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Monday, May 14. 2007
 I have a classmate who knows a lot about scientific names of plants and trees. Her father is a botanist that's why she's taken interest in the same field as well. I often hear her say that she wants to become like her father. She used to tell us that all the trees and plants in their house have name plates where the scientific names are indicated. Myrtle, my classmate, was named after a famous medicinal plant -- Myrtle. The myrtle plant is widely used in the arena of alternative medicine as an antiseptic.
During our Botany class, our professor told us to do a research on any plant we like and we're going to present it next week. It's like a show and tell class where the students have to bring with them a plant sample and a research about that plant. Myrtle used the myrtle plant. She found a lot of information from her dsl broadband internet. She told us that Myrtle originated in the Mediterranean region. People cultivated this plant so that they can have an oil source. In fact, Greeks used this to clean and tend to their wounds during ancient times. Myrtle is really a wonderful and useful plant.
One late afternoon, Myrtle narrated to me (even though, I wasn't asking at all) the scientific name of the Myrtle plant. She told me it's called Myrtus Communis. I repeated the scientific name like a chant. I even teased her that beginning that day, I'm going to call her Myrtus Communis. She also informed me that Myrtle plant has medicinal use. The antiseptic and astringent elements of the plant enables it to cure wounds. If you have any digestive and urinary problems, you can use the leaves of Myrtle to heal it. The oil of Myrtle is used to cure any chest ailments. Myrtle may be a simple plant, but it has lots of uses.
Saturday, May 12. 2007
One late afternoon, when my friend and I were chatting at Starbucks, she brought up the topic of marriage and wedding. She expressed her deep desire to get married in a beautiful garden with her prince charming. She also explained in detail all her wedding plans -- from flowers up to the reception. She said that she wants to use tulips as her flower for the big day. This is no surprise for me since I know that she loves tulips ever since we were kids. Between sips of capuccino and bites of oreo cookie cake, my friend imagines her wedding day. To remove her from dreamland, I decided to share with her the history of tulips.
Friday, May 11. 2007
 I told my friend that originally tulips are from Holland and not from Canada. It was only after World War II that tulips reached the soil of the Canadians. I've read from the books that I used that tulips came to Canada due to Hitler and the Nazis. In 1940, Hitler suddenly attacked Holland, forcing Queen Wilhelmina and her family to escape from London. London at that time was not safe at all since Hitler was attacking the city. Queen Wilhelmina then decided to let her daughter, Princess Juliana to flee to Canada for help. Princess Juliana then went to Canada and the Canadian soldiers helped defeat Hitler's troops. As a sign of friendship and gratitude, the Queen sent 100,000 tulips in Canada. This is how tulips came to Canada from Holland.
Thursday, May 10. 2007
As remembrance and symbol of friendship between Holland and Canada, the Canadians celebrate the The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa every year. My friend and I always dream of going to this festival because it showcases the colorful and beautiful hues of tulips. I discovered from the internet that Ottawa is known as the capital city of Tulips in North America. This is due to the 100,000 tulips that Queen Wilhelmina and her daughter, Princess Juliana gave the Canadians. The first ever Canadian Tulip Festival was held in 1953, a few years after World War II. Today, Canadians continue to commemorate the special friendship by holding the tulip festival every year.
Wednesday, May 9. 2007
When I was cleaning my room, I found a newspaper that narrated the story of the world’s largest flower in 2003. It was found out that titan arum, the world’s biggest known flower, was blooming right at the heart of US Botanic Garden in Washington DC. According to science books, this flower rarely blooms since it only flowers every fifteen years. Aside from its enormous size, its stinky smell is also its distinct trait.
Tuesday, May 8. 2007
The flower of Titan Arum or Amorphophallus Titanium is about five feet high, up to twelve feet in height. For the record, the height of Titan Arum is double the size of the average height of people. The leaves of this plant are equally towering as its height. It can grow up to eighteen feet in height and fifteen feet in diameter. If you’re interested in this flower, you can visit the US Botanic Garden and savor its pleasing appearance using the best video recorder. You may also visit the rainforest areas of Sumatra, Indonesia to view this flower if you wish.
Monday, May 7. 2007
The stinky smell of Titan Arum is the reason it’s also called as corpse flower. It smells like a dead fish. Another intriguing element of Titan Arum is its flower only lasts for two days; afterwards, it will start to wither. So, bride-to-bes, who want to use Titan Arum for their wedding, should have second thoughts about using such. The guests and even the groom might leave the ceremony because of the deadly smell of the flower.
Sunday, May 6. 2007
 I don't know how else to get rid of the bugs that ravage my garden plants except by using screens or taking very good care of the terrariums. Trouble is, I don't have the time to wipe them clean or address the moss building around the flower-cages. I don't like the sight of this greenish gunk creeping up my azaleas at all. Nor the spider webs filling up the crevices of the garden screen, blocking the warm July sunlight that help in the growth of my geraniums. Somebody actually suggested I buy pitcher plants at Lowes.
