Friday, April 20, 2012

Clematis - The Climbing Buttercup

The clematis flower is a popular climbing flower in many gardens. It is believed to have originally come from China and Japan and then spread worldwide because of its large colorful flowers. There are at least 250 differerent species of clematis in the buttercup family including varieties with a fragrance and without. Clematis is popular because it blooms continually from early spring to late fall. Clematis is generally planted in the fall to enable the plant to bloom the following spring and summer. Pruning is part of caring for the plant as well as regular washing to prevent the growth of mildew and fungus. Clematis is a woody stem vine that prefers well-drained soil in a sunny spot. It has two common names, Virgin`s Bower and Leatherflower. Finally, it is toxic to horses, cats, and dogs. So if your clematis is gone and your pet is salivating, vomiting, and suffering from diarrhea, call the vet.



Saturday, April 14, 2012

Flowering Forsythia

Forsythia is deciduous flowering shrub of the olive family. Forsythia has long been considered a harbinger of spring because its bright yellow blossoms appear early in that season. This shrub  is believed to have originated in Asia and was brought to Europe by a botanist with the Dutch East India Company. Forsythia is a tough reliable garden plant that is propagated commercialy by cuttings. Forsythia is widely used as a border shrub to mark boundaries as a "living wall". It has a common name "golden bells" and its name is often misspelled "forsynthia".