Carnivorous Plants

Fascinating gardens are a true art form and if you are wanting one that will catch the attention of others, you may consider adding a few of the best carnivorous plants available. There are several interesting exotic species to consider, such as the ever popular Venus Flytrap or the Cobra plant. Both these plants consume insects and can be of benefit to any garden in that way and in addition, they are a great conversational piece. While the benefit is strictly related to the size and type of carnivorous plants that you own, these plants can provide a small level of relief while providing entertainment to adults and children alike.

Basically there are five different types of carnivorous plants for you to consider. The most common type, is the Venus Flytrap found in cultivated varieties of the Dionaea muscipula family. Snap traps rely on a mouth that close in around its pray, where the plant will eat whatever it catches.

Once an insect is captured, the plant closes its trap tightly around the meal and bathes it in digestive juices that dissolve the insect’s soft, inner parts. Digestion takes five to 12 days, after which the trap reopens, then the insect’s exoskeleton blows away in the wind or is washed away by rain.

These plants range from colorful to bland, and do not have moving parts like their snap trap counterparts.

Sundew plants of the Venus Flytrap family are amongst the most interesting to watch. These plants secrete a glue which traps and breaks down insects for nourishment. The type of secretion created by this particular plant can cause skin irritation to humans and therefore should be treated with caution.

Bladder traps plants are a fascinating subset of carnivorous plants. Numerous, tiny glands inside the bladder absorb most of the internal water and expel it on the outside, and as a result, a partial vacuum is produced inside the bladder and the pressure on the outside becomes greater than the inside. This causes the walls to squeeze inward and explains their slightly concave appearance. Bladderworts are more commonly found underwater than above ground, which is another distinct characteristic from other carnivorous plants.

Finally, the lobster pot traps are among some of the most unusual looking carnivorous plants that you can acquire, they function by giving insects an easy way to enter, but little chance of escape.

Corkscrew plants are interesting, in that, the inside of the plant mouth is filled with downward pointing obstructions, used to prevent it’s prey from escaping it’s grasp.

For those interested in borderline species, there are several varieties of plants that do not meet all of the requirements of carnivorous plants, but have sharing characteristics. Some of these type of plants come from the Martyniaceae family, such as the Brocchinia Roridula. These plants lack one of the three required aspects, which is to attract, kill and digest prey, to be classified as a true carnivorous plant.

Carnivorous plants should be placed where young children and babies cannot reach them. While most of them are relatively harmless to humans, digestion of these plants should be avoided, due to the digestive enzymes that the plant utilizes to break down prey.

How to Care for an Indoor Bonsai

A bonsai plant is a striking reminder of a longstanding art. Bonsai trees are very striking in appearance, so there are many who feature them in the home. You need to give your indoor bonsai trees some special attention since it's not able to benefit from direct sunshine and the effects of outdoor weather. Although they might look quite hardy, a bonsai can be very delicate, requiring precision watering and lighting.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require sufficient lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving outdoors. It's important to place your tree in a location with good ventilation. How frequently you water your bonsai will depend on what kind it is and the condition of its soil. Some plants or trees need to have damp soil while others thrive well in spite of a drought.

Your bonsai tree will thrive in high humidity, which can be achieved by regular misting. You can use a humidity tray, but be certain that your pot is placed on some small rocks or a stand, and not sitting directly in the water.

Pruning and Cutting

The indoor bonsai tree will still need to be regularly pruned and cut to maintain its appearance. Bonsais often appear changeless; however, they are definitely a living, growing tree. Both indoor bonsai and outdoor bonsai need to be repotted anywhere from once a year up to three years depending on the kind of tree. In addition, the branches must receive proper care so they keep their shape.

Depending on what species your bonsai is, you will need to cut back on the fertilizer when it is winter time. The reason is that some bonsai varieties go dormant at this time and don't require as much nutrition as they do in the warm seasons. Your indoor bonsai might not fully experience the whole cycle of seasons because it is in an artificial environment.

You need to be on the lookout for pests and other irregularities that might appear on your indoor bonsai tree. Because they are inside, they will be quite attractive to spiders, mites and other outdoor insects. It is best to gently clean the leaves and branches of your indoor bonsai plant with a damp cloth or a brush.

Stalking the Wild Literary Orchid

One of the pleasurable side hobbies of orchid apprecation is that of searching out references to these strangely fascinating flowers in works of literature and popular entertainment.

