Begonias, Tulips, Daffodils - Bulbs For The Garden

Experts say that the secret to a beautiful garden is in the bulbs. One of the reasons that account for bulbs preference among more experienced gardeners is that bulbs naturally package all the essentials they need to flourish and grow. They are usually quite hardy and undemanding and can provide the most amazing shower of spring and summertime colors as a wide variety of colors and shapes can be produced. All that’s required is warming temperatures to bring the bulbs out of dormancy. 




You can easily find bulbs such as daffodil, crocus, hyacinth, tulip, and lily at your local lawn and garden center. However, if you want something rarer, you should 
 look for flowering bulbs with unique colors and smells like Guinevere, Blackmore, and Landon Begonias.

For spring-flowering bulbs, you will plant in fall while for summer-flowering 
bulbs, the ideal time to plant is spring. Most bulbs do well in pots or in planters, so your main concern should be the type of soil required and the depth and spacing necessary to give your new bulbs plenty of growing room. After following the necessary steps, your garden will be blooming with flowers that will catch everyone’s eyes. Enjoy!

How To Attract Hummingbirds To Your Garden - Part One

Hummingbirds are specially welcome to any garden, be it a small one or a large yard. They positively add to the spot you grow so carefully. Below you will find some ideas by Marilyn Pokorney on how to attract those cute critters. 

Part One

"Planting a garden full of red flowers is the best way to attract these beautiful jeweled birds.

Plant bee balm, butterfly weed, columbine, cardinal Flower, coral bells, cosmos, dahlias, four-o'-clock's, fuchsias, morning glory, petunias, zinnias, trumpet vine, or honeysuckle. A web search will reveal many more.

Be a hummingbird magnet by having as much red in your backyard as possible. Besides flowers use gazing balls, backyard furniture, ribbons, and other yard decorations. Create both sun and shade areas in your hummingbird garden. Offer an abundance of nesting materials to encourage nesting
females. Hummingbirds prefer downy like materials, spider webs, ferns, moss and lichens for their nests.
Make certain that there is always fresh water available for drinking as well as for bathing. Set up misters. Hummingbirds love to take "leaf baths," rubbing against wet leaves or just sitting on a branch having the mist fall upon them."

Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment.