A healthy winter garden

The peppers have finished and the tomatoes are nearly over. One cold morning soon the basil suddenly will be black and the summer vege garden will be done. No need for sadness - you can plant and harvest veges throughout the winter.

The brassica family, which includes cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, is the mainstay of the traditional winter garden. Now that the weather is cooler it is a good time to plant them. These guys take a lot of space and time. However you can take advantage of slow-growing brassicas by planting quick crops between them. Lettuces, spring onions and baby carrots can all be sown between brassicas and they will be harvested and gone by the time the brassicas reach full size. Garden centres sell mixed vege punnets designed for this. They also sell punnets of mixed brassicas - an ideal way to avoid a glut of one variety.

Nowadays we grow many winter greens from Asia as well as Europe. Pak choy and wong bok are two favourites that can be bought in punnets. They mature quickly for delicious stir-fries. If you can't grow silver beet or rainbow beet it's time to give up - but I bet you can! If the taste of silver beet isn't popular in your house, try English spinach or perpetual spinach. They are easy, mild-tasting alternatives. New Zealand spinach is a native plant that Captain Cook used to treat his crew for scurvy. It is a coastal plant that scrambles on sand dunes, and will thrive in a dry sunny corner of your garden. The succulent leaves can be steamed, stir-fried or used in any dish calling for greens. The taste is mild and sweet.

Potatoes are easy to grow by many methods, and they can be started any time over the next few months. In limited space grow them in a barrel or another large container. Put a layer of compost or garden mix at the bottom of the barrel and set the sprouted seed potatoes on it. Cover them with about 10cm of garden mix. As the stems and foliage develop add more mix to bury the stems so that only the top leaves show. Keep building up the mix layers until the potatoes begin flowering. When the flowers have finished and the stems have died down you can begin to harvest your spuds.

Tradition has it that garlic and shallots should be planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest. Keep to this rule of thumb and plant them some time in mid-winter for summer taste treats.

If you have spare space sow lupin or mustard to revitalise the garden over winter. This green crop or living mulch will flourish in bare patches and prevent weed growth. A few weeks before planting in spring, dig the garden over and bury the green crop. It will add nitrogen to the soil and condition it for the summer garden and those colourful peppers and tomatoes.

Essential Gertrude Jekyll

Delphiniums

As a colonial gardener I've always known about the great Gertrude Jekyll, without having read any of her writings. I've vaguely associated her with planting herbaceous bordsers with drifts of perennials, and hating the colour magenta.

Finally I've decided to read more, borrowing a book from the local library entitled 'The Gardener's Essential Gertrude Jekyll'. It's a selection from her thirteen books - writings on various topics, ranging from grand sweeping concepts to the tiniest plants described in full frontal detail. And most of all she is very, very quotable.

A Gardening Wise-Woman

I've decided that Miss Jekyll is a genuine wise-woman of gardening. Some of her comments are obviously old fashioned and lack today's requirement for political correctness. But there's still much for the thoroughly-modern, environmentally-aware, quasi-organic, recycling-mad gardener to get his or her gardening teeth (and gloves) firmly into.

Ghislaine de Feligonde

She's a French beauty, bred by Turbat in 1916, and is said to be hardy and extremely disease-resistant. I've planted two, with irrigation drippers, on an archway in the Hazelnut Orchard. It's an area with loads of sunshine and fresh air, where no rose should ever dare expect to be sprayed.

Ghislaine de Feligonde Rose Cluster

A Good Report

The catalogues I chose my climbing roses from gave her a good report - using words like 'vigorous' and phrases like 'occasionally blooms in autumn'. Well, well, well! This autumn my Ghislaine de Feligonde roses are covered with the most beautiful clusters of flowers.

I like the slightly dishevelled look of her flower clusters, the texture of her leaves, and the mess of her colours - one bloom apricot-pink, the next soft yellow, pale cream, orangey-yellow, pale buff, or white...

And I'm sorry for being so 'sizist' in my initial comments. Small is definitely beautiful, in Ghislaine de Feligonde's case

What's Up With That?!

