June 30, 2008
Plants From Seed - Adapting To A Future World
alt="Plants From Seed - Adapting To A Future World" class="ImgBorder">After a plant has grown to maturity it will aim to produce an abundance of seed in order to create a new generation of plants. Annual plants complete this process then die within a year, biennials require 2 years to complete their life cycle and perennials can survive for many years.
Not only do seeds perpetuate the species into the future, more importantly they create a variety of individual seedlings. Some of these individuals will be more successful at surviving changes in the environment and as a result the species is able to adapt to new environments.
Plants grown from cuttings are essentially clones of a parent plant. This is a very useful feature when plants are grown as crops, but a serious weakness in the wild. The reduced ability of clones to adapt to changes in the environment increases their chances of becoming extinct. Hence in nature seed production is vital to the survival of flowering plants.
Over long periods of time seeds that are the result of sexual reproduction will allow for the evolution of new forms of plants and eventually new species. This process is happening at the moment throughout the world. This allows the plant world to replace the species that could not adapt to climatic and environmental changes leading to their extinction. Many plant species are close to extinction for natural as well as man made reasons and these are classified as endangered.
Practical use of seed production can be made on the hobby farm. Apart from growing crops the farmer can also be a hobby plant breeder. I plan to do this with olives. Each year I plan to grow a large number of seedlings and select some according to their foliage. Eventually I may find a seedling that will have the type of foliage I am looking for and this plant can be developed into a new ornamental olive variety. The same principle can be used when developing new olive fruits, but the process will take much longer as there is a need to wait until the seedlings produce a crop.
Another interesting area of seedling production is in the production of plant hybrids. These can be produced when two closely related species are cross-pollinated. This may result in a new plant with features of both parents. An example of a hybrid is the plumcot. This was produced when an apricot and plum were crossed. This process also takes a long time in order to assess the features of the hybrids, but this is an important activity carried out by plant breeders in research centers. I have always wanted to cross a cherry and a plum in order to come up with a cherry- plum hybrid that is easier to grow in Melbourne then the current cherry varieties.
Maybe you can be the proud breeder of a new mouth watering fruit or vegetable and possibly make some money from royalties. Make up your plan, be patient and persistent, set your imagination alight!
Ben is a close associate of Alf, the proud owner of a hobby farm in Australia. Ben encourages Alf to share his wealth of knowledge and experiences on hobby farming by writing articles and books. Ben helps Alf to launch the website www.farmforfun.com. Ben is also in the process of helping to help Alf to publish an eBook on his writings. This article is taken from Alf’s Hobby farm site at www.farmforfun.com/Soil.html
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June 29, 2008
Planning A Design For Your Flower Garden
Owning a beautiful garden would be a desire for any nature lover. Even other people would want to make their lawn look beautiful by planting a number of flower plants. However, it is not just sufficient to plant a few seeds in a random manner and expect your garden to be beautiful. The beauty of flower plants can only be harnessed to their full extent if they are planted in a lawn in a particular manner and according to the time of their blossoming.
In order to make your garden beautiful, the flower plants must be planted such that while one group of plants starts fading, another group starts to blossom. In general, at any time of the year, one-third of the plants are required to blossom. This will see that there is an even distribution of fresh and new flowers throughout the year. Hence, flowers which blossom in a particular season must be planted a little before the start of that season. You must follow a well devised plan which indicates which flower plant to post in which time.
This information is pretty easy to obtain. It can easily be found on the internet. There are a number of websites which indicate which plants grow well in a particular type of soil, and during what time of the year they are to be planted.
Then you must choose which color flower plants you intend to plant. Some combinations of flowers go well with each other. The garden will look extremely beautiful if different colored flower plants are arranged in a particular pattern. Single colored planting are the most commonly observed. These include white gardens, soft pastels, bright crayon-box colors, or motifs which match with the color of your house.
Different colored flower plants can also be arranged to generate different shapes in combination with each other. The most common of these is the color wheel, where different colored flowers are used on opposite sides of the wheel to complement each other. These colors include and green, orange and blue and purple and yellow. Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/planning-a-design-for-your-flower-garden-94652.html
Bulbs Coupon, and .
