An Edible Flower Garden

To most of us, the idea of eating flowers evokes the humorous image of someone biting into a rose, or chomping off the head of a daisy. Yet there was a time not so very long ago that flowers were an integral part of cooking. While most of us are aware that violets can be candied and nasturtiums eaten in salad, there?s a truly amazing variety of flowers that are not only edible, but delicious!

A Candy Flower Garden for Your Sweet Tooth
Violets aren?t the only flower that can be candied! Many of the spring flowers with small, delicate blossoms have a sweet, slightly spicy flavor that is enhanced by dipping in sugar. It goes without saying that any flowers that you gather for eating should not have been sprayed with any pesticide ? by growing them yourself, you can be sure that they?re untreated. A Candy Flower Garden that blooms throughout the summer can include:

Violets ? of course! Purple, blue or white, violets are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring. They spread easily, and grow readily when transplanted into a garden bed ? and you do want to confine them to a bed unless you love the look of a full carpet of blooms spreading across your lawn.

Pansies ? A relative of violets, pansies are just as delicately flavored and can be used in most recipes that call for violets. They make beautiful border flowers, with their bright painted faces.

Angelica ? These delicate, lacy white flowers can be sprinkled in salads ? but the stems and shoots make a delicious traditional candy that tastes a bit like minty licorice.

Roses ? yes, roses! Candied rose petals and rose syrup were mainstays in Victorian cooking. Sweet delicately flavored rose syrup gives baklava its characteristic flavor, and is a perfect foil for cardamom in Indian recipes.

To candy flowers from your garden:
Violets and pansies can be candied whole. Roses should be separated into petals. Most recipes for candied flowers call for the use of raw egg whites. Because of the danger of salmonella, I recommend using a confectioner?s powdered egg white instead.

Mix powdered egg white according to package directions (equivalent of one egg white).

Spread a cup of superfine sugar in a flat bottomed pan. Carefully dip each flower into the egg white, then press into the sugar. Use a fork to gently turn the flower so that all surfaces of the petals are covered. Lift out of sugar and lay on a screen or drying rack till completely dry. Apple and cherry blossoms can also be candied the same way.

A Soup, Salad and Savory Flower Garden

When I was growing up, one of the most special treats of early summer was my grandmother?s fried squash blossoms. Dipped in egg and flower, then fried in olive oil with garlic, the blossoms have a sweet, nutty flavor that is like nothing else in this world. Other garden flowers that are delicious in soups and salads include:

Borage ? Like the leaves, borage flowers are delicious in salads and cold soups. They have a cool, cucumber like taste that translates well from flower garden to kitchen table.

Carnations ? The flavor is as spicy as the scent. Carefully separate the petals from the bitter white of the flower?s base and sprinkle in salads for a surprising touch of color and spice.

Daylilies ? Like squash blossoms, day lilies have a mildly sweet, nutty flavor that many people think varies by color. Dredged in flour and dipped in egg, fried daylilies are a succulent vegetable.

Those are just a small sampling of the many edible uses of flowers from your garden. If you?re interested in learning more, you?ll find excellent recipes and information on edible flowers at a number of web sites on the internet. DO be careful in your taste-testing. If you?re not certain that a flower is edible do NOT eat it.

About the Author

This article courtesy of http://www.gardening-answers.com

After the best sourced opinion relating to flower pots.

After the best sourced opinion relating to flower pots.
When you’re seeking excellent information about flower pots, you’ll find it difficult separating quality information from foolish flower pots suggestions and directions so it’s best to know ways of judging the information you are offered.

BigPlanters.com
Offers self-watering planters and large-tree tubs and containers for gas stations, convenience stores, resorts, campgrounds, and malls.

Here’s a few pieces of advice that we believe you should consider using when you’re seeking information about flower pots. Please understand that any recommendation we present to you is only appropriate to internet information concerning flower pots. We do not give you any advice or guidance if you are receiving information offline.

Flower Pot: Compare Prices
Compare prices and save money on flowers. At BizRate.com, find prices, consumer reviews, and store ratings from over 40,000 stores across the Web.

