Annual Pointers

A Annual is a plant that germinates and flowers in 1 year. Some seeds life cycles are a month however most are many months. Most annuals grow tthrough out the warm seasons.Winter annuals germinate in the fall or winter and bloom in the fall, winter, and early spring. They are known to be weeds but they in reality just die out in the summer and re bloom in winter. Winter annuals also grow lower to the ground to protect there selves from the winter elements. I have listed some types of annuals so you can get an idea of what a annual is.

Ornamental annuater perennials grown as annuals are, impatiens, begonia, snapdragon, pelegonium, coleus, and the petunia.

True annuals are corn, lettuce, peas, cauliflower, watermelon, bean, and the zinnia.

Winter annuals are henbit, deadnettle, chickweed, and winter cress.

Container planting with color.

Container planting is a excellent way to brighten up a area lacking in color, or that may be ungrowable conditions. You maybe having problems with dryness, wetness, landscaping, or other issues.The best containers used for this small project are recycled ones. Recycled containers can be fun to decorate, decorating your own container allows special detailing and touches of your unique side to show through. You can relocate and rearrange the containers, hang them, stack them, line them up,put them on a roof or balcony, and scatter them. also you can decorate with stone ,rocks and, other material. There are many of ideas for any small or large area. In bad weather they can be gathered and covered. In warm weather your containers can be covered for a green house effect. When planting it is best to start with the tallest in the back and smallest on the outside. Don't be affraid to be creative! below is a list of perennials, anuals, and shrubs to get you started.





PERENNIALS: Agapanthus Campanuatus, Argyranthamum, Crocosmia, Cuphea Ignea, Diascia Barberae, Diascia Vigilis, Hosta, Gazania Chansonette, Lilium Formosanum, Lilium Longiflorum, Lilium Monadelphum, Lotus Maculatus, Osteospermum,Pelargonium, Penstemon, Salvia Patens, Scaevola Aemula, Verbena.

ANNUALS:Nicotiana Langsdorfii, Petunia,Verbena, Brassica, Rudbeckia, Viola.

SHRUB:Abutilon, Fuuchisia, Hibiscus, Hypericum, Nandina, Chaenomeles,Rhododendron.

Perennials

PERENNIAL POINTERS
A Perennial is a plant that lives over 2 years, most live for a few, however some such as the tree live for up to 100 years, and some even longer.
The most common perennial start of as bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, and rhizomes. They will bloom year after year with out repeated planting. However there are some the can be harvested in the winter.
Deciduous Perennials such as the Goldenrod grow continuously in warm climates.Evergreen Perennials such as the begonia retain there foliage all year round.
All perennials are tolerant to wild fire.

Dust Your Plants

Take some all purpose cooking flour and lightly dust new sprouting seeds. Sure It will turn them white but bugs hate it and can't digest it. Flour works all through the blooming season on all kinds of plants, any shape and size. It is a affordable, environmentally safe way to protect precious seedlings until they are large enough to fend for themselves. Now that is simple!!!

Attracting Humming Birds

The most favorite thing I do in my garden is watch humming birds. I plant there favorite flowers and hang Humming Bird feeders. A humming Bird don't have a sense of smell so they use sense of sight when searching for a meal. The color red is the most attractive to a Hummer(Humming Bird), however they will dine on most bright colored plants.They also get nutrition from tiny bugs so if you want to have humming birds dine in your yard I recommend that you not use pesticides. Not only does it kill there extra protein needed to hoover and live but digesting it could be harm full and or kill them.

When hanging your own feeder, make sure it has been cleaned. You should clean your feeder every time you add food...Otherwise mold grows in the feeder which will cause harm to your little friends. You can make your own Hummer food by mixing 1 part white cane sugar to 4 parts warm tap water. Distilled water is not recommended because it lacks minerals that are in the humming bird diet. simply pour and hang in designated area. You can store the remaining mixture in closed container for up to 2 weeks.

If your looking to plant a humming bird garden here are some plants that the humming Bird is attracted to.

FLOWERS

bee balm

Canna

Cardinal Flower

Columbine

Coral Bella

Four O'Clocks

Foxglove

Hasta

Hummingbird Mint

Beard Tounge

Firespike

Fuchsia

Impatients

Jacobiana

Petunia

Salvia's

Shrimp Plant

BUSHES VINES AND TREES

Trumpet Creeper

Morning Glory

Honeysuckle

Azalea

Butterfly Bush

Cape Honeysuckle

Flame Acanthus

Flowering Quince

Lantana

Manzanita

Red Buckeye

Marking your flowers with recycled materials

There are endless possibilities when it comes to the recyclable material for marking your flower beds or vegetables!! There are a number of items that you throw away on a daily bases. When choosing a item you want to make sure that it will with stand the weather and elements. It is just a matter of cutting out pieces the size of Popsicle sticks, and then copying the name onto the cut out piece with a permanent marker. Here are some items you can use right out of your kitchen or laundry room.



Laundry jugs

Milk jugs

Juice jugs

Popsicle sticks

frozen juice container

Dish soap container

Old Tupperware

Plastic fast food beverage cup

Attracting Bees to your Garden

Here is a tip on bees that is very helpful to people building gardens to attract them. Bees have 5 eyes. This allows them to see UV rays. White reflects of the sun and seems to glow. So when planting the light color flowers are the most attractive. Bees cannot see red so red flowers are not the top of the list to attract bees.

