Of all succulents, I think haworthias are my favorites, not because of spectacular flowers or flamboyant foliage but rather for their quiet charm. The small flowers, generally greenish white, are never showy, but the inflorescence, sometimes wandlike to a length of 2 feet, is always interesting and decorative. It is their dense rosettes of thick […]
Archives for April 2011
Here’s How To Propagate Tree Peonies
Division of tree peonies is so uncertain and so slow that we must resort to grafting – a specialist’s job if ever there was one – to propagate this plant. Japanese gardeners used to graft peonies on roots of the wild species, suffruticosa, but so much trouble arose from the vigorously sprouting habits of these […]
Creating Drama With Landscape Plants
Dramatic effects with plants may often be achieved very simply. For example… take a glassed area in a house planned to make the inside stairway light and safe. But without any plants, the outside effect would be far too stark and barren. A restrained border of low plants can soften the uncompromising lines of glass […]
Flower Pollenation – One Step Ahead Of The Bee
Natures plan has been to use insects or the wind to breed flowering plants. Food and drink in the form of pollen and nectar induce insects to do the work. Even though bees do not know what they are doing, the job its done. A new element now enters Nature’s plan – intelligence on the […]
Coldframe Gardening In May
Summary: Coldframes during May should be filled to capacity with tender material awaking final planting-out in the garden. However, over a greater portion of the area, May will see the end of this phase of coldframe gardening. Hardy and semi-hardy annuals and vegetables should all be in the garden by this time the final planting-out […]
May Pointers & Tips for Northern Gardeners
Now that spring bulbs are in full bloom and shrubs and flowering — trees are decked out in bright colors, take time out for some soul warming visits to spring gardens and displays. Bring along a digital camera, a notebook and fill it. Study the new bulbs and other plants, especially the combination’s you could […]
Landscaping On A Budget
Summary: Landscaping on a budget does not mean cheap landscaping or ugly garden designs, it means managing landscape cost and usually means taking more time to complete the patio, driveway, frontyard and backyard landscaping plans, but a tight budget makes the do it yourself landscaper put in the work for greater satisfaction. Money isn’t everything […]
Amateur Plant Breeding
Summary: Plant breeding is not only for the professional. Over many decades plenty of amateurs have found their way into creating some of the most remarkable plants in our house, landscape and garden. DO you have what it takes? The worst that can be said about amateur plant breeding is: (1) it results in the […]
May in Southern Gardens
Bulbs come first on the southern gardener’s agenda for May. Those bulbs which are definitely finished blooming and have ripened foliage should be dug and replanted now, if they are crowded. Seeds of summer and fall plants can be sown directly over them. Narcissus, scillas and muscari can all be separated this month. Do not […]
West Coast Gardening – The May Task
The longer I garden the less anxious I am to make plants grow. Instead, I let them achieve their own happy effect of busy, jostling life. Each year my compost pile increases in length and width and enriches my hillside of gravel. Each year it becomes harder to find room for this or that untried […]
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