Evergreen Shrub with Turquoise Flowers: Tweedia caerulea

October 22nd, 2012 by waqas No comments »

Tweedia caerulea is an interesting twinning perennial from South America. This evergreen subshrub grows up to 1 meter or more and produces delicate flowers of turquoise color. The beautiful flowers give the plant many names like Southern Star, Heavenborn, Little Blue Star, and Blue Flowered Milkweed.

Tweedia caerulea

Tweedia caerulea/ Image by douneika (flickr)

Tweedia caerulea prefers full to partial sun and regular watering in ordinary but well-drained soil mix. Although evergreen, it is best to prune back the plant in early spring. A mature plant of Tweedia caerulea usually has dense foliage characterized by soft and felted leaves. Easily grown from seeds, Tweedia caerulea is a good choice for gardens, wall-side borders and containers.

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Posted in Evergreen, Flowers, Outdoor, Perennials, Zone 10a, Zone 10b, Zone 8a, Zone 8b, Zone 9a, Zone 9b

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9 Unusual Gifts for Gardeners from Etsy

October 22nd, 2012 by waqas No comments »

Gardening Apron by Growing Hope (12 USD)

The Growing Hope gardening apron is made of a heavy duty canvas material with 3 pockets and a waist tie in back.

'gets dirty' Gardening Apron

‘gets dirty’ Gardening Apron

Pressed Flower Glass Pendant by Dianne (24 USD)

An unusual glass pendant for someone who loves flowers, gardening, or something out of the ordinary. A very unusual gift for any season, or any reason.

Flowers Glass Pendant

Flowers Glass Pendant

Hand Made Wooden Utility Box by Christina O’Neill (97.12 USD)

A perfect for any gardener, to last a lifetime. The box contains 12 wooden monthly dividers, engraved with each month (so you can organize your seeds by the sowing calendar), a roll of jute, for tying in plants, 25 wooden plant labels, 10 seed storage envelopes for collecting and storing seeds, and a tube each of Crabtree and Evelyn Gardener’s Hand Therapy cleanser and moisturizing cream.

Gardening Box

Gardening Box

Miniature Gardening Tools by Carol (5.99 USD)

The set includes a hoe, a shovel and a garden rake! Very realistic looking and even usable for miniature garden projects.

Miniature Gardening Tools

Miniature Gardening Tools

Felt Wool Gardening Set by Hand Crafter (15 USD)

A lovely set of handmade, cute little gardening objects.

Felt Wool Gardening Set

Felt Wool Gardening Set

Hand Made Birdhouse by Natalie Bowman (39.95 USD)

The birdhouse is created using 2 gourds. The roof has gourd seed that has been placed one by one all around to resemble an old shingled roof. The perch is a gourd stem.

Handmade Birdhouse

Handmade Birdhouse

Gardening Utility Belt for Little Gardeners by Denise Hayes (21.40 USD)

This useful utility belt is made with waterproof canvas. All the pouches and loops will come off the belt to be re-arranged and easily slide back and forth so can be moved to the most comfortable positions.

Gardening Belt

Gardening Belt

Golden Brooch Pin for Gardeners by ErisJewels (16 USD)

A raised design of swirling vines and blooming flowers adorning a watering can of rich gold tone.

Golden Brooch Pin

Golden Brooch Pin

Hand Painted Spades by Julie Bass (19.95 USD)

Vintage pair of gardening spades with painted motif featuring bird houses, picket fences, butterflies, bee hives and flowers.

Painted Gardening Spades

Painted Gardening Spades

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Posted in Garden Accessories

Lovely Border Plants: Clarkia, the Satin Flower

October 20th, 2012 by waqas No comments »

Clarkia is a small genus of lovely annuals usually grown as border plants for showy flowers. Native to North America, the genus of Clarkia consists of quick growing plants that grow up to 1 to 2 meters in flower borders or large containers. These plants are easily grown from seeds and require a fertile and well-drained soil under bright sunlight.

Though most Clarkias are hardy annuals but they should be protected from long spells of drought and cold. Most plants of Clarkia are eager bloomer and produce abundance of shiny purple, pink, mauve or salmon flowers in summer. The beautiful flowers of Clarkia grow on tall spikes with single or double flowers that can be used as cut flower for floral arrangements.

Clarkia concinna

Clarkia concinna/ Image by James Gaither

Common name of Clarkia is Satin flower. Popular species include: Clarkia bottae, C. williamsonii, C. breweri, and Clarkia concinna.

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Posted in Annuals, Flowers, Outdoor

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Hardy Shrub and Ground Cover for Tropical Climate: Kennedia

October 19th, 2012 by waqas No comments »

Kennedia is a small genus of small shrubs and woody climbers from tropical and subtropical climate of Australia. These useful plants are grown for their lovely and unusual flowers of red color. Kennedia originates from tropical and summer rainfall regions and thus are quite hardy to heat and spells of drought. Most species grow easily in temperate climate where they spread quickly and become good choice for covering the ground, fences or hedges. Kennedias can be grown easily from seeds. Young plants require moist yet well-drained soil, however, mature plants can withstand long spells of drought.

Kennedia prostrata

Kennedia prostrata/ Image via flickr

Popular species of Kennedia include:

Kennedia prostrate: Low-growing plant suitable as ground cover or hanging plant. Propagation is easy from seed. The plant produces showy frequent red flowers when grown under bright sunlight.

Kennedia rubicunda: Twining creeper that grows up to 5 meters and produces showy red flowers in spring and summer.

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Posted in Creepers, Drought Tolerant Plants, Flowers, Foliage Plant, Ground Cover, Outdoor, Shrubs and Bushes, Zone 10a, Zone 10b, Zone 8a, Zone 8b, Zone 9a, Zone 9b

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Dierama, the Angel’s Fishing Rod

October 16th, 2012 by waqas No comments »

Dierama is a small genus of evergreen perennials characterized by drooping flower stems and bell-shaped flowers. The plant is known among gardeners and horticulturists for its dainty and graceful flowers that can be easily recognized by their colors and delicate formation.

Ideal for sunny borders or raised beds, plants in the genus of Dierama prefer fertile, loamy and moist but well-drained soil. The plants are easily propagated from corms planted in containers or raised beds. Most species of Dierama benefit from regular watering in summer but only moderate watering during winter. Flowers of all shades of pink, white and violet colors appear in later summer or early fall. The bell-shaped flowers grow delicately on a long, drooping stalk, thus giving the genus its common name Angel’s Fishing Rod.

Dierama, Angel's Fishing Rod

Dierama, Angel’s Fishing Rod/ Image by peganum (flickr)

Popular species of Dierama include:

Dierama pendulum (Wand Flower) – Evergreen, cormous plant forming large clusters of grass-like leaves. White, mauve or pink flowers grow on tall spikes.

Dierama pulcherrimum – Evergreen plant growing up to 1.6 meters; flowers of pink or reddish purple colors appear in summer.

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Posted in Evergreen, Flowers, Perennials, Zone 10a, Zone 10b, Zone 8a, Zone 8b, Zone 9a, Zone 9b

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