Like any other living being, plants too have a life cycle in which they take birth, grow, reproduce, flourish and then die. Every part of the plant is assigned with a specific work, which they perform very well. So coming to – they are assigned the task of helping in the process of fertilization. Plants have asexual fertilization in which one plant possesses one type of flower, which has sperm cells and the other type of flower has egg cells. But plants are incapable of pollinating the cells on their own, hence they require pollinators for this purpose. Pollinators are the insects, butterflies and other animals which come in contact with the flowers and then take this pollen to the other flowers. So, when pollen from one flower comes in contact with egg cells of the other flower, fertile seeds are produced, which when fall on the ground, produce plants.

Now in this entire process, the fragrance or smell of the flower plays a very important role. Insects, birds, butterflies or animals do not come to the plant knowing that they have to help them in the process of fertilization, but it is the smell of the flowers which attract these creatures. The fragrance strongly attracts the insects and brings them so close to the flower that the pollen gets stuck to their body. Then when these animals get attracted to other plants in the same manner, the pollen goes and gets fertilized with the other flower containing egg cells and results in the production of seeds. The color of the flowers also play a very important role in attracting them. All flowers do not have a similar smell and the reason behind this is that specific flowers attract specific types of pollinators only so as to make sure that the pollen gets fertilized to the right species. Some plants like orchids have a specific smell which attracts only one pollinator and hence they totally rely on these pollinators for fertilization. So, we can say that there is a specific list of flowers that attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, etc.

It is not necessary that all the flowers should smell good, but the purpose behind the smell of the flower should be met. For example Rafflesia Arnoldii, a tropical parasitic flowering plant, can attract pollinators with its smell and can carry on the process of pollination but its smell is extremely unpleasant for human beings. So, by this, we can say that the smell which we think is unpleasant may attract the specific pollinators to do their job.

Different types of fragrances from different types of flowers can only be considered as one of the wonders of nature. We all use these fragrances in the form of perfumes and scents but the major purpose of the smell of flowers is totally different from what we think. So, this was all about why flowers smell so good. Hope these flowers keep smelling good forever and we keep getting more and more flowers.

Share this:

The scientific name of ice plant is Carpobrotus edulis, a native to South Africa. This plant is a succulent and is common amongst chaparral habitats all over the world. This plant is also found in the Mediterranean, California and Australia, but became a threat to the native vegetation due to its invasive nature. Ice plants have an attractive and decorative look. The leaves are covered with small fibers that sparkle like ice in the sun. Ice plant flowers are of multiple colors and the plants also bear edible fruits. Despite its beauty, the plant causes ecological nuisance in California and other native areas. This plant is also known by common names, such as Delosperma table mountain.

Before you start growing ice plant in your garden, you must know the basic steps for ice plant growth. Ice plant care is also essential for maximum blossoming of ice plant flowers.

Choose the Species

Get the particular type of ice plant seeds from nurseries nearby. You can also start growing ice plants with small starter plants sold in nurseries. Select healthy looking plants that have signs of new growth with young leaves and flower buds.

Soil Preparation

Ice plants prefer light sandy soil. It also requires dry hard packed area for better survival and free from growth of other plants. If you are sowing seed, the soil should be loosely scratched, so that seeds can make good contact with soil and surroundings. The soil must also be well drained. You can also spray some organic fertilizer for getting better quality of ice plant flowers.

Sowing Seeds

Seeds fail to germinate if not exposed to proper sunlight. Planting plants or sowing seeds should be done in early spring. The plants are in their growing period during this time. The seeds must be sparsely spread. It should be watered and lightly raked into the soil.

Ice Plant Care

In winter season, it should be planted indoors in window baskets for maximum exposure to sunrays. For maximum foliage, occasional heavy soaking is beneficial. Old and dead stems should be cut off. Prune the spent flowers for a tidy growth in the garden. Once you take care of the plants, you garden will be spread with a bed of beautiful ice plant flowers.

