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Children and Vegetable Gardens Kids enjoy planting seeds, watching them sprout, and eventually harvesting what they have grown. Allowing children to become involved in the planning, caring, and harvesting of a garden not only gives parents a unique opportunity to spend time with their children, but it helps the kids develop an understanding of that which they are curious about– nature. Children also develop a sense of responsibility and pride in themselves, which can ultimately improve self-esteem....

Are Verbena and Lemon Verbena Different? In short, lemon verbena is one of many plants that could be called a verbena. Around 1,200 species are in the Verbenaceae, or verbena plant family. The ones most commonly called verbenas are the roughly 250 species in the genus Verbena. Lemon verbena is a member of a different genus within the Verbenaceae; it’s classified as Aloysia triphylla. Ornamental members of the genus Verbena include common vervain (V....

What Does Ironweed Look Like? Ironweed plants have some truly beautiful and distinguishing characteristics. Among these is a particularly tall and stiff upright habit. They stand erect with tooth-shaped leaves and have small purple flowers gathered in loose bunches. This makes them a favorite cut flower. Fond of damp locations, this beautiful flower is often seen along the banks of marshes or small bodies of water. Some varieties are even drought tolerant....

Vertical Succulent Planters Many vertical succulent gardens are grown in a simple wooden box, with a depth of about 2 inches (5 cm.). The optimum size of the box should be no bigger than 18 inches by 24 inches (46 x 61 cm.). Bigger sizes tend to get out of hand, loosing soil or even plants when hanging on a wall. Since succulents normally have a shallow root system, they can become established in just an inch (2....

Water Oak Information Quercus nigra is a tolerant plant that can grow in partial shade or sun to full sun. These elegant trees are deciduous to semi-evergreen and an important part of ecosystems from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas. Water oaks grow at a fantastic rate of up to 24 inches (61 cm.) per year. Caring for a water oak is easy, but it is a weak wooded tree prone to many diseases and insect pests....

What are Asplundia Plants? If you don’t live in the tropics, asplundia will seem like an exotic plant. There are numerous species of this plant, which belong to the Cyclanthus genus. These are flowering plants that grow in the rainforests of Central and South America and the Caribbean, and that may be epiphytic, air plants that don’t require soil, or terrestrial growing in the ground. Asplundia varieties are numerous, with around 100 different species, including Asplundia insignis, one of the more commonly seen outside of the actual rainforest....

What are Common Garlic Pests? Garlic has both natural fungicidal and pesticidal properties. That’s why many gardeners plant it near certain crops. Garlic contains the compound allicin, which is released when the cloves are crushed or bitten. Possibly, this is garlic’s defense mechanism, but whatever the case, it serves to deter some pests like aphids near lettuce. Apparently, they don’t love garlic as much as I do; they view it as more like the repellent it is to Dracula....

What are Hitchhiker Weeds? Weed seeds spread in a variety of ways, whether traveling by water, air, or on animals. The group of weeds nicknamed the “hitchhikers” are seeds that stick to clothing and fur, making it difficult to dislodge them immediately. Their variously barbed adaptations ensure that the seeds will travel far and wide via animal locomotion, and most can be eventually shaken off down the road somewhere. Although it might sound like all fun and games, the weeds spread by people are not only difficult to contain, but they’re also costly for everyone....

About Nomocharis Bulbs While very similar in bulb and flowering appearance, alpine lilies (Nomocharis) are not technically in the lily (Lilium) family. Native to regions of Northern India, China, and Burma, these ornamental plants produce flowers that range in color from light pink to pink-purple. Depending upon the variety, these blooms may also exhibit unique, dark purple-spotted patterns throughout the flower petals that make them exceptionally beautiful. How to Grow Chinese Alpine Lilies Similar to many lilies, Nomocharis lily care is relatively simple....

What are Oak Ferns? Oak fern plants (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) are very low growing, usually topping out at between 6 and 12 inches (15-30.5 cm.) in height. Instead of growing up, these fern plants grow out, creeping along the ground through rhizomes. In spite of their common name, oak ferns do not grow on or near oak trees, nor do they resemble them in any way, so how it derived this name is a mystery....

