Get the Most Out of Your Fresh Flowers

When someone sends flowers to you, it is a very special way of showing they care. Here are a few helpful tips to help you care for the flowers that they have sent. This will ensure that your arrangement has every chance to last as long as possible, continuing to bring joy and beauty to your life.

Follow these practical steps to help prolong the life of your flowers:

1. For bouquets, make sure each stem is cut at an angle at least 2 or 3cm from the bottom when first receiving flowers.

2. Keep your flowers Hydrated! Always ensure you fill your vase with lukewarm water for cut flowers such as Gerberas, Lilies, Roses etc. However bulb flowers like Daffodils, Hyacinths and Tulips prefer cold water.

3. Always ensure that you place your flowers into a clean vase. This will help reduce the amount of bacteria that your flowers are exposed to, thus extending their life span.

4. Every 2 days ensure you refill the cleaned vase completely with fresh water rather than just topping it up. This is the single most effective way of making your flowers look fresh and vibrant.

5. Keep your flowers out of direct sunlight during the day and at night keep them in a nice cool spot. Keep flowers out of drafty areas.

6. A little known tip is to keep your flowers away from fruit, as fruit releases a gas that accelerates the aging process of flowers.

7. With boxed arrangements, the flowers are arranged in floral foam. This foam needs to remain damp to provide the flowers with water. Keep this foam wet at all times. Simply feel the foam and if it is drying out, gently pour water onto it to dampen (1/2 cup to 1 cup of water determined by size of arrangement).

There are a variety of flowers that naturally have a longer life span. Selecting these flowers in your arrangement can help to prolong the beauty of the arrangement. These flowers include Australian natives, as the harsh Australian climate and limited water supply has meant that these flowers have evolved to withstand the driest of conditions. Lilies also have an amazing ability to remain fresh and vibrant for extended periods. And last, but not least is the stunning orchid. These long lasting, exotic flowers will certainly brighten up your home whilst offering a delightful aroma.

Like most things, a little TLC goes a long way.

1300 Flowers is an Australian company that specialises in flower arrangements and flower delivery for any occasion.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stai_Nleys

Miraculous Advantages of the Free Standing Garden Bed

If you are a gardener with limited mobility and have chronic pain and stiffness such as with fibromyalgia or arthritis for example, you may find you have lost the joy of gardening. If it has become difficult to bend down and pull the endless stream of weeds, and the digging and planting has brought unbearable pain to your lower back, then you need the free standing garden bed. Raised beds are a miracle invention not only for those with physical challenges but to anyone with a home garden, as the waist level of the beds assist us in ease of planting. The raised bed has provided all of us who love to garden, the ability to plant and harvest our own vegetables and herbs.

A raised garden bed is always a plus when it comes to comfort and not having to deal with weeds, but the free standing garden bed comes in adjustable sizes. This means no matter what height you are, there is an adjustable size to meet your gardening needs. Another great aspect is its portability, so it can be moved to whichever location you choose.

When planning your garden in the ground, you will discover that some types of soil seem to either be too sandy, too dry or too compacted such as in areas where there is a lot of clay. It can take a long while, sometimes a whole year, to build up the soil to a loamy, black, nutritionally loaded, planting mix. With the free standing garden bed, you can buy enriched soil ready made. You will need to purchase a small bag of pea gravel also. Beginning with the gravel, pour a layer in the bottom of the two by three foot tubs provided with the raised bed, add a little perlite for aeration, and finally, the rich soil mix. Plant your seeds or seedlings, water them all, and that's it.

Leaning against a deck railing, or with a screen or trellis attached to the back, your raised bed proves to be an attractive and functional piece of your property. Imagine the sight of cucumbers trailing over a deck railing, fresh sweet peas twining up the attached trellis you built yourself, all with as little effort as possible. Even if this is your first time gardening, you will not regret it, and will want to utilize even more free standing garden beds each year.

Victoria Rosendahl has been getting her nails dirty in the garden since she was 10. If you're tired of bending and kneeling to garden, visit http://www.garden-rack.com to learn more about GardenRack, the new waist high raised bed garden system that puts gardening within reach.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Rosendahl

The Black Rose?

What a question, do black roses exist? Some say they are secretly being grown in Europe or a secret place in Asia. Most say no, but a few say yes. There is a rose that has been around for a lot of years called the black rose. It is a deep red color. Black roses (roses of a pure black color) do not exist in nature as far as we know.

