The Most attractive sound is created by the wild-flower garden. The wild garden consists of long tramps, collecting material etc.

Such garden is not luck for some people. The flowers in the wild garden are like people only. They behave themselves like each personality. Plant dies when it is removed from its living conditions. It is accustomed by nature. It cannot survive if it is not able to find its living conditions. So, when you go to hunt a wild flower, make a note of the living conditions of the plant. The points to be noted while hunting wild flowers are the soil type in which they grow, the conditions, the place. We have to create such an environment for the plant to grow again in your desired place. Even its neighbors are to be taken into consideration.

Take the following example of dog-tooth violets. Wind-flowers are growing near together. Place the wild flowers in your garden. Then plant the dog-tooth violets also near the wild flowers. This makes the wild flowers to feel at home. This is the method of cheating. Wild flowers from wild garden are grown in your own garden. This is the point. This makes them believe that they are in their native place only.

After transplanting is over, wild flowers need to be transplanted. take a basket and a trowel with you to the woods now. Another important point to be noted is that the plants like columbine or hepatica must be taken out with their roots only.

Before your trip to wild garden you must make the bed ready in which they are going to be planted. The bed should be made very carefully. Thus, you need not make the plant wait until you make the bed ready. They should be planted at once. It must be preferably taken from woods. The drainage system of the bed should be made excellent. The soil need not be compulsorily water logged. It is a wrong concept of many people. Dig your garden deeply and put stones. Then over this put top soil. On the top layer now put the rich soil. Remember that the rich soil is the soil brought from woods. This is the method to make a bed.

Water the soil before planting it. Now, put the soil in each respective hole. The plant should be planted in its own respective type of soil. Thus, making a note of soil will be easier without any confusion.

It will serve much better when we plan to have a wildflower garden in which it blooms in the morning and falls late at night. We will start with hepatica in March. Continue in April with columbine. For May we again go back to our dog-tooth violets. In may we can also plant Jack-in--pulpit, wood anemone, and wild germanium. Bellflower and mullein will be got in June. For July we can choose gay butterfly. Obviously the other half of the season is filled by turtle head, aster, Queen Anne's lace and Joe Pye weeds. This follows until frost.

We should also consider about the likes of the plants including the dislikes. If we once start planting the wild flowers, we would always wish to continue it and add many flowers to your garden.

Hepatica is loved by everyone. Hepatica blossoms before the spring comes. Other plants are ashamed of themselves before hepatica. The flowers inside the embryo are protected by the fuzzy covering. Hepatica gets new leaves during spring. These plants grow only in family groups. These should be planted only under very good soil conditions. Shaded places are best suited for them to grow. At the end of February they are ready to loose their old leaves and they get ready themselves to be blossomed newly. These are found mostly in woods open places. They poke their heads for blossom at the end of February. Thus, this is the tricks to grow hepatica in your garden and thus make your garden more beautiful and attractive than as usual.

Spring and hepatica competes themselves in coming first. This white flower has tracings of pink with grass like leaves. Allow more sunlight to fall on these plants which are planted in groups. Thus, plant them in open place. These love the sunlight more.

Saxifrage is the other beautiful march flower mentioned. This plant is totally different from the former one. Its habitat is a dry place. Mostly in rocky places. It is found in rock chinks. The roots of this plant grow inside the rock. When the roots become very strong they split the strong rock itself. I was spotted them mostly on rocks only. That to in borders of big rocks. In sandy places too they are found. They possess hairy stem with white flowers.

Another plant found at rocky places is the columbine. These are not planted in groups. The soil covers the roots completely. The plants are very hygienic as they get fresh air, clear drainage system and are provided with very good food. This plant needs only little soil to grow.

This makes us easy to come to a conclusion about the needs of the plants clearly. We can now understand the feelings of the plants. Thus, it is our responsibility to check out about their drainage conditions and all.

