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TrumpetVines-Spectacular Flowering Plants For A Mediterranean Landscape Garden

April 16, 2010

Jonathan Ya’akobi asked: Mediterranean Flowers

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Rosemary+-+How+To+Get+The+Best+From+This+Classic+Mediterranean+Plant%7C%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThe+Rosemary+plant+has+to+be+one+of+the+mainstays+of+any+garden+in+dry+climates+in+general+and+Mediterranean+ones+in+particular.+Its+uses+as+a+herb+are+famous%2C+being+an+excellent+natural+additive+in+roast+potato%2C+chicken+and+fish+dishes.+It+is+also+grown+of+course+as+a+fine+ornamental.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EIn+design+terms%2C+Rosemary%2C+%28Rosmarinus+officianalis%29+as+a+small+shrub+reaching+about+a+meter+in+height%2C+can+function+as+medium+scale+ground+cover.+Its+pale+green+foliage+and+fine+leaf+texture+contribute+a+typically+Mediterranean+feel+to+a+garden+composition.+It+also+adds+some+color+to+the+garden+in+the+winter+with+its+small%2C+pale+blue+flowers.+There+are+also+a+number+of+successful+ground-hugging+varieties+available+now.+They+associate+well+with+other+plants+of+prostrate+habit+like+Myoporum+parvifolium+and+the+cranebill%2C+Erodium+reichardii.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ERosemary+plants+are+relatively+easy+to+grow.+The+only+thing+to+worry+about+is+to+provide+adequate+drainage.+Otherwise%2C+they+can+tolerate+drought%2C+poor%2C+shallow+and+alkaline+soils.+If+planted+in+somewhat+%22cared+for%22+settings%2C+they+should+be+lightly+clipped+now+and+again%2C+in+order+to+maintain+compact+growth.+It+is+important+to+remember+that+Rosemary+should+not+be+cut+back+to+the+wood%2C+as+it+does+not+grow+back+from+old+wood%2C+and+consequently+overtime%2C+the+foliage+will+not+cover+the+plant+to+the+ground%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThis+is+often+considered+one+of+the+drawbacks+of+the+species%2C+but+in+fact+this+property+of+Rosemary+can+be+exploited+to+create+interesting+forms+and+shapes+from+the+older+specimens.+The+old+and+dry+parts+of+the+plant+can+be+cut+out+and+by+so+doing+the+plant+is+transformed+into+a+mini+tree%2C+reaching+a+height+of+about+a+meter+or+so.+The+old+stems+become+in+fact+gnarled%2C+twisted+trunks+of+considerable+sculptural+value%2C+while+the+plant+as+a+whole+functions+as+a+small+scale+accent+or+emphasis+element+in+the+composition.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ERosemary%27s+growth+habit+is+typical+of+some+other+herb+genera+belonging+to+the+Lamiaceae+botanical+family.+%28Labiatae%29+Examples+that+spring+to+mind+are+Lavender+and+Artemisia.+In+both+cases%2C+plants+as+with+Rosemary+do+not+rejuvenate+from+old+wood%2C+and+therefore+similar+treatment+can+be+considered+for+them.