An excellent piece of advice to follow when you are presented with help or advice concerning a flower pots site is to verify the ownership of the website. This may show you who owns the site flower pots authority The fastest way to determine who owns the flower pots site is to find the ‘about’ page.

Any reputable website providing information regarding flower pots, will almost certainly provide an ‘about’ webpage that will list the owner’s details. The details should divulge some specifications about the site owner’s capability. You can then decide for yourself about the vendor’s education and practical knowledge, to offer help regarding flower pots.

About the author:

Tony Randall is the webmaster for http://www.flower-pots.info

Add Color To Your Garden With Blue Perennial Flowers

Blue flowers are some of the most striking plants around and can add a rich splash of color to any garden. Plant them in a cluster of all blue or mix them in with other flowers for a rainbow of color.

When planting flowers, it is important to remember to follow the instructions on the tag for the plant. Always buy plants that will thrive in the conditions in which you intend to grow them. A plant that loves sun won’t do well in a shady area and you will only be disappointed with the results.

When planning your garden, be aware of the bloom time of the flowers. Planting perennials with different bloom times near each other will insure a garden that has blooms all season long. Remember also to plan for the height of the plants, putting the taller ones in the back.

Below is a list of favorite blue flowering plants that you might want to consider for your garden:

Polemonuim, Blue Pearl – A compact plant with deep sky blue flowers that grows to 10". It blooms in late spring to early summer. Plant in partial shade and in well drained soil.

Blue Sea Holly – This dramatic plant has a lavender blue cone like flower with long spiked petals. It grows to 30" and is a favorite for dried flower arrangements. Plant in full sun – blooms in mid to late summer.

Delphinium, Butterfly Blue – Bright blue delicate flowers adorn this plant that blooms in early to mid summer. It reaches 10" tall and prefers a sunny location with rich moist soil.

Campanula, Blue Carpet – Bright blue to lilac colored flowers bloom for weeks in the middle of summer. This low growing perennial grows to 4" and prefers full sun with well drained soil.

Penstemon, Blue Buckle – This plant has tubular shaped blooms in blue to purple and flowers in mid summer to early fall. It grows to 15" and likes well drained soil with full or partial sun.

Hydrangea, Nikko Blue – Gigantic clumps of blue flowers adorn this shrub for most of the summer. In the fall, the flowers turn a golden color. This plant is a new variety that prefers rich soil but will grow in shade, partial sun or full sun.

Vinca – Medium blue flowers and glossy green leaves form a carpet that grows to about 6" tall and blooms in mid spring. This plant will grow in most soil conditions, in the shade or sun.

Ajuga, Bronze Beauty – This short bushy plant has spikes of blue flowers that grows quickly. Great as a ground cover or in raised beds. It blooms in spring and prefers a shady area.

Scabiosa, Butterfly Blue – A bushy perennial with lavender blue flowers that bloom from June to October. This plant likes full sun and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Verbena, Babylon Blue – Blue purple flowers petals adorn this plant that blooms in early spring. Great for window boxes and planters.

About the Author

This article provided courtesy of http://www.florists-shopper.com

A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs

Flowers are a favorite of many backyard gardeners. Thanks to their ease of planting and relatively low cost, flower bulbs are a popular choice for flower gardens. Not only are flower bulbs beautiful, but planting them is a very simple undertaking.

Planting flower bulbs is so easy, in fact, that it?s almost foolproof. The most important consideration is timing. Flower bulbs need to be planted when the ground is cool?not too hot and not too cold. It?s best to plant them about six weeks before the ground freezes.

The next consideration is location. You?ll want to choose a place where the soil drains well?bulbs do not grow well in areas with standing water. Bulbs also need a location that is well lit and sunny.

Make sure that the soil is loose. It does not require any fertilization or special treatment. However, you might want to add compost or peat moss if you?re working in a new flowerbed.

The next consideration in planting flower bulbs is purely cosmetic. You?ll want to consider the placement of the various flowers. Generally, bulbs should be densely planted?they do not look as nice planted alone or in thin lines. Taller flowers should be planted behind short ones. Consider the finished product as you are planning your flower beds. Think about which color combinations work best together, as well as which varieties of flowers best complement each other.

Once you have determined placement, you are ready to plant. Dig your holes about six to eight inches deep (follow package directions). Place the bulb in the ground with the pointed end facing up. Cover the hole and pack it firmly to release any air holes. Water the ground thoroughly.

As you can see, planting flower bulbs is a fun and easy project. With a little patience and creativity, you can have a beautiful and enjoyable flower bed. Flower Bulbs provides detailed information on wholesale, discount, spring, summer, and fall flower bulbs for sale, flower bulb catalog and company information, and advice on planting flower bulbs. Flower Bulbs is the sister site of Flower Delivery Web.

5 Most Popular Flowers for Your Garden

When planting a garden there are many questions which you must ask yourself before you begin. Where are you going to plant it, do you have the garden equipment to do so and how big do you want your garden to be? When do flowers bloom and what are their heights? These are all very important questions, however they mean very little if you have not yet decided which types of flowers you want to plant. There are many to choose from and don?t le anybody tell you which ones you can and can?t plant. Gardens are unique and fascinating to look at because each one is unique it its own way.

There are endless possibilities of flowers to choose from but if you are unsure of which types of flowers are known to look best in gardens, keep reading and you will find out. The following is a list of the five most popular types of garden flowers chosen by gardeners from all over the United States:

1. Cosmos – These flowers have the ability to grow anywhere from 12 inches to 4 feet tall. Cosmos are perfect for cutting gardens and are often picked out of gardens and used in flower arrangements.

2. Marigold ? Marigolds can be found in yellow, orange, red or a combination of all colors. This type of flower blooms in 45 to 50 days from sowing and very rarely requires additional water than what the rain provides.

3. Morning Glory ? Morning glories have heart shaped leaves and are available in a variety of colors including white, blue, red, pink and lavender. This type of flower has the capability to become more than ten feet high.

4. Zinnia ? Zinnias are traditional, old fashioned flowers which are constantly blooming all season. If there is not a lot of rain, this type of flower will require watering on a consistent basis but try to get water on the foliage (leaves) as this can cause mold which can potentially cause the plant to die.

5. Sunflowers ? There?s no better flower for your garden than the sunflower. Sunflowers have yellowish-orange petal with a black circle in the middle. These flowers can grow to be as tall as 6 feet or possibly even higher depending on the flower itself.

In order for your garden to flourish successfully, you will have to maintain it and keep it healthy on a daily basis. Watering cans, pruning shears, gloves and spades are all types of gardening equipment which will assist you in keeping your garden in good condition. These pieces of equipment are very important and are relatively inexpensive.

The types of flowers you choose will have a large impact on the overall outcome of your garden. The list above was provided as a guideline for novice gardeners who area unsure of which flowers may be most adaptable to a garden atmosphere.

Which flowers you choose will ultimately be your choice and regardless of the kinds or colors of your flowers, your garden will be a wonderful piece of work for everyone to admire. Colin Smith is a freelance write for http://www.gardenequipment101.com ? a site that features information about patio furniture, wrought iron patio furniture, lawn mowers and more.

Allergy-free Wedding Flowers

Allergy-free Wedding Flowers
Thomas Ogren

I get quite a few emails from brides-to-be, asking me which flowers would be good to use at their weddings, flowers that won?t make them or their bridesmaids start sneezing and sniffling right in the middle of the wedding. I get enough of these requests that I thought that the subject warranted its own article.
Wedding flowers
First, flowers for a wedding ought to be bright, fun, cheerful, festive flowers. For example, I like ?glads,? gladiolas, but I see them used at funerals all too often, so they seem out of place at a fun affair like a wedding.
The one thing you don?t want with wedding flowers is pollen! With wedding flowers very little pollen is good, and no pollen at all is by far the best.
Daises: For starters I would avoid using most of the daisy-related type flowers, daisies, gerbera, chrysanthemums, asters, dahlias, and sunflowers unless you know they’re pollen-free ones. There actually are quite a few chrysanthemums, dahlias and asters that are called formal doubles and that have no pollen. All of these formal doubled flowers will be ones with a very high number of petals per flower. What has happened with these flowers is that they have been hybridized so often that the pollen parts (the stamens) have turned into parts that now look more like petals (staminoids). All true formal double flowers will be pollen free.
Goldenrod flowers (bright yellow) are often used as fillers in arrangements and goldenrod is a daisy-ragweed relative and will shed plenty of allergenic pollen. Don?t use goldenrod!
Baby?s breath is a popular wedding flower, again, often used as filler between other larger flowers. Baby?s breath is grown and sold as single or double flowered. If you use baby’s breath, use only the doubled flowered types.
Roses: Florist type hybrid tea roses that are still in a closed bud stage and that are not especially fragrant are excellent choices and will shed no pollen. If using roses picked from the garden, choose only those roses with healthy green leaves, and pick roses that are still in the bud to half-open stages. Some free-flowering garden roses, such as the beautiful pale pink ?Cecile Brunner? roses, are always allergy-free and produce no pollen at all. The Banksia roses, which will be either yellow or white, are small, cute, come in dense sprays, and are also pollen free.
Pots of blooming hydrangeas, especially of the old-fashioned Hydrangea macrophylla type, are mostly pollen-free and are good choices to use. Pots of blooming double tuberous begonias, especially all the erect type cultivars, almost all of these are great, very large, colorful flowers and pollen-free. The fancy flowered begonias called ?Reigers? begonias are also pollen free and come in bright colors or white, yellow, red, salmon, and pink.
Lilies of all types can often now be purchased that are either simply pollen-free flowers, or else someone (who doesn’t have allergies), can carefully remove the brown pollen-bearing anthers on the tip of each of the six stamens in each regular lily…. watch this pollen as it will also easily stain your wedding clothes, especially anything white. Lilies that have had the anthers removed will be completely pollen free. ** A caution here though: sap from any and all kinds of lilies can cause a very nasty, long-lasting itchy skin rash?certainly nothing any bride would want on her honeymoon! With this in mind, watch out for the sap of all lilies and of Alstromeria too. Also, it would not be a good idea for a bride to even carry a bouquet of lilies, certainly not if she has skin that is in the least bit sensitive. Anyone helping with the wedding would be wise not to stick their hands into the water in which the lilies have been standing, as this water will have the sap in it.
Camellias: Camellias come in bright white, red, or pink colors and few flowers are more beautiful than nice camellias, however they are not easy to buy from florists. Still, a gardener friend may have some you could use if the season is right?spring and fall. If you can find them, there are many nice fully doubled, formal double type camellias that are pollen-free. These camellias will look fabulous floating in small bowls of water on tables.
Orchids: Very few orchids cause any pollen allergies and it is now possible to buy small pots of beautiful blooming orchids at quite reasonable prices. Occasionally there is some skin rash associated with orchids, so watch any and all sap from cut flowers. Individual orchids should have their stems in small tubes of water.
Although certainly not indoor plants, pots of growing pansy, viola, and impatiens also can look terrific and they are all very low allergy potential flowering plants. In California or Florida it might be possible to get large sprays of bougainvillea flowers. These now come in many colors, including bright white. Double bougainvillea flowers will have no pollen at all, and even the more typical types of bougainvillea will shed next to no pollen. Bougainvillea flowers are good too for using around perfume sensitive people, as they have next to no smell.
Lawns: If the wedding is to be held on a lawn, or if the reception afterwards is, I’d suggest that the lawn be mowed two to three days ahead of time, and that a lawn mower with a really good grass catcher be used.

Thomas Ogren is the author of Allergy-Free Gardening, and also of, Safe Sex in the Garden. His work has been featured on National Public Radio, on CBS Evening News, on NBC, Fox, and on HGTV. For more detail on allergy free or allergy causing plants and flowers, look up allergy free gardening on www.Allegra.com
Tom Ogren?s own website is www.allergyfree-gardening.com

About the Author

For more detail on allergy free or allergy causing plants and flowers, look up allergy free gardening on www.Allegra.com
Tom Ogren?s own website is www.allergyfree-gardening.com

Flower Meanings

Certain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don’t want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure!

