vineri, 6 aprilie 2012

Transplanting a rose during the growing season

The main difference when moving a rose during the growing season is that you need to keep the soil intact around the roots – or at least make a good attempt at keeping it in place. Dry soil crumbles – so you may find it helpful to pre-irrigate the ground to make sure that it has plenty of moisture. You can assure that the soil is cut completely by going around the circle twice with your spade.
Moving a plant with a root ball is almost always a two-person job. You may find it helpful to have a square of burlap nearby on which you can quickly set the plant after pulling it from the hole. Then you can tie the burlap around the soil to help keep the root ball from falling apart. It's especially important that you prune the canes back so that they are no longer than the roots. Remove all of the leaves. Use an anti-transpirant spray like Water-Tite and erect a shade canopy over the plant. The biggest risk is that the plant will lose too much moisture before the roots can regenerate.

Species of roses

The genus Rosa is subdivided into four subgenera:
- Hulthemia (formerly Simplicifoliae, meaning "with single leaves") containing one or two species from southwest Asia, R. persica and Rosa berberifolia which are the only roses without compound leaves or stipules.
- Hesperrhodos (from the Greek for "western rose") contains Rosa minutifolia and Rosa stellata, from North America.
- Platyrhodon (from the Greek for "flaky rose", referring to flaky bark) with one species from east Asia, Rosa roxburghii.

Rosa (the type subgenus) containing all the other roses. This subgenus is subdivided into 11 sections.
- Banksianae - white and yellow flowered roses from China.
- Bracteatae - three species, two from China and one from India.
- Caninae - pink and white flowered species from Asia, Europe and North Africa.
- Carolinae - white, pink, and bright pink flowered species all from North America.
- Chinensis - white, pink, yellow, red and mixed-color roses from China and Burma.
- Gallicanae - pink to crimson and striped flowered roses from western Asia and Europe.
- Gymnocarpae - one species in western North America (Rosa gymnocarpa), others in east Asia.
- Laevigatae - a single white flowered species from China
- Pimpinellifoliae - white, pink, bright yellow, mauve and striped roses from Asia and Europe.
- Rosa (syn. sect. Cinnamomeae) - white, pink, lilac, mulberry and red roses from everywhere but North Africa.
- Synstylae - white, pink, and crimson flowered roses from all areas.

What is roses

A rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwest Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and fragrance. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach 7 meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.

Roses - The botany

The leaves are borne alternately on the stem. In most species they are 5 to 15 centimetres (2.0 to 5.9 in) long, pinnate, with (3–) 5–9 (–13) leaflets and basal stipules; the leaflets usually have a serrated margin, and often a few small prickles on the underside of the stem. Most roses are deciduous but a few (particularly from South east Asia) are evergreen or nearly so.
The hybrid garden rose "Amber Flush"

The flowers of most species have five petals, with the exception of Rosa sericea, which usually has only four. Each petal is divided into two distinct lobes and is usually white or pink, though in a few species yellow or red. Beneath the petals are five sepals (or in the case of some Rosa sericea, four). These may be long enough to be visible when viewed from above and appear as green points alternating with the rounded petals. There are multiple superior ovaries that develop into achenes.[4] Roses are insect-pollinated in nature.

The aggregate fruit of the rose is a berry-like structure called a rose hip. Many of the domestic cultivars do not produce hips, as the flowers are so tightly petalled that they do not provide access for pollination. The hips of most species are red, but a few (e.g. Rosa pimpinellifolia) have dark purple to black hips. Each hip comprises an outer fleshy layer, the hypanthium, which contains 5–160 "seeds" (technically dry single-seeded fruits called achenes) embedded in a matrix of fine, but stiff, hairs. Rose hips of some species, especially the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa), are very rich in vitamin C, among the richest sources of any plant. The hips are eaten by fruit-eating birds such as thrushes and waxwings, which then disperse the seeds in their droppings. Some birds, particularly finches, also eat the seeds.
Rose thorns are actually prickles - outgrowths of the epidermis.

While the sharp objects along a rose stem are commonly called "thorns", they are technically prickles — outgrowths of the epidermis (the outer layer of tissue of the stem). (True thorns, as produced by e.g. Citrus or Pyracantha, are modified stems, which always originate at a node and which have nodes and internodes along the length of the thorn itself.) Rose prickles are typically sickle-shaped hooks, which aid the rose in hanging onto other vegetation when growing over it. Some species such as Rosa rugosa and Rosa pimpinellifolia have densely packed straight spines, probably an adaptation to reduce browsing by animals, but also possibly an adaptation to trap wind-blown sand and so reduce erosion and protect their roots (both of these species grow naturally on coastal sand dunes). Despite the presence of prickles, roses are frequently browsed by deer. A few species of roses have only vestigial prickles that have no points.

joi, 29 martie 2012

Lillies

Lilies are leafy stemmed herbs. They form naked or tunic-less scaly underground bulbs which are their overwintering organs. In some North American species the base of the bulb develops into rhizomes, on which numerous small bulbs are found. Some species develop stolons. Most bulbs are deeply buried, but a few species form bulbs near the soil surface. Many species form stem-roots. With these, the bulb grows naturally at some depth in the soil, and each year the new stem puts out adventitious roots above the bulb as it emerges from the soil. These roots are in addition to the basal roots that develop at the base of the bulb.

