Pansies, the largest members of the Viola family, are a huge favorite among many. Pansies are the favorite of many because they’re annual flowers that bloom during the cooler seasons of the year. You can mix Pansies in the bed of other flowers that do better in the warmer seasons. Mixing the two types of annual flowers, those that like warmer weather and those that like cooler weather, will create less bare spots in your garden throughout the year.

Like that of Petunias, Pansies and other Violas require full sun and require little maintenance. Pansies can grow very well in partial shade though. Pansies are the most popular cool weather annuals. However, Pansies can be difficult to start from seed. Growing from a seed is difficult because they need cooler temperatures, approximately 60 – 65 degrees F. Not only do they need cooler temperatures but they require darkness to germinate. If you don’t have time on your hands, it is best to plant pansies as plantings. Planting these beautiful flowers as seedlings require daily maintenance until they show their first bloom, make sure you have the time if this is what you choose to do.

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Pansies have many varieties like that of Petunias. You can find Pansies in colors like yellow white, rose, blue, purple, white, and wine colors in your flower bed.. Unlike that of Petunias, Pansies will provide color throughout the winter months and can remain in your flower garden during the hotter seasons, blooming again in fall. Planting Pansies in walkways, containers, and borders are ideal. Pansies require rich, moist, well drained soil and full sun.

Pansies have a few characteristics that set them apart from many flowers, making them another reason to be favorites by many. The faces on their petals create a story like that of a picture book and the flowers of Pansies are edible. Pansies have a delightful mint taste to them. Using pansies to decorate desserts and fancy drinks is what many do with this favorite.

Petunias are a popular favorite among annual flowers and are raved about year after year by those that love flowers. Petunias were found in South America more than two centuries ago and were much plainer and less diverse then what we are used to seeing today. Europeans later made hybrids of the popular Petunia and now we can find them in colors such as white, yellow, pink, blue, purple, and red as well as bi-colors. Petunias can be found as single or double flowers as well. Giving the Petunias vast varieties, no wonder they’re a favorite across our country today!

Petunias require little care as long as these wondrous flowers are planted with the right elements. Petunias require more water when seedlings and if planted in pots. Growing Petunias requires full sun. There are many great places to plant these flowers. Plant your Petunia varieties in hanging baskets, window boxes, flower beds, borders, walkways, paths, and other like containers. If planting Petunias as plantings in the ground, these beauties can last through heat waves and droughts with little watering. If in a pot, they require proper drainage due to the need to water more often as well.

Many choose Petunias because of their beauty, light scent, low maintenance, and affordability. Petunias bloom from summer into autumn in the Northeast. These beautiful flowers can last longer if planted near a brick wall or other like material that draws in heat. The warmer these annual flowers are, the longer these flowers keep. Petunias are inexpensive and grow like wildflowers. Giving your Petunias room, they will take up every empty space available in your flower bed if given the time and care they require, remember the time and care is minimal because these are low maintenance flowers.

Enjoy your beautiful flowers, making heads turns, as others pass by your home. Planting Petunias will be an activity your family will enjoy year after year.

Sunflowers are a popular favorite, especially here in the Northeast. Originally cultivated by North American Indians, sunflowers can be eaten raw, roasted, cooked, dried, ground, and can be used to make an oil alternative that is healthier. Sunflowers are high in protein and appetizing to many, no wonder Sunflowers are favored throughout!

Sunflowers don’t require much care at all. They may take as little as 70 to 90 days to mature. These beauties do need full sun and it’s required to irrigate them until your Sunflowers settle into the ground. Sunflowers do well in the ground, but can be potted as well. If potted it is best to plant two or less together, and then planting them into the ground to take root once it is apparent that the sunflowers are crowded. Sunflowers require average to rich soils so that they can stand strong against winds allowing them to root deep and wide into your garden with rich soils…

Once your Sunflowers are showing growth, there are some other basic maintenance tips for properly caring for your plants. To achieve bigger blooms, apply extra phosphorus and potassium when the flowers bud on your Sunflower plants. To avoid damage before your flowers bloom, cover your sunflowers with a screen to help keep birds and animals from tearing up your plants. I can recall a time when I looked out the front window of my house to look at one of the big, beautiful sunflowers that were quickly maturing in my front yard, and I saw a squirrel, sitting atop one of these plants, meticulously picking out the ripe sunflower seeds one by one… A well placed screen would have easily prevented this.

