Why do we value the orchid so highly? The question has been asked for generations and yet the answer is in the elegent, delicate and exotic nature of orchids. They can be difficult to grow without the proper information and with 20,000 species, the specifics can be daunting. And yet, the prize flowers have been used for centuries as corsages.

Orchids used to be a symbol of luxury living. Many fine ladies could be found wearing the exquisite beauty of orchids as floral corsages. Many bridal shops have started using various species and hybrids of the orchid. Yet – as their popularity and marketability has increased – so has the variety and coloring. The Vanda Orchid, also called the Urdu in Hindu is a particular favorite because of its strange and cute face. The Vanda Orchid comes in many colors and spottings.

Vanda Orchids – What Are They?

Kaki persimmon, also called Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki); common persimmon (D. virginiana). Persimmons are delectable fall fruit for home gardeners in Zones 6-10. Although unpleasantly astringent when hard and immature, a fully ripe persimmon is soft and sweet, with jellylike flesh.

The results are often large, dramatic flowers with soft colourings, as can be seen in the hybrid genus Maclellanara, which combines Brassia with Odontoglossum and Oncidium. The species are characterized by the extremely long and narrow petals and sepals, which give rise to the common name of spider orchids.

The common persimmon grows wild in much of the southern and eastern half of the United States and will grow in Zones 5-10. Trees grow 30 to 60 feet tall with a spread of 20 to 30 feet. This species bears 1- to 2-inch yellow, orange or purplish fruit in the fall. Good varieties are Early Golden, Garrettson and Killen. Plant trees of at least two varieties to ensure that the trees bear fruit.

Several nonresistant varieties are recommended because many gardeners find them worth growing for their flavor, color, size or vigor, even at risk of loss.

Vines For gardeners who live in THE CENTRAL STATES

WINTERCREEPER – There are two varieties of this broad leaved vine or ground cover worthy of attention. The first is the purple-leaf wintercreeper, Euonymus Fortunei colorata, whose foliage has a purple cast; the second, the big-leaf wintercreeper, Euonymus Fortunei vegetus, noted for its attractive bright green rounded foliage and bitter sweet like fruit in fall. Both are tolerant of most any soil, prefer a north or east exposure and cling to walls or trees by root-like holdfasts reaching up 25 feet or more. As ground covers they grow a foot or so tall. The nice thing about them is that they will grow in shade and can stand root competition from trees. Regrettably they cannot be recommended for the coldest or the warmest parts of the region.

BALTIC IVY – The hardiest variety of English ivy, Hedem Helix baltica, will climb up walls or tree trunks 25 feet or more and also makes an interesting 3 to 5-inch-deep ground cover. It will grow in practically any soil and prefers a north or east exposure. The foliage is medium sized and prominently veined.

What’s small, has shiny bright red wings, a black head and legs and is capable of destroying a lot of ornamental plants? It’s the red lily beetle and it’s the terror of many gardeners worldwide.

Also known as the lily leaf beetle, this small insect is notorious in areas where lilies are cultivated. First seen in Montreal, the red lily beetle has spread throughout Canada and in some parts of the United States.

“They are often confused with the cardinal beetles since they also have a black underside and wings that are spotless and red in color. However, lily leaf beetles have wings that are shinier with tiny dimples on them. They are more rounded in shape compared to the dull, narrow, flattened and elongated cardinal beetle,” according to the editors of Wikipedia.

“Another difference between the two is their food preference. Lily leaf beetles are herbivores and are usually found on lily plants eating their leaves whereas cardinal beetles are usually found on tree barks and flowers and feed on flying insects. Lastly, the cardinal beetle has comb-like antennae,” they added.

Its funny how you convince yourself by watching others do things on TV that you can do it too. Thats the way Ive been the past few years until my wife told me I was either going to do something with the yard or she would hire someone to do it. I decided I better get cracking!

We cut back considerably and saved enough money to hire a landscape design firm that helped us get some good ideas. They knew we only wanted their help with ideas and that we wanted something we could feasibly do together with family and friends. My brother-in-law suggested this and I cant tell you how glad we were once we did the consult!

In the beginning of the process he just listened to what we wanted when it was completed and designed a yard that had everything we had asked for. The stone patio was the most difficult but we pulled it off with a couple of days of help from some friends. Other than needing quite a bit of help with this we did everything else ourselves.

