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The Popular Lemon Festival in France

The Menton Lemon Festival, or Fête du Citron, is one of the world’s greatest festivals, held at the end of winter each year in Menton, France, to celebrate the city’s annual production of lemons and other citrus fruit.

Since 1928, the Fête du Citron has been held each year in Menton, France, to celebrate the annual cultivation and harvest of specialty lemons and other local citrus. Also known as the Menton Lemon Festival or the Carnaval de Menton, the end-of-winter event attracts more than 240,000 spectators from around the world.

The festival is now the second-largest winter event to take place on the French Riviera, between the Carnival of Nice, which is the largest, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monte Carlo. Each year the festival showcases a different theme.

The Importance of Lemons to Menton

A little town in France, Menton is situated about 19 miles (30 kilometers) east of Nice, along the Mediterranean Sea. Tucked in a pocket where the steep mountain cliffs and terraces steeply slope toward the sea, the location is unique to France. The surrounding mountains create Menton’s unique climate, protecting the town from the Alps’ cold winter winds, allowing residents to enjoy one of the warmest winters in the South of France.

Because of the warm winter climate, Menton is the only metropolitan French area where lemons and other citrus thrive and grow. Today, 15 growers harvest more than 150 tons annually from approximately 5,000 lemon trees in Menton and the nearby communities of Roquebrune, Sainte-Agnès, and Castellar.

Menton lemons are distinguished from other varieties by their unique taste as they are sweeter and less bitter than the classic type. They have a more oval shape versus the typical round shape and are bright yellow in color. The three varietals grown are Eureka, Santa Teresa, and Francavilla.

The Legend of Menton’s Lemon

Legend states the lemon trees of Menton should be credited to Eve as she fled the Garden of Eden. When expelled with Adam, Eve took with her a beautiful golden fruit. Fearful of divine wrath, Adam begged her to cast it aside, saving them from further punishment. Eve agreed on the condition she may leave it where she chose.

They traveled across mountains, down into valleys, and through plains looking for the perfect spot, to no avail. When they came upon the Bay of Garavan in Menton, the beauty of the bay, the mild climate, and the luxurious vegetation reminded Eve of paradise. She buried the lemon in the soil, and the town of Menton later sprang up in its place.

History of the Lemon Festival

In the late 1920s, the Hotel Riviera’s hotelier had the excellent thought of organizing an exhibition of flowers and citrus fruit in the hotel’s gardens to entertain winter guests who had come to enjoy the sunshine. The event was so successful that it moved into the streets the following year, with carts covered in lemons and oranges.

With the desire to develop local tourism, Menton decided to give more attention to this young event, and the Lemon Festival was born in 1934. The following year, the first carnival-style exhibition began in the Biovès Gardens.

Facts and Figures of the Menton Lemon Festival

15 days long
Attracts 240,000+ spectators annually
Started in 1928 with the first exhibition in the Riviera Palace gardens
Fête du Citron officially began in 1934
Carnival-style event began in 1935
Since 1955 each event has had a unique theme
More than 300 professionals involved in the design
Over 750,000 elastic bands are used to attach the fruit
33,000 pounds of steel
300,000 pounds of citrus fruit used for gardens and floats
5 miles of synthetic garlands
10 floats covered in citrus fruit that parade along the Promenade du Soleil
13 ornately decorated displays in the gardens

4 Main Events

The Menton Lemon Festival consists of four main events, each with its own spectacular allure:

The Exhibition of Citrus Pattern (Exposition des Motifs d’Agrumes)

During the festival, the long, narrow Biovès Gardens adjacent to the Hotel Riviera are sectioned off to showcase an impressive display of large wire-framed structures and sculptures crafted from thousands of lemons, oranges, and grapefruits. This prominent display of sunshine colors takes nearly 3000,000 pounds of fruit and thousands of hours to create.

The Gardens of Lights (Jardins de Lumières)

Every night after dark, the citrus structures and sculptures displayed at the Biovès Gardens are lit in full glory to create a magical atmosphere, unlike the daytime ambiance. Stroll through the gardens under the moonlight between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., taking in the splendor.

The Golden Fruit Parade (Corso des Fruits d’Or)

Each wintery Sunday afternoon during the Fête du Citron, 10 ornately decorated floats parade down the two-kilometer beachfront of the Mediterranean Sea, accompanied by fanfares, folk bands, dancers, and plenty of confetti.

The Night-Time Parade (Corso Nocturne)

On two nights during the Menton Lemon Festival, the Promenade du Soleil hosts a colorful and exuberant parade for the festival attendees. This street festival features the 10 floats loaded with citrus fruit, orchestras, brass bands, and folk groups and dancers. The after-dark extravaganza wraps up at 10:30 p.m. with a brilliant fireworks display for everyone to enjoy.

Tips for Attending the Carnaval de Menton

Give yourself plenty of time to wander through the gardens before they close, especially if you enjoy the Gardens of Lights at night.
Purchase tickets for events in advance, online if possible, to save time waiting in line at the festival.
Wear comfortable shoes. You will walk much more than you anticipate.
Dress appropriately. The Gardens act as a bowl, and hundreds of thousands of people can create an oppressive environment when the sun is shining.

18 “Very Peri” in Your Garden: Color of the Year 2022

The 2022 Pantone Color of the Year is Very Peri (17-3938), a beautiful shade of bluish-purple with violet-red undertones. Here are some flowers to “keep up with the trend”.

In honor of the recently announced Pantone 2022 Color of the Year, here are 18 flowers that are similar in color to Very Peri.

1. Cornflower

An annual flowering plant also known as bachelor’s button, the symbolism of cornflowers is linked to wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Each beautiful blue bloom stands for a single blessing, symbolic of hope for the future. They are a humble reminder of nature’s simple beauty and the ongoing cycle of life.

