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If you live in an area where you can’t grow traditional cherry trees, don’t despair. There are a few fruiting trees in the Myrtle family which produce cherry-like berries. The Grumichama tree, with its dark purple, sweet tasting fruit is an alternative for the Bing cherry. What is Grumichama Also known as the Brazil cherry, this berry producing tree is native to South America. The Grumichama cherry can be cultivated in other tropical and subtropical climates, including Florida and Hawaii....

How to Winterize Water Lily Plants The steps for wintering water lilies starts long before winter actually arrives, regardless of whether you grow hardy or tropical water lilies. In late summer, stop fertilizing your water lilies. This will signal to your water lily plants that it’s time to start getting ready for cold weather. A few things will happen after this. First, the water lily will start to grow tubers. This will provide food for them over the winter....

What is a Winter Melon? Growing winter melons can be found throughout Asia and on oriental vegetable farms in south Florida and similarly climactic areas of the United States. A member of the cucurbit family, winter melon wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) is a variety of musk melon, and one of the largest fruit/vegetables grown– attaining a foot long (31 cm.) or more, 8 inches (20 cm.) thick and weighing up to 40 pounds (18 kg....

About Powdery Mildew of Asters Powdery mildew is caused by a fungus. There are several species that cause the infestation, each evolved to be parasitic on certain types of plants. That means that if you get powdery mildew on aster plants, it will not infect plants from other families. The fungus grows on the surface of leaves and reaches into cells to feed on nutrients. It needs the plant to be alive to grow, so it actually favors conditions that also favor the host plant....

Kitchen Wreath Ideas An edible wreath makes a great gift for anyone who loves food and cooking as well as holiday décor. Use herbs, chili peppers, or garlic. Get creative with some unique ideas: Create a themed herb wreath with Italian herbs for the pasta lover on your gift list. Include a candle that fits inside the wreath for a table decoration. Attach a small edible wreath to a larger evergreen wreath....

Benefitting from Backyard Gardening Books Some people have a natural ability to design spaces and grow plants. For the rest of us, there are books to serve as guides. Even if you have a natural talent, you can always learn more from the experts. Choose books that expand your basic knowledge of gardening and landscape design and also those that are specific to your interests, area, and type of garden. For instance, if you live in the Midwest, a book about tropical gardens may be interesting but not much help....

Bougainvillea for Pots Several bougainvillea varieties are suitable for growing in containers. “Miss Alice” is a shrubby, easily pruned variety with white blooms. “Bambino Baby Sophia,” which provides orange blooms, tops out at about 5 feet (1.5 m.). If you like pink, consider “Rosenka” or “Singapore Pink,” which you can prune to maintain container size. Red varieties suitable for container growing include “La Jolla” or “Crimson Jewel.” “Oo-La-La,” with magenta-red blooms, is a dwarf variety that reaches heights of 18 inches (46 cm....

What is Brown Rot Blossom Blight? Brown rot blossom and twig blight is a fruit tree disease that is caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola. This blight, if left unchecked, can destroy stone fruit trees in your garden or orchard. Another type of brown rot blossom and twig blight, called European brown rot, is caused by the Monilinia laxa fungus. This type seems only to attack sour cherry trees. If a tree in your yard is infected by the brown rot fungus, you will notice....

Grow Your Own Easter Egg Dyes You can get plenty of natural Easter egg dyes right from your garden. The colors most of them produce may not be as intense as the synthetic dyes you buy in Easter egg kits, but they are even more beautiful and natural in appearance. Below are some plants you can try when dyeing eggs naturally and the colors they will produce on a white egg:...

About Catmint Companion Plants Catmint (Nepeta) is an herbaceous perennial from the mint family and, like other members of this family, has aromatic leaves. It is often confused with catnip and is, indeed, closely related, but where catnip is grown for its highly aromatic herbal properties, catmint is prized for its ornamental qualities. While there are a number of excellent catmint companion plants, the combination of roses and catmint stands out....

