Flowers Garden Plants

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.

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.

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."

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 llow 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.

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.

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.

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.

Pansy Violet, or simply Pansy, is a cultivated garden flower. Despite its name, there are also Pansies which are non-violet. Those are the species that have been bred. Their colors range from gold, orange, purple, violet, and a blue so deep as to be almost black. Pansies are quite a hardy plant and they grow well in sunny or partially sunny places. They are technically biennials, producing greenery on its first year, then flowers and seeds on its second, before they eventually die.

These plants can tolerate light freezes or a little snow, however, not for very long time. They bloom during the winter and are being planted in low areas with warmer climates. In these areas, they are known to reseed, assuring that they will again bloom the following year. These flowers are not known to be very heat-tolerant. If the temperature gets over a certain level, these plants become leggy and the blooming stops. Now I know why my Mom always ask me to water them thoroughly once a week. Today, our garden has a lot of Pansy Violet species. There are orange, gold, and blue that make our garden even more colorful. Its just so relaxing to look at them while eating my favorite dessert like Sweet Baked Alaska.

Iris is a genus with 200-300 species of flowering plants. They are showy flowers which got its name from the Greek word for "rainbow." This genus also has a wide array of flower colors. The term iris is used as a common name and also refers to all iris species and related genera. This genus is widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone. It thrives in cold regions as well as in grassy slopes, meadowlands, stream banks, and deserts of Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa, Asia, and across North America.

Accordingly, Iris are perennial herbs that rise from rhizomes and bulbs. These species possess long, erect, flowering stems which may be simple or branched, solid or hollow, and flattened or have a circular cross-section. Rhizomatous species have 3-10 basal, sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps. However, the bulbous species have cylindrical basal leaves. Inflorescences of Iris are fan-shaped and contains one or more symmetrical, six-lobed, slightly fragrant flowers. They grow on a pedicel or lack a footstalk, and the three sepals are spreading or droop downwards. They expand from their narrow base into a broader limb, often adorned with lines or dots. They are sometimes reduced, while petals stand upright, partly behind the sepal bases. Smaller species possess all six lobes pointing straight outwards. Their sepals and the petals differ from each other. They are connected at their base into a floral tube that lies above the ovary. Their styles divide towards the apex into petaloid branches.

I remember when we we're young, my brother and I always run in my mom's garden. No matter how my mom told us to stop, we still kept on running until she got very mad. One time, she was annoyed when my brother accidentally hit some flowers on one side of the garden. According to my mother, that plant was the hydrangea. It is a genus composed of 70-75 species of flowering plants native to Southern and eastern Asia like China and Japan, and North and South America. These plants are mostly shrubs that grow from 1-3 meters tall, however, there are also small trees as well as lianas reaching up to 30 m by climbing trees. These genus are either deciduous or evergreen. Mom added that the flowers are produced mainly from early spring to late autumn.

Flowers of this Hydrangea genus grow in flowerheads or corymbs or panicles at the ends of the stems. In most species of Hydrangea, flowerheads contain two types of flowers. These are small fertile flowers in the middle of the flowerhead, and a large, sterile bract-like flowers in a ring around the edge of each flowerhead. She also mentioned that other species have all the flowers fertile and of the same size. Flowers are mostly white, but some flowers can be blue, red, pink, or purple.

Spending time in our garden is my habit. It gives me a great feeling of relief especially when I see those lovely Impatiens flowers. For example, when I lost my Siemens SX66 phone, I just stared at those flowers and after that I felt fine. Impatiens are very lovely and alluring flowers. It is composed of about 900-1000 species of flowering plants in the family Balsaminaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and tropics. However, they are not found in South America.

Some species of this genus are annual plants. Impatiens produce flowers from early summer until the first frost. There are also perennial species that can be found in milder climates. They can bloom throughout the whole year. This plant can exist both in, and out, of direct sunlight. I also found out that some Impatiens hybrids have commercial importance as garden plants. This species derive its scientific name Impatiens ("impatient") and the common name "touch-me-not" from the plant's seed pods. As you can see, when the seed pods mature, they "explode" when touched, sending seeds several meters away. That's why my mom always tells me not to touch them. Some species of Lepidoptera depend on this plant for survival.

Have you heard of the following plants cinquefoil, tormentil, and barren strawberry? Would you believe that these names point to only one plant, and that is Potentilla. This plant is a member of family Rosaceae and is native to North Hemisphere. If you're interested to know how this flower looks, then I will describe the plant for you. This specie has leaves that are divided into five leaflets which are arranged palmately, but there are also species with three leaflets. But don't be confused if you will see a Potentilla specie with 15 or more leaflets because it is possible.

