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Alice in Wonderland Storybook Garden Tips There’s a lot of ground to cover in Alice in Wonderland, all of it more fantastical than the previous. Things that stand out are the various sizes Alice goes through, one minute little and the next enormous. And then there’s the Mad Hatter’s tea party and guests, the white rabbit and his obsession with time, and the landscape within the story – sometimes English garden pretty and sometimes loud with bold colors and quirky shapes....

Aspen Tree Information One problem that many people come up against when growing aspen trees is their short lifespan. It’s true – aspen trees in landscapes usually only live between 5 and 15 years. This is usually due to pests and diseases, which can be a real problem and sometimes have no treatment. If you notice your aspen becoming sick or infested, usually the best thing to do is to cut the offending tree down....

Aster Yellows Symptoms While aster yellows is found in carrots, it is by no means the only species afflicted. Any of the following commercially grown crops may become infected with aster yellows: Broccoli Buckwheat Cabbage Cauliflower Celery Endive Flax Lettuce Onion Parsley Potato Parsnip Pumpkin Red clover Salsify Spinach Strawberry Tomato Yellowing of foliage is the first sign of aster yellows disease and is often accompanied by resetting of leaves and stunting of the plant....

How Can I Attract a Hummingbird to my Garden? When attracting hummers to your garden, you should keep in mind that hummingbirds prefer to feed in shady areas and they need plenty of open space for flying. Adding appropriate feeders and flowers will also help to welcome these creatures to the area. Feeders An easy method of attracting hummingbirds to the garden is to hang hummingbird feeders. Hummingbird feeders can provide the amount of nectar found in 2,000 to 5,000 flowers....

Considerations for Backyard Pond Waterfalls Waterfall landscaping is a unique way to add dimension and sensory delight to the garden. You may choose to contract professional installers for your project or tackle it yourself. Either way, you need to consider the site carefully and make sure you have a power source nearby. Waterfall garden features run off of pumps that circulate the water. These require electricity to operate. A pond forms the perfect natural reservoir for a waterfall....

Best Fertilizer for Pepper Plants The best fertilizer for your pepper plants depends on your soil. It’s a smart idea to get it tested to find out the nutrient content before making amendments. However, adding compost to the entire vegetable bed prior to planting is always a good idea too. Generally, a balanced fertilizer works for peppers. But if your soil testing shows you have enough phosphorus, you should choose a low- or no-phosphorous fertilizer....

Are you interested in container-grown Thunbergia? Growing black eyed susan vine in a pot couldn’t be easier. Read on to learn how. How to Grow Black Eyes Susan Vine in in a Pot Plant black eyed susan vine in a large, sturdy container, as the vine develops a hefty root system. Fill the container with any good quality commercial potting mix. Container-grown Thunbergia thrives in full sun. Although potted black eyed susan vines are heat tolerant, a little afternoon shade is a good idea in hot, dry climates....

What is Black Garlic? Black garlic isn’t a new product. It has been consumed in South Korea, Japan, and Thailand for centuries. Finally, it’s made its way to North America, better late than never because this stuff is fabulous! So what is it? It is, indeed, garlic that has undergone a process that renders it unlike any other garlic. It achieves a heightened flavor and aroma that is in no way reminiscent of the almost acrid odor and intense flavor of raw garlic....

Caring for Blue Poppies – Blue Poppy Info Blue Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) looks just like you might expect, like a poppy but in a striking shade of cool blue. These perennials grow tall, 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) in height and have hairy leaves like other types of poppies. The blooms are large and deep blue to purple in color. While they do resemble other poppies, these plants are not true poppies at all....

What is Boltonia? Boltonia plants are characterized by their attractive flowers and large bushy habit. They can grow 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 m.) tall with a spread of up to 4 feet (1 m.) in width. False aster Boltonia is a perennial which prefers dry soil in full sun but can grow in partially shaded areas. Plants in lower light tend to get rangy and may require staking....

