A is for Alyssum, which makes a carpet of tiny blooms in whites, reds, and pinks.
B is for Begonia, which have dainty pink, red, or white flowers.
C is for Celosia, which have velvety red and orange plumes.
D is for Dahlia, which produce huge flowers in purple, red, pink, orange, or yellow.
E is for Everlasting, which annuals are not - they only bloom for one year.
F is for Four O' Clock, or Mirabilis jalapa, which as the name implies will open their blooms mid-afternoon.
G is for Geranium, with the classic red pink or white clusters of petals.
H is for Hollyhock, which has spires of flowers in purples and white, often with a different color in the center.
I is for Impatiens, with the delicate little white, pink, and red flowers that are some of the first to bloom in spring.
J is for Just, as in I'm going to just skip the letter J.
K is for Kale, which can have bright white or red leaves to brighten the garden all season.
L is for Lobelia, with their tiny and prolific cascading blue flowers.
M is for Marigold, with the brilliant yellow or orange flowers that are said to deter pests from the garden.
N is for Nasturtium, which are lovely vines with orange or red flowers that are both beautiful and edible.
O is for Osteospermum, an unusual daisy like flower that blooms in a rainbow of colors.
P is for Petunia, an old garden favorite with droopy petals in reds, pinks, whites, and even striped.
Q is for Quandry, as Q usually is for these lists.
R is for Rudbeckia, with bright yellow or orange daisy-like flowers.
S is for Snapdragons, the cheerful stalks of blooms that if you squeeze just right will look like they are snapping.
T is for Thunbergia, which has red or pink flowers with a distinctive dark "eye".
U is for Underground, which is where you plant most seeds.
V is for Viola, with delicate purple and yellow flowers which are often the very first annuals to bloom in spring.
W is for Water, as most annual flowers will need regular watering to look their best.
X is for Xeranthemum, an unusual flower in bright pink or white.
Y is for You, as in you should try some annual flowers in your garden.
Z is for Zinnia, with the dependable big blooms in red, pink, yellow, or white.
See more resources for buying and growing Annual Flower Seeds with listings of local garden centers and specialty mail order nurseries at http://www.GardeningWithLarry.com.
About the Author
I'm a freelance computer programmer living in San Diego California with my wife and our 3 cats. I enjoy hiking, gardening, reading, watching too much TV, and other nerdy stuff. I run a few websites including http://www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com, http://www.GardeningWithLarry.com, and http://www.VeganUSofA.com.
30/10/2009
Planting a Cutting Garden by Organic Gardener
If you feel guilty when you cut flowers in your garden, worrying that you're destroying nature or leaving gaps in your flowerbeds, it may be time for you to plant a cutting garden, says the American Association of Nurserymen (AAN). A cutting garden is designed to provide flowers for indoor arrangements, and it will give you a new perspective on removing flowers from your garden.
Choosing the Right Flowers and Plants
As with any garden, the first step in planning your cutting garden is to select plants that grow well in your part of the country. Ask the experts at your local garden center for their suggestions, and keep in mind your soil conditions, the amount of sun or shade your garden receives and how much it rains.
Selecting a Color Scheme
After you've decided which plants will thrive at your site, choose a color scheme, whether bright and vivid primary colors, soft and muted pastel shades or dusty earth tones. Since the purpose of a cutting garden is to grow flowers to use indoors, think about how flowers of certain colors will look when you place them in main rooms of your house.
Finally, plant flowers and plants in such a way that no one will notice that you frequently forage for new material for your indoor bouquets. One way to achieve a continuously balanced look in your cutting garden is to group your plantings by color, so that when you clip several blue flowers one day and several yellow flowers another, the overall appearance of the garden is still one of continuity and growth.
You can also fill in around your flowers with shrubs and larger, bushy plants that can easily spare a few leaves or berries, as well as plant a mix of perennials, annuals and bulbs so your garden will bloom all year 'round.
About the Author
I am a gardener who enjoys growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. I believe in using organic methods and products when gardening.
Choosing the Right Flowers and Plants
As with any garden, the first step in planning your cutting garden is to select plants that grow well in your part of the country. Ask the experts at your local garden center for their suggestions, and keep in mind your soil conditions, the amount of sun or shade your garden receives and how much it rains.
Selecting a Color Scheme
After you've decided which plants will thrive at your site, choose a color scheme, whether bright and vivid primary colors, soft and muted pastel shades or dusty earth tones. Since the purpose of a cutting garden is to grow flowers to use indoors, think about how flowers of certain colors will look when you place them in main rooms of your house.
Finally, plant flowers and plants in such a way that no one will notice that you frequently forage for new material for your indoor bouquets. One way to achieve a continuously balanced look in your cutting garden is to group your plantings by color, so that when you clip several blue flowers one day and several yellow flowers another, the overall appearance of the garden is still one of continuity and growth.
You can also fill in around your flowers with shrubs and larger, bushy plants that can easily spare a few leaves or berries, as well as plant a mix of perennials, annuals and bulbs so your garden will bloom all year 'round.
About the Author
I am a gardener who enjoys growing vegetables, herbs and flowers. I believe in using organic methods and products when gardening.
29/10/2009
Fragrant Orchids
Fragrant orchids are a pleasure to raise for their sweet perfume and exotic appearance. There are certain species of orchids that are more fragrant than others.
Fragrant Orchids - The Science of Fragrance Orchids have evolved into particular shapes, colors and smells to attract pollinators, so they may reproduce. Some orchids attract only a few very specific pollinators, so they have fragrance when these pollinators are the most active, either by day or by night.
Orchid fragrance is an oily substance found in glands called osmopheres on the outside edges of the orchid's roots, leaves and flowers. This oily fragrant substance will change into vapor form, enabling the plant to smell. Not all orchid fragrances can be sensed by humans. These specific fragrances are what primarily attract the insects that pollinate the orchid.
The orchid flower's fragrance is produced at a time daily when the pollinators are the most active, so the fragrance can have maximum effect. For instance, some orchids, namely the Phalenophilus, are fragrant only at night, and are white or other very light colors because they are pollinated by moths.
It is believed that over half of all orchids are pollinated during the day by bees and wasps. The orchid flowers have scents like narcissus, lilly of the valley and sweet peas. The colors of the flowers tend to be bright blue, yellow, purple or green.
Fragrant Orchids - The Orchids That Have Delightful Aromas What follows is a list of some of the most fragrant orchids. It is not comprehensive, but lists a few types of orchids that have noticeable aromas. Ada glumacea - strong fruity aroma
Rhyncholaelia digbyana - citrus-like scent
Brassavola cucullata - sweet smelling aroma
Angraecum Longiscott Hihimanu - sweet aroma at night
Zygopetalum B.G. White Stonehurst - intense sweet aroma
Maxillaria tenuifolia - smells like coconut
Den. Delicatum Brechts - smells like wintergreen
Epidendrums Veitchii - mild rose-like aroma
Cattleyas have a strong sweet aroma
Oncidium Sharry Baby - smells of chocolate
Oncidium ornithorynchum - very sweet smell
Rhyncholaelia glauca - strong aroma at night
Cymbidium Golden Elf Sundust - smells of sweet bath powder
Cymbidium tracyanum - peaches
Epidendrum parkinsonianumm - aroma of cloves at night
Epidendrum L. purpurata - licorice
Anna M. Hartman
About the Author
Fragrant orchids are a pleasure to raise for their sweet perfume and exotic appearance. Learn about giving the proper care to your fragrant orchids by reading the Orchid Care Expert, you will find the process greatly simplified. Please visit us at Fragrant Orchids to learn about fragrant orchids.
Fragrant Orchids - The Science of Fragrance Orchids have evolved into particular shapes, colors and smells to attract pollinators, so they may reproduce. Some orchids attract only a few very specific pollinators, so they have fragrance when these pollinators are the most active, either by day or by night.
Orchid fragrance is an oily substance found in glands called osmopheres on the outside edges of the orchid's roots, leaves and flowers. This oily fragrant substance will change into vapor form, enabling the plant to smell. Not all orchid fragrances can be sensed by humans. These specific fragrances are what primarily attract the insects that pollinate the orchid.
The orchid flower's fragrance is produced at a time daily when the pollinators are the most active, so the fragrance can have maximum effect. For instance, some orchids, namely the Phalenophilus, are fragrant only at night, and are white or other very light colors because they are pollinated by moths.
It is believed that over half of all orchids are pollinated during the day by bees and wasps. The orchid flowers have scents like narcissus, lilly of the valley and sweet peas. The colors of the flowers tend to be bright blue, yellow, purple or green.
Fragrant Orchids - The Orchids That Have Delightful Aromas What follows is a list of some of the most fragrant orchids. It is not comprehensive, but lists a few types of orchids that have noticeable aromas. Ada glumacea - strong fruity aroma
Rhyncholaelia digbyana - citrus-like scent
Brassavola cucullata - sweet smelling aroma
Angraecum Longiscott Hihimanu - sweet aroma at night
Zygopetalum B.G. White Stonehurst - intense sweet aroma
Maxillaria tenuifolia - smells like coconut
Den. Delicatum Brechts - smells like wintergreen
Epidendrums Veitchii - mild rose-like aroma
Cattleyas have a strong sweet aroma
Oncidium Sharry Baby - smells of chocolate
Oncidium ornithorynchum - very sweet smell
Rhyncholaelia glauca - strong aroma at night
Cymbidium Golden Elf Sundust - smells of sweet bath powder
Cymbidium tracyanum - peaches
Epidendrum parkinsonianumm - aroma of cloves at night
Epidendrum L. purpurata - licorice
Anna M. Hartman
About the Author
Fragrant orchids are a pleasure to raise for their sweet perfume and exotic appearance. Learn about giving the proper care to your fragrant orchids by reading the Orchid Care Expert, you will find the process greatly simplified. Please visit us at Fragrant Orchids to learn about fragrant orchids.
