Thursday, May 24, 2012

Currant flowers pictures.




 Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a Pacific Northwest native deciduous shrub. and member of the Currant family (Grossulariaceae).

Found along coastal areas from British Columbia, south to central California, it is well known as a hummingbird bush. The red flowers are early bloomers, making them a first stop for the hummingbirds following the Pacific Flyway on their northern migration.
Many of the plants in the Ribes genus are berry plants, including the Red-Flowering Currant. While its berries are edible.

A deciduous spring flowering garden shrub that is easy to grow,  giving a huge display of many bright coloured clusters of scented flowers in late March, early April.
The scented flowers attract early spring insects like bees, and the bunches of dark-blue or black berries become that ripen during the late summer, are enjoyed by wild birds.
There are quite a variety of colours and species of Flowering Currant, all of which are tolerant of most soil types, and require little care, besides occasional Autumn pruning, growning to a height of 2-2.5m  makes it ideal for creating an informal hedge.

Popular Varieties

�King Edward VII� � Deep crimson flowers � March-April
�Tydeman�s White� � White Flowers � March-April
�R. odoratum� or (Buffalo currant) � Yellow � April
In my garden the Flowering Current is in a semi -shaded position getting sun from the rise till late morning.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Hortensia flowers.






Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla                                                 Common Name: Big leaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Lace-cap hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea                                                                                                                     This is one of the most widely recognized species of hydrangeas. It boasts a plentiful number of cultivars. The species is divided into two groups: the Hortensias (or "mopheads") have globe-shaped flowers made up of large male flowers, and the Lacecaps have flattened flowerheads, with central, female blossoms ringed in larger, male blossoms. 
Noteworthy characteristics: Lacy, horizontal blossoms and large globes of flowers in rich colors.Care: Grow in moist, but well-drained soil, in sun to partial shade. Provide shelter from drying winds. These hydrangeas flower on the previous season's wood, and can be maintained by cutting back just to the first pair of buds beneath the old flower in spring. Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in spring; take softwood cuttings in early summer, hardwood cuttings in winterProblems: Gray mold, slugs, powdery mildew, rust, ringspot virus, leaf spots.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Crown imperial flowers pictures.

 BotanicalName: Fritillaria imperialis                          Common Name: Crown imperial                                      
 Native to Iran, Afghanistan and the foothills of the Himalayas, The flower grows 3 to 4 feet tall on a stalk that ends in a tuft of green fronds somewhat like palm trees with bright, vivid flowers hanging below. Crown Imperial flowers will survive and come up in the spring. They appear in April or May and bloom for about 3 weeks, 
 This species draws much attention with its striking gaiety of colour and form. Its large, bell-shaped flowers in shades of orange, yellow, and red dangle from tufts of shiny green leaf bracts. Sitting atop sturdy, 3-foot stalks, the flowers make a surprising and regal statement in the late spring garden.
 Care: These bulbous perennials needs fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant at four times their own depth. The hollow-centred bulbs do best planted on their sides and surrounded with sharp sand.
 Propagation: Sow seed in a cold frame in fall, provide winter cold treatment, and then move to cool greenhouse. Divide offsets in late summer.
Problems: Rust, leaf spot.

  • 1
    Cultivate the soil in an area of the landscape that receives a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. Till or turn the soil over 6 to 8 inches deep, then mix in 2 or 3 inches of compost, perlite or coarse sand. This helps promote good drainage, which is a must for crown imperial flowers.
  • 2
    Dig holes that are 6 inches deep and spaced 6 to 12 inches apart.
  • 3
    Sprinkle coarse sand in the grooves and holes of the bulbs. If water gets trapped in the bulbs, they will rot.
  • 4
    Fill the hole with 1 inch of coarse sand, then set one bulb in each hole on its side. Cover the bulbs with 1 inch of sand.
  • 5
    Backfill the soil to fill in the rest of the hole, tamping it lightly; do not pack the soil firmly. Water the area with 1 inch of water.
  • 6
    Cover the area with 2 inches of mulch after the first freeze the first winter, especially in USDA plant hardiness zones 5 and 6.
  • 7
    Remove mulch in the spring and water with 1/2 to 1 inch of water each week (when rain is scarce) from spring until summer. Prune faded flower stalks, but leave the foliage intact until fall or early winter. Prune them to the ground after they wither.
Each plant forms a single stalk that blooms a cluster of tubular flowers of striking colours including red, yellow and orange.