Subscribe to RSS Subscribe to Comments

TN9 Info

Picking up Roses for Your Landscape

Roses are greatly admired by gardeners as well as by ordinary diletants. They are the perfect flower combination for anyone’s garden. Bouquets of roses and cut roses can add to the colorful ambience of your home. Roses can also be used to decorate the exterior architecture of your house. Planted roses have various types and colors, and can be a natural decoration, which would suit anyone’s taste.

Landscape roses, as they are also known, can be planted anywhere in your garden. The good thing is that they are easy to find, but the drawback they have is the prolific abundance of various types, which sometimes confuses you. To make things easier, here we have classified the most famous types of landscape roses, which can be used according to your preferences.

Depending on your purposes, there are several main types of ornamental landscape roses. The first one that crops up to mind is the tall tea rose. Gardeners who want to decorate a trellis or an archway plant tea roses. Tea roses have the perfect blooming flowers. The rose arch can really make the atmosphere of your garden romantic.

The second type is the climbing rose. It can be used for wall decoration as well as for any other permanent structure. True climbing roses can be trained to wind around in different ways: for example, to reach the top of a building, or grow alongside the walls.

The Polyantha is also known by its modern name Floribunda rose. Due to its prolific growth and extensive life span, this rose type can be planted to produce a long-lasting colorful effect. This rose can burst in furious blooms and provide the background with different colors.

China roses are the perfect choice if you like to plant landscape roses in front of other plants. There exists also the option to plant roses in the shape of shrubs or hedges, for example the types of Shrub roses and Rugosa roses.

But as with every flower type, the question that you first need to consider, is color. What colors do you want your roses to have? This is an important issue. You must be well aware of each type’s specificity in accordance with color and different shades. Roses can be found in such various color combinations that you may choose the most suitable one according to your color scheme and garden planning. White tea roses can be used against red brick wall to produce an artistic effect. Another example: pink roses can be the perfect complement of a marble or stone wall.

You could as well use the whole variety of colors and color shades to enrich your garden outlook. This is a popular trend in gardening: mixing everything together can have positive outcome. Different styles, flowers and colors blended together provide an aesthetic bounty and make you feel optimistic. Roses cannot be excluded from this floral mixture. They can be combined with all types of flowers. They can add a stylish touch to the garden, if combined with other flowers.

The last thing you need to have in mind is the specific climate of your garden. Choose such rose types, which can endure the weather conditions, and also beware of the season. This will save you using pesticides, and your roses will not be catching flower diseases. The health of your garden depends of your appropriate choice of the flower types, which are suitable to grow in there.

Find Flower Shop - the easiest way to locate a flower shop in your area
Article by Robbie Darmona - an article writer who writes on a wide variety of subjects.

Patio Cover-Creating Shade for your Patio.

Nothing is worse than wanting to sit and enjoy the outdoors, but being bombarded with the hot sun and the insects. One quick solution would be to add a patio cover. There are several selections to choose from. You could create a cover for anything you want.

Some individuals make plans for a patio cover that covers their pool area and outdoor relaxing space or even their spas. There are types of packages and products that you could do it yourself. You can check out your local home improvement stores.

A popular patio cover is using a sunshade. They can withstand the weather and are great at maintain a comfortable atmosphere. You can choose from all types of fabrics. Also, patio covers are inexpensive to build. With the wide variety of shapes and sizes you can find a patio cover that is perfect for your needs and wants.

You could even build a patio cover with diverse types of lumber. This type of cover can withstand the battle of the weather and provide an eloquent finish to your outdoor landscape. The costs would vary based on what type of cover you would like to build. Some individuals include a full patio cover that includes wiring for lights and roofing materials.

Visit the Patio Expert for more patio info.

How to Use Garden Ornaments

Before moving to my current country home I lived in the busy downtown of a thriving metropolis with the typical urban courtyard garden. However, I transformed this postage-sized parcel into an oasis of calm and elegance through the usage of ornamentation. My eclectic mix of old stone urns, large garden finials, aged looking sculptures and composite stone benches, created a true “outdoor room” effect. It was the perfect setting for summer parties or family gatherings as it was in effect, an extension of my home.

Ornamentation can give a flavour of excitement, innovation, formality or comfort, depending upon your design. Objects, sculptures and other pieces work best in a garden if they are “permanent” in their placement. This consistency creates both visual interests in the winter months, as well as providing a stage for your summer entertaining, while allowing you to monitor your gardens constant evolution and flux.