If this plant hinders growth of other plants in your garden, you can control its growth by spraying chemical herbicides. The only way to get rid of this succulent variety is to uproot the plant. That is quite labor intensive and after removing the plants from its roots, the soil needs to be mulched to prevent re-colonization or re-invasion by this plant. The only disadvantage of this plant is that, it must be grown alone and not with others plant varieties in garden. You can also grow ornamental trees in the surrounding landscape.

If you are really interested in gardening ice-plant, you need to treat it as the only possession in your garden. The ground covered with colorful ice plant flowers looks indeed beautiful. All you need to do is to trim it timely to prevent its invasive nature. This spring, let ice plant flowers fill your garden.

Share this:

Easily recognizable by its blue or white flowers in the shape of a bell, these plants are very popular not only because of their beauty, but also because of their strong and revitalizing scent. They are known to spread quickly and to form impressively large colonies if the soil is appropriate. They usually occur starting with the month of April and are bulbous perennial plants with stems that can reach almost a 30 cm height and which tend to bent at the top because of the abundance of the blossoming flowers. The common bluebells do not possess a thick and resistant stem, they are delicate plants which, even though they appear in large colonies, they are very vulnerable and susceptible to damage.

A field with common-bluebells is nothing less that a masterpiece of nature and vegetation, as you stay there surrounded by hundreds of bluebells, each emanating a comforting and peaceful scent.

The bluebell colonies usually are formed by blue bluebells, but the color variations also include white or pink. The seeds of these bluebell flowers are quite resistant, the bluebells can occur even after many years of absences depending on the weather conditions or the soil’s qualities.

The amazing frequency with which these bluebell flowers occur have given birth to extensive hybridization, creating exemplars that can resist to various conditions and which are not confined to weather or to the properties of a certain soil. Although they are known to form even larger colonies that the original bluebells, they do not emanate a scent as strong as the bluebells. Sites in Great Britain show how these amazing hybrids can adjust to conditions in which a normal, original bluebell could never occur.

The colonies they form are often referred to as “bluebell woods” and are most popular in Great Britain, although many bluebell woods have been reported to occur in many north –western European countries as well.

The bluebell is protected in Great Britain by the Wildlife and Countryside Act adopted in 1981 and it enjoys an amazing notoriety worldwide. Famous singers have named their daughters Bluebell, while ice cream companies have chosen this name to represent their brand.

Share this:

Is it that the white rose is a symbol of love, purity, innocence and chastity, or is it that the white rose is considered to be the original rose? There are a lot of interesting legends associated with the white rose and if you want to know what is the significance of a white rose, read on to get a better idea about what is the significance of a white rose.

It is a long held believed that the white rose was the original rose. However, when the world was torn in war and there was a lot of bloodshed around, the white rose turned red after blood was splashed on it. If you are trying to find out what is the significance of a white rose, this will add an important result to your finding as it shows the significance of the white rose in respect to war and world peace.

Speaking of peace, the white rose is also significant as it symbolizes peace. The word peace has long been associated with the white rose and this is why the white rose is a favored flower for funerals and memorial services. It signifies peace and resting. This trend was stared at the end of the First World War, when departed soldiers were remembered with white roses. So while trying to find out what is the significance of a white rose, we find out quite a few interesting legends associated with the white rose.

If you ask anybody, what is the significance of a white rose, you may hear that the white rose is a symbol of innocence and purity. As a result, white roses are almost always used as wedding flowers and it is common for the bride to have a bouquet of white roses. White roses signify purity, chastity and innocence, aspects that are linked to young love and consequently to the overall concept of marriage.

Therefore. It can be seen that the white rose has a very important and interesting significance. It has long stood as a symbol of all the virtues related to the heart and soul of a young lover and has also been used as a symbol of peace and purity. So if you really want to know what is the significance of a white rose, you must believe that the white rose signifies love, purity and peace and that too in the best manner possible.

