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Calochortus lily plants are found naturally in much of the western hemisphere, with the majority growing in California. They rise from bulbs and produce a flattened version of a tulip with widespread petals that resemble a butterfly. This is the origin of the name Mariposa, which means butterfly in Spanish. In warm to temperate regions, these arresting blooms are an excellent addition to the native garden, borders, and perennial beds, and as summer seasonal color....

Olive Tree Appetizer Begin with a Styrofoam cone measuring about 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm.) in height. Wrap the cone securely with plastic wrap. Spread a generous spoonful of room temperature cream cheese over the flat bottom of the cone, then place the cone on a serving tray or plate. Press the cone down lightly so secure it to the plate. Spread cream cheese on the remainder of the cone, then chill it for about an hour (if you like, you can mix a small amount of chives, chopped parsley, onion powder, or garlic salt into the cream cheese)....

Tips for a Single Color Garden Design When creating a monochromatic color garden, use many different shades of your chosen color. For example, purple gardens can include everything from pale lavender to a purple so deep that it is almost black. Yellow color schemes for gardens can range from pale, buttery-colored flowers to deep gold. Before choosing your color, decide whether warm or cool colors will work best in your landscape....

When to Mow Naturalized Bulbs You have to wait until the foliage dies back naturally before mowing bulbs in the lawn. This allows the bulb to re-absorb the nutrients in the foliage and use the energy for next year’s blooms. Without these nutrients, bulbs make a poor showing the following year and over time they die out. Small bulbs that bloom in early spring may die back before the time for the first mowing....

Do bromeliads only flower once? Yes. Getting bromeliads to bloom again isn’t possible, but the plant produces a next generation of bloomers called offsets that will. Will Bromeliad Bloom Again? Epiphytes are plants with gripping roots that hold the plant onto its chosen surface. This surface may be tree bark, rock or even cement. In indigenous terrain, you can see epiphytic bromeliads literally swinging from the trees. They produce fascinating and colorful flowers, called an inflorescence, surrounded by rosettes of thick green to silver leaves....

Mountain laurel is a North American native evergreen shrub. It produces lovely spring flowers that look a bit like brightly colored candy. It is hardy in United States Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 9. This rather broad distribution makes the plant well adapted to many conditions. However, they do not perform well in clay soil, and need dappled light in southern locations. A mountain laurel losing leaves may be suffering from too much sun if they are in hot, scorching light....

Why are There No Strawberries? There are several reasons for poor strawberry production, everything from poor growing conditions to improper watering. Here are some of the most common reasons for strawberries with no fruit: Poor growing conditions – Although they’ll usually grow just about anywhere, strawberries prefer well-draining, organic soil and a combination of warm and cool growing conditions in order to produce adequate fruit. These plants grow best on warm days and cool nights....

What is a No Mow Lawn? No mow lawns are mixtures of three species of fine fescue. Fescues are hardy plants with visual appeal and require little specialized care. They can provide solutions for moisture conservation, natural habitat, soil amendment, and reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides. Fescue is a perennial cool season grass, of which several species are useful as low-growing plants with a clumping and spreading character. Their easy nature means no mow lawn care is minimal and highly environmentally friendly....

Oatmeal Uses in Gardens Below are the most common uses of oatmeal in gardens. Oatmeal pest control Oatmeal is nontoxic and slugs and snails love it – until it kills them by swelling up inside their slimy little bellies. To use oatmeal as pest control, just sprinkle a little dry oatmeal around your plants. Use oatmeal sparingly, as too much can swell and become gooey and packed around stems if the soil is moist....

About Opal Plum Trees The trees that grow Opal are a cross between two subspecies of European plums, one of them a gage plum. Gage plums are extremely juicy, sweet, and delicious and the plum ‘Opal’ inherited this exceptional dessert quality. Opal plum tree flowers flower in spring and harvest starts in summer. Those growing Opal plums say the trees must have full sun in summer to produce the famed, rich flavor....