Sunflowers grow to be very big and quite beautiful. Sunflowers can grow to be ten feet high and can be a few inches wide at the stalk. These wondrous flowers range in colors of dark brown to black, grey, white, and can even be striped. Seeing so many varieties in Sunflowers and knowing that they take little time to mature, it is understood by many why it’s a popular choice to plant Sunflowers year after year.

We all have those moments, when we see that special flower we stop to embrace the beauty it possesses. Here in the Northeastern region we have great weather but it can get a bit frosty in the wintertime; these weather elements call for a bit of research when picking the perfect annuals for our home gardens. Some flowers can’t handle the frost nor can they handle extreme heat. Finding the right flowers for our region helps us to have a successful run in creating a dreamy flower garden adorned by many.

Favorite annuals for the Northeast are as follows:

• Pansies – easy to grow, adaptable, beautiful coming in a variety of bright colors, and has a wonderful scent.

• Marigolds – comes in wonderful bright yellows and oranges, like that of a tall, beaming sunflower, these are always great additions to any garden.

• Geraniums – can be planted in most regions, and can stand strong rain and wind elements, and great for brightening your garden.

• Impatiens – reminds me of a tropical flower coming in colors of red, maroon, purple, pink, white, orange, salmon and mauve. A simple, yet bright addition to any garden.

• Snapdragons – comes in a beautiful range of colors like red, orange, yellow, violet and white. Snapdragons have a faint scent and will brighten up any garden.

These wonderful annual flower varieties are ideal for gardens and I have placed these favorites in my garden for many reasons. Not only are these annual flowers all very beautiful yet simplistic, these beauties can withstand the weather elements of our region and are loved by many. These flowers are a pretty site, have lovely scents, and are easy to maintain, no wonder these annuals are a favorite of the Northeast and are placed throughout my garden.

Flower beds are a beautiful addition to any landscape and have many benefits if laid out correctly. Planting in flower beds will bring to you gardening in its simplest form. Fewer weeds will intrude and there are a variety of self water and draining systems available for flower beds. Flower bed gardens aren’t only easy to maintain, but they provide a beautiful appeal and are well organized.

Now that you know some benefits of using flower beds, it’s best we share with you how to add flower beds to your garden correctly. The five key components to a successful flower bed garden are as follows:

1. Planning – consider size and the types of flowers you want in your garden, the dimensions of your flower beds, and the location of where your flower beds will sit.

2. Flower variety – annuals or perennials, which will work best for your lifestyle and for your garden. It’s recommended to use a variety of both, annuals and perennials.

3. Location – flower height for different varieties of flower types will call for a specific layout in your planning. Weather and sun exposure matter a great deal! What weather elements do the flowers chosen depend upon?

4. Flower Bed materials and dimensions – what materials will look best in your ideal flower garden? How much space do you have to work with?

5. Seeds or Plantings – Starting with seeds will require more maintenance and will take longer to reap the benefits. Starting with plantings will cost more but will be easier to work with and will produce sooner results.

When planting a flower garden using flower beds, use these steps mentioned. Using these steps, adding flower beds to your landscape, will make your gardening task simpler, cost effective, and will create the ambience and setting you’re aiming for in regards to your ideal flower garden.

Garden design can be a time consuming and expensive task. Hiring a consultant or DIY garden design can have its benefits and drawbacks. Knowing the primary elements of garden design, no matter which way you get the job done, is the key principle to saving your time and money.