Saturday, May 5. 2007
My first glimpse of the X Judith Hindle freaked me out. If this is the plant that will devour the bugs in my garden (I hope the rodents, too), then I'd be happy to keep it at a price. I heard it was difficult to buy these plants outside of Lowes stores. I had chums who purchased Venus' flytraps and Cobra lilies to adorn their gardens and at the same time keep them clean from insects. No, but someone suggested if I didn't like the Scarlet Belle or the X Judith Hindle at Lowes, I can check out some cheap hybrids at Walmart.
Friday, May 4. 2007
But these plants take a beating in the cold weather. If you look at a regular pitcher plant, you may find a lot of bugs trapped inside, and an occasional spider or two, but none of them may be dead. The only insects that it seems to kill are the crickets and the bigger insects. It's great in my bog garden but I won't dream of watering it with tap water or putting on some Miracle-Gro. This plant doesn't care for fertilizer for the simple reason that it already gets its supply of nitrogen from the bugs it feeds on.
Thursday, May 3. 2007
 I've never known how to cook a tomatillo jam until I grew a shrublike plant with yellow flowers and thick-husked fruits. They are more often called ground cherries. Lots of gardeners in Texas (of various zones) dote on the tomatillo because these edible flower-fruits reseed like hell they don't have difficult time planting them. Another is that these tomatillos have been good sources of Vitamin C like any citrus fruit. So far, I've collected recipes which allows me to include the tomatillo in the meal.
Wednesday, May 2. 2007
For instance, I've tried salsa. There's no doubt that only in salsa will you be able to exploit the real taste of the tangy sweetness tomatillo. There are species that taste like pineapple. Some like to put the Aunt Molly variety into various chili recipes and jams. My cousin never thought it's possible to feed humans with tomatillos but he's done some experiment with the chickens in the backyard. As long as it's warm and sunny, there will always be tomatillos in the garden.
Tuesday, May 1. 2007
The sauce made of tomatillo, mixed with onions, olive oil, jalapeno, oregano, chili, beans, cilantro, chicken stock, and also lime juice makes for a really savory chicken stew. I'm sure no one likes to eat ground cherries stewed in a hot weather, but wait till the end of fall arrives. With a tomatillo in your garden, you don't have to visit Mexican restaurants each time you're craving for salsa and chili. A pureed version of the tomatillo salsa also makes for an amazing bowl of tortilla snack dips.
Monday, April 30. 2007
Flower-planting folks develop a love and hate relationship with Stella Doro. Sure, it needs a degree of coaxing to bloom, especially in the blisteringly hot weather, but it's still pretty to look at. The yellow blooms, however, die off and leave nothing but the green when the summer-fall season is over. Flower planters confess there are far better perennials out there than the Stella Doro. They'd suggest Mary Todd or Hyperion. This is such a huge injustice on Stella.
Sunday, April 29. 2007
At some point, I have begun to love this perennial. It did cause me some migraine, though. I had to deadhead the old stems to give way to new ones. They are supposed to be ever-blooming daylilies so I presumed they would really bloom more often than not. Stella Doro has been advertised a great deal on most flower magazines, and I was impressed with how it looked - a golden yellow lily that could brighten a garden when in full bloom. But the process of deadheading is always a tedious one.
Saturday, April 28. 2007
 If you've developed a hate relationship with Stella Doro, fine with me. Some people just put the flowers in the compost because taking care of it was too consuming. Also, in the hot season, they're too stubborn to bear any beautiful bud. If you adore this perennial, you might as well learn how to deadhead quickly and apply fertilizer. A few more weeks, the flowers will begin to sprout. I don't believe in a perennial that blooms without being taken care of, at least even by Mother Nature.
Friday, April 27. 2007
I'm still thinking whether I should put my Nicotiana annual indoors. Fellow flower collectors told me that I should keep it indoors if it's winter, and in a partly shaded area in the home garden when it's summer. So I guess I would just let the Nicotiana adorn the window outside of my bedroom. If anyone passes by and smells the powerful fragrance, especially at night, I won't be surprised. Nicotiana has been known for its wonderful scent and purple, pink, green, or white flowers.
Thursday, April 26. 2007
They do look common at first glance, but Nicotiana buds, a.k.a. Deep Purple, are an exciting sight. I don't water them very much as they drown easily. These flowers characteristically bloom even without enough cultivation. In fact, they can handle extreme drought cases and do not require special soil or fertilizer. Sometimes, I extract the flower's scent in a bottle, because it's heavenly. You can smell the flower's natural perfume better at nighttime.
Wednesday, April 25. 2007
Flower lovers who like vivid and outstanding colors should plant Nicotiana, as I did. If you choose the purple and the white ones, they really make your garden glow. The White Sylvestris is perhaps the best specie of Deep Purple. You can plant them even on old pots and they can live without too much caree, as long as there isn't too much water. In fact, it would be better to keep them away from flooded areas. Also, know when to cut the old stems so that the new buds have room for growth.
Tuesday, April 24. 2007
They call my Japanese Holly Fern a cryptogam. The name does sound 'cryptic' to me, but it's really the friggin' leaves that are getting to my nerves. Initially, I thought the Jap Holly was easy to cultivate. I was practically bent on watering it, keeping the moisture and all, and also keeping it well-aired, via a wide enough container. Unfortunately, my green thumb (and nail) is turning black from all the digging but the fuckin' leaves still look as though they're ready to crumble. Also, the foliage didn't look as damn healthy as it used to be.
