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| How to Grow Bearded Irises
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By Ellen Brown
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 There is no shortage of reasons to fall in love with Bearded Irises. They come in hundreds of stunning colors and color combinations, they grow happily in all but the hottest and coldest zones, they have a tendency to fill out their corner of the flower garden rapidly, and some of them ("rebloomers") even bloom more than once in a season.
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Posted on: 04/17/2008 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Hollyhock
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By Ellen Brown
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 The hollyhock is a relative to the hibiscus. Children adore making dolls out of hollyhocks. Use a flower for the skirt. Use a bud to top the skirt with a head (attach with a toothpick) and put another flower on the head to serve as a bonnet.
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Posted on: 06/07/2006 | 1 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Bearded Iris
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By Ellen Brown
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 Bearded Irises are especially susceptible to borers. Symptoms include smelly, rotting rhizomes and larvae snacking on leaves. Giving plants full sun in a well-drained location and making sure irises are planted so rhizomes are on or above the soil surface will help prevent attacks.
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Posted on: 05/09/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Harlequin Flower
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By Ellen Brown
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 Harlequin flowers prefer a southern exposure. Plant bulbs in late summer to early fall 1 to 2 inches deep and spaced 4 inches apart in a sunny location with sandy, fertile soil. These plants are not drought tolerant, so keep soil moist until foliage dies back after flowering and the bulbs go dormant.
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Posted on: 05/08/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Oriental Poppy
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By Ellen Brown
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 To be certain you get the color you prefer, unlike other poppies, it's best to buy Oriental poppies from nurseries. Plants will spread some, but prefer not to be disturbed. Divide them in the fall every 4 to 5 years if necessary. Dig deep to get as many of the roots as possible and discard the less vigorous parts of the clumps.
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Posted on: 05/08/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Japanese Acuba
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By Ellen Brown
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 The Japanese Acuba is very pollution and drought tolerant making it a good choice for seaside landscaping. Fertilizing in spring will encourage berry production.
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Posted on: 05/08/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| A Look at the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year!
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By Ellen Brown
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 When shopping for perennial bedding plants this year, you can expect to see a lot of plant labels marked 'Cheddar Pink'. That's because the Perennial Plant Association awarded Dianthus gratianopolitanus (also known as 'Feuerhexe' or 'Firewitch') the 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year. If you've grown cheddar pinks before, then you know what all of the fuss is about. If you haven't, give them a try.
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Posted on: 04/26/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Peruvian Daffodil (Spider Flower, Basket Lily)
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By Ellen Brown
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 Plant bulbs outdoors in the spring or fall, 3 to 5 inches deep and spaced 12 to 15 inches apart. Gardeners in northern zones should plant bulbs outdoors in the spring when temperatures stay above 60ºF. Zones with shorter season may want to consider starting plants indoors. When the threat of fall frost is near, dig up bulbs and prepare them for winter storage...
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Posted on: 03/17/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Yarrow
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By Ellen Brown
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 Start with purchased plants or sow seeds indoors in early winter if you want plants to flower the first year. Deadhead flowers to prolong blooming period and divide them every 3 to 5 years in the spring or fall if they get crowded...
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Posted on: 03/16/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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| Growing: Verbascum (Ornamental Mullein)
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By Ellen Brown
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 Mulleins are somewhat deer resistant. These flowers are also said to have medicinal properties that ease digestive ailments. Widely distributed throughout the United States, wild species of common mullein are considered an ecological threat and a highly invasive species...
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Posted on: 03/16/2006 | 0 Feedback(s) |
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