Share this:

The bulb is also a storehouse for new stems, leaves and flowers, after the plant first flowers. In fact, the bulb has in it a new stem and often the beginnings of flowers and leaves as well. These are protected within the bulb by the bulb scales. These scales or leaves are a food storehouse for the plant. The food stored in the bulbs during one season is used for the beginning of the growth of the stem, leaves and flowers during the next season. A number of different kinds of bulbs such as the onion are used for food. Some other examples of the bulb are the lily bulbs, the tulip bulbs, and the hyacinth.

Bugbane is a tall, perennial plant with large, broad leaves divided into many leaflets. It has clusters of small white flowers. Bugbanes live throughout the north temperate regions of the earth. The name originally referred to a kind of bugbane that grows in Asia and eastern Europe. It has an unpleasant odor, and people thought it would keep bed bugs away.

Scientific classification. Bugbane belongs to the crowfoot family, Ranunculaceae. It makes up the genus Cimicifuga. The bugbane is a tall plant with large, broad leaves. This perennial plant grows clusters of small white flowers.

Share this:

The globe artichoke is also called the French or bur artichoke. A native of the Mediterranean region, today it is grown chiefly in the United States and Europe. California produces most of the United State crop, but some are grown in the southern states.

The plants are gray-green and look like this-das. They have long prickly leaves large clusters of white or lavender flowers. The plant parts that are eaten are the tender base of the flower bud (often three to four inches in diameter) and the thick, soft parts of the leaves around the bud. These parts are cut while the buds are still tightly closed.

They are sold fresh or canned, and are eaten boiled, baked, fried, stuffed, or in salads or soups.

New plants usually are grown from sprouts or shoots from older ones. Plants may live for many years, but those raised for sale usually are replanted every three or four years.

The Jerusalem artichoke may grow 12 feet tall, and has yellow, sunflower like blossoms. It grows wild in eastern and central North America. Sometimes it is a troublesome weed because it reproduces from seed and from many small, underground, potato like tubers. The tubers are eaten raw or prepared like potatoes. In France the plant also is used as feed for stock.

The Chinese or Japanese artichoke, a member of the Mint family, comes from eastern Asia. Its tubers may be eaten, but it is not an important crop in the United States.

ARBUTUS. Indian legend tells a pretty story about that loveliest of spring flowers, the trailing arbutus. Each year when the winter spirit, Peboan, fell asleep, his discarded furs turned to icy leaves. Coming across these one spring day, Segun, the summer spirit put them in her hair. Immediately they came to life. Then Segun planted them in the earth and breathed upon them. At the touch of her warm breath, flowers appeared, flushed pink, and gave out a spicy perfume. “When the children find these,” she said, “they will know that Segun has been here, and that Peboan has gone away.” In one of his poems, John Greenleaf Whittier also tells us that the dainty arbutus was the earliest flower to greet the Pilgrims after their first fearful winter at Plymouth. They called it the Mayflower, and as the state flower of Massachusetts, it is still known by that name.

Although the name arbutus is given to several evergreen plants, all belonging to the heath family and ranging in size from the tiniest plant to a tall tree, the most common species is the trailing arbutus. Its fragrant clusters of waxy white blossoms, often tinged with pink, make it one of North America’s most attractive wild flowers. The tough, heart-shaped leaves and the hairy brown stems contrast strikingly with the dainty blossoms. The arbutus is becoming scarcer each year because thoughtless pickers uproot the plant in their attempt to gather long stems with the blossoms. Growing throughout the eastern and Middle Western United States, as far south as Florida, and even in Canada, the arbutus grows best in sandy or rocky soils, especially in pine woods, where it creeps along the ground, almost hidden beneath dry needles and leaves.

