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Archive for June, 2009

The word `deciduous` comes from Latin, meaning "to fall off." What is it that makes a trees leaves change color, and eventually to fall off? Although the leaves do it, the trees themselves start it, but they are doing this in order to survive. However it comes about, the performance dazzles the eye and stirs the heart of those who see it. And even as the extravaganza reaches its climax, next year's performance is waiting in the wings. When cells divide, they're growing. As the ratios of these specialized plant hormones change, trees stop making the famous energy-producing chemical chlorophyll. They pull in all the nutrients they can from the leaves, and cut the leaves off from their main stems.In September/October in the Northern Hemisphere, the curtain opens on the show, quietly and without fanfare. A tiny band of cells where the leaf's stem is attached to the twig begins to loosen and dry out. Between these cells and the twig, a layer of corklike cells begins growing. It is scar tissue forming even before the amputation of the leaf takes place.It is the season for brightly lighted days and cool, crisp nights-requirements for the colorful extravaganza that is to .. more »

A lot of people love roses, and that's hardly surprising. When your rose bushes are thriving and covered in blooms, they look absolutely stunning. But if you're just starting out with a rose garden, it's not always easy to know how to arrange your garden to make it as attractive as possible. There are many difference factors that you need to take into consideration when planning your rose garden, including more than just what color the flowers will be.Start by taking a look around at the various resources available to you. This can include rose gardening books, magazines, and websites on the Internet. Browsing can give you lots of good ideas, but here are a few to get your started.First, how much space do you have available in your garden for roses? Once you know the space available, you will be able to work out how many rose bushes you need to plant. This is also dictated by the type of rose you choose, and some can be placed quite close together, whereas others, such as climbers, may need to be as much as twelve feet apart. If your rose garden area is small, it may be wise to choose .. more »