Planting wild flowers in your garden, or simply scattering wild flower seeds around an area of your yard are both ways to take advantage of Mother Nature's treasured gifts. Wild flowers are carefree, colorful, and tend to attract bees, butterflys and birds. So planting wild flowers not only gives you an easy maintenance flower garden... it also promises to be a constant source of interesting activity throughout the year.
The following wild flowers are blue to purple in color, and some say this is a favorite color of bees.
VIRGINIA or COMMON DAY-FLOWER (Commelina Virginica) - Spiderwort family
The Day Flower has blue, one inch wide or smaller flowers which tend to be irregular. The flowers are grouped at the end of the stem, and are upheld by long leaf-like bracts. The leaves are lance-shaped and 3-5 inches long. The upper leaves form like a hood of sorts about the flower. These wild flowers prefer moist, shady ground and flower from June through September.
The day flower tends to open in the morning and looking somewhat "alert". In the afternoon, or after the bees have visited and fertilized it, the petals roll up and quickly wilt into a wet, shapeless mass which will leave a sticky blue fluid on your fingers if you touch it.
SPIDERWORT; WIDOW'S or JOB'S TEARS (Tradescantia Virginiana) - Spiderwort family
The Spiderwort's flowers are purplish blue in color but on rare occasion they can be white. There's usually several flowers about 1-2 inches wide, and usually contain clusters of drooping buds between long, blade-like bracts at the end. This one can grow from 8-36 inches tall, and has long blade-like leaves. It prefers rich, moist woods, thickets or garden space, and it flowers from May through August.
Like its relative the dayflower, the spiderwort opens for part of a day only. In the morning it is wide awake and pert; early in the afternoon its petals have begun to retreat and wither away. New blooms appear each day throughout the season though.
WILD HYACINTH, SCILLA or SQUILL. QUAMASH (Quamasia kyacinthina; Scilla Fraseri of Gray) - Lily family
The Wild Hyacinth tends to produce many pale violet blue flowers, though once in awhile they can be white. There tend to be equal groups of 6 flowers on long, oblong-shaped branches. The plant tends to grow 1-2 feet tall, and has grass-like, short leaves. These wild flowers prefer meadows, prairies and stream banks, and they bloom from April to May.
These wild flowers tend to be low maintenance, and they propogate on their own, without being invasive. In addition to attracting bees, the Wild Hyacinth also tends to attract ants, wasps, flies, butterflies, and beetles.
Whether you prefer to start your flowers from seeds or potted starter plants, wild flowers are a wonderful addition to any type of garden. Creating a stand alone wild flower garden is also a fantastic way to make a great, naturalized impression in large or unused areas of your landscape.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A Look At Fall Flower Bulbs
Most people would think of fall as a season when trees are changing colors and dying. For many, the autumn leaves are our last dance with color before the dark, gray winter sets in. It doesn't have to be that way, though. Fall flowers can offer a splash of rebirth and color in a season otherwise known for falling leaves.
Bulbs are living plants and contain their own storage of food. They are quite self-sufficient and will strive to bloom, no matter when or where they are planted. Fall flower bulbs are planted in the spring or summer and flower in the early fall. Some examples are lilacs, colchicums, and saffron crocuses. The colchicums are extremely unusual in that they will bloom without being planted, though they do need soil to develop roots.
When selecting fall flower bulbs, you should look for bulbs that are firm and free of visible defects. If you desire large flowers, buy large bulbs. Small bulbs will produce smaller flowers.
Most fall flower bulbs cannot survive the winter. These have to be dug up each fall and stored until planting time. Bulbs should be stored in a cool, dry place. A dry basement is ideal. If you do not have a basement, a dark, unheated closet or utility room will also work.
For individual planting directions, use your package. Most bulbs grow best in well-drained, loose soil. Standing water or excessively moist soil will cause bulbs to rot. Do not plant bulbs at the bottom of a hill.
Bulbs should be planted six to eight inches in the soil. Cover and pack firmly. After planting, water your bulbs thoroughly. Water them occasionally, and they should bloom in early autumn.
Flower Bulbs Info provides detailed information on wholesale, discount, spring, summer, and fall flower bulbs for sale, flower bulb catalog and company information, and advice on planting flower bulbs. Flower Bulbs Info is the sister site of Flower Delivery Web.