2. Iris

With its name coming from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, the iris is a stunning perennial flower that brings a fresh spirit to your garden in the spring and summer seasons. Iris varieties come in different heights, sizes, and colors, making them perfect to create a garden full of beautiful blooms.

3. Hydrangea

Known for their stunningly large flowerheads, hydrangeas are a popular flowering ornamental in gardens everywhere. They can change bloom color based upon the soil pH; the more acidic the soil, the bluer the flowers appear when they open.

4. Clematis

Clematis are known worldwide as the “queen of climbers,” making them a garden favorite with their vigorous vine growth and breathtaking floral displays. They are a fantastic option for decorating fences, walls, and trellises. The standard flower is a large blossom containing six or seven petals. Blue Pillar, Blue Explosion, Multi Blue, and H. F. Young are the more popular periwinkle varieties.

5. Periwinkle

Also known as vinca minor, periwinkle plants are often used as a ground cover because of their relatively low stature and spreading nature. This short perennial forms delicate, fragrant blue flowers in colors reminiscent of the sky and the sea.

6. Butterfly bush

Also known as Buddleia, the butterfly bush is very aromatic, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden. The plant has lance-shaped leaves on its blooming branches and is covered in spikes of quaint blue flowers.

7. Grape hyacinth

A petite little showstopper in early spring, the intensely aromatic grace hyacinth often peeks its way up through the last remnants of snow to create compact carpets of beautiful purple. The tiny flowers stand only six inches tall and naturalize to take over empty spaces.

8. Forget Me Not

This tiny, light-blue flower is beautifully accented with yellow stamens. Blooming in the summer season, it is a reliable accent of color in the garden. The flower gets its name from a legend dating back to the 1600s that states whoever wears the nosegay would never be forgotten by their loved ones.

9. Morning glory

The morning glory is also known as the blue dawn flower or koali awa. It blooms during the day to show its pretty saucer-shaped blossoms and then closes the flowers at night. They are often used for decoration at events because of their magnificent blossoms and short lifespan.

10. Lupine

With both annual and perennial varieties, lupines are a garden favorite because of their stiff spikes of erect flowers. The most common type is purple, but they are available in a range of different colors. Members of the pea family, these nitrogen-fixing plants can help improve poor soils.

11. Lobelia

Grown as an annual herb, lobelia displays beautiful blue blooms throughout the summer and early autumn. Relatively easy to grow, lobelia plants enjoy cooler weather and are excellent in hanging baskets for shade locations.

12. Aster

Available in many flower colors and sizes, asters are a great addition to a butterfly garden as they attract many different butterfly species. Plants grow upward of six feet tall and have dozens of blossoms on one plant. These daisy-like perennials keep their flowers much later in the growing season than other flowering ornamentals.

13. Petunias

Petunias are among the most popular annuals grown in landscapes, containers, and hanging baskets because of their prolific blooms and easy-growing nature. These lively and bright plants bloom from spring all the way until a frost event and have a lovely, delicate fragrance.

14. Balloon flower

Also known as Chinese bellflower or Japanese bellflower, perennial balloon flowers have tiny flower buds that puff up like delicate, hot air balloons. A few varieties never fully open, but when the others do, they display star-shaped blossoms of five petals that are great for attracting pollinators to your garden.

15. Anemone

Similar in appearance to some poppy varieties but easier to grow, anemones are symbolic of luck and love. Plants are available with many flower colors and blossom shapes and make excellent cut flowers. Many perceive them as dreamy plants that bring peace of mind spiritually.

16. Violets

Common in both gardens and as decoration for modern cuisine, violets are seen as little reminders of happiness. Not only are they a colorful addition to your flower beds, but the edible flowers are also often used as accents on dessert plates and in salads.

17. Impatiens

Another common flowering annual plant, their name describes the impatiens’ nature of their seed pods that burst open when ripe to disperse their contents. Symbolic of motherly love, the brightly colored plants grow well in shady areas, reaching no more than 12 inches in height.

18. Hibiscus

One of the rarest varieties to find, blue hibiscus are known for their large papery flowers that only last a couple of days before they fade. Plants are typically grown outdoors, and when properly cared for, they will bloom in succession throughout the entire growing season.

There are multitudes of flowers in the plant world in different shades of periwinkle—these 18 are just a sampling of what’s out there. Take time and enjoy discovering other flowers that remind you of Very Peri, the newest Pantone Color of the Year.

Help Your Plants Stay Strong With DIY Cages and Supports

As a gardener, you aren’t limited to the flimsy wire tomato cages available at your local garden center. There are many DIY options to create your own plant cages and supports, tailoring them to your needs.

If you’ve gardened for a bit, chances are you’re familiar with the well-known wire tomato cages you can buy at any nursery or garden center. This means you’ve likely dealt with them falling over or becoming greatly disfigured when you pull them out of the ground at the end of the season. That makes it incredibly difficult to position them around plants the following year.

However, suppose you’re willing to put in a little work. In that case, you can create the following sturdy plant cages or supports, using minimal supplies or perhaps even upcycling materials you already have on hand.

Bamboo Teepee

Bamboo is excellent for making plant cages as it is durable, reasonably inexpensive, and easy to work with. Using six, 6-foot bamboo poles and some garden twine, it’s quick to put together teepees to support your tomato plants.

Drive four bamboo poles a few inches into the ground in a square pattern (one on each corner). Pull the tops of them into the center and tie them together with twine to create the basic teepee frame. Then cut the other two poles for the support tiers, lashing them onto the upright posts, creating as many tiers as you have supplies to make. Make sure each “rung” is at least an inch longer than the width between the upright poles so you can secure them together with twine.

Cattle Panel Tomato Cage

If you’re growing heavy heirloom tomato plants or indeterminate plants that continue to grow all season, you’re going to need some heavy-duty support to hold plants once they set fruit. Using 16-foot metal cattle panels (available at your local farm supply store), fashion them into cylinders, securing the ends together using zip ties or hognose rings.