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June 25, 2008
Three Common Orchid Diseases
Author: D Swain
Black Rot
Petal Blight<br />
Brown Spot
Unlike the aforementioned orchid diseases, brown spot is caused by bacteria. This disease can be caused by cool and wet conditions and is very deadly. The first sign of brown spot is a watery, brown blister located on a leaf. The blister will quickly enlarge and affect the whole leaf. If the disease reaches the crown, your plant will die. You should remove all infected leaves with sterile cutting tools and treat the plant with Physan 20.
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There are many things you need to learn about caring for these plants such as http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/three-common-orchid-diseases-644818.html
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Author: Vikram kuamr
Flowers and herbs have one thing in common. Fragrant flowers capture the imagination of lovers and writers. Butterflies are also attracted to the fragrance and aroma they exude. Herbs on the other hand have the cooks going wild about them. And you can never escape their beauty right on your window boxes. When butterflies start to dance silently around your beautiful plants, you can tell that your flowers and herbs are in full bloom. Window flower boxes add a touch of elegance to your flora.
Gardening with window boxes can help bring out the best in you. It is such a delight to see various species of butterfly on your colorful little garden. Then you might want to attract more. So you have to find out what is the right combination of herbs and flowers to lure various kinds of butterflies. Your window boxes will provide the right place for your little Eden.
So what kind of flowers and herbs would be nice to plant in window boxes? You wouldn’t want flowers that grow tall and big. Your flowers and herbs in window flower boxes should be small enough as to not cover your window. Ready your soil as it should be done for any small gardens. Enrich the soil with the right compost or have it your way. You can always make your own with little or no cost. if you are not sure about which kind of variety of flowers and herbs to plant, you can always ask the experts. You can go and check out in some nurseries. You can also go online and learn a thing or two from several gardening websites.
Flowers and herbs can be planted in a certain way and arranged in an elegant manner that should enhance their growth. But the arrangement or how you plant them will be limited to how large your windows boxes are. You might want to plant them in different ways so that when they blossom, your window flower boxes will burst with a variety of colors. And the herbs will provide the greens and the wonderful aroma that fills up your house. So expect to see a butterfly or two fluttering around your little window flower boxes. You need to take care of your flowers and plants so that they wouldn’t wither away. A little pruning here and there will not harm the plants. You need to be extra careful when taking care of your plants on the window boxes.
As you water your precious treasure of flowers and herbs, be sure to be soft and gentle. You don’t want to wash away the flowers and herbs as well as the soil. Once you have everything done right you can have a wonderful garden. The flowers and herbs and the added bonus of fluttering butterflies are perfect shots. A small garden using window flower boxes can enhance the beauty of your house in a simple way.
You don’t have to worry about the window flower boxes getting rotten. Nowadays, you can find various window boxes that can withstand the elements. Most are made of PVC, which is a variety of hard plastic. They are even manufactured to look like wood. In this way, you don’t also have to worry about aesthetics. They are even easy to install.
About the Author:
If you want to have your own little garden under your windows, you can use window flower boxes . There are several window boxes you can fine on the Internet at Flower Window Boxes.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/window-flower-boxes-a-small-eden-on-your-window-boxes-460831.html
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June 19, 2008
Passion flower
alt="Passion flower" class="ImgBorder">Passion flower or Passiflora is a genus of about 500 species comes under the class Angiospermae (flowering plants). Passion flower is from the family Passifloraceae. Passiflora is the genus name of the passion flower. These plants are mostly vines, some are shrubs, and a few of them are herbs. Passion flower is also known as maypop. It is a woody vine with attractive and bright colored flowers. The plant produces small berry-like fruit called granadilla or water lemon. The aerial parts of the plant are collected during the fruiting season and then dried for the future processing. In passion flower the axillary bud is modified into the tendril. The family Passifloraceae is found worldwide, except Europe and Antarctica. Passion flower is a native perennial vine of the southeastern United States. Passion flower can be found growing in sandy thickets and open fields, road slides, fence rows and waste places. Passion flower is edible and medicinal.
