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Flower of the Week: Christmas Cactus

Beautiful houseplants are essential when it comes to celebrating the long winter holiday season. If you pay attention, you will notice a plant with green stems, leaves like crab claws, and colorful flowers like wing-flapping birds. That is Christmas cactus. Since a splash of winter brightness is always welcome, take it home and let this vibrant winter fairy bring you the joy of the holidays.

Place of Interest

To appreciate the original charm of Christmas cactus, why not pay a visit to its native habitat in Brazil? The Organs Range, located in Rio, Brazil, is where you can discover the wild beauty of Christmas cactus in addition to spectacular local scenery.

Darwin mentioned the Organs Range in On the Origin of Species. Its unique climatic conditions, combined with the fact that it’s rarely visited, make it a haven for many rare plants. The Organs Range National Park was founded in 1939, and there you can hike the mountain’s most pristine natural trails with a local guide.

Christmas cactus blooms in Brazil in May. Visit Organs Range National Park in May, and you will not only enjoy the beauty of Christmas cactus against the backdrop of nature, but also encounter such amazing flora and fauna that you’ll think you are in a horticulturalist’s dream.

A Name in Memory of a Collector

In the mid-19th century, a cactus collector named Frédéric Schlumberger lived in a castle near Rouen, France. He delighted in the collection of Christmas cactuses he gathered from the rainforests of southeastern Brazil.

In 1858, Charles Antoine Lemaire named Christmas cactus’ genus name Schlumbergera after Frédéric Schlumberger, as a tribute in his memory.

Flower of the Winter Holiday Seasons

In 1818, people began to plant Christmas cactus in Europe, and in the 1860s, horticulturists cultivated Christmas cactus with various colors, making them popular as an indoor ornamental plant that spread to North America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Over the years, hundreds of Christmas cactus varieties have been selected and bred through constant hybridization, and these little fairies have been given catchy names such as Gina, Eva, etc.

In most Western countries, people associate Christmas cactus with various winter holidays. Before Thanksgiving in the United States, people buy Christmas cactuses in large quantities, and around Christmas in Europe, people take them home, too, one after another. They are deeply loved by all sectors of the population for the colorful, gorgeous flowers that warm the cold winter and bring joy to the holidays.

Can I Grow Christmas Cactus Well?

Christmas cactus requires certain temperatures to grow well, but other than that, doesn’t need much care. Just meet its preferred soil, light, and moisture conditions, and it will decorate your winter holidays like a champion.

Christmas cactus prefers a warm environment, and should be placed indoors by a window in winter to receive plenty of scattered light. It needs shade in summer to avoid direct sunlight. It prefers loose, fertile, well-drained soil. When the soil is too damp, it can affect the growth of the plant’s root system, so don’t water it too often, and wait to do so until the soil is dry. After flowering, cut off the spent flowers to reduce nutrient consumption and help it rejuvenate.

Size: 25-45 cm (10-18 in) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12

Light: Half sun

Soil: Loose, fertile, well-drained

Blooming time: Winter

Flower of the Week: Peace Lily

The peace lily is an evergreen herb in the Araceae family, native to the Central and South American tropics. Today, it’s one of the most popular green indoor plants worldwide, and you have likely seen it in a variety of settings.

Peace lilies are almost stemless, have large leaves, are caespitose and very ornamental. Properly cultivated, they can bloom frequently, producing white or greenish upright “flowers.” As with other plants in the Araceae family, the “petals” of peace lily are spathes, and the pale yellow “stamens” within them are true spadixes made of many florets.

A Symbol of Peace

In German, peace lily’s name is “Friedenslilie,” which suggests a similar meaning as in English: a state of truce. It was named so because of the white spathes, which are like white flags raised high. According to international law, in war the white flag stands for ceasefires, peace talks, or neutrality, and so is naturally a symbol of peace.

What's Wrong with It When the Leaves Turn Yellow?