One of the earliest works in which an orchid stars in a leading part is an odd little story by the early science fiction master, H.G. Wells.This story is not so much science fiction as it is horror, though. It has been republished a number of times and today you can easily find it on the Web. Sometimes it goes by the title, "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid," and other times simply as "The Strange Orchid."."

Wells lived and wrote during the period of the first great orchid craze, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was also a time when there were still some distant and relatively unexplored places in the world, which fired contemporary imaginations with imaginings of unknown monsters that could yet be lurking in some jungle or mountain fastness.

For "The Strange Orchid," Wells built on the fact that flowers discharge their scent into the air to attract insects, which in turn spread pollen from one plant to another, assisting the plants to reproduce. Wells wondered: What if a flower had evolved to take this a giant step further by developing its scent to overpower and feed on large animals?

In the story, a retired civil servant with a passion for orchids has purchased a rare specimen. After months of caring for it, he is overjoyed to see that it is finally about to blossom. He goes alone one day, eager to enjoy the first sight and odor of the unknown flower. Later, his housekeeper discovers him on the floor near the orchid, which is emitting a powerful scent and looking very strong indeed (and evil!). A blood red-tint suffuses its
leaves and it has already pushed some of its finger-like shoots round the orchid lover's neck and beneath his shirt front.

With an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from the leech-like suckers. She snapped two of these tentacles, and their sap dripped red.

Then the overpowering scent of the blossom began to make her head reel. How they clung to him! She tore at the tough ropes, and he and the white inflorescence swam about her. She felt she was fainting, knew she must not. She left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for a moment in the fresh air, she had a brilliant inspiration. She caught up a flower-pot and smashed in the windows at the end of the greenhouse. Then she re-entered.

She tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn's motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to the floor. It still clung with the grimmest tenacity to its victim. In a frenzy, she lugged it and him into the open air.

Then she thought of tearing through the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from the horror.

He was white and bleeding from a dozen circular patches.

Thanks to the fast thinking of the housekeeper in this story, the orchid's victim survives--this time.

Fortunately, orchids that feast on blood do not actually exist.You can, though, view this tale as symbolic of the strange grip that orchids can have on anyone who falls under their spell. People who succumb to orchid fever--and that includes everyone who decides to try their hand at growing them--tend to contract the illness for life. Consider this due warning!

If these fascinating plants have put the bite on you, you will want to find out as much as you can about how to grow orchids successfully.  The most complete guide to expert orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the web. Howard's delightful guide will provide a thorough education on the subject. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing library of articles on many topics of orchid cultivation.

Hobbyist Enjoy Healthy Foods With Their Home Garden

There is an increasing trend towards growing a home garden so that fresh produce is readily available to enjoy for meals, or for freezing and canning. One primary reason for this is that people are learning more about the pesticides that are routinely sprayed on the fruits and vegetables that are available in the supermarkets these days. The produce grown in one's own back yard provides better nutrition.

Not only that, but for many people starting and cultivating a home garden for the purpose of providing wonderful foods for the table is an enjoyable endeavor. Gardening has long been a popular hobby for many people all around the world, but when you add the extra incentive of being able to provide your family with nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables that have not been contaminated with chemicals and pesticides, it is easy to see why the popularity of the garden has grown.

In addition to concerns about the quality and safety of store-bought produce, another reason why people love to have a home garden bursting with wonderful foods is that you can go out and pick the vegetables at just the right time to assure freshness. Compare this with tomatoes, for example, that are picked long before they ripen, transported, stored and finally put on the store shelf.

In that scenario, which is common of the vast majority of produce sold in the grocery stores today, the tomato has been detached from its life-giving parent plant for many days and sometimes weeks. But with a vegetable garden just outside your kitchen door, you can pick your tomatoes when they are at their peak of ripeness and be able to have the freshest tomatoes to add to your salad or for your famous tomato sauce.

Most of the common and popular vegetables that are available in the produce sections of grocery stores can be grown in home gardens. Some of the most popular varieties are carrots, green beans, potatoes, peas, beets, broccoli, cabbage, and many varieties of squash, just to name a few. And don't forget about all of the wonderful berries that can be home grown as well. Technically a fruit, tomatoes are one of the most popular foods that people enjoy including in their home gardens. They are easy to grow and simply delicious plucked off the vine.