Weird Stuff and Fun Facts from the Gardening World

Most trees bear their flowers and fruit towards the outer tips of branches or on new growth. But there are a few trees that can sprout flowers and fruit directly from mature trunks and branches. This trait is known as cauliflory (from the Latin words for “stem” + “flower”).

Most cauliflorous trees are native to the tropics. Examples include papaya, breadfruit, and that most vital of plants, cacao (the source of chocolate!) Some fig (Ficus) species also exhibit cauliflory. Despite its name, cauliflower doesn’t really count as cauliflorous since it’s not a woody plant.

Even if you can’t make it to the tropics you can still see at least one cauliflorous species. Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) is one of few non-tropical tree species that can bear flowers and fruit (actually small papery seed pods) on its trunk and older branches as well as on newer growth. This small ornamental tree is native to much of the Eastern half of the U.S. Eastern redbud is not native to Minnesota but can be grown successfully through Zone 4 if plants from hardy seed strains are selected.

Flavoured foods 'lacking fruit'

Not necessarily found in strawberry-flavoured foods

A consumer pressure group says that shoppers are being misled into buying fruit-flavoured products which contain little or no fruit.

The Food Commission said that too many products have images of fruit on the label, but often none inside.

It is calling on companies to reduce the number of artificial flavourings, which it said were used instead.

Some of the companies named insisted that their products met all legal and labelling requirements.

The Food Commission campaigns against the use of artificial additives in food, and said that these should not be used to replace an ingredient which might be more beneficial to health.

It produced a long list of strawberry-flavoured products available in British supermarkets which it said could potentially mislead customers.

These included strawberry jelly and milkshakes which contained no strawberry element whatsoever.

One strawberry fruit bar had 0.5% strawberry, and was actually made almost entirely from apples.

Another own-brand strawberry fruit tea contained 0.2% strawberry.

Ian Tokelove, from the Food Commission, said: "Flavourings allow companies to cut costs at the public's expense.

"With thousands of cheap flavourings to choose from, many food manufacturers can now flavour their products using these specialist additives instead of real ingredients.

"Describing a product as strawberry flavour and plastering the packet with pictures of strawberries, when that product contains just a tiny percentage of strawberry or even no real fruit at all, is misleading and deceptive.

"Unfortunately it is also legal and the practice is widespread."

'Consumer demand'

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said that food manufacturers did have an obligation not to mislead customers about the content of their products.

He said: "However, we would tend to focus on manufacturers clearly describing what is in their food, rather than what isn't in it."

He said there was no reason to avoid flavoured drinks that were low in natural products, so long as they were part of a healthy balanced diet which included plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

A spokesman for the Food and Drink Federation, which represents the industry, said: "Food and drink manufacturers rely on the trust of consumers to buy their products every day and do not set out to mislead.

"All ingredients used in food or drink products, including flavourings, must be labelled by law.

"Manufacturers make a wide range of foods to suit consumers' varying tastes and pockets. In response to consumer demand, companies are increasingly using natural flavours."

A spokesperson for Nestle said: ''The ingredients used to make Nesquik are clearly labelled on the pack to ensure that consumers can make informed choices

"In line with our long-term reformulation programme, we are currently working on a move to use a natural colour in Strawberry Nesquik Magic Straws."

A spokesman for Premier International Foods, the makers of Angel delight and Hartley's Jelly, said: "As in any kitchen, we sometimes add flavours to bring out the taste and aroma of food.

"Hartley's Strawberry Flavour Jelly and Strawberry Flavour Angel Delight are both made without artificial flavours; the pack fronts do not feature pictures of fruit and the products are clearly described as 'fruit flavour'."

Pot plant market success: Narcissus Trumpet ‘Attraction’

Not only should a good potted Narcissus be beautiful but also robust as the unpredictable spring weather can sometimes be quite turbulent. The two-coloured trumpet Narcissus ‘Attraction’ offers both beauty and strength.