Folding Ladder Plant Cage

Folding wooden ladder cages are a fantastic DIY project if you’re short on storage space. These cages are easy to make and can be built using scrap wood. Hinges at the top allow them to fold when you aren’t using them in the garden, making them easy to store for the winter. The finished cage is perfect for tomatoes or other climbing plants like peas, beans, or squash.

Chicken Wire Support Structure

Chicken wire is a favorite amongst gardeners because of its versatility and inexpensive price tag. Use fence posts or wooden stakes as supports and then attach chicken wire across the front of the poles to create a structure for plants to climb. The best part? If you use wooden stakes, they also double as plant markers.

Pallet Trellis

Like the folding ladder plant cage, plant trellises made from old pallets go together quickly and upcycled materials you have sitting around. In only a couple of minutes, you can create simple A-frame trellises to support all of your garden plants. If you attach the pallets using hinges, they’ll fold up for easy storage at the end of the season. Nail a piece of scrap wood to both sides to keep the trellis strong through the summer.

Easy Branch Trellis

One of the easiest and cheapest DIY supports on this list is the easy branch trellis. Gather up some long, straight branches from your yard and use them to create a DIY teepee that’s perfect for your peas, beans, squash, and cucumbers that love to climb upward. Lash them together at the top with baling twine or yard to keep them stable and secure.

Climbing Vine Arbor

One of the best ways to make more space in the garden is to think vertically. It’s easy to create these climbing vine arbors using fence posts and cattle panels, poultry fencing, or chicken wire. Pound fence posts into the ground at all four corners and attach a 10- or 12-foot length of your metal material to the posts, creating an arch. Secure it to the posts using zip ties.

PVC Tomato Cage

PVC tomato cages are not only sturdy but incredibly weather-resistant, making them a great DIY plant support for your garden. Using PVC pipe, tees, elbows, and four-way fittings, it’s easy to put together box-shaped tomato cages capable of supporting your heaviest plants. When building these structures, use a thicker-diameter pipe as one upright support and secure your plants to it.

Wood Frame Cage

Using 2x2x8” and 1x2x8” pieces of wood, these wooden frames are easy to make and relatively inexpensive, especially if you have scrap wood on hand. Like the PVC cages, the plan is to create upright box structures with supporting rungs along the vertical posts. Adjust the dimensions to your liking, starting by putting four posts in the ground and then connecting them with rungs.

Lean-To Trellis

A simple and ingenious plant support is a lean-to trellis. Drive corner posts into the ground, ensuring they are deep enough to be secure. Place livestock paneling or chicken wire on the opposite side of the garden bed, and then let it lean over to rest on the fence posts. Or lean a similar support structure up against the fence. Not only is this quick to assemble, but it’s also easy to take down at the end of the gardening season.

Stake-and-Twine Cage or Trellis

If you’ve got wooden stakes and garden twine on hand, these simple cages come together in a short amount of time and cost next to nothing. Drive stakes into the ground creating the basic framework for a box or a trellis, and then wrap the twine around the posts, creating horizontal supports. This support structure is perfect for tomatoes or vining gardening plants when finished.

$10 Obelisk Cage

With no angles to cut, obelisk cages are cheap and easy trellises to make. Not only are they incredibly supportive of your plants, but they are also beautiful accents in your garden. Start by building a four-sided ladder and then attach the horizontal support braces. If you like, after they are made, paint them in fun colors to add whimsy to the space.

Row Cages

When growing rows of plants like beans or squash that create long vines, it might be worthwhile to build row cages. These long cages are constructed out of galvanized wire and rebar and provide sturdy support for all plants in the row. It is a simple DIY project. Just make sure to buy fencing that has holes large enough to get your hand through so you can easily pick produce when it’s ripe.

Now, ready to DIY your own Plant Support?

How to Create an Outdoor Living Space to Bring Nature Into Your Life

Creating an outdoor living area is a great way to expand your home’s usable space. Follow these ideas to enjoy being in nature without giving up the creature comforts of indoor living.

There’s no need to sit on your back patio in plastic lawn chairs in full view of your neighbors. With some creativity, it is possible to create an outdoor living space filled with all the comforts of indoors — cozy furniture, built-in entertainment systems, ambient lighting or a fireplace, and possibly even an outdoor kitchen. You can add unique touches to bring a bit of privacy to your new space.

Before you start creating a plan, you need to look at the backyard space you’re working with (sun exposure, access to plumbing or electrical, usable space, existing features like flooring and framework), and you need to decide how you plan to use the area. Do you want ample space for outdoor entertaining, including hosting dinner parties or watching sporting events? Do you want a quiet, peaceful nook where you can go to relax and unwind after work?

Choosing Furniture

An essential aspect of outdoor living space is having plenty of comfortable seating that withstands the elements. If you have enough space, create multiple seating areas for guests. Look for weather-resistant furniture with easy-to-clean and fade-resistant fabric if it won’t be under a covered patio. Choose heavy furniture if you live in a windy spot. Remember, too, that large throw cushions will work as seating in a pinch.

Create Ambient Lighting

Outdoor lighting is a must if you plan to entertain after dark or you want to sit outside yourself after the sun goes down. Choose warm lighting to give the area a cozy feel. Lighting options include hanging strings of white lights from a gazebo or along your fence, decorating with solar lanterns, or even using floor lamps if your space is covered.

Flooring

The grass feels great under your feet but isn’t a good choice for flooring in an outdoor living space. You can lay floor tiles to match your indoor flooring or opt for patio stones or concrete if you need something easy to clean that withstands temperature fluctuations. Add indoor/outdoor throw rugs that match the decor to create a softer aesthetic.

