Florist Supplies Guide

Flowers are available to us throughout the year. But some flowers are seasonal.

Each season offers its own flowers. But why do you need to know this information?

Well, if you are planning a wedding on a particular season, it is good to know what type of flowers are readily available.
You can get a cheaper price if that flower is in season.

Let’s start with spring flowers…

Spring

One of the popular spring flowers is sweet peas. Sweet Peas consist of 3 to 4 flowers on a stem. Their varieties are like Restormel, Lizbeth and Limelight.

Another spring flower is the Narcissi. Narcissi comes in many colours such as yellow, white, orange and pink. They also have many varieties like the large trumpet, large cup and the small cup.

Hyacinths are lovely flowers, too. They are actually clusters of small flowers. They come in orange, yellow, pink and even blue. They also have many varieties like gypsy queen, amethyst, jan bos and others.

A daffodil consists of two parts. The petals and the cup. They come in green, red, yellow, white, pink, orange and others. There are 13 varieties known and examples are like Trumpet, Tazetta, Poeticus and Split-Cupped.

Lily of the Valley is a fragrant flower and often used in beauty products. They look like small white bells and will develop into red berries by summer.

There are over 1,000 varieties of lilac with single and double petals. They are commonly used in perfumes and soaps. The white and pink are popular besides the lavender, blue and purple.

Wax flower is also known as Geraldton Wax. They are clusters of small flowers with 5 petals on each flower. Available in white, pink and purple and the leaves are needle-like.

Cheery Blossom or Sakura is Japan’s unofficial national flower. Their varieties differ by the number of petals, colour of blossom, the time of blooming, tree shape and the leaves. There is even a season in Japan to appreciate the cherry blossom which they call Hanami.

Summer

Summer flowers are like agapanthus, hydrangea, tuberose, sunflowers, peony, solidago, chrysanthemum, calla lily, stephanotis and daisies.

Peonies have many varieties such as Claudia, Early Windflower, Cytherea and Sea Shell. There are many more. They are very showy flowers and have different blooming patterns which we call single, Japanese, Anemone, Semi double, Crown, Semi Rose, Rose and Bomb.

Stephanotis is a vine that grows well on trellis. It is white in colour and sweetly scented. Often used as a wedding flower. Stephanotis is also known as the Madagascar Jasmine.

Agapanthus, also known as African Lilies, are available in white and blue. There are varieties like the Ice Blue Star, White Dwarf and Tinkerbell.

Another summer flower that you might be interested in is the hydrangea. It is a cluster of small and sweet flowers. There are many types available, like the mopheads, lacecaps, vines, oakleaf and peegees.

Tuberose is very popular among Hawaiians. They make leis (garlands) out of them. Tuberose are very fragrant and white in colour.

The colour of violets can range from dark blue to purple and from orange to white. Those that bloom in spring have 5 petals and those in the summer have no petals. Varieties are like Dog Violet, Great Basin an Stream Violets.

Autumn

Sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias, solidago, celosia and statice are autumn flowers.

A sunflower consists of two parts, the ray florets which is yellow in colour and the disk florets which is normally purplish brown in colour. Varieties are like the Russian Giant, Music Box, Teddy Bear and Autumn Beauty.

There are 13 types of groups of dahlias, namely single-flowered, anemone-flowered, collerette, decorative, ball, waterlily, cactus, pompon, semi cactus, miscellanous, fimbriated, single orchid and double orchid. They come in colours like orange, purple, yellow, white, cream, etc.

Gladiolus is also known as Sword Lily. They come in white, pink, oranges, red and purple.

Solidago has over 100 varieties, for example Crown Of Rays, Golden Wings and Straight Plants. These varieties come from Solidago Altissima, Solidago Canadensis, Solidago Nemoralis and Solidago Simplex, among others.

Celosia is a very unusual flower. There are 2 types of celosia. One is the crinkled type, also called Celosia Cristata that looks like a human brain. The other is Celosia Plumeria which looks like a rooster’s comb. That’s why celosia is also known as cockscomb. Available in bright colours such as red, yellow, orange and purple.

Statice is often used as fillers in flower arrangements. They are multi-branched of tiny flowers. The flower texture is paper-like.

Winter

Examples of winter flowers are like freesias, ranunculus, lisianthus, leucadendrons and amaryllis.

Freesias come in red, pink, white and yellow. They are scented flowers, especially the white ones.

Another name for lisianthus is eustoma. They are lovely winter flowers. But they have very delicate stems. They look like poppies when in full bloom and come in white, pink, purple and lavender.

The ranunculus is a unique flower. The center of the flower always have a different colour. This winter flower comes in yellow, white, red, pink and orange.

Amaryllis are available in many types, like the large flowering, double, dwarf, rare, african and potted amaryllis. And within these types there are many varieties too. Examples are like Snow White, Solomon and Ragtime.

Leucadendrons come in multi colours. Examples of varieties are the Safari Sunset, Perfection, Julie, Dragon Eyes and others.

These are some of the flowers that are considered seasonal. When you order flowers for any occassion, bare in mind that some flowers are seasonal and that’s why they are more expensive.

Liztiany Zakaria is a flower arranging hobbyist who does flower arrangements as a hobby. Visit her site at http://www.flower-arrangement-advisor.com and check out great flower arrangement ideas for the home and any occassion.

The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer.

For all fellow lovers and admirers of flowers here is some background information about flowers. This will help give your flower gift giving and buying a greater context.

Asters

There are over 600 species of asters, the most popular being the Monte Casino. Ancient societies believed that the odor of its leaves, when burnt, drove away serpents. While this might not be as applicable today, perhaps its connotation is still relevant: Giving asters means, “I am not sure whether you have been faithful to me”. Be careful who you send asters to!
Meanings: charming, patience

Bells of Ireland

Although the name suggests these flowers come from Ireland, they originated in western Asia. Bells of Ireland have a spicy/peppery scent and are part of the mint family. They stand for good luck.
Meanings: good luck, whimsy

Carnations

Turn of the century dandies would not leave the house without a white or red carnation in the buttonhole of their suit. With the end of this tradition and the fact that carnations are so easily cultivated and grown, the flower has lost some of its popularity. However, carnations are not only beautiful and long lasting flowers, they also send a message: When you receive a red carnation bouquet, it means, “My heart aches for you” and when you receive white carnations the sender is saying: “I am still available.”
Meanings: fascination, devoted Love

Chrysanthemum

Imagine, chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Chinese gardens for almost 3000 years! The name chrysanthemum comes from the Greek chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Today some of the meanings associated with this flower are: innocence, cheerfulness and loyal love.
Meanings: cheerfulness, innocence

Dahlias

The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico and this is also its birthplace. An old Aztec document states that the Aztecs used dahlias as a treatment for epilepsy. Only in the 19th century did the flower come to Europe where it was bred and cultivated into today’s varieties.
Meanings: dignity, elegance

Iris

Did you know that there are so many different varieties of iris that they can be grown wild year round, in water and on land? Iris was most significant in history as the emblem of France — Fleur-de-Lis — established in the 11th century by the king of France. Today, it is the state flower of Tennessee and its meanings are faith, hope and wisdom.
Meanings: faith, hope, wisdom

Lilies

Lilies have been associated with many ancient myths. They are mentioned in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, and symbolize chastity and virtue. Even today, lilies are associated with purity and faith.
Meanings: purity, faith

Peruvian lilies or alstroemeria are named after the Swedish botanist Baron Klas von Alstroemer. He brought the flower seeds back from a trip to South America in the 18th century.
Meanings: friendship, devotion

Calla lilies were first imported from South Africa to America in the mid-nineteenth century. The waxy white blooms and spearheaded leaves of the calla lily stand for radiant beauty and sophistication.
Meanings: sophistication, beauty

Lisianthus

Lisianthus may sound like a Latin name, but it is one of several common names associated with this plant. It is also referred to as Prairie Gentian, Prairie Rose or Texas Bluebell. The flowers existing today are derived from an American wildflower that is native to prairies ranging from Colorado to Nebraska and down to Texas.
Meanings: outgoing, thoughts

Orchids

During the 19th Century, orchids were widely collected. With nearly 25,000 varieties, some orchids are among the most exquisite and expensive flowers available. In antiquity, orchids were correlated with love and fertility. It was common knowledge that they would protect against diseases. Given as a gift they stand for preciousness and seduction.
Meanings: seduction, preciousness

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are an old decorative flower, widely used by the Romans. From its origin in southern Spain the cultivated form was spread throughout the whole Roman Empire. Nowadays remnants of this original population which all belong to the species Antirrhinum majus are found among Roman remains like temples in southern France, Malta, and Italy. The flower, also called “gracious lady” stands for deception.
Meanings: desire, strength

Roses

With their far-reaching popularity, roses are the queens of flowers. After buttercup, the roses are the second oldest variety of flowers on the planet. Biologists can trace roses back some 200 million years! Although there is a huge number of meanings and symbols associated with roses, the most common of course is love, which originated in Greek mythology. When Aphrodite cried about the death of her lover Adonis, she had red “Adonis Roses” grown with his blood, - thus red roses are the symbol of never-ending love. Important to mention are the roses’ thorns, of which we all probably have some painful memory. Symbolically, love can be painful and full of suffering when not treated carefully.