Other elements of garden design:

1. Evaluate and measure – Know how location plays a part in your new garden, it could be the weather elements and the location of your home that could make or break your dream garden. How much space you have to work with is equally important.

2. Design concept – Sketches or photos will help you visualize your plans into the real deal or can help your hire a professional to lead you in the right direction.

3. Landscape plan – Ideas are drafted to scale at this time by a professional or by yourself. Discuss this plan and how your desired design will be laid out and what materials will be used with contractors and others who are involved.

4. Planting plan – Mapping out which plants will be planted in your garden and the location of where they will be planted, as well as the quantities of each plant is planned in this phase.

5. Lighting plan – Lighting up your garden to capture the pure beauty of your dream landscape is an important part in the planning process. Where will each light be placed and what will it capture?

6. Hire a contractor or DIY – Now that the plans have been drawn up by you or a professional it’s time to get busy.

7. Purchasing – It’s time to purchase all the materials, and plant life that you have decided upon for your garden.

8. Get Busy – It’s time for you or your contractor to get busy in creating your dream garden. Watch the beauty unfold, sit back, and relax.

A quick note, it’s best to only attempt designing a garden if you have experience in gardening. A trained professional knows best what elements will lead you to a prosperous or disastrous garden.

Back when our parents started their families, gardens and yards took on a different view from what we are now accustomed to today. Lawns appeared freshly cut, lush, green, and adorned with beautiful flowers along a structured pathway. Fruit and vegetable gardens were in perfect rows and were decorated with handy labels. Gardens sat at only one end of the backyard, while fruit trees were placed strategically in areas that needed shade most.

Today’s top trends in gardens and yards have a whole new approach. Low maintenance and wild array is what people are looking for this day and age. Many families are too busy with their careers, education, extra curricular activities, and with entertaining friends and family. Finding time to mow a large yard and to stick to a gardening regimen becomes harder and harder as we fill our days with more tasks. I’ve seen many front and back yards that posses a wild array of beauty, no structure, but speaking beauty in a way that our parents would only find at a botanical garden or like place.

Saying no to lawns is a big movement currently. Lawns take up too much of our water supply and this water supply can be used for better things. Sticking to a lawn free yard helps our environment and wildlife.

Organic, need I say more? All natural with no chemicals are what people want. Using no chemicals is better for our environment and our health. We aren’t limited to shopping at local farms and farmers markets anymore; we can find what we are looking for in our own organic gardens.

Fruit and vegetables aren’t just found in the backyard in one single corner any longer. A good friend of mine has a wildlife setting in his front and backyard. His yard consists of flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits throughout. Edible plants are strewn about his property. What more could you want? Go out front and grab that perfect herb for the meal you are presenting for your family and friends!

Plant seeds can be difficult to grow, although plant seeds are quite manageable if proper steps are taken. Some wonder why people bother in planting from a seed since it takes more time and can be difficult. Planting with seeds can be more affordable and it may feel more rewarding when your plant begins to emerge. I have planted my share of both, seeds and plantings. I agree that it is more rewarding, knowing the time spent, planting something as small as a seed and watching it form into something so grand.

Now that you are aware of some of the benefits that come from planting seeds, listed are simple steps to follow in planting seeds:

• Record keeping – keep records of what worked and what didn’t work whenplanting from seeds. Make sure you label everything; you want to be sure to take proper care of the seeds you’ve planted.

• Follow package directions – some seeds require chilling or light to germinate. Generally the smaller the seed then the closer to the top of the soil it should be.

• Use containers – use small containers to start with, make sure your container has air holes at the bottom. Containers need holes for air flow and proper drainage. Adding holes will prevent disease to your plants. Plant a few seeds per container, some seeds won’t take and this will give you a higher success rate.

• Cover trays/containers to lock in moisture – seeds are delicate, covering your trays or containers will help keep the plants warm and moist evenly. Be sure to remove cover when plants emerge.

