Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under dried foliage |
For the natural gardener, pest control might seem like a daunting task. After all, you’re committed to not using harmful chemicals in your garden, yet these chemicals can get rid of pests quickly and easily. There are still many ways you can take control of your garden without resorting to chemical treatments. Natural pest control is actually quite easy. We certainly understand that many gardeners become anxious when they see pests on their plants and want to react decisively when they see their plants damaged. But we must remind you of the central principle of organic gardening: growing plants in harmony with Nature. And insects, even those that eat your plants, are a crucial part of that system. When you see insects in your garden, take some time to really watch what they’re doing. Are they actually destroying the plant or just nibbling it a bit? Many plants can outgrow minor damage. Also, in many cases, insects attack stressed out plants. Do you have enough healthy plants to spare the sickly ones? Can you restore sickly plants to robust health so they can resist insect attack? The best defenses against insect attack are preventative measures. Grow plants suited to the site and they’ll be less stressed out. Don’t let them be too wet, too dry or too shaded. Design a diverse garden, so that pests of a particular plant won’t decimate an entire section of the garden. Healthy soil will naturally produce plants that are resistant to insects and disease, but pests are a part of gardening. There are different ways you can control pests naturally. There are a number of natural botanical sprays and powders available in garden centers. These are derived from plants and not made in a lab. We’ll look at a few of the more common ones available to you. Insecticidal soap is sodium or potassium salts combined with fatty acids. If you use soap, it must come in direct contact with the insect and it must be wet. It is no longer effective once it has dried. The fatty acids in the soap penetrate the insect’s outer covering and cause the cells to collapse. This is one of the safest organic pesticides to use because there is no residue, it is non-toxic to animals, and you can use it on your vegetables all the way up to harvest. Be cautious, however, soap can burn or stress plants, so don’t use it in full sun or high temperatures. Bacteria spray is also commonly known as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). There are more than 80 types of Bt used as pesticides. It is a stomach poison that releases toxins in the stomachs of insects that causes them to stop eating and starve to death. It is generally available in powdered form that is sprinkled or dusted on a plant. It must be eaten by the targeted insect. Bt strains are very host specific and will not harm people, pets, birds or bees, but it can be very slow acting taking days for the insect to completely stop eating and die. It can also kill some of the beneficial insects in your garden. Neem is a spray that is derived from the seed kernels of the neem tree fruit. It is sprayed onto the plant’s leaves which will upset the insect’s hormonal system and prevents it from developing to its mature stage. Neem is most effective on immature insects and species that undergo complete metamorphosis. Use caution with Neem as it can be damaging to pets, so keep them away from freshly sprayed leaves until the liquid dries. Neem is non-toxic to humans. Horticultural Oil is highly refined petroleum oil that is mixed with water and sprayed onto foliage. It coats and suffocates insects or disrupts their feeding. There is a low toxicity to humans, pets, and birds and does not leave behind any toxic residue. Be careful you don’t burn the leaves of your plants when you use this oil. Rotenone and Pyrethrum are most readily available ones and are often used in combination. They are derived from the roots of tropical legumes. It generally comes in powder form that is dusted onto the plant. These will inhibit the cellular process thus depriving insects of oxygen in their tissue cells. This is a broad spectrum pesticide and can be used with many types of pests. If you are using a spray, dilute it in water and use only as needed. Of course, follow application directions on the label. The best time to apply sprays and powders is in the evening or in early morning. And always read the labels of anything you buy commercially. Just because a pesticide is organic doesn’t mean it isn’t toxic. You don’t HAVE to use anything on your plants if you depend on other animals to help you control pests.
Technorati Tags: control, garden, organic, pests, Those
Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under dried pods |
- Giant Oar Pods measure 24 in. to 30 in. by 4 in. wide with 6 inch Stems. Sold in package of 4.
- Available colors: Dark Honey with Light Oak accent and Mahogany Brown.
- Flexible stems assist you in creating your design
- Unique shape and coloring.
- This is an all natural, green and renewable resource product.
