The lily is a member of the family Liliaceae, which contains about 359 genuses with up to 100 species, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The plant is native to the northern hemisphere that includes North America, Europe, and Asia. Approximately 5000 years ago a tablet found in Sumeria depicted a Persian city surrounded by a field of lilies.
June is one of my favorite months. While April and May bring the promise of buds (and sometimes May gardening is plain delightful), June brings flowers: showy rhododendron, brilliant iris, scented lilac, and delicate poppies burst into bloom. Across the country temperatures begin to rise and days get longer, meaning early sunrise watering sessions or late-night tea out on the deck.
If you live in an apartment (like me), you know the woes of wanting a garden but not having enough space for one. Thankfully, you can successfully grow an indoor container garden if you have even just one windowsill that gets enough light. Come summer, all my windowsills are bursting with life, and trust me when I say it's the best feeling ever. I recommend growing plants from seed, then transferring them over to a pot on your windowsill. Here are three easy plants to start growing now for a beautiful indoor garden.
With the turn of spring, the desire to garden increases—at least for me. For those living in cooler areas of the country, rainy days and fall’s leftover leaves might be reason enough to ditch the garden and stay indoors, but taking care of your garden now means bright, vibrant blooms all summer long. Fertilizing your plants is necessary to boost growth or blooms, specifically because most soil is severely depleted of nutrients following years of pesticides, toxins, and overuse.
Gardening is an extremely rewarding hobby that can really save you money in the long run if you have a green thumb. Instead of buying herbs, produce, and vegetables from the store, you can just grow them yourself.
Not everyone has a green thumb. But if you really want some green(ery) around, here are some tips and tricks for the lazy gardener in you.
The morning glory belongs to the family Convolvulaceae and is native to the tropical regions of America. It was a sacred plant to the Mayan, Aztec, and other native tribes who used the seeds in ceremonies because of its hallucinogenic properties. They believed that the plant had a spirit that could allow men to speak with the gods. There has been found a recipe written by shamans that specifically had to be prepared by a virgin.
Four o’clocks are of the genus Mirabilis L., species Mirabilis jalapa L. and are also known as Marvel of Peru, where it originated. The Spaniards discovered the plant in the Peruvian Andes in 1540 and exported it to Europe where it became a popular decorative addition in gardens throughout the continent. In warmer climates the four o’clock is a perennial but in cooler climates it is an annual.
Sweet peas belong to the genus Lathyrus, having as many as 160 species. They are climbing annuals native to the Mediterranean basin and are found in a diverse selection of colors. The first recorded mention of the sweet pea flower was written in 1695 by Francisco Cupani, a gardener in the order of St.
The zinnia is a member of the Family Asteraceae, which includes the Aster and contains seven species. It is an annual that is native to Mexico and is found from the southern United States to Chile.