What is Bone Meal? Bone meal fertilizer is essentially what it says it is. It is a meal or powder made from ground up animal bones, normally beef bones, but they can be the bones of any animal commonly slaughtered. The bone meal is steamed to increase its availability for plants. Because bone meal is made from mostly beef bones, some people wonder if it is possible to get Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE (also known as Mad Cow Disease), from handling bone meal....

What is a Bosc Pear? Bosc pears were introduced in the early 1800s. This means they have been part of our diet for some time and are firmly entrenched as one of the tastiest of pears. It is unclear if the variety is Belgium or French in origin but it is a late-season producer, often called a winter pear. Cooler regions of the country are perfect for Bosc tree growing. Some tips will help you learn how to grow Bosc pears....

Gypsophila Plant Pests Though invasive in some places, baby’s breath plants are not impervious to damage that can be done by insects in the garden. Pests of baby’s breath plants can cause both failure of bloom, as well as complete collapse of the plant if young or not yet well established. As with any plant in the flower garden, when identifying Gypsophila plant pests, it is imperative that growers are able to distinguish between beneficial and nuisance insects....

Plants That Calm You Down Several studies have shown that houseplants can have a positive impact on mood, stress levels, and anxiety. There is one study in particular which gardeners might find intriguing. It was conducted in China using 24 students inside an office setting. The study had the students evaluate the office space with and without plants. Various types of physiological data was also collected from the participants. When both qualitative and quantitative data was compared, it showed there were certain characteristics of plants that helped with anxiety....

When to Prune Sedum Sedum plants are in the family Crassulaceae and are considered easy to grow succulents in most regions. There are many sizes and varieties from which to choose, providing an ideal shape for almost any gardening endeavor. Cutting back sedum plants is not strictly necessary unless they are getting wild and out of control. If you require a very tidy appearance, sedum plant pruning can control errant growth and enforce thicker plants in some cases....

About Cracked Tomatoes on the Vine Usually, cracked tomatoes are caused by water fluctuations. Cracking occurs when it has been very dry and then suddenly rainstorms arrive. Of course, that’s nature, and not much you can do about it except water the plant when it’s very dry! So, yes, cracking also occurs when the gardener (I’m not pointing fingers!) neglects or forgets to regularly supply water to the tomato plants, then suddenly remembers and deluges them....

This sweeter than usual cabbage is easy to grow either by planting seeds or transplants. Keep reading to learn how. Growing Caraflex Cabbage Plant Caraflex cabbage seeds indoors four to six weeks ahead of the last expected frost in your region. This allows you to harvest the cabbage before the weather turns hot. Watch for Caraflex cabbage seeds to germinate in four to ten days. If you’re not interested in planting seeds indoors, you may find it easier to purchase young plants at a garden center or nursery....

Planting Agapanthus in Containers Agapanthus needs extremely well-draining, but somewhat water retentive, soil to survive. This may be hard to achieve in your garden, which is why growing agapanthus in pots is such a good idea. Terra cotta pots look especially good with the blue flowers. Choose either a small container for one plant or a larger one for multiple plants, and cover the drainage hole with a piece of broken pottery....

Gardenia Houseplants While there are many indoor plants that require little attention, gardenia houseplants are not this type. One of the most frustrating things about these lovely and fragrant plants is how finicky they are. If you plan on giving a gardenia plant to someone for a gift, be sure that they know how to care for it or they will be terribly disappointed. Growing gardenias indoors, within the confines of your home, requires close attention to humidity, light, and pest control....

Caspian Pink Information Tomatoes come in all sorts of colors in modern gardening. Black, purple, yellow, orange, and the classic red to name a few. The Caspian tomato produces deeply pink fruits when ripe. Even the flesh is tinged a rosy pink. Not only is this a pretty sight on the plate, but the fruits are juicy, sweet and delicious. Caspian Pink was originally grown in Russia between the Caspian and Black Seas....