaves and a well defined growing point.

If the cutting carries too much leaf it is an advantage, if the leaf is of the pinnate type, that is with several lobes, to cut off some part of this, but do not cut through a leaf lobe itself, if possible. With the single lobed type of leaf it is probably inadvisable to shorten at all, however much leaf the cutting is carrying, although this can be done, often without detriment to the cutting, if the propagating conditions are ideal.

Many commercial growers root in pure sand, but it is not advisable for the amateur to do so as the risk of drying out is too great. Some growers use vermiculite alone, although this to some extent has the same disadvantages as sand in drying out rather quickly; besides this it is not always easy to make the cutting bed down well in this material as it is very light and loose.

One school of thought recommends the use of some soil in the compost, as the plants have available some nutrients as soon as roots are formed, but it is essential that the soil be sterilised if used in this fashion. If this idea appeals a very good mixture can be made from equal parts sterilised loam, peat and sharp silver sand (fine quality bird grit may be used instead of sand), adding a little charcoal and shell to keep the mixture sweet. It is very much a matter of opinion which is the best medium. So many growers get excellent results with diverse materials, including pumice, road sweepings and other comparatively unlikely materials, that it is impossible to be dogmatic.

Personally, as I have said earlier, I prefer to eliminate soil from the compost as it is difficult to sterilise, and consider that the peat, sand and vermiculite compost is the best; it is as well to experiment to find out which suits one's circumstances best.

Such stem cuttings seldom make really good tubers, and are often hollow and therefore difficult to root. The succeeding crops of cuttings rapidly become very thin and long jointed, and are definitely poor material for propagating. - 1432

About the Author:

Dahlia has many garden varieties. Dahlia has beautiful blossoms of flowers.

Rind Grafting

By Patrick Samson

Most shrubs need moderate pruning to encourage more vigorous growth and increase of flowers. Early flowering shrubs such as Chaenomeles, Forsythia, .Viraea thunbergii, S. crenata, Prunus spec. and the like should be pruned after the flowering period. Moderate pruning after flowering is also required at several-year intervals by Syringa, Mahonia, Viburnum lantana and other shrubs.

Another method of vegetative propagation is budding, a form of grafting used for roses, lilacs, medlars, hawthorns and other woody plants. The best time for this is summer (from late June till mid-September). A well-developed bud with a piece of leaf stalk and shield of bark is cut from the plant to be propagated.

Likewise, old hedges beginning to thin markedly at the base should be pruned hard or cut back by one half. Today the trend is to make gardens and the open spaces between blocks of apartment houses an extension of man's living space. Vegetables and fruit trees are being replaced in large part by terraces, lawns, pools and ornamental shrubs. Because gardens and the open spaces between apartment blocks are far smaller than public parks, smaller trees and above all shrubs are being widely used.

The finest and most abundant display of flowers are borne by shrubs that have ample young wood. Shrubs left untended rejuvenate themselves by throwing out new shoots from the base and it is therefore necessary to aid them in this process. Pruning should not be left until too late so as to prevent the need of removing wood that is very old, for the shortening of strong thick branches mars the shrub's overall appearance.

A further rule of pruning is that one should maintain the natural habit and shape of the shrub as much as possible. Only in the case of neglected shrubs or ones with asymmetric growth are the branches cut back hard, i.e. all the branches are cut back to 10 cm above the ground. As a rule it then takes two to three years for the shrubs to attain a reasonable size to bear flowers. With tended shrubs old branches are removed regularly every two to three years.

The choice of shrubs for a freely-growing border includes most species and is governed by the quality of the soil of the given site, the abundance of light and the required height of the border. The aesthetic aspect is likewise not to be overlooked, the decisive factors here being the flowers and fruit borne by the given shrubs. - 1432

About the Author:

In garden planning, with solid panelled garden fencing it is easier to build in steps, keeping the tops of the panels horizontal and building up or cutting down at ground level where necessary.

An Organic Vegetable Garden Makes It Easy to Eat Healthfully

By Pat Lowe

The benefits of consuming organic products, such as fruits and vegetables, are widely known. However, very few people eat organic food on a regular basis. The high cost of organic food discourages many people from purchasing it. When buying organic vegetables from your local supermarket, you can expect to spend considerably more.

Fortunately, anyone with an organic vegetable garden can grow healthy vegetables of their own for much less than they could buy them at the store.

Regardless, some people don't bother cultivating their own vegetables, since they believe they are limited by space, time, and the knowledge to grow a bountiful vegetable patch. But organic gardening is not as hard as you may expect.

What makes a garden organic? Most gardeners describe organic gardening as simply rejecting the use of anything chemical or artificial to control insects or to fertilize plants. Instead, they apply natural materials and methods in order to retain the health of the soil, the food, and themselves.

Is there a reason that organic gardening is superior to ordinary gardening? Since organic gardening keeps soil nutrient-rich, the quality of organically grown vegetables is nutritionally superior to anything you will find in a supermarket. Unlike much of the produce you find in the store, organic produce is not grown in soil with artificial fertilizer. This soil is rich with natural nutrients, and the taste of the vegetables it yields is wonderful.

With an organic garden, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your food is truly free of harmful chemical toxins. There is also the added satisfaction of doing the work, and harvesting your own crop. Just think of the fresh air you'll enjoy, as well as the healthy benefits of exercising while you take care of your garden.

Mulching is one of the main secrets. The regular incorporation of old organic matter helps keep the soil functioning well. Mulching helps the soil retain moisture, suppresses weeds, reduces temperature fluctuations, and can prevent soil crusting. Many organic gardeners find that plant disease problems decline as the health of the soil improves.

The primary reason for growing things organically is to reduce your exposure to chemically produced fertilizers and pesticides. Keep these things out of your garden, and your soil will remain healthy for numerous growing seasons. The most important thing is that you can rest assured that the food your family eats is not laced with chemicals.

All organic gardeners shun man-made chemicals, but many allow naturally made sprays and concoctions in their gardens. Mechanical devices, such as traps, can also be used for pest control. Another method is to allow the pests' natural predators to enter the garden, thus allowing nature to take its course.

Converting your personal vegetable garden into a source of income may be an interesting option if organic produce continues to be costly, and if food safety remains a concern to consumers. Community projects that help your entire neighborhood can be the incentive you need to jump into an organic garden with your neighbors as well.

At the very least, home grown, organic vegetables definitely taste better. - 1432

About the Author:

Eating healthfully doesn't have to be expensive when you plant a vegetable garden. For ideas and advice on growing a great crop of veggies, visit The Vegetable Patch.

Wild Thyme

By John Tristan

Wild thyme is unjustly considered a poor relation of garden thyme. It is less commonly cultivated and yet is widely distributed not only throughout Europe, but also in Asia, north Africa and North America, generally occurring in open, sunny situations and thus often found on loose, sandy anthills.

Thyme is a sub-shrub up to 30 cm (1 ft) high, native to the Mediterranean region but nowadays grown in a variety of forms in many countries of Europe and in the USA. It is best used fresh, for like most other culinary herbs it contains volatile oils, and for that reason it is commonly grown in the herb garden. Young plants, grown-on in spring from seeds, are bedded out when they are about 6 cm high. Thyme is most aromatic when it is beginning to flower and that is when it should be picked, dried and stored in air-tight containers for winter use.

The principal component of the volatile oil of thyme is thymol, which gives the herb its characteristic aroma and is responsible for its medicinal action. Thyme oil is a component of cough medicines and thyme' is also added to toothpastes, mouthwashes and soaps, not only for its pleasant fragrance but also for its antiseptic properties.

Fenugreek is an annual herb growing up to 60 cm (2 ft) high and related to clover. It is valuable as a forage crop in the Mediterranean region. The exact translation of the botanical name 'triangular Greek hay' refers to the triangular appearance of the flowers and bears testimony to the fact that it was grown in the Mediterranean region as far back as antiquity. To this day it is found naturalized in Greece and Egypt and is also raised in Ethiopia, Lebanon, India, China and Argentina.

Wild thyme also flowers for a longer period than garden thyme and is thus excellent as a food source for bees.

Garden thyme is a sub-shrub growing up to 30 cm (1 ft) high, whereas wild thyme is a creeping perennial herb (serpyllum is derived from the Greek word 'herpyllos', meaning creeping). Finally the main component of wild thyme oil is cymol, not thymol. - 1432

About the Author:

During a good summer, herbs like tomatoes thrive and less hardy vegetables such as peppers, aubergines, cucumber sweet corn can all be grown in the garden.

Vanhoutt Spfraea

By James Madeline

Vanhoutt Spfraea is a hybrid shrub, a cross between two Asian species: S. cantoniensis x S. trilobata. Of arching habit, it attains a height of 1.5-2 m. The twigs are brownish, the buds small and pointed. It is covered with small flat clusters of white flowers in late May and the first half of June, the fruits maturing and splitting at the end of July.

This shrub is a native of southern Europe but has been cultivated in western Europe since the 16th century. It was once a very popular shrub for parks and gardens in western and central Europe and is completely resistant to frost. It is moderate in its requirements of soil richness and moisture and also tolerates shade, though it then bears fewer blossoms.

It is found on the edges of forests, by the wayside and also in open woods, for it requires less light than the raspberry. It is especially fond of heavier and moist soils. In woodlands it often forms impenetrable thickets. It is usually propagated by means of natural tip layering. The dog rose is a shrub growing to 1.5-3 m in height with erect as well as arching branches.

The raspberry grows to 1-2 m in height with erect as well as arching shoots. The shoots are two-year growths bearing only leaves the first year, flowering and fruiting in the second and dying off by winter. Coloured brown, they are covered with soft spines. The whitish flowers appear in May and June.

The fruits ripen in July and August, after which they fall to the ground. Unlike the blackberry, the fruit of the raspberry is easily separated from the receptacle. Ripe berries are eaten by birds and animals and the small seeds arc dispersed far and wide in their droppings.

Propagation is by means of seeds and root suckers. It is a colonist on grazed hillsides, preparing the way for the growth of woodland trees, which are able to gain a foothold as its thorns keep grazing animals at bay. In gardening it is used as rootstock for cultivated varieties of hybrid tea and other roses. - 1432

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In garden planning, garden paving materials such as concrete slabs, old stone slabs or mable are all cheaper when broken and they can then be laid in a random pattern known as crazy paving.

Smell of flowers common in brain injury

By Tracy Anderson

Do you always smell flowers even when they're not around? Does this scent linger in your nose regardless of where you are?

If you answered "yes" to both questions, you probably have phantosmia, an olfactory hallucination that causes people to smell something that isn't there.

Phantosmia occurs when the nerves of the olfactory system are damaged. This may happen following a viral infection, brain tumor, surgery or exposure to toxins or drugs. The problem can also be triggered by epilepsy or it may be psychological in origin.

"Most often phantosmia is due to temporal lobe seizures, but it could also be caused by a brain injury. If you have a temporal lobe seizure, your phantosmia may be brief and you may lose consciousness or have other symptoms of epilepsy," according to Dr. Jerry Swanson, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.

"The combination of phantosmia and olfactory delusions is often due to a psychiatric illness, such as depression or schizophrenia. Phantosmia and olfactory delusions may also occur in people with Alzheimer's disease. Although rare, phantosmia can occur as a symptom prior to a migraine. There is also some evidence to suggest that phantosmia can arise due to a disorder of the smell receptor system rather than the central nervous system," he added.

People with phantosmia may detect a variety of odors. The "lucky" ones smell fresh flowers. The most common odors, however, are rotting flesh, vomit, urine, feces and smoke.

Imagine the pain and misery these people go through with these unpleasant smells! How on earth can you enjoy dinner if these bad odors haunt you?

The bad news is very little is known about phantosmia and treatment may be difficult depending on the underlying problem.

If you smell strange odors from things that aren't there, consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of a serious disorder. The sooner treatment is begun, the better. - 1432

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If you like the smell of flowers and would like to share them with those you love, go to Discount Flower Delivery Boulder- your trusted source of fresh flowers that are professionally designed and perfect for any occasion.

Ever wonder if your tool is the right one for you?

By Stephen Nelson

Choosing a hedge trimmer can be harder than it looks, the choices are practically endless. Most hedge trimmers are not cheap enough to be considered a throw away purchase, you need to make sure that you buy one that will last you a long time and is powerful enough to do the job you want it for.

Gasoline hedge trimmers are perhaps the oldest powered hedge trimmer. With a simple expedient of connecting the hedge trimmer to a gas powered engine, men have created a very powerful and useful garden tool. Today, it is still the most economical in terms of professional and large area hedge trimming. It may be obvious that for professional and commercial reasons, gas powered engine is the better preference.

The right hedge trimmer for you needs to be powerful enough to do the job at hand, easy enough to use without having to read a manual as large as war and peace and it needs to be priced properly. There is no point buying the best hedge trimmer in the world if the money you spend on it will mean you can't afford to turn your electricity on for a month or two.

Battery or cordless powered hedge trimmers may be the best in terms of mobility and safety. But it is a lot more costly. If you cant afford these, the second best choices are not that bad, you may have to settle for the second best. After all, you may not necessarily need a battery or cordless powered hedge trimmer. The batteries too are not cheap and at the average, you may need more than one battery pack.

If you have a hedge trimmer that is 10 years old or more then it may be time to start looking at some of the newer models, gas engines have got lighter and more powerful, cordless hedge trimmers probably weren't even an option when you were buying yours.

You will be using the hedge trimmer you buy for many hours over its lifespan so you must make sure that it is the right model for you, powerful but light enough to work with and not so costly that you will wince every time you remember the purchase. - 1432

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The hedge trimmer that is right for you is out there and ready for you. A good hedge trimmer will give you more than your moneys worth and will last you many many years. Best Hedge trimmer has news and reviews that will help you choose the right hedge trimmer for you.

Common Osier

By George Cabin

The best time to plant deciduous shrubs is in the autumn after they have shed their leaves. Evergreen shrubs, like conifers, are best planted in spring just before they begin to put out new shoots. They are usually transplanted with the roots encased in a ball of earth.

To make sure that the transplanted shrub becomes well established and grows well it is important to preserve the ratio between the top and underground parts. When lifting a shrub its roots are often damaged quite severely and diminished in size and therefore it is necessary to cut back the top parts accordingly.

Long and shoots and cut back the thicker ones. This should always be done with a sharp knife or secateurs, so that the cut is clean and smooth. The top growth of evergreen shrubs planted out with a ball of earth is not cut back. To ensure that the shrub will become well established it is advisable to add peat, compost, or well decayed manure and to water well after planting.

The dioecious flowers appear in the second half of April and the seeds are released from the capsules in ,June. This species multiplies well from the seed but is less easy to propagate by means of cuttings.

Just as important as the choice of shrubs is their location and planting in the garden; here are a few hints on these points. Unless it is desired to plant a hedge or green barrier or unless the garden is a formal one laid out in a geometrical pattern, shrubs should never be planted in straight rows. They are best set out in small irregular groups of 3-5 or more, depending on ultimate size.

It grows near streams and water courses in both lowland and mountain areas. It is especially plentiful alongside mountain streams and often forms vast thickets on sandy and gravel alluvial deposits. The northern limit of its distribution extends as far as central Sweden. Its flexible branches are used in basket-making and cultivated varieties are grown specially for this purpose. It is also planted for short periods to improve dry sandy locations. - 1432

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In garden planning, the most common garden fences are built of standard sized boards and rails in one of a small range of traditional designs.

Plant Foods For Your Plants

By Kent Higgins

Plant food as was mentioned, is commercially prepared and designed to replenish nutrient depletion in soil. These are made in tablet and powder form and they are water soluble and can be fed to plants in liquid form.

Plant food gives gardener many improvements over using manure or manure mixes. Firstly, they have no odor, and take up minimal space. Secondly, the mixes are scientifically prepared and come with instructions on how and when they should be used.

As with soil, you may want to mix your own, however there is no use in attempting to mix something that will unfortunately never live up to the commercial products on the market.

Plants you buy are already in the pot, and should be OK without extra additives for around a month or so. If this fails to make the plant thrive, or if the plant shows signs of distress, it is more likely something is wrong with the plant or its environment, and not due to lack of nutrients.

If within a month, the plant continues to be in distress, then you may need to feed it. Remember, when using a plant food, to use the instructions carefully, they are developed after careful research and designed to improve the health of your plants.

It is natural to feel that if a tablespoon is good, then more will be even better. Do not fall into this trap, it is a mistake. Excessively feeding may result in the roots being burned up and the plant may die.

You must be careful not to over feed your plants with plant fertilizer, but you need to realize that plant food is needed and should be given at intervals, in the right amounts to all indoor plants, particularly those that remain pot bound for a long time.

One way to tell if your plant needs food or not is to look at the roots. To check the roots, hold the plant upside down and take the stem between your second and third fingers and then gently lift the pot with your other hand.

A few taps with a light mallet will help loosen the dirt from the inside. Inspect the root ball and if they are wound up and encased in dirt, they need plant food. If the ball looks like its made up of roots entirely, this is a sign its time to replant the plant. Another thing to remember is that flower plants seems to need more feedings that a foliage plant.

In your local garden supply store you can find a commercial packaged plant food for almost any kind of house plant. There are some like roses and African violets that need special food, but you can find these easily and ready made as well. These should be used instead of a general purpose plant food. - 1432

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Join Kent Higgins at http://www.plant-care.com. Now you can remove the confusion in your mind on the topic of indoor plant fertilizer.