Ornaments are particularly well suited to create a focal point in both a formal and informal garden setting. However, we all need to remember, myself included, that a garden could become overwhelmed by too many, or too large of an ornament. In an informal setting, you should integrate your ornaments with your plantings. This is achieved by matching colour tones, and by corresponding the size and density of an object to your planting. In a formal setting, ornamentation usually takes center stage. This focus on structure and art creates the formal settings beauty.

The magic of a well-placed ornament is its ability to help create the ambiance you desire in your garden. If you desire a formal setting, then, the placement of a graceful stone sculpture or a pair of detailed Grecian urns, will aid your design. In a Japanese style garden, a large simple stone lantern will create a stunning visual, while in an informal setting or English garden, a fleeting glimpse of an object is all you require. Be careful of using an eclectic blend of pieces, making sure to focus on creating unity in your ornaments style, color and usage.

I personally enjoy mixing both beautiful objects and “found” objects into my gardens. The sight of my plants intermixed with urns, sculptures, fountains, columns, obelisks and tuturres, brings both pleasure and interest. Ornamentation is a completely personal matter. Be guided by the scale, inspiration and mood of your garden.

Tips

One significant (large) sculpture or architectural piece is usually enough for a very small garden. Centrally positioned, it will become your focal point (i.e. a large stone ornamental urn on a raised bed).

Smaller, “curiosity” pieces should be hidden throughout your garden to create a “surprise glimpse” effect.

Soften sculptural and architectural pieces by training vines, or growing moss on them.

Great Design in essence is about the creation of an exquisite stage for the beauty and quality of life we all desire. From ultra urban to ornate opulence, Robin and his team have passionately and successfully designed it all. Robin’s interiors have graced the pages of magazines Worldwide. Robin has designed interiors for feature films, major retailers such as Home Depot (Style Ideas Magazine) and the Designer Showhouse. From smaller scale interior projects to full scale restorations and developments, Robin’s passionate and creative eye overseas all aspects. While fluent in all design trends and philosophies, Robin is most passionate about historic preservation and the creation of elegant, functional and memorable spaces that convey the best attributes of each owner while respecting and celebrating the architecture that encompasses them. Visit http://www.robindegroot.ca

Gardening: Plants and Gardens

Attempts to classify different types of plants is known to have occurred as far back as since pre-historic periods as shown in the evidence found in the caves of Lascaux in Dordogne, France. These date back to 18,000 B.C. We can only assume that man has always sought the knowledge of plants and had an interest in their cultivation, beyond the simple interest in plants for food.

Hippocrates, the “father of medicine” taught in the fourth century B.C. of the value of some 400 plants and herbs - about half of which are still in used today. Aristotle attempted to catalogue the herbs known at the time and Theophrastus, a pupil of Aristotle, created a system of inquiry into plants which was to influence botany for many centuries.

Classical Greek and Roman records show definite proof of this with early texts from the first century AD. Pedanius Dioscorides in Cilicia wrote De Materia Medica, a textbook for herbal medicine which was in use for 16 centuries. He was a military physician and soldier and wrote 5 volumes covering 600 plants in use in medicine. Galen, court physician to Marcus Aurelius the Roman Emperor, was a Greek physician who practiced medicine in Rome in 2C A.D. For centuries he was respected as an authority on herbs.

At this time their main interest was in the medicinal value of plants which were common in the wild, rather than concern about their deliberate cultivation .

From 529 A.D European medicinal gardens continued to be the province of the monasteries and the fine example of St Gall’s garden in Switzerland so impressed Charlemagne that he ordered duplicates to be build across his Holy Roman Empire.

Such medieval gardens focussed upon healing herbs for the monks to use in treatment of the injuries sustained by soldiers in combat but attempts were made to make the gardens ornamental. as well as serviceable and this attitude continued in the designs of the walled gardens of castles and monasteries. It was by the exchange of plants between the monasteries and the dedication of the travelling monks that the extent of herb and plant cultivation was greatly increased. The movement of the troubadours was also instrumental in this.

Following the Crusades, a vast variety of new plants was introduced into Europe with botanists eager to grow new species but somewhat inhibited by superstitions and local legends related to them. Planting, grafting and harvesting was strictly in accordance with astronomical indications of the moon and other conditions.

It was later that royalty, including the early kings of France and Italy took up the cause and became keen promoters of plants of all kinds. Some created landscaping on a magnificent scale in the palace gardens, before ever botanical gardens for the public were considered. According to the specific interest they directed orchards such as those for propagating and cultivating oranges in protected orangeries, as they were called. Others such as Napoleon’s Josephine introduced hundreds of different roses, reported to have been the largest collection of different species in Europe at that time.

In Britain many customs of the Druids survived the centuries to which were added the familiar plants known to the Romans. It was John of Gaddesden in 1314 who’s first researched work “Rosa Medicicae” covered Greek, Arabic and Jewish medical writings plus contemporary observations and later in 15C more texts and treatises started appearing. This was followed by many illustrated works which began to include plants introduced from the Americas - from the New World, such as corn and potatoes.

John Gerard had his own Physic Garden as Curator of the Physic Garden of the College of Physicians. Thomas Johnson, apothecary, edited Gerard’s Herball after his death and recorded thousands of species in England thereby commencing English botany. It was King Henry eighth who protected herbalists with a Charter in 1511. This signified the distinction between the barber surgeons and the apothecaries - a rift which continues to this day between the herbalists and the medical doctors.

William Turner’s “A New Herball” was published 1551-1568. Nicholas Culpepper introduced the doctrine of signatures and astrological aspects of herbalism 1652 and translated the physicians secret handbook “London Pharmacopoeia” which incensed the professionals as it placed knowledge of herbalism into the hands of the common man.

By 1850 Herbs had begun to be commercially cultivated in England with the principal crops being peppermint, lavender, chamomile, aconite, belladonna, caraway, elecampane, liquorice, foxglove, lovage, angelica, hemlock, juniper, poppy, roses and marshmallow.

The people of England and Europe as well as settlers of the New World and the various colonies depended to a large extent upon the traditional custom of the cottage garden to provide them with additional foods and home remedies as well as beautiful flowers. The discoveries of strange new plants in the colonies was a constant source of interest and with the help of the indigenous people gave them indications of their usefulness in healing as well as practical purposes. Eager gardeners placed great value, often commercial value, upon new specimens which became available for cultivation. It was largely by this enthusiasm that many new species were preserved and proliferated through the care of botanists in Europe.

Over the last couple of centuries there has been an explosion of interest in the usefulness of herbs and plants of all kinds. Commercial production occurs on a huge scale throughout the world as the demand for medicinal herbs increases, both for herbal medicine and as a source for medicinal drugs but horticulture still remains as one of the most popular pastimes in creating beautiful, ornamental plants which can be used for indoor decoration in homes, hospitals, business houses and institutions of all kinds and providing the aesthetic value which has proven to be essential in our way of life not only in our western culture but in all countries throughout the world.

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Gardening

Plant Shrub Roses For Carefree Beauty

Shrub roses are an easy, colorful choice to use anywhere you
would plant a shrub.

Sturdy and Plant-Friendly

Unlike many roses, Shrub Roses are perfect for planting
anywhere. They’re “plant-friendly” and are good neighbors in any
collection of flowers. Shrub Roses are also very winter-hardy,
and they are highly disease-resistant.

These round, easily-maintained bushes are not small, either.
Many older Shrub Roses can grow up to 6 feet in height. If
desired, Shrub Roses can be trained to grow like tall hedges.

Privacy Screen or Hedge

Shrub roses are great as a screen or hedge plant for privacy, as
a border, or a background. Although the flowers from Shrub Roses
have little fragrance, they come in a wide assortment of vivid
colors. Vibrant pinks, reds, whites, and yellows are all common
for a shrub rose’s abundant flowers.

Ground Cover or Hanging Basket

Several modern shrub roses have been popularized in recent
years. Ground covers such as Cliffs of Dover, Flower Carpet and
Jeepers Creepers have been treasured by homeowners with sloped
or uneven lawns.

They also grow wonderfully in hanging baskets and containers.
Regardless which variety you choose, Shrub Roses can be a
wonderful feature at the entrance to your home.

How to Plant

Make sure the plant is in a very sunny location. Most Shrub
Roses require a minimum of 8 hours of full sun on a daily basis.
The direct light combined with moist soil ensures maximum flower
production.

Dig a hole that is double the width and depth of the pot your
shrub comes in. Use a sharp instrument to cut the plant away
from the sides of the pot. Disturb the roots as little as
possible. Once you have the plant free from its container, place
it in the hole. Fill in the remaining space with loose soil and
soak the plant with water.

Practically Maintenance-Free

Fortunately, Shrub Roses require very little maintenance. During
the summer months, you’ll probably need to water your shrubs
twice a week. Keep the soil moist and you’re done.

For gorgeous results and optimal growth, use organic fertilizer
on your roses in the spring and fall. Pruning is not necessary,
because it is basically self-cleaning. Shrub roses release their
own dead foliage, creating a neat appearance through every
season.

Some of the prettiest roses are “ever blooming.” Purchase this
type of shrub rose, and you’ll have a recurrent bloomer that
will flower profusely several times a year.

Before you plant another green shrub, consider planting a Shrub
Rose instead. The most difficulty you’ll have with this plant is
deciding which one to buy!

RSS