Beautiful Wildflower Images by Lee Hiller-London

At http://Chime.In I just found amazing photos of wildflowers by famous artist and avid hiker Lee Hiller-London
Have a look at her blog and thousands of beautiful images at these websites:

http://leehiller.com/Book.html

http://www.redbubble.com/people/leehiller/collections/1703-wildflowers
or on Amazon.com






What is Chime.In?

While Facebook has earned billions of dollars selling ads next to the content uploaded by their 800 million members, users haven't seen a dime from their posts.

It's an arrangement that extends across many of the web's largest social networking sites -- and one serial entrepreneur Bill Gross plans to change.

Gross, the CEO of UberMedia, which owns several popular social networking apps, is launching a new social media site on Tuesday, Chime.in, that will effectively pay its users to contribute.

Share with Chime.in and Chime.in will share with you. The site, which allows individuals to post photos, links, videos and text in two thousand character "chimes," will give users 50 percent of the revenue it earns from selling advertising on their profile pages. Individuals or brands that sell that real estate themselves can keep all of the proceeds from the ads.

Pruning of Magnolias and other trees and shrubs

Congratulation to your wonderful early spring blooming tree. If it is a Southern Magnolia it can become huge. If it is a tulip magnolia you are still looking at a 20' tall and wide tree. After your Magnolia has finished flowering, you can then let it prune back. Although they don't like to be pruned heavily.


Trees and Shrubs to Prune in Late Spring/Summer, After Bloom:
•Azalea (Rhododendron species)
•Beautybush (Kolkwitzia amabilis)
•Bridal Wreath Spirea (Spirea x vanhouttei)
•Flowering Crabapple (Malus species and cultivars)
•Forsythia (forsythia x intermedia)
•Hawthorn (Crataegus species and cultivars)
•Hydrangea, Bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla)
•Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

•M A G N O L I A (Magnolia species and cultivars)

•Mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius)
•Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
•Rhododendron (Rhododendron species)
•Serviceberry (Amelanchier x grandiflora)
•Slender Deutzia (deutzia gracilis)
•Weigela (Weigela florida)


Trees and Shrubs to Prune in Early Spring, While Dormant
•Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
•Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Davidii)
•Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica)
•Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
•Flowering Plum (Prunus blireana)
•Glossy Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)
•Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)
•Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissiam)
•Hydrangea, Peegee (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’)
•Potentilla (Potentilla fruticosa)
•Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
•Spirea (except Bridal Wreath) (Spirea japonica))
•Wisteria (Wistera species)

Ligularias - My new Favorite

Ligularias are perennial flowers that blossom in yellow and light orange in summer on bold stems. Its name comes from the Latin word ligula, which means little tongue, referring to the tonguelike shape of the large petal on each of the ray flowers. The plump, large leaves in rosettes are either round or kidney-shaped and are sometimes toothed.

Ligularias do best in partial shade and good, humus-rich garden soil that is kept evenly moist. Since the roots form large clumps, plenty of space should be allowed between plants.
Propagation: By division in spring or from seed.
Uses: Ligularias are great in the back of shady beds, along borders, in bogs, or planted at the edge of water gardens. The plants prefer afternoon shade.


I fell in love with this variety (top photo):

Ligularia dentata Desdemona

It has green leaves up to a foot wide and yellow flowers.

Good to know:
Hardiness: USDA zone 4-8.
Mature size: Height: 3 feet (1 m), Width: 3 feet (1 m).
Flowering period: July and August.
Flowering: Bright yellow-orange flowers on long maroon-purple stems.
Leaf: Large, deep green, kidney shaped leaves with purple undersides.
Growth habit: Clump-forming.
Light: Morning sun and afternoon shade.
Soil: Humus rich, very moist soil.
Feeding: Side dress with compost or manure. Fertilize in spring and again in early summer with a complete organic fertilizer.
Propagation Methods: Sow seed in autumn and place in a cold frame. Seed usually produces same as parent. Divide in spring or after it is done flowering.
Pests and Diseases: Slugs are a nuisance by making holes in the leaves, but with lots of mulch around it and maybe a ring of crushed egg shells you can keep these pest away.

Ligularia 'Dark Beauty' is remarkable with its large, dark foliage, adding a tropical look to shady areas. The clear yellow-orange flowers bring color to the dark side of the garden.

Rhododendron Gardens

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The South Shore of Nova Scotia is blessed with a mild climate, perfect for Rhododendrons.  No wonder that there is such an abundance in plants and colors in every garden.  Here are the Rhododendrons not just small shrubs, but huge ones, almost tree-like.  Enjoy this beautiful scenery from mid-May to mid-June, travel to Nova Scotia!

Or when you live there already, become a member of "The Rhododendron Society" http://www.AtlanticRhodo.org

The Society supports and promotes the development and exchange of expertise and material relating to the practice of creating and maintaining year-round garden landscapes featuring rhododendrons.  Meetings/Conventions: First Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., September-May, at "The Nova Scotia Museum", Summer Street, Halifax, NS.

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Liverpools Beautiful Gardens

Garden Ideas

Just some photos from this springs work...

ROCK YOUR LANDSCAPE

Round river rocks and flat stones are a beautiful addition to your garden, and they're easy to work with to create walkways, patios, fire pits, dry creeks, rock gardens, bread/pizza ovens, inukshuks, stone benches and even a rock wall around your property.
The possibilities for landscaping with rock are endless.

I love to work with rocks and my greatest accomplishment was to build a 200 meter long dry rocks wall. It took me two years... but it was a lot of fun and I would do it again in a hard beat.