What is Orchid Crown Rot? Crown rot in orchids is very common. It occurs when the crown of the plant (the area where the leaves join with the base of the plant) starts to rot. It’s so common because it’s pretty much always caused by human error. Crown rot occurs when water is allowed to pool at the base of the leaves. It can come from allowing the roots to stand in water, usually if the saucer isn’t drained after watering....

Think Pumpkins for Decorating a Fall Table While pumpkins have always been included as a basic part of your autumn theme, interesting DIY options for them have gained popularity. Loads of ideas for painting and decorating them for autumn centerpiece use are available online, using faux pumpkins and the real thing too. Everyone’s getting in on the fun with many department stores advertising lighted and ceramic pumpkins for those who don’t have the time or inclination for DIY....

Can Norfolk Pines Grow Outdoors? Can Norfolk pines grow outdoors? Captain James Cook spotted Norfolk Island pines in 1774 in the south Pacific. They were not the small potted plants you may purchase by that name today, but 200 foot (61 m.) giants. That is their original habitat and they grow much taller when planted in the ground of warm climes like this. In fact, outdoor Norfolk Island pines easily grow into mighty trees in the warmer regions of the world....

How Can I Overwinter Strawberry Plants? So how do you protect strawberry plants in winter? One important step to winterizing strawberry plants is thinning them out. Strawberries spread fast, so you don’t need to worry about knocking them back too far – think of it as pruning. Thin until you have about five plants per square foot. Make sure to remove any plants that look diseased. Another important thing to consider when winterizing strawberries is water....

How to Make a Pallet Garden The first step is to get your hands on some pallet collars. Your local hardware or home improvement store may be able to provide information, or you can always do an online search for pallet collars. Plan your DIY pallet garden in an area where the ground is flat. Keep in mind that most plants need at least a few hours of daily sunlight. Once you’ve determined the best location for your pallet collar garden, break up the soil with a spade or garden fork, then smooth it with a rake....

About Panamint Nectarine Fruit If you aren’t familiar with Panamint nectarine fruit, they are large, freestone fruit and quite attractive. The skin is a bright red while the flesh is yellow and juicy. Panamint nectarine fruit has been a favorite for some time in Socal, where the winters don’t provide enough cold weather to grow other varieties. The fruit only needs some 250 chill days, meaning days where the temperatures dip below 45 degrees F....

Signs of Pecan Shuck Decline Disease If your pecan tree has shuck decline or dieback you’ll see the impact on the shucks of the nuts. They start to turn black at the end and, eventually, the entire shucks may blacken. The shucks will open as normal, but early and there will either be no nuts inside or the nuts will be of lower quality. Sometimes, the entire fruit falls off the tree, but in some cases they remain on the branch....

How to Grow Cantaloupe Anyone growing cucurbits (squash, cucumber, pumpkin, etc.) can grow cantaloupes. When planting cantaloupe, wait until the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed in spring. You can either sow seeds directly in the garden or in flats inside (do this well before their initial planting outdoors), or you can use transplants purchased from reputable nurseries or garden centers. These plants need plenty of sun with warm, well-draining soil—preferably with pH levels between 6....

What is the Plant Goldenrod Good For? After learning the many benefits of planting goldenrod and the simplicity of goldenrod care, you may wish to include it near your garden. Goldenrod plants provide nectar for migrating butterflies and bees, encouraging them to remain in the area and pollinate your crops. Planting goldenrod near the vegetable garden can draw bad bugs away from valuable vegetables. Goldenrods attract beneficial insects as well, which may do away with damaging insects when they approach the food source offered by these plants....

Plumeria Cutting Propagation Rooting plumeria from cuttings is very easy. About a week before you plan to plant, you should harden off your cuttings. To do this, you can either take your cuttings from the plant or simply cut a deep notch in the spot you plan to make your cut. Your plumeria plant cuttings should be between 12 and 18 inches (31-46 cm.) long. Either way, you should wait a week after this step before you plant....