Valentine’s Day is around the corner and it is time to show our loved ones how much we appreciate and love them. The most common way to do this is by giving our loved ones flowers. Just so you know a bit of history behind this day, it was named after some Christian martyr named Valentine and goes back to 500 AD.

Most people believe that Valentine’s Day which is celebrated on February 14th each year is a commemoration of love and affection between intimate companions. And while that is true, I also believe that it is a day to celebrate and show love and affection to all family members. For example, on Valentine’s Day I send my mother and sister flowers just to let them know that they are loved.

Now all florists are not made equal so choose carefully. While I believe that all florists do try to send nicely made bouquets of flowers most of the time, there are others that go above and beyond the call of duty. And for this reason I love and use Teleflora and do all my ordering online. Somehow this online florist carries some of the most beautiful and unique vases I’ve seen and the flowers they send are very good quality.

Along with flowers, some people also give chocolates or fancy candy and some just send out greeting cards expressing their love. In the 1980’s, the diamond industry began promoting Valentine’s Day as a special occasion for giving jewelry and that practice is very big in the US. But according to a friend of mine who is a florist, flowers is still the most desirable gift on Valentine’s Day.

So remember that time goes fast and Valentine’s Day is almost here and it is time to let your loved ones know how much you love them. Of course, showing love should be a daily practice but it is nice to be recognized on special occasions. And I will be a happy camper when I get red roses from Teleflora and a box of chocolate candies. (photo courtesy: Teleflora)

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Star Gardeners - Ann-Margret Sally Kellerman : People.com
High above Manhattan a vegetable garden grows – Eatocracy ...
Africans violet flower gardening? - Yahoo! Answers
Backyards could become community gardens in Santa Monica ...
Will Rogers Gardens - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Flower Gardening In Wisconsin - a set on Flickr

Technorati Tags: flowers, red roses, Roses, Teleflora, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day cholcolates

It is summertime and time to start thinking about that dream summer garden that you’ve been meaning to plan for a while. There is nothing more beautiful than a summer garden in full bloom. The thing to remember is that there is some planning required in order for you to get the desired results. Once you decide the area where your summer garden will be, start thinking about what types of plants, vegetables and flowers you want. Don’t forget that in planting a summer garden you will get your hands dirty and some gardeners believe that this is the best part about growing a summer garden. To me, the best thing is the results of a summer garden and watching my garden grow healthy.

Before you start planting, keep a list with the date that each area in your summer garden will be planted as different flowers and vegetables have different growing seasons. Some prosper by earlier plantings while others prosper later in the season. If you are planting a summer vegetable garden then it is quite possible that some of the plants will need a precise number of days between planting and harvesting. Both the plant and harvest days should be noted. This provides an excellent opportunity to plant more of the vegetables and maybe some flowers every two weeks to provide a continuous rotation of the vegetables you love well into the gardening season.

An important thing to remember is that climbing plants can be trained to climb poles that you can easily set up in the garden. This is highly recommended if your garden space is limited. Doing this also provides an opportunity to shade plants that prefer less direct sunlight when planted next to these climbing vines that are climbing vertically. Also make sure you have enough stakes for all the plants that require them for best effect. Be sure to read the planting instructions that are provided with each plant and plant them so that those needing shade get the shade they need and those that require the most water are located on a downward slope so that they get the water that runs off from the plants that require less water.

This is a trick that seasoned gardeners know and it makes the most of sometimes limited resources such as water for the purpose of creating a better environment for optimal growth. At the same time you want to avoid planting vegetables and flowers that require less water at the bottom of these slopes as they are likely to become over hydrated, which can be just as devastating as not getting enough water.

Another important thing is that you need to be sure your soil is healthy so that it can create the healthy plants you are hoping to have. Fertilize the soil where these plants, flowers, and vegetables will be grown. This provides the foundation necessary for optimal performance from your plants and greatest yield from your vegetables. You should also take great care once the planting is done and be sure that the plants, flowers, and vegetables that make up your summer garden are well fed in order to produce even better results.

