Archive for May, 2009
Does Hydroponic Mean Organic?
Posted by: | CommentsWhen planning an organic garden, many people will ask about hydroponic gardening. It is often perceived that if the plants are not being grown in soil, that they must be grown organically. This is a misconception. Organic gardening and hydroponics really are not the same, although you can grow your vegetables hydroponically and organically. Just be aware that the vegetables you buy in the store may say they are hydroponic, but that doesn’t mean that organic principles were used to grow them.
Color in the Perennial Garden
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When planting your perennial flower garden, it is helpful to take into consideration the different colors of the plants. The color of the flowers will create a specific mood and ambiance in your garden. Here are some of the colors you may be considering for your garden and the perennial flowers and plants that will fit into that color category.
Yellow
The color yellow is perceived by the eye before the other colors. The members of this family attract and dominate the garden. You will want to plan groupings of yellow or gold as deliberate focal points. This will help to emphasize the features of your garden. You can also use yellow discreetly in order to make a surprise impact among a quieter planting. The color yellow is both warm and cheerful. It is reminiscent of the sun as it comes from behind a cloud. The following perennials have a yellow flower:
*Alyssum *Butterfly Weed *Columbine
*Coreopsis *Corydalis *Cushion Spurge
*Daylily *Evening Primrose *False Sunflower
*Gallardia *Geum *Golden Marguerite
*Iris *Lamiastrum *Leopard Bane
*Ligularia *Lupine *Marsh Marigold
*Mum *Poppy *Potentilla
*Rudbeckia *Sedum *Solidago
*Sunrose *Trollius *Yarrow
Blues
The color blue is stimulating, but it can be restful at times. In the distance, blue flowers will draw the eye after them and push the boundaries of the garden outward. At twilight, blue can seem to glow. The color blue will give your garden a cool feeling. The following perennials have a blue flower:
*Ajuga *Aster *Aubretia
*Balloon Flower *Blue Eyed Grass *Blue Flax
*Brunnera *Campanula *Catmint
*Columbine *Delphinium * Forget-Me-Not
*Geranium *Globe Thistle *Iris
*Jacobs Ladder *Lavender *Lungwort
*Lupine *Monkshood *Mt. Bluets
*Russian Sage *Salvia *Spiderwort
*Veronica *Vinca *Viola
Pinks
The color pink is soft, gentle and luxurious. It evokes an atmosphere that is peaceful. Sunlight can bleach the delicate tints to a washed-out paleness unless deeper tones of pink are used to add strength. However, in the evening light, the pale pastel pinks will appear luminous. The pink flowers will form a gentle and restful background to or between a more definite area of color such as the strong complementary blues and yellows or violets and oranges which paint distinct pictures. The pinks also help where related colors such as vivid and warm reds, oranges and yellow focus the eye and demand attention. The following perennials have a pink flower:
*Arabis *Aster *Astilbe
*Aubretia *Baby’s Breath *Beebalm
*Bergenia *Bleeding Heart *Butterfly Weed
*Canterbury Bells *Centaurea *Columbine
*Coral Bells *Coreopsis *Cupid’s Dart
*Daylily *Delphinium *Dianthus
*English Daisy *Filipendula *Forget-Me-Not
*Foxglove *Geranium *Hollyhock
*Iris *Japanese Anemone *Jo-Pye Weed
*Jupiters Beard *Lamb’s Ear *Lamium
*Liatris *Linaria *Lungwort
*Lupine *Lythrum *Miss Willmott Potentilla
*Mum *Obedient Plant *Oenothera
*Painted Daisy *Pasque Flower *Penstemon
*Peony *Phlox *Pink Panda Strawberry
*Poppy *Primula *Prunella
*Purple Coneflower *Salvia *Seapinks
*Sedum *Soapwort *Spider Wort
*Sunrose *Thalictrum *Thyme
*Toad Flax *Turtlehead *Veronica
*Yarrow
White
The color white helps to create a cool and restful mood in the garden. White gives a feeling of space. The neighboring colors will seem to glow more and be deeper. White flowers can separate the hues that contrast without altering their appearance of color. White can also make the color associations more pleasing and acceptable to the eye. Bright white will lighten up a shady area.
White flowers are an excellent choice for an evening garden during the summer. As the darkness begins to creep in, the white and pale pastels will remain distinguishable until all of the light is done. A border that is mixed with clumps of white will be given direction and coherence when the white clumps are repeated at regular intervals. The following perennials have a white flower or white variegated edge:
*Arabis *Astilbe *Aubretia
*Baby’s Breath *Bishops Weed *Bleeding Heart
*Boltonia *Bugbane *Campanula
*Candytuft *Columbine *Delphinium
*Dianthus *English Daisy *Forget-Me-Not
*Gooseneck *Hosta *Lamium
*Liatris *Lily *Lily of the Valley
*Lungwort *Lupine *Obedient Plant
*Phlox *Poppy *Sandwort
*Sedum *Shasta Daisy *Snowdrop Anemone
*Snow-in Summer *Sweet Woodruff *Thrift
*Veronica *Vinca *White Coneflower
*Yarrow
As you can see there are many different choices available for a perennial garden that will keep coming back year after year. While I have listed many varieties, this list is not inclusive. What are some of your favorite perennials and how will you use them in your garden this year?
Growing a Butterfly Garden
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We all want to spend more quality time with our kids. In the summer, a lot of that quality time is spent outdoors. Why not plant a Butterfly Garden with the kids? You’ll combine hard work with fun and learn tons in the process. It’ll be a back yard science experiment! Here are some tips for making that garden a beautiful haven for the colorful creatures (and your little creatures) to spend time in.
• Color and Variety- Choose a variety of different plants and colors. The Butterflies will love blossoms that face upward best as well as clustered or spiked blooms.
• Staggering- Choose plants that bloom different parts of the day and plants that bloom different parts of the year.
• Groups- Plant several of the same type of flower in one spot as opposed to planting one type of flower by itself. The butterflies will find the plants easier.
• Food plants- Offer plants that female butterflies will lay eggs on. Certain plants provide food for larvae. Some food plants include snapdragons, violets, milk weed, holly hocks, lilacs, and daisies.
• Nectar Plants- Some great plants to use which butterflies will flock to are Asters, Black-Eyed Susans, Butterfly plants, Coreopsis, Daylilies, Hibiscus, Lavender, Lilac, Marigold, Redbud, Rosemary, Purple Coneflower, and Verbena.
• Form “Puddle Clubs”- Male butterflies love puddles. You can make a permanent puddle by burying a bucket, filling it with gravel or sand, and then pouring some sweet liquid into it. Butterflies won’t drink from open water sources, though. They prefer wet sand or earth.
• Sunbathing- Butterflies are cold blooded like all insects and get their warmth from the sun. Give them a place in your butterfly garden to sunbathe. Place large rocks in the sunny spots of your garden.
Butterflies are beautiful little creatures that kids just love. You can make some great memories and beautify your landscaping at the same time. Let us know what you think. Have you had success attracting butterflies to your garden?