[PETUNIA77]

KISS ME KATE LILY




BEAUTIFUL ASIATIC LILY...
Kiss Me Kate is a beautiful coral-red lily with spotless golden yellow star center.

WEBSITE ON HOW TO GROW KISS ME KATE LILIES...

http://www.ehow.com/how_5657263_grow-kiss-kate-lilly-bulbs.html

[mamavan]

YEW - The yew tree is a kind of conifer originally from parts of Europe, Africa, Iran and Asia. It is a small to medium, slow-growing tree, reaching around 10 to 20 metres high. The leaves and seeds of the tree are very bitter and poisonous. The yew's pine cones are unusual, being more like a berry with a single seed. The berries are eaten by some kinds of birds.

[PETUNIA77]

WITCH HAZEL

NO, NOT THIS WITCH HAZEL...

THIS ONE...



They are popular ornamental plants, grown for their clusters of rich yellow to orange-red flowers which begin to expand in the autumn as or slightly before the leaves fall, and continue throughout the winter.

The bark and leaves are astringent; the extract, also referred to as witch hazel, is used medicinally. Extracts from its bark and leaves are used in aftershave lotions and lotions for treating bruises and insect bites. Witch-hazel helps to shrink and contract blood vessels back to normal size, hence its use as the active ingredient in many hemorrhoid medications. It is also a common treatment for postnatal tearing of the perineum. The seeds contain a quantity of oil and are edible. It is also used in treating acne. Witch Hazel is also used in treating psoarisis and eczema.

MORE INFO ON WITCH HAZEL...
http://www.wisebread.com/15-wonderful-uses-for-witch-hazel

[mamavan]

LOTUS -


Lotuses are found in white and pink colors in general and they grow in shallow and murky waters. Lotus flowers enjoy warm sunlight and are intolerant to cold weather. This is why, the Lotus is not seen blossoming in the winter. The floating leaves and Lotus flowers have long stems, which contain air spaces to maintain the buoyancy. The Lotus is native to Asia and flourishes in a wide range of climates from India to China.

[CathieC]

Sweet Pea

[FriscoGirl]

ASTILBE





Astilbe (pronounced /əˈstɪlbiː/) is a genus of 18 species of perennial, herbaceous flowering plants, within the family Saxifragaceae. Some species are commonly known as False Goat's Beard, and False Spirea. Astilbe species are native to Asia and North America.

These hardy, herbaceous perennials are cultivated by gardeners for their large, handsome, often fern-like foliage, and dense, feathery plumes of flowers. Astilbes are widely recognized for their profuse blooms in full shade. They are widely adapted to water-logged conditions, and tolerate clay soils well. Numerous hybrids have been raised. Astilbe is a tall feathery flowered plant popular as a pond side feature, due to its previously described growing conditions.

[FriscoGirl]

EUPHORBIA



Euphorbia is a genus of plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Consisting of 2008 species, Euphorbia is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom, exceeded possibly only by Senecio.

Members of the family and genus are sometimes referred to as Spurges. Euphorbia antiquorum is the type species for the genus Euphorbia; it was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 in Species Plantarum. The genus is primarily found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and the Americas, but also in temperate zones worldwide. Succulent species originate mostly from Africa, the Americas and Madagascar. There exists a wide range of insular species: on the Hawaiian Islands where spurges are collectively known as "akoko", and on the Canary Islands as "tabaibas".

The common name "spurge" derives from the Middle English/Old French espurge ("to purge"), due to the use of the plant's sap as a purgative.

The botanical name Euphorbia derives from Euphorbus, the Greek physician of king Juba II of Numidia (52–50 BC – 23 AD), who married the daughter of Anthony and Cleopatra. He wrote that one of the cactus-like Euphorbias was a powerful laxative. In 12 B.C., Juba named this plant after his physician Euphorbus in response to Augustus Ceasar dedicating a statue to Antonius Busa, his own personal physician. Botanist and taxonomist Carl Linnaeus assigned the name Euphorbia to the entire genus in the physician's honor.