Red roses: I love you, unconscious beauty
White roses: spiritual love, purity
Yellow roses: joy, gladness
Orange roses: fascinated, enthusiastic
Pink roses: grace, gentility

Tulips

Originally from Persia, tulips were introduced to Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. When growers started to hybridize the flower, they found ways of making it even more decorative. Hybrids of the flower were a scarcity at the time and a symbol of high status. Soon tulips became very popular as a trading product and bulbs were traded at the highest prices. The months of late 1636 to early 1637 would make history in the Netherlands as “Tulipmania”. A bed of tulips was worth up to $5,000, the value of a small house in Amsterdam. The bulbs became currency, and their value was quoted at the stock market.
Meanings: perfect lover, fame

Sunflowers

Sunflowers turn their heads toward the sun and this how they got their common name. They originated in Central and South America. Sunflowers are not only pretty to look at but sunflower seeds are power-packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamin E - all important to the nutritional quality of your diet. Wait! That doesn’t mean you’re supposed to eat the seeds out of your sunflower bouquet.
Meanings: adoration, sunshine

Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com). The company ships farm fresh, hand-tied flowers nationwide.

With Mother’s Day approaching fast, it’s time to begin thinking about how best to express how much Mommy Dearest means to us. If you’re like most, Mother’s Day has become a routine that consists of a greeting card, a bouquet of flowers, and a phone call to say “I love you”. And though mom surely loves the sentiment, perhaps 2005 should be a year when you put a bit more creativity into your gift idea.

How about giving the gift of art? Several businesses across the country create one-of-a-kind, stylish, and sentimental works of art from customers’ photographs, often for a price less than what you’d pay for a mass-produced department store print.

Here are just a few examples:

• What mom wouldn’t want pictures of her kids? Have a baby picture or a photo of siblings playing made into an oil painting;

• Have a picture of mom from when she was younger made into a stunning watercolor portrait;

• Have a pastel or charcoal sketch made form a photo of the family on vacation;

• Have an ink drawing made of mom’s house and garden;

• Feeling bold? Have a close-up shot of mom’s face made into an Andy Warhol style pop art.

The process couldn’t be simpler. You place an order from the company’s website. Typically you can choose from various styles of artwork and even provide special instructions just as you would if you were buying expensive commissioned artwork. Then you send the company your photograph(s). You can upload or email a digital photo, or you can send printed photos by mail. Within a matter of days, a custom work of art will be created from your photograph. Some sites allow you to view a proof of your artwork online so you can request changes. Once you are satisfied, the artwork will be shipped to you.

Prices and quality vary, so be sure to compare once you know what you would like. Some of the companies below (ezPortrait and myDaVinci) offer artwork that is created completely by hand (typically by using low-cost yet qualified artists who live in other countries), while the others utilize primarily digital technology.

Although all of the companies below offer artwork done in an “oil painting” style, many offer far more variety. Check out the unique contemporary styles like “Modern Outline” and “Ghost” that Pictoart offers. Photowow offers a couple fun “Comic” options. These more abstract and whimsical styles provide an artistic alternative to the standard impressionistic oil painting and may look more at home in modern d?cors.

Some customers like to play a role in selecting colors and composition for the final artwork. All of the services below will be happy to take into account any special requests, so you can be sure the finished work of art will complement mom’s sofa fabric. In addition, with the exception of Canvas on Demand, all the services provide a digital proofing process that allows customers to preview the artwork and request changes before the final artwork is shipped.

Prices will depend on whether the art is created on paper or stretched canvas, which style is chosen, and how large the final work is. It seemed that all of the services reviewed use professional quality materials, including acid-free paper and archival-quality gicl?e printing processes.

Be sure you fully understand the guarantee and return policy before placing an order. Being able to view a digital proof before your order is shipped provides quite a bit of peace of mind that what Mom gets will be something she loves. However, it’s good to know that you can get a refund if you aren’t completely satisfied once the art arrives at your door. While both Canvas on Demand and Pictoart provide full 30-day money back guarantees (minus S&H), myDaVinci will only provide store credit. Photowow states that it will provide a full refund if you return your item within 10 days of receipt, but another page on their site also indicates that the “design” portion of their fee is not refundable. Both ezPortrait and Photosyrup had unclear or nonexistent policies regarding customer options for refunds once the proof is approved and the product is shipped. If you’re worried, be sure to ask before placing an order.

Here is a summary of six popular services that create artwork from photos (listed in alphabetical order):

Canvas on Demand www.canvasondemand.com

Products: Framed and unframed stretched canvas; 8″x10″ up to 24″x36″

Styles of Artwork: Oil Painting

Turnaround Time: 4-5 days to completion

Online Proof: No

Guarantee: 30 day 100% refund (minus S&H)

Prices: $60 to $200; additional fees for adding brush stokes and retouching; $15-25 for S&H

Baseline Price*: $193 + $25 S&H

Comments: Limited product choices, straightforward ordering process (some order form and shopping cart errors encountered)

Overall Rating**: 3 out of 5

ezPortrait www.ezportrait.com

Products: Unframed stretched canvas and art paper; 12″x16″ up to 24″x36″

Styles of Artwork: Oil Painting & Pastel/Charcoal

Turnaround Time: 12-14 days to proof completion

Online Proof: A digital photo is emailed to customer for approval

Guarantee: Refund if customer is not happy with online proof

Prices: $200 to $400 for portraits with one person; additional fees for additional people; free standard shipping; $30 priority shipping

Baseline Price: $400 + $30 S&H

Comments: These works are done completely by hand, simple ordering process, specializes in portraits

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

myDaVinci www.mydavinci.com

Products: Framed and unframed stretched canvas and artist paper; 8″x10″ up to 36″x48″

Styles of Artwork: Over 20 styles including: Oil Painting, Watercolor, Pencil, Pop, Caricatures, Etching

Turnaround Time: 14-21 days (depending on style chosen)

Online Proof: Yes, but may cost extra for some products

Guarantee: 30 day 100% refund for store credit only

Prices: $50 to $600 for portraits with one person; additional fees for additional people; free standard shipping on some products

Baseline Price: $500 + $18 S&H

Comments: Many works are done completely by hand, many styles to choose from, ordering process and prices vary by artwork style making it more difficult to determine price or compare options

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5

Photosyrup www.photosyrup.com

Products: Unframed stretched canvas and artist paper; 12″x12″ up to 24″x36″

Styles of Artwork: Pop, Oil Painting, Collage

Turnaround Time: 5-10 days to proof completion

Online Proof: A digital photo is emailed to customer for approval

Guarantee: No policy provided

Prices: $120 to $215 for portraits with one person; additional fees for additional people

Baseline Price: $200 + $9 S&H (standard shipping)

Comments: Must create account before placing an order, no clear refund policy, shipping fees not listed until order fully entered

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5

Photowow www.photowow.com

Products: Framed and unframed stretched canvas and artist paper; 11″x14″ up to 48″x60″; additional products like mugs, pillows, shirts, etc.

Styles of Artwork: Over 20 styles including: Pop, Collage, Oil Painting, Comic, Watercolor

Turnaround Time: 7 days to proof completion

Online Proof: A digital proof is viewable on their website for customer approval Guarantee: 10 day 100% refund; however, order cancellation fees may apply

Prices: $140 to $550; additional fees for additional people for some styles; fees for design, print, and canvas stretching

Baseline Price: $389 + $34 S&H

Comments: Many styles to choose from, straightforward ordering process, fees for additional options cause prices to increase quickly

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Pictoart www.pictoart.com

Products: Framed and unframed stretched canvas and artist paper; 4″x6″ up to 30″x60″

Styles of Artwork: 14 styles including Pop, Oil, Watercolor, Etching, Cutout, Ghost, Sketch

Turnaround Time: 3 days to proof completion

Online Proof: A digital proof is viewable on their website for customer approval

Guarantee: 30 day 100% refund (minus S&H)

Prices: $50 to $370; no additional fees for multiple people or different styles; $8 to $40 for S&H

Baseline Price: $369 + $39 S&H

Comments: Many styles to choose from, straightforward ordering process; clear pricing for all products and shipping

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

This year, rather than sending mom a bouquet of flowers, how about sending her a beautiful painting of flowers from her garden! So round up a few great photos and give the gift of art. Not only will it make her wall look good, it’ll make you look good too.

* For effective comparison, a baseline product was chosen that all six services offer: A 24″x36″ unframed work of a single subject done in an “oil painting” style and created on stretched canvas. USPS Priority shipping (or equivalent) was chosen.

** Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 = poor, 3 = fair, 5 = excellent.

About The Author
William Jacobson - Freelance Writer and Thoughtful Son

Ordering flowers has long been surrounded with uncertainty, mystery and even fear. Will my flower delivery be fresh? How do I choose the right bouquet? Is a floral arrangement even appropriate? Here’s everything you need to know to remove the mystery from flower delivery.

Why Hesitate to Buy Flowers?
It’s inconceivable that anyone would hesitate to buy flowers when nearly everyone can remember the last time they received flowers, even if it was thirty years ago. Flowers make that powerful of an impression. Flowers are living. They fill the senses, with color, scent and emotion. They change the atmosphere of a room and are noticed every time you walk by.

Can Flowers Make the Wrong Impression?
While some gifts can be inappropriate or mis-interpreted for their intension, flowers are more versatile. You can give flowers to your sweetheart, wife, sister, mother, grandmother, boyfriend, neighbor, employee, boss and even someone you wish was your sweetheart with no regrets. You can always give a gift of flowers to show appreciation, friendship or simply neighborliness.

Where we live, in Moscow, Russia, flowers are a solid tradition to bring when invited for dinner, and even though they’re so commonplace, they never fail to wow the one receiving them. Flowers open the heart, melt the ice and make an unmistakable statement of affection and appreciation.

Flowers never arouse jealousy because they’re a gift that is absolutely pure. I remember when my brother brought flowers to my fiance the first time he met her. I thought it was incredibly kind. The flowers melted her heart, and I was absolutely impressed by his class and sensitivity. What a great first impression!

Of course it must be said that flowers make a wonderful apology. Leaders of the world would do well to send flowers to their adversaries. World peace would reign.

Flowers Aren’t Only For Women
Is there a masculine floral arrangement? I think all flowers can be masculine. Yes, you can send a guy roses. He won’t wonder what’s up. He’ll simply receive your affection and love you forever. If you have a problem with sending a guy flowers, there are plenty of alternatives. All florists have great green plants, small trees, flowering plants and bonsais. How about blue roses for something wild? Any one of them will be received with gratitude.

What’s the Occasion?
That’s a question you love to hear! Why? Because you can answer, “Oh, no reason!” That says volumes. Of course don’t miss the holidays such as Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries and Mother’s Day. You need to order several floral arrangements on Mother’s Day for all the mothers in your life.

Don’t forget those people you know who might be overlooked. Draw them into your world with flowers. However, flowers can make an even greater impact of love and affection when there is absolutely no occasion attached. Order flowers just because.

What’s The Appeal?
Flowers feed the creative soul in the giver and receiver. Both sending and receiving flowers is living art. Flowers are an expression of the heart of the giver that transcends words. that’s why we give flowers, because the colors, shapes and living motion say things which words or even a note card could never say. You can send a card, but it’s likely only read once or twice. Yet, flowers exclaim their messages for days. Every glance sends another nuance of love, appreciation and affection that can be expressed in no other way.

What’s the Problem with Ordering Flowers?
Perhaps this is where the fear of ordering flowers lies. Guys, especially, think they need some special skill or knowledge to properly order flowers because it’s a creative thing. Not so. You can get expert help from a florist to choose an arrangement that’s perfect. Today, there is no reason you can’t order on-line and select exactly what you want and have it sent overnight or if you’ve procrastinated, same-day. On-line ordering takes only a few moments and is incredibly secure and easy.

What kinds of Flowers to Order?
That’s easy. Variety. I’ve heard it said, “Don’t order roses on Valentine’s Day.” Why? Because it’s what’s anticipated. Flowers should be a pleasant surprise, so mix it up and order what’s in season. Try different colors of roses, such as yellow, pink, salmon or even mixed. Try different arrangements of seasonal flowers and discover the magic of variety and surprise.

In the west, you can pretty much order any number of flowersa dozen, eighteen, twenty-four or even three roses. Keep in mind that in the east, such as Russia and former Soviet states, you don’t want to order an even number. Order only odd numbers of flowers, as even numbers are for funerals.

How to Handle Flowers
If you’re buying a bouquet from your local florist, plan to get your flowers to water fairly quickly. Often, the florist can put the stems in a little tube of water to buy you some time. If you’re not going far, an easy tip is simply to hold the flowers with blossoms down allowing gravity to do it’s job for the fifteen or twenty minutes it takes to get them to a vase of water.

Order Only Quality Fresh Flowers
Don’t order artificial flowers. It was in style once, and it will hopefully never happen again. Whenever possible order direct from the grower because you insure the freshest possible flowers with minimal handling and damage. Flowers can be delivered from the grower very inexpensively.

Take a Minute to Get Prepared
When ordering on-line, have the address and phone number handy of the one to whom you’re sending a floral arrangement as well as a short message that you’ll include. Also have your credit card nearby with the billing address. Order a day or two ahead of when you’d like your flowers delivered. For a Friday delivery, order on Thursday.

Building a Relationship Builds Confidence
When you order from the same growers each time, you learn their offerings and routine. You come to trust them and know what you’ll get with no surprises. Visit our page, Colors of TheRomanticWay for flower bouquet ideas for any occasion.

Send Flowers Today
Why not begin a tradition which you’ll never regret? Order flowers for someone now and see how it feels.

Rod Froseth is a freelance writer, photographer and webmaster of http://www.theromanticway.com, inspiration for a romantic way of life. Visit TheRomanticWay to subscribe to Rod’s free ezine, “Along TheRomanticWay”, here http://www.theromanticway.com/romantic-ideas-ezine.html.

Mulching is the practice of placing a loose surface onto the surface of soil in your flower or vegetable garden in order to protect, insulate and beautify the area. This loose covering is called a mulch and it can be either of an organic or inorganic variety. Examples of mulches include compost, stone and grass clippings. Every gardener should understand the many benefits of mulching the soil in their garden. This article will discuss the benefits of mulching, how to choose the correct mulch and have a quick look at some of the different types of organic and inorganic mulches available.

Benefits of Mulching
Let us explore some benefits of mulching:

Prevents soil erosion - Soil erosion happens when winds or water slowly wear away the surface of soil and remove it. Mulching your soil will prevent this as there is now a protective, replaceable layer.that comes between the surface of the soil and the forces of nature above it.

Insulates the soil in winter - The harsh temperatures of winter can be unkind. Mulching the soil in winter will insulate the soil preventing it from repeated patterns of freezing and thawing and will insulate plant roots. It prevents heaving (buckling upward) of soil in spring. Mulch should be applied to the soil when it has frozen and removed in spring only when there is no danger of further frosts. Winter-mulched soil thaws out more quickly in the spring.

Cools down soil in summer - A layer of mulch in summer protects the soil beneath from the extreme heats of summer and reduces the need for constant watering i.e. water retention is improved.

Helps against soil compaction - The layer of mulch acts as a buffer or extra layer between entities that can cause compaction on the soil below e.g. people, equipment, heavy rains.

Improves appearance - A mulch applied to your bed can make it look more complete and attractive. This varies from mulch to mulch as some are more attractive and natural looking than others.

Prevents weed growth - One of the more useful benefits of mulching is in weed prevention. While the mulch itself will not stop weeds from germinating it serves to act as a barrier between the weeds and the outside world above. When a weed reaches the mulch layer it will not be able to break above it and it will eventually die back. Some mulches perform this weed prevention feature better than others. Depth of mulch is also a contributing factor. Care should be taken however when selecting mulches as some mulches like grass clippings and straw may actually contain weed seeds.

Keeps fruit and vegetables clean - A layer of mulch reduces the chances of fruit and vegetables getting dirty from splashes from the soil below.

Choosing the Correct Mulch for Your Garden
Careful thought should be given when choosing a mulch to apply to your garden as each is different and should fit in with your exact requirements. Here are some common factors that should be considered:

Soil pH suitability - Some mulches like bark mulch and pine needle mulch can affect the pH value of soil so they are best used on soils containing acid-loving plants.

Removal in spring - Certain mulches need to be removed in spring because they can smother emerging plants. Examples include stone mulch and bark chips.

Cost - Is cost a limiting factor in your choice of mulches? If so you can find your mulch for free if you choose certain types. If you keep a compost heap then you will have compost for mulching. Other free mulches (if you have the sources) are pine needles and grass clippings.

Appearance - Do you care about how the bed will look when the mulch is applied? Each mulch adds a different look and depending on the design of your garden you may want to choose a mulch that matches it in colour and texture.

Penetration by water and air - Some mulches are better at allowing water and air to pass through them than others. This may be important depending on a plant’s watering requirements.

Addition of nutrients to the soil - Organic mulches add nutrients back into the soil when they decompose. The nutrient types and their amounts added back into the soil depend on the mulch and it varies quite a bit. Using compost as a mulch guarantees plenty of nutrients for your plants.