Although peace lilies are easy to care for, there are times when the leaves suddenly turn yellow, catching people off guard. In general, the following reasons may make the plants unwell.

Over-watering. This is the most common cause of yellowing leaves. Too much water prevents the roots from breathing, resulting in the yellowing of leaves and even wilting of new shoots. Wait until the soil dries thoroughly before watering.
Sunburn. Leaves turn yellow, develop yellow-brown spots, and even dry up to die. Direct sunlight should be avoided.
Overly low temperatures. Peace lily is a tropical plant. When the temperature gets too low, old and new leaves both yellow. Please move the pot to a warmer place.
Over-fertilizing. Using slow-release fertilizer in small pots can cause excessive fertilizer accumulation, which is toxic to plants. Remove the plant from the pot with the root ball in soil, water it thoroughly, and then place it in a sink to let the water seep out, washing away some of the residual fertilizer. It's best to use a liquid fertilizer diluted to half the concentration the product manual instructs.
Pests and diseases. Mites can cause yellowing leaves. Please use a miticide.
Repotting. No matter how careful you are, repotting will damage the root system somewhat. However, there is no need to worry, as it will naturally get better after resting for a while. During the recovery period, protect the plant from direct light completely and don't let the environment get too dry, too hot, or too cold.

Be Careful of Toxicity

Although it’s one of the most common indoor plants, it’s still important to keep in mind that the whole peace lily plant is toxic to humans and pets. Do not eat it by mistake. The toxicity comes mainly from its calcium oxalate crystals, which are present in large quantities in the sap from broken stems and leaves. Direct contact with these crystals with the skin or mucosa can cause varying degrees of discomfort, and in some cases can induce severe allergic reactions.

Can I Grow Peace Lily Well?

Peace lily likes warm and moist environments. It is tolerant of shade but intolerant of direct sunlight, drought, and waterlogging, and doesn’t survive cold. Only when the winter temperature stays above 15°C (60°F) can the plant survive outdoors. For this reason, peace lilies are commonly grown potted and indoors.

To pot peace lily, use a commercial potting mix soil that is loose, fertile, and has a good water retention. Add a handful of bone meal as base fertilizer in the pot. The pot must have drain holes.

Peace lily can be kept indoors all year round. Scattered sunlight is its best source of light. Keep direct sunlight away in summer and let it receive more light in winter. Despite being shade-tolerant, peace lily will only bloom if it gets sufficient scattered light. It’s also important to keep it away from air conditioning vents, heaters, fireplaces, etc. when placing the plant indoors.

To reduce mold diseases, it’s best to wait to water peace lily when the leaves show slight signs of dehydration: when they start to droop, for example. Generally speaking, water about every 4-7 days. From spring to late summer, apply a compound fertilizer once a month at half the concentration indicated in the instructions. During the plant’s growth, if leaves show any signs of withering, remove them promptly. In the flowering season, whole scapes should be cut off as soon as the pollen is shed to retain nutrients.

During its growth season, peace lily will reproduce via rhizomes. Therefore, depending on the size and growth of the plant, repotting is necessary every 1-2 years. Repotting should be done in early spring or at the end of the flower season in the fall. While repotting, plant division can also be performed.

Size: 10-50 cm tall

Hardiness: For open-field culture, USDA Hardiness Zones 10-12

Light: Half shade to full shade

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

Bloom time: Late spring, early fall

Flower of the Week: Pansy

As enchanting as a fairy’s dress, the pansy is a lovely little plant impossible to overlook in the garden. This common wildflower originated in Europe and West Asia. It is an annual herb of Violaceae and is often cultivated in gardens or as a potted plant.

Cultivation History

This beautiful flower has an amazing number of varieties, yet only about 200 years of cultivation history. In the early 19th century, Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennet (1785-1861) collected and planted all kinds of pansies in her father’s 4th Earl of Tankerville garden in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. With the help of her gardener William Richardson, she produced a large number of plant varieties through hybridization.