The Passion Flower family consists mostly of climbing herbs with alternate leaves and tendrils growing from the leaf axils. Several species of the family are cultivated for their fruit in the tropics, others in warm parts of the world for their showy flowers. The family takes its common name from myths and stories that have been told about its complicated and intricate blossoms, which are said to include many symbols of the crucifixation of Christ. The Christian symbolism of their flowers probably began with the conquistadors who reportedly saw the symbolism as divine inspiration for their missionary work. In Mexico Passion Flower is called the Flower of the Five Wounds.
Passion flower can be cultivated by root or seed. It requires well-drained soil, sandy slightly acid soil in full sun. Passion flower has many beautiful large and aromatic flowers; it grows very quickly and produces edible fruit. The flowers bloom from June to August. The Passion fruit is yellow-green when it is ripe and has the size of a hen�s egg. The yellow pulp is sweet and edible. The passion flowers have a unique flower structure. The size and structure of flowers of different species of passion flower vary. Corona is well seen in passion flower. Corona is an additional whorl made up of lobes, scales of hairs, free or united. The mode of pollination is zoophily in which animals are the pollinating agents and but some are self pollinating. The passion flower species are used as food by the larva and moth.
Passion Flower got its name from center of the flower blossom. It resembles the Crown of Thorns given on Jesus of Nazareth. Passion Flower, the symbol of the crucification during the early seventeenth century, was professed to be seen by the early Jesuit priests and other explorers from Spain and Italy and interpreted this as a sign of divine assurance for the success of their efforts to convert the natives to Catholicism.
Uses of Passion Flower:
1.Passion Flower is used in herbalism as a sedative, hypnotic, anti-spasmodic, and analgesic. It has been used in the past specifically for neuralgia, generalized seizures, hysteria, tachycardia, headaches, asthma, insomnia, earaches, dysmenorrheal and inflammations. Some herbalists use Passion Flower for treating the symptoms of Parkinson�s disease. Passion Flower often is used in combination with other herbs such as valerian, chamomile, and hops for promoting relaxation, rest, and sleep. Passion Flower and chamomile combinations have been used for anxiety, muscle tension, insomnia, and nervous headaches.
2.Passion Flower in a tea formulation to help women who have been unsuccessful in conceiving a child. Often women become very anxious when they are unsuccessful in conceiving easily. Passion Flower can prove helpful in preparing a woman for pregnancy.
3.In Italy, Passion Flower has been used to treat hyperactive children.
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<br>4.Passion Flower can best be used in nervous problems with children such as muscle twitching and irritability and is also helpful with problems of concentration in school children.
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<br>5.Passion Flower is used for increasing the rate of respiration and produces a temporary reduction of blood pressure. It helps to vitalize the sympathetic nervous system in weakened conditions improving circulation and nutrition of the nerve centers.
6.In elderly people, Passion Flower is good for sciatica and general nerve debility.
7.Passion Flower can be used to calm nervous that get on edge during the periods of hormonal adjustment common to most women.
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<br>8.Passion Flower is quieting and soothing to the nervous system and yet there are no side effects of depression or disorientation.
9.Passion Flower is rich in flavonoids. It is effective in combinations to overcome alcohol abuse without the accompanying, narcotic hangover.
10.Passion Flower can be helpful for people who do not want to continue dependence on synthetic sleeping pills and tranquilizers.
11.It has been noted that Passion Flower kills that bacteria that is said to causes eye irritations. A claim is made that in some cases it surpasses in results to commercial products that are given for inflamed eyes and weakness of vision.
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<br>12.Passion Flower is available in a number of homeopathic remedies.
Passion Flower has been found to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, to aid, without side effects, sleeplessness caused by brain inflammations.
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June 18, 2008
Choose Plants For Your Garden The Easy Way
Author: Christopher Byrnes
We often buy plants on impulse and then find there is nowhere in the garden that is suitable for them. Before buying plants examine your garden with a careful eye to guage how much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is windswept or sheltered.You'll then be more than satisfactorily equipped to go and shop for the best plants to suit your situation; shade-loving plants for the sheltered areas, sun-loving ones for the warm spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas, which may be either sunny or or in the shade, and swamp plants for the poorly-drained areas.