Some Types of Organic Mulch
This type of mulch once used to be living material and as such will decompose over time. During their decomposition vital nutrients will be added back into your soil. However you may want to avoid using organic mulches if you have rodent problems. Some common organic mulches are:

Compost - Mulches and feeds the soils as it decomposes. This mulch is free if you have access to your own compost heap. Apply at a depth of 1 - 3 inches.

Pine Needles - Commonly used with acid soils. Cheap, looks great and allows water to pass through freely to the soil below. It decomposes quite slowly however. Apply to a depth of 1 - 1.5 inches

Straw - Provides great insulation, water penetration and weed control. Care should be taken that straw does not contain weed seeds itself. Apply to a depth of 6 - 8 inches.

Grass Clippings - Readily available and decomposes quite quickly adding nitrogen back into the soil. Try not to apply too fresh as it can heat up quite a bit and possibly cause damage to your plants. Apply to a depth of 1 inch.

Newspaper - Provides great weed control and is readily available. Apply another mulch on top to keep it in place. Apply in 2 layer sections.

Some Types of Inorganic Mulch
Inorganic mulches are inert materials that have not originated from living material. Sometimes inorganic and organic mulches are used in conjunction with one another. For example a geotextile (inorganic mulch) may be covered and held in place by bark chips (organic mulch). Some common inorganic mulches are:

Stone - Looks great and provides great insulation. If removal in spring is a factor in your choice of mulch avoid using stone. Degrades very, very slowly. Apply to a depth of 2 - 4 inches.

Plastic - Does not decompose so it does not add anything into the soil. Acts as a great weed control and is easily laid. Must be perforated to allow water to pass through. Apply in a thickness of 1 - 6 mm.

Geotextile - Expensive blanket-like synthetic fiber that provides great weed control and allows for water penetration. Almost always used in conjunction with a cover mulch (e.g. bark chips). Apply in a single layer.

Conclusion
In this article we looked at the many benefits of mulching and the different types available. Maybe take the time today to decide which mulch to use in your garden if you have not mulched in the past. You may be surprised at how cheap the process can be if you use mulches such as compost from your compost heap, grass clippings from your lawn cuttings and/or the Sunday newspapers! Happy mulching.

Frank Kilkelly is the webmaster at GardenStew.com, a great home and garden community containing a gardening forum and gardening blogs.

Original article location:
Mulching Benefits / Organic and Inorganic Mulch Types

Cabbage Roses Are Blooming Everywhere!

Sew Some Up Fast And Easy!

Have you noticed all the fabric flowers adorning garments these days? Take a look around the department stores.

They are everywhere on everything on people and in homes.

Fabric flowers can be very expensive to buy.

But, you can sew your own with just some scraps of fabric and a little time.

Here is a simple technique for sewing cabbage roses in minutes.

I like two sizes of roses. The smaller one requires bias cut fabric 3″ wide x 15″ long.

The larger rose is 5″ wide x 27″ long.

Try a sample of each to see what you like. Of course, you can make them any width or length. Experiment. Remember that the weight of the fabric makes a difference.

Just know that the length and width of the piece of true bias fabric needed depends on the size that you want the rose to be when finished.

Fold the width in half with the right sides out and wrong sides together. Do not press.

Make tiny slits along the raw edges of the double bias fabric. This will prevent the bias from curling when you stitch and wrap it into a rose.

A side note: This is a good trick to know to keep bias from twisting in other areas of your sewing.

Either machine or hand baste 1/4″ from the raw edges matching slits on the edges as you sew.

Pull the baste stitching to gather up the fabric slightly.

Tuck in one of the raw edge ends. That will be the center of the rose.

Now, roll or wrap the gathered fabric around itself loosely.

When it is all wrapped, pull the other end down under the rose to hide it and tuck it in. Pin in place.

Thread a needle with a single thread run through beeswax to strengthen the thread and keep it from tangling. I also like to run the thread under the iron to melt the wax into the thread. This is another great tip to remember for all your hand sewing.

Then take hand stitches back and forth across the bottom of the rose to hold all the layers together nicely and secure the loose end.

On the outside, turn the folded edges back a little to look like a flower.

NOTE: The more you gather the thread, the flatter the flower. Looser gathers make the flower stand up more. You have to experiment with the gathers to get the look you want.

Remember, no pressing required.

Now you want to make your rose look finished on the back.

Press some fusible interfacing to a scrap of matching rose fabric. Draw a circle about the size of the bottom of the base of your flower.

Cut out the circle. The interfacing will keep it from fraying.

Hand stitch the circle to the bottom of your rose to cover all the raw edges.

You can attach a pin back to the bottom or sew the rose directly to your garment. I prefer a pin back so I can easily remove the rose and use it for other garments, hats, scarves, etc.

I’ve seen these roses embellishing a wedding gown that was absolutely stunning.

Use some unique fabrics to make your roses. Try prints, stripes, plaids, etc. Have some fun!

You might even try making some roses from men’s old neckties. Necktie fabric is already cut bias.

Extra tip: Save the interfacing from the ties to make new ties.

To keep your roses looking fresh and to keep from being crushed, put small roses in Leggs hosiery plastic eggs.

For larger roses, make a ring out of cardboard from an old file folder or cereal box. Place it around the rose and tape it to the right size for the rose.

Use your roses on your lapel, in your hair, to hold a scarf, decorate a hat, embellish any garment or on a special gift instead of a bow.

How about some cabbage roses on decorative pillows or your evening bags or put them on your curtain tie-backs.

I’ve even seen them on a ribbon wrapped around some towels in the bathroom! Really gorgeous!

Make your own floral arrangement to match your decor.

It just makes sense to do it yourself!

Use your imagination! You are the designer!

They are quick to make as gifts.

Sew bouquets of fun!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

©2005 Marian Lewis - All Rights Reserved - 1st Step To Sewing Success

Marian Lewis is a sewing instructor and the creator of an amazing new fitting method for hard-to-fit sewing folks.

In her ebook, “Common Sense Fitting Method For Hard-To-Fit Sewing Folks Who Want Great Fitting Skirts And Pants”, find out step-by-step WHAT you really need, WHERE you really need it and HOW to apply that to a commercial sewing pattern.

For more information, go to: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/fitting.html

Marian is also the author of other eBooks related to sewing including, “Sew A Tee Pee And Accessories For Your Tribe Of Kids” where she teaches basic sewing techniques while you have fun doing it!

To learn more, go to: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com/sewing.html

To discover sewing and fitting secrets to achieve sewing success, follow the link: => http://www.1ststeptosewingsuccess.com

Great Wedding Decoration Themes

Are you planning your wedding on your own? This scan be a huge undertaking but also a lot of fun. It will allow you to customize and create every tiny detail for that special day. One of the most difficult parts of planning a wedding is the wedding decorations. If you are planning out your wedding already then you are probably the do it yourself type of person and will want to find ways to make your own wedding decorations for cheap. However you don’t want them to look cheap. Below are a collection of different ideas that you can use while planning your wedding decorations.

Wedding Decoration with Balloons
When done carefully balloons can be a wonderful decoration for a wedding. They set a light and celebratory mood for the guests and are yet very classy looking. Typically you will want to stick with white and pale or pastel types of colors for the balloons. You might want to plan the balloons to match the colors or theme of your wedding and even the bridesmaid dresses. Keep in mind that this does not have to be an exact match of colors but you want colors in a similar range. So if the bridesmaid dresses are a dark purple then you will want the balloons to be in a range of purple colors.

Another great benefit of using balloons for as part of the wedding decorations is they can easily be taken from the church to the wedding reception. In fact if you really want to save money while still looking classy you can easily do a large balloon arch at the wedding and then break the arch down into smaller pieces or groups of five or six balloons and then make these into table centerpiece for the reception. This comes with one piece of advice though. If you are the bride and groom don’t try to take the arch down yourself, instead enlist the help of a few friends.

Wedding Decorations using Flower
Of course everyone has seen the flower as part of a wedding decoration. This is honestly nothing new. However many people really like a more traditional look and something more timeless then the light and fun environment created by balloons. In that case flowers are the way to go. You can easily by flowers in bulk from a local florist or even a grower and then make your decorations including table centerpieces, decorations for the pews and alter and so on a day or so ahead. This will be a little more expensive typically then balloons but the mood that it sets in the chapel or church and again at the reception is well worth it. Again if you plan ahead some of the decorations from the church can be broken down into small pieces and then used as table decorations.

Wedding Decoration and Pictures
Pictures are a wonderful way to really add to the decorations both at the church and the reception. Often the wedding guests have not sent he bride and groom for a while and seeing updated and recent pictures of the couple together can be a nice touch. It makes those long lost cousins and relatives feel like they have shared a part of your life. It does not take much but a few well placed large pictures of the bride and groom can really add a lot. You will most likely want to vary the pictures, poses and setting that the pictures were taken in. it is nice to mix both formal pictures with fun family photos also. This gives the guests a real feel of sharing in your life. Once again pictures are a easy decoration that can be used again at the reception. In fact you might not feel comfortable using the pictures at the actual wedding and if that is the case don’t worry just use the pictures as wedding reception decorations.

Butterfly Wedding Decoration
A trend that has been growing for many modern weddings is a butterfly release. Instead of throwing the traditional rice a release of butterflies as the new couple exists the church can be a wonderful and classy touch. The butterflies will make for wonderful wedding pictures, this is harmless to the environment and it creates a beautiful display of color. You might want to pick up on the butterfly theme even more and use butterflies and butterfly graphics in decoration the reception room. There are a ton of places online and in local craft stores that you can find all kinds of great butterfly resources to use for decorating a reception hall. For example napkin rings with butterflies in them can easily carry the theme. It is often just a light touch and a few nice quality pieces are all that is need to carry a theme.

These are just a few of the fun ideas that you can use to make your own wedding decorations for much cheaper then buying them. Often if you search around the internet for wholesale or discount wedding decorations you can find great deals on things. By being creative and putting in a little elbow grease yourself you can easily save a ton of money and have a completely original wedding. Unique wedding decorations really add the extra touch of class that everyone will rave about for a long time to come.

Plan Best Wedding.
A great resource for: wedding planning articles including
wedding decorations using butterflies,
balloons, pictures or flowers and more.

Blogs are quickly making their way into mainstream consumer companies. Once the domain of high tech businesses and political websites, blogs are now commonplace on the web. Some consumer products companies that are using blogs to communicate with their customers include GM, Stonyfield Farms, and Ice.com.

One recent estimate suggests that 80,000 blogs are created every day. Blogs can be used for many reasons including announcing new products or sales, creating an ongoing conversation with customers, posting the thoughts of the company’s CEO, or even creating buzz with controversial postings. While businesses can use blogs as a way to enhance their brand, they need to do so carefully. Even though blogs can be created in less than 5 minutes, a great deal of thought needs to be given to them, more than might seem necessary at first glance. My company’s experience with creating a blog can hopefully serve others well.

With all the talk recently about blogs, we wanted to position our flower company, Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com), as on the cutting edge - as more than just another place to buy flowers. We wanted to start a blog to serve as a place to provide unusual and interesting information about all things floral, from flower gardening tips to art exhibits featuring flowers, to fun facts about flowers. It would be a way to interact with customers and hopefully provide content they find informative, useful, and even funny.

We initially thought that getting the blog up and running would be easy, but it quickly became apparent that there were many issues to be thought out. Some of these included whether or not to encase the blog within our existing website or create a separate domain to house it, who would write the flower blog, and what to talk about. Additionally, the company wrestled with what blog platform to use such as Blogger, pMachine, Typepad, or Wordpress. Ultimately, we decided to bring in a consultant to assist us in the design and development of the blog, blogging expert Paul Chaney, from internet marketing firm Radiant Marketing Group (http://www.radiantmarketinggroup.com). Besides designing the blog to fit in with the existing template of the business using Wordpress, Paul also helped generate awareness by publicizing the flower blog on various blog search engines such as Technorati and creating a press release to announce it. He also contacted webmasters of other blogs who share similar themes to ours to include a link to us in their blogroll.

What to write about was a hot topic of conversation in our company. We decided that the blog should not be a blatant sales pitch with its only purpose being to advertise the company. The flower blog would serve to communicate our company’s love for flowers and deepen our brand’s connection with customers. The more interesting content we can provide, the more enjoyable our site will become to visitors, and this should help convert some visitors into buyers.

Ideally a blog should fit in with the brand personality of the rest of the company. If our website was dull, then readers might not understand the blog’s purpose or context, but because the website is lighthearted in tone, we can write about a wide variety of topics on the blog. Recent posts include ones about a new computer game about flowers, England’s effort to improve public bathrooms with fresh flowers, how to plant fall flowers, and rare orchids found in Idaho. Do not underestimate the resources needed for blogging. Posting on a daily basis takes a significant time commitment.

We looked to other companies as examples of how to use a blog that fits in with the brand. Stonyfield Farms (http://www.stonyfieldfarms.com/weblog/) features 4 blogs to talk about topics that don’t directly relate to its core yogurt product, such as “Baby Babble,” a blog for parents to talk about their babies and “Strong Women Daily News.” Here, the company is using its brand position as an environmentally responsible company to entice its customers to share in other “responsible” areas such as parenting.

The NBA blog (http://www.nba.com/blog/) is an example we learned from - to try to avoid. Its purpose is to provide “a varied collection of insiders, media members and fans from around the world who will share their thoughts about the NBA, WNBA, and whatever else comes to mind.” The problem here is a lack of consistency. Posts seem to be put up on a random basis so you don’t know when to come back to read another one. For example, the blog posted on August 26 and then did not have another post until October 18! Why would any visitor keep visiting the site to read the blog if nothing new is posted on a timely basis? Furthermore, some NBA players have recently posted their journals, but there is no signal as to when, if ever, the same or any other player will post another journal entry. Finally, the topics and writers are all over the board - from a writer in France to Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to posts about the WNBA. It all leads to a poor customer experience.

GM and Ice.com both write blogs which have garnered media attention and a ton of buzz. GM has generated a cult like following for Vice Chairman Bob Lutz’s weekly controversial observations about the auto industry (http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/). Ice.com has 3 blogs, 2 of which are not hosted on the main website itself. Each blog is consistent and clear in its purpose. The company can accomplish various goals in different settings - showing Ice.com’s recent press coverage, a tongue in cheek look at celebrity jewelry, and tips from a jewelry expert (http://blog.ice.com/, http://www.sparklelikethestars.com/, and http://www.justaskleslie.com/)

However blogs are utilized, a little extra thought behind it can enhance a brand. Through continually posting new content, customers leaving comments, and the viral nature of blogs, visiting your website can become a “must-see” daily activity for your customers.

Josh Grossman is cofounder of online florist Beyond Blossoms (http://www.beyondblossoms.com). The company’s mission is to send flowers fresh from the farms at low prices and with great designs.

There are several types of exotic flowers to best suit any occasion. And of course, depending on your personal taste, you will want to choose the best exotic flowers you can obtain to be the perfect flowers, the most adequate for the purpose they will be serving. For example: at someone’s funeral, you may want to choose bouquet of flowers that the deceased would have loved. Here are some other examples (after all, these flowers are for happy occasions as well as the more tragic ones.

Musas:

The Chinese Musa flower is a stunning example of the kinds of exotic flowers that are perfect for gardens or bouquets.

Calatheas:

The exotic flower called the Genus Calathea is in the Marantaceae family of plowers, however it differs from other genera. The Marantaceae family of exotic flowers, in which Maranta and Ctenanthe are included, are unbranched inflorescences cone-like clusters.

The calathea comes from tropical South America, Calathea, it has about three hundred different species. These flowers love the shade and humidity, they are virtually all grown in much of the world only indoors. These flowers require full shade from the sun. However, if they must, they can handle a small amount of morning sun. These exotic flowers need their soil to be moist but well-drained soil, the use of a fertilizer is recommended.

When, on the rare occasion that these exotic flowers are grown outsideyou must be sure that they are healthy, they must be free from all pests and diseases. Some of calathea will die midwinter, but will return again midsummer.

Cymbidiums:

Cymbidiums contain approximately forty-four species they are found in the tropics of the old world. The elegant, large flowered types of cymbidiums come from the higher regions of the Himalayas, and they must be kept in cool conditions in order to bloom well.

Dendrobiums:

Dendrobiums actually have about one thousand different species in their enormous family, they have countess hybrids as well. However, there are many varied growing conditions for this type of exotic flower. It is recommended that one establish from where in the world, and at what altitude their plant is accustom to, in order to determine how to best take care of the plant.

Miltonias:

Miltonias are referred to as the Pansy Orchid sometimes. There are approximately ten different kinds of species, and miltonias are found primarily in Brazil, therefore they are warm-weather flowers, and there are many hybrids with wonderful fragrance, because the militona is such a fragrant flower to begin with. These flowers will add a wonderful sensory ambiance to their surroundings, because in addition to their scent they are extremely pleasing to the eye.

Odontoglossums:

Odontoglossums also have a wide range of species, approximately 0ne hundred and seventy-five. These exotic flowers originated in the mountains of South America, as well as in higher altitudes and are used to wet clouded forests. Thus these wonderful flowers must be tended to under cool conditions, many hybrids exist as well, so there are many types to choose from.

Oncidiums:

These are among the most popular exotic flowers and there are approximately six hundred different species in existence. They come from the tropics of the Americas, and few of them even grow in high altitudes, these also must be supervised under cooler conditions. Fortunately, the hybrids are more tolerant than the species, you will find that this is true for most plants.

Paphiopedilums:

Paphiopedilums, the root word being Paphiniawho was the greek Goddess that the Romans later named Venus. Around sixty species exist, coming from Asia India and New Guinea. There are species with mottled leaved which need to be kept in warm conditions. And the paphiopedilums that are plain leaved and single flowered require intermediate/cool conditions, and plain leaved multiflowered species have to have warm environments to survive.

Phalaenopsis:

Phalaenopsis, or the exotic flower that is often called the Moth Orchid comes from Java and the South Seas, the Phillipines and Queensland Australia. Therefore, they are definitely warm weather growers, and they do prefer to be in the shade. Phalaenopsis would make the perfect houseplant, they are very free flowering and also make great gifts.

Vandas:

Vandas have approximately fifty species. Several hybrids have been derived from the tropics, Asia, and the orientas far down as Australia. These hybrids require a warm environment that includes plenty of bright light. Many people hang them in their homes or gardens from wooden baskets.

Water Gardening:

Water Lilies and Lotuses are a beautiful touch to your pond, or waterfall etc. Major cultivars of water lilies and lotusesalmost all of which are hybridizersexplore the best landscapes in which to grow these exotic flowers.

Nymphaea and Nelumbo:

The genera Nymphaea and Nelumbo are beautiful species of exotic flowers, other genera in the waterlily family include Nuphar, Victoria, Euryale, Barclaya

Draecena:

Draecena (otherwise known as the dragon’s tree) is an exotic flower that neither requires regular watering, nor does it need much light at all. It’s a symbol of power and prosperity. These flowers may live up to one thousand years. A perfect gift for yourself or a friend or family member who does not have that much time for gardening, but would love to have a beautiful garden, however small, and something elegant and exotic to pass on for generations to come.

Anyone can add a striking touch of color to their home, or even the office with the elegant of wild exotic flowers. Exotic plants and flowers add a beautiful touch to any garden, home, patio or yard, as well as weddings, celebrations, banquets, and more solemn occasions.

5Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on gardening please visit Exotic Flowers.Exotic Plants and Flowers.

Camellias

Named by Linnaeus in 1735 in honour of the Jesuit priest and naturalist Georg Josef Kamel, Camellia is a genus originating mainly from China but with a range covering a large area of South East Asia. The exact number of species is not clear but it is somewhere around 100. Camellia is an important commercial genus because of one species, Camellia sinensis, the plant from which tea is made.

Most gardeners recognise two main groups of camellias, the autumn flowering and the spring flowering. However, it is not quite that simple. Whenever a genus of many species (such as
Rhododendron, Rosa or Camellia) is used to produce a multitude of hybrids distinct groups tend to form.

There are four main camellia groups: Japonica, Reticulata, Sasanqua and Hybrid, with a number of smaller groups based around less common species, such as Camellia hiemalis, and inter-specific hybrids, such as Camellia ? williamsii (Camellia japonica ? Camellia saluensis).

It’s a commonly held belief among gardeners that Sansanquas are the autumn flowering camellias while the rest are spring flowerers. That’s not really true, certainly the Sasanquas are usually the first to bloom but with careful selection and siting it is possible to have more or less continuous flowering from early autumn to late spring.

Cultivation

Camellias are often associated with rhododendrons and azaleas and, while not that closely related, they certainly prefer similar conditions. This is not at all surprising as they come from similar climates and can often be found growing together in the wild.

Camellias are generally less tolerant of extreme cold than the hardiest rhododendrons but they are by no means fussy plants. Most species and hybrids are hardy throughout the country, needing no protection except perhaps in very cold winter areas, and the summers here are
not usually hot and dry enough to cause much damage.

To get the best out of your camellias it is important that you follow the same soil preparation methods as recommended for rhododendrons. Camellias have stronger and deeper roots but they still require the same moist, humus filled, loose, well-oxygenated topsoil if they are to thrive. Likewise regular mulching is always beneficial.

Camellias prefer a neutral to acid soil and will not tolerate the extreme acidity that most rhododendrons will. On highly acid soils the addition of small amounts of dolomite lime will not only increase the pH but will allow easier uptake of nutrients.

Once established most camellias seem to get by quite well without too much attention but they are subject to the same chlorosis problems as rhododendrons so occasional supplementary feeding is recommended. Containerised camellias should be fed regularly as they are far more subject to deficiencies due to their limited root spread.

Camellias do best in sheltered positions in light shade or where they get only morning sun. This is not so much for the plant’s sake as the flowers’. The plants will tolerate exposed sunny sites but the flowers won’t. Too dense shade will promote lank growth and reduce flowering. Too sunny and the flowers will burn and drop prematurely. A site that is exposed to strong winds will dramatically shorten the life of any flowers but especially camellias.

Disbudding

Many camellias set large quantities of flower buds that often result in densely crowded small bloom. Thinning out the more densely packed and weaker flower buds will produce larger blooms of better shape.

Propagation

Camellias are not always easy to propagate without specialised equipment. Seed germinates well but is of limited usefulness as it can only be used to raise new cultivars or to propagate species. Selected forms must be propagated vegetatively.

Cuttings should be taken just as the new growth is hardening off. This is usually around the end of November. Take new tip growth cuttings that are about 100-150 mm long and follow the procedures outlined in the propagation chapter. The cuttings may take several months to strike without mist or bottom heat.

Layering is very successful with camellias but frequently there are no branches close enough to ground level to layer. In such cases aerial layering is a reliable, if slow, method.

Occasionally a camellia cultivar fails to perform well on its own roots. In which case grafting onto a more vigorous stock may be necessary. Standard camellias are nearly always produced by grafting rather than simply training a standard stem.

Cleft grafting is the usual method used, however, saddle grafts and side wedges will work too. Budding is seldom used but there is no reason why it shouldn’t be successful. Specialised methods, such as seed grafts, are sometimes used but these are for genuine enthusiasts that are prepared to experiment.

Pests And Diseases

Camellias are relatively disease free but you may occasionally encounter one of the following problems.

Viral diseases

These are quite common among camellias, in fact, viruses are sometimes deliberately introduced to obtain variegated flowers and foliage. The most common virus shows up as a bright yellow leaf margin. This is known as virus induced variegation. In minor cases it does little harm but it can weaken a plant by reducing the amount of available chlorophyll. Virus diseases cannot be cured, once infected the plant remains infected.

Phytophthora root rot

This disease affects many types of plants, particularly those that prefer acid woodland conditions. This fungus disease kills the plant’s roots, which leads to the characteristic wilted appearance and ultimately death. Generally the symptoms are not obvious until too late. Prevention through ensuring that the soil is well drained is the best method. Plants can sometimes be saved by washing off the soil, removing the dead roots, drenching with fungicide then replanting in a well-drained position but it’s seldom worth the effort.

Leaf gall

A fungal disease similar to that seen on evergreen azaleas occasionally occurs on camellias. It causes a thickening and distorting of the leaves, which is eventually become white with fungal spores. Remove any affected leaves and spray the plant with a fungicide. Do not allow affected leaves to drop near the plant.

Petal blight

This fungal disease cause the flowers to degenerate to watery mush and can damage much of the crop. Control with fungicides prior to bud break and remove any fallen petals from around infected bushes.

Die-back

This can be a serious, even fatal, problem. The foliage of young branches wilts and browns then the stem begins to die back from the tip. A canker develops that eventually ringbarks the stem causing its death. If the cankers spread to the main stems the plant may die. Treatment with fungicides will help but is not entirely successful. Overcrowding, poor drainage and poor ventilation can all contribute to this problem as well as making the spread of the disease easier.

Camellias are generally not attacked by any particularly unusual insect pests, just the run of the mill, aphids, scale, caterpillars, leaf rollers and thrips. The usual control measures are effective on camellias too.

Bagworms can cause significant damage at times. The leaf covered silken bags (see illustration) are made by the larvae and the flightless adult females of the moth Liothula omnivora. The larvae feed from within the bag, which they carry around with them for protection and camouflage. Hand picking is the simplest control, the use of insecticides is not warranted except in cases of severe infestation.

Training

Besides their normal bushy habit many camellias are suitable subjects for training. The most common forms are the standard and the espalier.

Standards can be created in two ways. The easiest is to select a young plant with a single straight stem and simply remove the lower foliage and any side shoots as they appear. Stake the main stem as it grows and once it has reached the desired height nip out the tip growth to induce the branching that will eventually form the head.

The process can be speeded up by grafting but the mechanics are not as simple. Select a vigorous upright plant that will rapidly produce the standard trunk and graft your selected cultivar onto it at the desired height. Cleft grafts are the preferred method for camellias but I have found side wedge grafts to be successful. Grafting is the only practical way to produce a weeping standard.

Espaliering is just a matter of selecting an appropriate plant and having the patience to wait long enough to see the results. There are several methods of training the branches to achieve the best coverage but most camellias with thin pliable stems (primarily Sasanquas) can be espaliered with little effort. Remember though, camellias are not natural climbers, espaliers need to be secured to the structure against which they are growing.

Other special forms.

Camellias can make effective hedges, either tightly clipped or grown informally. As might be expected of a genus that contains the tea plant camellias can withstand frequent trimming when actively growing.

Some camellias are suitable for use as ground covers but usually only while they are young. In time all but the most prostrate forms will develop into mounding bushes rather than true ground covers. Pegging the branches down as the plants grow is the only way to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Camellias in containers

Camellias adapt well to container growing but they are quick to show signs of nutrient deficiencies. Nothing looks less appealing than a badly chlorotic camellia in a tiny pot. However, with regular fertilising and the right sized containers camellias will thrive and bloom heavily in pots.

As with all container plants, remember that their roots are far less insulated from the elements than those of plants in the open ground. Make sure containerised camellias get regular water in summer and in cold winter areas move the containers to sheltered positions for winter to avoid having the soil freeze solid.

Flower forms

Camellias are available in several different flower forms. The descriptions in this book are kept as simple as possible but occasionally the technical terms must be used. The terms single, semi-doubleand double are familiar and fairly self-explanatory but most of the following terms are peculiar to camellia cultivation.

Anemone

A style with large outer petals and massed small central petaloids.

Peony (paeony)?and informal double

Large outer petals and smaller loosely clustered central petals and petaloids. The more fully petalled flowers are known as full peony form.

Rose form double

A double flower that opens fully to reveal the stamens, like a fully blown rose.

Formal double

This flower type has perfectly arranged concentric circles of neatly overlapping petals. Some have the petals in a very clearly defined spiral pattern.

There are also rules governing the terms used to describe the size of flowers but as most non-specialist gardeners find these to be more confusing than useful they have not been strictly adhered to.

Species and cultivars

The following selection of species and cultivars includes those most popular for garden use or that have interesting or unusual features. They are divided into hybrid groups.

Species

These are the most popular or influential of the species but they are not widely available in nurseries, most gardeners preferring the hybrids.

Camellia chrysantha (China)

A yellow camellia was a long sought after aim of plant breeders, hence the basically white cultivars with optimistic names such as ‘Brushfield’s Yellow’. However, in 1980 a real yellow camellia was found in the Guangxi province of China. It flowered for the first time in the West in 1984 and has since been the subject of great interest and speculation among camellia growers. It is a large species that can reach 5 m high. The large leaves are deep green and heavily veined. The bright yellow flowers are only about 60 mm diameter but it is not the size of the flowers but their potential for hybridising that initially had breeders so enthused. Reasonably hardy but prefers consistent cool to moderate temperatures, intolerant of extremes. Camellia societies have a few plants of this species but even now it is not generally available through garden centres.

Camellia forrestii (China, Vietnam)

A large shrub or small tree native with narrow elliptical leaves and small white flowers that are mildly fragrant. Early to mid season.

Camellia fraterna (China)

Grows to about 5 m high. Small elliptical leaves. 25 mm diameter white flowers with white stamens and prominent gold anthers. Slightly fragrant. Not totally hardy. Flowers mid season.

Camellia granthamiana (Hong Kong)

Very rare in the wild; known, until recently, from just one plant found in 1955. It may be a natural hybrid rather than a true species. Grows to about 3 m high. Deep green heavily veined elliptical leaves up to 200 mm long. Creamy white flowers up to 150 mm diameter with massed golden stamens. Flowers early. Not totally hardy.

Camellia hiemalis (Japan)

Not known in the wild and probably a natural hybrid between Camellia japonica and Camellia sasanqua. Grows to about 3.5 m high. 30 mm diameter pale pink flowers with golden stamens. Small to medium sized elliptical leaves. Flowers early.

Camellia kissi (North East India to Southern China)

May grow as high as 12 m but usually consideably smaller. Medium sized narrow leaves. Small white flowers that are usually fragrant. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia lutchuensis (Southern Japan including Okinawa)

Grows to about 3 m high. Small leaves about 40 mm long. Very fragrant 50 mm diameter white flowers with white stamens and gold anthers. Not always easy to grow and not totally hardy. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia japonica (Japan, Eastern China?and Korea)

The parent of a vast number of cultivars. May grow to 15 m high in the wild. Broad deep green elliptical leaves up to 125mm long. The flower colour is variable but is usually red. Easily grown. Flowers mid season. There are several cultivated forms.

Camellia oleifera (Northern India, Southern China?and South East Asia)

Grows to about 7 m high. Medium sized elliptical leaves with little or no serrations. Small white flowers with yellow stamens and slightly twisted petals. Mildly fragrant. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia pitardii (Southern China)

Grows to about 7 m high. Medium sized heavily veined leaves up to 100 mm long. Small white, pink or white flushed pink flowers. Blooms mid season to late.

Camellia reticulata (Southern China)

Extensively used in hybridising. grows up to 15 m high in the wild. Large broad elliptical leaves with prominent veins (reticulate). 75 mm diameter mid pink flowers. Blooms mid season to late.

Camellia salicifolia (Hong Kong?and Taiwan)

Grows to about 5 m high. 45 mm long narrow elliptical to oblong leaves with a very slight tomentum. Loose white flowers with white stamens. Mild fragrance. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia saluenensis (Southern China)

Grows to about 5 m high. 45 mm long narrow elliptical leaves. 50 mm diameter white to mid pink flowers with small golden stamens. May be single or semi-double. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia sasanqua (Japan?and Ryukyu Islands)

Grows to about 5 m high. The leaves are around 55 mm long , usually narrow and distinctly pointed. 50 mm diameter white to pale pink flowers with yellow stamens. Occasionally slightly fragrant. Flowers early.

Camellia sinensis (India to China?and South East Asia)

The tea plant is the most commercially important camellia. May grow to 15 m high but usually kept much smaller. Leaf size is variable; they are usually around 125 mm long but in mild moist climates they may be up to 225 mm long ? 75 mm wide, heavily veined. White flowers (occasionally pale pink), about 40 mm diameter with yellow stamens. Flowers early.

Camellia transnokensis (Taiwan)

An upright bush to about 3 m high. Small bronze green leaves. Clusters of very small (25 mm diameter) white flowers with white stamens and golden anthers. Pink buds. Flowers mid season to late.

Camellia tsai (Southern China, Burma?and Vietnam)

Grows to about 10 m high in the wild but usually far smaller in gardens. 90 mm long glossy bronze green elliptical leaves. Slight weeping growth habit. Clusters of small white flushed pink flowers. Mildly fragrant. Flowers mid season. Not totally hardy.

Sasanqua and Hiemalis

A group of primarily early flowering plants (autumn to late winter) that is made up of varieties and hybrids of three species; Camellia sasanqua, Camellia hiemalis and Camellia vernalis.

Akebono

Small deep green leaves. Single mid pink flowers. Excellent hedge or espalier.

Bonanza

Medium to large semi-double deep red flowers. Long flowering season. Medium sized plant, upright growth. Good in tubs.

Bonsai Baby

Small deep red double flowers. Low, somewhat spreading growth habit.

Chansonette

Large deep pink double flowers with slightly ruffled petals. A densely foliage medium sized bush. Suitable for most styles of training.

Cotton Candy

Large soft pink semi-double flowers with slightly ruffled petals. Strong growing but inclined to be rather open and benefits from regular trimming to shape.

Exquisite

Large very pale pink single flowers with ruffled and lobed petals. Long branches make it well-suited to espaliering.

Hiryu-see Kanjiro

Jennifer Susan

Soft mid pink loosely petalled semi-double flowers. Very densely foliage compact growth. Makes a good hedge or espalier.

Kanjiro

Often sold as ‘Hiryu’. Deep cerise pink single to semi-double flowers with lighter coloured centre. Dark green leaves. Strong upright growth.

Mine No Yuki

Medium sized white to cream semi-double flowers with ruffled petals. Loose pendulous growth habit.

Plantation Pink

Large mid pink single flowers. Very strong growing and makes a quick hedge.

Setsugekka

Large white semi-double with ruffled, slightly incurving petals. Strong growing upright bush.

Showa No Sakae

Medium sized light to mid pink loose semi-double flowers. Distinctly weeping to horizontal growth habit. may be used in hanging baskets.

Sparkling Burgundy

Small to medium sized deep pinkish red double flowers. Long flowering season. Vigorous grower. Suitable for most training styles.

Yuletide

Small bright red single flowers with prominent golden stamens. Long flowering season. Dense compact growth. Does well in tubs.

Japonica

The species forms and hybrids of Camellia japonica are among the most popular and widely grown camellias. Also included in this group are the Higo hybrids. These often ancient forms from Japan are not widely grown in New Zealand but a few are available.

The following is a selection of some of the most popular Japonicas.

Ave Maria (1956)

Pale pink medium sized formal double. Dense compact growth. Early to mid season.

Bambino (1959)

Small coral pink anemone form with well-defined petaloid centre. Dense compact growth. Flowers mid season.

Berenice Boddy (1946)

Medium sized light pink semi-double. Vigorous grower. Flowers mid season.

Betty Sheffield Supreme (1960)

Large loose white or very pale pink double with petals edged in deep pink. A beautiful picotee effect but rather variable. A sport of ‘Betty Sheffield’ (1949). A vigorous, yet compact bush. Flowers mid season.

Blood of China (1928)

Medium sized deep pinkish red semi-double to peony form. Often mildly scented. Strong grower but compact. Late flowering.

Bob Hope (1972)

Large deep blackish red semi-double. Very intense flower colour and deep green leaves. Strong upright growth. Mid season to late.

Bob’s Tinsie (1962)

Small deep red anemone form with a white centre. Upright, very dense and bushy. Flowers mid season.

Brushfield’s Yellow (1968)

Medium sized anemone form with white outer petals and creamy yellow petaloid centre. Strong growing but densely foliaged. Flowers mid season.

C.M. Hovey (1853)

Medium sized deep red formal double. Upright growth. Late flowering.

Can Can (1961)

Medium sized light pink peony form with deep cerise pink edged petals and veins. Upright growth. Flowers mid season.

Debutante (around 1900)

Medium sized light pink full paeony form. A strong growing densely foliage bush. Leaves may be a lighter green than most camellias. One of the most widely planted camellias. Flowers mid season.

Desire (1977)

Medium sized light pink formal double with deeper coloured petal edges. Dense compact growth. Flowers mid season.

Dolly Dyer (1973)

Small bright red anemone form with a densely packed petaloid centre. A medium sized densely foliaged bush. Flowers early to mid season.

Elegans Supreme (1960)

Large deep pink anemone form with finely serrated petal edges. One of several sports of the old cultivar ‘Elegans’ (1831). Large wavy edged leaves. A strong growing but compact bush. Flowers early to mid season.

Grand Slam (1962)

Large deep red semi-double or anemone form. Slightly fragrant. Deep green leaves. A very strong growing upright bush. Flowers mid season.

Guest of Honor (1955)

Large mid to deep pink loose semi-double to peony form. Upright densely foliaged bush. Heavy flowering. Blooms mid season.

Guillio Nuccio (1956)

Very large deep coral pink semi-double with prominent stamens. The petals have wavy edges. Strong growing and very popular. Flowers mid season. Also available in a white and red variegated flower form.

K. Sawada (1940)

Large white rose form or formal double. Dense bushy growth. Flowers mid season.

Kramer’s Supreme (1957)

Large bright red full peony form. Usually fragrant. Vigorous yet compact growth. Flowers mid season.

Laurie Bray (1955)

Medium to large light pink flowers that may be single or partially petaloid semi-double. Heavy flowering, tough and adaptable. Rather open growth that benefits from shaping when young. Flowers mid season.

Man Size (1961)

Small white anemone form. A densely foliaged medium sized bush if shaped when young but may otherwise tend to somewhat open growth. Flowers heavily around mid season.

Margaret Davis (1961)

Medium sized informal double. White with petals edged deep pink to orange red. Upright growth. Flowers mid season.

Mark Alan (1958)

Large deep purplish red semi-double or peony form. Narrow petals with a petaloid centre. Upright growth. Starts early and flowers over a long season.

Midnight (1963)

Medium sized deep red semi-double to anemone form. A dense compact bush. Flowers mid season.

Mrs D.W. Davis (1954)

Very large bright pink semi-double. Densely foliaged vigorous upright growing bush. Flowers mid season.

Nuccio’s Pearl (1977)

Medium sized very pale pink flushed mid pink formal double. An attractive ‘airbrushed’ colour effect that intensifies towards the centre and edges of the flower. A dense compact bush. Flowers mid season.

Pink Pagoda (1963)

Medium to large mid pink formal double. Slightly wavy edged petals. An upright bush. Flowers mid season.

Prima Ballerina (1983)

Medium to large semi-double. White base colour washed with soft mid pink. A dense compact bush. Flowers mid season to late.

Roger Hall (1979)

Medium sized bright red formal double. A strong growing upright bush. Starts early and flowers over a long season.

San Dimas (1971)

Medium to large deep red petaloid semi-double. Dense compact bush. Flowers early to mid season.

Tiffany (1962)

Very large loose peony form. Soft mid pink with deeper tones. Vigorous yet compact bush. Flowers mid season to late.

Reticulata

Reticulatas are usually regarded as being less hardy than other camellias but most survive New Zealand winters unscathed.

Barbara Clark (1958)

Medium sized mid pink semi-double. Vigorous grower. Starts to flower early and continues over a long season.

Brian (1958)

Medium sized deep pink semi-double. Strong upright growth. Flowers mid season to late.

Buddha (1948)

Large deep pink semi-double flowers with wavy edged petals. Strong upright growth. Flowers mid season.

Dr. Clifford Parks (1971)

Large bright red flower. The form is very variable, it ranges from semi-double to peony to anemone form. Flowers mid season.

Grand Jury (1962)

Large salmon pink peony form. A large open bush that benefits from pruning to shape when young. Flowers mid season.

Lasca Beauty (1973)

Very large light pink semi-double. Vigorous grower that is inclined to become a little open. Flowers mid season.

Pavlova (1978)

Very large bright red semi-double. A strong spreading bush. Makes a good espalier. Flowers mid season to late.

Phyl Doak (1958)

Medium to large pale pink semi-double. A dense compact bush. Starts to flower early and continues over a long season.

Sugar Dream (1984)

Medium sized mid pink anemone form. Upright growth, inclined to be somewhat open but benefits from trimming to shape when young. Early flowering.

Valley M. Knudsen (1958)

Large deep pin semi-double to peony form. Strong growing upright bush. Flowers mid season to late.

? williamsii hybrids

This fairly diverse group of hybrids results from fertilising Camellia saluensis, or a hybrid thereof, with pollen from Camellia japonica.

Anticipation (1962)

Large deep pink peony form. Strong upright growth. Flowers mid season.

Ballet Queen (1975)

Large salmon pink peony form. A densely foliaged medium sized bush. Flowers mid season to late.

Debbie (1965)

Large bright mid pink semi-double to full peony form. A dense compact bush. Flowers mid season. One of the most popular cultivars.

Donation (1941)

Large mid pink semi-double with darker veining. Vigorous yet compact. Starts early mid season and continues over a long season.

Dreamboat (1976)

A large formal double. The base colour is mid pink but has very subtle lavender and salmon pink shading. The growth is somewhat open. Flowers mid season.

E.G. Waterhouse (1954)

Medium sized light pink formal double. Strong upright growth. Flowers mid season to late. Also available with a light pink and white variegated flower.

Elsie Jury (1964)

Large deep pink full peony form. Medium sized open growing bush. May be trained as an espalier. Flowers mid season to late.

Jury’s Yellow (1976)

Medium sized anemone form. White with creamy yellow petaloid centre. Dense compact growth. Starts early and flowers over a long season.

Water Lily (1967)

Medium sized formal double. Bright light pink with darker toning. The petals have distinctly rolled edges. Strong upright growth. Flowers early to mid season.

Hybrids

This catch-all group covers plants of indeterminate parentage and those that don’t fit into any of the other groups. Some authorities divide the hybrids by size, particularly separating out the miniatures.

Baby Bear (1976)

Miniature light pink single. A small densely foliage bush that is very popular for container growing. Flowers mid season.

Baby Willow (1983)

Miniature white single. Very distinctive weeping growth. When grafted it makes a good weeping standard. Flowers mid season.

Cinnamon Cindy (1973)

Miniature pale pink peony form. The central petaloids may be very pale pink. Upright willowy stems. Espaliers well. Flowers early to mid season.

Cornish Snow (1950)

Small white tinted pink single flowers. Very heavy flowering. Upright open growth. Flowers mid season.

Itty Bit (1984)

Miniature light pink anemone form. A densely foliaged low growing spreading bush. Flowers mid season.

Jubilation (1978)

Large mid pink rose form double. Occasionally has darker flecked flowers. Strong upright growth. Flowers mid season to late.

Mary Phoebe Taylor (1975)

Very large mid pink peony form. Strong upright growth. Flowers early to mid season.

Nicky Crisp (1980)

Large lavender pink semi-double. Dense compact bush. Starts to flower early and continues over a long season.

Night Rider (1985)

Small deep red semi-double. Upright bush. Flowers mid season to late.

Quintessence (1985)

Miniature white single with conspicuous golden yellow anthers and white stamens. Mildly fragrant. Dense spreading growth. Very popular as a container plant. Flowers early to mid season.

Snippet (1971)

Small pale pink semi-double. Eventually a dense compact bush but somewhat open when young. Flowers mid season.

Tiny Princess (1961)

Miniature semi-double to peony form. White to very pale pink with darker tints. Slow growing and may become rather open but occasional pinching back will produce a neat low bush. Flowers early to mid season.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.