Rue

By Vincent Alexandra

The scientific name of this plant is a pleonasm because the generic name Salvia is derived from the Latin word csalvare', meaning to cure, and the specific name officinalis from the neo-Latin word `officina,' meaning pharmacy. Despite the fact that sage is an important medicinal plant used by the Romans of ancient times, it also has its place in cookery.

In those days this plant was the subject of many superstitions - it was believed to have the power of making a person merry, happy and gay, of banishing nightmares and of preserving youth. In cookery it was used as a seasoning in salads and in sauces for fish dishes, also for flavouring wine. Medieval housewives placed it in their wardrobes and bookcases as a moth deterrent. Its many uses make rosemary an important addition to every garden.

As a seasoning it is most popular in Italy, France and England, where it is used with meat, mainly mutton, pork and game, as well as poultry, fish, in sauces, soups, salads and pickled vegetables. It is used crushed or ground and added to foods when they arc almost ready to eat, for lengthy cooking would cause evaporation of the essential oil that gives it its fragrance. Rosemary is an excellent seasoning but must be used sparingly, for larger doses may be deleterious.

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub reaching a height of 2 m (6 ft). It is native to the Mediterranean region. It is readily damaged by frost so should be planted in a sheltered position in the garden. It can be grown in pots and put indoors in a light, cool room or conservatory for the winter.

Sage is a Mediterranean sub-shrub, native to the area extending from Dahnatia to Macedonia. The best quality sage is from the Yugoslav coast where it covers slopes up to altitudes of 1,800 m (5,760 0). There are many varieties of sage grown on the Continent and in America. Propagation is by seed in early spring or late autumn.

The foliage should be harvested shortly before flowering and only in dry weather; it should be dried at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F). The aroma of sage is due to the presence of an essential oil, tannins and bitter principles. - 1432

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You can plant herbs in any free space in your garden,pots, and window boxes.

Clove

By Hannah Country

Clove is the dried flower bud of a tropical evergreen tree, native of the Moluccas, which reaches a height of 20 m (65 ft). It was known in the Far East and in India in ancient times and was shipped from there by the Chinese as far back as 400 B.C. For centuries it was used to alleviate toothache and also to sweeten the breath.

However, it was not until the 5th century A.D. that it began to be shipped to Europe from Alexandria, being sold there by Arabian merchants. From the 9th century onwards clove became a fashionable spice used by wealthy families.

The tender, juicy young leaves may be minced and used the same as chives in sandwiches, in cream cheeses, on boiled, buttered potatoes and as a garnish on cold meats. The ovate seeds, up to 1.5 mm long, are used in Iran, India, Greece, southern France and Spain to make a very pungent mustard.

The plant's leafy stems are up to 3 in (10 ft) high, the clusters of flowers (racemes) grow from the axils of bracts on stems that are much shorter. Propagation is by seeds, or, as in ginger, by root cuttings. The fruits are triloculatc capsules that ripen in succession throughout most of the year. They are harvested before they are ripe and dried carefully in the sun or by artificial heat so they do not burst and the seeds (2) retain their delicate aroma.

It is exceptionally good for pickling vegetables. Rocket is an annual herb reaching a height of 50 cm (20 in). The terminal inflorescence is composed of white or yellowish flowers with dark violet or pink veins. The seeds are enclosed in elongate, beaked siliques. Propagation is by seeds sown outdoors in their permanent site where the plants then grow very rapidly, particularly in warm regions.

Commercial cardamom is of two kinds: one from Malabar with small fruits and seeds, the other from Mysore with fruits and seeds that are slightly larger. - 1432

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All herb gardens are individual, both in the problems they face and the way they are planned and planted.

Measuring the size and slope of your Garden plot

By Rupert Happy

Some idea of the type of garden you want may already be beginning to form in your mind. Before you start to translate your thoughts on to paper, make a rough but accurate survey of the garden.

Your garden may, on the other hand, look out on to eyesores which you want to block from sight. The immediate instinct may he to put up a harrier on the site boundary, but foreground planting can often be more effective and, being closer to the eye, will screen a wider area. The right for a barbecue. Or you could keep only main ceiling braces to serve as a frame climbing plants. The same idea can also used with an old greenhouse or co vatory from which glass has gone.

The terrace will be the centre of the garden in terms of activity. How much space you give to it will obviously depend on the size and shape of your garden, the size of your family and your particular requirements. For sitting space, however, an absolute minimum width of two metres (a little over 6 ft) is necessary. Especially in summer, the terrace may be in constant use for sitting, visual link between indoors and outdoors, leading the eye out to a view of the garden eating out, sunbathing, children's play, preparing food and doing any number of odd tasks. The diversity of activities which it is likely to sustain often calls for a sunny, sheltered place which is not overlooked.

If the garden is on a slope, or if you plan to do any earth shaping or to build any structures, you will need to measure the changes of level. The simplest method is known as boning; to work out a contour map of the site is more complicated.

If your site contains an old outbuilding or shed, do not demolish it until you have made certain that it cannot he used in any way. With the roof reinforced it is sometimes possible to remove sonic of the walls to create a sort of loggia. If the building has a chimney, you can retain this to use.

Any curve you may conceive on paper will foreshorten in reality, as the eye runs from directly above it to being at the side. To explore and check this, put your eye down to paper level to get the feel of what the design will actually look like on the ground. The path's curve will always seem more extreme in three-dimensional reality than when drawn on paper - 1432

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Drawing a garden plan when planning the style of your garden is important to have a neat garden

The Spreading of Garden Plant

By Scarlett Bill

Soil type, weather conditions, cultivation techniques and geographical location will all play their part. A willow (Salix) growing in a dry soil will possibly grow less well. and fail to achieve the height and spread that it would have done on its preferred, moist soil.

Different soil types will also provide the plant with different levels of nutrition. and the different conditions will influence growth rates and the overall size of the plant. Poor, impoverished soils will reduce growth levels and overall performance. The soil may be of a kind that physically restricts root development - if Agapanthus are grown on heavy clay soils, for example, their thick, fleshy roots will not be able to develop to the full. Adding large amounts of organic material to the soil can help overcome this problem and aid the roots in their development.

Thinking ahead about their eventual size can avoid future damage and disappointment. An overplanted group of conifers is one of the saddest sights in gardening. Planting each one in the first place so that it has room to develop and using some other low-growing or relatively short-lived plant such as heathers between each overcomes the sparse, underplanted effect that results by correctly spacing the important plants at the outset.

The alkalinity and acidity of the soil may enhance or depress growth rates if the individual plants are like rhododendrons and azaleas, which require a specific soil - in their case, an acid soil. If they are planted on an alkaline soil, they will often grow and struggle for a number of years, but in the end they will never reach their expected potential and may even die.

As spring unfolds in the garden, leaf shape and form begin to reveal themselves. Delicate new leaves open, bringing freshness and dainty shapes in such variety that it seem as if the patterns and colours are unlimited. These are followed by flowers, which never fail to amaze with their diversity of colours.

One solution to this problem is to intersperse slow-growing plants with quicker, maybe shorter-lived perennials, so that a long-term effect can be achieved without any gaps in the planting being apparent while the main plants - 1432

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A good garden plan is necessary when you are setting up a garden.

Meadow Mushroom

By Lisa Allison

Holland's success prompted the foundation of the English East India Company by London merchants in 1600, to which the Dutch retaliated two years later by founding the Dutch East India Company in 1602. From then on there was stiff competition between the two with each fighting for control of the spice trade. One happy outcome, however, was that Europe came to know not only Oriental spices but also silk and porcelain.

The first mushrooms harvested from these frames developed from chance spores carried there by the wind from neighbouring fields. The frames were covered for the winter to retain the heat generated by the gradual decomposition of the horse manure and the mushrooms were harvested successively throughout the winter.

When Marchant succeeded in discovering how mushrooms multiplied, their cultivation no longer needed to be left to chance. Nowadays, when mushrooms are becoming increasingly scarce in fields and meadows because of the spread of intensive farming, fully mechanized, large-scale mushroom-growing plants provide many more times the amount than could be collected in the wild.

Exotic herbs and spices also became fashionable at the courts of Europe in the 17th and 18th century (particularly at the court of Louis XIV) and the new class of wealthy merchants in Holland and in the free towns of the Hanseatic League made liberal use of herbs and spices at their lavish feasts. This is reflected in the still-lifes by the Dutch painters of that period.

In 1521 he discovered the Philippine Islands where he was killed in a skirmish with the natives. Only a single ship from the entire flotilla reached the Moluccan island of Tidor to return home after three years with the surviving 18 members of the crew and a cargo of cloves. Their commander. Juan Sebastian del Cano, was raised to the ranks of the nobility and assigned 12 cloves, 3 nutmegs and 2 cinnamon sticks to his coat-of-arms. The imminent competitive struggle between the Spaniards and Portuguese Dutch expedition reached the spice islands in 1595.

Fully ripe mushrooms with leading caps are the most flavoursome, as It rule. As fresh meadow mushrooms are available in shops throughout the year there is no need to dry them for use in the kitchen. - 1432

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It is garden herbs and spices that give these the flavour and piquancy that distinguishes the fare of the various nations historically, culturally and geographically.

Wormwood Herb

By Ace Sydney

Sweet woodruff has whorled, rough-edged leaves, which give it its generic name Asperula - meaning rough. It has a pleasant fragrance, due to the presence of coumarin, when dried (hence the specific name odorata, meaning fragrant). It is a perennial herb with a creeping rhizome and tiny white flowers. Its range of distribution includes practically the whole of Europe, where it often forms dense undergrowth in deciduous woodlands.

Mugwort is used as seasoning for roast meat, especially pork and mutton, as well as roast goose and duck. It is sprinkled on the meat before cooking, but sparingly. In Spain it is used to flavour onion and vegetable soups as well as fish and fish soups. It is also good in salads. Mugwort is easily grown from the seeds (achenes) even in poor soil. As a rule, however, this is unnecessary for it may be found growing wild on waste ground and by the wayside.

In medieval times it was also believed that the juice of wormwood mixed with sweet milk was effective 'against worms in the womb and in the ears'. Wormwood is also used to flavour many bitter drinks including absinthe, vermouth and tonic water.

In France it is the custom to add woodruff to champagne, whereas in Switzerland to cognac or Benedictine. In the United States it is used in making a May punch consisting of a mixture of wine, brandy and Benedictine. In northern Europe woodruff is used to flavour certain kinds of sausages and salamis.

Sweet woodruff is used as a medicinal herb to promote the flow of urine and bile and ,tilso for its soothing properties.

The renowned Hortus sonitatis of medieval days recommends sweet woodruff for the treatment of all illnesses caused by heat' because 'drops of clew remain long !won this plant'. The dried top parts were already used in those days to give garments in the wardrobe a pleasant fragrance and continue to be used for that purpose to this day. - 1432

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The herbs as well as being of culinary use provide a satisfying composition of shapes and color in the garden and fill the air variety of scents.

Leek Herb

By Mary Washington

Today's cultivated varieties of leek are derived from the species Allium ampeloprasum which grows wild in the Mediterranean region, as well as in southern England and Persia. It was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and is also mentioned in the Old Testament.

The outermost skin gives the bulb its colour, which varies, depending on the variety, from silvery white, white to dark brown, red and violet. It also protects the bulb from drying out and therefore should not be removed during storage.

The leek is a biennial herb, but is treated as an annual, because in the second year it flowers and dies. It need not be dug up in autumn for, as a rule, it is not damaged by frost and so can be taken fresh from the garden any time of the year. This is a great advantage, for although fresh leek tastes like the mildest of onions, it acquires an unpleasant strong taste when stored.

The Welsh onion has a swollen flowering stem growing up to 2 cm (i-in) thick and 30 to 60 cm (1 to 2 ft) tall. Being a native of southeastern Siberia it is resistant to frost and will overwititer successfully outdoors. The green parts may be used the same as chives.

Even though it had been grown in China two thousand years ago the Welsh onion was not known in medieval Europe until the 16th century when it was introduced via Russia. Nowadays it is cultivated in both Europe and America. Its requirements are light to medium, weed-free soil that is not too moist and an open, sunny position. The soil must not be freshly fertilized but it must have sufficient humus and lime present.

Onions always caused an irritant reaction when you look at it. As in other onions, the irritant action is produced by an essential oil containing organically bound sulphur. - 1432

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It is garden herbs and spices that give food flavour, aroma and often also colour.

The History of Small Garden

By Isabel Kendra

The Moorish garden in Spain generally consisted of several courtyards, known as patios, with water as the connecting link. The central courtyard within a colonnaded peristyle (known as an atrium) became a major feature of the house and was, in effect, the main living area; it still survives today in the cathedral court and cloister. The garden layouts were much on the Greek pattern, architectural and formal and made up of flower beds and paths, pergolas and statuary with fountains and pools for irrigation. Flowers such as the violet, poppy, iris, lily and pansy were popular and, in particular, the rose. Climbing plants were trained up the supporting columns of covered walks and pergolas.

In its earliest form the garden was basically an enclosure, made of thorn or scrub, to keep out marauding animals and keep in domestic ones. The enclosures later took the form of a mud wall, and were a defence against other humans as much as animals or were intended to shield off the heat of the sun. When nomadic communities settled, the enclosures became places for growing both food and plants. This creation of a small private sanctuary characterized early enclosed gardens all over the world, though their function of course varied according to climate and way of life.

From the Dark Ages to the Middle Ages Very little development in gardens took place in Europe for several centuries following the end of the Roman Empire. It is thought that knowledge of horticulture virtually died out and only those plants which managed to naturalize themselves survived. However it is known that leeks, cabbages and dried beans and peas formed some sort of subsistence diet throughout this time.

The earliest recorded gardens, seen in Egypt about 3000 BC, were surrounded by a mud wall to absorb some of the sun's heat. The house was also within this square or rectangular enclosure. The formal layout of early gardens was necessitated by the need for irrigation channels to provide water in a hot, dry climate. These divided the garden into geometric areas and, in the grander gardens, the irrigation channels became formal pools with lish and there were arbours to sit under, overhung with vines, and shade-giving palms. The Egyptians grew onions, which were their staple diet, and other vegetables and herbs for their medicinal value. This basically formal style of garden characterized the whole Islamic world during the next few thousand years. The enclosed paradise gardens of Persia were often walled and the walls hung with grape vines and climbers.

The monasteries were laid out on a Roman court and cloister plan and inside the court monks cultivated medicinal plants, herbs and some vegetables. The beds were divided by straight paths and there was sometimes a fish pond too. Within castle walls the ladies also began to grow herbs for medicinal and culinary use, with the occasional raised bed for flowers where space allowed.

The Indian and later the Moorish garden evolved from the Persian glorieta. Water was the essential thread of continuity, weaving through and linking different planted areas, while creating a cooling effect. The Moorish influence stretched along the whole of north Africa, into Sicily and southern Italy and thence to the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. The style and form of the garden remained much the same, enclosed by buildings and high walls to provide shade and privacy. They were designed for outdoor living while remaining within the confines of the house. - 1432

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You must know about the tips on herbs gardening to grow a thriving herb garden.

Herbs

By Laura Pearson

Most herbs and spices are native either to the sunny Mediterranean region or the hothouse environment of the tropics: in other words ideal regions with plenty of light, heat and atmospheric moisture. These 'pampering' conditions cause the plants to produce excess quantities of primary metabolites (substances used to build all the plant organs), as well as secondary metabolites (substances that are not essential to their existence and without which the plants can function quite normally).

Among the latter also belong various aromatic, flavouring or colouring substances which make the spices what they are. These secondary metabolites are very diverse, and often distinguished by a pronounced aroma and flavour as well as important pharmacological properties. That is why many herbs used in cooking are also used in medicine. Typical substances found in herbs are first and foremost essential oils, bitter principles and tannins.

It is planted to form hedges, prevent erosion on steep banks and for its foliage and in non-fertile areas is valued because of its moderate requirements on soil fertility and moisture. It sprouts prolifically from stumps and also produces root suckers freely so that in parks it sometimes spreads to such an extent that it becomes a weed difficult to eradicate. It is readily propagated by means of cuttings and root suckers.

The smallest and lowest taxonomic unit, designating very closely related plants of the same species, is the subspecies, sometimes also called variety. Garden forms bred and cultivated by man to better meet his needs, but not found growing in the wild, are called cultivars.

Spicy and aromatic substances are not present in all parts of the plant, as a rule, but only in certain organs. Most higher plants consist of an underground part (root, sometimes a bulb or rhizome) and green top parts (stem and leaves). Flowers are modified leaves and are usually arranged in inflorescences varying in arrangement.

The dried and ground rhizomes are a traditional seasoning in the sweet dishes and fruit compotes of the Indian and Islamic cuisine. In England and America calamus was at one time candied. The tender young leaf shoots make a very good salad that stimulates the appetite. - 1432

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Cookery is an art whereby raw materials from your garden, including animal, vegetable, and herbs are transformed into tasty dishes.

Pot Marigold Herb

By Lynn Zane

This is the well-known old-fashioned marigold of cottage gardens. It is a favourite garden flower because the flowering period is spread over summer and well into autumn, as indicated by the generic name derived from the Latin `Kalendae', which in the ancient Roman calendar always marked the first day of the month.

In the Middle Ages it was used together with mint, savory, parsley, garlic, fennel and rosemary to flavour salads and the flowers were used to garnish whipped cream, salads and soups. In those days it was believed to have a stimulating and exhilarating effect, hence the English saying `borage brings courage'.

The fresh young leaves and entire top parts of the plant are harvested during the flowering period to be used as seasoning. Borage must always be finely chopped so the delicate hairs are not annoying. Borage is delicious by itself either cooked in butter or raw as a salad with lemon juice.