Share this:

Asters are usually perennial plants. The flowers have yellowish or brownish disks encircled by white, purple, violet, blue, rose, or pink rays. Two handsome species are the New England aster, with its numerous large violet or purple rays, and the New York aster (Aster novi-belgii), which has light blue and white blossoms. They bloom until after the first frost. Both of these are common in the northeastern United States.

The aster is related to the daisy. It gets its name from the Greek word for star. The blossoms may be from one-half to two inches in diameter. They vary in color from white through pink, red, and blue. All have flat yellow centers surrounded by many narrow petals.

Most asters are perennial (grow year after year). They bloom in late summer and early autumn. Asters are popular garden flowers because they bloom after other flowers are gone, have few diseases and insect enemies, and last well after cutting. Some common types are the purple New England aster, the smooth blue aster, and certain desert asters. The China, or garden, aster is not a true aster. It is an annual grown from seed each year.

All species of aster need rich soil and sunlight to grow well, but they cannot stand much hot weather. Wild asters can be transplanted to gardens without harming them.

Asters belong to the family Compositae. The New England aster (Aster novae-angliae) has flowers 1 to 2 inches across. From 30 to 40 violet or purple ray florets surround 5-lobed, tubular yellow disk florets, set in a sticky green cup. The rough stem is from 2 to 5 feet high. Long leaves grow directly from the stem.

Most asters are difficult to grow from seed. The plants can be broken into several pieces and transplanted in the spring. They thrive in almost any type of soil. The China aster, an annual, is grown from seed.

Scientific classification. Asters are in the composite family, Compositae. The scientific name for the New England aster is A novae-angliae. The China aster is Callistephus chinensis.

Share this:

The sweet pea vine has rough, winged stems. The thin, pale green leaves bear tendrils which help to support the plant in climbing. There are two general types of sweet peas; the tall and the dwarf. The fragrant blossoms of each type vary in form from single to hooded double. In texture they vary from smooth and velvety to wavy and crinkled. The colors range from white through all the pastel tints, to blue, red, and purple.

The seeds should be sown in early spring in cool climates or in the fall in warm climates. The soil should be fairly rich and well drained. The bed should be in a rather shady spot. It is important to choose a place where the roots of trees will not rob the soil of richness. The seeds should be planted about six inches apart. They should be covered with about one inch of soil. As the plants come up the earth should be rounded up toward the vines to form a low ridge. Trellises or strings are needed to support the vines. Throughout the season the plants should be cultivated and watered. The blossoms should be picked daily, as flowering stops as soon as seeds are allowed to form. Most abundant flowering occurs when the weather is cool.

ASPARAGUS, a member of the lily family of plants, is a vegetable. About 150 species of asparagus are grown in the temperate parts of the world, but just one (Asparagus officinalis) is usually eaten.

Asparagus grows best in loose, rich, sandy soil. In gardens the seeds are sown early in the spring, though the plants may be started at any time of the year in greenhouses. Asparagus plants must be from two to four years old before they are ready for cutting. Asparagus is a hardy perennial of the lily family, with tuberous roots. The plants are started from seeds and transplanted to a permanent bed in the spring of the second year. They are ready for cutting after they have grown two years in the permanent bed. They continue to produce for 20 years or more. A delicate vinelike variety—wrongly called “smi-lax” by florists—is grown in greenhouses.

The young stems of asparagus plants are used as food. They are cut when the leaves of the plant are small buds and the stems or spears are tender and less than 10 inches high. The young spears are cut each day for six to eight weeks.

After that time the stems begin to get tough and woody as they branch and start to blossom. Each autumn the old stalks of the garden variety are cut down.

If left to grow the plants reach heights of three to four feet. Most asparagus leaves are tiny and fernlike; the flowers are small and yellowish, and the fruits are red berries.

One land of asparagus (Asparagus aspara-goides) is commonly called smilax. Its stiff, shiny leaves are used in flower arrangements. Wild varieties of asparagus grow in Europe and Asia, especially along the seacoasts, and in some parts of the United States.

