TheGardenLady readers might like to see a list of the flowers growing in my garden this year.
A list of most of the Plants in TheGardenLady’s garden
Perennials Continue reading “Flowers Growing in the TheGardenLady’s Garden”
2014 Flower Shows
In December sugarplums may have danced in one’s head. But in January it is the FLOWER SHOWS that plant lovers dream about. These Flower Shows will soon open their doors to showcase the magic of flowers. And the 2014 Flower Shows look like they will be winners.
You don’t want to miss your local or state flower show. And if you have cabin fever during this long cold winter, think about planning to follow the flower show trail around the world.
Every year this GardenLady gets to the Philadelphia Flower Show, which is touted to be the largest indoor flower show in the world. This year’s Art Themed Flower Show, called ARTiculture will run March 1-9th. To avoid crowds it is advised to come when the doors open or around dinnertime.
More Chinese Flowers (Videos)
Ice Flowers of China
This video was made in The China National Flower park in Luoyang showing the flower that many think is China’s National Flower, the Chinese Tree Peony; but TheGardenLady read that there is really no national flower because China has so many beautiful and beloved flowers, it is difficult to decide which one to choose. (see here)Â Still the Tree Peony is certainly beloved by the Chinese. (And I might add, this GardenLady) The Chinese National Flower Park is renowned for their peonies and every year there is a peony festival in the city of Luoyang that is also very popular among Chinese tourists and among peony enthusiasts the world over. For a website that lists all the peony festivals in China check this out.
Flowers from China
 This is how flower is written in both Chinese and Japanese.
So many of the beautiful flowers that we love in our gardens come from China. Yet how many gardeners realize where their plants originate? We, especially in the US and UK, are so fortunate to be able to grow these plants easily that come from China. Our gardens would be sad indeed if we did not have these plants. China is home to more than 30,000 plant species, fully one-eighth of the world total. Many, but not all, have the word sinensis in their Latin name. So we cannot always be certain if the plant originated in China. Horitculurtists still go to China to find more plants that we gardeners can grow.
Flowers of Kauai
A reader of TheGardenLady blog recently visited Kauai and sent in photos of some of the plants growing on the island. A highlight was visiting Kauai’s Limahuli Garden and Preserve which grows native plants of the island and teaches about Hawaiian history in relation to the native plants. As you walk through this beautiful botanical garden you have gorgeous tropical scenery. This was the location that served as the Bali Hai backdrop in the movie “South Pacific.” Limahuli covers almost 1000 acres. Though much of it is restricted for research and preservation, one can walk a 3/4 mile long trail through the demonstration garden. Read more about this garden here or check out this page for flowers in Hawaii.
Turkey’s Botanical Treasures
Flower bed at Topkapi Palace, Istanbul by John Picken
In spite of the number of lovely flowers that I have already growing in my garden, this GardenLady always dreams of more flowers. Which ones should I add to the garden when I divide and transplant or give away those that have overgrown their stay? As I have been going through some catalogs deciding on some more bulbs that I want to add to my garden, I realize that so many of my favorite flowers come from Turkey. For example, tulips are native to Turkey as are some of the fall blooming crocuses. See here. Now that Liquid Fence stops deer and rabbits from eating my tulips and crocuses, I am ordering more of both of these bulbs.
When this GardenLady traveled through Turkey in the early 1970s, especially driving through the eastern part of that beautiful country, I was amazed with the number of wild flowers I saw there. They were so many wildflowers, that I decided I would concentrate on seeing how many different flowers of one color that I could find each day I traveled. This was not a difficult undertaking, the wild flowers were so prolific. I had a cup holder in the car and I would fill a cup with a different color of flowers daily.
Though cutting the flowers does not hurt the plants, since this is what one does when one dead heads to encourage more blooms, if everyone did what I did, there would be few wildflowers for others to admire. Though I did this before this type of thing was prohibited, we know better these days and I would never recommend picking wildflowers. I recommend just looking and photographing the flowers. I wished I had a book with me for identifying flowers so I could know what the names of those flowers were. These days, I wonder if there are good books in English on the names of the Turkish flowers.
TheGardenLady’s Spring Garden
This GardenLady loves Spring- when the world looks so lovely with all the flowers emerging from their sleep. l would like to share photos of some of the flowers that are in bloom in TheGardenLady’s spring garden.
(1) Hellebores with Brunnera and Greater Celandine (see here and here) Greater Celandine is becoming invasive in some areas (see here)
(2) Hellebores
(3) Korean Spice Bush or Mayflower Viburnum Viburnum Carlessi (see here)
(4) Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica (see here)
Israeli Flower Websites
- Gorgeous flowers on the hillside of the Hinnom Valley
Purple Flower by WKeown
This April people around the world will be celebrating both Passover and Easter. This year you might like to decorate your house with flowers that Moses or Jesus might have seen or trod on. You may want to buy flowers that are native to or are grown in Israel. If you wonder what flowers are native to Israel and much of the Middle East and what flowers grow in Israel, TheGardenLady thought some websites about Israel’s flowers might be interesting.
One of my favorite sites is called Spring Awakening in Israel. The homepage says Flowers in Israel, “That they all may blossom in a beautiful world beyond war.” My wish completely. This site gives the Latin name, the English name, the Hebrew name and some have the Arabic name of each of the flowers. It gives the names of the flowers that were in the Bible. From flowers listed as native to Israel, some of the flowers that I believe we might find in our local flower stores to create more authentic bouquets for the holiday table could include Anemones, Madonna Lilies, Jack in the Pulpits, poppies and irises. To walk on the hills of the Galilee in the spring among the red poppies is a sight to remember. Put that on your “bucket list.”*
Winter Flowering Plants – Part III
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Primavera’ by Tie Guy II
In addition to winter-flowering flowers (see here and here), there are also winter flowering shrubs. Many of these shrubs are hardy in US hardiness zones 5 and warmer.
One of the earliest blooming shrubs is the witch hazel. Witch Hazel, Hamamelis intermedia “Pallida” is considered one of the best to open in mid to late winter. See here. Friends eagerly went to view the one that opened early in a local garden. Many of the Hamamelis have the added bonus of fragrance. Plus the witch hazel has fall interest with colored foliage.
Winter Flowers – Part II
Helleborus niger ‘Praecox’by Tie Guy II
My very favorite winter flowering perennial plant is the very early winter blooming Hellebore. I cannot rave enough about this hardy perennial. The Hellebore is the plant that I greedily want more and more of growing in my yard. The earliest blooming ones are the Christmas rose Helleborus niger. Mine are spectacular and as they age, they are turning pink.