CLEANING BIRD FEEDERS AND OTHER TIPS
Washing bird feeders, giving your houseplants proper water, and checking your inventory of seeds and supplies are a few of the gardening activities with this month.
Showing posts with label GIFT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GIFT. Show all posts
INDOORS GARDEN
Fact 1: Did you know that the poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves? The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center (termed “cyathia”). The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves, that turn color in response to the plant forming flowers. When buying a poinsettia, make sure it has the buds, preferably not yet open.
Fact 2. Red is the most popular color, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all sales nationwide, followed by white and pink. The more than 100 varieties of poinsettias come in a range of colors from red, salmon, and apricot to yellow, cream, and white (but not blue—these are a designer color created with dyes). There are also unusual speckled or marbled varieties with several colors blended together. New varieties are introduced yearly.
Fact 3. How many poinsettias do you think are sold in a year? According to the 2014 USDA Floriculture Crops report, poinsettias accounted for about one-fifth (19 percent) of sales of all flowering potted plants. In economic terms, that's $146 million out of a total of $778 million in sales of all flowering potted plants, with about 35 million pots sold. This makes them the highest selling potted flowering plant.
Fact 4. Although every state in the United States grows poinsettias commercially, California is the top producer with almost 7 million pots grown, followed by North Carolina with 4.3 million pots sold, Texas with 3.3 million, Florida with 3.2 million, and Ohio with 2.9 million poinsettias sold.
Fact 5. Did you know that in the wild, or planted in tropical climates, the poinsettia can reach heights of 12 feet with leaves measuring six to eight inches across? It is actually a small tropical tree (Euphorbia pulcherrima) belonging to the Euphorbia plant family.
Fact 6. A native of southern Mexico, the poinsettia blooms in December and has been used in that country to decorate churches for centuries. In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes, including to help control fevers. They also considered the red color a symbol of purity, and so poinsettias were traditionally part of religious ceremonies. In Mexico and Guatemala, the poinsettia is called (translated) the “Flower of the Holy Night” referring to Christmas Eve.
Fact 7. Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and first United States Minister (the position called “ambassador” after 1896) to Mexico, introduced the plant that became known as the poinsettia to this country. He discovered a shrub with brilliantly colored red leaves growing by the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico, in December 1828 and sent cuttings home to his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina.
Most botanists at that time dismissed the poinsettia as a weed. Fortunately, Poinsett continued to study and breed this plant in his greenhouse, sharing plants with his horticulturist friends. It soon gained acceptance as a holiday plant, despite its very short bloom time. It wasn't until the 1960s that researchers were able to successfully breed plants to bloom more than just a few days.
Fact 8. Here's another bit of interesting trivia. December 12 is National Poinsettia Day (www.poinsettiaday.com/). Never heard of it? Believe it or not, the United States has observed this official day since the mid-1800s. It honors the man and the plant he introduced. Poinsett died on Dec.12, 1851.
Fact 9. For much of the last century, the Paul Ecke Ranch in Southern California produced the majority of poinsettia cuttings and plants purchased in the U.S. and many of those worldwide. Paul Ecke, Jr. is considered the father of this industry, as it is he who figured out a method for getting poinsettias to branch. Prior, they grew tall so stems had to be bent back into a loop, or “tromboned,” to keep them at a desirable height. It is from this plant and firm that the football bowl game in San Diego gets its name.
Fact 10. True or False. The poinsettia is a poisonous plant. If you answered false, you're correct. The plant has been tested repeatedly and cleared of this charge by authorities such as the National Poison Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and the American Medical Association. However, this doesn't mean that poinsettias are meant to be eaten. If ingested, this plant can cause stomach irritation and discomfort. Cats and children also may choke on the fibrous parts, so be sure to keep these plants out of their reach. The sticky white sap also may cause skin irritation for some people.
Fact 11. Do you know the best way to prolong the life of this Christmas plant? Avoid hot or cold drafts, keep the soil moist not soggy, and place in a room with sufficient natural light and temperatures of around 60 to 70 degrees F. Water when the soil begins to dry. Once the leaves wilt too far, it's too late.
Above all, protect it from exposure to wind or cold on the way home from the store. Poinsettias are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and even a few minutes of exposure to 50-degrees F or lower temperatures will cause them to wilt. But when cared for properly, poinsettias usually will outlast your desire to keep them!
Fact 12. The most common question many have is, can I get the poinsettia to rebloom next year, and if so, how? Yes is the short answer, but it requires some work and regularity. If you want to try though, keep in mind that flowering in this plant responds to short daylengths (or actually long nights). They need daylight for no more than 10 hours daily, beginning around October 1. So you’ll need to place plants in a darkened closet or room (with no lights at any time) from about 5pm to 7am or so, daily, for 8 to 10 weeks. Don’t forget to bring it back into the daylight every day! Even if you are successful, keep in mind that much superior plants will be available from greenhouses and growers, as well as new varieties in all sizes.
