Posted on May 21, 2009 under Best Perennials |
Perennials are those flowers which reliably bloom year after year. They die back to the ground each winter after flourishing for a full growing season only to reemerge again in the spring. They’re also noted for their texture and vibrant colors. Generally, perennials are a bit maintenance though there are those require almost no maintenance. These perennials are some the easiest to care for. They also provide colorful flowers and long lasting foliage.
Daylilies are a very common perennial which do remarkably well with very little maintenance. Their flowers, which are available in a wide range of colors, bloom on stocks which grow up from clumps of long pointed foliage. A profuse bloomer, daylilies flower for weeks. They prefer a bit of shade in the afternoon when the sun is strongest.
Iris is one the first perennials to emerge in the spring. Its purple or white flowers are an essential in the spring garden. Iris grows in spreading clumps which increase in size each year. When their finished blooming, iris will provide the perennial garden with striking foliage through the summer.
Hosta is an extraordinarily hardy and durable perennial. They can grow for an entire season with very little care. Hosta provides the garden with mounds of lush foliage and striking purple or white flower. Hosta is also very adaptable and versatile and can be used in a variety of garden situations. They’re effective as an edging plant and when grown among other flowers in a perennial bed. Hosta is great for shade and part shade gardens.
Astilbe is one of best perennials for the shade or part shade garden. They prefer organic soils and protection from the afternoon sun as dry soils and direct sun tend to cause withering in the plant. Astilbe has finely cut, fern like foliage and pink, white, or peach colored flowers. Astilble may require dividing every few years to encourage healthy blooms as they will often out grow their spot in the garden.
Geranium, a great perennial for the border garden, is a vigorous grower and flowers abundantly. With its spreading habit and profuse flowering abilities, geranium provides the garden with pink, white or purple flowers through mid-summer. Geranium is a wonderful edging plant in a full sun perennial border. Geranium is able to thrive for years with very little maintenance.
Asters bloom in fall and are effective in both the formal perennial garden and the wildflower meadow. Asters bloom in a variety of colors including, white, pink and purple. They are great addition to any perennial border.
Black eyed Susan can tolerate poor soils and survive extreme conditions such as heat and drought. The challenge with black eyed Susan isn’t growing them its keeping them from taking over your garden. As a vigorous grower, they require dividing every few years. Their tall stems produce bright yellow flowers bloom in summer which last though early fall.
Sedum autumn joy is a wonderful fall flowering perennial. It grows clumps which grow larger year after year. Its blooms are tones of pink and not deadheaded, they turn a rusty brown which can add winter interest to the garden. Sedum autumn joy also provides the garden with beautiful lush foliage in the summer.
While these perennials are easy to grow, there are a few very basic maintenance guidelines to follow which will help your garden flourish. In the summer, deadheading the perennials the process of clipping off the spent blooms, in necessary to encourage new blooms. As your perennials grow larger and begin to crowd each other, they may require dividing. Dividing perennials is easily the best way to increase your plant stock. Simply dig the perennial you intend to divide out of the ground making sure to dig out as much of the root system as possible. Take a shovel and chop or divide the plant in half and then replant each half.
Before planting your flowers, observe the conditions of your garden so you can determine what will work best for you. Have a plan or list in hand before you head out to the greenhouse. Once planted, these perennials will provide years of gardening enjoyment.
anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/gardening-with-easy-care-perennials-87624.html
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under Best Vegetables |
I’ve always been into gardening, but have jsut recently gotten a food dehydrator, so I was looking for a few good crops to try. Please be specific on types. For example, instead of saying ‘tomato’ say ‘Roma’ or ‘Brandywine’ tomato. But more than just tomatoes please.
I’ve dried a lot of veggies (for cooking while hiking). The tomatoes and peppers always seem to develop a flavor I don’t like - they work ok, just don’t like ‘em as much as fresh. Sorry, I can’t give you specific varieties of any particular veggie - mostly I don’t think it matters much, except that, for example, a Roma would dry faster than Beefsteak.
Things that have worked best for me are onions, celery, chives/green onions, carrots, peas, cabbage, mushrooms, and corn. I think the carrots work better if they’re parboiled first to soften them up a bit, but you can get by without it. Potatoes work, but dehydrated potato flakes are so cheap it’s really not worth doing for me. For that matter, you can find dehydrated veggies pretty cheap, so it’s more for personal enjoyment to dry your own, or making up your own mixes/creations is fun (e.g. - dried corn, with or without spicy or sweet seasonings make a nice crunchy snack).
I think the biggest bang for the buck is dried herbs - you can grow them cheap but they often cost an awful lot in the stores.
I’ve bought several diff types of dried veggies from Harmony House, with good results. Prices are fair, quality is good: http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/ - just in case you want to sample what can be done and have something to compare yours to.
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under Best Seeds |
Suggest soybeans. Deer love them here in Kentucky. For turkey, wheat or barley. Good Luck.
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under Best Tomatoes |
I’m going to start my garden soon and I want to grow a salsa garden. But I need to know what type of tomatoes to grow.
Romas & tomatillos.
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under Best Perennials |
I’m looking to plant a perennial or two but it will have to be in a pot or some type of container because we only have a deck. Also, if its anything that comes inside in the winter it has to be safe for animals.
For window boxes and pots, annuals always seem to do best. You can plant new types each spring/summer. If you will use water crystals mixed into the potting soil, you will not have to water so often. Read the directions.
Posted on Mar 20, 2010 under Best For Garden |
I am looking to plant a fairly large sized vegetable garden. I live in Michigan so any info for that state would be prefered.
Hi,
Checkout , www.gardenweb.com , this site will help you out about gardening no matter where you live.
The forums are divided into all kinds of catagories, and the people over there are really kind.
I visit there daily, and have learned oh so much more than I could ever have wanted.
I’ve been learning from there over three years now.
Hope this helps,
Dave
Posted on Mar 18, 2010 under Gardening Tips |
Even if you’re not an avid gardener or flower lover, the sight of a well-maintained indoor garden is impressive. However, if you’ve tried your hand at indoor gardening, it’s not as easy as bringing the plants indoors. Here are some tips to start you off on the right foot.
The first crucial decision has to do with lighting. Ask yourself, exactly how light should I give the plants? Your house may not have enough light for your plants to exist, so this is a prime consideration. Are you prepared to supply your plant with light through artificial means? It could be expensive. If possible, try to select plants that require minimal lighting such as Philodendrons and Boston ferns.
If there are not that many indoor plants, you may consider bringing them out into the sun during the day before bringing them back inside. Think of your plants as batteries. If you expose them to enough sunlight outdoors, they can store this as a reserve source of energy indoors. This is especially effective during summer.
It’s also important that you know how to spot the signs that will tell you whether your plants are getting the right amount of light. One sign is in the leaves. If the plant has small leaves and thin stems, it needs more light. The same is true if the color of the plant turns paler than usual.
You may even have to condition your plants, which is a way of making them used to the lights in your house gradually, especially if they came from a place that has brighter lights than your home. You start by exposing the plants to the brightest possible light in your house. Move them around daily while lessening the amount of light they get, until they reach that point where they are exposed to their regular amounts of light.
When it comes to watering, the rules are fairly simple. Make sure to water the soil thoroughly and to have the water drained at the bottom of the pot. The quantity of water depends on the plant. The biggest mistakes here are not watering them enough or watering them too much, so avoid both. Also, use water that has the same room temperature.
Try to keep the room temperature at an even level, ideally in the 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit range.
Other items such as fertilizers and humidity levels depend a great deal on the type of plants you choose.
Kadence Buchanan
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/indoor-gardening-tips-63604.html
Posted on Mar 18, 2010 under Best Seeds |
You might disagree, but hear me out on this. Natural skin care oils are the safest and most effective. Mineral oil, the primary ingredient in most lotions, is not one of them. The name might make you think of minerals that are necessary for human health, but it is actually flammable petroleum based oil that is not similar to the oil produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands.
There are many beneficial plant-based oils that are very similar to the skin’s own. Here’s a look at just a few of them and what they can do for your skin’s health and appearance.
Avocado Oil
This one is a little too heavy for use during the day, but it makes a great nighttime moisturizer. It is rich in vitamins A, D and E, as well as potassium, protein and essential fatty acids.
Vitamin A and E are used to treat a variety of skin problems, including eczema and acne. As antioxidants, they provide anti-aging benefits by protecting the skin’s cells from damaging free radical molecules.
Potassium is one of the minerals that help to balance the skin’s moisture content. The amino acids in protein are the building blocks of collagen, elastin and keratin. Essential fatty acids are the primary component of the skin’s sebum. Of all of the natural skin care oils, it is one of the few that has been shown to increase the skin’s collagen content.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba was used by Native Americans to treat burns and other injuries. It is really more like a liquid wax. It is expressed form the plant’s seeds and is one of the natural skin care oils that is most similar to the skin’s.
It helps reduce wrinkles, stretch marks and the appearance of scars. It can be used, regardless of skin-type, because it is non-greasy and is also rich in vitamin E.
Grape Seed Oil
This one is light enough to use during the day. It makes an effective shaving lubricant and has a dual moisturizing effect. First, it hydrates, and then it locks moisture in, because it has a unique filming ability. The invisible film also keeps dirt, grime and make-up from clogging the pores. Like most of the natural skin care oils, it is also rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids.
Olive Oil
Although some people use the kind is designed for cooking purposes, I recommend an emulsification known as “OLIVEM 800″. In my opinion, the kind used for cooking feels too greasy. The special emulsion provides the nourishing qualities of olive oil, without causing a greasy feeling.
Everything that I have mentioned here, except for mineral oil, in the first paragraph, is a beneficial ingredient. But, you should know that there are some ingredients to avoid. The cosmetic industry is not very well regulated. Manufacturers are allowed to use practically anything in their products and they are not required to test for safety before-hand.
There are many ingredients to avoid, but if you shop for those that are free of artificial preservatives, sunscreens and added fragrances, and only include natural skin care oils, you’ll be headed in the right direction.
To learn more about vitamins for healthy skin, and other incredible natural substances for natural healthy skin care, visit my website today.
Laurel Levine
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/the-best-skin-products-contain-natural-skin-care-oils-695801.html