Bluets are more affectionate to me. They have lovely blue blossoms. They make us admire them hours together. At the month of June they start to fade a little due to the hot climate of June. Quaker ladies are another name given to them. All these names suits well for them. They grow in road sides, many times in colonies and mostly in sunny fields. Thus, this assures that they too love sunlight. They need to be grown in open places only. Sunlight is more important for them than soil.

Wild germaniums are flowers with less beauty when compared with other wild flowers. Its petals droop immediately after we pick it. It is purple in color. The plant has certain boldness rather than attraction. It is found in moist areas of woods. There is no objective in picking it. So, it has both good color and permanent color. These colors last for a longer time as well.

In the starting you may have the fear whether it can be worked out or not. But you can start one or two wild flowers at the maximum. Than year by year you can increase the population. Finally you will end up with a beautiful garden of wild flowers. You will master all the planting techniques by then. It is considered as a real study.

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A garden of wild flowers can transform a small area of a garden to one beaming with color. Here are a few selections to let nature bring on the color.

The light blue, bell-shaped blossoms of the Greek valerian or Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) are a pleasing addition to the shaded garden or a spot with some sun. The plants I have observed grow eight to 12 inches high though it is reported to grow somewhat higher. As a boy I looked for it in April or May and knew it as "the other bluebell." Actually the name bluebell means very little unless we know something of the background of the individual using it.

The Scotchman's bluebell is a campanula, while the bluebell of English poetry is really a hyacinth. The wild flower commonly called a bluebell in this country is known botanically as Mertensia virginica. Also called the Virginia cowslip, it is an old favorite that is easily grown if given semi-shade and a good deep garden loam. In the wild it is frequently found in rich, moist soil along streams. It blooms in May.

A happy accident in our garden last season gave us the combination of wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). The honeysuckle was growing on our garden fence with the columbine in front of it. The combination of colors was most pleasing. Actually, the coral honeysuckle is found in the wild only as it has escaped from cultivation. Both plants in our garden are in part shade though both get the mid-day sun. They both bloom in late April or May. The columbine with its scarlet and gold blossoms is one of our loveliest flowers. Easily identified by its resemblance to the cultivated columbine, it is frequently found clinging to a rocky bluff. It reseeds itself readily in the garden.

The last snow bank has hardly disappeared in early spring until we are gladdened by the sight of a drift of bloodroot with its ephemeral white blossoms. In the splendid book on "Wild Flowers of Missouri" it makes reference to the flower buds as being "wrapped in a scalloped graygreen leaf, like a blanketed papoose." Thus protected, it is "pushed up to the sunlight." Though frequently found in open wood, the bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) adapts itself to varying situations. It is easily grown either from seeds or divisions of the fleshy roots. Though the petals fall quickly, the leaves hold interest through most of the season.

Few wild flowers have the dainty grace of Dutchman's breeches. The low cluster of finely cut leaves surmounted by a flower stalk, six or eight inches high, strung with four to six or possibly eight delicate, somewhat heart-shaped white flowers delight the nature lover in his April or May woodland walks.

Other names that admirers have bestowed on this little flower are bachelors' kitten, little boys breeches, butterfiy banners. and soldiers caps. The botanical name is Dicentra cucullaria.

Given good drainage and partial shade such as we find in open woods, Dutchman's breeches is easily grown in good garden soil well supplied with leaf mold. It is frequently found growing in rock crevices mostly in a river rock landscape where the roots may penetrate to rich cool soil formed from the accumulation of decayed leaves. In such a location the lichen covered stones make a perfect foil for this airy little wildling.

It grows from a tuber and is easily transplanted when dormant.

The pleasures of wild flower gardening are as real and satisfying as they are intangible and indescribable. To the wild flower lover a clump of bloodroot in an appropriate setting has an appeal equal to that of a good piece of art on canvas.

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Europe's native plant happens to be a Columbine. These plants can come in many different sizes ranging between 10 cm all the way to 90 cm. You can usually find these plants in many different colors and are great for any garden. Learning how to grow columbine (Aquilegia) isn't too difficult of a task if you have the proper instructions to do it.