In our garden, my mom plants Potentilla on one side and every time I go there, I notice that there are moths and butterflies flying near them. Then I learned that the leaves of this plant serve as food for the larvae of some Lepidopterans. My professor back in college told me that there had been some changes to the circumscription of Potentilla. According to him, these changes were the effects of recent genetic researches. If you have time, why don't you plant this flower to help in maintaining the balance in the environment. I am sure many Lepidopterans will appreciate it because there will be more available food for them.

I really find it hard to pronounce the word "Rhododendron." This is actually a genus of the plant that belongs to family Ericaceae. This genus is considered as big because it consists of more than 600 species, which are either evergreen or deciduous. These species have recognized for having showy flowers. Being a large group, it is subdivided into four groups namely Subgenus Rhododendron, Subgenus Hymenanthes, evergreen azaleas, and deciduous azaleas. Subgenus Rhododendron have the presence of scales on the leaves' underside while Subgenus Hymenanthes lacks these scales. This genus is widely distributed but mainly found in Sino-Himalayan mountains of southeast Asia. There is also other significant areas like in the mountains of Indo-China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. There are several species that grow in North American region and in Europe.

According to experiments, most species of Rhododendron like acidic soil conditions. The best known species of this genus are noticed because of the many clusters of large trumpet-shaped blooms and glossy oval leaves. However, alpine species have small flowers or small leaves. Accordingly, this flower is named as Nepal's National flower. It is also the state flower of Washington and West Virginia of US and Sikkim of India.

Japanese maple is a species in maple that can be found in countries like Japan, Korea and China. It is just a small tree ranging from 5-12 meters and commonly grows as an understory plant. Its leaves are opposite that range from 5-12 long and wide, palmately lobed with five or seven acutely pointed lobes. Its flowers are produced in small cymes and its fruit is a pair of winged samaras with each samara's length ranging from 2-3 cm with a 6-8 mm seed.

Japanese maple has been cultivated in Japan and other areas with thousands of cultivars selected for differences in size, for leaf shape and size, leaf color, bark color and texture, and growing pattern. Like other maple species, this plant can adapt to different conditions, but it is mostly suited in deep and fertile soils. As an understory tree, it can tolerate fairly dense sunlight although there is a disadvantage for that. There are cases wherein Japanese maple seedlings become a nuisance and the tree becomes invasive in woodlands. This plant is also commonly used in bonsai. So if you are looking for a bonsai, then Japanese maple can be the one that you are looking for.

Genus Heliconia is composed of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants that are common to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. This is the only genus belonging to the Family Heliconiaceae. Heliconia is also known as lobster-claw, wild plantain and false bird-of-paradise. Its leaves are ranges from 15-300 am long, oblong and growing opposite one another on non-woody petioles. Often, they are longer than the leaf and they form large clumps with age. Heliconia flowers are long, erect or drooping panicles. They are consist of brightly colored waxy bracts with small true flowers peeping out from the bracts. The growth habit of heliconias is comparable to that of Canna, Strelitzia (Bird-of-paradise), and bananas, to which they are related.

Aside from the beauty they exude, Heliconias have other roles in the environment. They are considered as an important source of food for forest hummingbirds. It is also being used by the hermits for nesting. There are species of Heliconia that were selected as cultivars for garden planting. They are Heleconia psittacorum L.f. which was crossed to Heleconia spathocircinata Aristeg. Both of these species came from South America majority from Brazil.

What is so special with Hibicus flowers? This is a question playing in my mind when I found out that some varieties of this genus are actually national flowers of other countries. For instance, Hibiscus syriacus, commonly known as Mugunghwa or "Rose of Sharon" is the national flower of South Korea. Did you know that Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, (Bunga Raya or "Chinese hibiscus") is Malaysia's national flower? Also, another Hibiscus flower, ma‘o hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei) is the state flower of Hawai‘i. There must be something in this plant that these nations view as special.

Hibiscus is a large genus having 200-220 number of species of flowering plants. This genus belongs to family Malvaceae which is common to warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. This group also includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants and woody shrubs and small trees. Its leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. Its fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule which contains several seeds in each lobe. These seeds are released when the capsule splits open during maturity. Its flowers are eye-catching because they are large, conspicuous, and trumpet-shaped. It has five petals with its color ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow.

Have you heard of a tree known as "Pride of Burma?" Yes, this is commonly known as Amherstia (Amherstia nobilis). This is a tropical tree belonging to the family Fabaceae, that bears exceptionally beautiful flowers is widely cultivated in the humid tropics. Ever wondered why it is called such name? This tree is native to Burma, known today as Myanmar, the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia. Its scientific name commemorates Lady Amherst.

This tropical tree's extravagant flowers are hanging from long inflorescence known as flower stalk that are bright crimson red at the end. Its flowers are made up of 5 petals, 2 are minute while the others have unequal sizes. Petals are also crimson; two medium-sized petals are yellow at the tip and the largest petal is broad and fan-shaped with a wavy upper margin and a yellow triangle of color extending from the lip down into the flower. The said large petal can measure 7.5 centimeters long and over 4 centimeters wide at the end. There are either 9 or 10 stamens, 9 of these are partially fused into a pink sheath; the stamens are of two differing lengths with the longer ones having larger anthers. Amherstia has compound leaves with 6 - 8 large leaflets. They are broadly oblong in shape and are a whitish underneath. Its seedpods or fruits measures from 11 to 20 centimeters long, with a scimitar-shaped. The woody outer case opens to disperse the seeds.

When I was young, I used to ask my Mom this question, "What is that plant with red clusters of flowers?" Then she would immediately answer "that's Ixora." According to her, this plant is a typical ornamental in the tropical areas. It is too tender to survive outside of the tropics and subtropics. This plant also comes in an array of colors and species. There are yellow, pink, orange and others. She even mentioned that Ixora grows more of an ornamental however its flowers have medicinal value.

Ixora is a fairly small, bushy shrub, and usually grows from 5-10 feet. There are also dwarf varieties of Ixora that are much smaller. Flowers can develop even if the plant is only a few inches high. Usually, it is used as a hedge or small garden plant. This ornamental plant also prefers a warm, humid climate with temperatures rarely dipping below 60F. These plants even grow in shade or full sun. It can be propagated through its seeds and by cuttings.

Until now, our garden has hedges of Ixora but now, we have different colors already. We have pink, yellow and orange Ixoras. Definitely, the beauty and innocence of these flowers add up to the pleasing ambience of my Mother's garden.

Do you like yellow color to dominate your garden? If the answer is yes, then I will recommend you to grow Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana). This wattle, which belongs to family Fabaceae, is a native to New South Wales, in Australia. This is an evergreen tree which can reach up to the 30 feet or 10 meters. This tree was one of the 1000 Acacia species that can be found in Australia. In Victoria, Wattle is considered as a weed because outcompeting the local Victorian species. This plant has flowers that are usually scented and golden-yellow. Its foliage varies in shapes and sizes and its small flowers are arranged in spherical to cylindrical inflorescences with only the stamens prominent. Accordingly, these plants have been extensively planted in New Zealand territory. Many citizens of this country regarded this species as one of the common plants found in their home landscape.

Like red, yellow is a warm color that denotes opposite meanings. One can see it that implies happiness and joy, however there are also people who believe that this color signifies cowardice and deceit. However, we should always view life in a positive way. So forget about the negative meaning of yellow and start planting Cootamundra Wattle to make your environment cheerful and joyful.

Are you surprised with the title? If you are, then you are not really that familiar with fig trees, right? Well, anyway, it does not matter, because I am telling you that fig trees in your landscaped house yard do have flowers, not only fruits.

But the thing with these plants are, the flower is not that apparent as with the other trees. The flower of a fig tree is, in fact, located inside the fig itself. So, the next question is, does it have the same parts like that of other normal flowers? Yes, it does, indeed. The brilliant news (well, not really news news) is that the flower also has stamen and pistil, and is very much capable of producing seeds. If one time you cannot resist on picking the fig and eating it, you may chance upon something that makes your teeth grit and grind -- that, folks, may just be the seeds that we are talking about. Thus, it is safe to say that you are also eating the flower, or specifically, the torus, where small flowers develop. The torus eventually grows sweet and becomes the fig.

The inconspicuous place of fig flowers just goes to show once again that nature has its wonders. Did you know that fig trees actually live the longest among the fruit trees? Yes, it can exist up to about two thousand years! They only generate about a couple of fig crops in one year, though.

