Currently viewing the tag: "The Gardening Ganster"

The Gardening Gangster

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

by Ana Morlier, The Crazy Plant Lady

Plants That Symbolize Peace

Happy January! Even though the major holidays have passed, there are still many important national holidays to celebrate.

On January 1, the Universal Hour of Peace will be celebrated. The day was founded on the idea that the new year should start with the harmony and unity of all nations. During this time, fighting across the globe ceases. However, this special day should be extended and set the tone for the rest of the new year. A year of acceptance and love for all. There should be no barriers for anyone who wants to accomplish their dreams.

Celebrate this day by gifting family and friends with these plants that symbolize peace. Or, nurture these plants on your own, and remind yourself that even with external conflict, peace is achievable both inside and out, as you can enact positive change.

Lavender. This easy-to-care for herb releases a soothing aroma and can be maintained indoors. Gifting these plants shares the feelings of devotion, love, protection, and happiness. To maintain this plant, place your pot (with well-draining soil) in direct sunlight and plant your lavender. Water every other day. You can water lavender every day, if necessary.

Violets. Previously used for the deceased, as this flower was thought to bring peace to resting souls. This plant represents healing, devotion, and peace. Luckily, violets return every year (as they are perennial) and need only moderate watering and a cool space to grow.

Note: They are expected to bloom in mid to late summer, but this does not mean you have to wait to cultivate them or acquire planting supplies to grow them in spring!

Peace Lilies. These plants symbolize peace, empathy, and tranquility and make perfect houseplants! Again, they require well-draining soil, but grow in indirect sunlight, with occasional watering every two to three days.

Rosemary. This plant is said to be used to commemorate loved ones with it’s comforting aroma. Similar to lavender, it can be grown indoors in direct sunlight, with well-draining soil and periodic watering.

Fiscus. These are great indoor plants that symbolize peace and prosperity. They require indirect sunlight, occasional watering and temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees fahrenheit. Their voluminous leaves can make one mistake these plants for trees!

Monstera. This plant is tropical in appearance, with large leaves. Symbolizing honor and respect, these plants require indirect sunlight and occasional watering.

Philodendrons. These are hearty plants that thrive in temperatures between 50-90 degrees fahrenheit in indirect sunlight. They also require occasional watering and well-draining soil. These dark, leafy plants symbolize a love of nature and growth.

Take time to honor this special day and appreciate the peace in your life. May these plants empower you to bring peace to others and change the world for the better.

Credit to Flower Meaning.com, Kayleigh Dray from the Stylist, UK; Erica Daniels, ProFlowers, and National Today.

The Gardening Gangster

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

  by Ana Morlier, The Crazy Plant Lady

Living Centerpieces

Happy Thanksgiving month, everyone! Whether you’re hosting or attending a Thanksgiving feast, it’s important to thank others and encourage the festive Thanksgiving mood. Centerpieces fully set the tone of your Thanksgiving feast. Consider this: Would you rather display thoughtful decorations that invite your guests with cozy yet elegant vibes or decorations that will make you feel like you are sitting at the kid’s table again? Relatives will quickly regret their previous comments over the state of your garden with the stunning living centerpieces listed below. Succulents, bursting with color, will present their vibrant colors and extraordinary shapes for much longer than wilting store-bought flowers. A quick Pinterest scroll may inspire some ideas, but the picture-perfect versions are much harder, in reality, to put together. Here are three easy centerpiece ideas that will perfectly charm your guests and start your Thanksgiving out beautifully. They also make great gifts!

Pumpkin Planters

Materials:

A pumpkin (with seeds and pulp removed)

Your favorite succulents (For fall colors, use Graptosedum ‘California Sunset’, ‘Golden Sedum’ Echeveria ‘Orange Monroe’, Desert Cabbage, Stick on fire, Jellybean plant, or Red Burst)

Plant succulents (and dirt) in a container, then place the container in your pumpkin. You can hide the empty space with leaves or shrubbery you find outside. A plastic or ceramic pumpkin/turkey-shaped planter works just as well. Simply plant succulents in the planter, and you’ve got yourself a centerpiece!

Turkey Table-Toppers

Materials:

Metal tin or can (or another container that hot glue, regular glue, or tape can adhere to)

Wide Popsicle stick (It should look like a peanut, but regular popsicle sticks work too. You can also cut out a larger peanut shape from cardstock)

Large, spiky succulents that can easily fill the top of your container (such as Aloe vera, Haworthia, Echeveria, and Agave succulents) with dirt

Hot glue or tape

Markers

Googly eyes

Insert dirt and plant your succulents in your selected container. Next, hot glue your googly eyes to the popsicle stick, drawing on a beak and a gizzard underneath the eyes. Hot glue or tape this stick to the front of your container. Now you have yourself a turkey centerpiece!

Rustic Burlap Planter

Materials:

Glass jar

Twine (ribbon works just as well)

Burlap (other cloth can be used)

Dirt

Hot glue gun or tape

Red air plants and succulents such as Echeveria agavoides ‘Lipstick,’ Dragon’s Blood Sedum, Sempervivum ‘hens and chicks,’ Sticks on Fire euphorbia, or the jelly bean plant

Add dirt and plant your succulent in the jar. Cut burlap so that it covers the circumference of the jar. Hot glue the cut burlap to the jar. Tie on twine or ribbon. There you have it! An elegant, yet homey, fall centerpiece.