Outdoor Entertainment

Entertainment systems are also a big part of designing a space. For most people, installing surround sound for a music system is top of their priority list. Other homeowners want a large television for watching sports. And some families want a projection screen for family movie night. When placing televisions and project screens, you’ll like them in a shaded spot, so the sun’s glare doesn’t make it hard to watch your show or game.

Fireplace

A fireplace adds a fantastic ambiance to an outdoor space and can help take the chill out of the air on brisk evenings. You have many different choices to consider when it comes to adding one. Opt for a built-in fireplace with a gorgeous stone enclosure or purchase a free-standing unit that sits between a seating arrangement. Fireplaces can be wood-burning, or you can tap into your house’s natural gas line if you have one.

Ceiling Fan

Ceiling fans not only make a space feel more permanent, but they also make your outdoor space more comfortable by combating summer heat and keeping pesky bugs away from you and your guests. Purchase one large enough for the area, and remember you’ll need access to electricity and a substantial ceiling structure to support its weight.

Outdoor Kitchen

If you often host dinner parties or enjoy having friends and family over for get-togethers, an outdoor kitchen could be a great addition to your space. An outdoor kitchen keeps you out in the middle of the action instead of stuck indoors and is easy to customize to your needs. Keep it simple with a grill, a sink and prep counter, and some storage. Or, pull out all the stops and add a wine chiller, an ice maker, or even a wood-fired pizza oven.

When designing a kitchen, consider any additional building costs you can encounter to keep to your budget. You may need to run electricity, plumbing, and perhaps natural gas to the space. Is the subfloor structure sturdy enough to support the extra weight of a built-in grill and appliances? Don’t forget, too, that this kitchen is exposed to the elements. All of the building materials and appliances need to withstand being outdoors. Stainless steel resists corrosion from rain and humidity and looks great over time.

Privacy Screens

Plants are a great way to create privacy in your yard or on your patio or deck. Not only do plants provide an excellent barrier from the prying eyes of neighbors, but they can also be cheaper than installing a fence, plus they create a sound barrier and look much more pleasing.

Container Plants

Growing plants in containers is a convenient way to create a wall when you have limited green space for planting. Container plants are also a creative way to build privacy barriers without building permanent structures.

Bamboo Fence

Quick-growing bamboo is another way to create a decorative yet functional privacy screen. It grows incredibly quickly, so you can have a fully functioning privacy fence within a couple of years. You can plant it directly in the ground or put it in pots for a less permanent solution. Different cultivars will allow you to customize how it grows/spreads and how tall it will reach when fully mature.

Trellis Screens

You can add wooden or plastic trellises to the outdoor space to give plants a place to climb and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Clematis plants, trumpet vines, and wisteria are great climbing plants that you can train to cover a trellis, creating a beautiful, natural privacy screen.

Fabric Curtains

Fabric curtains are a quick and easy way to customize a privacy screen to your decorating style and provide protection from the sun. Choose from an unlimited selection of colors, prints, and different textiles themselves to create a flowing, unique barrier. Choose weather-resistant fabrics if they will be left up year-round or exposed to the sun and rain.

Insect Control

Citronella candles or torches scattered around your space will help your guests from being attacked by uninvited flying intruders such as mosquitos. A bonus is that they add to the ambient light. Suppose you’d rather not have citronella candles for bug repellant. In that case, there are plenty of other non-flame options, such as planting citronella grass, lavender, or marigolds at the edge of your outdoor living area.

How to Make and Use Your Own Dormant Oil Spray at Home

Dormant oil spray protects plants against insect damage by killing the eggs and insects that remain on the plant during the winter season. These pesticides are non-toxic, but their effects are short-lived and need repeated treatments.

Dormant oil spray is used as a preventative measure to protect plants (especially fruit trees) against insects like scale, aphids, and mites. These insects may hide in the plant’s branches over the winter, and some also lay their eggs in the branches, which then hatch in spring and feed on the tree’s new growth.

Dormant oil sprays are an environmentally conscious and effective way to minimize the damage insects can cause to fruit trees. There are several ways to make a homemade version of dormant oil spray from ingredients that are already found in most homes. Homemade sprays are just as powerful as commercially available options, provided they are made and applied correctly.

What is Dormant Oil Spray Made From?

Dormant oil spray’s main component is either a plant- or petroleum-based oil, along with some type of emulsifying agent to allow it to combine with water for even spraying. In addition, some types of dormant oil spray contain fungicides or other treatments depending on the specific type of plant and issue they target.

Dormant oil spray works by coating the predatory insect’s exoskeleton or egg membrane, preventing it from getting oxygen. This kills the target insect but requires direct contact with the oil to be effective. The effect is short-lived, as dormant oil spray loses efficacy once it dries. This pesticide has no residual effects.

While no solution can completely eliminate the insects that feed on fruit trees, dormant oil can reduce the population significantly over the following growing season if used properly.

When Should Dormant Oil Spray be Used?

Dormant oil should be used when the plant is dormant, but not in extremely cold temperatures. It functions best at temperatures between 40 and 70 degrees F, so a warm late-winter or early-spring day should be appropriate for application. Use dormant oil sprays at least a few days before the first blossoms open.

Moisture makes the spray less effective, so choose a time when the trees are dry and humidity is low. Check the weather forecast for the next 24 hours and do not treat plants if rain or cold temperatures are predicted. It is also best to avoid spraying on sunny days, as foliage can be burned by being exposed to direct sun before the oil has dried.

How to Make Your Own Dormant Oil Spray

While there are many commercial dormant oil sprays available, many gardeners choose to mix their own. It can be more cost-effective and gives you more control of which ingredients you prefer to use in your garden.

There are several recipes for making your own dormant oil spray. Each one contains an oil base and an emulsifier, plus water. They should all work equally well, so you can choose which one suits your needs based on what ingredients you have on hand or what you prefer to use on your plants.