The assortment of large-flowered potted narcissuses consists largely of cut flower strains with attractive long stems. The consequence of this is that stems sometimes weaken when the Narcissus is in full bloom. However, the Narcissus ‘Attraction’ is a real potted plant, it grows solidly, has sturdy stems and ‘hard’ leaves. As a result it can be placed indoors or outdoors, without the risk of wind damage. Neither is a bit of frost any kind of problem. It’s a tough Narcissus, this ‘Attraction’, without compromising on beauty - in fact quite the opposite! You see, the success of the potted Narcissus launched in 2005 is mainly due to the pretty two-coloured flower which can reach a diameter of 10 cm. The appeal of ‘Attraction’ is increased further by its pleasant scent. The flowering period is up to three weeks. If the stems still have to grow, the lifespan is of course even longer! Narcissus ‘Attraction’ (vbn code 23401) is sold in a 13 cm pot (4 bulbs) and a 16 cm tray (5 bulbs). Its height on delivery is approx. 35 cm. The potted Narcissus is sold from January to March at the FloraHolland branches in Naaldwijk and Aalsmeer. This season we expect to receive 60,000 items. Additional product information Successful market launch: Successful market acceptance of new pot plant.

Alstroemeria Fortaleza

Fortaleza is a new large-flowered Alstroemeria that makes a cheerful impression immediately. Not just because of its festive - almost celebratory – red, orange and yellow colouring, but also because of its excellent quality and long life.

Both flowers and leaves last for an average of 17 days, according to a lifespan test carried out last year. Fortaleza also has a robust leaf that does not break easily and another unusual feature is the dark-green edge of the leaf which provides an even more attractive contrast with the spectacularly flamed flowers. The product has been selected as Fleur Primeur by the Aalsmeer branch of the FloraHolland auction. The flower has been available since June 2007. Its average weight is 45 to 70 grams; its length 80 cm. Alstroemeria Fortaleza is named after a city in Brazil. No wonder, as the Alstroemeria comes from South America originally. Introduction: A recent introduction of a new and distinctive cut flower.

Just arrived: Rosa Contour

Since its introduction in August 2007 traders have come to appreciate the value of the large flowered Rosa Contour. The long vase life and good performance of this rose are its most important trumps.
So far some 250,000 stems of Contour have been sold and it is anticipated that supply will continue to rise. However, Rosa Contour is supplied in limited volumes and increases in supply are expected to be kept gradual and to be spread over the various auction locations. Rosa Contour stands out because of its lovely, long, white bud with the palest of pink hazes. The bud opens slowly and the curling petals give the flower a very romantic look. Contour is anything but small with flower diameters of 8.5 to 9 cm. The sturdy stems reach lengths of 70 to 90 cm and are sparsely covered with thorns. It has an excellent vase life of between 12 and 14 days. Another feature in its favour is that Contour is easy to dye and still retains its long vase life. This is a product with a great deal to offer. Rosa Contour (vbn code 100451) is supplied all year round to the auctions at Aalsmeer and Naaldwijk and to the FloraHolland auction. Introduction: A recent introduction of a new and distinctive cut flower.
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New Flowers and Vegetables to Try in Your Garden.

Every gardener has favorite plants they rely on and grow every year, but we all like to try something new once in awhile. Hundreds, if not thousands of new plant varieties are developed and each year. Some of them won’t stand the test of time, but many are too tempting to pass up. The plants showcased here are some of the new introductions for 2008 that have tempted me. Take a look to see if any might look good in your garden.

New Flower & Foliage Plant for 2008

View Full-Size Those cleaver plant breeders keep playing with a plant’s best feature and making them better: a dark leaved hibiscus, a tri-color ornamental corn and a foxglove that faces up are some of new annual flowers we’ll see in seed catalogs and nurseries this spring. Keep in mind that although new plants are tested in gardens across hardiness zones, until you actually grow them in your garden, you won’t know how they perform. Soil, weather, and even the attention of the gardener are all variables that will effect how well any grows. So put these to the test and then let me know what you grew and how it did.

New Vegetable Varieties for 2008

View Full-Size New vegetable varieties have seen great improvements in size, yield and disease resistance. None of this matters unless the final result tastes good. On the other hand, if a plant doesn’t grow well, there is no result to taste. There has to be a balance and hopefully, these vegetable varieties have found it. (With a healthy dose of taste.)

Geranium 'Rozanne' - 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year©

View Full-Size OK, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is not a new plant for 2008, but it is being honored this year. The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) was formed to get the word out about great perennial plants to grow. It’s hard to remember a time when gardeners didn’t know about perennials like hardy geraniums, but that just shows you how well the PPA has done its job. The PPA and other gardeners. Because Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has gotten a good amount of buzz from gardeners, like me, who have grown it and recommended it to others.

Calendula - 2008 Herb of the Year

View Full-Size Calendula is even older than Geranium 'Rozanne', but you'll be seeing a lot of it this year, since the Herb Society of America has chosen it their Herb of the Year. Calendula, or Pot Marigolds, are bright, cheery flowers that blur the lines between ornamental and herb. You can grow them for their profuse blooms or use them in cooking, herbal medicines or as a dye plant. If calendula is new to you, you'll enjoy becoming acquainted.

Calendula - 2008 Herb of the Year

View Full-Size Calendula is even older than Geranium 'Rozanne', but you'll be seeing a lot of it this year, since the Herb Society of America has chosen it their Herb of the Year. Calendula, or Pot Marigolds, are bright, cheery flowers that blur the lines between ornamental and herb. You can grow them for their profuse blooms or use them in cooking, herbal medicines or as a dye plant. If calendula is new to you, you'll enjoy becoming acquainted.

Christchurch announces date for Ellerslie International Flower Show

One of the gardens at last year's Ellerslie International Flower Show. Photo / The Aucklander

Flower show aficionados will have to wait until March 2009 to see the first Ellerslie Flower Show in its new home of Christchurch.

The date was announced by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker this afternoon, during the unveiling of a new floral garden in Cathedral Square.

Parker said the traditional November date clashed with Christchurch's popular New Zealand Cup and Show Week.

Transferring the timing of the flower show to March would allow the city to accommodate the thousands of visitors the event would attract, he said.

"March is a spectacular time in Christchurch; the city is starting to show its autumn plumage, the weather is settled and being a shoulder tourism season we can create another reason for visitors to come to Christchurch and experience the breathtaking landscape and world-class tourism on offer in our wonderful city," Parker said.

The five-day extravaganza will run from March 11 - 15, 2009 and is expected to attract similar numbers to the 65,000 visitors attending previous shows held in Auckland.

It is also hoped it will generate more than $14 million for the local economy.

"Planning is well underway for this first icon event in March 2009. I urge everyone to mark the date in your diary now; it is guaranteed to stimulate the senses with plenty of fresh and exciting ideas," Parker said.

The Cathedral Square garden unveiled this morning was designed by Darren Tillett from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, who also designed Christchurch's award-winning entry at last year's Ellerslie International Flower Show.

Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine Prince has welcomed the new timing for the show.

"Autumn is traditionally a shoulder season for tourism so it's great we now have such a prestigious and internationally popular event to draw people to the city and region," she said.

"Christchurch is often pictured in the spring when the blossom is out but the city is equally stunning in the autumn."

Christchurch won the "battle of the roses" last November when organisers of the show accepted the Christchurch City Council's bid ahead of competition from Auckland and Hamilton.

Care with plans gives floral reward

Many perennials and shrubs grow from cuttings out of the gardens of neighbours and friends.

Creating pleasant outdoor living areas is as much an act of nature as of man.

Trees, shrubs and vines work with decking, paving and fencing to convert the most pedestrian of backyards to an outdoors that could come straight from the pages of a magazine such as NZ House & Garden.

You need a little planning to create a green and peaceful exterior space. Unlike a section of fence, a vine-hung arbour wasn't built in a day.

But you needn't spend a lot on plants because most climbers and many perennials and shrubs grow from cuttings out of the gardens of neighbours and friends.

Donations of this kind are a more affordable way to establish a garden than simply buying up large, and you can save your money for special feature plants.

By sorting out what you like in a friend's garden, you get to see at first hand exactly what kind of conditions suit the plant best and can give it a very good chance of survival.