Produce from a vegetable garden can be used immediately or it can be frozen or canned for later use, and many people include herbs in their gardens too. In fact, herbs can be even more convenient as they can even be grown indoors, making your gardening efforts even more simple and easy. And, just as those fresh vegetables taste better and are better for you, you will also find that fresh herbs from the garden are superior in taste and flavor as compared to the dried and packaged varieties.

Being able to enjoy the bounty of fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs is the main motivation for many people to grow a home garden. For others it all comes down to the hobby of gardening. For gardening aficionados, they receive great satisfaction and joy from seeing their efforts flourish as they tend and nurture the garden. If they also have the benefit of being able to share a meal with friends, made from delicious, fresh foods while enjoying the landscaping of their patio lawn garden, then their enjoyment is complete.

No building is complete without some grass, a few plants and some shrubbery to help enhance the quality of the building. The added value of curb appeal can make the difference when selling a house or increasing the value of a home. Any small amounts help and you don't have to always use a professional to complete the landscaping for you. There is no downside to get some advice from professionals or some knowledge prior to you beginning tearing up your front yard. Some trees, some pleasant green grass, and you will get it down pat before you know it Who knows? Possibly you will decide it as a career that you might be curious in pursuing. The following are some of the frequently asked question people have for landscaping so that you can have an idea of how landscaping is done and how it can be easier than you might think.

Is it possible to do my own landscaping?

Yes, you can do your own landscaping if you have a small amount of information on how to get it done and if have the time to do so. You will be getting your hands dirty. Plus you will need to have knowledge of what plants are the best for your terrain. If you are making man-made structures for instance ponds or decks, you will needs to have some carpentry and plumbing skills. You will also need to recognize how to upkeep the pond because one of the last things you need after putting in all that work is to produce a body of water filled with algae as well as moquito larvae.

Perennials and annuals - What makes them different?

Both are, certainly, plants but the variation is in the time span in which they last and how often you need to plant them again. Annuals must be replanted eash year. Some examples of annuals are any type of vegetable, sunflowers and flowers such as violets. Perennials are plants that will renew themselves. They include trees, bulb plants such as lilies, tulips and also include roses and other hardy plants that become dormant during the winter months. Most ornamental grasses are thought to be perennials.

How do I decide which type to plant?

The kind of plant you choose will be contingent upon on your climate and the amount of water you want to use. It will also be dependent on the amount of sun that your gets during the day. Some plants flourush in the shade while others will wilt. For those individuals who live in areas that are prone to drought, they should consider planting hardy plants which need small amounts of water and really help to maintain the soil from process of erosion. Many people choose to have rock gardens as well as cactus if they happen to live in desert environments.

When is the ideal planting season?

The ideal planting season is dependent upon what variation of plant you wish to grow. Bulbs are best planted in the fall so that they have time to root within the soil. Other types of plants are best suited to planting in the months of the spring. Some plants will not produce flowers or fruits until one or two seasons later so you need to get ready for this. Trees will need to work through several years before they become big enough to provide the right amount of shade or to produce fruit.

What will be the cost be to have my home landscaped?

It would be virtually impossible to get an accurate estimate without knowing how big your yard is, what the overall condition of the soil is and finally what kind of plants that you are looking to plant in your yard. You can generally guess that it will be at at a minimum of around five hundred dollars and can easily go in the range of several thousand dollars for exotic plants and intricate features. You can get an estimate for the overall price from the landscaper.

To discover more head on over to Landscape Lighting Kits with more helpful material at Landscape Designs also click here Landscape Plants

Spark your Imagination in Your Local Garden Center

Whether you are a greenhorn with gardening or a certified green-thumb, there is nothing better than knowing just where to head for all of your gardening needs. Whatever the size and kind of your garden is, it is inevitable that you will still need to frequent your local gardening center for tools and products that you cannot do proper gardening without. This is why it is so important to stop by your local garden center so you can see what is available out there for you to use to make your gardening job a lot easier.

If you take time to look around, you will soon see that there are probably a couple of garden centers near you. These types of stores seem to pop up like mushrooms all over the place and are becoming a very popular place to shop at. The garden center is the most likely place where you will find just about everything on your garden shopping list. Although the prices can sometimes be steep, the convenience of one-stop shopping can certainly make it all worthwhile in the end.

Budget-conscious Shopping

If you need or just want to be a bit budget-conscious, it is fairly alright to avoid several high-end garden center stores. Not just because their retail prices is something that you can beat elsewhere, but for those who love the outdoors, their wide selection of items can make overspending surely tempting. These are just some of the many reasons why people would go to the extremes just to avoid these high-end garden centers. Although some people believe those are the only places to shop, there are still other options out there.