I hope these ideas will inspire you to create other homemade decorations. Your imagination is the limit! Remember to not only thank the special people in your life, but also the seedlings, growers, and workers that make your Thanksgiving meal possible. Stay warm, happy, and healthy, and thank YOU for reading my column!

From: Marcel Iseli-Plantophiles, Balcony Garden Web, Kat McCarthy-The Succulent Eclectic, Succulents Box, Jacolyn Murphy, Lindsay Hyland-Urban Organic Yield

The Gardening Gangster

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

“Helping You Find Plants That Work”

by Ana Morlier

Display the Season With an Autumn Bouquet

The season of pumpkin spice, REASONABLE temperatures, corn mazes, and hot drinks is upon us. It’s finally September, folks! Aside from all of the fun activities and tasty food available in the fall season, the Catoctin Mountains have one of the best views of the color-changing trees. Even with the plants slowly transitioning away from the vibrant emerald colors of summer, we can still look forward to the warm saturation of leaves and flowers.

While taking in the beauty of fall is delightful, sharing the charm of autumn fauna will give you more warmth than any pumpkin spice latte can. Give from your heart—and your harvest! Gift someone a bouquet made out of the flora and fauna listed below. Plants like hellebores, hostas, mums, asters, hydrangeas, daisies, and chrysanthemums grow back again and again. If you do not have any of the plants suggested below, just stick to the basics and use whatever you have available. Your bouquet will still look fabulous!

Bouquet Basics

Choose flowers that are either complementary colors (ex: yellow/purple, red/green) to each other or are generally the same hue.

Extend the life of your bouquet with water and treatment. You can find floral food packets in most grocery stores near the plant and bouquet section. Jill Brooke of Flower Power Daily even recommends Sprite or Clorox! Her secret recipe is: “1 quart water, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of bleach.”

Recut the stems at a slant every other day so that the flowers can absorb adequate amounts of water.

Finally, place your bouquet out of the sunlight in a cool, dry place.

Making Your Bouquet

Start your bouquet with twigs and other sturdy, woody materials as a frame, placing them around the circumference of the vase. These do not have to be a uniform length, just as long they are one to two times the height of the vase.

Integrate greenery, such as leaves (myrtle, eucalyptus, etc.), ferns (shield, leatherleaf, cinnamon), ivy, twigs, and grass, into the bouquet, filling in the empty space exposed in the frame.

Add “foundation flowers” or flowers with hefty blooms that are cut short enough to cover the negative space and lip of the vase. Some examples include hyacinths, small clippings of azaleas, Autumn Joy stonecrop, yarrow, phlox, etc.).

Now insert the flowers that are the stars of your bouquet. These may include dahlias, lilies, chrysanthemums, black-eyed susans, coneflowers, helenium, and/or whatever you want to show off!

Finally, add flowers that have weaker stems to fill in any leftover gaps.

And, there you have it! A beautiful, meaningful bouquet. Who knows, maybe you’ll get a bouquet as well!

Have an amazing autumn, everyone!

From: FTD by Design, Clever, BON APPÉTIT, Maryland Grown Flowers, Meredith Swinehart (Gardenista), Veranda, We Love Florists, Caroline Bologna (HuffPost),Jill Brooke (Flower Power Daily), and The Gardening Dad.

My own novice bouquet is made out of ferns, pampas grass, marigolds, azaleas and a dahlia.

The Gardening Gangster

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

“Helping You Find Plants That Work”

by Ana Morlier

Houseplants that grow in water

Happy July everyone! I hope everyone is taking the proper precautionary measures to stay cool—and not just figuratively. After my last article about shade trees, I decided to find another project that would ensure a refreshing feeling from the summer heat. You can now bring style, elegance, and plant friends together with houseplants (that can be grown in water)!

All of the ones listed below can be kept inside and look fashionable no matter where you put them. You can also look for fun containers—beakers, cups, vases—whatever you want to use. It is generally a good idea to change the water out once a week.

Lucky bamboo: I’m sure we’ve all heard of it at this point, but upon closer inspection, it is actually a type of Dracaena. It doesn’t require a lot of attention; just remember to check on it once in a while. It prefers indirect light. Pebbles can be used to line the bottom of the container to promote growth (and it looks like a little aquarium!). You can even unlock your inner bonsai mater and train the bamboo to grow in spirals, heart shapes, woven together to make a living basket, or however you want to grow them. Copper wire is usually required, and experimenting with the light it receives can encourage different shapes.

Begonia: This is the kind of flower I picture in a garden, but it does well in water, too! Begonias have succulent-like leaves and stems that make them very durable. Wax Begonias are best to use when starting out. They do well in any light condition; grow continuously; and come in white, pink, red, and yellow.