When you first start out with columbine plants you should consider beginning the growth process indoors. The seeds will see the best results if they are actually imbibed for approximately three weeks, meaning placing the seeds into soil that is moist and putting inside a fridge or cold space.

Now that it's been three weeks and springs arisen take the flat outside into a shady spot and place the flat into the ground. You are not yet taking the seeds out of their homes as they are not sprouting up quite yet, but soon.

It may seem to take forever for your columbine to sprout, but this is why we are taking you through the process of learning how to grow columbine (Aquilegia). Many people think that the plant isn't growing because it takes longer than most, but it actually is you just need to be patient.

Once your columbine begins to sprout it is time to place them into the ground. Make sure that when you are planting them you leave them a little space for growing, usually about 15cm to 30cm will do for the smaller columbine and 40cm to 60cm for the larger columbine.

The location you should plant them is in an area that is shady. A columbine doesn't tend to enjoy areas that receive a lot of sunlight but they can survive in them. Try planting them in a shady area, but if this isn't possible then place them in an area that doesn't receive direct sunlight all day long.

Now that you know how to grow columbine (Aquilegia) you should know how to take care of them. Please be aware that this is a very delicate plant so when or if you need to transplant them be very careful doing so. These plants need to be kept within moist soil so check the soil regularly and water regularly.

When the flower begins to look like its wilting simply deadhead them and they'll soon bloom another beautiful flower for the entire season.

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When you surround your wood porch swing with no-fuss flowers, you gain two advantages. You add color and visual appeal to your outdoor space. You also choose plants that will flourish without expensive fertilizers and inordinate amounts of your time. Particularly for beginning gardeners or those who can't seem to keep plants alive, these no-fuss flowers make good choices for decorating a wood porch swing. Plant them in bordering flower beds or matching wood planters.

The first two flowers, astilbe and hosta, thrive in shade or just partial sun. Although some varieties may survive full sun in cooler climates, these plants tend to scorch in areas of full sunlight.

Delicate bunches of small flowers fill the stalk and give astilbe a feathery appearance when in bloom. Astilbe usually appears in shades of white, red, pink, or lavender. It can grow as tall as three feet, and it generally spreads over time, so you may wish to give it room to grow. If you don't want the flower bed near your wood porch swing to look bare when you first plant astilbe, you can always surround it with annual flowers. In addition to shade, astilbe also loves moist soil. If your soil is dry, you can add humus or similar material to enhance the soil's ability to retain moisture.

Hosta is another shade-loving perennial that survives well without much care. Like astilbe, the hosta also prefers moist soil. Tall stalks emerge from a mass of beautiful foliage. The leaves may be deep or pale green, even a bluish-gray. Often, a white band tips the outer edge of the hosta's leaves. Each stalk may contain several blooms, usually white. The open blooms look like funnels. Some varieties remain small, but others may grow to a height of five feet and width of four feet.

If the planting area around your wood porch swing enjoys high exposure to sunlight, you will need sun-loving flowers. Peonies and columbines both fall in this category of no-fuss flowers.

The peony is a lovely flower that you usually see in varying shades of pink, red, or white. However, you can also find other colors, such as yellow or even purple. They look like they contain two layers of petals, the inner layer with ruffled edges, and the outer layer with smooth edges. Peonies can grow quite large--up to four feet in both height and width. Despite their sweet appearance, peonies are tough flowers that can survive neglect.

Finally, columbine enjoys full or partial sunlight and moist soil. This beauty commonly appears in a wide range of colors--white, yellow, pink, red, peach, and even blue. Two distinct layers of petals form the bloom. The inner layer lies close to the center, while the outer layer spikes out in a wide, star-shaped outline. The two layers of petals may display the same color or contrasting ones. Columbine grows up to four feet tall and two feet wide.

Astilbe, hosta, peony, and columbine are not the only no-fuss flowers that make attractive accents for your wood porch swing. Astilbe, peony, and columbine, however, do offer the added benefit of being deer-resistant plants. And all four are hardy plants that can withstand less-than-ideal conditions. Perhaps these flowers can serve as a good starting point to build arrangements that will increase your satisfaction and enjoyment of your wood porch swing.