There are plenty of fertilizers and plant foods from which to choose so be sure to check local laws in order to make sure you aren’t using a combination that is not recommended for your region where you live. This is often overlooked but keep in mind that there are regulations that vary from one state to the next Also, plan your pest control before you begin planting your summer garden. There are some plants, flowers, and herbs that work as natural pest controls. These make an excellent addition to your garden as they offer no harmful side effect and can rid your garden of many of the pests that create problems for you. Another thing you may wish to consider is the use of chicken wire to protect some of your plants from things a little bigger than the average bug. The more humane the methods of pest control and the less you rely on pesticides the better it is to protect our environment.

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

BBC - Chelsea Flower Show 2011 - M & G Garden - Bunny Guinness
Springtime Outdoor Flower Gardening For Beginners
Yardening: How to Grow Flowers: Information from Answers.com
Ratail Sales and Household Participation in Lawn and Garden ...
Do Real Gardeners Hire Help? -- Weekend Gardener - WSJ.com
MyEnchantingSilkGarden.com Promotes Lasting Floral Beauty ...

Technorati Tags: climbing vines, flowers, Gardening, plant summer flowers, summer garden, Vegetable Garden

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year when trees begin to change colors in shades of yellow, orange and red. It is also a time when most gardens look dull and gray as most of the colorful annuals plants are gone. But it does not have to be this way.

Did you know that you can have a thriving flower garden in the autumn? Yes, you can! There are lots of autumn blooming bulbs that you can plant now and these will bloom next fall. Plant them this year and as other flowers begin to disappear in your garden, next year beautiful blooms will appear in the fall season.

Start visiting your local nursery or shop online for autumn blooming bulbs and get busy in your garden. Next year, you will be glad you planted your bulbs when you see the flowers come up. To help you get started, here is a short list of some autumn blooming bulbs that you can plant now.

Autumn Crocus ‘The Giant’ – Botanical name is Colchicum Speciosum ‘The Giant’

Rose color flowers streaked with white will appear from this bulb. See the picture below. This is a very easy plant to grow. Just set the bulbs in well drained, moist soil in a sunny area of your garden. The Giant is pest resistant and grows well in zones 5-8. It blooms from early fall to mid fall.

Colchicum Cilicicum – Botanical name is the same

A native of Turkey, if you like Colchicums this is one of the most reliable to plant in your garden. It blooms freely with about 15 flowers per bulb. The flowers are about 2 inches and the shade is a dark rosy-purple. When the flowers die, large 1 foot strap-shaped leaves will appear. Colchicum likes full sun, well drained soil, and grows well in zones 4-9. Blooms early fall to mid fall.

Autumn Crocus ‘Waterlily’ – Botanical name is Colchicum Waterlily

Somehow, the blossoms of this colchicum resemble floating waterlilies. Large, 4 to 5 inch lavender-pink double flowers appear on leafless stems in mid-autumn. It is easy to grow, just plant the bulb in well drained soil. Colchicum likes full sun, it is pest resistant and grows well in zones 5-8. Blooms early fall to mid fall.

Hardy Cyclamen Neapolitanun – Botanical name is Cyclamen Neapolitanum

Wow! This Cyclamen is hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. It offers masses of lilac flowers with rich dark ‘eyes’. The petals curve upward above variegated, heart-shaped foliage. You can plant this bulb under trees, shrubs or pots as it likes the shade. Blooms early fall to mid fall and grows well in zones 5-9.

To your gardening success,
Diana

Here are some other flower gardening sites that I found for you to browse. Thanks for visiting Best Flower Gardening!

Remember the power of flowers in your garden - USATODAY.com
Horticulture > Floriculture - Yahoo Directory
Yuba City California. June 1942. Truck and flower gardening at the ...
Lakeland Yard & Garden Center Flowood MS : Reviews and maps ...
Garden | Define Garden at Dictionary.com
Twitter / Flower Gardens: Flower Gardening Tips : Ho ...

Technorati Tags: autumn blooming bulbs, Bulbs, flower garden, flowers