Regardless of the recipe you choose to make your dormant oil spray, it is imperative that you stir or, preferably, shake the mixture thoroughly. This allows the oil and water to emulsify and prevents uneven application of the oil on your plant. Uneven application of a dormant oil spray might leave some insects alive if the oil doesn’t touch them, and it can also cause your sprayer head to clog.

All of the recipes are provided based on a quart of water; for larger batches of dormant oil spray, multiply the amounts accordingly while maintaining the same ratios.

Recipe 1:

1 tablespoon canola oil
3-4 drops laundry detergent
1 quart water

Recipe 2:

0.25 cup vegetable oil
1.5 teaspoon liquid soap
1 quart water

Recipe 3:

0.5 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 quart water

How to Use Dormant Oil Spray

Once you have mixed your dormant oil spray thoroughly, add it into a sprayer of the appropriate size for the area to be treated. For most typical gardeners, a pump sprayer works well, but a battery or gas-powered sprayer may be required for larger jobs. A hand sprayer may be sufficient if the treatment area is small.

With your prepared sprayer, coat the plant with an even but thorough layer of the dormant oil. Be sure to spray the undersides of leaves as well as crevices on the stems and branches, as eggs are likely to be in these locations.

The oil and water in your homemade dormant oil spray will naturally begin to separate, so shake the sprayer regularly as you treat your plants. Clean the sprayer immediately after finishing the treatment to keep it clear of oil blockages. A bit of dish soap can make the cleanup process faster and easier.

Is Dormant Oil Spray Safe?

In general, dormant oil spray is safe to use. It is non-toxic to humans and animals, and does not harm beneficial insects because they are generally not active in the winter. Be sure not to use dormant oil spray on trees that are already stressed, as the oil can cause additional damage. Only use this treatment on healthy plants.

Note that some plants can be damaged by oil treatments, so be sure to research the specific plant to be sure it is safe to use dormant oil spray. Also be sure to protect nearby plants from overspray.

Oil sprays are generally not harmful to humans, but they can irritate eyes and skin upon contact. It is a good idea to use proper protection when handling and applying dormant oil sprays. The ingredients in dormant oil sprays can also create dangerous compounds when used in conjunction with sulfur-based sprays, so wait at least one month between treatments.

Keeping in mind the warnings above, you should be ready to make and apply your homemade dormant oil spray. Remember that you will likely need to do multiple treatments for maximum effectiveness, but it should prove worthwhile once you see the dramatic reduction in insect populations on your fruit trees the following spring.

Using Colorful Containers to Add Vibrancy and Richness to Your Garden

Learn how to choose gardening containers, mixing and matching different hues and sizes, to create a unique and beautiful garden display.

Gardening is an exceptional way to add color and vibrancy to your landscape, bringing in different shades through the plants’ foliage and flowers. You can add even more depth and richness to the space by choosing colorful containers. The following information on color and color matching can help you put together a beautiful container display.

Picking a Color Scheme

Obviously, one of the ways to choose garden containers is to simply pick what appeals to you, regardless of how the colors look together. But if you want to have a color scheme, there are multiple ways to go about choosing a color or colors for your garden containers, and none of them are wrong.

Understanding the Color Wheel

Before choosing colors, it’s helpful to understand how the different colors are arranged in the color wheel and how they complement or contrast each other. This illustrative tool puts colors according to wavelength and their chromatic relationship to one another:

Combinations of the different colors and their shades are virtually limitless, but the seven color schemes or harmonies described in the next section are commonly used to great appeal.

Eye-Catching Color Combinations

If you’re looking to mix colors and create a vibrant display but are coming up short on ideas, let these bold color-combination ideas inspire you:

Popular Container Colors

If you’re not interested in choosing bright, vivid colors for your garden, the following five popular colors always create a beautiful aesthetic.

Black

Black adds sleek, modern appeal to the garden, pulling the eye to it as much as a bright, vivid color would. Even among a garden of colorful blooms and green shades of foliage, black containers add sophistication and help ground the space.

White

White is clean and crisp and incredibly versatile. It is a perfect, sleek accent in the garden where foliage and blooms already bring bright, vivid colors to the landscape. White will help balance these out, but it doesn’t blend into the background, so it draws attention to itself and a specific spot in the garden.

Gray

Gray is seen as a neutral color different from white or black. Unlike deep black or bright white, gray tends to cloak busyness or disarray, bringing a calmness to a space. It is often seen as “industrial,” so it adds a beautiful contrast to the earthiness of a garden filled with plants.

Green

Green isn’t typically recognized as a neutral when it comes to color, but it is a neutral planter color in the gardening world. When plants match the shade of the pot, the plant’s color flows into the container, and vice versa, making the garden feel cohesive. It doesn’t draw attention or distract from the plants.

Brown

Brown is typically considered a neutral in many situations, but it’s an entirely different neutral in the garden. It’s a wonderfully warm color that is inviting and cozy, bringing a sense of home and comfort to a landscape.

Tips to Remember Before Choosing Containers

Before picking out and purchasing pots for your plants, keep the following in mind.

A container’s color — and the material it is made from — impact how much heat the pot absorbs and retains in the potting soil. Darker colors heat up more than lighter shades. If you live somewhere hot, keep this in mind, and think about sticking with light, pale colors.
An item’s color is affected by the intensity of the sunlight. The lower light of the early morning and late evening makes colors appear less intense and darker. When the sun is bright and intense during midday, containers will reflect more of the sun’s rays, and their color will appear more intense and closer to the actual color.

This is just the start of decorating your garden with colorful containers. Now that you understand the color wheel and the basics of color theory schemes, you have any number of gorgeous possibilities at your fingertips.

Border Forsythia: Lucky, Hope, New Beginnings

Before a touch of green finds its way up the branches, forsythias always blossoms first with bell-shaped yellow flowers each early spring. This is one of the horticulturists’ favorite shrub species, so widely loved in gardening that it is now a common sight in America and Europe – yet a short 200 years ago, it could only be found in Oriental gardens in the far east.