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FUN FACTS ABOUT POINSETTIAS
Do you like trivia, or at least learning more about the top-selling holiday plant? If so, perhaps you will be interested in a dozen fun facts about the poinsettia plants you buy and see everywhere each December.
Fact 1: Did you know that the poinsettia's main attraction is not its flowers, but its leaves? The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center (termed “cyathia”). The colored leafy parts are actually bracts or modified leaves, that turn color in response to the plant forming flowers. When buying a poinsettia, make sure it has the buds, preferably not yet open.
Fact 2. Red is the most popular color, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all sales nationwide, followed by white and pink. The more than 100 varieties of poinsettias come in a range of colors from red, salmon, and apricot to yellow, cream, and white (but not blue—these are a designer color created with dyes). There are also unusual speckled or marbled varieties with several colors blended together. New varieties are introduced yearly.
Fact 3. How many poinsettias do you think are sold in a year? According to the 2014 USDA Floriculture Crops report, poinsettias accounted for about one-fifth (19 percent) of sales of all flowering potted plants. In economic terms, that's $146 million out of a total of $778 million in sales of all flowering potted plants, with about 35 million pots sold. This makes them the highest selling potted flowering plant.
Fact 4. Although every state in the United States grows poinsettias commercially, California is the top producer with almost 7 million pots grown, followed by North Carolina with 4.3 million pots sold, Texas with 3.3 million, Florida with 3.2 million, and Ohio with 2.9 million poinsettias sold.
Fact 5. Did you know that in the wild, or planted in tropical climates, the poinsettia can reach heights of 12 feet with leaves measuring six to eight inches across? It is actually a small tropical tree (Euphorbia pulcherrima) belonging to the Euphorbia plant family.
Fact 6. A native of southern Mexico, the poinsettia blooms in December and has been used in that country to decorate churches for centuries. In the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes, including to help control fevers. They also considered the red color a symbol of purity, and so poinsettias were traditionally part of religious ceremonies. In Mexico and Guatemala, the poinsettia is called (translated) the “Flower of the Holy Night” referring to Christmas Eve.
Fact 7. Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and first United States Minister (the position called “ambassador” after 1896) to Mexico, introduced the plant that became known as the poinsettia to this country. He discovered a shrub with brilliantly colored red leaves growing by the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico, in December 1828 and sent cuttings home to his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina.
Most botanists at that time dismissed the poinsettia as a weed. Fortunately, Poinsett continued to study and breed this plant in his greenhouse, sharing plants with his horticulturist friends. It soon gained acceptance as a holiday plant, despite its very short bloom time. It wasn't until the 1960s that researchers were able to successfully breed plants to bloom more than just a few days.
Fact 8. Here's another bit of interesting trivia. December 12 is National Poinsettia Day (www.poinsettiaday.com/). Never heard of it? Believe it or not, the United States has observed this official day since the mid-1800s. It honors the man and the plant he introduced. Poinsett died on Dec.12, 1851.
Fact 9. For much of the last century, the Paul Ecke Ranch in Southern California produced the majority of poinsettia cuttings and plants purchased in the U.S. and many of those worldwide. Paul Ecke, Jr. is considered the father of this industry, as it is he who figured out a method for getting poinsettias to branch. Prior, they grew tall so stems had to be bent back into a loop, or “tromboned,” to keep them at a desirable height. It is from this plant and firm that the football bowl game in San Diego gets its name.
Fact 10. True or False. The poinsettia is a poisonous plant. If you answered false, you're correct. The plant has been tested repeatedly and cleared of this charge by authorities such as the National Poison Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and the American Medical Association. However, this doesn't mean that poinsettias are meant to be eaten. If ingested, this plant can cause stomach irritation and discomfort. Cats and children also may choke on the fibrous parts, so be sure to keep these plants out of their reach. The sticky white sap also may cause skin irritation for some people.
Fact 11. Do you know the best way to prolong the life of this Christmas plant? Avoid hot or cold drafts, keep the soil moist not soggy, and place in a room with sufficient natural light and temperatures of around 60 to 70 degrees F. Water when the soil begins to dry. Once the leaves wilt too far, it's too late.
Above all, protect it from exposure to wind or cold on the way home from the store. Poinsettias are highly sensitive to cold temperatures and even a few minutes of exposure to 50-degrees F or lower temperatures will cause them to wilt. But when cared for properly, poinsettias usually will outlast your desire to keep them!