FLOWER NAME and/or COLOR — FLOWER MEANINGS

 

Carnations

Carnation (General) — Fascination
Carnation, Pink — Emblem of Mother’s Day, I will never forget you
Carnation, Purple — Antipathy and Capriciousness
Carnation, Red — Admiration, my heart aches for you
Carnation, Striped — No, Sorry, I cannot be with you
Carnation, White — Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence
Carnation, Yellow — Disdain and Rejection

 

Lilies

Lily, Calla — Majestic Beauty
Lily, Day — Coquetry
Lily, Orange — Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride
Lily, White — Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Lily of the Valley — Purity and Humility, Sweetness

 

Roses

Rose, Coral/Orange — Enthusiasm, Desire
Rose, Dark Pink — Thank you
Rose, Light Pink — Admiration
Rose, Musk — Capricious Beauty
Rose, Pale — Friendship
Rose, Peach — Let’s get together, Closing of the deal
Rose, Pink — Love, Grace, Gentility, You’re so Lovely
Rose, Pink & White — Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done
Rose, Red — Majesty and Purity, Virginity
Rose, Red & Yellow — Congratulations
Rose, White — Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You’re Heavenly
Rose, White on Red — Unity/Flower Emblem of England
Rose, Yellow — Infidelity, Joy, Friendship, Welcome Back, Remember me
Rose, Yellow & Orange — Passionate thoughts

 

Tulips

Tulip — Symbol of The Perfect Lover
Tulip, Red — Believe me, Declaration of love
Tulip, Variegated — Beautiful eyes

 

Others

Daffodil — Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love
Daisy — Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love
Iris — Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much
Orchid — Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement
Sunflower — Homage and Devotion

 

For more information or help with sending flowers, visit http://www.the-gift-wizard.com

7 Ways to Grow Flowers

Flowering landscape trees are the crown jewels of the yard. Perhaps no other plants, individually, can have as great an impact on how a yard looks in spring. Browse the articles to which I’ve linked below for information on particular varieties of flowering landscape trees. Pictures are included.

Crape Myrtles: Landscape Trees of the South

A popular choice in flowering landscape trees for Southerners, crape myrtles have a long blooming period (mid-summer to fall). The blooming clusters of these flowering landscape trees come in pink, white, red and lavender. The clusters appear on the tips of new wood. Northerners can sometimes get away with treating these flowering landscape trees as perennials that die back in winter but come back in spring.

Trees

Not all specimens with a weeping habit are flowering landscape trees, but this article looks at several weeping varieties that do bloom, headed by four types of cherry.
Saucer Magnolias

The size and shape of the blooms are what suggested the common name for these flowering landscape trees. Want a specimen with a brilliant bloom as big as a saucer? Access information on these beauties here.

Rose of Sharon

Although some people think of it as a landscape "tree" (because it gets tall and can be pruned so as to have a single trunk), rose of sharon is, in fact, a flowering shrub. The fact that it blooms relatively late — and for a long time — makes it a valuable plant for those looking to distribute their yard’s color display throughout the growing season.
Top 10 List of Flowering Landscape Trees and Shrubs for Spring |

This article features information on ten flowering landscape trees and shrubs that brighten our spring seasons. Included are redbud, callery pear and crabapple.
Hawthorn: Late-Blooming Landscape Trees

This article offers information on Washington hawthorn trees, which are perhaps most valued for the time at which they bloom (late spring to early summer). Many of the popular flowering specimens bloom earlier in the spring, and while their blossoms are pleasant sights for eyes sore from winter’s barrenness, they desert us too quickly!

Johnny Greenthumb makes it easy to create beautiful gardens, quickly & easily. Learn the 7 essential keys to lush, vibrant gardens. To receive your free 4-part mini-course visit: http://www.mygreenflowers.com

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