Product Description
These fabulous pod oars measure 32 in. They are approximately 4 in. across. The unique pod has a natural design of several warm rich honey colored hues have the flavor of an outdoor design or they are also available in cherry brown. They are on 6 inch bendable stems which will aid you in creating the perfect angle for your design. Sold in package of 4…. More >>
Giant Pod Oars – 32 in. on short Stem, Pack of 4 – Cherry Brown – $28.99
Technorati Tags: $28.99, brown, Cherry, Giant, Oars, Pack, short, stem
Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under dried flowers |
A gardener is often confronted with the crucial question as whether to grow perennials or annuals. Now, perennials are plants that can survive more than one growing season, whereas annuals are plants, which finish their growth cycle in a year, starting life anew from one seed to another and finally fading, in the course of a growing season.
As stated by most seasoned gardeners, the gardening of annual flowers is just the right thing to do, particularly if you are a beginner. Annuals tend to bloom straight after they are planted, and a good number will blossom right through the growing season. In addition, because annuals just survive a single growing season, the following season you are offered the chance to set up a completely fresh garden.
Annuals can easily adapt anywhere and while most of them need adequate light, sufficient water and soil that is quite enriched with nutrients, you will discover that annuals can survive even in the most severe conditions. Annual flowers such as browallia, ageratum, dianthus, coleus, impatiens, fuschia, pansy, lobelia, salvia, wishbone flower, and inca, flourish quite well in partially sheltered settings. Some annuals, such as poppies, prosper in the most infertile soils.
Besides, annuals can thrive in both dry or damp weather, and either dry or damp garden spots. Annuals, which are drought-resistant, consist of dusty miller, cleome, petunias, zinnia, and globe amaranth, whereas annuals that prosper in damp or marshy places include fuchsia, browallia, pansy, and nicotiania. Annuals tend to thrive well when placed in containers. Cut annuals look extremely pretty in flower displays.
Quite a few annuals are deemed hardy annuals, since they are capable of withstanding the first spell of frost without wilting, flowering, and depositing seeds right into the following year. Ultimately, they will droop. These annuals can be grown in autumn or spring ahead of the very last frost. Cornflower, calendula, larkspur, foxglove, sweet alyssum, pansy, viola, dianthus, and stocks are hardy annuals; now, these varieties of annuals generally cannot put up with the heat.
There are also half-hardy annuals that can endure chilly, moist climate, but are unable to bear frost or icy temperatures. Now, the best time to plant these annuals is right after the previous spring frost, and they consist of bells of Ireland, baby’s breath, candytuft, blue sage, forget-me-not, celome, love-in-a-mist, torenia, snow-on-the-mountain, and strawflower. Midsummer witnesses quite a number of half-hardy annuals appearing a bit pale, but a few may begin to flower again by the end of summer or autumn before they die.
Next, come the tender annuals that are very susceptible to chilly soil temperatures and suffer damage by frost and cold temperatures. Without a doubt, tender annuals seeds will decay and will not sprout in case the soil temperatures are well under sixty degrees. A couple of weeks from the previous spring frost need to go by prior to these being planted in the open air. Tender annuals consist of balsam, ageratum, celosia, begonia, globe amaranth, coleus, marigold, impatiens, morning glory, nicotiana, nasturtium, verbena, petunia, scarlet sage, zinnia, and vinca.
Moreover, there are annuals that flower in the cool season and ones that grow in the warm season.
Cool season annuals include geranium, pansies, snapdragon, and petunia, which tend to go limp due to the heat of the summer. Undeniably, annuals that prosper in the cool season prefer temperatures ranging in the 70s-80s in the day and these blossom very well in the spring and autumn. Warm-season annuals include blue daze, zinnias, pentas, and four-o’clocks, which are unable to grow unless temperatures rise well into the 80s-90s in the day and touch 60s-70s at night.
Now you have made up your mind to have a shot at gardening of annual flowers, and possess a list of plants, but are uncertain with which flowers you should begin your gardening efforts. You could try out pansies and violas, which blossom for several weeks and quite a few of them can even tolerate a gentle frost.