Fact 12. The most common question many have is, can I get the poinsettia to rebloom next year, and if so, how? Yes is the short answer, but it requires some work and regularity. If you want to try though, keep in mind that flowering in this plant responds to short daylengths (or actually long nights). They need daylight for no more than 10 hours daily, beginning around October 1. So you’ll need to place plants in a darkened closet or room (with no lights at any time) from about 5pm to 7am or so, daily, for 8 to 10 weeks. Don’t forget to bring it back into the daylight every day! Even if you are successful, keep in mind that much superior plants will be available from greenhouses and growers, as well as new varieties in all sizes.
HOLIDAYS
A person be Martha Stewart to show every day objects into beautiful garden-themed gifts for holiday giving. In truth, these projects are so easy to do that the hardest part may be giving them away, as you will need to keep them for yourself!
GARDENING GLOVES--To make this gift idea you will need acrylic build paint (available any kind of time craft store or art supply shop); stencils of flowers, fresh vegetables, or other garden-related items; small styling brushes or sponges; and a set of white or cream-colored canvas garden gloves.
Lay the mitts flat on a bit of newspapers. Tape a stencil to the back of the glove, and gently sponge or cloth on paint. Or pull floral designs freehand. If perhaps applying more than one color, allow the coloring to dry between applications of each color. To further personalize the surprise, write the recipient's name on the cuff of every glove.
TOTE BAG--Or add your own personal variations to a cloth carrier bag. Again, cream or white is the best color as the design will jump out better. In addition to the tote, you will require stencils, paint for fabric stenciling, and a stencil brush or car paint sponge.
Before you start, hand wash the carrier in cool water by using a mild detergent. If needed, iron to remove lines and wrinkles. When stenciling, it's a good idea to work slowly, carefully blotting the brush on a newspaper towel to avoid trickles and smearing while making use of paint. Add one color at a time, allowing the paint to dried out between applications. When done, allow bag dry for weekly to 10 days and nights.
Tote bags also can be embroidered or appliqu? d. Choose a fun floral design, and may forget to work the recipient's name into the design. For either stenciling, embroidery, or appliqu?, really best to plan your design on paper first, before you learn to work.
Although the tote carrier itself makes a wonderful gift, you could complete it with a variety of small garden items, including packets of favorite flower seeds, a couple of hand-decorated garden gloves, a scoop or other hand tool, row markers, and a garden book or empty journal for jotting down garden notes. Or how about a jar of homemade applesauce or blueberry jam? Make sure to add a card with washing instructions: Hand wash in cool water using mild detergent.
FLOWER POTS--Decorated clay bloom pots make the perfect gift idea for gardener and non-gardener alike. They can be used for a potted plant or a silk flower centerpiece, or even to carry pens and pencils by using an office office.
You can stencil, decoupage, or cover in variety tiles, being as elegant or as subdued in your choice of color scheme as you'd like. But whatever the decorating method you choose, get started with a clean terra-cotta pot.
Softly sand the outside of the whole pot with sandpaper, wiping off of the dust particles as you go. If perhaps the pot will be used for a herb, brush the inner surface with a water sealant (the kind used for wood) to prevent dampness from seeping through and ruining your designs.
Pertaining to a stenciled pot, give the outside of the pot two coats of acrylic paint. You may want to paint the rim a different color. Next, tape the stencil to the whole weed. With a stencil comb, sponge, or foam clean carefully dab on coloring.
For decoupage, you can use scraps of multi-colored fabric; pictures of bouquets and vegetables cut from a seed catalog or magazine; or even the front of seed bouts to embellish your weed. Arrange pieces on the pot, lightly marking where each will go with a pencil. Remove and coat the back with decoupage medium (available at craft shops). Place on the pot, smoothing carefully to eliminate air pockets.
You also can use this last technique to decorate placemats. Buy or make the mats away of a solid, natural color like ivory or wheat. Silver or yellow metal leaves will give the placemats an official look. Use of autumn colors like maroon, brown, and orange or spring famille rose tie the gift idea into a particular season.
FORCED FLOWER NOTECARDS--For this idea you will require pressed flowers, leaves, and herbs; a top quality paper folded into notecard-size pieces; glue; and clear, self-adhesive contact paper. If perhaps you would not press and save blossoms and foliage from summer flowers and perennials, you can use herbs from your windowsill herb garden or foliage from houseplants. Or perhaps you brought your potted flowering plants in for the winter. To get flowers, ones with few petals work best, such as pansies.
To dry out, spread the blossoms and greenery within a layer on a paper towel or sheet of white absorbent paper. Place a second sheet on top. Press by putting a pile of books or other heavy objects on top. The drying process will take about two several weeks.
Arrange your dried blossoms and leaves on the notecard paper, by using a pad to mark the position of each. Glue qualifications pieces on first, then the focal flowers and accents. Add a concept or quote in a nice ink, if you wish. Allow to dried out, then carefully cover with clear contact paper to protect your artwork. Press firmly, and smooth away any air bubbles.