March 5, 2010

Jonathan Ya'akobi asked: Caffeinated Content

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Rose+Bush+Care+and+Maintenance+During+the+Winter+in+a+Mediterranean+Climate+Garden%7C%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThe+rose+bush%2C+once+termed+the+%22queen+of+the+garden%2C%22+can+be+unmatched+in+its+flower+performance.+It+can+also+be+maddeningly+frustrating+as+it+fails+to+deliver+on+its+promise.+While+many+a+home+gardener%27s+disappointment+can+be+traced+to+choosing+the+wrong+type+of+rose+for+a+particular+location%2C+poor+performance+and+appearance+can+be+avoided+if+the+correct+maintenance+procedures+are+carried+out.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThere+are+in+fact+important+differences+between+care+and+maintenance+in+cold+winter+climates+and+mild+winter+ones%2C+but+before+going+into+that%2C+let%27s+first+see+which+tasks+are+common+to+growing+roses%2C+irrespective+of+the+climate.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EPlanting+roses%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EWherever+the+location%2C+roses+must+be+grown+in+full+sun%2C+in+well-drained+soil%2C+and+at+a+proper+distance+from+trees+and+other+bushes.%28Between+5-10+meters%29+It+is+also+important+to+plant+the+bushes+at+the+recommended+distances+from+each+other%2C+without+being+tempted+to+squeeze+in+more+roses+for+%22better+effect%22.+The+effect+usually+achieved+from+over-crowding+is+weak+growth+and+greater+susceptibility+to+fungal+disease+like+mildew.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EPlanting+bare+root+is+preferable+to+planting+from+containers+because+you+have+the+opportunity+to+examine+the+roots.+These+should+look+whole+and+healthy%2C+with+at+least+three+main+roots+spaced+reasonably+evenly+from+each+other.+Planting+bare+root+should+only+be+done+while+the+plant+is+dormant%2C+so+the+winter+is+the+best+time+to+do+so.+However%2C+at+the+end+of+winter+in+Mediterranean+climates%2C+it%27s+common+to+jump+from+2c+to+a+heat+wave+within+a+couple+of+days.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EFor+this+reason%2C+do+not+plant+bare+root+at+the+end+of+winter%2C+or+if+the+plant+is+showing+signs+of+coming+into+leaf%2C+as+the+new+plants+by+not+having+time+to+establish+an+adequate+root+system%2C+are+liable+to+dry+out+when+the+temperatures+suddenly+rise.+In+such+cases%2C+it%27s+better+to+plant+roses+that+have+been+grown+in+containers.+Similarly%2C+roses+should+only+be+transplanted+in+the+middle+of+winter.+If+it%27s+a+bit+late+in+the+season%2C+wait+till+next+winter.+As+warm+spells+are+common+in+Mediterranean+winters%2C+the+bushes+must+be+watered+in+after+planting%2C+and+the+soil+remain+fairly+moist%2C+but+not+saturated.+A+mulch+of+wood+chippings+will+help+to+preserve+moisture+and+keep+down+weeds+as+well.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EPruning+roses%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThe+pruning+of+established+roses+needs+to+be+carried+out+quite+differently+in+mild+winter+climates+as+compared+to+cold+winter+ones.+Southern+California+is+not+the+Mid+West%2C+and+Southern+Italy+is+not+Germany+or+Eastern+Europe.+Here+then+are+some+basic+ground+rules%3A%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3E%2AThere+is+no+need+to+cut+down+the+plants+to+the+ground.+Remove+between+a+third+and+a+half+of+the+bush%27s+height.+In+the+meantime%2C+old%2C+dry+and+damaged+wood+can+be+cut+away.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3E%2AWhile+pruning+should+be+performed+while+the+rose+bushes+are+dormant%2C+it+should+nonetheless+be+delayed+to+about+6+weeks+before+the+possible+occurrence+of+late+frosts.+So+if+for+instance%2C+frosts+are+not+likely+to+occur+after+March+15%2C+then+the+roses+can+be+pruned+around+the+beginning+of+February.+This+is+necessary%2C+because+pruning+cuts+combined+with+warm+spells%2C+encourage+premature+growth+which+is+highly+vulnerable+to+damage+from+late+frosts.+This+damage+to+young+tissue+causes+fungal+and+bacterial+infection+which+is+of+course+detrimental+to+the+health+of+the+plant+as+a+whole.

December 30, 2009

Jonathan Ya'akobi asked: Caffeinated Content

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Building the Mediterranean Garden in Your Backyard

December 13, 2009

Callie Morris asked: Mediterranean gardens have become popular in recent years for several reasons, first they bring a relaxing and unique atmosphere to a yard and house, the second reason is they are a garden that once in place will need somewhat less care over the perennial garden. These are gardens often found in places [...]