Here are some white flowers to help attract bees to your garden: Allisium, IceBergRose, Asters, Calla Lilie, Daisies, Snap Dragon, Graberas, Carnation, Peories, Lilies.Orchid, Hydrangea PG, Hydrangea Quercifolia Alice, Hibiscus, Leucanthmum, and The Spirea Trilobata.

Colors, Flowers, and Personality

There are so many colors to choose from when picking out your garden. It is helpful and fun to know what colors mean. There are so many creative ways To design a garden around your personality. Your personality reflects off of the colors you choose. These colors have a a beautiful way of explaining your personality. By the way My favorite color is Green but I truly LOVE every color..... Have fun!!


RED~~ Is fire, a bold energy. You might feel a constant state of urgency. A self confident person who likes to take risks.

ORANGE~Appealing to your intense and serious side. You achieve your goals with pride and love to be the decision maker.

YELLOW~~Tends to be cheerful and the outlook on life is sunny! You find inspiration in others and you have a hopeful nature.

GREEN~~For the naturalist- this color seems to refresh and heel. Your a problem solver who keeps a fresh prospective. People notice your quick witted humor.

BLUE~~Steady, stable, and compassionate. You tend to be undeniably devoted to those you love.

PURPLE~~Keen intuition guides you on life's journeys. You are mysterious, mystical, and perhaps a little physic.

BROWN~~A secure color that encourages authenticity and living in the moment or here and now it brings out sensitivity.

PINK~~Innocent, flirtatious, playful, shocking, and romantic. Pink always attracts hotter shades.

WHITE~~Problem solving and rational, it truly helps you free your mind.. It is indeed tho blank canvas.

BLACK~~Cautious in the midst of sudden change, you tend show restraint when making a really big decision.

Attracting butterflys with plants

Attracting wildlife with your garden is always fun. It is also great for the environment. Family fun can be spent looking up different species and learning there habits. The more you add to nature the better!Every zone is different so make sure you check to see what is prevalent in your area.
Butterfly attracting plants Include: sunflower, poppies, yellow and purple cone flowers, zinnias, butterfly bush, cosmos, Lilies, poppies, marigolds, coreopsis, milkweed, verbenas, and daisies. Other plants that nectar for along time are the Joe-pye weed and the goldenrod...

Plant a seed in spring grow some flowers!!

Gardening is SO much fun and I look forward to helping you out.. Here is a quick guide for the beginner to getting started on your very own flowers and veges...This is a list of what you will need and a quick how to do!!
#1. Location...
Making a great location in the sun or shade is an important part to getting your garden or flower bed started. You will need to clean out all old plant matter and deb re. make sure it is somewhere that is accessible for proper maintenance and care. Never a place that will be to wet or dry of a spot for your plants to grow. I map out each beds shape and size on a peace of paper. Followed by writing out what plant will grow best in the designate areas.
#2. Gloves...
Be safe and protect your hands at all times with a pair of gardening gloves.. There are sharp roots, leafs,twigs and insects that can bite!
#3. Dowel...
A dowel is a mini spade (handheld). It has many uses such as uprooting weeds, roots, hard dirt, digging trenches, holes, and much more!!When digging you holes make sure you have enough space between each plant. Each hole should be about 6 inches deep.
#4. Spade...
Mostly used for trenches and post holes this is a tool better then a shovel for gardening. For flowers a bed should be about 6 inches deep and for gardens it can go down foot before filling it in with a nutritious mixture.When making beds you want to have enough room between each row to be able to maintain your flowers or vegetables.
#5. Pots/planters...
A pot or planter is a fun decorative way to grow flowers and/or vegetables.. A nutritious mixture of soil is all that is needed no digging required.
#6.Nutritious Rich Ground and soil
I recommend using compost from your pile when fertilizing. There is no better nutrition then what mother nature has provided for you.Another name for the compost fertilizer is Black Gold.It is very beneficial to the environment and your garden.you should blend this in when tilling or turning the top soil. Make sure it is blended well as not to burn the seeds.
#7. Seeds and Bulbs...
Seeds and Bulbs come in endless variety. Looking at the back of the package is a practical way to get an idea of when and where to sew your seeds and/or bulbs. Do not crowd seeds when planting, make sure that they have enough room to expand each individual plants roots.
#8. Fertilizer...
Fertilizer should be applied at the time of sewing seeds. You will have to give your plants fertilizer every 2 weeks after the time of planting them. The fertilizer gives your plants important nutrition that regular black dirt can't provide. To protect tiny stalks DO NOT PLACE fertilizer directly on plant, instead right around the base about a quarter of a inch out. For synthetic fertilizer read packaging.
#9. Watering can...
No water and your plants will not grow!! I suggest using a watering can and water hanging plants once a day and watering your plants in the ground once every other day to everyday, depending on how hot it is! Using a can allows for up close check ups on your flowers and veges.
#10. Love...
Provide your plants with lots of attention. Pruning and cutting your plants back is necessary for them to grow and flourish.