Forsythia is one of the first Eastern Asian shrubberies to be introduced to the West. How it traveled to the other side of the world unfolds intriguing stories of adventurous explorers, daring specimen hunters and renowned botanists.

William Forsyth

If the scientific name of forsythias has kept you curious, you have noticed the first man forever enshrined with it – William Forsyth, whose name lives in eternity with this genus of plant in honor of his contributions.

The Portrayal of William Forsyth.

William Forsyth was a Scottish botanist, horticulturist, and superintendent of the royal gardens at London St. James’ Palace and Kensington. He also co-founded the famous Royal Horticultural Society with the Royal Society’s President Joseph Banks and the Director of Kew Gardens William Townsend Aiton.

The Royal Horticultural Society’s main building.

Carl Peter Thunberg

Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg was the first Westerner to find a specimen of Forsythia suspensa in a Japanese garden, which was also the first specimen in the Forsythia genus family ever scientifically collected.

The Portrayal of Carl Peter Thunberg

Carl was a surgeon working for the Dutch East India Company stationed on Dejima, a small artificial island off the coast of Nagasaki, which was the only place that allowed Westerners to come into contact with Japanese during Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu’s rule of lockdown. Despite the imposed restriction to move freely in Japan, Carl managed to collect over 800 plant specimens and published his collections in two catalogue masterpieces, Flora Japonica in 1784 and Fauna Japonica in 1833. (Note: Fauna Japonica was finished by Philipp Franz von Siebold after Carl’s death)

Architecture planning on the Dejima back then

Robert Fortune

Forsythia viridissma, another popular gardening specie in the Forsythia genus today, came from China. Its discoverer was the famous Scottish botanic hunter Robert Fortune. Where he found this specie was similar to Thunberg’s story – in a courtyard in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province of China. Later, Fortune was also successful in collecting wild Forsythia viridissma specimen deep in the Zhoushan mountains.

Flora branch of Forsythia viridissma

A notorious plant hunter, Fortune introduced countless Oriental flora species to Europe. But he was most remembered for smuggling tens of thousand tee trees to India for British East India Company, an operation that broke China’s monopoly on tea production and added Sri Lanka, Darjeeling, and Assam to the list of the world’s most household tea producers.

Assam Tea

Herman Zabel

Compared to the few above, Prussian botanist Herman Zabel was rather unknown. But this Royal Prussian Academy of Forestry-employed botanist in Hannoversch Münden was the first to discover a Forsythia suspensa and F. viridissma hybrid in the Botanical Garden of Göttingen and published this finding in German magazine Gartenspaß. This is the come-about of our beloved Forsythia × intermedia, also known as border forsythia.

Blossoming border forsythia

Border forsythia was introduced to Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University in 1889. From there, generations of horticulturists cultivated several valuable flora species. Nowadays, border forsythia has probably become the most commonly seen forsythia cultivar in parks and gardens, combining the strengths of both Forsythia suspensa and F. viridissma – pruning-durable, adaptable, and excellent in cold-resistance.

Fall in Arnold Arboretum

Can I grow a decent border forsythia?

Forsythia is easy to grow, which is a major reason for its popularity. But there are still a few things you can do to grow it better.

First, forsythias love sunlight. If possible, grow it where sunlight is abundant all day. It could grow fine in a partially shaded environment, but the more sunlight, the more fully its flowers blossom.

Secondly, forsythias favor nutritious soil with good drainage. Keep the air-ventilated through the soil, water the plant regularly, keep the ground soil covered, and the plant will grow into its best form.

Size: 1.5–3m (5–10 ft.) in diameter

Hardiness: USDA Zones 5-8

Sunlight: full sun, partial shade

Soil: fertile, well-drained soil

Bloom Time: early spring

Calla Lily: Purity, Holiness, Fraternity

Calla lily is a perennial plant of the genus Zantedeschia in the Araceae family, which is native to South Africa. Although it’s called Calla lily, it’s neither Calla nor lily. Calla lily features smooth and elegant floral patterns and rich colors. It is a popular choice for cut flowers and often appears in wedding-day bridal bouquets.

Places of interest

1. Calla Lily Valley in Garrapata State Park, CA

If you want to see the vibrant, wild Calla lily, don’t miss Calla Lily Valley in Garrapata State Park, CA. From the end of January to the middle of April, it is full of breathtaking wild Calla lily. Calla Lily Valley is also perfect for outdoor hiking and picnics. The best time to go is after the rainy season. At that time, the whole valley is green and full of life. If it is sunny, wait until dusk; the golden light before sunset shines on the Calla Lily Valley and gives it a stunning shimmer.

There are also a series of scenic spots around the Calla lily valley. For the next stop, you can hike the beautiful redwoods at Limekiln Falls. Hustle down to Cone Peak for the sunset. Take a dip in the Big Sur River Gorge. Believe me, you will have the time of your life.

Calla Lily Valley in spring, the sea in further distance

2. Calla Lily Field in Zhuzihu, Taiwan

Calla Lily Field is located in Yangming Mountain, Taipei City, Taiwan. It covers an area of 13 hectares and produces more than 80% of Taiwan’s fresh-cut Calla lily flowers. The field of Calla lily blooms from March to May. During this period, the annual Festival of Calla Lily takes place. During the festival, you can take off your shoes and enter the field to pick the Calla lilies you like and take them home. The large clear white sea of Calla lily flowers is also the first choice for many young people to take their wedding photos. In addition to the famous Calla lily, you can also enjoy the mountain full of azalea and cherry blossoms.

Calla Lily Field in the sun

Calla lily, Calla, and sexual signaling

Calla lily is not a native plant in Europe. The earliest record of Calla lily in Europe is in an illustration of the Royal Botanical Garden of Paris in 1664. Before that, the plant known as Calla (Calla palustris) was more common in Europe.