As seasoning it is added to pickled gherkins and vegetables, to spinach and cabbage, mayonnaise, cold sauces and salads. It is also used to make herb butter, herb cream, cheeses and yogurt. It gives a refreshing cucumber flavour to iced fruit cups. It is also good with braised meat and fish dishes to which it is added just before serving. In Liguria (northern Italy) it is used as a filling for ravioli. The flowers are used to add aroma to vinegars.

Borage may be readily grown from seed, either in the garden or in a windowbox. Sow in spring after all danger of frost is past. Growth is rapid, its only requirement being a light soil with lime.

In the former USSR capers are prepared from the related species. C. herbacea, which grows wild chiefly in the Crimea and Transcaucasia. - 1432

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A well planned herb garden combines utility and beauty.

Garden Design

By Jason Flinstone

An assessment of the garden in history, however brief, cannot ignore the pervasive influence of oriental garden design. Gardening was a craft in China in ancient times and it crossed the sea to Japan in the seventh century All to develop into a distinctive style of its own, which continues basically unchanged to this clay.

It is equally important that the style of the garden is in keeping with the inside if the house and garden are to be seen as a whole. Not only does the house lead out to the garden and thus form a unit in the physical sense but the garden can usually be seen from the windows of the house and should harmonize with the interior as much as possible.

Having reached certain conclusions about the overall style of your garden, the first stage in planning it out is to consider how you will use it. The restricted space of today's small gardens should not be considered as a handicap; it is simply another factor which makes the initial planning all- important.

A garden should work as an extension of the house both practically and visually. While the form which a garden takes evolves primarily from its function, the style must above all be in sympathy with its location. Very occasionally a contrast in style can work by shock tactics, but in the main this is not a good idea. The first problem is to recognize your style. For those who live in an old period house there is no difficulty, but for the vast majority who live in modern suburban houses it is more tricky. If your plot has any long-established features, such as a group of old trees, it may he a good idea to retain these and let them to a certain extent influence the style of your garden. The biggest problem arises with a badly neglected plot or where the site of the garden is little more than a barren heap of builder's rubble. As a starting point, give some thought to building materials, then to the interior style of the house itself.

The demands of a single family can vary enormously over a number of years. Where they are likely to be in the same home for sonic time it is important that the garden plan is flexible enough to reflect these changing needs. A young couple might use the garden mainly for sunbathing or entertaining and would want a simple layout which is easy to look after. The arrival of children would impose many new demands, from pram-standing space to soft play areas and tricycle runs. With a growing family a bigger area of the garden might be devoted to vegetables, with a large terrace space for outdoor activities and family meals.

Once the fundamental style of you: garden has emerged, from a consideration of building materials and the interior look of your house, from then on each individual's garden is unique. Its character grows partly out of practical solutions to practical problems and relates also to the specific functions the garden is expected to perform. At a later stage planting will course flesh out the bones of your garden and give it finally a very particular feel. - 1432

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Garden herbs has many benefits to your health as well as adding flavors to your cooking.

The secret language of flowers

By Tracy Anderson

Flowers are ideal gifts for any occasion. They are also a powerful means of communication since they can convey a wide range of human emotions.

However, modern man has forgotten the secret language of flowers. Many people often choose flowers based on how they look or smell. This is usually done without thinking what the flowers mean and how the recipient will react to them.

Of course, the traditional meaning of some popular flowers like red roses is well-known and remains the same to this day. But this is just a tip of the iceberg in the huge vocabulary of flowers. For example, yellow roses once stood for jealousy while carnations meant rejection.

Did you know that aloe signifies grief while begonia means beware? Are you aware that bluebells represent everlasting love while daisies mean simplicity and purity?

Just as there are thousands of flowers, you can say thousands of things depending on the colors, numbers, arrangements and groups of flowers you give.

Flowers can also suggest different things depending on the way they are worn or presented. Therefore, to avoid sending the wrong message to someone, it's important to learn the language of flowers.

By knowing what to give and giving some thought to the flowers you send, you won't send any mixed messages and will get your message across quickly and easily. You'll learn the best flowers to send your loved ones, your best friend, a trusted colleague or your boss.

More importantly, you'll be able to avoid flowers that have a negative connotation and stick to those that convey positive, sincere and heartfelt emotions. Your local florist at Discount Flower Delivery Athens will be more than happy to assist you in this regard. (Next: What do flowers mean?) - 1432

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For fresh, beautiful flowers that are professionally designed and perfect for any occasion, go to Discount Flower Delivery

Long Pepper

By Matthew Cook

The spice known as long pepper is obtained from two species of plants: one is Piper longum from India and the other is Piper officinarum from the Sunda Islands, Philippines and Moluccas. In both instances the dried unripe berries are used as seasoning. They are more pungent than black pepper and, unlike black pepper, form joined, compact fruits resembling hard, black catkins up to 5 cm (2 in) long.

In the Middle Ages it was a very popular plant in Europe, particularly in England during the reign of Elizabeth I. Its uses are many. The fleshy leaves may be cooked and eaten like spinach. In France it is used to make an excellent, vitamin-rich, green salad and in the Middle East it is a common ingredient of mixed salads called lattoush'.

According to old English recipes the leaves may be pickled like capers. They may be used as a delicate flavouring in creamed vegetable soups and in piquant mayonnaises served with meat and fish. When using purslane in cooked foods the finely chopped leaves should be added at the end of cooking to retain their delicate flavour and precious vitamins.

Besides being far more pungent, pepper cubeb is also morphologically different from black pepper and long pepper. Though the fruits (berries) resemble those of black pepper they appear to have long stalks (these stalks arc actually elongated ovaries). They are harvested before they ripen so that the surface becomes wrinkled during the drying process.

The strong biting quality of cubeb is not caused by piperine, as in black pepper, but by cubebine and by the large amount of essential oil they contain (as much as 12% whereas black pepper contains 4% at the most).

For this reason it is recommended to buy peppers whole, not ground, and to grind them just before use. - 1432

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Having knowledge about herbs gardening is necessary to manage a healthy and thriving herb garden.

Garden compost

By Scott Edward

If you have taken over a new site and form of drainage is definitely needed, will at least provide an excellent opportunity to get rid of any builder's which you have inherited. Broken lumps of concrete should be used the bottom of drainage pits or trenches. The drainage systems is also useful to take the iorterflow and occasional outlet from a small garden pond.

Many waste materials can go on to the compost heap, from kitchen waste such as lettuce leaves and vegetable peelings to grass cuttings, dead leaves and straw- but diseased plant roots, perennial weeds or woody stems should always be burnt. The successful decomposition of this waste material depends on air, water and the action of bacteria. The bacteria depend on nitrogen for food and the rate of decay can be accelerated by sprinkling the heap with a nitrogenous fertilizer such as sulphate of ammonia or by spreading a layer of farmyard manure over it.

The water table generally rises and fa following wet and dry periods. If it star, at about 900 mm (3 ft) below ground le-. it can he an asset, since water will - available to the deeper plant roots. Ho ever extreme fluctuations in the water tai are a great danger: if it rises in winter: roots of plants are killed through saturatic and if it falls in the summer the pla suffer from drought. On low-lying grout if there is perpetual standing water (usua in winter), this might mean that the war table has risen above ground level and drainage system will relieve it.

A rubble drain is a short-term drainage run, which may be all that is required on a new site to relieve temporary lying water. Dig a trench 300 mm to 450 mm deep, depending on the depth of cultivated soil (since water collects on the comparatively solid pan of undisturbed ground that lies immediately beneath). Fill the hole at least half full with coarse rubble then with a layer of ash or gravel and finally topsoil.

Lime will make a clay soil more porous by breaking it up into crumb-like particles. A simple container will ensure that your compost is kept in a tidy heap. The open wire structure and the honeycomb pattern of bricks allow air to pass through, which is essential if the bacteria are to do their work of breaking down the waste material. A slatted wooden structure would be equally effective.

Few plants like a lot of water ar their roots and in a soil which is consta wet the plant roots will remain near surface or will start to rot. Wet soils also cold, which retards plant gro When drainage is inadequate, not on air blocked from the plant roots but general lack of air in the soil means bacteria cannot live and the bacteria ai vital part of healthy soil. - 1432

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Good garden drainage system is important in garden planning to have a thriving garden.

Ivy

By Mark Carlson

The white dogwood is a widespreading, sparsely branched shrub with drooping twigs, growing to a height of 2-3 m. The twigs are bright red, in more heavily shaded locations yellow. The buds resemble those of the red dogwood, but are somewhat larger. The white flowers appear in May and June, the fruits ripen in September. The hard seed is flattened, ovate.

It is a native of western, central and southern Europe, its range extending eastward to Asia Minor and Caucasia in continental Europe. It is found mainly in beech woods, where it grows on stony, calcareous soils or ones rich in humus; in Britain it will grow almost anywhere. Ideal for its growth are the mild winters of the coastal climate and moist air. It tolerates strong shade but bears flowers and fruits only if supplied with adequate light. It is used in parks to form a green carpet in shaded spots where turf will not thrive, and to cover walls and rocks. Propagation is by means of cuttings and seeds.

When planted in gardens both these rhododendrons should be provided with a moist soil rich in humus. The large-flowered and taller species, 2-4 m high, developed by the crossing of American and Chinese rhododendrons, are generally cultivated in parks and gardens.

The common privet is an upright, densely branched shrub 1-4 m high. One-year shoots are erect, arching and grey. The brown, ovate buds are often suboppositc and are borne on prominent peg-like projections. The white flowers appear in June. The fruits ripen in September and remain on the shrub until late in winter.

This species is widespread in southern, central, western and eastern Europe, extending north to the Baltic Sea. It thrives well on rich, calcareous soils and is most abundant in lowlands in the valleys of rivers and streams though it is also found in the foothills up to heights of 600-700 m. It appears to thrive quite well even in drier soils as evidenced by its occurrence in drier situations in oak stands. A shade-tolerant species, it is found not only on the edges of woods and in hedgerows, but also in mixed broadleaved woods.

It is planted in parks for its early flowers and attractive red fruits. Propagation is by means of seeds, summer cuttings and root suckers. The wood is very hard, with reddish-brown heartwood. - 1432

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In garden planning, where the garden roof is strong enough to support the weight of topsoil and underlying drainage, the sight of a lawn outside the living room in a modern apartment can be very striking.

The Development of Garden in Middle Ages

By Christina Courtney

The Moorish garden in Spain generally consisted of several courtyards, known as patios, with water as the connecting link. Many patios contained a long canal with a zemral fountain and there were tiled walls and floors.

Enclosed gardens gradually reappeared on a small scale at the end of the Dark Ages, within the confines of monasteries and fortified buildings. The monasteries were laid out on a Roman court and cloister plan and inside the court monks cultivated medicinal plants, herbs and some vegetables. The beds were divided by straight paths and there was sometimes a fish pond too. Within castle walls the ladies also began to grow herbs for medicinal and culinary use, with the occasional raised bed for flowers where space allowed.

A garden plan survives from the ninth century for the monastery of St Gall in Switzerland, showing a cloister garden of flower beds, a herb garden containing sixteen raised rectangular beds and a vegetable garden consisting of eighteen raised beds.

In the seventeenth century Andre le Mire changed French garden planning significantly. With the opening of the chateau garden at Vaux-le-Vicomte in 1661 he established a style which was to influence the whole of Europe for a century. His gardens were still basically formal and geometric in character but they became much more elaborate and interesting with long magnificent vistas, pools or rectangular canals and grand parterres.

The English term 'knot garden' refers to the style of flower beds which now evolved. They were small, usually raised, and laid Out in geometric patterns, edged with dwarf clipped shrubs such as box or thrift or with a herb like rosemary.

The most intricate designs were simply filled with gravel or coloured earth while more open beds contained flowering plants such as lilies, gilleyflowers, lavender, primroses, marigolds and roses. There were also orchards and vegetable gardens and among the fruit and vegetables mentioned were cherries, apples, pears, wild strawberries, vines, onions, peas, garlic, leeks, lettuces, turnips, radish and spinach. - 1432

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Growing herbs in your kitchen garden can gives you herbs to use in your cooking and cut cost on buying herbs from the supermarket.

Fruits and Seeds

By James Masonry

After fertilization the ovary ripens into the fruit, its outer layer forming the wall or pericarp with one or more seeds inside. The seed is the fertilized ripened ovule and consists of the embryo and nutritive tissue enclosed in a hard cover.

The fruits of deciduous plants are either true fruits, i.e. merely the ripened ovary, or are accessory fruits, developed from the ovary plus other parts of the flower (stem, petals). Included in the latter group are the pome, the hip, raspberry Fruits are furthermore divided, according to whether they have a dry or soft pericarp, into dry fruits (samara, nut, legume, Miele, capsule) and fleshy fruits (berries, drupes). The samara is a dry, usually one-seeded fruit, shed in its entirety, with thin, membranous to leathery pericarp; often it is winged.

The nut is a hard-shelled fruit with a woody wall not connected with the seed, e.g. that of the hazel and smoke tree. The legume or pod is a one-celled, flattened, usually elongate fruit, splitting along the margins when ripe, with several seeds inside, e.g. the golden rain, pea tree and common broom.

Monoecious shrubs are ones with both staminate and pistillate flowers on the same individual, e.g. hazel, green alder, etc., whereas dioecious shrubs have staminate and pistillate flowers on different individuals, e.g. mistletoe, sea buckthorn, willow, etc.

For their services - visiting different flowers and transferring pollen from one to another - they are rewarded with the nectar that we, too, enjoy in the form of honey, made in the nests or hives of bees. Many shrubs are important honey-yielding plants and are often cultivated by bee-keepers, e.g. the cornelian cherry, snowberry, raspberry, etc.

Another fleshy fruit is the berry, with a thin membranous covering and fleshy middle and inner layer with usually several seeds embedded in the pulpy mass, e.g. the currant, privet, common elder. Accessory fruits include the pome and the hip. The pome develops from the fusion of the fleshy receptacle and ovary wall. It is a fleshy fruit consisting of a central core containing several seeds and an outer thickened fleshy layer. Examples are the cotoneaster, hawthorn, quince, medlar and crab apple. The hip is a multiple fruit consisting of a fleshy hollow receptacle enclosing several achenes. - 1432

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In garden planning, flints are often used as a strong decorative surface on a mortared rubble core in the garden.

Orchid Delivery to Los Angeles

By Linda Jenkins

Ordering orchid delivery to Los Angeles is always a good idea. People who like having plants and flowers in their house will really appreciate receiving the orchids. Orchids are delicate and tropical. They are pretty and make you feel calm. They do something special to their house that they're in. You can get orchids on the internet by ordering online. Just find a merchant that sends flowers to LA.

Its important to realize that there are a few important things to know when you are ordering your orchids. As an example, even though it is often a good idea to find the best deal when ordering flowers, it is not a good thing to do when you ordering orchids. Orchids are very fragile so you will want to spend a little extra so you know that you are using a store that will do a good delivery job and get your orchids to your recipient looking as good as they did in the store.

The orchids may have come from far away - they are grown in many different countries. It is best that the service you order will move them fast and gently. This is true even in cases where the orchids were grown in hothouses or other places that are worked out to make sure you get the prettiest orchids you can.

Over 25,000 kinds of orchids are grown around the world. Not all of them can be sent to Los Angeles, but you do have plenty of options. Some popular options include Dendrobium orchids, Cymbidium, Vanilla, and Moth orchids.

Pay attention to how your bouquet looks. Orchids can be placed in a bouquet by themselves, and they can also be combined with other flowers. When buying potted orchids, its a good idea to get a nice pot in order to make your gift look even nicer.

Whoever gets the orchids should be notified that they should take very good care of their new flowers and handle them gently. You can do this by sending them a note, or by making sure to get a delivery service that adds this information to their bouquets.

Orchids need gentle treatment, the right environment, and some time to adjust to their surroundings. This is particularly true if you're having a potted orchid delivered. All orchids need plenty of water and must be kept in relatively humid rooms if they're going to last. With the proper care, a cut bouquet will last for some time, and a potted orchid will thrive.

Orchids are a good choice for any even because they are so elegant and exotic. They are also wonderful for keeping in the garden or in the home. Whether you are sending orchids to Los Angeles for a birthday, anniversary, or Valentine's day, you can be sure that your loved ones will love them. - 1432

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What you just learned about orchid delivery is just the beginning. To get the full story and all the details, check us out at Orchid Delivery to Los Angeles.

How to Grow Herbs

By Jesse Charlotte

The quality of the soil can usually be improved, but light and heat depend on the geographical location. However, when planning the herb garden always choose a warm, sunny and sheltered place, so the plants are provided with conditions at least somewhat like those of their native habitat. They will reward you by growing well and developing flavour and aroma.

The pleasure of raising your own herbs and the fascination of watching the plants grow and develop under your care, compensates many times over for the slight effort required. Man's natural atavism, his close bonds to the earth, make it possible for him to cast aside his daily cares and worries by working outdoors.

As herbs do not need to be grown in large quantities there is no need to have more than two or three plants of each species. The selection is wide and so the choice is up to you - choose what you want according to your own tastes and needs. Every collection, however, should include such herbs as chives, chervil, southernwood, tarragon, hyssop, lovage, marjoram, basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, savory and sage. However one can just as well grow all species of onion, celery, chamomile, wormwood, marigold, sweet pepper, caraway, costmary, coriander, rocket, fennel, lavender, garden cress, mint, watercress, nigella, poppy, purslane, radish, mustard or fenugreek.