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The columbine is one of the prettiest flowers in the garden. Blooming occurs
in late spring through early summer, the long spurred flowers are the
most elegant flowers in the perennial flower garden. Aquilegia has been
hybridized liberally, so there are literally dozens upon dozens of varieties
available. In a seed catalog you will find many hybrids as well as some of the wild varieties.

The genus name, aquilegia, is derived from Latin origins and it means
"eagle", in reference to the long spurs on the flower. Most of the columbines
are of North American origin, all from the north temperate zone. Their wild
cousins inhabit virtually all of North America from woodlands to mountains.
The native wild columbines are also great additions to the perennial flower garden.

Columbines are best planted in partial shade, as they are of woodland origin.
Soil should be reasonably fertile. They won't do well in a sunny location
with hard packed soil. The Columbine is usually a fairly short lived
perennial, usually dying out in two to three years.

Propagation of Aquilegia is usually by seed. Most varieties will germinate
readily from seed, though they may take their time doing so. They will usually
bloom the season after they are started. You may also divide plants in early
spring. Divisions, if taken early enough and well started, should bloom
the same year.

The Columbine is an indispensable perennial plant for your flower garden.
Aquilegia has elegant flowers, sure to be an eye catching addition.

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Is it an eagle or a dove? Aquilegia or Columbine? Actually this perennial wildflower that has become one of the favorite old-fashioned garden favorites is both! It's Latin name is Aquilegia, from aquila, meaning eagle -- a reference to the long spurs on the flowers. The common name, Columbine, comes from the Latin name for dove, perhaps for the sweetness of its nectar.

Columbines are native to woodlands and meadows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and more common at higher altitudes. There are about 70 species worldwide, and several of these have been cultivated as our garden flowers. Ones developed from the common European A. vulgaris generally have shorter spurs than the A. caerulea or A. canadensis, both North American wildflowers. A long-time favorite, the columbine has been cultivated for generations. It grows well in rock gardens, massed in a border, or in a semi-shaded spot among hostas and ferns.

Cultivars of columbines produce graceful flowers that nod with the breeze atop their tall stems. The blooms have 5 petals that each form a long nectar containing spur in front of 5 elongated sepals that resemble a second set of petals. The hybrid plants bloom in almost all colors of the rainbow, including white, and often are two toned with sepals and petals of contrasting colors. The deep green foliage with lacy lobed leaves is attractive even when the flowering season has ended. With their store of nectar, the flowers are favorites of hummingbirds.

This is an easy plant to grow, adapting to most conditions. It does best in moist rich soils, with some shade. The foliage clumps emerge from a long woody rootstock. Most cultivars will grow from one to 3 feet tall, upright and quite bushy when mature. The flowers can be widely spaced on the tall stems, facing downwards or in an upright tight flower grouping, depending on the cultivar.

Columbines will self seed very readily, so either clip off the immature seed heads or be prepared to thin out seedling the following spring. Most columbines will bloom in their second season and will live about 4 years, so you will want to keep some of the seedlings. Watch out for leaf miners that can spoil the appearance of the leaves. If they appear, just cut back the plants to encourage new clean growth.

Species and Varieties:

A caerulea: Native to the Rockies, the cultivated plants have blue-green foliage and typical long-spurred white and lavender flowers. This is Colorado's state flower.

A. canadensis: Delicate brick-red flowers with yellow centers, this native wildflower is a good woodland or border flower, loved by hummingbirds.

A. flabellata: The Japanese fan columbine is a dwarf species, with large waxy blue or white flowers. A perfect rock garden specimen, with blue-green leaves.

A. vulgaris: This is the European native columbine, with small frilly flowers in shades of blue, maroon and violet. Many cultivars are available.

Cultivars: Many double flowers have been developed, as well as variations of color and size. They readily cross with each other, creating even more possibilities! Here are a few:

Dorothy Rose: Lovely light rose-pink flowers with distinctive blossoms that have several blooms set inside one another.