What is Wrong with My Aloe Plant? Aloe vera plant distortion on the leaves and stems is caused by a little rascal called an eriophyid mite. These almost microscopic insects reproduce rapidly and travel by wind, water, insects, birds, and even people. Once the plant has the insects, it is possible aloe mites can infest other similar plants. Interestingly, it is not their tunneling activity that causes the distorted aloe leaves but the injection of a potent toxin that changes leaf and plant cell structures....

What is a Chojuro Asian Pear Tree? Originating from Japan in late 1895, Chojuro Asian pear trees (Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Chojuro’) are a popular cultivar with russetted orange-brown skin and crisp, juicy white flesh at about 3 inches (8 cm.) or more. The fruit is known for its lengthy storage life too, about 5 months refrigerated. The tree has large, waxy, dark green foliage that turns a gorgeous red/orange in the fall....

The cup plant, for example, is a wildflower that can show just how advantageous planting native perennials can be. What is a Cup Plant? Cup plant, or Silphium perfoliatum, is a native flowering plant found in most parts of the eastern United States. Reaching heights of up to 8 feet (2.5 m.), this bright yellow perennial flower is a welcome addition to gardens for its attractiveness to bees and other beneficial insects....

Information on European Pear Trees What is a European pear? The cultivated European pear (Pyrus communis) was most likely descended from two subspecies of wild pear, P. pyraster and P. caucasica. Wild pears may have been gathered and eaten as far back as the Bronze Age, but what is certain is that the ancient Greeks and Romans wrote of pear grafting and cultivation. Pears were brought by settlers to the New World where they eventually migrated to the Pacific Northwest in the 1800’s....

During hot summer months, and even throughout most of the year in hotter environments such as Florida, a greenhouse shade cloth can save money by helping your cooling system to work more efficiently. What is Greenhouse Shade Cloth? Shade cloth for greenhouses can be installed over the top of the structure, just inside the roof or a few feet above the plants themselves. The right system for your greenhouse depends on the size of your building and the plants growing inside....

What is a Legume? The family of legumes is Leguminosae. Legumes are found in most areas of the world and are fast growing and inexpensive food crops. Domesticated legume crops have been in human cultivation for more than 5,000 years. Legumes encompass a wide range of edible nuts and vegetables. There are also legume plants that are not edible but have many of the same benefits for soil health. Legume pods easily break into two equal hemispheres, but not all legumes produce pods....

What is a Mikado Plant? Mikado plants, also known as Syngonanthus Mikado, are flowering ornamentals native to the swamps of Brazil. Growing up to 14 inches (35 cm.) tall, these spiky plants produce tall globular flowers. Before opening, the ball-shaped flowers range in color from white to cream. These flowers provide a beautiful contrast when in bloom held above the grass-like foliage. Mikado Indoor Plant Care To begin growing Mikado plants indoors, gardeners will first need to purchase a transplant from a reputable garden center or online retailer....

What is a Possumhaw Holly? Generally, holly (Ilex) species are evergreen, holding onto their shiny green leaves all year. Possumhaw holly (Ilex decidua), however, is a type of holly that loses its leaves every winter. Possumhaw holly can grow to a tree some 20 feet (6 m.) high, but it often is grown as a shorter, clumping shrub. As a shrub or small tree, possumhaws can be useful and ornamental. These small holly trees generally produce a number of thin trunks or stems....

What is a Pumpkin on a Stick Plant? A pumpkin on a stick plant (Solanum integrifolium) is not a pumpkin. As mentioned, it is a type of eggplant grown as an ornamental, but because of how it looks, confusion is inevitable. Part of the nightshade family and related to tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, pumpkin on a stick looks exactly like small, orange pumpkins growing on a stick, albeit a stereotypically thorned eggplant stick....

Single, Double, and Semi-Double Petals Let’s explore the concept of semi-double flower plants, along with a few tips for identifying a semi-double flower. Single flowers Single flowers are comprised of a single row of petals arranged around the center of the flower. Five is the most common number of petals. Plants in this group include potentilla, daffodils, coreopsis, and hibiscus. Flowers such as pansies, trillium, or mock orange generally only have three or four petals....