PlantBuddy's Slideshow

Canada Is Ready To Bloom

The snow is melting fast and the birds are returning to our land. Canada will soon burst into bloom! Just yesterday, I spotted a flock of robins huddled in a sunny patch of dry leaves by my back door. I took a walk around and heard the familiar screeching of blue jays and crows calling. Looking up, following the sound, there was a bright red cardinal on a treetop singing a song of spring.

Unpack your spring bonnets and dust off your garden tools. Gardening season is approaching. Time to pretty up your houseplants and enter them in a spring garden show exhibit.

Wouldn't a spring basket of tools like this make a welcome Mother's Day gift? I'm not handy with fabric, but I know many ladies who can sew, and they love the color pink.

Crocus. . .one of the first spring flowers to poke up through the last traces of snow each spring.

Here's Mother Nature and of course she's dressed for spring in a vibrant green. I wonder if we'll catch sight of her at our Annual Spring Garden Show held in Toronto in March.

If you've never been to Toronto, aka as the Greenest City in Canada, then this is the time to come, especially if you are a gardening and flower enthusiast like me. Canada Blooms opens with a party in honor of St. Patrick's Day. To celebrate our 175th Anniversary, the City has ordered up a spectacular garden display for the show.

Even if you're not the type of person who likes to 'get her knees dirty' there's lots of fun things to do at Canada Blooms: flower arranging and design, wine tasting, flower and plant judging, speakers and demos, photo gallery, feature gardens, marketplace, and more. Show runs March 18-22, 2009.

Not to be missed if you love the whole garden adventure is Ontario Garden Show at the Hamilton Convention Centre, March 13-15.

Looking for a good book to get you into the swing of gardening? You'll find them here! Check out the Amazon ads, click on them for complete information about prices and ordering.

Enjoy the spring weather!

SPRING BREAK IS AROUND THE CORNER. March Break Children's Program for kids and parents, here's the link: http://hopecommunitygarden.wordpress.com/.

Gardening With Kids

A garden gift for a teacher. . .Personalized Stone. . .Iron Hanging Basket with Coco Liner. . .Welcome to My Garden Sign. . .A Flowering Plant To Get Started.

The year is 1940. British school children are starting a garden. The mounds of earth behind them is an air raid shelter.

A new life right in your hands all ready to grow up toward the light.

This drawing says it all doesn't it? If they see you planting a garden that's all the incentive a child needs to get interested in plants and how to grow them.

Children actually enjoy eating vegetables. . .especially the ones they grow themselves. An easy project to introduce to your kids is starting seeds indoors. Beans and spinach seeds can be started now. As soon as seedlings have two leaves, move them to bigger pots and put outside as soon as the snow and ice disappear and the night temperature stays above freezing.

Kids love to water the little plants. Give them the job.

Happy Pink Valentine Saturday

Welcome Pink Saturday Visitors! Wishing you a deliciously Happy Valentine's Day.

Enjoy some chocolate bonbons. . .and your bouquets of Pink and Red Roses. Don't forget to say "I Love You" to a special person in your life.

Leave me a comment on my Valentines (see below) and visit Beverly too at: http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/

The Story of Saint Valentine

Who was Saint Valentine? Why is he remembered to this day? Robert Sabuda has written a delightful book about the Saint Valentine Legend. A librarian who reviewed this book says, "I was handed this attractive story about Saint Valentine by a 3rd and 4th grade teacher who is using it in her classroom as part of her Valentine's Day activities." The text emphasizes Valentine's role as a physician and his relationship with the blind daughter of a Roman jailer, who seeks healing. The "Notes on the text" at the end of the book explain Valentine's connection with the celebration of love. (See details & order info. just below)

A Pink Saturday Post

Welcome Pink Saturday visitors
After viewing and commenting, please visit Beverly's blog
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/




That's windblown me. . .and feeling a little dejected as you will note from the sour expression on my face. See the warm snugly pink jacket I'm wearing? Two days into my recent Cancun holiday I had to rush out to a shop for something warm to wear. The weather remained cold and windy all week leaving a slim choice of activities: eat, mall walk, and eat some more.

Towel Art. . .I think it's a butterfly. Mexican hotel staff love to impress the guests with their creations.

Guess what the woman carrying this purse said to the purse snatcher. . ."Leaf my handbag alone!"

It's actually made from dried leaves attached to an oval box. That's a tree branch handle. . . A conversation piece. . .And not too difficult to make.

See. . .it's not too early to start forcing flowering bulbs. . . This pink Hyacinth bulb was started in November. . . and just came into bloom. Doesn't it make you think of spring?. . . another easy-to-do indoor gardening project.

And, speaking of gardening. . .please check out the Books (something New I've added to the blog). Many of the latest books shown on this site are not in the stores yet, but are available here. Others on offer are gently used and can be had for a couple of dollars through Amazon. For more details on a book shown, simply click on it.

Winter Gardening Fun Starts Now

It's January, and with the days getting longer and the sun streaming in and warming my windowsill the urge to grow something is strong. . . I began to look around for ideas. . . What could I grow indoors at this time of year other than the usual leafy tropical plant or cactus? The answer came in the form of a book titled "Don't Throw It, Grow It! 68 Windowsill Plants From Kitchen Scraps" (2008) by Deborah Peterson & Millicent Selsam, from Storey, America's Garden Publisher. (all books bought through Water Once A Week go to supporting the website)

Curious about growing plants from my kitchen scraps, I peeked inside.

Last year I tried to sprout an avocado pit by suspending it in a glass of water, but it refused to co-operate. . .(You have to be persistent for success with plants and if your first attempts don't bear fruit, find out where you went wrong. Learn from the experts.)

With this in mind I turned to page 46-47 to AVOCADO persea species, Lauraceae, which they've labelled as Easy. "The avocado can become one of the most beautiful plants in your home." The book suggests planting several pits in a large container--a 36" barrel-- to produce a refreshing grove at the end of your living room. Flipping the pages for more ideas, I began to feel inspired. The author's illustrated instructions were straightforward and easy to follow. All I needed to do to get started was save the pits and seeds from everyday produce I buy from the supermarket. The 68 ideas for growing fruit, vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices. . .all from kitchen scraps looked like a fun project to occupy me. . .satisfy my winter urge to plant something. . .and it offered a nice distraction from the snow outside. . . So I added avocado to my shopping list and resolved to try again.

Using the Sphagnum Bag Method, the author was able to germinate her avocado pit in a few weeks time. . . (Now this is her "Secret Method" so get her book for explanation, plus other easy-to-do growing methods).
"When the roots are 3 to 4 inches long, transfer the avocado to a pot 1 inch larger than the pit. Fill the pot one-third full with potting soil. Gently place the pit on the soil and fill enough soil around it so that half the pit is exposed at the top."

Well, are you inspired yet? Do avocados turn you off? . . .How about a nice quick-growing Peanut Bush from seed? It grows to a height of 1 to 2 feet and blooms yellow flowers that look like small peas and its leaves fold up into a sleeping position at night. To grow this one you'll need a sunny window and fresh, unroasted peanuts. Please see TOP OF PAGE for more about this book.

Holiday Greetings

This kitty and mouse have the right idea. . . Time for a long Christmas nap and dreams of spring. . .Wishing all my blogging friends and visitors a HAPPY HOLIDAY AND A WONDERFUL 2009.

PlantBuddy is taking a sunny break and will be back in the NEW YEAR.

Tree-Hugger Christmas Trees

Some people call it a "Seasonal Tree". . . others a "Hanukkah Bush". . . For 2008 a new name has popped up, "Holiday Joy Tree". . . This latest incarnation of the Christmas Tree can be seen in Zellers advertising flyers. . . So, take your pick of names, but the one I've made up is . . . Huggable Christmas Tree. . .for all the tree-huggers who prefer a real fir or pine tree aka evergreens.

PLANT BUDDY'S TRADITIONAL TREES AND HERBS OF CHRISTMAS

Cedar (Pinus cedrus). . .mentioned in the Bible, it was considered a sacred tree by the Jews. . .The Egyptians used cedar wood for coffins as its rich cedar smell drove away insects. . .We still use cedar wood to line closets for the same reason. . .Native Canadians make a cedar tea and serve it during times of teaching to focus the mind. . .During the Christmas season, credar wreaths are availble at gardening stores and markets. . .or make one yourself and hang it on a door or over the fireplace.

Spruce (Pica abies) is the most popular evergreen used as a Christmas Tree. The scent of its needles has a calming effect. . . the wonderful aroma of the essential oil contained in the spruce fills a room with freshness. . . A drop of spruce essential oil added to bathwater can sooth ragged nerves. . . Originally, fir trees (evergreens) were brought into a room in the belief that forest spirits would tag along. People believed the spirts would bring protection to the home. The Norway Spruce is symbolic of life enduring, and is one of the trees considered to be sacred. . . The fir tree in St. Peter's Square this Christmas is a 33 meter Norway Spruce. Donated to the Vatican by Austrians, all the wood from this giant tree will be recycled into children's toys and furniture.

The branches of Juniper with its blue berries is an important Christmas evergreen. . . In Medieval times the branches were burned and the smoke would act as a disinfectant purifying the air in hospital rooms. . . The berries were used as a cooking spice and an ingredient when brewing beer and gin.

The tradition of burning Yule logs in the fireplace in winter is a symbolic ritual going back to Europe and Scandinavian countries. Logs of Ash or Oak were burned to honor the World Tree (Back then people were even bigger treehuggers than they are today). . . Yule logs were burned in combination with herbs and grains. . . Figures of straw animals also were burned with the logs during the Yule feast. The Yugoslavians burned "forest incense" pine needles and pine resin along with barley on their Yule log. . . This Yule Log tradition was brought to America by the English colonists.