Elements of classical garden design can be easily incorporated into anyone’s garden. Take a cue from these Greek and Roman distinctive features and make them your own. How to Grow an Ancient Inspired Garden The gardens of ancient Roman villas centered on pleasure gardens where they could relax and entertain. Guests were treated to remarkable views and visual elements. Greek contributions to design included symmetry and balance. The clean lines of old-world style were based on simplicity....

Smoke cleansing sticks are traditionally made with sage, but can also be concocted with other herbs such as lavender, cedar, sweetgrass, sagebrush, and other herbs with resinous sap. The herbs are lit and the resulting smoke used to cleanse the home or body. It was thought such a practice would remove negative or evil spirits and humors. In effect, it is similar to incense. You can grow your own incense and experience a similar calm, cleansing effect....

About Common Mallow Plants Malva neglecta, commonly called common mallow, is in the mallow family along with hollyhock and hibiscus. Growing 6 to 24 inches (15-61 cm.) tall, common mallow has pink or white hollyhock-like flowers atop long stems covered in circular, wavy-edged leaves. Its resemblance to hollyhock is undeniable. Common mallow plants flower from early spring to mid fall. Sometimes called ‘cheese weed’ because its seeds resemble cheese wheels, common mallows are self-sowing annuals or biennials....

Reasons for No Flowers on Crepe Myrtle Nothing is more beautiful than the flowers on a crepe myrtle. However, a crepe myrtle not blooming can be frustrating. Here are some reasons why this happens and tips for getting crepe myrtle trees to bloom. Pruning too late If there are no flowers on crepe myrtle, it could be that the tree was pruned late in the season, causing the new wood to be mistakenly removed, which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop....

When to Trim a Fiddle Leaf Fig The most ideal time for pruning fiddle leaf fig is when it is actively growing, which is typically spring or early summer. How to Prune Fiddle Leaf Fig While the thought of fiddle leaf fig pruning may seem intimidating, cutting back fiddle leaf figs is actually very easy. Be properly equipped when cutting back fiddle leaf figs. You will want to make nice clean cuts on your plant....

Evergreen Garden Design A garden without evergreens can present as a very desolate place in winter. Evergreen garden design will prevent that bare appearance and give plenty of dimension and diversity of form. There are so many evergreens from which to choose, including many unique cultivars. A few evergreen garden ideas can get you started on developing a well-rounded landscape with plenty of color all year. While fall can be a time of great color and beauty, it also signals the beginning of a desolate winter, practically devoid of plant life....

When to Fertilize Roses I perform my first feeding around mid to late spring– the weather patterns really dictate the first feeding of roses. If there has been a string of good, warm days and steady night temps in the upper 40’s, (8 C.), it is safe to start feeding the roses and watering them in well with either my choice of chemical dry mix (granular rose bush food) rose food or one of my choices of organic mix rose food....

Since the chocolate vine growth rate is so fast, it makes an excellent cover for arbors, trellises, pergolas, or fences. Growing chocolate vine produces edible seedpods that taste similar to tapioca pudding. If you wish to have fruit, you must plant more than one five leaf akebia vine. How to Grow Akebia Quinata Chocolate vine prefers a partially shaded spot in the garden. Although the plant will grow in full sun, it does best with protection from the afternoon heat....

Many have evolved into small businesses. After the gardeners make sure they have enough for winter, relatives and neighbors, they sell the overage to the public. Besides the economic profit, Russian dacha gardens ensure food security and sustainability, preservation of heirloom fruits and vegetables, and contribute to a feeling of community and a oneness with nature and the land. Gardens in Russia: What We Can Learn from Russian Gardening Style Russian gardening style reflects a centuries old work ethic: Work hard and reap the benefits of your labor....

What is a Bean House? A bean house or bean trellis house simply refers to a structure that creates a house – or tunnel-like shape – for growing beans. The vines grow up the structure and cover the sides and top so that you get what looks like a small house made of bean vines. The main difference between this and a trellis is that the house allows the vines to spread farther in a vertical direction, and even over the top....