Snapdragons also are a wonderful idea to start with. They occur in a spectacular array of hues and are able to attain quite a good height. Alternatively, you could settle for petunias, the preferred choice of most gardeners. There is an extensive range to select from and besides, they are easy to look after. Petunias flower very well in cool climes. An excellent plant to grow from seed is the nasturtium, a flower which blossoms all through summer and well into autumn, displaying fall shades. Finally, take a glimpse of lobelia, which blossoms in cool climes and is able to grow in a sheltered area.
After you have resolved the kind of flowers you fancy planting in your gardening of annual flowers venture, the time has come to start the actual growing process. In most cases, a fine time to plant annuals is late in the afternoon. You need to water your forthcoming flowers as well as the soil into which they will be placed ahead of undertaking anything. Remove the plants from the flowerpots very carefully, or you will agitate the roots, and in case the roots are packed closely together, you need to free them lightly, prior to placing the plants in the soil.
Your job is still not done after planting the annuals. While a good number of annuals require very little care, they still need attention to enable them to grow sturdy and healthy. Of course, weeds should be removed from your garden and regular watering carried out (every plant has different water requirements and hence you should ensure that you in no way under-water or over-water the plants).
In addition, because the actual intention of the annual flower is producing seeds and proliferating, if you get rid of the wilted flowers ahead of them depositing seeds, the plant tends to bring forth additional flowers to foster its objective of producing seeds. Now, this process of singling out the wilted flowers is known as ‘deadheading’ and it is a key factor in ensuring your annual garden flaunts dramatic shades.
A few gardeners also do away with the developing tip of the annual flowers, which promotes thicker, more solid and orderly growth. Most annuals could be cut in the middle or end of summer to induce them to bloom once more in autumn. Be sensible and conscientious in the gardening of annual flowers and, most certainly, you will not come away disenchanted!
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Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under silk flowers |
- Each with approx 8 leaves, roses measured approx. 2.5″ x 2.5″
- Real Touch (Artificial Latex), It feels real and thick when you touch it
- Size approx: 26” H x 8″ W
- Steel wires used partially to hold the shape, makes it easy to bend or shape to your satisfaction.
- Vase and Marbles NOT Included
Product Description
These beautiful Plants can be used anywhere around the house. They are neat and beautiful yet cleaning and hassle free! Steel wires used partially to hold the shape, makes it easy to bend or shape to your satisfaction. Shipping charge quoted applies to the buyers within the 48 contiguous U.S. states ONLY. For orders shipping to other states or country, please contact us first for shipping quote. Size may be slightly different depends on how you shape it. Size meassu… More >>
12 Pieces 26″ Open Rose Artificial Silk Flower Sprays
Technorati Tags: "artificial, flower, open, Pieces, rose, silk, sprays"
Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under how to dry flowers |
Today, we can find different flower types – even those which supposedly cannot be grown in the country. We have tulips, carnation, and most especially, roses.
When we talk of horticulture in the Philippines, we almost always mean ornamental horticulture. In general, horticulture is about flowers while ornamental horticulture involves flowers and other ornamentals. In the Filipino context, these two are the same and offers several products which are available for both domestic and foreign trade.
• Cut flowers involve fresh flowers and buds which are cut from plants to create bouquets, wreaths, corsage and other special flower arrangements.
• Foliage and other plant parts involves the fresh leaves and branches of trees including the shrubs, bushes, grasses, mosses, and lichens which are also used for ornamental purposes
• Dried ornamentals are basically dried, dyed and bleached plant materials
• Other ornamentals are trees, shrubs, bushes, roots, and cuttings which are used to decorate indoors and outdoors.
With the variety of products offered by the horticulture industry in the country, we can see how important flowers in this country. In fact, there’s even a festival in the Philippines celebrating flowers! There’s the Baguio Flower Festival, Kadawayaan Flower Festival in Davao and everywhere else in the country celebrates Flores de Mayo, translated in English as “The Flowers of May”.