Romans regarded the protuberance in the center of the Calla flower as a symbol of human genitalia, so they connected the Calla with sexual desire and behavior. Egyptians also noticed this, but they took a more conservative approach, linking the Calla flowers to fertility and the birth of children. After the Calla lily became popular in Europe in the 17th century, these associations about sex and fertility were transferred to it because the flowers of the Calla lily are so similar to that of Calla.

Calla palustris, also known as bog Arum, in the wild.

Similarly, in Christian culture, modern references to the Calla lily were originally about Calla. Christians felt the Calla flowers symbolized purity and faith. It was said that the Virgin Mary was pregnant with Jesus after smelling the Calla, and her tomb was later covered with white Calla flowers. However, with the popularity of Calla lily, the protagonist of the story about Calla changed.

The association of Calla lily with sex continued in Victorian England, where society was very conservative and love, sex, and many intimate things were regarded as taboo. In this society, Calla lily took on the role of a messenger. For example, giving a bouquet of Calla lilies symbolized a sexual invitation.

Calla lily in art and film

In the second half of the 19th century, the exotic South African Calla lily was introduced into the United States and began to appear as a theme in American art. After Freud’s sexual interpretation of its flowers, Calla lily has become more popular among artists, and its description has been given new significance.

Calla lily soon became a recurring theme in the works of some painters and photographers, especially Georgia O’Keeffe. O’Keeffe repeatedly depicted Calla lily in a provocative way. In the early 1930s, she became known as “the lady of the lilies”.

Calla Lily with Roses1926 by Georgia O’keeffe

Mysterious but solemn, Calla lily remains many people’s favorite flower. Her pure white and elegant appearance enables her to be used for various occasions, including weddings and funerals. This diversity is perfectly expressed in the movie “Stage Door”, by actress Katharine Hepburn:

“The Calla lilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower — suitable for any occasion. I carried them on my wedding day, and now I place them here in the memory of something that has died.”

Can I grow a decent Calla lily?

It’s not very difficult to grow Calla lily. In warm areas, once the danger of frost has passed you can start planting. In colder areas, it’s best to wait until the soil warms up to at least 65 ℉. Moreover, Calla lily prefers well-drained soil. During the growing season, once a month liquid fertilizer is required, especially for potted Calla lily.

In a warm climate, Calla lily is a perennial plant and needs to be divided once every few years to remain in good blooming condition. Once divided, these plants usually bloom in early summer. Calla lily is typically regarded as an annual plant in cold areas, and new bulbs are planted every spring. Finally, Calla lily is toxic: be careful not to eat it by mistake.

Size: 0.6–1 m (2.0–3.3 ft) tall

Hardiness: Zones 8 to 10

Sunlight: bright, indirect light

Soil: a loose, well-drained potting mix

Bloom Time: Spring and summer

French Rose: Passionate Love, Desire, Humility, and Purity

Originally found growing wild throughout central Asia, Rosa gallica was first cultivated by the Greeks and Romans and was especially popular in medieval gardens. Most modern hybrid roses can trace their ancestry to the old roses bred at Malmaison by Empress Josephine in the late 1700s. French roses are also referred to as apothecary’s rose, crimson damask rose, or Rosa mundi.

Often called the “Queen of Flowers,” roses are a timeless symbol of love and beauty, and are prized for their fragrance. Historically, roses have been associated with nobility and appear as emblems of distinction — such as the Tudor Rose, the emblem of England.

Remarkable Rose Gardens of the World

As one might expect from a flower as adored as the rose, there are countless gardens across the globe dedicated to roses alone. Several stand out and are well worth making a journey if only to bask in the intoxicating perfume of hundreds or even thousands of rose species at once.

Montreal Botanical Garden, Canada — For those interested in the history of rose cultivation, there is no better place to explore than this Montreal treasure. The garden contains over 10,000 rose bushes, illustrating the cultivation of rose varieties from ancient times to the present — including, of course, numerous descendents of Rosa gallica.

Zakir Hussain Rose Garden, Chandigarh, India — This 30-acre rose garden features more than 50,000 rose bushes, showcasing them alongside medicinal plants. The annual rose festival hosted in the garden takes place in late February or early March and is not to be missed.

Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, Hartford, Connecticut — The oldest public rose garden in the United States, this garden has historically served as a test space for hybrids before their commercial release. A collection of mostly modern rose varieties as well as a handful of heritage roses grace 475 flower beds.

Speaking in Flowers: Rose Codes

In a time when open communication about love and desire was forbidden, an encrypted system of communication evolved through flowers, specifically roses. The language of flowers, floriography, is believed to have started in 15th century Persia. It was popularized after 1718, when Lady Mary Wortley wrote a letter describing the “secret language of flowers” she had discovered in Turkey.

A red rose, then as now, symbolized passionate love and desire. Pink roses conveyed a feeling of sweetness, while white roses represented reverence, humility, and purity. A single rose simply states, “I love you,” while two roses were a sign of thanks, unless they were joined, in which case they announced either an engagement or marriage to come. A dozen roses are the ultimate declaration of love.

Roses in Popular Culture & Film

Roses have been used to communicate unspoken moments in written stories and film. In The Little Prince, one of the most popular books ever written, the prince discovers that the rose he has cared for is not the unique creature he imagined. After encountering a rose garden, he realizes that the rose was special because she was his.

In the film American Beauty, a rose variety by the same name initially represents lust and desire, eventually shifting to symbolize superficiality and the hidden threat of thorns lurking behind each bloom.

Uses for French Roses

Today, French roses are most commonly used for culinary purposes in the form of rosewater. Rose hips are incredibly high in vitamin C, and antioxidants and can be used to make tea or jam.