Bulbs are living plants and contain their own storage of food. They are quite self-sufficient and will strive to bloom, no matter when or where they are planted. Fall flower bulbs are planted in the spring or summer and flower in the early fall. Some examples are lilacs, colchicums, and saffron crocuses. The colchicums are extremely unusual in that they will bloom without being planted, though they do need soil to develop roots.
When selecting fall flower bulbs, you should look for bulbs that are firm and free of visible defects. If you desire large flowers, buy large bulbs. Small bulbs will produce smaller flowers.
Most fall flower bulbs cannot survive the winter. These have to be dug up each fall and stored until planting time. Bulbs should be stored in a cool, dry place. A dry basement is ideal. If you do not have a basement, a dark, unheated closet or utility room will also work.
For individual planting directions, use your package. Most bulbs grow best in well-drained, loose soil. Standing water or excessively moist soil will cause bulbs to rot. Do not plant bulbs at the bottom of a hill.
Bulbs should be planted six to eight inches in the soil. Cover and pack firmly. After planting, water your bulbs thoroughly. Water them occasionally, and they should bloom in early autumn.
Flower Bulbs Info provides detailed information on wholesale, discount, spring, summer, and fall flower bulbs for sale, flower bulb catalog and company information, and advice on planting flower bulbs. Flower Bulbs Info is the sister site of Flower Delivery Web.
Backyard Ponds
Backyard ponds are a great source of fun and enjoyment. With them come all kinds of different nature. From the fish and all of the other wildlife, to all the different pond plants and flowers. It truly is a relaxing hobby, once you get it all set up.
Backyard ponds are not extremely hard to build, and once you do, they're pretty easy to take care of. The hardest part, by far, is the digging of the pond. Depending on what kind of soil you have in your region will determine how difficult it would be.
The kind of pond to have is entirely up to you. From a small preformed one, to one that's several thousand gallons that needs a liner, or anything in between.
Try and picture where you sit the most while you're outside. Now picture where a great place to put a pond would be. Is it a flat area? Is it close to an electrical supply? Is it close to a water source? These are just some of the questions you need to answer, if you're going to have one of these backyard ponds.
If you're going to have a pond of any size, you should know of some of the things that you're going to need for it. Things you must have are a water pump, a pond filter, a UV filter, and some pond plants. Other things to consider are a good pond liner, some fish, an air diffuser, some pond lighting, fish food, and a skimmer.
These are some of the things to consider if you want to have a pond. Initially, they can be kind of expensive, however, you will get a lot of enjoyment, as many other people do from their backyard ponds.
Robert Dorrance has had a pond for the last eight years and would like to share his experiences with you. Find out more at http://www.Backyard-Pond-Guide.com
Backyard ponds are not extremely hard to build, and once you do, they're pretty easy to take care of. The hardest part, by far, is the digging of the pond. Depending on what kind of soil you have in your region will determine how difficult it would be.
The kind of pond to have is entirely up to you. From a small preformed one, to one that's several thousand gallons that needs a liner, or anything in between.
Try and picture where you sit the most while you're outside. Now picture where a great place to put a pond would be. Is it a flat area? Is it close to an electrical supply? Is it close to a water source? These are just some of the questions you need to answer, if you're going to have one of these backyard ponds.
If you're going to have a pond of any size, you should know of some of the things that you're going to need for it. Things you must have are a water pump, a pond filter, a UV filter, and some pond plants. Other things to consider are a good pond liner, some fish, an air diffuser, some pond lighting, fish food, and a skimmer.
These are some of the things to consider if you want to have a pond. Initially, they can be kind of expensive, however, you will get a lot of enjoyment, as many other people do from their backyard ponds.
Robert Dorrance has had a pond for the last eight years and would like to share his experiences with you. Find out more at http://www.Backyard-Pond-Guide.com
Brilliant Beetroot for your Garden
Are you looking for a truly versatile vegetable to grow and serve? Try beetroot! It has the most amazing colourand texture. Varieties range in colour from gold to deep red/purple and are delicious raw, boiled, baked, pickled and juiced. Even the leaves are edible! The root is packed with Vitamin C and theleaves are a great source of Vitamin A and potassium.
Beetroot is native to the Mediterranean so needs a fairly warm climate to do well. Unlike most of the plants we've discussed in the past, the seeds should be planted directly into the garden (or container)without going through the transplant stage.