Monday, April 23. 2007
 A neighbor eventually knew better than me and gave me an earful. "I don't suppose you're looking forward to seeing it bloom. A Jap Holly isn't like a French poodle, you know. You don't take care of them TOO much, or they die. You overwatering it or what? You putting in some plant shit?" "Yeah," I said. "Miracle Gro." Then Ferdie (my neighbor) inspected the bottom of the container. "Christ," he said. "You got the plant drowning in water."
Sunday, April 22. 2007
Ferdie drilled me on the Japanese Holly. He had been repotting "Cyrtomium falcata" and showed me how dry the roots were, while amazingly, the leaves were all full and lustrous. A Jap Holly requires very little moisture and is often used in Xeriscapes because of l low moisture requirements. Ferdie doesn't use Miracle Gro shit, but he adds ground pine bark and puts it in a partially shaded area of his garden. They only get repotted every once in a while. "Ignore them, and they will grow," he said.
Saturday, April 21. 2007
Have you seen the so-called sensitive plant or sleeping grass? When I was a kid, I always play in the garden. One time, I accidentally hit this plant with small leaves, then I saw them folding. They look like those kids who turn blush and become shy whenever they see they're crushes. Out of curiosity, I ran to my mom and asked about it. I found out from that its the sensitive plant or Mimosa pudica, a plant which is known for its leaves that fold when touched. Their leaves also fold during the evening. Mimosa genus is common in Southern Mexico and Central America. However, this genus is widely cultivated as an indoor plant in temperate places and as an outdoor plant in the tropics.
Friday, April 20. 2007
 According to my mom, the genus Mimosa have already accumulated 3,000 names for itself throughout the history. Because of that, there are circumstances that the name Mimosa is being used for other species who were transferred to other genera. This genus was used also to other species with similar characteristics like plants pinnate or bipinnate leaves like Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) and Silver Wattle (Acacia dealdata). She also told me that it is customary to present women in Russia with yellow mimosas during the International Women's Day. However, these flowers are not true Mimosa, but are actually Acacia dealdata.
Monday, April 16. 2007
Galanthus nivalis or commonly known as the "Common Snowdrop" is the most famous representative from the small genus of Galanthus. It is comprised of about 20 species under the family Amaryllidaceae. Galanthus species possess bulbs, linear leaves, and erect flowering stalks, destitute of leaves, but bearing at the top is a solitary pendulous bell-shaped flower. A Common Snowdrop can reach 15 cm tall and and blooms in January or February in the northern temperate zone. Its white flower has six petals with the outer three segments being larger and more convex than the inner series. Its six anthers open by pores or short slits and the ovary is three-celled, ripening into a three-celled capsule.
This plant propagates by offsets or by seeds. There are professional growers and keen amateurs that use methods like "twin-scaling." This method increases the stock of choice varieties quickly. This specie is often compared to its relative Snowflakes or Leucojum. However, Leucojums are much larger compared to Galanthus. They also blossom in spring, with all six petals in the flower in the same size. Galanthus is one of the flowers blooming in our garden these days. My mom loves spending time there while reading her new entertainment magazine with actress Jodie Foster as its cover.
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Flower Garden Comments
Thu, 19.10.2006 17:51
I want to watch the Canadian Tulip Festival next year.
Thu, 19.10.2006 17:51
My favorite flower is Tulips because they're beautiful.
Sat, 07.10.2006 14:01
More flowers get deadheaded but bloom than the Stella Doro. It can be a showy perennial though.
Sat, 07.10.2006 14:01
I could curse these flowers! They're everywhere, but when you like them to bloom, they don't do it.
Wed, 27.09.2006 12:15
The golf ball is round and the grass is green. Just when you thought you had the streak of luck to win, even a [...]
Sun, 24.09.2006 17:24
We have it on our garden. My wife loves its white flowers. They are as white as snow.
Sun, 24.09.2006 17:24
We used to have this plant in our garden but after a month, they just died. I don't know what happened. But I have asked [...]
Fri, 22.09.2006 13:57
A lot of my friends who have moved to other countries are still convincing me to leave and settle with them. To be [...]
Fri, 22.09.2006 13:31
I tried to plant this plant species in my garden but I was unsuccessful. Maybe it has something to do with the [...]
Fri, 22.09.2006 13:31
We also have Pansy Violet in the garden. My favorite are those species with gold flowers.
Wed, 20.09.2006 15:40
My sister is fond of Iris species. She collects and grow different species of this plant.
Wed, 20.09.2006 15:39
We have a lot of Iris in our garden and it definitely makes our garden more colorful.
Sat, 16.09.2006 14:50
I planted Hydrangea in my garden last year and in a span of four months, my garden turned into a paradise.
Sat, 16.09.2006 14:50
I love these flowers. They are my favorite flowers in my garden.
Sat, 16.09.2006 14:07
Together with my mom, I visited my aunt Stella who had cancer before. She was my mom's best friend back in college who [...]