GROWING STEPHANOTIS FROM SEED PODS
Seeds are produced in a four inch pod somewhat resembling a small mango. The seeds are fully mature in approximately twelve months regardless of whether or not the pod has changed color or split open. Seeds are tightly compacted in the center of the pod and can be removed in one compact bundle, each pod producing 70 to 100 flattened half-inch seeds. If the seeds are left to dry out, the bundle will begin to break up and silky 'parachutes' will begin to unfurl on each seed in the same manner as the related species, the American milkweed. Note that seeds propagate best if sown immediately upon opening the pod. Seeds should be sown under only enough soil to keep them moist, and kept in a well lighted place until germination. Fresh seeds will germinate in about seven days. The longer the seeds remain to dry outside the pod before sowing, the longer the germination time and the lower the propagation rate. Read More
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ROOTING PLUMERIA USING THE EGG METHOD
Here's a unique method of rooting plumeria cuttings, which is based on the benefits of anaerobically fermenting eggs. Supposedly it also works on other tropical plants including bananas, gingers, heliconias and hibiscus. We are just in the process of testing this "unusual" method ourselves. If you'd like to experiment, there are just a few simple steps. Read More
AMSTERDAM - Floribunda Rose
Amsterdam is a city of canals, wooden shoes and liberal thinking. But even the red light district doesn't shine as bright as this floribunda rose!The Verschuren name has been associated with roses since 1875 and they are the breeders of 'Amsterdam'. This colorful floribunda produces huge clusters of vivid deep orange-red blossoms and won the Gold Medal of The Hague when it was introduced in 1972. Read More
ROSA RUGOSA 'ALBA' - Species Rose
A winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.and among the highest rated roses by the American Rose Society, Rosa rugosa 'Alba' may be regarded as one of the world's most perfect roses! This ancient shrub has been grown for centuries in Korea, China, Japan, and in Europe where records go back as far as 1870. Like all rugosa roses, it is extremely cold-hardy, having a natural range in Asia as far north as eastern Siberia. Read More
CANARY DIAMOND - Hybrid Tea Rose
Like shining candles floating on the water, this rose from the late
J. Benjamin "Ben" Williams rests brilliantly atop healthy compact
bushes. 'Floating Candle' is a beautiful hybrid tea rose with dark
orange blooms that show peach and golden undertones at the base of the
petals." Its exhibition-type form makes it a perfect choice for rose
shows or as a cut flower for indoor vases. Read More
FLOATING CANDLE - Hybrid Tea Rose
Like shining candles floating on the water, this rose from the late J. Benjamin "Ben" Williams rests brilliantly atop healthy compact bushes. 'Floating Candle' is a beautiful hybrid tea rose with dark orange blooms that show peach and golden undertones at the base of the petals." Its exhibition-type form makes it a perfect choice for rose shows or as a cut flower for indoor vases. Read More
THE CHARLATAN - Shrub Rose
The Charlatan was painted by the Venetian artist, Pietro Longhi, in 1757. The suspicious tones of the painting call forth the image of an old-time medicine show purveyor who has long since left town by the time the people who bought his "snake oil” realize that it does not perform as advertised. Read More
LOD. LAVKI - Hybrid Tea Rose
Ludovic Van Winkel (1893-1954) served during the First World War as a stretcher-bearer and was ordained a priest in 1921 and became Europe’s famous scouts' chaplain. The name Lavki is a Russianized version of his birth name. In 1923, one of his scouts convinced him to write down one of the stories that Lavki had told them. Read More
Something Special - Hybrid Tea Rose
Sam McGredy IV from New Zealand has produced some of the world’s most beautiful roses and there is something special about each one. This particular rose of his is literally ‘Something Special’ and it’s the perfect name for an exquisite rose. Read More
DID YOU KNOW? - John Keats
If your thoughts wax poetic on a burnished autumn day, you are not alone. Many poets have taken pen to paper in an attempt to capture the glowing beauty of the season including John Keats. One of his most famous and enduring poems is “Ode to Autumn,” first published in 1820. Read More
TENACIOUS - Floribunda Rose
The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST), is a registered charity that owns and operates Lord Nelson and Tenacious, the only two tall ships in the world designed and built to enable people of all physical abilities to sail side-by-side as equals. The ships have been specially designed and built to achieve this goal. Read More
Seizo Suzuki: A Luminary Among the Roses
Mr. Suzuki hybridized 160 new rose varieties, 30 of them were awarded the ARRS and other global competition prizes. In addition he collected approximately 2,000 species and old garden roses as the basis for his breeding programs at his research institute, the Keisei Rose Nursery. Even legendary rosarian Peter Harkness was so impressed by Suzuki’s nursery “For quality of growth and richness of variety I have never seen its like. I could have stayed for days.” Read More
2010 Bayer Advanced Launches Natria Products
Look for the Bayer Advanced line of certified organic products, Natria, to be launched in 2010. The Natria Flower and Garden Multi-Insect Control (Ready-to-Use), Insect Disease and Mite Control (RTU) and Grass and Weed Killer (RTU) will be available at your local garden centers after the New Year.