The 3 Important Herb Garden Plants Tips by Gack Grant
Like other types of plants, herb garden plants come in different forms. There are different varieties of herbs. If you are planning to have one type of herb garden plant, you should know how to care for it and how to use it properly. To better understand different types of herb garden plants and their uses, you should continue reading this article.
Basil, cilantro, and summer savory which are known to be annuals will not survive a frost. They have to be planted from a seed or from a small plant every year. On the other hand, sage and winter savory which are known to be perennials survive in cold temperatures and comes back every after a year. Herb garden plants which are biennial form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Some examples of biennial herb plants are parsley, angelica, and caraway. These should sown in late spring directly into the garden. The preparation of soil is important. It should be worked into a fine texture and should be slightly wet. Seeds should be planted in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. You can plant fine seeds in a mixture of sand which will allow the seeds to spread more evenly. Covering the bed with wet burlap or paper is possible in order to keep the soil moist during germination.
Herb garden plants are categorized according to their uses. Culinary herbs are considered the most useful to herb gardeners. They are mainly use in cooking variety of foods. They add flavors to different kinds of food because of their strong taste. Some examples of these are chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram. Parsley is the most commonly used garnish. Aromatic herbs are those extracted to get their oils and are used in different perfumes, toilet water, and other various scents because they pleasant smell. Some of them are loyage, mint, and rosemary. Aside from that, some of the parts of the aromatic herb can also be used to scent different linens and clothing in the house. Others are dried to make potpourri which retains its scent for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbenas are the most commonly used in making potpourri. There are also herbs used in medical purposes for it is believed long time ago that they have the ability to cure the body. Even if the use of herb plants is now accepted in the field of medicine, we should still be cautious with their proper use because of them maybe poisonous when eaten.
Herbs are also used as decorations to add beauty in the house. The most commonly used flowers are valerian for their crimson light colored flowers and borage and chicory for their elegant blue flowers.
It is true that herb plants have lots of categories but there are still some plants which can be used in multiple purposes. One is the mint which can be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. After reading the whole article, I hoped this helped you choose the proper herb plant suited for you.
About the Author
Before you continue your garden research online, make sure you check Jack Grants' excellent free tips on Herb Garden Plants, and sign up for free home garden solution newsletter. Click here.
Basil, cilantro, and summer savory which are known to be annuals will not survive a frost. They have to be planted from a seed or from a small plant every year. On the other hand, sage and winter savory which are known to be perennials survive in cold temperatures and comes back every after a year. Herb garden plants which are biennial form leaves in their first growing season and flowers and seed in the second season, then die. Some examples of biennial herb plants are parsley, angelica, and caraway. These should sown in late spring directly into the garden. The preparation of soil is important. It should be worked into a fine texture and should be slightly wet. Seeds should be planted in shallow rows then firm the soil on top of them. You can plant fine seeds in a mixture of sand which will allow the seeds to spread more evenly. Covering the bed with wet burlap or paper is possible in order to keep the soil moist during germination.
Herb garden plants are categorized according to their uses. Culinary herbs are considered the most useful to herb gardeners. They are mainly use in cooking variety of foods. They add flavors to different kinds of food because of their strong taste. Some examples of these are chives, thyme, basil, sage, savory, and marjoram. Parsley is the most commonly used garnish. Aromatic herbs are those extracted to get their oils and are used in different perfumes, toilet water, and other various scents because they pleasant smell. Some of them are loyage, mint, and rosemary. Aside from that, some of the parts of the aromatic herb can also be used to scent different linens and clothing in the house. Others are dried to make potpourri which retains its scent for a long period of time. Lavender and lemon verbenas are the most commonly used in making potpourri. There are also herbs used in medical purposes for it is believed long time ago that they have the ability to cure the body. Even if the use of herb plants is now accepted in the field of medicine, we should still be cautious with their proper use because of them maybe poisonous when eaten.
Herbs are also used as decorations to add beauty in the house. The most commonly used flowers are valerian for their crimson light colored flowers and borage and chicory for their elegant blue flowers.
It is true that herb plants have lots of categories but there are still some plants which can be used in multiple purposes. One is the mint which can be used for cooking, tea, and pest control. After reading the whole article, I hoped this helped you choose the proper herb plant suited for you.
About the Author
Before you continue your garden research online, make sure you check Jack Grants' excellent free tips on Herb Garden Plants, and sign up for free home garden solution newsletter. Click here.
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