Friday, January 30, 2009

Daylily



Cultivars
Daylilies can be grown in USDA plant hardiness zones 1 through 11, making them some of the most adaptable landscape plants. Most of the cultivars have been developed within the last 100 years. The large-flowered clear yellow 'Hyperion', introduced in the 1920s, heralded a return to gardens of the once-dismissed daylily, and is still widely available. Daylily breeding has been a specialty in the United States, where their heat- and drought-resistance made them garden standbys during the later 20th century. New cultivars have sold for thousands of dollars, but sturdy and prolific introductions soon reach reasonable prices.

The Tawny Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), and sweet-scented H. lilioasphodelus (H. flava is an illegitimate name), colloquially called Lemon Lily, were early imports from England to 17th century American gardens and soon established themselves. Tawny Daylily is so widely growing wild that it is often considered a native wildflower. It is called Roadside or Railroad Daylily, and gained the nickname Wash-house or Outhouse Lily because it was frequently planted at such buildings.

Hemerocallis is one of the most hybridized of all garden plants, with registrations of new hybrids being made in the thousands each year in the search for new traits. Hybridizers have extended the plant's color range from the yellow, orange, and pale pink of the species, to vibrant reds, purples, lavenders, greenish tones, near-black, near-white, and more. However, a blue daylily is a milestone yet to be reached.

Other flower traits that hybridizers develop include height, scent, ruffled edges, contrasting "eyes" in the center of the bloom, and an illusion of glitter or "diamond dust." Sought-after improvements in foliage include color, variegation, disease resistance, the ability to form large, neat clumps and being evergreen or semi-evergreen instead of herbaceous (also known as "dormant" — the foliage dies back during the winter.)

A recent trend in hybridizing is to focus on tetraploid plants, with thicker petal substance and sturdier stems. Until this trend took root, nearly all daylilies were diploid. "Tets," as they are called by aficionados, have double the number of chromosomes as a diploid plant.[2] Only one cultivar is known to be triploid, the brilliant orange 'Kwanzo' or 'Kwanso,' which cannot set seed and is reproduced solely by underground runners (stolons) and division. Usually referred to as a "double," meaning producing flowers with double the usual number of petals (e.g., daylily 'Double Grapette'), 'Kwanzo' actually produces triple the usual number of petals.



These plants are perennial. The name Hemerocallis comes from the Greek words ἡμέρα (hēmera) "day" and καλός (kalos) "beautiful". The flowers of most species open at sunrise and wither at sunset, possibly replaced by another one on the same stem the next day. Some species are night-blooming. Daylilies are not commonly used as cut flowers for formal flower arranging, yet they make good cut flowers otherwise as new flowers continue to open on cut stems over several days.

Originally native from Europe to China, Korea, and Japan, their large showy flowers have made them popular worldwide. There are over 60,000 registered cultivars. Only a few cultivars are scented. Some cultivars rebloom later in the season, particularly if their developing seedpods are removed.

Daylilies occur as a clump including leaves, the crown, and the roots. The long, often linear lanceolate leaves are grouped into opposite flat fans with leaves arching out to both sides. The crown of a daylily is the small white portion between the leaves and the roots, an essential part of the fan. Along the flower stem or scape, small leafy "proliferations" may form at nodes or in bracts. These proliferations form roots when planted and are the exact clones of the parent plant. Some daylilies show elongated widenings along the roots, made by the plant mostly for water storage and an indication of good health.

The flower consists of three petals and three sepals, collectively called tepals, each with a midrib in the same or in a contrasting color. The centermost section of the flower, called the throat, has usually a different and contrasting color. There are six stamens, each with a two-lobed anther. After pollination, the flower forms a pod.





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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hardy Water Lilies





The leaves of hardy plants are circular in shape with smooth, round edges. There is a waxy cuticle covering their surface. These features all aid in their survival: the shape helps to protect them from tearing in rough winds or waves, while the waxy cuticle allows the water to roll off the surface so that the leaves do not sink.

Hardies come in a variety of colors, ranging from red, salmon, pink, white, yellow, orange, peach and nearly black. There are some varities – called changeable water lilies – that change their color over their bloom period (of three to four days). Hardy water lilies are the first of the lilies to come into bloom in the spring. Once the water temperature holds steady at 60 degrees, they will begin to bloom, spreading their pads across the pond with their blossoms eventually floating on or just above the water’s surface. These shallow-rooted plants need plenty of room to grow and spread up and out across the pond.

In the early spring, these fresh lily pads will begin to emerge on the water’s surface. Many of the lilies will be in bloom by mid- to late-spring. They bloom throughout the warm-weather months, eventually becoming dormant in the fall. These are perennial plants, meaning that as long as the rhizome – the underground stem that sends out roots and shoots – does not freeze, the plant will survive through the winter and bloom again in spring. Come winter, in areas with no frost, they will continue to grow, however their growth will certainly slow down a bit. Year-round blooming is possible in frost-free zones. In areas with frost, however, the lilies survive through the winter only if they are below the pond ice.

These are not night-blooming flowers. Indeed, they are open in full bloom by mid-morning and are closed again by mid- to late-afternoon. Though each flower will last approximately three to five days, new flowers will constantly open throughout the season.






















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Saturday, January 24, 2009

Fish Geranium



The brilliantly colored perennial, biennial, or sometimes annual favorite commonly known as geranium, is technically not a geranium but a member of the genus Pelargonium. Having no noticable fragrance, this plant relies on its bright, colorful flowers and easy maintenance for its popular reputation. Geraniums are easily adapted to indoor or outside displays, and are easy to propagate. They are drought-resistant and flourish in full sun locations with only moderate watering. In fact, geraniums will not do as well in rainy, humid climates such as parts of Louisiana and southern Florida. Home gardeners find that plant cuttings are the easiest way to propagate plants. Take cuttings in late summer or early fall for best results. Cuttings should be made from new tip growth and should be 3 to 4 inches long, having several leaf nodes. Place cuttings immediately in damp sand and place in a dry, shaded location. Roots will begin to form in two to six weeks. If you start with 2 1/2-inch pots, you’ll need to transfer them to larger containers as they grow. Pinch tips periodically to prevent plants from becoming leggy. In the spring, when there is no longer any danger of frost, plants can be moved outside.





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Saturday, January 10, 2009

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Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Anne Geddes Flower Collection 2009 Wall Calendar





Product Description
For 25 years, Anne Geddes's photographs of adorable babies have remained unparalleled in terms of creativity, imagination, and sheer popularity. Her images evoke such deep and heartfelt reactions from viewers that it's no surprise that she is recognized as the world's best-selling photographer. Some of Anne's most beloved and iconic images include both flowers and babieswhether a baby tucked within a gorgeous red rose or nestled on the petal of an exquisite orchid. This calendar contains twelve photographs, each displaying both of these beautiful and precious elements to their fullest effect.
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Orchid flowers




























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