Do you want to express your sympathies for a family’s loss? Do you want to express your deepest desires? Sometimes, saying things out loud can become too plain and might not be enough to convey the emotions you want to express. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. This is never any truer anywhere than this country of smiles. Saying I love isn’t enough to show a Filipina just how important she is to you, especially when you are miles apart. So what do you do? How do you thank a friend for the help they have given you? Or tell your business associates how much you appreciate their time? Well, you can do it the Filipino way – send flowers.
Flowers have their own language, so they say. If you need to say something to someone, there’s no better way to do it than sending them flowers. Through a florist, you can send coded messages of love and admiration; you can show your affection or even ask for forgiveness. Now you don’t have to speak words of love you’ve always found hard to say.
Of course, flowers just aren’t for the Philippines – they have an international language. There are many flower shops around the world and many florists say that it is probably one of the most profitable ventures today.
Technorati Tags: Culture, flowers, Philippine
Posted on Feb 28, 2010 under dried flowers |
The more you understand about any topic, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this section you’ll find that the issue of home farming is certainly no exclusion. Gardening with bulbs has many advantages for the gardener. For one thing, most bulb plants are inexpensive, and bulbs are resilient out of the ground and enduring in the ground. Shopping for the right bulbs is also painless; minimally choosing stable, healthy looking bulbs, and avoiding those that are cracked, dry or velvety is a good way to wish the best bulbs for your plot. There are so many types of bulbs, however, that it can be strenuous to find the right ones for your backyard. The clause presents the orders overview of some of the most prevalent flower bulbs. Gladiolus Gladiolas are among the most accepted of all bulb plants, and their distinctive sword shaped grass and cone shaped flora are instantly recognizable to gardeners and non gardeners alike. This unusual appearance has made gladiolas a beloved bulb with many gardeners, and they make a subtle centerpiece to any patch due to their large bulk and attractive appearance. The large summer acme gladiolas can breadth in height from three feet to a titanic six feet, and their type of ensign makes them great for any patch. So far, we’ve naked some interesting proof about home farming. You may want that the next information is even more interesting. Gladiolas are best planted in the coil, but only after the soil has warmed. Gladiolas typically shadow between 65 and 100 years after planting. Many gardeners place new gladiola bulbs at one or two week intervals over a four to six week part to like continual blooms. Each gladiola bulb should be planted four epoch as profound as the bulb is large, for demand a one creep open bulb would be planted four inches intense. The spacing of gladiolas should be between four to six inches. Gladiolas do best in gorged sunlight, and they should be watered evenly during their flowering and increase phase. In much of the country, gladiola bulbs can be left in the ground over the coldness months, but many gardeners choose to dig them up and mass them during the iciness. If you determine to take this manage, it is best to dig them after the plants have twisted fair. The bulbs should be located in a sole layer and stored in a cool, dry and unhappy place to dry for two or three weeks. After the bulbs have dried sufficiently they should be stored in nylon stockings or onion sacks and reserved in a cool and well ventilated place. Hemerocallis is the scientific name for the daylily, and it is one of the most well known types of bulb plants on the promote. Gardeners devotion the strong and worry boundless nature of the daylily, and their arching and sword shaped foliage present a prominent addition to any garden. Daylily hybrids can grow as tall as six feet and thrive in the bound and summer months. The daylily produces flora ranging in magnitude from three to eight inches, and they are unfilled in a varied type of ensign. The daylily gets its name from the statement that each of its flowers lasts only a sole day, but its buds open on successive days, and this enhances the beauty of the plant. The daylily is actually a tuberous core type of bulb, and they are best planted during drop or early mechanism. Daylilies should be planted between 1/2 edge and 1 inch silent and universe between 2 to 21/2 inches distant in the garden. As with other varieties of bulbs, it is important to water daylilies on an accepted basis during their budding spell. This paragraph’s coverage of the information is as absolute as it can be today. Nevertheless you should forever effect open the possibility that prospect inquiries could expose new proof.
Technorati Tags: bulbs, flower, Geramium, planting