Roses in Everyday Expressions

You may not realize it, but roses are so integrated into our culture that we use them in a multitude of common expressions, with the rose always symbolizing that which is positive or ideal. When things are going well in life, we say that “everything’s coming up roses.” An optimistic person sees the world through “rose-tinted glasses.” And of course, “stop to smell the roses” is a reminder to slow down and appreciate the things that give life meaning. When something goes sour, we might say that “the bloom is off the rose.”

Can I Grow a Beautiful French Rose?

The good news is that this trusty old rose variety is easy to grow and maintain. Tolerant of poor soils and even a little shade, Rosa gallica gives more than she takes, requiring little maintenance.

Purchase a potted specimen and plant it in the fall or spring. To encourage excellent bloom development, apply fertilizer in the late winter or early spring and mulch the base to retain moisture in the soil. Water only moderately during periods with no rain, avoiding overhead watering so that the leaves stay dry.

Remove spent blooms if you want a longer bloom cycle, but leave them on the plant to enjoy ornamental rose hips over the winter months. Prune in early spring to encourage growth. To propagate French roses, take hardwood cuttings in the fall.

Size: 3-5 feet (90cm–150 cm) tall and 3-4 feet (90cm –120cm) wide

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9

Sunlight: Full sun to partial sun

Soil: Very wide range including chalk, clay, loam, and sand

Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Delphinium Elatum: Cheerfulness, Goodwill, Openness

Towering above most ornamental garden plants, the bloom spikes of one plant, delphinium elatum, are as blue as the sky they reach toward. Used in cottage gardens and herbaceous borders, their lush foliage forms attractive mounds when not in bloom.

With blooms ranging from bisque white to deep cobalt blue, delphiniums are celebrated for their rich color and striking texture. Part of the Ranunculeae family, there are over 250 species of delphinium, but the Delphinium elatum variety is the preferred cultivar for showy flower gardens. Also called Bee or Candle Larkspur, Delphinium elatum has been extensively bred for height, hardiness, and large blooms.

The darker center of each flower is referred to as a “bee.” Delphinium flowers are associated with protection and love, as well as reaching for the impossible.

Delphiniums in Mythology and Legend

It is said that the name “delphinium” comes from the ancient Greek word for dolphin delphiníon — δελφίνι — a reference to the individual flower form (especially the bud), which resembles the bottle nose of a dolphin.

But the flower’s Greek origin story is a touch darker. After Achilles was killed in the Battle of Troy, Ajax and Ulysses fought over who would keep his armor. After the armor was given to Ulysses, Ajax took his own life by falling upon his sword. Where his blood touched the earth, delphiniums rose up with his initials A I A inscribed on each petal.

Historic Uses for Delphinium

Native Americans used the deep blue flowers of delphinium to make dye. European settlers to America used the native larkspur blooms for crafting blue ink. However, the use of these flowers goes back to ancient times, when they were used to make a poison for killing pests and lice. Note: All parts of the delphinium plant are toxic, especially the seeds. Make sure that they are not accessible to small children, pets, or grazing animals.

These days, delphiniums are popular as perennial garden plants and lend themselves well to cut flower arrangements. Because their flower stalks have very few leaves, they are well suited for colorful indoor displays, where they can last a week or longer.

Where to See Extraordinary Delphiniums

Many gardens feature the breathtaking blue spikes of larkspur, but few take it to the level of Godinton House and Garden in Kent, England. Their delphinium elatum collection is spectacular to behold in the summer — so much so that they plan annual events around the elatum bloom cycles. The VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia, always has an impressive array of delphiniums displayed among sculptural art.

For a truly special treat, keep an eye on the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley, where a round of delphinium trials will be conducted from 2022 until 2025. It is possible to visit the garden virtually, but if you happen to be around Surrey, England, during this time, don’t miss the chance to see delphiniums performing at their peak in one of the world’s great gardens.

Popular Delphinium Varieties

Though mostly associated with the color blue, Delphinium elatum varieties offer a solid range of colors. The most popular are the following:

Delphinium elatum x ‘Black Knight’ — This deep blue delphinium is the darkest in the family, with a bee that is almost black.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Bluebird’ — A striking hybrid, ‘Bluebird’ stands 4–6 feet tall and features deep blue blooms with a contrasting white bee at the center.
Delphinium elatum ‘Green Twist’ — This creamy white delphinium comes with a twist: The bees and petals have a light green color that sets them apart.
Delphinium elatum ‘Blushing Brides’ — ‘Blushing Brides’ has dusty mauve petals with white and brown bees, with plants reaching up to 6 feet tall.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Olive Poppleton’ — The spikes of this cultivar reach only 4 to 5 feet, but it’s loaded with perfectly cupped semi-double white blooms, making it a highly sought-after delphinium.
Delphinium elatum x ‘Magic Fountains’ — These are a semi-dwarf variety, reaching only 2.5 to 3.5 feet tall, which means the flower spikes generally do not need support. Their stalks are thick, sturdy, and packed with double blooms in a mix of colors.

Can I Grow Delphiniums Successfully?

Despite a reputation for being challenging, delphiniums are hardy plants that need only a little care and attention to become truly magnificent.

Delphiniums grow best with a combination of full sun, good air circulation, and rich, well-drained alkaline soil. Plants should stand at least two feet apart to ensure adequate air circulation. Applying a light dusting of lime once or twice during the growing season and feeding with a well-balanced commercial fertilizer in the spring will ensure strong blooms.

You can start delphiniums from seed in the fall, but for guaranteed success, you should purchase potted plants and transplant into the garden in the spring.

It is almost always necessary to stake the taller delphinium varieties to prevent damage from wind and storms. If you prefer not to stake, plant a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety. Cutting the bloom stem to the ground once the flowers have faded will often result in a second set of blooms in the fall.

Size: 4-6 ft (120-180 cm) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8

Light Duration: Full sun

Soil: Rich, well-drained soil with a neutral pH or slightly alkaline

Blooming Time: Summer