On the contrary, it is recommended to prepare cheese spreads, herb butter, salad dressings, cold sauces and the like at least an hour before serving so that the ingredients will blend thoroughly and the flavour will be at its peak.

As the growing season draws to a close with the onset of autumn it must be kept in mind that practically all perennial herbs are natives of warm regions where frost is unknown (thyme, hyssop, sage, oregano, etc.). For this reason they should be cut back to about 10 cm (4 in) above the ground and in areas where frosts regularly occur, covered with a protective layer of dry leaves, straw or evergreen twigs for the winter. This should be carefully removed in spring when growth starts so that the plants are not attacked by fungus diseases which would flourish in the warm moist environment.

The ideal soil is well drained but at the same time retains the necessary nutrients, well aerated and will neither pack down in wet weather nor form a crust when conditions are dry. The soil must also be deep enough to accommodate deep-rooting plants. - 1432

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Colorful flowers, such as asters and nasturtiums are planted along the edges and herb garden bed to brighten it up.

Cardamom

By Paul Heather

Cumin resembles caraway, with which it is closely related, in aroma and flavour, but it is much more pungent and quite bitter. In olden times it was more highly prized than caraway, as testified to by the fact that, according to the Bible, the Pharisees paid their tithes with it and even in medieval England vassals used it to pay the feudal lords in lieu of their services. It was also well known to the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, who used it in place of pepper.

Its fruits were put in graves together with other gifts for the dead. Theophrastus tells us that cumin was grown for culinary use and advises that sowing of the seeds be accompanied by cursing to ward off evil spirits, which would otherwise damage the germinating plants. On old Egyptian papyrus rolls it goes by the name of `tapnen'.

In the Middle Ages cumin was a culinary herb of the aristocracy, popular mainly for seasoning poultry. It was believed to destroy gases and other foul things in the stomach.

It is particularly good on grilled chicken, not only masking the odour of the poultry farm, which is unpleasant to many people, but also giving it a lovely golden colour. It is also used with all fried meats. Indian cookery uses turmeric to colour rice and sweet dishes. Once you become accustomed to this condiment you will be partial to it for ever.

This is how the spice is sold on the market, the seeds being removed from the capsules just before use. These seeds have a sweetish, but spicy flavour. They are often supplied to shops in powdered form, which is quite unsuitable for the aroma is rapidly lost.

Harvested rhizomes are washed, then boiling water is poured over them and after that they are dried by the heat of the sun. During this process the pigment spreads to the surrounding tissues, giving the entire rhizome the colour by which it is judged on the market and the rhizome hardens so that it can be ground to a fine powder. Rhizomes are divided into shorter thicker sections (`curcuma rotunda') and up to 8-cm- (3-in-) long, finger-like side shoots ('curcuma longa') - 1432

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The herbs, fruit and vegetables is will decorate your garden, as well as the treatment of it will made a hard working kitchen garden a positive pleasure to sit in.

Lilac

By Julian Preston

Lilac is a large shrub or small tree growing to 6 m. The bark is grey-brown, a height of 2 breaking up into longitudinal strips that peel with age. The shoots are slender, upright and olive green; the ovate birds are covered by several scales. The highly fragrant flowers appear at the beginning of May.

This shrub is widespread throughout most of Europe, extending farther north and growing higher up in the mountains than the common elder, sometimes as high as the tree line. On the other hand, it is rarely found at elevations below 300 m in central Europe and is not native to Britain, though it is sometimes naturalized. It grows in similar places to the common elder, i.e. mostly on soils rich in humus and nitrogen.

It is an important pioneer in the colonizing of logged areas or ones damaged by natural catastrophes. Its seeds are dispersed in such places mostly by birds of the thrush tribe, which are fond of the fruits. It is planted as an ornamental shrub in parks for its attractive flowers and red fruits; however, it requires greater soil moisture in such locations. Propagation is by hardwood cuttings and seeds.

The wayfaring tree is a shrub of upright habit, 1 to 4 m high. One-year shoots are straight, grey-felted, older twigs are yellow-brown. The buds are opposite, naked, white-felted. Leaf buds are the folded felted incipient leaves; flower buds, 2 cm across, are semi-spherical, borne at the tips of the shoots.

Widespread throughout most of Europe, extending north to Scotland, Sweden and Norway, it occurs in lowland and hilly country up to elevations of 600 m, mostly on soils rich in humus, i.e. at the edges of woods, in clearings, waste dumps and in the vicinity of human dwellings.

Its chief area of distribution is southern Europe, but it also grows in warm situations in central and western Europe reaching southern England. It is found mainly on warm, sunny banks in hilly country, where it occurs in thickets at the edges of woods and in open oak stands. On limestone substrates it is also found in the mountains up to elevations above 1000 m. The red-black ripening fruit and felted foliage are very attractive and for that reason the wayfaring tree is also planted in parks. - 1432

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A garden planning tip is that a roof which is not used can be planted with evergreen and shrubby garden plants which need a little attention.

Orange Milk Cup

By Adam Peterson

Orange milk-cup is one of the most piquant of all mushrooms. Up until the middle of this century it was no problem to make for the young spruce woods in autumn, crawl under the bottom branches and gather the glossy orange caps growing all around.

The former are elongate catkins, the latter inconspicuous round cones which mature into berry-like cones called juniper berries; these are green the first year, turning blue-black with a greyish bloom the second year. Inside are three hard seeds. Good quality seasoning must not contain unripe berries or ones that are coloured brown.

Besides essential oil (as much as 2%) the berries contain a bitter-tasting mixture of tannins, resins and other organic acids, which gives them their characteristic woodland aroma and spicy bitter flavour. It is perhaps for this reason that juniper was a popular flavouring with huntsmen as an essential in preparing game.

Garden cress, native to north Africa and western Asia, is an annual herb about 60 cm (2 ft) high. It was one of the kitchen herbs known to the Romans and it was they who introduced it to the rest of Europe. Until recently, however, it remained a forgotten herb of the past, and only occasionally is it found growing wild in waste places.

It did not attract renewed interest until after the Second World War but now it is common to grow the young plants in the home throughout the year. It is especially welcome when there are not many fresh greens to be had to make an aromatic salad that stimulates the appetite and is rich in Vitamin C. Cress may also be used to flavour other salads and also as a garnish for cold dishes and with cheese. It is generally not mixed with other seasonings and is used fresh, because cooking results in the loss of vitamins as well of the pleasant, mildly pungent flavour, which is replaced by an unpleasant odour. Young plants may be obtained quickly by sowing the seeds in dishes in soil, or simply on a piece of wet cotton or flannel on a plate.

Common juniper is distributed throughout practically the whole of the northern hemisphere from lowlands high up into the mountains. Propagation is by means of seeds, which germinate only after being exposed to frost. The fruits are harvested by hand. Gloves should be worn when doing this to prevent the prickly needles damaging the hands. The harvested berries are dried in thin layers in a shaded, well-ventilated spot at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F) for otherwise they lose their potency. - 1432

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You can search on the internet for resources on tips on growing a healthy herb garden.

Shrubs Requirments

By Anthony Malcom

It is also important to know which shrubs do well in dry locations and which require greater moisture. The first group of barberry, golden rain, bladder senna, box thorn and Japan rose, the second willows the shrub height, the alder buckthorn, red dogwood, French tamarisk and other shrubs.

Water is an important factor is whether it is running or mitgnant water. Running underground water that is close to the surface has a beneficial effect on most trees and shrubs whereas ottuwant underground water is tolerated only by shrubs that wow in swamps, e.g. the eared willow and alder buckthorn.

Light-loving shrubs that do not tolerate much shade are the barberry, dog rose, quince, common broom, smoke tree and tamarisk. On the other hand, there are shrubs that grow better in the shade of trees, e. g. the box, rhododendron, red dogwood and white dogwood, Oregon grape, common elder, privet, alder buckthorn and mezereon.

Garden hybrids and forms with differently coloured flowers or foliage, larger fruit and different habit of growth cannot be relied upon to come true to type when raised from seeds.

However, they are unable to obtain water from the frozen soil to replace that which has evaporated and the result is that later in spring they turn brown and dry up. For that reason shade-loving evergreen shrubs should never be planted in places fully exposed to sunlight from the south.

Shrubs may be propagated by vegetative means with varying degrees of ease. In some species all one need do is cut off a branch, insert it in the ground and within one to two years it will grow into a young shrub that can be transplanted. Other species are better multiplied by summer cuttings of soft leafy shoots. Some shrubs cannot be multiplied by stem cuttings at all. In such cases it is necessary to use root cuttings. - 1432

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In garden planning, round boulders and flat slabs must be skilfully balanced together to build a dry stone wall in the garden.

Nutmeg Herb

By Ricky Zeta

Nutmeg is an evergreen tree growing up to 15 m (50 ft) high. Like clove it is a native of the Molucca Islands and the history of this culinary herb is very similar, except that it reached Europe at an even later date - not until the 16th century. For this we can be grateful to the Arabian navigators of that day who not only knew how to sail safely across the Arabian Sea but also had the necessary commercial contacts in India and the Far East.

They generally grow in clumps and often form fairy rings which can measure as much as several metres in diameter. Whole mushrooms are easily dried; when reconstituted they rapidly regain their original form and taste like fresh mushrooms. Dried mushrooms may be stored in air-tight containers for several years.

The fruits of the tree, one-seeded berries slightly resembling a peach, yield two spices: nutmeg and mace. Nutmeg (1) is the seed without the hard outer seed coat, whereas mace is the dried, fleshy, flat aril (2) which encloses the seed and extends beyond it in up to fifteen narrow strips. The fresh aril is a lovely red, changing to orange when it dries.

In the Middle Ages nutmeg was prized as a spice added not only to food but also to beer and used as a medicine to strengthen the stomach. Nowadays it is used as a flavouring for vegetables, salads and soups as well as breads and pastries. Mace, on the other hand, is used to flavour meat soups, sausages and salamis, vegetables and also in certain herb mixtures.

Unlike M. scorodonius, which has a brown cap and dark brown stem, fairy ring champignon is a dingy white colour all over. Its flavour resembles a mixture of mushrooms and nuts. M. scorodonius can be easily identified by the penetrating garlic odour and it is used in the same way as garlic for flavouring.

The chief commercial producers of both spices are Indonesia, Sri Lanka and southern and eastern India. Two sorts of nutmeg are available in the shops: East Indian, graded according to size, and West Indian, ungraded - 1432

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Balm is also a medicinal herb. Tea brewed by pouring hot water on the leaves relieves fatigue, aids digestion and relieves flatulence. .

Herbs as Spices

By Maryanne Wilson

The commonest method of preserving herbs is by drying, apart from a few exceptions, accompanying the colour plates of the individual species. There is no need to point out that even the most carefully dried herbs cannot compare with fresh herbs and so it is recommended to use fresh herbs whenever possible.

A powdered herb mixture that is becoming increasingly popular in recent years is the 'barbecue' mix, used on roast and grilled meats. Its aroma is reminiscent of the smell of smoke from a wood fire and creates the illusion of meat cooked outdoors over an open fire. Ingredients include ground garlic, cloves, sweet pepper, chilli, salt, sugar and monosodium glutamate.

Dried herbs are stored either whole or only slightly crumbled in air-tight containers and crushed or powdered, when necessary, just before use. Even so, their quality gradually deteriorates and so it is recommended to dry only as much as is needed, a year's supply at the most. An excellent method of preserving herbs, even though their use is then limited, is in the form of herb vinegars, which can be stored for an unlimited time.

Another herb mixture is the very hot sauce or paste from Mexico called tabasco. It is made by cooking fresh chillis together with salt, vinegar, sugar, garlic and other spices. Similar pastes called chilli sambala ranging from mild to very hot are used in Indian cookery. Fresh chillis are also used to make a very tasty Indian chutney, consisting of a paste made of crushed chillis, coconut and dried coriander leaves plus salt and lemon juice.

One of the most popular herb mixtures, called 'bouquet garni' can he bought ready made up or prepared at home by each individual cook as she wants. It is prepared by tying together a sprig of thyme, three sprigs of parsley and a small bay leaf, plus whatever the housewife fancies, such as wild thyme, marjoram, lovage, celery leaves, a bit of mace, orange or lemon peel, cinnamon, sweet pepper or a garlic clove.

Nowadays there is no need to prepare and bottle it at home when there is such a wide range to choose from on the market. Two of the most popular are tomato ketchup (made of tomatoes flavoured with onion, salt, sugar and spices) and mushroom ketchup (made of meadow mushrooms that are similarly flavoured). - 1432

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Creepers, like ivy, and climbers, such as clematis, wisteria and a vine, have been introduced against the walls.

Shrub Propagation

By Jose Miguel

An easy method of propagation is layering, though this, too, produces only a limited number of new individuals. This method is based on the fact that if the young shoot or shrub is bent and inserted in the soil it will put forth roots. Some shrubs multiply in this manner in the wild, e.g. the blackberry, dogwood, etc.

In gardening layering is used mainly for those shrubs that are not easy to propagate by cuttings' or grafting. Layering may be carried out either on the spot where the shrub is growing or else in a special bed to which the shrub to be increased is transferred. One advantage of the latter is that it is possible to prepare a soil mixture suitable for propagation, i.e. a lighter, sandy soil, and that the shrubs can be spaced far enough apart. Young one-year shoots root best.

As winter draws to an end it is necessary to check the seeds often to see if they are germinating, in which case they must be pricked out into a frame or in pots.

The simplest and easiest method of propagating shrubs is by division. This way, of course, it is possible to produce only one or at most several new individuals, but one great advantage is that they are usually sturdy enough to be planted out in the open immediately. This method can be used to propagate shrubs that continually shoot out new suckers from the base and have a tufted habit of growth.

To promote the growth of roots a tongue-like incision is made in the wood at the point of contact with the ground or a narrow strip of bark is removed. It is beneficial to expose the layered branch to the sun because warmer soil promotes rooting. As a rule the branch puts out a good root system during the growing period so that it can be separated from the parent plant in November or early spring and transplanted to the bed. This method can be used for the propagation of various species of Viburnum, Cydonia, Exochorda, Magnolia, Rhododendron, and other shrubs not easy to propagate by cuttings.

A similar method, known as stooling, is used to increase choice varieties of the hazel or to produce a greater quantity of rootstocks for budding or grafting fruit trees. Shrubs to be increased are cut back close to the ground in early spring so that they will put out as many shoots as possible. As these shoots grow they arc covered with a mound of soil up to about 30 centimetres high. During the summer the shoots put forth new roots and in the autumn the soil is removed and the rooted shoots are cut away from the parent shrub and planted out. This method is sometimes used to propagate certain varieties and species of Philadelphus, Deulzia, Hydrangea, and, Syringa. - 1432

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In garden planning, weathering, lichen and the rambling clematis give a varied surface to this heavily mortared rubble wall in the garden.

Gooseberry Shrub

By Noah Isabella

The gooseberry is a thorny, 0.7-1.2 m high shrub of broadly spreading habit with pendent shoots. The twigs are pale grey. The ovate buds are subtended by 'single or 3-branched thorns placed at right angles to the twig. The leaves appear early in spring (in March) and the hermaphrodite flowers in April. The sweet fleshy fruit with a greenish to reddish tinge ripens in July. The plant can be propagated by means of seeds and also by means of hardwood winter cuttings.

The pinnate leaves, measuring about 20 cm, are a glossy dark green, turning shades of copper and bronze in winter. The yellow flowers, borne in clustered racemes, appear in April. The bluish berries containing 3-5 seeds ripen in August and are edible. They are also used in preserves and to colour wines.

This is a valuable, evergreen ornamental shrub, widely cultivated in the parks of western, central and eastern Europe. It is sufficiently resistant to frost even in northern Germany, being damaged by spring frosts only if planted in sunny situations. It grows best in partial shade and does well even in drier situations. It is readily propagated by means of seeds or more usually by root suckers.

The black currant is a 1- 1.5 m high shrub of broadly branching habit. The twigs arc comparatively stout, greyish, and give off an unpleasant scent when cut. The buds are ovate, pale grey, on short stalks. The hermaphrodite red-green flowers appear in May. The black berries ripen in August.

They are generally dioecious, with the male and female flowers borne on separate plants. The clusters of male flowers are half as long as the female clusters. The red berries measure about 7 mm and are borne in clusters of 1-5 berries. They ripen in July and have an insipid taste.

Propagation from seed is quite laborious and therefore it is usually increased either by means of softwood cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn. The pink or double-flowered forms are especially prized in parks. - 1432

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In garden planning, most of the large elements of garden paving look best when laid in a regular pattern.

English Medieval Garden

By Rylan Michael

At this stage garden design was fairly international in character and more or less uniform throughout Europe. The Germans imitated the Italian Renaissance style but readily switched to the grand geometric French style when it became dominant.

In the hands of first William Kent, who pioneered the movement, followed by 'Capability' Brown and Humphrey Repton, contours were altered, hills built and valleys excavated; straight paths and avenues were abandoned and straight canals turned into serpentined lakes. Nature was triumphant-though in fact the freedom and naturalness were very carefully contrived. The sense of vast space could be very deceptive as landowners planted trees at the boundaries to obscure where an estate ended. There were no walls or hedges but instead the device of the ha-ha, a sunken ditch. was invented to keep animals out.

In the same way that English medieval gardens remained pale counterparts of the elegant and colourful enclosures found in Europe, the gardens of English royalty and aristocracy developed on the lines of Italian and French Renaissance layouts during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They were, however, less rigorously formal, since the English climate is more conducive to mixed planting. There was also a developing interest in horticulture and a new emphasis on flowers grown for their appearance rather than for culinary and medicinal use.