Heartleaf philodendron: I feel posh just reading the name! If you are worried you’ll cause the downfall of even a succulent, let your worries cease with this plant. It is rumored to be harder to get rid of than to grow. The leaves cascade down beautifully, with glossy, green leaves. The heartleaf philodendron is more so a tropical plant, so it is advised to keep it in a room that is at least 70 degrees (or just keep it outside).

Spider plant: Probably one of my favorite plants. This tiny plant grows quickly, beautifully exploding out of the container. Even if I can’t have a dog, I can have a plant pup, as the offspring of spider plants are called “pups.” Isn’t that adorable? They can survive in water for long periods of time, out of direct sunlight. Make sure to change the water once every two weeks or when the water gets cloudy.

Paperwhite: As the name suggests, this plant produces delicate, thin flower petals with a sweet scent. I was able to attain seeds after the flowers shriveled up, so it’s the gift that keeps on giving! Be sure to line the bottom with pebbles or even seashells for a beach theme.

Tradescantia pallida: A tough plant that does well in warmer temperatures. Described as a weed for its hardiness. Towering high with green, purple, and white striped leaves, it makes a perfect addition to any terrarium!

Coleus: With bold stains of vibrant red and dark purple complementing the green leaves, this plant makes a perfect centerpiece for your kitchen table, as it doesn’t require much light. They even survive during the hard winter months.

You can begin to grow the following plants in water, then they have to be sent back to the ground.

Vegetables such as carrots, celery, bok choy, spinach, and cabbage;

A surprising amount of crops such as mangos, pineapple, avocados, sweet potatoes, ginger, peppers, tomatoes, and garlic; and

Herbs such as lavender, lemongrass, mint, basil, marjoram, rosemary, and fennel.

Most of these, such as celery, carrots, peppers, and mint, can be grown from simple kitchen scraps of the crop! It saves you money when you can enjoy the fruits of your efforts and reduces food waste. All you need for growing any of these plants is water, a cute container, and a little patience. Don’t let your plants have all the fun in water—get out and enjoy a nice swim!

Lucky bamboo makes for a wonderful centerpiece at our table!

The Gardening Gangster

By On · Add Comment · In Columns

“Helping You Find Plants That Work”

by Ana Morlier , The Crazy Plant Lady

What feels like the last holiday, Easter, will soon be here. The last opportunity to attain candy (other than buying it yourself) is coming up. For gardeners, the chocolate Easter candy isn’t the only thing to look foreward to. Spring has sprung!

Even if you aren’t a green thumb, you too can join the excitement as everyone gears up for planting season. I’m not exactly “sowing” I’m a planting professional, but I did want to recommend an awesome and highly beneficial perennial to your garden.

Readers of The Banner, I present to you a candidate that resolves all your garden worries!

The Early Lowbush Blueberry — The All-Star Greenery

Here are a few highlights of the early lowbush blueberry:

It flowers from April through May, so not only can you catch sight of the blooms, but pollinators can get a head-start on assisting your garden;

Its (fruits) are edible;

It’s native to Maryland;

You’ll attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. In some cases, even the Maryland favorite, the Orioles, box turtles, chipmunks, and other animals, come to this bush;

It’s used for any soil condition.

I know that was a lot of excitement for what seems like a boring shrub, but when I saw that it fits this much criteria for my mediocre gardening skills, I got pretty excited. With the timing of the blooms so close to the current date, you’ll have your first view of spring beauty promptly! The flowers come in colors from white to pink, so they won’t be hard to miss. In the fall, the leaves turn a light crimson. 

Some things to watch out for:

Naturally, it actually thrives after forest fires because the factors of competition from other plants and shade from trees is eliminated. It is a good idea to expose it to as much sunlight as you have room for, and provide lots of space to grow;

As stated, this shrub attracts pollinators and animals alike, so if you want blueberries for yourself, you have to watch closely and take preventative measures. Be careful not to use any sort of pesticides or chemicals, as this can be hazardous to other beneficial species;

Prune away any dead or weakened leaves or branches;

While soil texture doesn’t matter, this is an acid-loving shrub. The Spruce recommends “A slow-release, soluble, ammonium nitrogen granular variety that is marketed for plants like rhododendrons or azaleas.”;

It produces rhizomes, which are roots that penetrate and spread out deep underground. This can provide competition for other plant life, so allot lots of space for the shrub.

If you are afraid of any harm from gardening, don’t worry (Bee happy)! Bees are perfectly friendly, as long as you leave them alone (which I find quite unbelievably adorable). If you “hive” a fear of bees, and one comes close to you, stand completely still. They won’t understand what the buzz is all about and will leave you alone. It’s usually wasps and yellow jackets that will bug you the most, and they come out more so when summer is in full swing.

The early lowbush blueberry is without thorns, spines, or prickles, so you don’t have to be too cautious when picking blueberries or just checking on the plant. When harvesting, be gentle with the young sap. Hand-picking is the easiest on the plant and, in my opinion, the most fun!

This plant is quite a delight—beautiful colors, tasty fruit, and ground cover. I hope you have a berry good planting season!

*Credit to Go Botany, University of Maryland Extension, The Spruce, Maryland Biodiversity Project, Punopedia, and the Honey Plants Calender.