SOME OF THE HERBS OF CHRISTMAS

Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum). . . According to legend, Jesus' cradle in the manger was lined with Lady's Bedstraw. . . It's a sweet smelling herb. . . Traditionally, this and other plants like Thyme and St. John's wort, along with Galium verum, has been used for hundreds of years to stuff mattresses. . . The scent of the herbs supposedly repelled fleas.

The evergreen Rosmary has strongly aromatic leaves and smell like incense. . .On the winter solstice, the Berbers of Morocco smudge (burn) rosemary leaves. . .Peruvians consider the evergreen Coca Bush to be a sacred plant. . .In Latin American Christmas folk legend, the Virgin Mary rested under the coca bush during her escape into Egypt, she chewed some leaves and felt refreshed and confident. . .(just like stopping for a coffe break.)

PLANT BUDDY RECOMMENDS:

Visit the website, Today's Flowers for more pictures of plants and flowers from around the globe.

Visit the website, Scenic Sunday to view photographs taken by bloggers around the world.

Visit the website, Beverly's Pink Saturday for 82 bloggers/crafters who like the color pink.

Flowers For Christmas Cheer

Plant Buddy's Christmas Holiday Flowers and Plants . . .Some plants such as the Holly and Mistletoe (see last week's post) come with ancient traditions and stories that have travelled through time. . . The Ivy (Hedera helix) was traditionally thought of as a woman's plant . . .the Holly was held to be a man's plant. . .The Greeks associated ivy with happiness and honor. . . In ancient times ivy and holly were twined around poles to decorate winter festivals in Europe. . .Herbs such as Laurel (Bay leaves) were used as a charm to ward off thunderstorms, witches, and devils. . . Then in later times on Holy Saturday the same plant was used to spread on church floors as a symbol of purification. . .Scroll back a couple of week for another Christmas favourite, Amaryllis. . .a proud, haughty, splendid plant that has a strong association with this time of year. . .Today, I'm featuring some more traditional holiday plants. . .Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, and Cyclamen. . . These three plants have something in common. . .they are amongst the newer line of traditional holiday plants of the New World. . .they have no legends attached. . .But interesting to know more about. . .Since we all want to try out these flowering plants in our homes, it's good to know about their natural habitat.

Just a note to let you know. . .all holiday plants are available on line. . . Use the Search Box here on the blog. . . Enter the Name of the Plant and your City. . . for a list of places in your area with best prices and freshest plant material for gift giving and decorating.

Poinsettia was unknown to Christians before Spanish missionaries came to Mexico. . . Native to the New World, this beautiful plant was originally a wild shrub growing in the jungles of Mexico. . . It has become a beloved traditional Christmas houseplant all over the world. . . In Sweden it's called "Christmas Star Plant". . . The real flower is the tiny yellow buds in the center of the red bracts or leaves. . . How Poinsettia got its name: While serving as a United States ambassador to the new republic of Mexico, Joel Poinsett discovered the plant, which received his name. He brought specimens back to the United States. . . Because poinsettia could be made to flower in winter, it soon became a popular Christmas decoration and a holiday gift plant. . .Warning to Parents and Pet Owners: Care should be taken when handling it. The milky sap that oozes from broken stems and leaves can irritate the eyes. Keep all plants away from children and pets.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera). . . has no Christmas story. It is not even a cactus!. . . This plant hates sand and doesn't grow anywhere near a desert. . . Actually, it's an epiphytic (air) plant. . . Similar to the Mistletoe . . the Christmas Cactus lives high up in tree tops. . . It's home is the Brazilian jungle. . . In nature, it clings to the bark of host trees in little pockets of leaf mold where it thrives in heat and humidity, frequent showers and dappled sunlight. . . Plant growers discovered that Schlumbergera sets its buds and begins to bloom in winter. . . It's the change to shorter days and cooler temperatures that signals many tropical plants to start their bloom cycle. . . So, to make a long story short, they called it Christmas Cactus. The official botanical name is in brackets above. And for my next flowering plant. . .

Cyclamen . . .Here's another attractive plant you will see everywhere during the Christmas and holiday season. . .Not an official Christmas plant like the Mistletoe and Holly that come with ancient stories and legends. . . the cyclamen just looks nice and easily flowers in winter. The dark and light green pattern on it's rounded leaves . . plus the cheery red flowers. . .also comes in snowy white. . . make this handsome plant hard to resist. To keep Cyclamen looking fresh and perky, place the plant away from heat and bright sunlight. . .A perfect gift plant for someone living in an apartment with a north-east exposure.

Hope you enjoyed the Flowering Plants of Christmas series. Next week I'll continue with . . .

The Trees of Christmas.