When you take a cutting, check out its habits. If it thrives in damp and shady conditions, find or create the same sort of space on your new section. Likewise, if a plant is doing well in hot, dry sunny conditions, don't plant it under a deck and expect it to go wild. It won't.

Ask how old each plant is. At two years old and 2m tall, a tree has a way to grow yet, and might quickly outpace any space you planned for it.

Beautifying concrete and paved areas takes a bit of imagination. But you can create the illusion of several square metres of garden space without the associated weeding and cultivating. Think outside the square into pots, containers and hanging baskets.

Provided the plant doesn't have a deep tap root or a huge spreading root system, it'll grow happily in a container. And the container can be anything, from a simple do-it-yourself box made of leftover timber fence palings to a concrete tub or even plastic pots painted in bright colours.

You can even make the paving itself a feature by spacing it wider than a standard cobbled area and planting low-growing herbs and moss types in between the cobbles.

There are some affordable and effective temporary cover-ups and privacy screens available to fill the gap until nature takes over.

Trellis is magic. It comes in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be nailed up to provide both a climbing frame for the plants as they grow and a privacy screen in the meantime. The new Chinese blinds, made in tanalised timber, are a nice variation on the theme and let you see out while obscuring the view in.

If you can't live with bare timber look, get some quick-fix plants to occupy the same space as your growing vines and provide a season of beauty while you're waiting. Sweet pea seedlings, for instance, reach a height of around two metres in a short space of time and flower in 12 to 14 weeks after planting. And they love sunshine, ideally on a north-south perspective.

Sunflowers are another spectacular temporary measure.

At ground level, fill the bare area around a young perennial with "instant colour" pots, pansies, impatiens, petunias, and other fast-growing colourful annuals.

Making a new section look good is hard work in the interim, but once the garden is established, usually in two to five years, your labour will be substantially reduced and the early planning amply rewarded.

Bessera Bargain Bulbs in Fothergills Plant Collection Catalogue

Anyone ordering from Fothergills' can buy 3 bulbs of Bessera elegans for just £2.95 while stocks last. Additional bulbs would be charged at the full price of £9.95 for 3. Bessera elegans comes from Mexico and its summer flowers are bright red and bell-shaped.

The catalogue has a wide selection of flowers for summer including favourites like busy Lizzies, begonias and petunias as well as the fabulous foliage of heucheras, coleus and ipomoeas. Look out too for the new Perilla magilla, one with deep rose-pink leaves with a central cerise stripe and 'Vanilla' whose bright green leaves have a vanilla centre.

Fothergills 0845 166 2511

Valentine Specials

Expressions of Love
$77.95

EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE

Suitable For :
Valentines Day Flowers

Description :

Gorgeous roses and fragrant lilies are deftly arranged in a sleek vase of translucent glass. A dramatic bouquet with contemporary appeal that your dear one sure to appreciate this Valentines' Day! Approximately 11 inches h x 13 inches w.
Based on season and availability this selection may contain: roses and lilies in decorative glass container.

Try out something unique for your sweetheart!!

Suitable For :
Anniversary Flowers , Birthday Flowers , Get Well Flowers , Love and Romance Flowers , Thank You Flowers

Description :

We all know that red roses stand for love. But did you know that Casablanca lilies stand for love at first sight ? Now that you do don't hesitant to gift and tell. This arrangement is specially put together for your Valentine this New Year. Now, how do you like that ?

Put a little flower power in their celebration

Your Price: US$94.95

Standard Shipping : US$10.95
















Description :

Vivid oranges and vibrant yellows mix with assorted harvested berries and stems in a wonderful autumnal bamboo basket. Approximately 14 inches h x 13 inches w.
Based on season and availability this selection may contain: roses, carnations, gerbera daisies, alstroemeria, lilies, cushion pompon and solidago in a basket.