Blue Barlow: A distinctive blue double blossom that looks like a tiny dahlia.

Nora Barlow: Wide open fully double flowers in combinations of red, pink and green, these resemble mini-dahlias.

McKana's Giants: Large showy flowers with long spurs and wide trumpets in a mixture of pastels, this one stands a full 30 inches. Great for cutting, this is an All America Selection.

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Aquilegia, also known as Columbine, is an old-fashion favorite that looks great in the garden and makes decorative cut flowers. These hardy, herbaceous evergreen perennials are found in the wild throughout North America, Siberia and other northern temperate regions. The Columbine is known for its beautiful, distinctively spurred flowers that are produced in the summer months. Numerous cultivars and hybrids are available in a multitude of colors and styles. Most Columbines grow to a height of 15 to 20 inches and are a favorite of hummingbirds. This article will discuss how to grow Columbines for your garden.

The Columbine can survive in a range of locations. USDA hardiness ranges from Zone 3 to 9. In colder areas, zones 3-5, it is advisable to provide a good layer of mulch to protect the Columbine from the freeze thaw cycle.

The Columbine is an easy plant to grow in your garden because it readily adapts to a wide variety of conditions. For the best results, use an area that has a moist, rich, well-drained soil with partial shade. The especially like the light shade of large deciduous trees. It will grow in full sun and is able to tolerate average soils and dry soil conditions.

Seeds of the Columbine can be directly sown into the soil or started indoors. To start indoors the seeds will need to be cold stratified for the best germination. Place the seeds in seed trays or pots with ¼ inches of fine soil and refrigerate at 40 degree Fahrenheit for 3 to 4 weeks. Move the trays or pots to a 70 degree location where they will sprout. Sow Columbine outdoors in spring to early summer in the north and fall in the south. Cover with a thin layer of soil and separated by 1 to 2 feet.

The thick tap roots of the Columbine allow for medium to light watering once the plant is established. Fertilize the Columbine monthly with a soluble all-purpose fertilizer. The Columbine is a self-sower so if you do not deadhead the blossoms and prune the foliage in the fall be prepared to thin out the seedlings as they arise. The plants tend to die off after 3 or 4 years so some gardeners allow the plant to self-seed and keep the plants whose flower they like as cross-pollination will produce different flowers from the parents. Leaf miners and aphids are the main problems for this plant. Most insect problems can be effectively treated with insecticidal dust or spray. If you notice winding white trails in the leaves dispose of this foliage.

The flowering season for Columbine lasts from mid-May through the end of June. Remove flower heads or deadhead when flowers are spent to ensure continued bloom. The blooms have five spurred petals sitting above five petal-like sepals that combine to create beautiful color combinations. The plant continues to provide interest as its foliage turns a maroon color in the fall.

It is quite easy to grow Columbine in your garden. With the proper location, soil and light, water and fertilizer, as well as, watching out for the insects you will grow the most beautiful Columbine plants.

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Columbine Flower Caring

Columbine flower caring, how? Don’t let columbine flowers dry out too much. Water when the soil is dry, and fertilize about once a month with liquid fertilizer. Regular fertilizing will help the plants produce their brightly colored blooms and grow thick foliage.

Another option is to add a time-release fertilizer in granulated form into the soil at planting time. Deadhead the flowers as they wilt throughout the summer and fall, if you aren’t planning to reseed more columbine flowers with the seedpods. This also will keep the flowers blooming longer.

If your columbine flowers are vigorous enough to overgrow their container or location by midsummer, you may want to prune them back a little for maintenance. Serious pruning of established columbine flowers, however, should be done in the early spring, when it encourages new growth. Don’t prune when the plant is still growing in the fall, as this will signal it to put on more growth, which will likely be damaged by frosts.

Divide columbine flowers every two or three years to help them stay strong, by digging them up, shaking off the soil, and gently pulling the roots apart to yield a new section of plants. Columbine flowers don’t last forever in one planting; you can expect three to five years of good blooms before starting again with new columbine flower seeds.

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