These kinds of are but a few ideas for holiday products to make using bouquets and garden themes. Locate other ideas by surfing through crafts books or checking out Web sites devoted to crafts jobs. Additionally, check with your local crafts shop to see if any manifestations or classes are planned.
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Crafty Holiday Gift Ideas
A person be Martha Stewart to show every day objects into beautiful garden-themed gifts for holiday giving. In truth, these projects are so easy to do that the hardest part may be giving them away, as you will need to keep them for yourself!
GARDENING GLOVES--To make this gift idea you will need acrylic build paint (available any kind of time craft store or art supply shop); stencils of flowers, fresh vegetables, or other garden-related items; small styling brushes or sponges; and a set of white or cream-colored canvas garden gloves.
Lay the mitts flat on a bit of newspapers. Tape a stencil to the back of the glove, and gently sponge or cloth on paint. Or pull floral designs freehand. If perhaps applying more than one color, allow the coloring to dry between applications of each color. To further personalize the surprise, write the recipient's name on the cuff of every glove.
TOTE BAG--Or add your own personal variations to a cloth carrier bag. Again, cream or white is the best color as the design will jump out better. In addition to the tote, you will require stencils, paint for fabric stenciling, and a stencil brush or car paint sponge.
Before you start, hand wash the carrier in cool water by using a mild detergent. If needed, iron to remove lines and wrinkles. When stenciling, it's a good idea to work slowly, carefully blotting the brush on a newspaper towel to avoid trickles and smearing while making use of paint. Add one color at a time, allowing the paint to dried out between applications. When done, allow bag dry for weekly to 10 days and nights.
Tote bags also can be embroidered or appliqu? d. Choose a fun floral design, and may forget to work the recipient's name into the design. For either stenciling, embroidery, or appliqu?, really best to plan your design on paper first, before you learn to work.
Although the tote carrier itself makes a wonderful gift, you could complete it with a variety of small garden items, including packets of favorite flower seeds, a couple of hand-decorated garden gloves, a scoop or other hand tool, row markers, and a garden book or empty journal for jotting down garden notes. Or how about a jar of homemade applesauce or blueberry jam? Make sure to add a card with washing instructions: Hand wash in cool water using mild detergent.
FLOWER POTS--Decorated clay bloom pots make the perfect gift idea for gardener and non-gardener alike. They can be used for a potted plant or a silk flower centerpiece, or even to carry pens and pencils by using an office office.
You can stencil, decoupage, or cover in variety tiles, being as elegant or as subdued in your choice of color scheme as you'd like. But whatever the decorating method you choose, get started with a clean terra-cotta pot.
Softly sand the outside of the whole pot with sandpaper, wiping off of the dust particles as you go. If perhaps the pot will be used for a herb, brush the inner surface with a water sealant (the kind used for wood) to prevent dampness from seeping through and ruining your designs.
Pertaining to a stenciled pot, give the outside of the pot two coats of acrylic paint. You may want to paint the rim a different color. Next, tape the stencil to the whole weed. With a stencil comb, sponge, or foam clean carefully dab on coloring.
For decoupage, you can use scraps of multi-colored fabric; pictures of bouquets and vegetables cut from a seed catalog or magazine; or even the front of seed bouts to embellish your weed. Arrange pieces on the pot, lightly marking where each will go with a pencil. Remove and coat the back with decoupage medium (available at craft shops). Place on the pot, smoothing carefully to eliminate air pockets.
You also can use this last technique to decorate placemats. Buy or make the mats away of a solid, natural color like ivory or wheat. Silver or yellow metal leaves will give the placemats an official look. Use of autumn colors like maroon, brown, and orange or spring famille rose tie the gift idea into a particular season.
FORCED FLOWER NOTECARDS--For this idea you will require pressed flowers, leaves, and herbs; a top quality paper folded into notecard-size pieces; glue; and clear, self-adhesive contact paper. If perhaps you would not press and save blossoms and foliage from summer flowers and perennials, you can use herbs from your windowsill herb garden or foliage from houseplants. Or perhaps you brought your potted flowering plants in for the winter. To get flowers, ones with few petals work best, such as pansies.
To dry out, spread the blossoms and greenery within a layer on a paper towel or sheet of white absorbent paper. Place a second sheet on top. Press by putting a pile of books or other heavy objects on top. The drying process will take about two several weeks.
Arrange your dried blossoms and leaves on the notecard paper, by using a pad to mark the position of each. Glue qualifications pieces on first, then the focal flowers and accents. Add a concept or quote in a nice ink, if you wish. Allow to dried out, then carefully cover with clear contact paper to protect your artwork. Press firmly, and smooth away any air bubbles.
These kinds of are but a few ideas for holiday products to make using bouquets and garden themes. Locate other ideas by surfing through crafts books or checking out Web sites devoted to crafts jobs. Additionally, check with your local crafts shop to see if any manifestations or classes are planned.