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Flower+Bed+Designs+-+The+Benefits+Of+Choosing+Plants+From+One+Botanical+Family%7C%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EWhen+thinking+about+a+scheme+for+flower+beds%2C+the+tendency+is+to+concentrate+almost+exclusively+on+the+question+of+color.+While+color+is+obviously+important+and+undoubtedly+the+primary+category+to+consider%2C+it+is+not+always+recognized+that+flowers+posses+other+visual+properties+such+as+form%2C+shape%2C+size+and+texture.+Whether+you+like+it+or+not%2C+these+characteristics+affect+the+overall+look+of+the+composition%2C+either+for+good+or+for+ill.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EPersonal+taste+aside%2C+genuinely+satisfactory+results+can+only+be+achieved+if+the+plants+go+together+to+form+a+harmonious+composition.+One+rule+of+design+that+is+particularly+relevant+to+flower+beds+is+the+need+for+unity+or+uniformity.+When+it+comes+to+color%2C+it+is+obvious+that+just+throwing+any+color+in+at+random+is+liable+to+create+a+mess.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ELess+obvious%2C+but+important+nevertheless%2C+is+the+need+to+choose+plants+whose+flower+shape+size+or+texture+are+in+keeping+with+each+other.+To+take+an+extreme+example%2C+let%27s+say+the+different+species+in+the+bed+all+have+flowers+that+are+varying+shades+of+red.+Such+a+scheme+would+be+termed+monochromatic%2C+and+would+clearly+posses+the+quality+of+unity%2C+at+least+as+it+relates+to+color.+However%2C+if+some+of+the+flowers+were+tiny+while+others+huge%2C+with+any+number+of+shapes+and+forms+in+between%2C+would+the+effect+still+remain+harmonious%3F%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThis+is+where+choosing+the+bedding+plants+from+one+botanical+family+can+come+to+your+assistance.+Due+to+the+fact+that+flower+structure+is+the+criterion+by+which+plants+are+sorted+botanically%2C+it+follows+that+plants+that+are+closely+related+are+most+likely+to+have+flowers+that+are+visually+similar.+The+best+example+is+provided+by+daisy+flowers%2C+which+belong+to+the+Asteraceae+family.+%28Formerly+Compositae%29%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3EThere+are+a+great+number+and+variety+of+herbaceous+flowering+plants+belonging+to+the+daisy+family%2C+ranging+from+small+shrubby+types%2C+plants+with+tall+flower+storks+and+ground+hugging+species.+There+is+also+a+wide+range+of+flower+color+within+the+family%2C+but+the+common+denominator+is+the+flower+shape+and+size+common+to+almost+all+genera.+An+understanding+of+this+property+allows+for+greater+unity+to+be+achieved%2C+balancing+the+variety+that+is+created+by+the+different+plant+types.+Here+are+some+examples+which+are+suitable+for+dry+Mediterranean+climates.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ESmall+shrubs%3A+There+are+a+number+of+species+of+Chrysanthemum+such+as+C.+frutescens+that+grow+to+about+50+cm+and+posses+lovely+fine+textured+foliage+in+addition+to+their+daisy+flowers.+A+similar+plant+with+yellow+flowers+is+Euryops+pectinatus.+These+types+are+useful+for+%22holding%22+an+herbaceous+bed%2C+at+a+time+when+some+flowering+plants+are+passed+their+best.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ETall+Flowers%3A+Solidago%2C+Achillea+and+Coreopsis+are+good+placed+towards+the+back+of+the+border.+The+fine+foliage+texture+of+Achillea+or+Yarrow%2C+associates+well+shrubby+Chrysanthemums+and+foliage+plants+from+other+families+such+as+Asparagus.+A+number+of+species+of+Felicia+can+fill+an+intermediate+role+between+low+growing+plants+and+taller+ones.%3Cbr%2F%3E%3Cbr%2F%3ELow+growing+plants%3A+There+are+a+large+number+to+choose+from+such+as+the+ground+hugging+Gazania%2C+the+dependable+African+Daisy%2C+%28Arctotis%29+Bidens%2C+the+delicate+Brachicome+and+the+sprawling+Osteospermum.

November 19, 2009

Jonathan Ya'akobi asked: Create a video blog

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Landscape Trees – 4 Excellent Species For A Private Mediterranean Climate Garden

September 14, 2009

Jonathan Ya'akobi asked: Many people choose trees for their private garden based on flower color and fruit. While both these are desirable ingredients in a garden, they are not necessarily the best grounds for preferring one species over another. A well-chosen landscaping tree is essentially one whose form, shape, size and leaf texture, provide shade [...]

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Ah Spring, what a magical time of year. The cold of winter is starting to leave and the air is filled with that special feeling of renewal. Spring is a great time for flowers. Today, I’m going to point out six early spring flowers. Whether you’re out to plant some flowers or just like to gaze, these six flowers are great.

Iris

Iris can be found all over the place–deserts of Europe, the Middle East and all across North America. Irises have varied color, but my favorite is the purple Irises.

Snowflake

In North America, we haven’t seen too much of these. They are mainly on the east coast. I love their sort of droopy attitude. They are nice crisp white flowers. There is also a summer Snowflake.

Ghostflower

It might seem like a ghost, because you may have yet to see one. This is a pretty flower that’s lower to the ground. It flowers in March and April typically and it’s native to the Americas.

Early Star-of-Bethlehem

This flower is also called the Radnor Lily. It’s a vibrant yellow flower and found mainly in the Mediterranean and central Europe. I love the look of this flower. It has six petals and it can flower as early as January.

Easter Redbud

Absolutely magnificent is how I’d describe the Easter Redbud. It’s such welcomed splash of color on the landscape.

The flowers are various shades of pink. You can find the Eastern Redbud in the eastern part of the United States and Southern parts of Canada, like Ontario. These flowers cluster bloom starting in March typically.

And there you have it. Six great Spring flower ideas. If you’re going to plant any flowers, see if any of these will work in your region. If not, go online and check out the pictures. They are worth a look.

September 9, 2009

Jason Martin asked: Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

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Morning Glory Ground Covers – Excellent Plants For Mediterranean Gardens

August 25, 2009

Jonathan Ya'akobi asked: Morning Glory is commonly associated with rampant climbing plants belonging to the genus Ipomoea. There is however a species known botanically as Convolvulus sabatius, (C. mauritanicus) which while having climbing properties, can be grown as a low-growing ground cover plant. Considering that its water requirements are very modest, and that is so [...]

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