A Truly "Green" Greenhouse
Pittsburgh's Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens recently hosted the G-20 and appropriately its new 12,000 square foot Tropical Forest Conservatory garnered national recognition as the most energy-efficient conservatory in the world. The Forest Conservatory incorporates an innovative heating and cooling approach that virtually eliminates the greenhouse effect with an array of energy-saving technologies including computerized shading, ventilation, earth tubes and a solid oxide fuel cell. Read more about this conservatory and botanical garden at
phipps.conservatory.org.
Aphids, Mealybugs and Scale, Oh My!
Bayer Advanced has recently come out with plant spikes that control aphids, mealybugs, scale and other pests that infest indoor and outdoor container plants while also supplying a slow-release fertilizer. Use the 2-in-1 Insect Control Plus Fertilizer plant spikes on any outdoor or indoor potted ornamental plant. It comes with an easy-to-use applicator and lasts up to 8 weeks. For the nearest retailer go to
www.bayeradvanced.com.
Battle Moles and Other Rodents
If squeamish about setting manual traps and handlind dead rodents, Molecat is a new product that kills by percussion. Go to molecat.com for more details regarding installation instructions, safety measures, etc. Rabbit Scram, Mole Scram, Deer Scram and the newest product Gopher Scram, are animal-specific formulated olfactory repellents and are 100% guaranteed by the company to be effective. See rabbitscram.com, molescram.com, deerscram.com or gopherscram.com for the nearest retailer and more information.A Modern-Day Dinosaur
The Wollemi pine tree grows a towering 130 feet and was not discovered until 1994. It existed during the days of the dinosaurs and is considered one of the oldest and rarest plants on earth. There are only about 100 of these ancient wonders surviving in the wild. Fortunately the Wollemi has been successfully propagated and is relatively easy to grow and to maintain because it adapts to full sun or semi-shade conditions as well as temperature ranges from 10 degrees F. to 113 degrees F. (USDA Zones 7-11). Because of its flexible stems, branches and leaves, it withstands high winds. The textured bark resembles dark, bubbling chocolate and the pendulous foliage has fresh apple-green young tips in spring and early summer that contrast with the older, deep-green foliage. Use as a garden or landscape tree or as an indoor/outdoor container plant. When grown as an indoor plant, recent research indicates that the Wollemi is one of the most effective air pollution cleaners. Ensure the survival of this ancient treasure by planting one for the garden or home. GardenLife members can go to www.ancientpine.com and enter the code 09 for a 10% discount.Save Water: Call the Swat Team The American Waterworks Association conducted a study that found 58% of residential water is used for landscapes and that lawns are the nation's most irrigated crop. Smart controllers linked to weather stations via radio waves automatically adjust watering schedules contingent upon the most current weather conditions, effectively reducing water usage and runoff. Also a consortium of water agencies and the Irrigation Association developed a smart controller performance protocol known as SWAT (Smart Water Application Technology) to ensure the quality of these controllers. Check www.irrigation.org before purchasing a smart controller. The average retail price for a 12-station "smart controller" is approximately $500 or more plus $48 per year to link up to a weather station. Also contact your local water district for any available rebate or voucher programs to install smart irrigation controllers
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