In 1812, she introduced her pansy to the horticultural world. Florists and horticulturists began to cultivate and sell pansy. The flower became the most popular garden plant of the period.

Variety Admiration

Since the 19th century, pansy has been developed into many popular varieties. Particularly in the past 50 years, selective cultivation has introduced many new pansy varieties. The cultivation of pansy is mainly carried out in Germany, the United States, and Japan.

The newer pansy colors are colorful, ranging from simple two-color or three-color to dreamlike color-changing. In very recent years, a popular oil painting depicting the retro color design demonstrated an artistic appreciation of the flower.

In terms of flower design, the direction of selective breeding has changed from the early pursuit of large flowers to a present pursuit of delicate and natural small flowers.

In recent years, pansies with romantic tendrils and double petals have gradually become more popular varieties, though the lovely rabbit flower design presently remains the most popular variety.

Well-rounded Pansy

Besides decorating your garden, the pansy has many uses. Its leaves and flowers are actually edible. They can also be used as an embellishment for fruits and cakes, as well as a natural dye. Some varieties with longer stems can also be used as fresh cut flowers, impressively rounding out the plant’s usefulness in the garden.

Insect’s Parking Spot: Nectar Guides

Modern pansy petals often have very interesting, large, dark spots sometimes likened to scary facial expressions. However, back in the 18th century when pansy was not widely bred and hybridized, the original ancestors did not have such spots. They only had a few dark lines which were called “nectar guides”. These lines would guide insects to the nectar to more easily pollinate the pansy.

Pansy in Literary Masterpieces

The primitive, lined pansies described above are Shakespeare’s literary “love potions”. In the plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the “juice of the heartsease” is a love potion, and “on sleeping eyelids laid, will make a man or woman madly dote upon the next live creature that it sees.” This led to the neverending separation and reunion of lovers throughout the story.

In the 20th century, when Margaret Mitchell was still writing her famous novel, “Gone With the Wind”, she initially chose Pansy as the heroine’s name. This was probably because of pansy’s unpredictable nature, and perhaps also the other meaning of pansy, which is “love to dress up”. These descriptions both fit the heroine’s characteristics. It wasn’t until the last minute before the book was printed that the author changed the name of the main character to Scarlett.

Can I Grow a Decent Pansy?

Potted pansy tends to bloom all year round, sprouting flowers that are gorgeous and fragrant even in late autumn when everything else withers. Pansy has also been introduced to North America, where it is widely cultivated as a popular horticultural plant.

Pansies are easy to care for. Remember to water them regularly. Commercial, all-purpose fertilizer can be added around the roots and will help them bloom better. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer should be avoided.

Size: 4-8 inches tall, 8-12 inches wide

Hardiness: zone 7 and above

Sunlight: full sun to partial shade

Soil: loose, well-draining

Bloom time: all season long

Flower of the Week: Sweet Alyssum

Waves of sweet scent ride the breezes of late spring and early summer, luring you to seek the origin of such delightful fragrance. It comes from clusters of dense, lovely, lush, sweet alyssums, blossoming quietly in small bundles in flower beds and corners. These flowers smell like sweet melting honey. Feel an urge to own these exquisite floral fairies? Grow them at home and add a sense of lively energy to your life and garden.

Colorful Sweet Alyssum

Common sweet alyssum flowers are white or light purple. Because people are so fond of its sweet fragrance, horticulturists have cultivated many other colorful varieties, boasting pink, rosy red, purple, and apricot blossoms. They also come with delightful names such as Wonder Land, Snow Crystals, Carpet of Snow, Oriental Nights, Violet Queen, etc.

Nowadays, your choice is no longer bound to white. There’s a wide range of color selections.

Viewing Map

Originating from Macaronesia, sweet alyssum blooms most charmingly in the Mediterranean climate. To appreciate its beauty in its most primitive form, consider paying a visit to the Canary Islands.