• Proper care – make sure your seeds stay the right temperature, usually 65° to 75°F is needed to germinate. Again, follow package instructions.

• Acclimate seedlings – once your plants are ready to be planted outside, acclimate your seedlings. Introduce your plants to the elements of being outside several times before you plant them into the ground. This will help them adjust.

Following these tips will help you plant from seeds the right way and will lead you to successful gardening.

This is a guest post by Kim De

Buying food grown in a sustainable way is becoming important to more and more people. If you truly want to do this, how will you know if what you are buying fits your expectations?

In a definition, sustainable agriculture is healthy for customers, is humane for workers and animals, provides a fair wage and does not harm the environment. Sounds simple enough, but how is this enforced? After all, it is a philosophy, not a set of rules.

One step in the right direction is to buy your food locally. In doing that you know it has a low carbon footprint because it did not travel across the country. Another is to buy in season so your food does not travel from another country to land on your plate.

What Does Local Mean?

The word local, like sustainable, is a bit confusing. It means something different to every person and since there is no legal definition, there is no way to enforce it. The website Sustainable Table has a description I found perfect:

“Practically speaking, local food production can be thought of in
concentric circles that start with growing food at home. The next
ring out might be food grown in our immediate community
- then state, region, and country.
For some parts of the year or for some products that thrive
in the local climate, it may be possible to buy closer to home.
At other times, or for less common products,
an expanded reach may be required.”

Local vs. sustainable

Don’t assume that just because you buy directly from the farmer that the practices employed are sustainable. A product can be grown close to where it is purchased and still come from a farm where the animals are mistreated and pesticides and chemicals are used in the growing process. So how do you know? You ask questions.

• Talk to the manager at the grocery store.

◦ If they advertise local food, ask where it came from

◦ Do you know how it was raised?

◦ Have you visited the farm?

• Talk to the farmer at the market. Be friendly and inquisitive.

◦ Just because a farm isn’t certified organic doesn’t mean they don’t employ the practices. Becoming certified is a terribly expensive process and many small farmers can’t afford the certificate, but still follow the practices. Ask if they follow organic standards.

◦ Ask if they ship their product to another state, or to other regions.

◦ Find out how fresh the produce is – does it need to be used right away of do you have a few days?

In short, if you really wan to buy sustainable products, you will have a better chance if you buy directly from your local farmer and talk to them to make sure they follow practices you believe in.

For listings of farmers markets and farm stands in your area, visit Local Harvest.

Planning the landscape of a garden or a yard can be intimidating. Many start off by choosing plants that look pretty in the nursery without looking into which plants are best for the landscaped plan decided upon. In researching the proper plants, you will have better success with your garden.

Don’t only look into the colors and beauty of a plant when choosing plants for your garden, look into the purposes of the plant and how the plant will work with your landscape plans. Plants can be used for screening, shade, erosion control, noise control, and for simple beauty. Use all of these specifications to build a great garden for your home.

Getting started, understand the plants growth habits and requirements to grow properly. So many don’t research the size that the plant can reach, the amount of sun or water a plant may need, tolerance to the weather elements, or the type of soil a plant will need. What about trees that crack sidewalks and bust through pipes, proper planning can help you avoid this. Also, the texture of a plant is of great importance, don’t plant a rough or thorn filled bush in the middle of a walkway.

Things to look into when choosing the right plants are the size of the plant at full maturity, insects that the plant may attract, sun and shade requirements, moisture and drought tolerance, seasons roles in your plants life cycle, planting zones with their specifications, and soil type that best suits your plants of choice. It is vital to understand what is needed for your garden to thrive.

Research a plant encyclopedia or leave plant planning to the experts. Doing your homework or hiring a professional in regards to choosing the right plants will solve this. Why spend so much time and money on a lovely garden that won’t work when you can simply do it right the first time.