While Europe was following the fashionable style of the English landscape garden, the quite different Victorian age of gardening writings of Miss Jekyll and William Robinson also coincided with the restoraWon and rehabilitation of long-neglected smaller country houses, farmhouses and cottages and their ideas appealed equally to Mese self-sufficient gardeners. Gertrude Jekyll invented the herbaceous border, planted with roses, shrubs and hardy plants, which has an element of romanticism always associated with the traditional English cottage garden.

An emergent middle class began to move out into the suburbs or even the country, which meant that many more people had gardens of their own and an interest in gardening greatly increased.

During the eighteenth century a revolution took place in England, influenced by Niters, landscape painters and philosophers, all of whom began to react against the artificiality of formal gardens. Literary men such as Addison, Steele and Pope theorized about the curved line and the irregularity of nature, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau's idea of the romantic natural garden also tied in with the new movement. - 1432

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You can grow herbs in your garden so that it is handy in case you need herb for your cooking.

What is Chervil?

By Adam Robert

On the European continent celery is best known as a vegetable, used together with carrot and parsley root in soups, beef dishes, and in raw or cooked salads. It was already being grown for this purpose by gardeners of ancient times.

The flower heads, which have a spicy aroma and pleasant, slightly bitter taste, were originally used in the treatment of various diseases, including jaundice and diseases of the liver as well as migraine. Chamomile tea is a time- honoured tonic with a pleasant taste that aids digestion.

Chervil combined with parsley, tarragon and chives make a fines herbes mixture used in omelettes. It is also used to flavour vegetables, meats (chiefly mutton), roast chicken and grilled fish. Chervil soup made of beef bouillon, cream and egg yolks was very popular at one time. On hot summer days chervil provides welcome variety when mixed with cream cheese or simply sprinkled on bread and butter. The leaves can be steeped in white wine vinegar to make a delicious salad dressing.

The leaves, too, may be used to flavour foods. They are cooked together with the .stalks and removed before the food is served. If they are stripped from the thick stalks the leaves can be readily dried.

Chamomile is commonly grown in the herb garden and because of its low growing havit can be used in place of grass. The double flowered forms (1) in which most of the tubular florets have been replaced by tongue shaped ray florets are generally cultivated nowadays. The commercially available herb usually consists of the flowers of the double form.

Celery, like carrot and parsley, is a biennial herb but it is grown as an annual for use as a vegetable because in the second year it ds have ripeneddies down after flowering when the see. - 1432

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Herbs and spices are the fresh, dried or otherwise prepared parts of various garden plants with distinctive flavours and aromas used to season food.

Knowing your soil for Growing Herbs

By Jane Courtney

The demands of a single family can vary enormously over a number of years. Where they are likely to be in the same home for sonic time it is important that the garden plan is flexible enough to reflect these changing needs. A young couple might use the garden mainly for sunbathing or entertaining and would want a simple layout which is easy to look after.

The arrival of children would impose many new demands, from pram-standing space to soft play areas and tricycle runs. With a growing family a bigger area of the garden might be devoted to vegetables, with a large terrace space for outdoor activities and family meals.

The level of acidity or alkalinity can be controlled by adding lime, peat and various chemicals such as sulphate of ammonia to the soil. Lime helps reduce the acid level of a peaty or sandy soil while peat and sulphur make a chalky soil less alkaline. One of the best ways to improve your soil is to dig it, using a good spade or a fork for heavy clay soils. Digging will aerate the soil, kill the weeds and break up some of the subsoil so that the layer of topsoil is gradually increased. It should be done once a year, and autumn or early winter is the best time. This is particularly important with heavy clay soils, so that winter frosts will break up the compacted lumps and prepare the ground for planting in spring.

The depth of topsoil varies. A site recently left by a builder may have no topsoil at all (or it may be covered by the subsoil layer), while in parts of the Mississippi Basin the rich alluvial deposits are 6 m (about 20 ft) deep. The average garden has between 300 mm and 600 mm (1 ft and 2 ft) of topsoil, but a depth of as little as 150 mm (6 in) is sufficient for growing a large number of plants. You can test the depth of topsoil by the use of a soil auger, a tool like a giant corkscrew, which will bring up a sample of the soil profile, the several layers from which it is formed. A simpler test is to dig a hole with steep sides and so make the soil profile visible in that way. The hole will also show you how quickly the top- or subsoil drains after rain.

The addition of sufficient organic material, in the form of animal manure or vegetable compost, should cure the deficiencies of an infertile soil. In its decayed form it is known as humus and one way in which humus aids fertility is by storing nitrogen. The bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen into ammonia and this essential nutrient is released to the plant roots in the form of nitrates. Humus also absorbs and holds water so that the plant roots have time to take it up.

Between topsoil and parent bed rock there may be many layers of stone and gravel, but the layer immediately beneath the topsoil is generally the subsoil. Its depth varies according to the hardness of the underlying rock and the amount of erosion it has suffered. The colour and texture of subsoil are usually different from those of the topsoil because it is in a transitional stage, without humus or organic material. For this reason, it is not a growing medium. - 1432

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Keep the spade upright when digging a hole in your garden to grow herbs as it is less of a strain on your back.

Hyssop Herb

By John Michael

The name hyssop was given to a number of different plants in olden times. The name itself tells us why this happened. It is derived from the Greek words 'hys', meaning pig, and `ops', meaning face. Many plants of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family have flowers that resemble a pig's snout.

Hyssop is native to the Mediterranean region and central Asia and was introduced to central Europe in the 10th century by the Benedictine monks. In medieval times it was a popular kitchen herb, its leaves being used in soups, pickled vegetables, meat pts and poultry stuffings.

The female flowers are used almost exclusively in the brewing of beer, to which they not only impart a pleasant bitter taste but, because of the resin present in the lupulin, also prevent the multiplication of bacteria that cause lactic fermentation which spoils the beer. Tender young hop shoots were at one time eaten as a salad or boiled like asparagus.

It is also used in flavouring many liqueurs such as Chartreuse. Hyssop is attractive to bees and is grown in gardens for its mass of fragrant blue flowers.

Hyssop is a perennial, branching sub-shrub that turns woody at the base and reaches a height of 50 cm (20 in). Still grown widely for its many uses, it has no special growing requirements but prefers a sunny situation and lime-rich soil.

Star anise is grown not only for its fruits (1) and the spice they yield but also for the lovely reddish wood prized by cabinet makers, joiners and turners. The seeds (2) are sown in nurseries and the young plants grown in plantations or in avenues alongside highways. - 1432

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You must know about the tips on growing herbs to grow a herb garden.

Having An Exotic Houseplants

By Kent Higgins

How to Select Beautiful Houseplants

Plants make a wonderful addition to your indoor environment. If you are fortunate enough to live in a warmer area, then most likely plants are a part of your outdoor landscape year round. When you decide to buy some new houseplants, you need to consider where you will be putting your new addition. Is the area well lighted and suitable for the plant? You need to fit the plant to the area, not the other way around. There are several suitable choices when you are looking for a great flowering plant to add to your home. Go to your local gardening center and find a knowledgeable associate that can answer any questions you may have, when choosing your new plant.

Plants for your home

Bromeliads, Crypthanthus, Aechmea and Ananas, are called by their Latin genus, and any of these would make a great addition to your home. Bromeliads are fabulous houseplants, they thrive in brightly lit areas. The flowers can last for several weeks and they need to be place in a well drained pot, with a mixture of bark and coarse.

You need to remember to keep the reservoir at the bottom of the pot, filled with water. It is also very important that you do not over water this plant and to change the water weekly.

The proper choice of potting for your plant

You could add a choice from the Gesneriad family, such as a Hot Water Plant or a Cupids Bower. These plants flower from spring to early summer and throughout the fall.

Once they bloom, you need to move them to an area of reduced lighting and water them so the top of th4e plants dieback to the soil. You can store the dormant plants at 60 degrees over the winter and leave them in the pot.

When the springtime rolls around, you can start to grow or reproduce them by dividing tiny spouts and gradually increasing the watering amount and introducing more light.

When they are in growing mode, they need care that is similar to African Violets. You can also display them in the same places you would an African Violet plant.

A Zebra Plant is a popular plant, but it can be difficult to grow inside. No matter how perfect the growing conditions may be, the lower leaves always seem to fall off, mostly after blooming.

The Zebra plant requires high humidity levels and varying soil moisture, depending on what the time of year is, it can be difficult to keep your plant healthy looking.

It is better to replace dying or tired looking plants, you can start new plants by strategic tip cutting, after the flower dies and the spike tip is removed.

Great Table Top Plants

Clerodendrum thomsoniae are well know for their beautiful milky white, bell shaped buds with burgundy red tips. These plants are best grown on a sunny window sill, during March through September. They prefer soil that is well drained and lightly moist.

The Glower Bower grow best with a temperature are 65 degrees, with an average amount of humidity. You also need to ensure that it has the ability to climb as it grows. You can use them as a floor plant or they look just as great in a hanging basket.

The Flowering Maple plants are best known for their bushy, tailing folliage, with leaves shapes like maples. Some species in this family have yellow and green variegated leaves, while some have lovely flowers, shaped like hollyhock blooms. Flowering maples require a bright sunny location with soil that is moist, but not soggy and they prefer high humidity. The Flowering Maple thrives best in cool night temperatures between 55-60 degrees. You must remember to sink the pot in outdoor containers during the warm season, which allows the plant to continue bloom in the warmer seasons, and it makes a great accent plant.

Kaffir Lily

Clivia miniata produces long, leather-like leaves with beautiful, showy orange-red flowers, followed by ornamental red berries. Propagated by seed or division.

The Kaffir Lily, is a member of the clivia miniata family and its plants has long, leathery leaves with striking orangish-red flowers. You can get starters of this plant from the seeds or by dividing the plants. The grow outside during the summer, in a lightly shaded area with water, and need to be fertilized regularly.

During the first week of September, you need to bring the plant inside to rest in a cool location, until mid-January. Water this plant lightly and then move to a sunny and warmer location. Then begin to water and fertilize it regularly. The yellow variation of the plant is called, Aurea, it is harder to find, but beautiful. This plant is best used for accent on a tabletop, while larger ones can be put on the floor.

The Cape Primrose, is a member of the gesneriad family, produces lovely flowers in shades of pink, white, purple and blue. It grows best in an east or west window that allows for exposure to the most sunlight. You need to keep the soil lightly moist and just remember to provide adequate humidity exposure. The plant does best between between 55 to 70 degrees. The plant prefers to be put in loose, organic soil and needs to be checked periodically in the spring for repotting needs. The plant culture is comparable to that of the African Violets, and they can tolerate cooler temperatures quite well. You need remove the dead flowers and stalks to keep the plants from further growth. You can display it much in the same way as an African Violet.

Flame-of-the-Woods

Ixora coccinea is an evergreen shrub that produces dense clusters of tubular flowers with some varieties being scented. Colors of white, orange, yellow and salmon are available.

A Flame-Of-the-Woods are an evergreen flowering bush that produce a dense cluster of tubular shapes blooms and some types have scents. They come in colors of white, orange, yellow and salmon-pink. For the best growing conditions for house plants, the temperature should be between 65 and 75 degrees, with sun exposure coming from an east-west location. These plants need adequate humidity and moist soil, and to be placed in a draft-free location. There are also dwarf varieties available, these versions are perfect for a table top, while the larger variety is perfect for a floor plant.

Flame Violets are members of the Episcia family. This genus produces trailing tropical foliage with bright leaves and brilliantly colored flowers. Flame Violets grow best with minimal sun exposure with temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees. They thrive in high humidity and the soil should be kept lightly moist. Other requirements are similar to that of African Violets and can be displayed in the same way. - 1432

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Ready to roll back the confusion flowering house plants. Visit us for lots of free information at http://www.plant-care.com/flowering-houseplants.html.

Tansy

By James Rowan

Cocoa, or more correctly cacao, is a small evergreen tree native to tropical America, probably originally growing in the Orinoco River basin. Cocoa is used to make chocolates. Cocoa can be used as spice in cooking.

Tansy was grown in the herb garden of Charlemagne, and in England it was widely used as a medicinal herb in the days of Elizabeth I.

The tender young leaves combined with eggs were a popular dish called 'tansy', eaten at Easter to celebrate the end of fasting. This custom has survived to this day in the form of Easter cakes and puddings flavoured with tansy leaves.

It was also believed to banish 'bad humours' caused by a lengthy diet of salt fish. The highly aromatic, rather unpleasant-tasting foliage was used to disguise the strong taste of game and mutton and make it more palatable.

The rowan is distributed throughout western and central Europe from the lowlands up to the tree-line.and in northern Europe, even north of the Arctic Circle. It is a small, deciduous, rapidly-growing tree reaching a maximum height of 20 m (65 ft); it is not very long-lived and its wood is of little value. Its one advantage is that it is completely hardy.

Tansy may still occasionally be encountered in gardens, where it is generally grown for decoration. The ornamental form T. vulgare crispum is often cultivated. The yellow, button-like flower-heads arc composed only of tubular flowers; female flowers round the perimeter and bisexual flowers in the centre. - 1432

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A good herb garden pattern is set in brick paving.

Pepper

By Charlotte Zander

Anise is an annual herb native to the eastern Mediterranean region (Egypt, Asia Minor, the Greek islands). In ancient times it was used mostly as a medicine to treat snake bites, nightmares and the like. The ancient Greeks introduced it to the Romans who also began using it in cookery. It was not until the 14th century, however, that it reached Europe as a flavouring for bread - aniseed bread is popular to this day, particularly in Austria and southern Germany. Nowadays anise is grown commercially on a large scale in Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, France, the former USSR, Turkey, Mexico and elsewhere.

Pepper is a typical plant of the tropics that thrives only in a very humid and warm climate. Originally a forest plant grown by the natives to climb among trees at the edge of the forest, it is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics.

The delicately-scented, mildly pungent leaves with a cucumber-like flavour are used for flavouring. These are eaten as a salad by southern Europeans, the same as the leaves of Burnet (Sanguisorba minor). The young basal leaves are the tastiest if picked before the flower stem begins to grow.

Surprisingly allspice, one of the best-known tropical spices found in the kitchen of every home, is the latest to be introduced to Europe. It was known to the Aztecs of Mexico a long time ago but Europe did not learn of it till Christopher Columbus made his famous voyage of discovery. Even then Europeans did not begin using it until the turn of the 17th and 18th century. It has been known longest in England, where it is called allspice because its flavour resembles a mixture of pepper, clove and cinnamon. Whole dried fruits (berries) are used to flavour roast meats, mainly game, and in marinades of all kinds; ground berries are used in rice, pts, soups and sauces. Allspice is used widely in making sausages as well as liqueurs such as Benedictine and Chartreuse. The essential oil is used by the perfume industry.

The tree is evergreen and grows up to 13 m (43 ft) high. It has large aromatic leaves up to 10 cm (4 in) long and equally aromatic bark that peels off regularly every year. The small whitish flowers are arranged in terminal clusters. The berries are divided into two chambers with one seed in each. When ripe they are coloured red and lose their aroma. They are therefore harvested while still green, being picked by hand and dried in the sun.

Fruits that have ripened on the plant are pepper steeped in vinegar and salt has a very soaked in water for 2 to 3 days after they are delicate aroma. - 1432

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To find out more on herbs gardening, search online for more tips and information on herbs.

Savory

By James Pollock

Clary, a close relative of common sage, is native to southern Europe. The specific name is derived from the Latin word 'clams', meaning clear, bright.

It is a biennial with large leaves and tall stems up to 1 m (3 ft) high, and a good plant for the herb garden because it is hardy and the leaves may be used throughout the winter when fresh herbs are scarce.

In Germany it is used mostly to flavour beans (hence the name Bohnenkraut) and in English and French cookery in stuffing for turkey and roast veal. It is also good with fish and pickled vegetables. The youngest terminal leaflets have the most delicate aroma and are delicious in salads. Savory is also used to flavour sausage meat.

In the Middle Ages roast goose called `Suce Madame' was prepared according to the following recipe: 'Take sage, parsley, hyssop and savory, quince and pears and stuff the goose, then close the cavity and sew it so the fat cannot escape, and roast it well'. Savory, however, had to be used sparingly for, as Mattioli wrote in his herbal, 'it incites to wantonness'. Mattioli derived its generic name from the satyrs of antiquity.

White mustard has long been cultivated. Native to the Mediterranean region, probably north Africa, its many present cultivated varieties differ only slightly from the original wild forms. It was cultivated by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. From the writings of Theophrastus we learn that the Greeks called it `napy' or also `sinapi', which gave rise to the Latin name of the genus and later also to the German name Sent Already in those days it was made into a paste for use as a condiment according to recipes quite different from those of the present day. The Romans introduced the plant and their recipes for prepared mustard to central and western Europe. In the Middle Ages wine vinegar, called `mustum' in Latin, began to be used in making the paste and hence the North German name Mostrich, the French moutarde and the English mustard.

The seeds are used whole in pickling gherkins and vegetables, in making marinades and like coriander to flavour sausage meat. In England young seedlings are added to green salads. They may be grown readily and rapidly at home from seeds sown in a dish covered with a piece of damp flannel, where they will produce seedlings ready for picking within a week. An annual herb reaching a height of 80 cm (32 in), it is readily distinguished from other mustards by the seeds (1) which arc contained in pods (siliques) terminated by a prominent beak (2,3). They arc straw-yellow in colour and are larger than other mustard seeds. Mustard has a brief growth period and ripening and harvesting depend on the time of sowing. It is harvested when the pods turn brownish-yellow and the seeds harden. - 1432

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You can grow herbs in your garden for cooking as well as decorative purpose.

Lovage Herb

By Jonathan Richardson

The original form of the herb of lovage is the closely related species L. persicum which grows wild in the hills of southern Iran. It was known to the ancient Greeks and Romans, hence the generic name, derived from the Latin word `ligusticum' because it grew in abundance in Liguria, a region in northwestern Italy.

However, it is well worth it, for the dried herb from the shop cannot begin to compare with freshly chopped leaves sprinkled on soup or on a potato pancake.

As a plant of the Mediterranean region marjoram was known to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, who used it not only to flavour food but also prized it as a miraculous herb with the power of healing practically all diseases, especially colds and chills.

The rhizomes and roots are used to make commercial soup flavourings. The hollow stem may be cut crosswise into ring-like pieces and candied in the same way as the stem of angelica. All parts of lovage may be used fresh as well as dried, whole, crushed or ground.

Unfortunately the most important commercial varieties, those that bear large, round and regular, smooth-skinned fruits which can be successfully transported, have the poorest flavour. When using them in salads the flavour must be enhanced with vinegar and other dressings.

Therefore, do not always judge tomatoes by the way they look; those with the superior flavour are not always the best looking - 1432

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You make make use of any free space in the garden of your backyard to grow herbs.

Planting Garden Plants

By Marley Einstein

Planting should really be described as soil preparation, for the actual planting is a very small part of the process. Even if you are one of the very lucky minority of gardeners who have perfect soil, the soil must be prepared so that the plant's roots have free passage through it and arc not restricted in any way.

First, draw up a simple scale plan of the garden or border to be planted. On this outline plan draw circles to represent plants to be planted. At the back large circles will show where large plants will go, medium sized circles will go in the centre, and small ones at the front. Make sure that the circles are drawn to scale and that they cover the whole of the area of the plan to be planted.

If you are planning an island bed - that is, one surrounded by lawn - make sure that the largest plants are in the middle, with the smallest ones all around the edges.

All these factors affect the amount of time a plant is exposed to levels of cold that can cause damage to the stem, foliage or, less often, the roots. In the directory each entry includes a minimum temperature that can be tolerated by any plant. If a plant is particularly prone to damage by spring frosts - as are hydrangeas and pieris.

For a single plant dig a hole lm (about 3ft) across, first removing the topsoil and, if necessary, turf to a depth of 25cm (10in) and storing this on a board alongside the hole. Then the lower 25cm (loin) - more if you can - should be dug over and a good quantity of organic material added. Add some more organic material to the removed topsoil before it is returned to the planting hole.

If you need to prepare a larger area and cannot cope with the double digging by hand, you might want to hire a mechanical mini-digger. The principle is the same, however: remove the topsoil from a trench across the area to be dug and store it close to the far end of the area being prepared but not actually on it. The trench needs - 1432

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In garden planning, arrange the garden flowers together in the correct manner is important.

Size of Plants in Your Garden

By Reuben Garden

The importance of colour in gardening cannot be over 9 stated. When the colours we see are harmonious and right, we feel happy or contented; when the reverse is the case, we feel unhappy or uncomfortable. As gardeners we can control the colours we have around us, and. by the skilful use of different plants, we can achieve different effects at will.

The overall shape and form of every plant must be taken into account. for they will largely determine the final effect of the planting, particularly the way it appears in winter. Height and spread can be used to advantage when you want to provide sentinel effects in borders or to highlight a gateway or path.

The ultimate size and shape of all mature plants can be predicted with sonic. accuracy. These dimensions may be reached within one or two years, as with perennials such as Acanthus spinosus (bear's breeches), or it may be many years or even generations before a plant reach- * es its maximum height and spread. The beautiful blue cedar, Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica 'Clauca Pendula', for example, will take generations to achieve its full height and spread, but it will need the space in which it can grow and develop.

In all the entries in the directory there is an indication of the average height and spread that is to be expected from any given plant over a given number of years. However, it is worth bearing in mind that a plant's development will always be influenced by the conditions in which it is grown.

Not only do planting schemes that positively encourage insects play their part in the wildlife, but they also encourage a natural ecosystem to develop in our gardens. To enjoy colour and scent in the garden, it is first necessary actually to grow the appropriate plants.

This may seem obvious, but many gardens, even those apparently well designed, do not look exciting or stimulating simply because the number and balance of the plants in them have not been thought through and acted upon. - 1432

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In garden planning, flowers of different colors will brighten up your garden and make your garden look lively.

Dog Rose

By Jimmy Huett

In the Middle Ages the rose was called the 'flower of flowers' and from that time dates the recipe for the then popular dish called `Rosee'.

The wild species are native to that land and the number of Chinese varieties is enormous. Even older, by a thousand years, are the inscriptions on a tablet of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, where the radish (surmaia) is listed together with various other vegetables. Either is was introduced from here to China or else the Chinese began cultivating it on their own, independent of the Egyptians. Radish is also mentioned by Dioscorides in connection with its use in medicine.

Syrup prepared by mixing honey and rose petals was prescribed for 'the weak, ill, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric'. To this day rose petals are used locally, particularly in the Near East, as a fragrant admixture to foods and beverages.

The fruits - rose hips, rich in Vitamin C, are used to make a refreshing, slightly sour tea and very piquant marmalade, good by itself as well as added to sauces and roast game. The fleshy hips contain a great many hard, pointed-ovate achenes covered with silky hairs. These must be removed before using the hips in cookery. It is a very tedious task consisting of cutting each hip lenghtwise while still fresh and scraping out the contents.

It is a lengthy and unpleasant process, best done with gloved hands, for the hairs cause an itching sensation if they come in contact with the skin. Hips for making jam, marmalade and wine must be fully ripe and picked when they have become softened after the first frosts. The clog rose is widely distributed throughout Europe up to altitudes of 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and therefore there is no need to grow it in the garden. It may be found alongside hedges in pastures, on sunny banks and at the edges of woodlands. It is perennial, growing up to 3 in (10 ft) high, and fully hardy. It was named Rosa canina from the Latin word `canis' meaning dog because the root was at one time used to treat rabies.

The same happens when radishes are sown in summer (they usually run to seed), which is why they should be grown in a shaded spot at that time of the year. The slower and longer their growth, the drier they become and the hotter their taste. - 1432

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You can find free tips on herbs gardening by searching on the internet.

The Weather and Your Garden

By Kristen Edward

The weather will be a major influence on the design and planting of your garden. If you live in an area where the proportion of cold, wet days is high, you should site your vegetable patch near the house, or at least make sure there is a dry path to it so that it will he easy to pick a winter cabbage.

Plants need light to achieve growth, through the process of photosynthesis. You can take advantage of the microclimate in various ways to increase the amount of sunlight available to a plant. A slope, for example, may catch more of the sun's rays than fiat ground and the water of a small pond will reflect light, aiding the growth of nearby plants. However, some plants require less sun and more shade than others and too much solar heat results in excessive water loss.

Before ordering new plants or making changes in the layout of your garden consider the fundamental climatic conditions of your region, any significant local differences, and finally your garden's own microclimate: that is, the small variations within the overall climate particular to your own garden, caused by the shade or protection given by a neighbouring building or a group of trees, for example.

Temperature, rainfall, the hours of daylight, solar radiation (the amount and intensity of sunlight) and frost frequency and severity are all important variables in the overall climate. Certain factors are of particular importance to the gardener.

The lateness of late frost, for example, affects early planting, early sowing, fruit tree blossom, potatoes and the safe point at which to bed out dahlias and geraniums. At the other end of the season, it is a good thing to know when to take in plants which are not frost hardy.

The most common problem in the countryside is the direct force of the wind, whereas in town it is more often draught, or wind coming in sudden gusts which has been re-routed round buildings, that damages plants. Balcony and roof gardens may be particularly exposed to the wind. Wind breaks can be made from a variety of materials, including plants which do not themselves mind high wind speeds. Solid barriers create areas of turbulence so an open-work fence, a broken wall, a group of plants or another form of partial wind break may be the better solution. - 1432

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Selecting suitable plants that suit to the climate of the region of your garden is important in garden planning.

Olives

By Jason Ledger

In ancient Greece parsley was believed to be sacred and the symbol of fame and joy. It could not possibly be used for such a plebeian purpose as food when it adorned the head of the great Heracles on ceremonial occasions. This belief fell into oblivion but the custom of using it as decoration has been retained to this day, albeit in somewhat different form.

In the first century B.C. the largest producer of olive oil was Italy, where the olive tree was introduced by the Greeks. Olives, as we know them today in the form used to flavour dishes typical of the Mediterranean region, were not known at that time.

Its delicate aroma and flavour have made parsley the most widely-used culinary herb which can be added to practically all dishes that are not sweet. The finely chopped leaves are used either fresh or dried. It can be combined well with other kitchen herbs.

There are many species of wild poppies but the opium poppy has never been found growing in the wild. In all probability it was bred from the wild species P. setigerum, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a useful plant for many reasons. The pharmaceutical industry processes the juice (opium) which exudes from cuts on the unripe capsules, and obtains morphine and many other opium alkaloids from the empty, dry capsules. The ripe seeds yield the edible oil called `olivette' by the French and a lower quality industrial oil used in synthetic dyes.

In cookery the ripe seeds arc used to make poppy-seed cakes and fillings for pastries. Cooking and baking makes their pleasant, nut-like flavour more pronounced. Poppy-seeds are also sprinkled on rolls and buns. Ground seeds are added to pungent herb mixtures not only for their flavour but also to improve the consistency and increase the weight of the mixtures. This is much better than diluting them with starchy flour, as is often done by European producers.

Two types are cultivated: the one for its curly leaves, used for flavouring and as a garnish, the other for its fleshy root, commonly used as a vegetable. In the autumn the plants may be put in pots, thus ensuring a continual supply of fresh leaves, rich in Vitamin C, throughout the winter. As cooking destroys vitamins it is recommended to add the chopped leaves just before serving - 1432

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To manage a successful herb garden, you must know about the tip in herb gardening.

Koi Garden Ponds Make Your Landscape Alluring

By Frank Rodriguez

A lot of people build Koi garden ponds not only because they are beautiful but because they can be so calming. However, you have to realize at the beginning that building and maintaining one can take a lot of dedication. It is first important to understand as much as possible about Koi fish. They are indigenous to Japan and have an unusual shape - like a drum! These fish are very colorful and frisky; they love to play. Still, because building the pond and taking care of the fish requires so much care, you need to know what to expect right at the onset.

Building a Koi pond takes a lot of effort as well, but it is well worth it. Still, before you begin building yours, you should make sure you have the time necessary to devote to it. You also need all the proper resources. You have to be prepared to care for both the fish and the pond.

A Koi garden pond is relatively simple to construct but you have to make sure you do it right. First and foremost, it cannot be built in direct sunlight. Koi fish are extremely sensitive and they need to be treated as such. Many people wall in their ponds, which protects the fish from the sun. Some people also elect to build them beneath trees. However, you should only do this if the tree does not frequently shed its leaves. Otherwise those dry leaves will raise the pH level in the water.

A Koi garden needs to be properly sized. The fish can grow upwards of forty pounds and three feet long. You need to construct a pond which is big enough to accommodate and encourage their growth. You should also bear in mind that sometimes the size of the pond determines how big the fish get.

Pond maintenance is also an important consideration. Some people use pond liners, some prefer pre-formed ponds. All told, the liners are a better bet. Using them, you can make your pond bigger with relative ease.

When building a Koi pond, feel free to include aquatic plants and other features. Underwater plants will provide plenty of controlled nutrients to the fish. They will also keep the fishes safe from the sun. Water lilies, dwarf papyrus, cannas, lily pads, irises, and similar plants and flowers are ideal. However, they must be inaccessible to the fish, which like to nibble on plants. You should also line the bottom with gravel and pebbles. These allow beneficial bacteria to breed.

The water in a Koi pond is important as well. Koi are very sensitive, so the water's pH level should be neutral. Filtration and aeration systems are highly recommended. Look for ones with both biological filters and UV filters. A drain in the bottom of the pond is a good idea as well. - 1432

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When designing your own koi pond it's a good idea to look at other koi ponds for design ideas. The next step is getting water garden supplies. These can be purchased economically over the internet.

What is Garlic?

By Timothy Tungsten

Garlic is native to the steppes of the Djungar and Kirghiz region of central Asia, from where the Mongols soon introduced it to China. It was also cultivated on a large scale in ancient Egypt.

They are frost-resistant and their leaves may be snipped the whole year long without affecting the plants in any way. However, they should be fed frequently and should not be cut too close to the ground so as to avoid damaging the growth centres. Chives may be propagated from seed, but home-growers usually increase them by splitting up older clumps and replanting the offsets, which gives earlier yields. The only requirement is plenty of light.

Chives should be freshly cut before serving. They have a very mild onion flavour without the biting quality and are used not only as a herb but also as a garnish on many cold and hot dishes. They should never be cooked - when used as a garnish for hot dishes chives should be sprinkled on top just before serving.

They are popular in cheese spreads, on bread and butter, in scrambled eggs, salad dressings and cold sauces, sprinkled on buttered boiled potatoes and as a garnish for assorted cold meat platters. In winter they arc a welcome source of Vitamin C.

The flowers are arranged in loose umbels and are followed by small bulbs. Garlic is a perennial herb propagated by planting the separate cloves directly in the ground where they are to grow, either in autumn or early spring. Bulbs are dug up and harvested when the foliage begins to turn yellow and dry. A very suitable and decorative method of storing garlic is to braid the bulbs together and hang them up in a cool spot.

Wild chives occur in several forms: with leaves rounded to greatly flattened and flowers ranging in colour from white to dark pink. Unlike the leaves, the flowering stems are not hollow. Cultivated varieties are generally larger and more robust but wild chives make an equally good seasoning. - 1432

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When Alcuin, famous early medieval scholar and adviser to Charlemagne, asked his sovereign what a garden herb is he received the succinct reply: `Friend of physicians and pride of cooks'.

Siting Awkward Structures in your Garden

By Stephen Cassandra

Most vegetables need a good depth of topsoil which is rich in humus and all need certain amount of space. They should be grown in some sort of rotation. A vegetable plot need not be screened, as is often suggested, for rows of neat vegetables can be attractive. Admittedly there are times in winter when they look straggly-hut a run of box edging should solve the problem.

Herb growing is becoming more popular, since not only are herbs used in most forms of cooking, but their medicinal properties are also being rediscovered. They grow in interesting shapes and the form, texture and colour of their leaves make them attractive plants. Many herbs, such as rosemary, purple sage, santolina, rue and golden balm, can be included in the mixed border as decorative additions or a herb garden can be sited on its own. But clearly it is sensible that herbs should be as close to the kitchen as possible. As many of them originate in scrub or downland, they can exist in fairly shallow poor soil.

If you have an oil tank, it should have easy access for the feed pipe which should not have to trail all over the garden. Coal or log storage and rubbish bins should be readily accessible from the house, preferably under some sort of covered way. The compost bin should be screened. If all the vegetable waste is to go on to it it should not he too far away, but neither should it be too close since rotting vegetables smell.

A space for any large vehicles to be parked, such as a boat or a caravan as well as a car, should be allowed for at this initial planning stage.

Ground cover such as heather or ivy is an alternative soft ground surfacing, especially over areas which are too small or steep for lawn but where you want to keep maintenance to a minimum. The use of ground cover need not be restricted to filling in spaces between beds or within beds. It can he employed to create bold areas of pattern, possibly combined with paving stones. At this stage in your planning there is no need to decide on the exact varieties of trees, shrubs and plants.

Many vegetables can be incorporated decoratively in the garden plan. Red cabbages look striking, runner beans can be grown up a fence, and artichoke plants are visually interesting and can be used to screen a compost heap, while marrows and courgettes are most attractive hanging over a wall from the edge of a raised bed. Raised beds look effective and can be worked into a terrace if space is limited; they are excellent for old people since they are far easier to work. - 1432

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The garden is liable to look somewhat unattractive you have good garden planning.

Unique Birdhouses a quick peak

By Robert Randolph

One of the more popular ways to add to the attractiveness of your back yard is to provide a habitat that draws in your bird population. Birds are a delightful member of your "estate" adding not only a pleasing visual improvement, but the wonderful sounds that accompany many bird species.

But the story is incomplete unless we recognize that putting a birdhouse in the backyard also allows for flights of fancy as well. These are miniature houses, and generally the birds are indifferent to the exterior of the house, so it provides a great opportunity to add a twist that reflects the personality of the owner of the property.

This personal expression can take on an incredible range of options. Here are just a few ideas that you can find:

Church Birdhouses - These capture a variety of houses of worship. From the old traditions of the Byzantine eastern Christianity, to the stately Notre Dame, or a Gothic look, or to the simple country chapel, there is a church birdhouse design to fit your tastes.

Victorian Mansion - Reflecting the best the era had to offer, this can be found in multistory designs, with the size and presence you would expect from a mansion.

Log Cabin Designs - Echoing the architecture of the early settlers, you can find these made from traditional woods like fir, or more contemporary choices like bamboo.

Stained Glass Birdhouses - One of my favorites, these are often simple designs, but have sides fashioned with stained glass that will capture are reflect the sun and add a visual appeal that is larger than the house itself.

Face Birdhouses - A recently popular type of house, these are shaped like an A frame, but the front surface is a face made from a resin form. The faces available include a popular cat, where the bird hole is the mouth, along with a pirate face, or a frog, a tree leaf, or a deer with antlers.

Painted Birdhouses - By simply adding a design with paint, the choices are endless. You can create almost any desired look with paint, and these tend to be relatively inexpensive as well. - 1432

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If you like bird houses, Robert Randolph has a selection of beautiful decorative birdhouses. Click here to view his selection of Bird Houses.

Watercress

By James Sadie

This aromatic herb is important not only in cookery but also as a medicinal plant and to bee-keepers, for it is often visited by bees. It derives its botanical name from the Greek words `ozein', meaning to smell, and `basileus', meaning king, because of its pleasant and penetrating aroma truly worthy of kings.

The young leaves have a pleasant taste resembling that of horseradish and are used, chiefly in Scandinavian countries, as a pungent salad rich in vitamins. Watercress was popular in the days of the Roman Empire.

According to preserved records it was eaten in medieval France and Germany. Only the fresh young leaves are used. If you wish to keep them fresh for several days it is recommended to immerse the whole plant in cold water, cover the container with a lid and place it in a cool place.

Nigella sativa is a less attractive plant than the closely related Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-mist), often grown for garden decoration. However, it does yield black seeds resembling those of onion that have a bitter flavour at first but after a while taste like pepper. They are sold in shops as `black caraway' and another English name for the plant is 'devil-in-thebush'. Quite a different image is evoked by the name `cheveux de Venus' as it is called in France, where it is also known as `quatre-epices'. The seeds are used as flavouring mostly in Egypt, the Middle East and India, but also in European cookery.

Watercress is used to flavour salads and cheeses and as a garnish in canapes. It gives a pleasant taste to vegetable soups and goes well with freshwater fish. It can also be sprinkled, like chives, on boiled, buttered potatoes, omelettes and scrambled eggs. It is used to make herb butter, often mixed with other aromatic plants. In winter the ripe, ground seeds may be used instead of the leaves in the same ways, and also for flavouring stewed meat. It is advisable not to pick watercress growing wild for plants growing by contaminated water have been known to cause typhus in people, that have eaten them. It is always safer to buy watercress for this has been carefully cultivated in uncontaminated water.

Fennel flower is an annual herb growing to a height of 40 cm (16 in) and flowering from spring until autumn. It is propagated by means of seeds sown early in spring in the open garden where the plants are to grow. The fruits, large decorative capsules (1, 2) divided into five compartments, are collected successively as they ripen. The seeds (3) are removed from the capsules after they have dried - 1432

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You can learn more about herbs gardening by finding tips and resources on the internet.

Quince

By Marie Austin

Blackthorn is a densely branched thorny shrub growing to a height of 1-5 m. The bark on the stem is blackish-brown and the lateral twigs have a terminal spine. The buds are small and ovate; the flower buds arc generally borne in dense clusters on short twigs. The whitish flowers appear in April -- May before the leaves. The fruits, known as sloes, ripen in September-October and are astringent, becoming tastier after the first frosts. The brown, pitted seed is difficult to separate from the pulp.

This shrub is widespread throughout most of Europe, its range extending northward to the 68th parallel and south-east to Asia Minor. In central Europe it is most plentiful in warm, wine- growing areas, where it forms dense thickets on dry, sunny banks. It has a richly branching root system and puts out root suckers freely, for which reason it is used to strengthen rocky banks and in the afforestation of barren slopes in karst areas. It is a widespread hedgerow plant as well. It occurs at elevations up to 600-700 rn. Its thick, spiny branches provide a good shelter for small birds. The fruit is used for medicinal purposes and to make wine and dyes.

A native of the area bordering the Caspian Sea, it grows on sandy and loamy soils around lakes as well as on dry banks. In central and western Europe it is cultivated in parks and gardens for its fruits and as an ornamental species. It grows best in a sunny spot, and tolerates dry situations. In Europe it is frost-resistant only in warmer regions. The fruits are edible and used either raw or cooked. Propagation is by means of seeds or green cuttings.

The Japanese quince is a thorny shrub with several main stems reaching 1-2.5 m. One-year shoots are glossy greenish brown, older ones dark brown. The buds are squat and reddish, the flower buds twice as large as the leaf buds. The pink to dark red flowers, about 4 cm in diameter, appear from December to April, the earliest ones appearing before the leaves. The yellow ovoid fruits, without any sepals, ripen in autumn and remain on the shrub until winter.

Unlike the wild plant these do not have spines and their fruits are much larger, up to 5 or 6 cm across. Newly matured fruits have a bitter taste; they are eaten and processed after the advent of frosts when the pulp softens and turns brown.

It also stands up well to temperatures of minus 20C and grows on drier soils ; however, it requires a sunny aspect to produce a profusion of flowers. It is readily propagated by means of seeds and also throws up root suckers. Solitary specimens are very ornamental but it is equally well suited for the formation of thick thorny hedges. - 1432

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In garden planning, cutting and laying pieces of garden paving stone in a crazy paving pattern is a difficult, precision job.

Green Alder

By Robert Mills

The green alder is a shrub branching from the base and attaining a height of 1- 3 in. The male catkins are already visible in autumn. The twigs are flattened, brownish-green with whitish warts.

The buds, unlike those of other alders, are stalkless, pointed, and coloured greenish brown. The catkins appear together with the leaves in April to May. The cone-like fruit is only 1 cm long and is a paler colour and less woody than that of the common alder. The small-winged fruits are yellow-brown and resemble those of the birch.

Mistletoe is an evergreen shrub with forked branches that is parasitic on trees. The stem is covered with yellow-green bark. The shrub grows to a height of about 50 cm and is almost circular in shape. It establishes itself on the branches of trees, which it penetrates with its roots, thereby obtaining the water and mineral substances it needs for growth.

There are several varieties of mistletoe, distinguished according to the host plant on which they grow, e.g. fir, pine, and deciduous trees; these are always parasitic on the same species of tree and differ from each other morphologically, primarily by the width of the leaves.

The hazel is a shrub with straight shoots 3-6 m high, the bark smooth and brownish. The alternate buds are round ovate and covered with several scales. The, male catkins are visible already in autumn, growing in length and maturing in March when their yellow pollen falls on the female, bud-shaped flowers with several slender carmine-red stigmas. By autumn the female flowers develop into a woody oval nut 1-1.5 cm long, enclosed in a green leafy cup. The kernel is oily and very tasty. Propagate by nuts sown in autumn. if stored dry and sown in spring germi- nation is delayed until the second spring.

As it does not tolerate full sun, it is desirable to shade at least the lower part of the shrub. Dry situations are likewise not suitable. In ornamental gardening it is used as rootstock for choice varieties and hybrids with large decorative blooms. In riverine woods it is sometimes a harmful plant because it bends and stifles young growing trees. - 1432

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In garden planning, where strong winds disturb warm weather, for instance by the sea, clear garden glass screens will act as a wind break without blocking the view.

Horseradish Herb

By Mary Rose

Angelica is a biennial though it sometimes continues growing for several years. It is the largest culinary herb, reaching a height of up to 2.5 m (8 ft). It grows wild in damp meadows and alongside water courses, mostly at higher altitudes.

The first year it forms only a small rosette of leaves on the ground, the second year large leaves appear and tall, hollow, grooved stems bear large umbels of greenish-white flowers. The flowering period is during July and August. The fruits are ovate to elongate double achenes.

Southernwood herb is also used as a medicine as well as in cooking ingredients. Southernwood herb is used to this day as a home remedy to aid digestion and as an intestinal antiseptic.

Grated horseradish with cranberries and cream is very good served with game. Pure grated horseradish is excellent with hot sausages and boiled meats in place of mustard. Grated horseradish mixed with whipped cream and grated nuts is delicious with hot or cold ham. It is also used mixed with mustard. Cut in rounds the root is used for pickling gherkins and beetroots to make a tasty relish. Grated horseradish and prepared sauces may be kept in closed containers in the refrigerator for as long as 14 days without spoiling or losing their flavour because of the phytoncidic substances contained in the root.

Southernwood herb is native to the Mediterranean region and is probably only a cultivated form of the species A. paniculata, indigenous to southeastern Europe and the Middle East. Nowadays Southernwood herb has become widely established and also grows wild in Italy and Spain.

One drawback with horseradish is that it can become an invasive weed; it should therefore be planted in a corner of the garden or beside the garden wall. - 1432

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A small herb garden which is part of a larger garden, forms a complete and satisfying entity in itself.

The Importance of Shrubs

By Adam Parker

Climbing and scrambling shrubs are valuable assets that have few substitutes. Ideal for covering and concealing ugly walls and fences as well as for adding a touch of green to terraces, pergolas, archways and pillars are members of the genera Ainpelopsis, Aristolochia, Clematis, Euonymus, Hedera, Hydrangea, Lonicera, Rosa, Vitis and many others.

One example is the high mountain shrub community above the tree line consisting of dwarf pine, European green alder, dwarf willows, rhododendrons and other shrubs whose limited height coupled with a protective blanket of snow permits them to survive the icy winds and sub-zero temperatures of the winter months.

Beyond the Arctic Circle, in regions with a shallow layer of soil that thaws only during the brief summer season, the shrub communities include arctic species such as dwarf willows and birches.

The first group includes Caragana arborescens, Chaenomeles lagenaria, Crataeous laevigata (oxyacantha), Ligustrum vulgare, Lonicera tatarica, physecarpus opulifolius and Syringa vulgaris ; the second Berberis thunbergtz, Buxus sempervirens, Mahonia aquifolium, Prunus spinosa, Ribes alpinum, Rosa rugosa and Spiraea x vanhouttei.

The main characteristics that differentiate the shrub from the tree are the structure of the trunk and the height it attains. Unlike trees, shrubs generally have more than a single stem, branching close to the ground to form several thinner stems that grow to a maximum of 5-8 m in height.

The flora of western and central Europe comprises few such native evergreen species and so it is necessary to augment these with certain shrubs of Asian or American origin. Besides the European genera (Buxus, Rex, gedera, Ruscus, etc.) the evergreens include primarily members of the genus Berberis, Cotoneaster, Euonymus, Kalmia, Mahonia, Laurocerasus, Pyracantha and Viburnum. - 1432

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When the contours and layout of the garden have been plotted on a flat garden plan, you can begin to translate the shapes into walls, steps and paves areas which will form the basic skeleton of the garden.

Shrub Leaves

By Franklin Jones

The leaves of plants are very important. They are the plant's manufacturing organs and act also in the capacity of lungs and partly as an excretory system. The most important plant function takes place in the leaves. Called photosynthesis, it is a process whereby the chlorophyll in the leaf cells with the aid of the sun's energy transforms atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic substances essential to plant growth.

The plant, like all living organisms, also breathes, i.e. it absorbs oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide. This, too, takes place mainly in the leaves.

Leaves may be either simple, with a single blade, which may be lobed, e.g. the hazel, gooseberry and hawthorn, or compound, with three or more blades attached to one stalk, e.g. the bladdernut and common elder.

Simple leaves have blades of various shapes and are described accordingly as acicular, lanceolate, ovate, obovate, orbicular, cordate, rhomboid, etc. Compound leaves may be trifoliate, palmately compound, odd-pinnate or even-pinnate. Trifoliate has three leaflets radiating from the end of the rachis, e.g. the laburnum and common broom. Palmately compound has more than three leaflets radiating from the end of the rachis, e.g.

Rubus fruticosus. Odd-pinnate has pairs of leaflets attached laterally on the rachis and a single one at the tip as in the case of the rose, bladdernut and common elder. Even-pinnate has an even number of leaflets attached laterally on the rachis in pairs, as in the case of the pea tree.

Leaf margins are smooth and entire (e.g. the common cotoneaster, woodbine, cornelian cherry and dogwood), serrate (the common elder, blackthorn and rose), double serrate (the hazel, European green alder and raspberry), toothed (the English holly and mahonia) or lobed (the hawthorn and currant). - 1432

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The variety of garden materials present a futher range of garden design in your garden plan, involving color and texture as well as linear design.

Honeysuckle

By Victoria Katelyn

Viburnum rhytidophyllum is an evergreen shrub of upright habit growing to a height of 2-3 m. The shoots are yellowish tomentose. The clusters of flowers begin to develop in autumn, remain dormant throughout the winter and unfold during May and June. The fruits ripen at the end of September.

This shrub is widespread throughout most of Europe, its range extending far east to Siberia. In central and western Europe it grows on the edges and in the shrub layer of woods, on scrub-covered banks and in hedgerows. It likes fresh, rich soil and tolerates fairly heavy shade.

It is most plentiful in hilly country but also grows in the mountains up to elevations of 1000 m. It is frequently planted in parks and gardens as a hedge plant because it stands up well to clipping and is covered with foliage early in spring. More commonly planted in parks, however, is the taller species L. tatarica of Siberia, with pink flowers and bright red berries.

The guelder rose is a fast-growing shrub with widespreading root system which produces both stump and root suckers freely. It is best propagated by means of seeds and hard and softwood cuttings.

Widely distributed throughout most of Europe, it extends northward even beyond the Arctic Circle. In central and western Europe it grows in damp situations alongside streams and rivers, being particularly fond of soil rich in humus and lime. Since it thrives well in shade it is often found in woods and scrub. It is most plentiful in lowland and hilly country, individual specimens occurring in the mountains up to about 1000 m.

It bears a great profusion of flowers if provided with abundant light, but tolerates partial shade. It requires warmth and the shoots are easily damaged by frost. It is widely cultivated as a vigorous, ornamental climber in parks and gardens, where it is used to cover fences, walls and pergolas. Propagation is by means of seeds and cuttings. The variety serotina has dark red flowers. - 1432

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For those who live in city apartments, a roof garden, however small, can be an invaluable retreat in your garden plan especially when it is well grown enough to screen off the city views around it.

Propagation by Cuttings

By Michael Hills

This is the most commonly used method of propagating shrubs. Cuttings may be taken at two times: in winter, when the wood is hard and ripe, and in summer, when the young stems are soft and green. Winter or hardwood cuttings are the simplest require no special equipment. All that needs to be done is to plant them out in nursery beds or frames. Summer or softwood cuttings require constant humidity and are placed in a propagating frame or greenhouse or in boxes covered with glass.

Shrubs propagated mainly by winter cuttings include those that take root easily in the open (Salix, Spiraea, Deutzia, Philadelphus, Lonibera, Ligustrum, Rosa, Ribes, etc.). Winter cuttings are taken from one-year shoots in early winter before the first frosts. The cuttings are usually 20-30 cm in length, the bottom cut being made just below a bud and the upper cut just above a bud. The bottom cut is made just below the bud because that is the spot where the cuttings put forth new roots most readily.

Summer or softwood cuttings are an even more effective means of propagation, used with shrubs that do not multiply well from winter cuttings, e.g. Cytisus, Viburnum, Spiraea, Staphylea, Rhamnus. Summer cuttings must be inserted in a greenhouse, frame, or box covered with glass because they wilt easily and require a moister atmosphere. Summer cuttings are taken from June to the end of August according to the nature and maturity of the shoots. Cuttings from evergreens are usually taken as late as August.

When taking winter cuttings the soft tops of the shoots are removed. The cuttings are either inserted immediately in a nursery bed or are tied in bunches of 25-50 and stored in moist sand in a cool shed or put in sand or peat out in the garden.

The root cuttings are inserted at an angle and care must be taken that this is done with the top part (the cut closer to the stem) up. The cuttings are then covered with a 1 cm layer of the same mixture. Afterwards, the soil is well watered and the box placed in a dark place with a temperature of about 15C.

The first buds appear in about four to five weeks, at which time the boxes are exposed to the light so that the shoots will be short and sturdy. The ensuing care is the same as with plants from stern cuttings. - 1432

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Wood is probably the most versatile and often the cheapest and easiest material to use in your garden plan if you are building your own garden enclosure.

Pea Tree

By Cody Aaric

Cotoneaster grows to I or 2 m in height and is a densely branched shrub with arching shoots. One-year twigs are thin, reddish-brown and felted neat' the tip. The buds are of irregular shape, with the tips of the felted leaflets projecting between the opened scales. The inconspicuous flowers appear in May after the leaves; the red fruits, containing 2-3 flat seeds, ripen in August.

This shrub is a native of Siberia and Mongolia but for several centuries past has been cultivated in the parks and gardens of central and western Europe, where individual specimens also revert to the wild state. In its native home it grows mostly on sandy alluvial deposit and rocky banks. In central Europe it is completely frost-resistant, stands up well to dry spells and thrives on poorer soils. It tolerates moderate shade.

The related C. monogyna is a thorny shrub used for hedges and is a good shelter for songbirds. The pink, red and white double-flowered varieties are often planted in parks and avenues.

Laburnum is a 5-7 m shrub often grown as a tree in gardens. The bark is smooth and greenish brown, the shoots greyish green, covered with silvery hairs. The racemes of yellow flowers appear at the end of May in golden cascades giving the impression of 'rain', hence the shrub's name. The flat, silvery hairy pods are slightly sickle-shaped.

The buds are small, round and paired. Broom has a tap root penetrating to a great depth and numerous lateral roots with root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The natural area of distribution embraces western and central Europe. It does not thrive in neutral and alkaline soils, exhibiting better growth on acid substrates. It is found mostly in sandy and rocky situations by the wayside, on nonfertile soils, at the edges of forests and in heaths.

It is widespread in southern and central Europe, its range extending eastward to Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In central Europe it is found in the mountains in limestone areas between 900 and 1500 in, and occurs at lower elevations farther north, e.g. in the Rhineland, where it grows in oak stands. It is a light-loving species and stands up well to long dry spells. Widely cultivated in European parks are the North American species A. laevis and A. canadensis, which grow to heights of 6-10 m. - 1432

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In garden planning, slate is a restrained and dignified garden paving material.

A History of Herbs and Spices

By Molly Allison

It was not long before the Romans learned about pepper from the Greeks and began to trade with India through the intermediary of the South Arabians (Yemenites). By the second century A.D., the Romans were no longer trading through an intermediary. Their ships sailed from Alexandria along the southeastern canal built by the Egyptian pharaohs not only to the Arabian reloading site Arabia Felix, but also as far as India.

This list has survived as part of his famous manuscript Capitulare de villis and includes the following: fenugreek, sage, cumin, rosemary, caraway, tarragon, anise, mint, parsley, celery, onion, chives, lovage, dill, fennel, savory and black mustard.

The siege and conquest of Rome by the Visigoth king Alaric at the beginning of the 5th century was the means whereby pepper was introduced to the Germanic peoples, with whom it rapidly became popular.

References to herbs and their use may be found in Chinese documents from as far back as 3000 B.C. Ancient Egyptian recipes on papyrus from the middle of the second millennium B.C. called for the use of herbs such as anise, mustard, caraway, coriander, mint, wormwood, cinnamon and saffron. The cuneiform inscriptions on clay tablets prove that the Sumerians cultivated fennel, caraway, coriander, saffron and thyme in Mesopotamia and that way back in ancient times the Indians were already acquainted with the use of cardamom, turmeric, cloves, nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon.

Among other things, it explains how to prepare roast peacock, fried apple blossom patties, herb salad, Hippocrates' wine and other medieval delicacies from the royal kitchens.

At first the various herbs and spices were known and used only in those places where they grew naturally in the wild. This applies not only to the tropical species from the Malabar Coast, but also to the aromatic herbs of the Mediterranean region as well as to the vanilla and red pepper of America. That is why in the days when there was still no means of communication between these distant lands, there is the emergence of distinctive native dishes that have remained characteristic for the given region to this day, even though the local cuisine is becoming increasingly more cosmopolitan with the spread of civilization. - 1432

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Culinary art a very exacting one, demanding the harmonious balance of all the various ingredients of garden herbs.

Holly Shrub

By Jada Aaron

Bladder senna is a 1-3 m shrub with slightly pendent shoot tips. One-year shoots are slightly angular and coloured greenish grey. The small buds are located behind the remainder of the leaf sheath. The bladder senna resembles the pea tree but can be readily distinguished by the odd number of leaflets (those of the pea tree being even).

The yellow flowers are striped brownish-red at the base of the standard and have a persistent, many-pointed calyx. They appear in succession from May to June. The bladder-like seed pods, which ripen from late summer and from which the shrub takes its name, contain 30-40 kidney- shaped, markedly flattened, blackish-brown seeds, which are a good and easy means of propagation. It is recommended, however, to immerse the seeds briefly in hot water before sowing so that they will germinate uniformly.

The spindle tree is an upright shrub or small tree, 2-6 m in height. The shoots are green, tinted red on the side exposed to the sun, markedly four- angled. The buds are ovate, green, often sub- opposite. The leaf scars are whitish.

The common box is a broad shrub or small tree 4-8 m high. The twigs are square in cross section and covered with dense foliage. The inconspicuous blossoms appear in April. The, female flower is situated in the centre of the cluster of male flowers. The woody capsules ripen in autumn, when they split and eject several glossy black seeds. It is a slow-growing plant but may live to an age of several hundred years. It produces abundant sprouts and stands up well to pruning.

The smoke bush is a native of southern Europe south of the Carpathians and of southern Siberia, its range extending to China. It grows on dry, mostly south-facing banks in thin oak and pine woods. A light-loving shrub, it stands up well to dry spells and tolerates soils containing lime and magnesium. In central and western Europe it is widely planted in parks as a specimen plant for its ornamental reddish fluffy fruiting clusters and crimson autumn foliage. It may be damaged by frost in severe winters.

Propagation is by means of seeds and root cuttings. The leaves contain 20-30 per cent of quality tannins and the smoke bush is therefore cultivated on a large scale in southern areas for its yield of this substance. - 1432

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In garden planning, bricks can give visual direction in your garden paving depending on how they are laid.

Cayenne Pepper or Chilli

By Ashlyn Cadence

The hottest of all seasonings is that obtained from the ripe fruits (berries) of various forms of Capsicum frutescens. Called chillies, they are bright red, much smaller than the fruits of sweet pepper and vary in shape, depending on the variety.

Dioscorides recommended it for the stomach and in the Middle Ages it was the custom to end a feast with 'caraway cookies', apparently because caraway has very good carminative properties (relieving flatulence), for which purpose it is used in pharmaceutics to this day. It was used together with anise, coriander and fennel to flavour jams, and as we learn from Shakespeare's Falstaff it could also be used to flavour baked apples.

The so-called 'Spanish paprika' is the sweetest variety, the seeds and partitions of which are carefully removed before grinding the fruit.

According to medieval tradition, chopped fresh leaves are added to soups and salads. Caraway may also be used in powdered form, but it must be ground just before being used so the fragrant essential oil does not evaporate.

Sweet pepper was introduced to Europe by Christopher Columbus, who in 1493 brought it back to Spain from the island of Haiti. Nowadays it is grown and prepared as seasoning mainly in the warm regions of southern Europe, in Central America, India and eastern Asia.

It is grown from seed and is an annual herb with branching stem attaining a height of 60 cm (2 ft). The fruits are harvested by hand as they ripen and are usually strung like beads and hung to dry under the eaves against the sun-baked walls of rural cottages - 1432

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A good herb garden pattern is a geometric pattern of low box hedging, with a single 'Peace Rose' as the focal point around which the whole design radiates.

Saffron

By Carolyn Eden

Coriander is a cultivated annual or biennial herb native, most probably, to the eastern Mediterranean. Long ago, it spread to southern Asia and Europe, where it often grows wild as an escape. Finds in old Egyptian graves confirm that it was used by the Egyptians.

Because few can resist breaking off a sprig of this herald of spring, it is in danger of becoming an extinct species in the wild. It is dying out even though it will grow almost anywhere, tolerating dry conditions as well as limy soil and the air pollution of cities. It is, however, being planted in parks and gardens.

Used for flavouring are the bright orange, trifid stigmas that must be snipped out by hand, together with a part of the style, as soon as the flowers open and then dried quickly and very carefully. What a laborious and tedious task this is, is best documented by the fact that it is necessary to collect and process stigmas from as many as 200,000 flowers to obtain 1 kg (2 lb 4 oz) of dried herbs.

Nevertheless, the fruits, cleverly combined with other spices, give some foods a pleasant and unusual taste. It is used in making breads and in herb mixtures for flavouring salamis and pts.

In Europe saffron was first raised in Spain, where it was introduced by the Arabs when they established their Andalusian domains in southern Spain from the 9th century onward. Its cultivation then spread to other European countries but only in Spain and southern France did it continue to be raised on a larger scale. Spanish saffron is also considered to be the best on the market.

The plant is closely related to caraway, fennel, dill and anise. The coriander sold in shops is from cultivated plants. It is raised mainly on the coast of north Africa, chiefly in Morocco, as well as in Europe, India, North and South America, principally in Argentina. The ripe fruits have a sweetish, slightly pungent flavour and a pleasant aroma. - 1432

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If you have free space in your garden, you can use it to grow fresh garden herbs.

Lemon

By Charles Skyler

Coffee is most probably native to Ethiopia where the tree was first cultivated and its seeds used as a beverage sometime in the 13th century. From there the custom of drinking coffee spread to Arabia and Iran. From Egypt it was introduced to England, but not until the turn of the 16th and 17th century.

The term 'cola nuts', however, is not correct from the botanical point of view for the fruits of the cola trees are not nuts with a hard woody shell but spherical capsules resembling an orange and composed of five follicles (1), each of which contains several seeds (2), the size of a pigeon's egg.

About one-third of the world population has become addicted to this beverage which is not surprising, for not only does it have a pleasant flavour and aroma but also a mildly stimulating effect, apart from its importance as a social and cultural custom.

More commonly used is the grated peel of fresh lemons. It is recommended to use only the peel of lemons that have not been sprayed with chemical preparations (lemons are sometimes sprayed with fungicides to prevent rotting and decay during long-term transport and storage; these substances are usually poisonous not only to fungi but to man as well and cannot be removed even by thorough washing).

Lemon peel gives foods a refreshing aroma and is used in pastries, candies and compotes. The essential oil of lemon is obtained for industrial purposes by pressing (prime quality) or distillation (lower quality).

Cola is a tree resembling the horse chestnut. It is native to tropical central and west Africa, where it forms groves, and is raised in the West Indies, Brazil and tropical Asia. It is closely related to coffee, whose seeds likewise contain caffeine, and its flowers grow directly from the trunk or older branches (cauliflory) as in coffee. - 1432

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All the available space is your garden can be used in the most interesting way possible in a kitchen garden.

Stag's Horn Sumach

By Marie Claire

Mezereon is a small, sparsely branched shrub growing to a height of 30- 120 cm. The twigs are greyish, the buds dark brown. The flowers appear before the leaves in early spring (February-March) and have a strong fragrance. The round drupes ripen in July and contain a single ovoid black- brown seed. Both fruit and bark are poisonous.

Widespread throughout most of Europe, its range extends far to the north and eastward to Siberia. In central and western Europe it grows in abundance in damp and swampy sites in riverine woods and up to mountain elevations. It also occurs in acid oak stands and pine woods where the level of underground water is near the surface.

Growing on dry and warm banks in central and western Europe is the related species D. cneorum, a dwarf shrub about 30 cm in height, of sprawling habit with evergreen, leathery leaves and fragrant red flowers.

Sea buckthorn is a spiny shrub or small crooked tree 2-7 m high. The stem is covered with reddish-brown bark breaking up into scales. Annual shoots are golden, brown and terminate in a spine; the flower buds of male plants are round, those of female plants small. The flowers appear in April.

The orange-coloured fruits ripen at the end of September and remain on the plant late into the winter as they are only taken by birds when other fruits have been finished. This shrub has a widespreading root system and puts out root suckers, and is thereby a good plant for anchoring sand dunes. The roots have nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria that enrich both shrub and soil with this important substance. The sea buckthorn is reliably propagated by means of seeds and root cuttings.

This shrub is widespread throughout most of Europe, its range extending northward to the 60th parallel and eastward to Siberia. It grows mostly on dry, sunny banks and rocky sites in hilly country. A light-loving, frost-resistant shrub, it does well even on poorer soils. The wood is hard, with brownish-reel heartwood and yellow- white sapwood. The bark and fruits were used to make natural dyes and for medicinal purposes. - 1432

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In garden planning, making the formwork carefully is vital to the success of the wall, but it is far more taxing than the actual laying of the concrete garden wall.

Potting Up

By Udo Hirsch

Within six to nine months, the seedling will have reached a stage where then need to be potted on. Do this in the autumn before the winter sets in. By now they should all be large enough to be potted separately in individual pots. Some may already have produced their first pseudo bulb and a good root system. The roots made at this time are typical orchid roots, quite different from those made in the agar, which will not haw survived the change to conventional compost (growing medium).

Have ready a shallow bowl of slightly tepid water to which you have added a little fungicide. Unscrew the jar and pour some of the water into the jar and swill it around. This may be sufficient to dislodge the seedlings so that they can be poured out. If the agar is too firm, it may need to be broken up and the seedlings carefully removed with tweezers.

During the first half of the 20th century, orchid culture progressed little. Thousands of new hybrids were raised, with seedlings taking up to seven or eight years to flower. The same orchids today can be flowered within three to four years. There can be no doubt that feeding orchids can greatly benefit their performance, but this has to be done with care.

When a liquid concentrate is used, shake the bottle well before using. The solution will have separated, leaving the heavier elements in the fertilizer at the bottom. Preferably, use granular fertilizers, which will not deteriorate over time. Never store fertilizers in the greenhouse or in full sun, but keep them in a cool shed out of the bright light.

You may be tempted to combine different fertilizers to make your own concoction, but this can be dangerous and should only be undertaken by someone who fully understands the chemical formular of the trace elements. In the same way, do not exceed the recommended dose, or give a double dose because a feeding application has been forgotten.

Draw up a regular feeding program for the year and keep a diary. If watering and feeding are done at the same time, plan this for a certain day of the week so that it becomes part of the routine of your orchid growing. Applying feed with water is probably the best way to fertilize most orchids. Adding a slow-release fertilizer to the compost (growing medium) when potting does not always work because orchids can be left for two or three years between repotting, by which time any nourishment given at the beginning will have long since deteriorated, with nothing left to benefit the plant.

Place the community pots in propagator. Avoid any dehydration because, at this stage, the soft foliage can shrivel and die if there is insufficient moisture. The first few weeks are a critical time for the seedlings, as they recovering from the shock of their removal from the sterile conditions and adjust to the harsher outside environment.

If a specific orchid feed is not available you can use any one of the popular brands sold for houseplants, using the fertilizer at half the weaker recommended dose. It is important to remember that orchids are weak feeders. - 1432

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If you want to have a healthy orchid garden, you must learn about the orchid gardening tips.

Buds and Twigs

By Robert Adrian

The branch of science concerned with the interrelationships of living organisms and their environment is called ecology. The ecological factors that in great part determine the general disribution of the various tree and shrub species are tempera, uo and moisture.

The seed consists of a membranous or hard covering and inner nucleus. It is the spot through which the seed absorbs the greatest amount of water during germination and also through which the sprouts generally grow.

On rupturing the seed coat the first root turns downward due to the pull of gravity, thus anchoring the emerging seedling in the soil. The hypocotyl or first stem then grows up towards the soil surface, where it straightens and pulls up the two green cotyledons. These are an important part of the seedling since they contain food reserves for the initial period of growth and also chlorophyll for making new food by means of photosynthesis. The deciduous shrubs of Europe all have two cotyledons that differ in shape from the true leaves.

Discernible below the buds is the leaf scar where the leaf was attached to the twig. Leaf scars vary in size and often have a characteristic shape. The leaf scars of the common elder, red elder, staghorn sumach and bladdernut are quite large. Sometimes the part of the twig below the bud is swollen and this spot is called the peg.

In some woody plants a further good means of identification is the twig, the various distinguishing features being its thickness, colour, pubescence, thorniness, angularity and sometimes also the number of corky pores or lenticels.

Others are common shrubs of southern Europe but in central Europe are to be found only in warm, sheltered situations. In such localities they are often relics from the warmer period following the Ice Age when their area of natural distribution extended farther north, with only those growing in warmer situations surviving when the climate changed again. Examples are the cornclian cherry, barberry, bladder senna, box and traveller's joy. - 1432

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In garden planning, variations on color, texture, shape of reconstituted stone blocks will add autenticity to your garden.

Tips To Make Choosing A Lawn Mower Easy

By Ned Dagostino

So your old lawn mower just doesn't cut it anymore (pun intended) and you've decided it's time for a new one. But how do you go about choosing a lawn mower? Start by knowing exactly what you need.

There are a lot of choices you'll have to make, but start by looking at these three important factors. How big is your yard and what is the terrain like? What features do you want and do you really need them? What type of engine will your yard require?

Start by figuring out if a walk behind mower will do, or if you need a riding mower. A general rule of thumb would be if your yard is less than 0.75 acres, a walk behind will do just fine. These are the most popular mowers. If your yard is flat and small, there won't be much need for extra features. However if your yard has lots of rough terrain and is over 0.5 acres, look seriously at a self propelled mower. These mowers essentially do much of the work for you. They more forward on their own. You simply stand behind the mower and guide it on it's path.

Whether you need a self propelled or push mower, you need to carefully consider the engine power and the mower deck. The wider the deck, the more grass you'll be able to cut at one time. That means fewer trips back and forth. Combine a large deck with a powerful motor and mowing will be fast and easy. And while that sound great you don't want to get more than you need or you'll essentially be giving money away. Just match the yard with the mower for good results.

The size of the rear wheels is also an important option. Standard wheels are more than adequate in most cases. However if your yard is rough with lots of slopes and hills, consider large rear wheels to make mowing easier.

Now if your yard is over 0.75 acres, then a riding mower might be a better choice for you. Again, use the same rules to determine what size deck and how powerful an engine you need. If you're mowing several acres, get a larger engine and a wider deck. But again, don't waste your cash by over doing it.

One of the more popular features on riding lawn mowers is the zero turn radius. If your yard has lots of landscape features like trees and bushes, then this is a great option to have. Essentially these mowers let you cut in a complete tight circle, without leaving any uncut space in the middle. You can see how this would make going around trees much easier. But if you don't have a lot of landscaping in your yard, then this feature becomes unnecessary. Save your money.

The final big decision you need to make, and this applies to both riding and walk behind mowers, is if you want the mower to mulch. These mowers have special blades that will chop your grass clipping into small particles before returning them to the soil. The clipping decompose and act as a natural fertilizer. If you don't get a mulching mower, then you'll need to catch the clipping in a bag to throw them out. Or even worse, rake them up, bag them, then dispose of them.

Naturally there are plenty of other choices to make. Do you want an electric mower, one with a cord or without? Do you want one of the new solar powered or robotic mowers? Start by answering the basic questions first, then when you head to the dealer or look online, choosing a lawn mower will be a much easier task. - 1432

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If you are searching for high quality cheap lawn mowers, go to Cheap-Lawn-Mowers.com. You'll discover terrific lawn mowers for sale at terrificly reduced prices to fit your budget.