Soak the seeds in water overnight to help germination, before planting. Youshould see your plants emerge in 10-14 days. Two or three plants will emerge from each of the seedclumps, but then you have to make a decision before thinning. Do you want to eat the leaves or the root?
If you pick the leaves often, the root will develop poorly. Some sort of trade off has to be made. Even so,small beets are better than no beets at all.
Vegetables do best when they grow quickly and beets are no exception. Feed them every couple of weeks with a good water soluble plant food. They should be ready to harvest in 8-12 weeks.
Preparing Beetroot
When boiling beetroot (in salted water), always leave the skin on. Otherwise the colour will run.
Allow to cool, peel, then cut to size.
Wrap in foil and bake, just like a potato. Then serve it with sour cream and chives.
Juice it raw with carrots and celery
Whip up some Russian Borscht. Again, the sour cream and beetroot combo is excellent.
Cut it up into a salad. Some herbs that really get along with it include dill, caraway, rocket and chicory.
Pickle it and use it to add zing to your salad sandwiches. I LOVE this.
One small sidetrack...you may want to use disposable gloves when handling before a dinner party...it canstain your fingers for a day or two...
Want a different sort of dip for a starter? Try this one...the colour is WILD!
Spicy Beetroot Dip
4 medium beetroot
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 pita bread
250ml natural yoghurt
2 cloves garlic crushed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
Salt to taste
Preheat oven to 180C.
Peel beetroot and cut into 1" cubes.
Coat the beetroot with olive oil by tossing in a bowl.
Spreadcubes on an oven tray and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.Remove and let cool.
Once beetroot is cooked and removed, turn the oven up to 200C.Cut the pita bread into dipping pieces, either triangles or strips.Spread them out on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes, oruntil crisp.
Place the cool beetroot with all other dip ingredients in a blender and puree. Display your spicy purple dip in a bowl surrounded by crispy dipping pita strips.
Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) aspires to become a fulltime earth mother goddess. This site acts as a primer for all vegetable gardening aspects covering topics like how to build a garden, nurture seedlings, container gardening and composting.
Beetroot is native to the Mediterranean so needs a fairly warm climate to do well. Unlike most of the plants we've discussed in the past, the seeds should be planted directly into the garden (or container)without going through the transplant stage.
Soak the seeds in water overnight to help germination, before planting. Youshould see your plants emerge in 10-14 days. Two or three plants will emerge from each of the seedclumps, but then you have to make a decision before thinning. Do you want to eat the leaves or the root?
If you pick the leaves often, the root will develop poorly. Some sort of trade off has to be made. Even so,small beets are better than no beets at all.
Vegetables do best when they grow quickly and beets are no exception. Feed them every couple of weeks with a good water soluble plant food. They should be ready to harvest in 8-12 weeks.
Preparing Beetroot
When boiling beetroot (in salted water), always leave the skin on. Otherwise the colour will run.
Allow to cool, peel, then cut to size.
Wrap in foil and bake, just like a potato. Then serve it with sour cream and chives.
Juice it raw with carrots and celery
Whip up some Russian Borscht. Again, the sour cream and beetroot combo is excellent.
Cut it up into a salad. Some herbs that really get along with it include dill, caraway, rocket and chicory.
Pickle it and use it to add zing to your salad sandwiches. I LOVE this.
One small sidetrack...you may want to use disposable gloves when handling before a dinner party...it canstain your fingers for a day or two...
Want a different sort of dip for a starter? Try this one...the colour is WILD!
Spicy Beetroot Dip
4 medium beetroot
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 pita bread
250ml natural yoghurt
2 cloves garlic crushed
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
Salt to taste
Preheat oven to 180C.
Peel beetroot and cut into 1" cubes.
Coat the beetroot with olive oil by tossing in a bowl.
Spreadcubes on an oven tray and cook until soft, about 30 minutes.Remove and let cool.
Once beetroot is cooked and removed, turn the oven up to 200C.Cut the pita bread into dipping pieces, either triangles or strips.Spread them out on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes, oruntil crisp.
Place the cool beetroot with all other dip ingredients in a blender and puree. Display your spicy purple dip in a bowl surrounded by crispy dipping pita strips.
Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) aspires to become a fulltime earth mother goddess. This site acts as a primer for all vegetable gardening aspects covering topics like how to build a garden, nurture seedlings, container gardening and composting.
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