Asparagus has been a popular food since Greek and Roman times. It is most often cooked in water and eaten hot, but it is also used to make soup or chilled and served in salads.

The asparagus fern is a kind of asparagus used in floral arrangements. It also is a good house plant

Scientific classification. Asparagus belongs to the Llly family, Lillaceae. Edible asparagus is Asparagus officinalis. The asparagus fern is A. plumosus.

Share this:

Sunflower seeds are rich in protein. They yield a high quality vegetable oil used in making margarine and cooking oil. Some varieties of sunflowers have large striped seeds, which are roasted for snack food or blended with other grains to make birdseed. Special oil-seed varieties produce small black seeds that contain up to 50 per cent oil. Sunflower oil is the world’s third most important vegetable oil. Only soybean oil and palm oil are produced in greater abundance. Sunflower oil is sometimes used as a replacement for diesel fuel.

Before its breakup, the Soviet Union produced more sunflower seeds than any other nation. In the United States, production increased rapidly during the mid1970′s as a result of improved varieties and in response to a growing demand for sunflower oil. The chief sunflower states are Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Strawflower is a tall herb grown for its yellow, orange, red, or white flowers. It is cultivated as an annual— that is, for one growing season. However, the straw-flower is actually a perennial and thus can live for more than one year. The flowers are dried and used in winter bouquets. The strawflower belongs to a group of plants called everlastings. All everlastings have flowers that last a long time when dried. The strawflower originated in Australia, and is now grown in Europe and America. It grows 3 feet (91 centimeters) tall.

Scientific classification. The strawflower belongs to the composite family, Asteraceae or Compositae. Its scientific name is Helichrysum bracteatum.

Static electricity. Statice, is a name commonly applied to sea lavenders, a group of herbs or shrubs used in rock gardens and flower bed borders. Sea lavenders grow wild throughout the world, especially in salt marshes and desert or semi desert regions. Their purple, rose, white, or yellow flowers are often dried and made into bouquets. A group of evergreen herbs called thrifts or sea pinks have also been known as statices. Thrifts are found mainly on coasts and in mountainous areas. Their small pink or white flowers grow in dense, globe-shaped clusters.

Sea lavender a type of statice, grows wild in salt marshes and deserts worldwide. The above illustrations show the entire plant, left, and a close-up of flower clusters, right both sea lavenders and thrifts grow well in most garden soils. They usually reproduce by seed. The plants should be started in a greenhouse in early spring and then planted outside. Sea lavenders and thrifts have flowers all summer.

Share this:

Spring-beauty is a type of North American wild flower that blooms in early spring. Spring-beauties are found from Nova Scotia to Georgia and from Saskatchewan to Texas. They also grow in the Western United States from Washington to California. The plants are found in woods, thickets, and even lawns.

A spring-beauty has white pink, or rose-colored flowers. The flowers have pink to purple veins. The plant usually has a single pair of leaves about halfway up the stem. Spring-beauties grow 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 centimeters) tall. The flowers are perennials-that is, they the spring-beauty is a North American wild flower. Its blossoms are white, pink, or rose-colored, with pink to purple veins may live for more than two years or growing seasons. Scientific classification. Spring-beauties belong to the purslane family, Portulacaceae. They are genus Caytonia.

Star-of-Bethlehem is a small, hardy plant that belongs to the lily family. It grew first in Italy, but now has become a common garden plant in America. Its flowers form the shape of a six-pointed star. The petal like parts are white but have green stripes on the outside. The leaves are green with white stripes. The flower stalk rises from a coated bulb.

People grow the star-of-Bethlehem in gardens, in greenhouses, and in window boxes. Its flowers bloom in May and June, and tend to close before nightfall. The bulbs of the star-of-Bethlehem are poisonous. Scientific classification. The star-of-Bethlehem belongs to the lily family, Liliac. Its scientific name is Ornithogalum.

Share this: