Category Archives: Flower Gardening

Flower Gardening Ideas: Leptospermum

Posted on by

The genus consists of about 80 species of evergreen shrub or small tree I narrow leaves often aromatic, or sometimes lemon scented when crushed have. All Australia, apart from one species is widespread in New Zealand and the two are found in Southeast Asia. They are collectively known as tea-tree because the leaves of some species are used as a substitute for tea by the crew of Captain James Cook and the early settlers to Australia. Small open flowers with five petals mostly white and sometimes pink or red, and usually produced in the field during the flowering season. Small wooden capsules often remain for long periods. As a group they are very popular in cultivation, and much in demand as cut flowers.

CULTIVATION

Farmers are good, most plants will tolerate occasional light frost. They are best suited for well drained soil in full sun, but some species can cope with damp conditions and almost full shade. Prune regularly from a young age and every year after flowering is recommended to maintain bushi ness. Cultivars must be propagated from cuttings to maintain their characteristics. This plant screening will gracefully adapt to different soil types and conditions, a light meal with a slow release fertilizer in spring favorable.

Flower Gardening Ideas: Kalmia

Posted on by

This genus of 7 species of shrub in the Ericaceae family, named after Dr. Pehr Calm, a botanist and explorer of the east coast of North America in 1770. Most types of native green and northeastern United States, with a few species in Cuba. They are grown for the leaves and flowers that attract them to show off, ranging in color from light pink dark red. The leaves are smooth, opposite or alternate, dark green on the upper surface, but appeared at the bottom, and sometimes stalkless. Attention-seeking flower bowl or plate-shaped and usually borne in dense clusters, kept away from the foliage. All are ideal border plants.

CULTIVATION: Kalmia species at home in the slightly acidic peat soil. Dappled shade under deciduous trees high on a cold, damp climate is ideal. Little pruning is required apart from the removal of spent flower clusters. Propagate from seed, as soon as ripe and sown the following spring collection.

Flower Gardening Ideas: Kalanchoe

Posted on by

The genus contains about 125 species of succulent shrubs, herbs and climbers are mainly distributed throughout tropical Africa and Madagascar and parts of Asia. They are usually grown for their attractive leaf shape despite some colorful flowers with the tube, including the burning Katie (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), which makes them popular ornamental plants. Growth habits range from low shrubs to area high tree-like plant, with leaves large variations of same, from small to large, shiny compressed and opaque gray to dark green. The genus has a lot of hybridization and, although native species bear bright red flowers, the options are also white, yellow, pink, and p e-flowering form.

CULTIVATION: In all but the warm climate crop this requires a room or greenhouse and potting soil should be planted in the sand is very fertile. If grown outdoors, they need a sheltered place in the humus-rick Sunny well drained soil and should remain fairly dry in general under Propagation by stem cuttings or leaves, or from seed sown in spring.

Above and below: Kalmia latifolia, bears flowers that are very typical: curled edges and rounded buds open to reveal pink flowers. Cultivars have been developed sufficiently, like the ‘Olympic Flame’, above, with dark red buds open to large pink flowers, and “Carousel”, below, a delicate white flowers bright red.