In reality no pure black flowers of any kind exist, that we know of yet. The so-called "black tulip" is actually very dark purple. Many people confuse the two. The Black tulip is very dark, and from a little distance it does look black. Upon a close examination you see its true color. Rose growers have been trying to grow a darker rose almost black for many years, but as far as the rose world knows, no one has succeeded.

Fake black roses, can be produced in a couple of ways. Florists can make them by using floral paint on darker roses. They are painted to look black. Also another way is to use a special treatment with special dyes and powdered flower preservative. You mix together the preservative, food coloring and water and put it in a jar. Only fill the jar an inch or two in the bottom so you have a strong black color. After being in the jar a few days, it will soak up the dye and you will have a "black rose".

As I have said the mystery of the black rose continues. Even with the hand made varieties the meaning seems to be various. When I think of these roses, I think of bad things or death. All around the world it has different meanings in different cultures. This mystical flower is mostly associated with dark forces. But the myth still lives on today. Shrouded by more mystery and intrigue.

Some day in the future we may see a man made black rose. It could be on the horizon, but as now there, have been no true black rose breakthroughs in creating one. The roses with "Black" in their names are just a "name", since the real black rose is really a deep red.

The Black Baccara Rose is a hybrid tea rose, and is perfect for a cut flower. Like all the black red roses, their flowers are more black looking before they are fully opened. These are some of the darkest natural roses you can find.

They appear to be more black in cool or cold weather. So if you live someplace a little colder your roses would appear darker most of the time.

So as this controversy goes on and on, as far as we know, mother nature has not ever produced a true black rose or flower. Some are close, but not true black.

But for now man can produce fake black roses threw different techniques. They are costly but they can be done.

One day a rose grower may stumble upon a variety and with a little help come up with a black rose. What a sight that will be to see. The beauty of the rose in such a color, will be truly amazing. All of us growers and gardeners wait for that day. You will go down in the history books forever being the first one in history to have a "true black rose". What a day that will be.

By: Lee Martin

Author: Lee Martin
Resource Site: http://www.WonderfulRoses.com

Come to the site and look around. Lots of good information. Also a Free Mini-Course, for anyone wanting more knowledge about rose gardens.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_R._Martin

Rose Bush Care

By all accounts, the rose is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and most popular flowers in the garden. Not only have roses been around for thousands of years, but they are also relatively easy to grow and they are in fact grown in virtually all countries. In fact, even if you only have minimal gardening experience, you can still grow beautiful roses providing you have at least some understanding with regards to caring for them.

Because there are such a vast number of different roses, one can safely say that there's a rose to suit every taste with regards to shape, color, and etcetera. As long as you understand what a rose bush needs, it really is an easy plant to grow. Because roses enjoying sun, they should be planted in an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Even those species which are considered to be suitable for growing in the shade still require at least four hours of sunlight each day. Furthermore, roses do require good soil to growing but of course you can always improve the soil in your garden simply by adding in a little bit of compost.

As with all plants, pests can of course become a problem from time to time. In fact, rose bushes often become invaded by numerous harmful insects such as rose midge larva, aphids, slugs, caterpillars, and rose cane borer. Even though no gardener wants to be faced with a pest invasion, if it happens then you need to deal with it in order to protect your plants. Once you've determined which type of pest you're and dealing with, you'll more often than not have a few options with regards to combating the problem. Of course, if you only notice a few bugs or insects then you can simply remove them by hand but you should also remove the entire leaf on which you found them just in case they've laid eggs. Alternatively, you may wish to opt for a synthetic or natural pesticide, bearing in mind that even natural chemicals have the potential of being harmful to humans. If you're dead against using any form of chemical then you may wish to consider making use of some natural enemies of the pests you're dealing with, such as certain wasps and also lady bugs. It's crucial to bear in mind that not all insects that you see in the garden are destructive and you may even be surprised to learn that your local garden center actually sells certain beneficial insects.

Pruning or "deadheading" is also an essential aspect of growing rose bushes simply because it helps to encourage more blooming. If you allow the bloom to start dying, the rose will then set seeds and no new flowering shoots will appear. Furthermore, pruning allows you to remove dead twigs and also to shape the bush to your liking.

Considering the beauty of roses, it's hardly surprising that so many gardeners feel that a garden is incomplete if it has no roses growing in it. Those rose bushes which are properly cared for will boom profusely from June all the way through to the arrival of frost. With just a minimal amount of care, rose bushes can lend your garden a touch of elegance and beauty in a way that no other flower can.