Using river rocks, you can create a dry creek and then plant ornamental grass and flowers along the border. For added color consider choosing grasses that are blue, purple and green. This way you can use river rock landscaping to have a river in your backyard without actually having to use water.

Proven Plants - No Maintenance Garden

Having these proven plants in your garden, you have almost no work at all.
The selection represents blooming flowers and shrubs from virtually snow-melt in spring to the first snow in November.

Long lasting bloom starts in March/April: with Periwinkle, Daffodils and Tulips
May: Blue Iris, Japanese Cherry, Stonecrop and Snow in Summer
June: Philadelphus, Yarrow, Heuchera
July: Achillea, Purple Ninebark or Sambucus Black Lace
August: Lambs Ear, Rosa Rugosa, Hosta and Astilbe
September/October: Hydrangia, Sedum Autumn Joy

Weed killers kill Pets too

Searching through my gardening archive (it's heavy raining today) I just found this article that I had bookmarked a while ago:

PET DOGS GET CANCER FROM WEED KILLERS

Pet dogs exposed to the weed killer 2,4-D are dying of cancer at twice normal rates, according to a study published in the JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.

Dog owners who spray or dust their lawns with weed killers containing 2,4-D are doubling Fido's chances of getting cancer, the study shows. Dogs walk across, or roll in, herbicide-treated lawns and then ingest toxic chemicals when they lick their coats or paws.

Popular lawn-care products containing 2,4-D include Weedone, Weed-B-Gone, and many others. Naturally, children!!! who play on treated lawns will also come in contact with the chemical.

Dogs and children can also track the chemical indoors where prolonged exposure to adult humans may occur.

Seabuckthorn

I get a lot of compliments for my Seabuckthorn hedge, especially in fall and winter, when they are most showy with big clusters of orange berries.

Those berries are pretty sour when eaten right of the bush, but sweetened with Stevia or brown sugar they are delicious and extremely healthy providing very high Vitamin C content.

The flowers are tiny, the Seabuck"thorns" (hence the name) are a good deterrent for any invaders, human or otherwise.

More benefits according to Sibu.com, one of hundreds of sellers of Seabuckthorn products:
• Supports healthy cardio vascular function
• Sustains proper brain and nervous system function
• Promotes healthy skin and hair
• Enhances integrity of mucous membranes
• Supports healthy digestive system function
Contains omegas 3, 6, 7, 9 and an abundance of Vitamin C


More press releases:
Known as the "Holy Fruit of the Himalayas," Seabuckthorn has been cherished by native Tibetans for centuries for its incredible nutritive qualities. Seabuckthorn grows high in the Himalayan region and has been
used in Asia over the centuries as an herbal medicine to relieve cough, aid digestion, invigorate blood circulation, and alleviate pain.
Today, over one hundred and twenty specific studies on Seabuckthorn and countless studies on the biological properties found in the plant have shown that this small berry promotes good health. Seabuckthorn has been called the super fruit, and given its nutritional profile, it is no wonder.

Well, I just like it as a beautiful fence, for an occasional winter snack and as a treat for birds.

Spring Garden

Are you anxious to see bulbs sprouting, buds unfurling and colorful blooms throughout the garden? There is plenty you can do to gear up for the gardening season.

Trimming and Pruning
April is a great month for trimming and tidying. Now is when you should cut back your ornamental grasses 4-6 inches from the ground. Compost the old growth and look for new, green shoots to appear in a few weeks. Most roses appreciate a good pruning now, too.
Trees and shrubs can be pruned now if you haven't done it already. Fruit trees, evergreens, many deciduous trees, grapevines and roses can all be trimmed and shaped before new growth begins.

Improve the soil of your perennial beds
Good, healthy and rich soil is the most important element for a beautiful garden.
Don't skimp soil improvment!
Empty your compost and mix with good garden soil - or if you do not (yet) compost get at least composted manure, spread it 6-8 inch thick on your garden beds and work it into your last years soil. This is so much better for your plants than the synthetic fertizilers that are sold for top dollar at garden centers. One exemption is natural bone meal that should be added to the soil every time you plant something new in your garden and bone meal, a natural fertilizer to fix nitrogen defencies.

Edging and weeding garden beds
By digging and teasing out weeds now when they are small, you save yourself countless hours of weeding in the summer heat. Cutting in a neat edge on your garden beds also slows weeds' progress and gives your landscape a neat, professional appearance.
Weed not only the flower beds but also your lawn - now, when the weeds are still small.

Mulch all your garden beds
Mulch has lots of benefits:
- A thick layer of mulch (6-9 inches) helps to surpress weeds
- It keeps the soil longer moist - less watering
- Mulched beds look more attractive and tidier
- Mulch balances temperatures, important in our hot summers and cold winters

But use only the natural mulch, not the "dyed or colored" type which could be toxic. (studies in Florida have found levels of arsenic in colored mulches to exceed Federal safety limits in over 75% of the samples tested). The preservatives used in the colorant may also inhibit the growth of many beneficial soil microbes that prevent disease in plants. The dry wood waste and old pallets also have a very high Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N>200) hence if supplemental nitrogen is not added, it may cause a nitrogen tie-up in the soil. Healthy fertile soil has a C:N ratio of only 30:1 hence nitrogen is pulled from the soil as microbes try to break down and decompose the colored mulch. This often results in poor plant growth with increased disease and insect problems.
Also be aware about children and pets in your garden and purchase only natural mulch.