The climate in your area is a big determining factor in the type of garden plants and vegetables you can grow. If you expect many cool, wet days, then a raised bed vegetable garden is especially appropriate.

Building a raised bed vegetable garden allows extra water to drain out faster and the soil will become warmer quicker. With appropriate protection it also allows you to grow vegetables that you would not normally be able to grow due to the cold climate.

One of the more common advantages of raised bed gardening is the extra room that it gives to the plants. When the soil is raised is has more depth to it and this allows the root of the plants to grow deeper than they would have, which in turn allows them to grow larger and better.

To construct a raised bed vegetable garden you need to pile in the soil with a shovel or rake. The width of the raised bed depends on how large you desire the garden to be. A common dimension is 21 inches. The dirt that is used for the beds has to be a superior quality soil. It is acceptable to use common garden dirt that has been mixed with amendments such as compost, peat moss, and manure. Also, you can buy superior quality soil.

Caring for orchids have you scared? OK – maybe scared is a bit much. But for those of you that are like me, and truly love your orchids – you want to make sure you do everything right. So, here are some tips to help you get off to a good start. First off – timing matters when learning to care for orchids. Make sure you water your orchid in the morning and remember – keep the leaves dry. Else you may find crown rot and that is not a good way to take care of orchids.

Believe it or not – rainwater is the optimal choice for taking care of orchids. For some, this may be more work than they want to put into caring for orchids. If that is the case – try and get well water. It is a close second to rainwater. Last, but not least – if other sources aren’t available, you can take good care of your orchids by using bottled water.

I’ve had my EZ grip stainless steel compost pail for about a week now and I have to say, I could not be more happy with my choice.

I have always considered myself fairly eco-friendly, and I’ve had a compost pile in the yard for quite some time now, but up until I bought this thing, I’ve been stuck with trying to remember to take out the fruit peelings and coffee grounds as soon as I was done with them.

For a while, we tried a plastic container on the counter, but it invariably started to stink and we ended up with a horrible fruit fly problem, so that ended as quickly as it started.

Now at long last though, I think that I have discovered the solution.

This elegant little compost pail fits right on my (always spotless, of course) kitchen counter and can hold up to a week’s worth of kitchen scraps before its full. All the while, because of its filter, it doesn’t smell! To make things much better, because it is stainless steel, I don’t have to worry about it getting knocked off the counter and cracking, unlike that ugly old plastic bucket.

Whatever is added, it should be as durable as the bark. Avoid any rapidly decomposing materials, such as dried bracken.

Repotting should not interrupt the growing cycle of the plant and is therefore pRom best undertaken in the spring, at which time the new growth is showing, but prior to the commencement of the new roots. When these follow they will grow immediately into the fresh compost taking maximum nourishment from it. Some orchids, particularly the cattleyas and their hybrids, have two growing cycles and will often commence new growth in the autumn, in which case this is also a good time to repot them.

An ‘orchid tree’ with several plants tied to a tree branch can become a most interesting feature in the greenhouse. It is also advantageous to those orchids requiring plenty oflight to grow them in this manner where they can be hung close to the glass.

Whereas the propagation of many orchids is easy and rewarding, the raising of orchids from seed is far more complicated and cannot be achieved as easily. Nevertheless, it is not beyond the scope of the amateur grower, and two methods of seed raising are described. Whether you are propagating or seed raising your orchids, both are long-term projects which can take from three to six years to achieve flowering plants.

The beauty of orchids is well known – but how do you make sure you are taking care of orchids properly? Well – part of taking care of orchids is choosing the right pot. It can make a different in the orchids growth and its ability to bloom.

Before you even get started potting orchids – it is important to do some investigation into what your species/breed needs. There are 28,000 species of orchids – they do not all like the same thing. Your breed or hybrid may need fir bark, moss, some coconut husk, or some concoction that includes all the above.

Overall, your goal is to give structural support to the roots of the orchid, as well as provide plenty of air between the potting material particles.

In the tropical rain forests that they are native to, orchids grow high up in the trees with their roots exposed to air and weather, so the roots are used to being dry, but cannot sustain long periods of being completely saturated.