There’s still one vital thing to do before you go on that plant-shopping trip though: test your soil first, to determine its pH level and what kind of nutrients you need to add, if any. Is the soil acidic or alkaline? Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there are some that require alkaline soil to grow. It is possible to alter the soil’s pH level, but a much easier strategy is to choose plants according to the soil you already have.
You have tested your soil, and bought suitable plants, so you are almost ready to start planting. There remains, however, one more consideration. Are you going to plant singly, or in groups? If you take an eclectic approach and buy one of everything you see, your garden may seem rather disorganised. Group plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the color for interest. Planting in groups makes your garden seem much more harmonious and integrated, but you can still vary the types of plants you group together to maintain a sense of variety.</p>
<p>Before planting, place your chosen plants around the garden bed in their pots to get an idea of how they will look when in place. This way you can rearrange them until you find a look you are pleased with. Alternatively, you might consider container gardening, which allows you to move your plants around with ease, while still looking great.</p>
<p>Grouping plants in odd numbers, usually sets of threes or fives, gives off an overall better effect than planting in groups of even numbers. Ensure that you have an interesting and varied combination of colors and textures. Tall plants should be planted to the rear, or the centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all sides. Keep your plants away from trees, if possible. The roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal all the nutrients and moisture you intend for your flowers.
The right color scheme is one way to maintain harmony in your garden. To avoid mistakes, try to imagine the color of the flowers when they are in full bloom. Some colors may clash with others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they have a different blooming season. The color of the foliage is also important. Many flowering plants have silver, grey or purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the flower. This means that they are still very attractive even out of blooming season, and so have added value for your garden.
About the Author: Article Source:
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June 7, 2008
South Africa’s Spring Flowers
The changing seasons each bring with them their own unique range of flowers. These flowers are a reflection of the changes that happens both in nature and our moods as we adjust to the offerings of a new season.
You can find a variety of seasonal flowers any time of year that will make a unique arrangement to brighten someone’s day, especially in spring.
When spring is in the air, it comes with a wide assortment of flowers to choose from! Spring symbolises the time of rebirth, hope and love; the most common colours associated with spring are generally white, yellow and pale blue. Therefore it would make sense that the international flowers of spring are tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.
The South African Spring Time
Spring in South Africa is a spectacle to behold. Spring Day in South Africa is celebrated each year on the 1st of September. Gifts of beautiful flower bouquets that welcome the coming of spring, and of course the warm summer months ahead, are often given around this time. The atmosphere is abuzz with joy and happiness and the colours are bright and fresh.
One of the most glorious events in the South African spring season happens in the Northern Cape Province in an area known as Namaqualand. During spring, this arid semi-desert area transforms into a quilt-laden field of wild flowers not likely to be seen anywhere else. Flowers such as aloes, daisies, lilies and perennial herbs are amongst some of the 4,000 different species that spring to life during this brief period of time. Thousands of people, including a number of photographers, flock to Namaqualand for this beautiful occasion.
Spring flowers
Flowers that are found most commonly during the spring season include:
Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Anemone, Bird of Paradise, Brodea, Calla Lily, Corn Flower, Cosmose, Dahlia, Delphinium, Freesia, Heather, Helleborus, Hollyhock, Hyacinth, Larkspur, Casa Blanca Lily, Gloriosa Lily, Stargazer, Liatrus, Lisianthus, Narcissus, Orchid, Peach Blossom, Peony, Phlox, Poppy, Protea, Tortured Willow, Ranunculus, Rose, Seeded Eucalyptus, Solidago, Statice, Stock, Strelitzia, Sweet Pea, Tulip, Viburnum, Wax Flower, Zinnia.
The wide choice of spring flowers, including South Africa’s national flower the Strelitzia, gives you the best opportunity to celebrate the South African spring time! So why not share this celebration by sending a loved one or even a friend a beautiful bouquet of some of South Africa’s most appreciated flowers in this season of love and renewal.
Author Bio:
Interflora is a professional flower and gift delivery service in South Africa with a wide range of beautiful spring flowers.
This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_668960_47.html
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