Plant World Seeds

ACTAEA RUBRA

Family: Ranunculaceae Plant Classification: HP Height(approx.): 18in Sprays of white feathery flowers give way to sprays of shining bright red berries in summer and autumn. Long-lived and ideal for a shady spot. Sowing advice: B. COVER WITH COMPOST OR GRIT 5mm. DEEP. KEEP MOIST IN A COOL, COVERED LIGHT SPOT OUTSIDE. NO HEAT NEEDED. OFTEN SPRING GERMINATORS. GROW ON SEEDLINGS IN 3" POTS. PLANT OUT IN GOOD GARDEN SOIL.

£1.75 / packet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 packet(s)

ACTAEA ALBA

Family: Ranunculaceae Plant Classification: HP Height(approx.): 18in "White Baneberry". White flowers give way to waxy white berries on thick scarlet stems. "There is nothing like it - a real August treasure". Graham Stuart Thomas (G.S.T.) Sowing advice: B. COVER WITH COMPOST OR GRIT 5mm. DEEP. KEEP MOIST IN A COOL, COVERED LIGHT SPOT OUTSIDE. NO HEAT NEEDED. OFTEN SPRING GERMINATORS. GROW ON SEEDLINGS IN 3" POTS. PLANT OUT IN GOOD GARDEN SOIL.

£1.65 / packet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 packet(s)

ACACIA RETINODES

Family: Leguminosae Plant Classification: HHSh Height(approx.): 6-8ft One of the hardiest mimosas with thin, strap-shaped, willow-like leaves and dense sprays of fragrant, light lemon, fuzzy flowers in spring and summer. This little beauty is called "Wirilda" in Australia. Sowing advice: C. SOW FINELY & EVENLY. COVER THINLY WITH COMPOST OR GRIT. SOW IN GENTLE HEAT IN DAYLIGHT & KEEP MOIST. GROW ON INDIVIDUAL SEEDLINGS IN 3" POTS. PLANT OUT IN WELL-DRAINED OPEN POSITION.

£1.75 / packet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 packet(s)

ABUTILON X SUNTENSE

Family: Malvaceae Plant Classification: HP Height(approx.): 6ft Packet Content(approx.): This frost hardy plant is surely the most desirable of all mallow relatives. Large, bowl-shaped pale to deep purple flowers, with the occasional white flowered form, from late spring to summer over a foil of felted grey-green leaves. Sowing advice: A. SOW FINELY AND EVENLY. COVER THINLY WITH COMPOST OR GRIT. GERMINATE IN GENTLE HEAT OR IN A WARM BRIGHT SPOT OUTSIDE. GROW-ON INDIVIDUAL SEEDLINGS IN 3 INCH POTS BEFORE PLANTING OUT.

£1.85 / packet 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 packet(s)

Flower Garden

Welcome to Flower Garden Lovers

Flower Gardens - the joy and delight they bring into our lives. Flowers brighten our landscaping and our homes' interiors. Hey! We just love to look at the flowers and take delight in the fact that we had a lot to do with those lovely blossoms.

This site is especially created for Flower Garden Lovers. Here you can find flower gardening tips and articles about many kinds of flower gardens. Whether you are new or a veteran, you will find something of interest which will make your gardening efforts easier and more timely.

Feel free to browse about our site to find the gardening tips that await. See what you can find here that will help you to improve your flower garden. As each of us has a preference for different blossoms, we each have a preference for a different type of flower garden. Perhaps you prefer a Rose Garden or even a Water Garden. Just use our menu to the right to seek out articles that interest you.

Maybe you are not looking for articles and tips. Sometimes you are just looking for lovely plants and flowers that may be available from garden supply catalogs. Who knows what new garden accessories they may have come up with?

And then there are those flower garden gifts for that Flower Garden Lover in your life. Hint: It could be you!

For lovely blossoms that will last, think about bringing the flower garden inside with you. We have several flower posters available here as well to adorn your walls.

Take a look around and see what you can find. Our flower gardens articles and flower garden tips will help you get started gardening and provide information to continue once started.

Please excuse our dust as we reorganize and restructure our site. After our remodel, we will once again be bringing you new articles and other items of interest for the flower garden lover. We apologize in advance if you can no longer find the item you wanted but please feel free to review our gardening articles under the various headings listed in the menu to the right.