Most cool temperate species are dormant in winter. Most species are deciduous, but a few species (Lilium candidum, Lilium catesbaei) bear a basal rosette of leaves during dormancy.

The large flowers have six tepals. They are often fragrant, and come in a range of colours ranging through whites, yellows, oranges, pinks, reds and purples. Markings include spots and brush strokes. The plants are late spring or summer flowering.

Seeds ripen in late summer. They exhibit varying and sometimes complex germination patterns, many adapted to cool temperate climates.

sâmbătă, 24 martie 2012

Growing lilies and plant care

Lilies are propagated mainly by means of bulbs. They are also grown from seeds, scales, bulbils and bulblets. One can buy lily bulbs online or from a local bulb vendor.

Although the lilies grown from seeds are more disease resistant, the only disadvantage with growing lilies from seeds is that the lily plants take a longer time to bloom, and maybe, in some cases, even take five to six years. Hence, bulbs are very much preferred in growing lilies.

Lilies are usually planted during fall or spring in the garden.
Lilies can also be grown in containers or outdoors.
A cool, porous and well-drained soil is essential for the good growth of lilies.
Adding large amounts of organic matter will improve clay or sandy soils. The bulbs will stay in place for several years, so good bed preparation is an investment for the future.
The ideal location for Lilies will provides direct sun all morning during the summer, with partial shade during hot afternoon hours.
When selecting bulbs, be sure that they do not look dry or shriveled, and plant them immediately.
Proper spacing is usually 12 to 18 inches apart but varies according to the variety selected.
As soon as the soil has become consistently warm during late spring, apply a 3-inch layer of organic mulch around the plants. The mulch will conserve soil moisture and keep the soil (and bulbs) from becoming too hot during the summer.

Lilies do not require daily watering, but when watering, be sure to water deep enough to reach the bulb.
Feed the plants with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers.
Remove seedpods when they appear.
Also, remove stems and foliage when leaves become yellow.
The mulch should be removed in late fall.
Keep lilies blooming by removing blossoms as they fade. This prevents the plant from expending its energy in producing seed.

Species of lilies

Plants in the Liliales grow from bulbs or corms, both of which will store food over the winter or during the dry season. Unlike other Liliales, these vines produce their flowers in spherical clusters called Umbels, as in Bomarea.

True Lilies are composed of fleshy scales without a protective outer coating. True Lilies are never dormant.

There are numerous Lily varieties. But among the Lily varieties, only groups like the Asiatics and the Orientals are the most popular flowers and are widely grown.

- Asiatic Lilies - small flowers, less fragrant, wide colors
- Trumpet/Aurelian Lilies
- Oriental Lilies - Have strong fragrances, few colors, larger flowers
- The Wild Lilies
- Martagon hybrid Lilies - Edible and Esculent herbs
- Candidum hybrid Lilies
- American hybrid Lilies
- Longiflorum hybrid Lilies - strong, sweet fragrance, large funnel shaped flowers, usually white.

Lilies flowers

Lilies of different kinds are commonly found all across the globe. Lilies come in different shapes, sizes and colors.

Lilies are really excellent plants for beds and borders. Lilies are suitable for use in a shrub border, as accent plants, a formal or naturalized pool planting. Even some of the small species would fit perfectly in an alpine rock garden.

Due to its regal beauty and the variety in color and type that can symbolize a variety of meanings, Lilies are also popular flowers for gifting purposes. Among the flower bouquets of lilies, stargazer and cassablanca lily bouquets are the most sought after floral bouquets. Besides bouquets, lily bulbs as well as potted lily plants are also popular gifts.