Have you heard of the term "ant plants?" When I first heard this, I couldn't believe that there are plants like this. According to a thesis that I have read in the library, these ant plants are those plants that maintain mutualistic relationships with ants. This kind of relationship between the two is actually a proof of the interdependence between plants and animals in the ecosystem. According to the thesis that I have read, the ants get food and shelter from the plants. There are plants that provide domatia where the ants can live and form a colony. On the other hand, plants are benefited through the protection that these ants provide for them. With an army of ants deployed in most parts of the plants, they are protected against human beings and other animals.

An example of an antplant is Hydnophytum formicarium. These ant plants are native to the Southeast Asia and belong to the family Rubiaceae. It a relative of coffee and gardenias. These plants have a smooth skinned swollen base that is riddled with caverns and tunnels that the ants use for their home. These plants take advantage of the ant's waste products while the ants are thought to help protect the plants from predators. These kind of plants like high humidity, good drainage and bright light.

Are you familiar with Coleus plant? Well, I like growing Coleus plant in the garden. This plant is durable and very easy to grow. These annuals are known for their bright colors, and variety of foliage forms. They can thrive in bright areas, or in areas with indirect light or in partial shade. Most Coleus plants can tolerate overexposure to sun. However, it is still better if they are planted in the shade. Also, even though this plant belongs to Nettle family, Coleus do not have a stinging property just like other members of the family.

When I am bored, I usually go to the garden and look at the different plants planted there. Coleus plant is the first one that can catch my attention. During weekends, I can let go of my new Nokia phone because I am too busy planting and removing dried leaves from my Coleus plants. As you know, there is a particular part of my garden that I devoted for my Coleus. Near this area is a table where I sit and do my other work. My stress is easily relieved every time I look at them. Isn't it refreshing to see such lovely annuals after a busy day? Definitely, yes!

I remember when I was a kid, I would directly go home after school to help my Mom in her garden. She grew a lot of plants there and her favorite was the annuals. She planted different annual plants with various colors. There are pink, yellow, white and combinations. That is why when these plants bloomed, her garden looked like a paradise. Among the annuals that she planted, these attractive daisy-like flowers that cover the succulent leaves is my favorite. It provides colorful display in a sunny environment. One advantage of planting this annual is that they thrive even in poor soil so you do not have to use fertilizers.

During weekend, I usually wake up around eight in the morning. It's a habit for me to look at the garden first before I went down. Seeing those lovely and colorful flowers definitely brightens up my day. After doing my morning rituals, I will immediately go to the garden and assist my Mom there. Then, we will have the lunch in a table near the garden. I love remembering those annuals because everytime I see them, I also remember my mother and our bonding moments. Sometimes, I wish I am a kid forever.

For every lawn and garden aficionado, a hedge trimmer is a must-have. This tool is great for trimming hedges as their name would imply, they operate by creating nice clean cuts that do not shred the plant your are trimming. Due to its purpose of cutting, hedge trimmers can be quite dangerous. Take some precautionary measures to ensure that your hedge trimming will be safe and productive at the same time.

Choose a hedge trimmer that is lightweight enough for you to hold it for expended periods of time. You don't want to drop it in your foot in case your hands get tired. Ensure that your fingers, or anyone else's that will be operating this piece of machinery, cannot fit between the cutting teeth and the guards. Regularly sharpen the blades to ensure cleaner cuts, and wear adequate protection for your eyes and ears when using this tool. When trimming the hedges, never trim above your head. Operating the trimmer way above your head can likely lead to accidents. If needed, use a ladder and climb to the height you need to be in order to operate your machinery properly. For further safety measures, it helps to always refer to the manual for the specifications of the trimmer you bought.

It has been scientifically proven that gardening can relieve our stress. Taking care of your plants lets you discover new hidden facets of your personality and teaches you how to love and care for others. Take, for instance, a plant that is not properly taken care of. Wouldn't you be devastated that something you have invested time and effort in suddenly died? Gardening is like assuming a new responsibility in practically any task. By adopting a breathing creature and knowing how much water and light it needs and the intervals it requires to receive water again, we are unconsciously being trained to shift these cares and abilities in our individual social relations. We also get to appreciate our surroundings more.

Studies show that the presence of plants reduces mental exhaustion as the oxygen released by the plants creates a feeling of mental agility. Taking a few minutes to look at a plant in the midst of doing our tough work makes us feel more relaxed. Plants also have been shown to attract and fascinate people. More importantly, plants provide a welcome relief from the monotony and boredom generated by routinary tasks or forced focus. Big plants can serve as cover against annoying views, especially in the suburbs. They also reduce noises, just like the way hanging paintings in an empty room minimize echo effects.