Flea markets and yard sales proliferate throughout the summer and these are the perfect places to find some of the tools that you are searching for. Just about everything that you would need from the garden center can also be found at a yard sale or two throughout the summer. Even if the item is slightly used, as long as it is still in decent shape, there is nothing wrong with picking it up and saving yourself a good amount of money. In the end, it will all depend on your skills and intuitions to find the best garden center that could expand your collection of gardening tools while keeping your pockets happy.

 

 

Organic Vegetable Gardening - Greening The Planet

Organically grown fruit and vegetables

Organic vegetable gardening has now become a fast growing market and industry all over the world. People are now becoming more and more aware of the dangers of traditional farming and gardening as well as the benefits of organic vegetable gardening. Primarily, organic vegetable gardening is a method of food production that has little or no chemical taint involved. This means that farmers and gardeners that promote organic gardening use alternative organic gardening supplies such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.

The term organic implies that the products of organic gardening are free from chemicals and others substances that may have a negative effect on humans and the environment. Organic vegetable gardening means that the farmers/workers who plant the vegetables and the consumers who buy them are both safe.

Ways to Grow Vegetables Organically

Organic vegetable gardening can be done in many ways. For those space-conscious individuals, flower pots and flower boxes can be used in making their own organic vegetable gardening. Small-scale organic vegetable gardening is sometimes better because you can really pay attention and skills on just a few plants. This is beneficial for those who work full time and may have just a little time to attend to their plants. Planting vegetable in pots and flower boxes may seem diminutive but the vegetables can actually flourish in them with a little tender loving care and attention. Organic fertilizer may be necessary for vegetables grown in pots and flower boxes because of the limited soil and nutrients they have access to. Organic vegetable gardening is great especially for vegetable that thrive in small pots

People with limited yard space can also take advantage of making hanging gardens which do not need soil. This method of organic vegetable gardening would require more care than any other methods mentioned because you will need to regularly supply nutrients for the plant.

For those individuals with enough space for plots in their garden, this may be a great opportunity to create your very own organic garden. With just the right space in your yard, you can enjoy the bounty of fresh organic vegetables everyday. Organic vegetable gardening can be very enjoyable and beneficial if done properly and with the absence of chemicals and other harmful substances.

The bottomline is whichever organic gardening methods you use; there is still a lot to be gained from going organic. The benefits you reap not only affect you and your family but the environment as well.

D.I.Y. Culinary Herb Garden

In creating sumptuous dishes, nothing is better like adding fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. Normally you can get fresh herbs at your nearest grocery store but these have a very short shelf life and they are usually expensive. One alternative is to create your own culinary herb garden. Most herbs are easy to grow and maintain and can provide you throughout the course of the year.

With small pots and a few packages of seeds, you can begin growing your own culinary herb garden right in your own kitchen. If you would prefer to keep your plants outside you will have no problem creating a culinary herb garden there either.

Choose Your Herbs

It is fun to create a culinary herbal garden that features a wide variety of herb plants. One popular herb plant that should certainly be in a culinary garden is sweet basil. Basil has a very wonderful smell when it’s growing and it brings so much flavor and aroma to meals when added fresh. Dried basil is generally unable to capture the true taste of basil. If you prefer to make your own pesto, now you can have your own fresh basil to use in it.

Another herb that should take part in your herb garden is rosemary. This herb plant serves two purposes. Today, it is predominantly used for culinary purposes. Foods in the Mediterranean region are commonly seasoned with rosemary. As an added bonus, rosemary is a source of iron and calcium, complementing its medicinal purpose as well.

If you enjoy Greek, French, or even Spanish cooking, you might want to make sure you have some Thyme planted in your culinary herb garden. This herb is used to add flavor to a variety of meats and even adds a little kick to the bland flavor of eggs. Thyme is also proven to have antiseptic qualities that have been used for centuries.

Sage is an herb that makes another great addition to your culinary herb garden and has the added benefit of producing beautiful flowers. Sage is set to have numerous medicinal benefits as well.

In the end, whatever you decide to plant, do not forget to have fun tweaking your garden. Create a unique herb garden with the different varieties of plants that you have selected. Organize them according to their usage and purpose. Just make sure your herb plants are nurtured with all the nutrients and ample space they need to grow. Otherwise your hard work will be wasted and you will be forced to start all over again or the worst, settle for dried and tasteless herbs.