miercuri, 21 martie 2012

About Jasmine flowers

The Jasmine is a very popular flower around the world especially in the tropics because of its unique fragrance. The Jasmine is native to tropical and warm or temperate regions of the old world.
The Jasmine flowers are white in most species, with some species being yellow. The Jasmine is believed to have originated in the Himalayas in western China.
Unlike most genera in the Oleceae family, which have four corolla lobe petals, Jasmines often have five or six lobes. Jasmines are often strong and sweet scented. Jasmines are widely cultivated for their shining leaves and beautiful clusters of fragrant flowers.
Flowering in Jasmines takes place in summer or spring which is usally six months after planting. The Jasmine flower releases its fragrance at night after the sun has set and especially when the moon is waxing towards fullness. Jasmine flower buds are more fragrant than the flowers.
There exists a true Jasmine and a false Jasmine, and the two are commonly mistaken for each other because of the fragrance the plants release. The true Jasmine belongs to the family Oleaceae and is primarily a bushy shrub or a climbing vine and is non-poisonous.
True Jasmines have oval, shiny leaves and tubular, waxy-white flowers. The false Jasmine on the other hand is in a completely different genus, Gelsemium, and family, Loganiaceae, which is considered too poisonous for human consumption.

marți, 20 martie 2012

Types of flowers

Flowers give many things to everybody, and it does not matter if you are rich or poor, they give you a wonderful world, in which you feel happy. Therefore people always try to decorate with these surprising gifts of nature not only the celebration and gala days of their life, but also everyday life, in which, people need to feel even more pleasure during their life on Earth.

It seems that mother-nature presented us these wonderful creatures which during thousands of years bring in our life beauty, pleasure, and give us good mood and emotional health in any time of the year.

According to the scientists opinion there are more than 270 000 types of flowers. And each flower in his own way is beautiful and unusual and brings a part of pleasure in our life in order to do it happier.

At all nations of the world flowers associate with heat, sun, spring and pleasure. And it doesn’t matter if it is winter, summer, autumn or spring outside. Flowers always remain symbols of good mood and wonderful seasons – spring and summer.

Each flower is shrouded by illusive mysterious aura, and magic mood which is given to all people without exception, whether it is a man or a woman, a small child or a grown up person.

luni, 19 martie 2012

Symbolism - Flowers - What's a flower

Many flowers have important symbolic meanings in Western culture. The practice of assigning meanings to flowers is known as floriography. Some of the more common examples include:

- Red roses are given as a symbol of love, beauty, and passion.
- Poppies are a symbol of consolation in time of death. In the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia and Canada, red poppies are worn to commemorate soldiers who have died in times of war.
- Irises/Lily are used in burials as a symbol referring to "resurrection/life". It is also associated with stars (sun) and its petals blooming/shining.
- Daisies are a symbol of innocence.

Flowers within art are also representative of the female genitalia, as seen in the works of artists such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Imogen Cunningham, Veronica Ruiz de Velasco, and Judy Chicago, and in fact in Asian and western classical art. Many cultures around the world have a marked tendency to associate flowers with femininity.

The great variety of delicate and beautiful flowers has inspired the works of numerous poets, especially from the 18th-19th century Romantic era. Famous examples include William Wordsworth's I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud and William Blake's Ah! Sun-Flower.

Because of their varied and colorful appearance, flowers have long been a favorite subject of visual artists as well. Some of the most celebrated paintings from well-known painters are of flowers, such as Van Gogh's sunflowers series or Monet's water lilies. Flowers are also dried, freeze dried and pressed in order to create permanent, three-dimensional pieces of flower art.

What is a flower

A flower is the part of the plant that makes the seeds. The main parts of a flower are the carpels and stamens. These parts are often found in the center of the flower. There are egg cells in the carpel and pollen cells in the stamen. All flowers have four basic parts: sepals, petals, carpels and stamen. Different flowers have different numbers and shapes of these parts.

duminică, 18 martie 2012

Flowering transition

The transition to flowering is one of the major phase changes that a plant makes during its life cycle. The transition must take place at a time that is favorable for fertilization and the formation of seeds, hence ensuring maximal reproductive success. To meet these needs a plant is able to interpret important endogenous and environmental cues such as changes in levels of plant hormones and seasonable temperature and photoperiod changes. Many perennial and most biennial plants require vernalization to flower. The molecular interpretation of these signals is through the transmission of a complex signal known as florigen, which involves a variety of genes, including CONSTANS, FLOWERING LOCUS C and FLOWERING LOCUS T. Florigen is produced in the leaves in reproductively favorable conditions and acts in buds and growing tips to induce a number of different physiological and morphological changes. The first step is the transformation of the vegetative stem primordia into floral primordia. This occurs as biochemical changes take place to change cellular differentiation of leaf, bud and stem tissues into tissue that will grow into the reproductive organs. Growth of the central part of the stem tip stops or flattens out and the sides develop protuberances in a whorled or spiral fashion around the outside of the stem end. These protuberances develop into the sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Once this process begins, in most plants, it cannot be reversed and the stems develop flowers, even if the initial start of the flower formation event was dependent of some environmental cue. Once the process begins, even if that cue is removed the stem will continue to develop a flower.

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