Tega Noel is a rose gardening expert. For more information on rose bush care, visit http://caring-for-roses.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tega_Noel

Starting a Home Vegetable Garden

Whether it's a large patch in the backyard or a small strip of space along the side of your house, transforming bare land into a productive garden can be a rewarding undertaking. Taking the following simple steps will have your project off the ground in no time.

Preparing Your Garden Plot

• Find a flat spot with full sun. Flat ground will help with water retention, and most vegetables require full sun for most of the day. Avoid spots shaded by buildings, trees, or bushes.
• Decide which vegetables to grow. The most important consideration is the local climate. Find a local guide to vegetables and see which ones are right for growing in your area. If you live in an area that freezes over the winter, find a guide with the average duration of freezing days to help you decide which vegetables to grow.
• Plan your space. Once you know which veggies you would like, look up details on how they grow and how much space they need. Each vegetable has its own space requirements, and your garden can be divided up in many different ways depending on what you decide to grow.

Planting Your Vegetables

• Schedule your plantings. Most vegetables are classified as either cool season or warm season plants. Cool season plants grow best in the spring and fall while warm season plants grow best in the summer.
• Buy seeds or seedlings. Once your planting date is close, it is time to select your plants. Some vegetables can be planted directly as seeds, while other vegetables grow better as seedlings. You can buy each of these at local nurseries, online, or by mail-order. Nursery staff experienced in vegetable growing can assist you with this process.
• Plant your seedlings within three days to prevent them from wilting.

Routine Maintenance

• Water your garden regularly.
• Monitor your plants for bugs or yellow leaves. Yellow leaves can be a sign of disease and plants with extensive yellowing should probably be removed. Use natural pest control techniques to keep your garden healthy.
• Use compost to fertilize your soil. Composting of kitchen waste is a natural way to provide your garden with plenty of nutrients and lowers the amount of waste that you throw in the landfill.

Home vegetable gardens are a great way to reduce your grocery spending and ensure that you are getting fresh, chemical-free produce. Experiment with new recipes that include your vegetable crops as ingredients and taste the difference of freshly picked produce.

For delicious and creative recipes to try with your home grown veggies, visit CD Kitchen here.
Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Organic Herb Seeds - Want to Be Healthier? Get It!

Try to have Organic herb seeds to be planted on your herb garden. Having organic herb seeds on your herb garden is much healthier rather than the non-organic ones. Professionals stated that herb gardening, with innate fertilizers, natural weed elimination method, and organic seeds, is much better. In fact, non-organic seeds which have been modified genetically are the opposite of organic seeds. So, planting the nature-changed seeds on your garden is not suggested.

Furthermore, genetically changed seeds declines the type of foods available as we lose the old heirloom seed varieties.

Corporations have been very successful in protecting legislation that allows genetically modified seeds from certain healthy food regulations. Luckily, several seeds' sellers offer their products by Internet that make it easy to buy the seeds online.

Park Seed

You are able to attempt to gain organic seeds at Park Seed that has provided the seeds from generation to generation. Park seed offers organic arugula, basil cinnamon, catnip, chives, and dill. The herb collection of this company is the best seller, consisting basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley, chives, thyme, and dill. You can also purchase basil, cilantro, oregano, parsley, chives, thyme, and dill here. Every seeds that are available here are certified organic by the Clemson University under the USDA organic labeling program.

Seeds of Change

Seeds of Change gives 100% organic products like sauces, soups, and cereal bars. All herbs they sell are harvested from plants that planted only from herb seeds. Mumms offers seeds made particularly for sprouting, meant to be eaten as sprouts. It is important that these sprout seeds have been made as organic herb seeds, because sprouts are potential herbs.

Eat Organic

it can't be denied that, Organic food is healthier than non-organic. A four-year study, the biggest study ever about organic food, said that organic vegetables and fruits contained as much as 40% more antioxidants than non-organic food. Make sure that you get really purchased a qualified organic herb seeds or vegetable seeds that have been certified organic seal. You can be proud of, since you have decided to grow wholly-antioxidant herbs that you get from reliable organic herb seeds.

You can also read on my free tips and guideline to guide you live healthier with selected herbs. I hope this will solve your problem related to food and herbs especially organic herb seeds.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Hammond

Decorating Tips: Small or Uneven Yards

When you have an "abnormal" yard, due to size or unlevel grounding... it may feel as though you don't have a lot to work with. On the contrary, touching up a smaller yard will make your entire home feel more welcoming. The worst thing you could ever do to a yard is to neglect it!

