| Facts: plants, bacteria, fungi |
| Underwater science Revealed sea bed eons old of large formations of plant growth, multi layered soil beneath. Theory: gases erupt large enough volume to sink boat, perhaps fell airplane by removing media that it travels in, create negative bouancy. Tomato: fruit or veg Botanically a fruit. So are cucumbers, squash, zucchini, eggplant. Fruit is fleshy material covering seed(s.) Horticulturally a vegetable; an annual, nonwoody. Most fruits grow on woody plant. US Supreme Court 1893, ruled veg given commonly eaten as one, subject to import taxes; fruits--no taxes. Coffee seeds Coffee beans are seeds, or pits, of a red berry, not beans. Berry has 2 seeds; each plant produces less than 2 lbs coffee beans/yr. Plants grow at night Most plants photosynthesize sunlight to make food, used at NIGHT for faster growth. Sunlight stimulates growth inhibitors. Spinach No more iron than other vegies. 1950's food analyst error calculating spinach iron--decimal off 1 place, suggesting had 10x as much iron than really did. Potatoes Didn't originate in Ireland. 1st cultivated by Incas in Peruvian Andes. Spanish conquistadors introduced them to Europe, grown 1st as novelty, not eaten. Europeans afraid to eat them, member of nightshade family. By 18th cent., Europeans gave them a try, became popular, especially in Ireland. Secret garden wars Fresh smell after summer rain: jungle warfare. Pleasant lawn smell--chemicals of soil-dwelling bacteria fighting for territory. Microbes send poisonous gas blasts, keep away competitors. Shrubs send odoriferous alcohol to point of attack by caterpillars/gnawing insects; chemical message aimed at wasps, attracts them to crawlers that are prey. Flowers planted too closely: roots send hydrogen cyanide into soil, annihilate competitors. Roses send gas, counter attacking fungi. Hydrangeas flower color Bluer: add ammonium sulfate in soil, pH about 5. Pink: add lime to raise pH. Late winter, early spring, bright colors Bulbs: squill, snowdrop, snowflake, chionodoxa, spring crocus, winter aconites, miniature irises. Colder areas: bloom in early spring. Miniature irises--emerge late winter or early spring; can be planted up until ground freezes solid; wilt before lawn needs mowing. Stonecrop sedum Stonecrop sedum, Sedum spectabile: pest-resistant perennial, 18" high: reddish-bronze in fall, looks good into winter; clusters of magenta-pink flowers open in late summer, attracting honeybees/butterflies; attractive in dried arrangements. Cultivar `Autumn Joy'--all-time favorite. Fragrant foliage Many plants with scented foliage have silvery or gray leaves. Most like long day of hot sun; release fragrance during mid-day heat of. or when handled/bruised slightly. Can plant low-growing foliage (creeping thyme...) between stepping stones, taller plants near doors and walkways--will be kicked/scuffed. Alpine Mint Bush (Prostanthera cuneata) 24" tall; evergreen shrub, mint/incense; not for very cold sites. French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) 24"; evergreen shrub; silvery; dusky rose-pink flowers; no cold winds. Incense Plant (Calomeria amaranthoides) 5'; biennial; red-brown flowers in 2nd yr; save seeds to propagate. Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla) 3'; shrub; withstands light frost; white flowers, light green foliage. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) 36"; evergreen shrub; scarlet flowers late summer/fall; needs winter protect'n. Touch-me-nots No sharp thorns or poisonous sap. Has exploding seed pods. If touched, bursts, hurls seeds up to 6 ft high. Planting bulbs Plant a bulb twice as deep as it is wide. Trees with decorative bark Snake-Bark Maple Height=20 ft Bark is patterned/streaked with green/white markings similar to snake's skin. Large leaves. Tibetan Cherry Height=20 ft Glossy red bark in winter. Trees with attractive foliage Box Elder Height=20 ft Pinnate leaves are most attractive when they 1st appear. Variegated forms available. "Flamingo"--broad pink margins in spring, white in summer. Judas Tree Height=15 ft Attractive foliage & spring dark pink flowers. Weeping Purple Beech Height=10 ft Dark purple, almost black. Weeping Purple Willow Height=6 ft Small, purple-green catkins in early spring. Trees for the birds Cottoneaster Height=14 ft Its fruit a favorite among birds. Leaves stay on tree year-round unless it's a severe winter. Colorful seed tops of ornamental grasses when dry in fall Fountain grass, maiden grass, pampas grass, Muhlenbergia, Japanese blood grass. Clearing the air Spider plants reduce formaldehyde (stiffening agent used in wood, a major contaminant.) Spider plants, philodendron, golden pothos, aloe vera, Chinese evergreen-- reduce benzene, carbon monoxide. Silvery foliage Use silvery foliage plants such as artemisia between areas of color & for edging of bouquet. |
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| This page revised 3-12-07 |