Camellia Flower Facts and Why This Shrub is So Popular

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"If it seems like the camellia flower blooms almost all year, that's because they do. Sometimes called the rose of winter or the queen of winter flowers, camellia varieties usually bloom during the colder months. What does a camellia look like? In addition to resembling roses, camellia flowers can be shaped like anemones or peonies. The blooms can be single, double, and semi-double, and come in red, pink, white, or a mix of these colors. There's more to camellias than just their beautiful blooms—here are some fascinating facts to make you love them even more."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

This is one plant that I have always wanted to grow, but never did.  It is so beautiful!

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Grass Alternatives For A Low-Maintenance Lawn

 

Photo source:  Southern Living

"Americans are rethinking their relationship with lawns. While traditional turfgrasses do serve many purposes in the landscape, such as a place to play, erosion control, and mitigating solar heat, they are not always the best solution. They require vast amounts of time and resources to maintain while supporting little ecological diversity. In the face of increasing drought and water restrictions, the time has come to consider grass alternatives."  Comment from Southern Living

I'm looking into all possibilities so I can get rid of the grass and weeds that I totally dislike.

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Perlite vs. Vermiculite: How and Why to Use Them

 

"Do you know what’s in your potting mix? Perlite and vermiculite are natural soil additives that help improve soil structure in similar ways, but this one key difference between them can make or break a gardening project."  Comment from Garden Betty

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Fast-growing Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds

 

Photo source:  Birds and Blooms

"With hummingbirds, there’s no time to wait. They constantly desire food, plus we crave the instant satisfaction of watching them. But many perennials take a season or two to bloom, and shrubs might even take years. So how to attract hummingbirds right away?

First, look at the bigger picture, says Karen Bussolini, senior horticultural advisor at White Flower Farm. Use flower choices that invite them to nest in your yard, rather than just pass through, by choosing plants that bloom across the growing season and offer abundant nectar.

“Surprisingly, insects are a large portion of their diet, too,” says Karen. Add native plants to your garden and you will see hummingbirds vacuum up the protein-filled insects that feed on these plants.

Here are some ideas for fast-growing flowers that hummingbirds love."

Comments from Birds and Blooms

I hope to once again try to attract hummingbirds to my garden, so I need to learn from this article.

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Native Plants That Will Bring More Birds to Your Yard

 

Photo source:  Better Homes and Gardens

"Many of us love attracting birds to our yards with feeders, but did you know that certain native plants work even better? Native plants offer birds natural food, shelter, and nesting sites year-round. Plus, their diverse food supply supports a wider variety of birds than feeders do. Here are 25 native trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers that birds adore. Plant a few (or all!) and transform your yard into a bird paradise."  Comment from Better Homes and Gardens

Being a bird lover, I am going to use some of their advise to attract more birds into my garden.

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Tomato Plant Care 101: Everything You Need to Know

 

Photo source: Birds And Blooms

"Juicy slicers for BLT sandwiches, cherry types for salads and snacking, Romas for homemade sauce—the tomato varieties are endless, but the amount of space in your garden and on your countertop is most likely not. One tomato plant goes a long way, so before you run out and buy the first seedling you spot, first decide how you’re going to use your harvest in the kitchen." Comment from Birds And Blooms

Click here to go to the Birds and Blooms article to learn all about growing tomato plants.

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How To Grow Pansies In Early Spring

 

Photo source: Old World Garden Farms

"The best time to plant pansies is earlier than most gardeners expect. In many regions, pansies can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked and daytime temperatures remain consistently above freezing. And yes, you can keep them blooming until Summer!" Comment from Old World Garden Farms

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Perennials You Should Divide in Early Spring

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"Early to mid-spring is the perfect time to make more plants by dividing the ones you (or your neighbors, friends and family) already have growing in the garden. That is genuinely the only disadvantage I can think of when it comes to this method of propagation: you must already have a plant to divide."

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Grow Onions in Containers

 

Photo source: Martha Stewart

"You don't need a big garden to grow delicious onions at home—a bright location, the right container, and well-draining soil are all it takes to yield flavorful results. Whether you have a small balcony, patio, or windowsill, growing onions in pots and containers is an easy solution for gardeners with limited space. While this method is best suited for small-bulb varieties, such as bunching or pearl onions, it still yields an abundant harvest when done properly. Ahead, experts share their tips for growing onions in containers, from planting to harvesting."  Comment from Martha Stewart.com

This is an article that I need to learn from so I can grow these green onion bulbs successfully.

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Why Every Gardener Should Plant Zinnias This Year

 

Photo source:  Rural Sprout

"When it comes to flowers in the vegetable garden, marigolds, nasturtiums and calendula are the first blossoms that pop into my mind. I can see them vividly, swaying in the breeze, bejeweled with yellow-orange petals, being visited by a great variety of beneficial insects.

So, for the sake of beauty, among other things, let’s bring them on over to the vegetable patch. Trust me, the zinnias will fit right in with the other flowers growing in your vegetable garden."  Comments from Rural Sprout

I have many packs of zinnia seeds that I should have already sown, but they will be the first to get started.  I love zinnias!  Some are tall, some are short . . . all with varying colors.  

Click here to go to the Rural Sprout article to find out about zinnias.

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