Planter Boxes

A planter box is wonderful for small back yards or for yards that are not right for gardening. You can place a planter box where you would place a garden (if the soil were in better condition) and use it as a focal point in your yard.

Placing a planter box centrally in a yard is a tasteful new addition, and you can work on your flowers or other plants earlier in the season by starting them inside.

Or, you can use a number of planter boxes (because they do not take up too much space) and place one on each side of your front or back door for an inviting look. If you are using numerous planter boxes (and not to accentuate a door or walkway) you should focus on the rule of odd numbers. Odd numbers (especially 3, 5, and 7) provide ambience when placed appropriately around the yard.

If size or uneven grounding have prevented you from taking advantage of your yard... please consider a planter box to begin with. But there are other useful items that can be used in abnormal yards.

Hammocks

Every home owner should possess at least one hammock to curl up in with a good book, for a relaxing nap, or for tanning. Hammocks are the perfect outdoor furniture as far as comfort and space. Hammock stands are a convenient opportunity for homes without the right place to tie a hammock between trees. In fact, hammock stands are better because you can place one anywhere!

Cedar Adirondack Chairs

There are many options for outdoor seating, but why limit yourself to patio furniture? Offer your family, and friends, a comfortable place to sit that is also stylish and flexible. Cedar Adirondack chairs can be placed anywhere in a yard and even used as a decorative item (with a function.) If you are working with a really small yard, and have used a planter box as a central focal point, then a cedar Adirondack chair (or two) would be the perfect accentuating touch.

Offset Umbrellas

Perfect for abnormal yards that don't offer the right amount of shade, offset umbrellas take little space and can be moved around. An offset umbrella will look wonderful by a hammock stand or a cedar Adirondack chair... and will provide the right amount of shade on one of those blistering hot days.

Putting It All Together

There is no excuse for neglecting a yard... regardless of any obstacles. Many outdoor decorative items and outdoor furniture options offset any faults in a yard by providing shade, a floral view, and stylish, comfortable seating that can be placed anywhere. Your yard deserves the best!

by David Bernier

About the Author

Know more about Offset Umbrellas and Storage Trunks, please visit us at: http://www.buyerschoiceusa.net/

How Does A Mini Greenhouse Help A Gardener?

While the name "mini greenhouse" may conjure up images of a unit the size of a shoe box, in the gardening industry it refers to a unit that is smaller than a commercial product. These greenhouses can be small enough to cover only one or two trays of plants, or large enough to stand in, comfortably, while tending to dozens of shelves filled with produce.

For a serious gardener, a mini greenhouse is the ultimate tool. The most basic function that a greenhouse serves is that of starting seeds and seedlings much earlier in the growing season. The advantage of getting more mature plants in the ground in spring is clear. With food plants you will get a better, more mature harvest. With flowers you will enjoy a longer bloom and healthier plants.

Mini greenhouses are fairly easy to set up and can even be handled by a reasonably handy individual. Many models feature snap together panels supported by an aluminum frame that is both lightweight and sturdy. If you can manage simple tools and can get a second pair of hands to help with the more awkward parts, you can assemble a mini greenhouse in a day or two.

While many mini greenhouses are available as a set of plastic poles and a vinyl cover, they just don't stand up to weather and use. Initially cheaper than proper units, they end up costing a lot more in the end because you need to replace them regularly. Purchasing a mini greenhouse shouldn't be solely a financial decision; it should result from a careful consideration of your gardening intents.

A mini greenhouse will allow a gardener to extend their growing season from both ends. Properly placed, some greenhouses can be used to maintain more delicate plants year round. Adding a greenhouse to your gardening endeavors is a fun way to improve your results year after year.

Visit us at : http://www.cheapseeds.com/greenhouses-and-accessories.html

About the Author

By Jeff Dahlberg

I am the website author

Growing Miniature Roses

Growing Miniature Roses

If you love rosebushes but do not have ample space in your yard or home, consider growing miniature roses. These delicate little plants are just as beautiful as their bigger relatives; they just do not take up as much space.

If you plan to grow the miniature roses outside, you need to select a sunny location. They love the sunlight and will thrive in its sparkling rays. Watch the planting spot for several days to make sure there are no shadows cast where you plan to put the plant.

Dig a hole that will accommodate the plant and carefully remove it from its container. Be careful not to disturb the roots any more than necessary. Gently place the miniature rose in the hole and pack the dirt loosely around it. If you have cold seasons and plan to leave your bush outside, it is a good idea to cover the base with a couple of inches of mulch to protect the roots.

