Growing and harvesting herbs has been carried out for thousands of years in all cultures around the world. But in medieval Europe it was raised to a high art. Devoid of medical knowledge and technology that was known even to the Greeks, the Middle Ages depended heavily on herbs for medicines. Their practice was a mixture of experience and nonsense, but they also knew much that was valid.
Greenhouses, or as they were known in the 19th century Conservatories, are freestanding structures that house plants and admit light to ‘feed’ them.
Ok, you’ve put a lot of effort into planning and building (or installing) your greenhouse. You’ve got tabletops, benches, pots, shelves, cabinets, watering systems and a dozen tools to help. Now, you get to really enjoy what greenhouses are all about - plants!
By: Charles Bankston
www.PerennialAndRoseGardening.net
Monroe, Louisiana
Have you ever walked out into your flower or perennial garden in the early spring and asked yourself, “Now where did I put that Coreopsis, or where is that new coneflower plant that I planted last summer?”? If you’re like me you do it quite often. Once you obtain more than a handful of plants and your yard or garden becomes a collection of perennials and other plants it becomes rather difficult to remember where everything is located. If you find yourself in this predicament I’ve found a useful, simple way to avoid this gardening dilemma. One way is to document each plant in your garden with a simple map. But if you’re like me, your plant locations change frequently and it’s time consuming to maintain a map of plants. So, I elect for what I think is an easier, more realistic method.
Colorful climbing roses can add a dramatic effect to your home. They’re nice because you can wind them around a trellis, a column, or even let them climb up the side of your home. It’s interesting to note, however, that many seasoned gardeners fear climbing roses. This is likely because of the belief that climbing roses can get damaged by cold weather and also because they can take years to reach full maturity. Despite these facts, there is a wide selection of climbing roses that can sustain harsh weather.
The name ‘Floribunda’ is of Latin origin and means “many flowered” or “abundance of flowers” and this variety of rose certainly lives up to its name. These roses have been described as some of the most colorful of the modern rose types. Typically, their flowers are arranged in low-growing large clusters. The Floribunda rose is the result of crossbreeding a Hybrid Tea and a Polyantha in the 1920’s. The Floribunda is considered by many to be a better breed than the Hybrid Tea because of its capacity to produce many blooms over an extended period of time. Many people grow them for display rather than to use as cutting-flowers. They’re a beautiful landscape plant that can produce an abundance of color season after season.
The type of hose repair needed depends, of course, on the type of leak you have. Here are two different possibilities for a leak, and how to fix them.
The metal parts of shovels, hoes, pole saws and other lawn tools with wooden pole handles always seem to outlast the handle. A broken handle usually renders the tool useless. Sometimes total replacement is the least expensive alternative, but it can be frustrating when the tool is relatively new. To replace just the handle can be simple and inexpensive, and satisfying, with the right tools and technique.