Juba II himself was a noted patron of the arts and sciences and sponsored several expeditions and biological research. He also was a notable author, writing several scholarly and popular scientific works such as treatises on natural history or a best-selling traveller's guide to Arabia. Euphorbia regisjubae (King Juba's Euphorbia) was named to honor the king's contributions to natural history and his role in bringing the genus to notice.

[PETUNIA77]

ALBERTA SPRUCE~dwarf



The dwarf Alberta spruce, also known as the dwarf white spruce, is a popular, slow-growing , dense conifer that is widely available at retail and garden centers throughout the US. The tree will eventually grow 10-12 feet high but takes 25-30 years to reach maturity and is hardy in zones 2-6. With soft, light green needles and a pyramidal form, the Alberta spruce provides a unique vertical `structural accent´ to the landscape. The Alberta spruce can handle high winds, cold temperatures, heat and/or drought periods. Specialty pruned spiral or sheared forms are also available. In addition, the dwarf spruce is occasionally selected as a container accent planting.

[mamavan]

EVERGREEN - The Christmas tree, also known as a Yule tree, is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century.[2][3] The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the home and decorated with Christmas lights (originally candles), ornaments, garlands, tinsel, and candy canes during the days around Christmas. An angel or star is placed at the top of the tree, representing the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity.

[PETUNIA77]

SINCE WE ARE NEARING CHRISTMASTIME HERE IN THE U.S....

A NATIVITY FOR OUR GARDEN...

[FriscoGirl]

YEW



Yews are small coniferous trees or shrubs in the Family Taxaceae. Yews belong to the genus Taxus.

Yews are relatively slow growing trees, but widely used in landscaping and ornamental horticulture. The yew has flat, dark-green needles, reddish bark, and bears seeds with red arils, which in Canada are eaten by cedar waxwings and other birds. Yew wood is reddish brown (with white sapwood), and very hard. It was traditionally used to make bows, especially the English longbow.

A species of yew native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia), is the source of taxol, a drug with apparent anti-cancer activity.

In England, the Common Yew (or English yew, Taxus baccata) is often found in churchyards. It is sometimes suggested that these are placed there as a symbol of long life or trees of death, and some are known to be 2000 years old. It is also suggested that yew trees may have a pre-Christian association with old pagan holy sites, and the Christian church found it expedient to use and take over existing sites. Another explanation is that the poisonous berries and foliage discourage farmers and drovers from letting their animals wander into the burial grounds. The yew tree is a frequent symbol in the Christian poetry of T.S. Eliot, especially his Four Quartets.

[mamavan]

WALLFLOWER - The Wallflower is an old-fashioned garden flower which, although a perennial is usually grown as an annual or biennial because it tends to 'bloom itself to death'.
This 12"-24" plant produces a profusion of fragrant, brightly colored flowers all spring making it an excellent choice for your butterfly garden, flower bed, or garden border.

[PETUNIA77]

WELL, I THINK OUR GARDEN COULD USE A REINDEER FOR CHRISTMAS!
AND THIS ONE IS BEAUTIFULLY DONE...IT IS IN SINGAPORE.

WE HAVE SNOW ON THE GROUND HERE IN N.E. INDIANA...SO, PETUNIA PICKLEBOTTOMS IS DEFINITELY IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT...

[PETUNIA77]

RHUBARB


AS IN PIE...MY DAD'S & HUSBAND'S FAVORITE...



Rhubarb is a popular perennial garden vegetable in many areas of the world where it is grown for its tasty leaf stalks (petioles), as an ornamental plant, and as an herbal medicine. Rhubarb has large, heart-shaped, leaves making it both a large and distinctive plant in your garden.

Rhubarb is incredibly versatile with many culinary uses. Try it in cakes and desserts, pastries, jams, pickles, conserves, sauces and, of course, wine.

[mamavan]

Bachelor's Button-


Bachelor buttons are annuals, which means they complete their entire life cycle in a single year, and then die. But don't despair; they may be back next year! Bachelor buttons ensure their own survival by dropping seeds that will germinate and grow the following year in most climates. As with most annuals, keeping the spent flowers picked off will encourage the production of more flowers, but to allow them a chance to reseed, leave some of the last flowers to die naturally on the plant. This will give them a chance to drop seeds.