These little guys like a lot of water so be sure to give it a drink every day for the first couple of weeks. Continue to monitor the amount of moisture in the ground, and water the plant before the ground dries out around the plants base.

If you prefer to grow your miniature roses indoors, you will have to select a window that provides ample sunlight. If it looks as though the plant is not growing or bushing out, move it to another window. Even in the pot, the plant will require a lot of water, so check it everyday to be sure the soil is kept moist.

If your miniature rose bush is thriving and growing rapidly, you may need to transplant it to a larger pot. Do not increase the flower pot size too drastically, or the plant will refuse to grow. It needs a bit of cramping on its roots to continue to grow, just not to much cramping.

That's really all there is to it. Keep the plant well watered, whether it is indoors or outside, and your miniature rose bush will continue growing and producing beautiful flowers for years to come.

Just make sure you are aware that even though it is a miniature rose bush, it will grow to be about 3 to 4 foot tall. Allow the plant plenty of space, when you are deciding where to put it, or it will eventually look cramped .

By: Lee Martin

About the Author

Author: Lee Martin Resource Site : http://www.WonderfulRoses.com Come to the site and look around. Lots of good information, for everyone. Also a Free Mini-Course, for anyone wanting more knowledge about rose garden secrets.

Vegetables and Flowers Can Be Friends

I had a friend who grew up on a farm and even now, years later, she refuses to plant anything unless it has some sort of usefulness. To earn a place in her garden, plants require more than pretty petals; they have to deter pests or provide a source of food. Today, more and more people are planting similar useful gardens by combining edible plants with flowers in an effort to introduce more home grown foods in their diet.

This mix of food and flowers is also very practical for those with small yards or even balconies. Years ago, people lived off the food from their gardens, much like my friend with the farmer roots. Commercial food production took over and people transformed their gardens by planting lawns and blooming ornamental plants. Now, however, we're seeing a merging of the two as home owners are going back to their grass roots. Often, fruit trees are chosen over ornamental varieties. Fences and trellises are now being adorned by grapes, and vegetables are being planted in amongst summer annuals. Even landscapers are noticing the difference, with requests for edible landscape designs becoming more common.

Here are some tips to get you thinking like an edible plant gardener:

Add color by planting red cabbage, yellow peppers, purple eggplants or rainbow chard. Combining these nourishing plants with flowers attracts more useful insects and increases flower production and vegetable yields. Certain plants such as garlic when planted next to roses, provides a natural insecticide by repelling aphids.

Instead of ornamental shrubs, try blueberries for their tasty fruit, fall color and low maintenance. Others include Saskatoon/Juneberry, Gooseberry, or Blue Elderberry. Hazelnuts when trimmed, make wonderful hedges, and strawberries make a tasty ground cover.

For filling in those large areas, try horseradish, or Jerusalem artichoke with its showy yellow flowers.

Shade tolerant veggies include beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, garlic, leaf lettuce, spinach, turnips and radishes. Once you taste the flavor in your homegrown delicacies, you'll be increasing your crop every year.

Edible flowers are both decorative and tasty when added to salads and soups. Some of my favorites include:

Nasturtiums - Adds a peppery flavor to salsa and gazpacho.

Anise Hyssop - Sweet anise or black licorice flavor.

Basil - Flowers have a similar, milder taste than the leaves.

Bee Balm - Use leaves and flowers to make tea with an Earl Grey flavor.

Borage - Large shrub with purple star-shaped flowers that taste like cucumber are wonderful in soups and salads.

Calendula - The bright orange flowers taste similar to saffron with a peppery taste that adds a golden color to foods.

Carnation - Has a peppery, spicy flavor.

Chamomile - Tastes similar to apple and makes a relaxing tea that's easy on the stomach.

Chicory - The beautiful bright blue flowers tolerate the worst of growing conditions. The roots can be used to make a coffee substitute, the buds can be pickled similar to a caper, and the young leaves make a nice addition to a salad.

Chives - Flowers have a mild onion flavor and the chopped stems are a nice addition to soups, salads or just about any recipe you would add onions.

Pansy - Flowers have a mild sweet to tart flavor.

Violet - Sweet nectar-like flavor.
About the Author

WelcomeHomeNevada.com provides a professional guide to Las Vegas Nevada Real Estate. For excellent agent services in the Las Vegas area, contact Mark Hostetler, your Las Vegas Realtor.