Tag: gardening

Plant vendors are sometimes quite creative in packaging the "business end" of plants, but this can come at the expense of happy roots. I'm shocked (shocked, I tell you!) at what I have found in pots of purchased plants. When you can't easily tell what's in that pot, you should expect a surprise, and plan to correct for long term plant health.

The word tropical fruits usually refers to those fruits which are now an everyday sight in temperate countries such as bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapples and so forth.
But the famous prodigality of tropical flora produces much more delicious goodies which will usually be found only on local markets in exotic countries.

Three hundred million years ago, the Equisetums were part of an extensive phylum of plants (Calamophyta) containing many genera. Distinguished by their straight stems with branches or leaves arranged in regular whorls, many of the plyla grew nearly 100 feet tall.
The only genus still present is the lowly and sometimes weedy Equisetum, and all that remain are mere remnants of the groups past glory.

Summer is here, and with it comes the joys of stepping outdoors at any moment of the day with digital camera in hand (of course)! The treasures to be found in summer are abundant; in fact, they practically land at ones feet.
Even so, its fun to go on a hunt to find something unique out in the yard to capture in time during this c.

Gasteria are neat, compact, easy-to-grow succulents from South Africa that are very common in the nursery trade, but probably should become even more so. This article serves as an introduction to this wonderful genus.

Drooping Mistletoe is a common mistletoe in Southern Australia, growing mainly on Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. It is mainly dispersed by one little bird, the Mistletoe Bird and it is the food plant for a beautiful butterfly, the Imperial White and a beautiful moth, the Mistletoe Moth.

While this time of year brings thoughts of silvery stars for the holidays and confetti for the New Year, elemental silver has a use in the garden that has been almost totally overlooked. Read on to learn the amazing facts . . .

Many enjoy fall vegetable gardening when lettuces, cooking greens, stir fry vegetables, and root crops thrive. But, when freezing rains or snow threaten whatever is left in the garden, most confine their garden dreams to catalogs and thoughts early spring. Here is an overview of gardening in the fall and winter seasons.

The acorn, that small nut of the mighty oak tree, is an enduring symbol of autumn weather and the need to store food for the winter ahead. Acorns serve as an essential food for animals and in some cultures, for humans. But beyond that, the story of the acorn serves as a moral lesson, one of growth, regeneration, potential, patience, and faith.

After the harvest is in, as the trees lose their leaves and the grass stops growing, it is time to prepare for winter.
Tuck your plants and trees in well for their long winters rest, and theyll be stronger and better prepared for a beautiful spring.

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