Located off the West Coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are a short distance from mysterious Morocco across the sea. This is not only home to Sanmao and Jose Maria Quero y Ruiz’s romantic love story, but is a beautiful showcase of vivid biodiversity. Just walk up the hills along any random trail, and you will be greeted by roadside sweet alyssums blossoming tenaciously in boulder cracks.

April to June is the best time to look for sweet alyssum here. Unlike the artificial beauty carefully staged in a man-made city landscape, here you can capture unrestricted wild charisma from the clusters of spherical inflorescences. Tenacious and unapologetic, sweet alyssum blossoms in the rock cracks with intense vitality–some taller, some shorter–displaying an unpolished raw liveliness of dynamic energy.

An Inspiration to Writers

Richard Brautigan, an American poet of the Beat Generation, published a collection of poems in 1968 called Please Plant This Book. Humorous and light-hearted, the poems are all written around plants and vegetables, including sweet alyssum.

The poem collection was recently reprinted with a full-scale makeover and redesign. The poems are now printed on different envelopes with respective plant seeds hidden inside. When you read the poem about sweet alyssum, you can sow the attached seeds. The title of the collection has been turned into reality.

A Film Named after Sweet Alyssum

The flower language of sweet alyssum suggests innocence, ease of mind, and sweet memories. Filmmakers have imbedded those wonderful little floral balls in their storytelling as early as the silent film era.

In 1915, American filmmaker Colin Campbell directed a silent drama picture called Sweet Alyssum. The film tells a complex story of entangled love and hate in which the leading girl’s name is also Sweet Alyssum.

Can I Grow Sweet Alyssum Well?

Sweet Alyssum is a very robust plant. Wild species survive in rock cracks. With a reasonable supply of light and water, the plant can grow without much care.

Sweet Alyssum likes ample sunlight, but needs proper shading in hot summers. Drought-resistant, it doesn’t require water often, and an extended run of wet weather can make it more vulnerable to pests and disease. It grows best in well-drained soil. To achieve a more beautiful look, the terminal young buds of sweet alyssum can be pinched to make the plant grow more compactly and bloom more densely. Deadheading spent flowers helps reduce nutrition loss and make it bloom again.

Size: 10-50 cm (4-20 in) tall

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9

Light: Full sun to half sun

Soil: Well-drained

Blooming time: Spring or summer

20 Flowers That Make Beautiful Cut Arrangements

There’s nothing quite like a bright and beautiful bunch of cut flowers to lighten up any room and bring the outdoors indoors. If you’d like to create a stunning display of cut flowers, check out our list to find out which flowers make for the best cut arrangements.

Barberton daisy

The Barberton daisy produces bright, attractive flowers. It is native to Southeastern Africa and has become increasingly popular as a house plant far outside its home range. The South African province of Mpumalanga includes the Barberton daisy on its flag and coat of arms.

Garden dahlia

The Garden dahlia is a common spring flower that comes in a wide range of colors. The flowers themselves are unscented and attract pollinators (like bees) using only their bright coloration. Garden dahlia plants were grown by ancient Aztecs and it is now the official flower of Mexico. It is genetically related to garden plants like sunflowers and zinnias.

Common sunflower

The Common sunflower is recognizable for its bright flower on a very tall stem. It is often grown in gardens. These flowers have been important in culture: they were worshipped by the ancient Inca people, and today, they represent eco-friendly movements. The artist Vincent Van Gogh made a famous series of paintings about Common sunflowers. Wild versions of the plant branch out to many flower heads, but domesticated plants typically only have one.

Chinese peony

Chinese peony is a perennial herbaceous bushy plant native to central and eastern Asia. It is highly regarded for its lush, white, pink, or crimson rose-like flowers, with pronounced yellow stamens. White Chinese peony was first introduced to England in the mid-18th century, and today there are several hundred cultivars common in temperate gardens around the world.

English lavender

The English lavender is a common flowering plant originally native to the Mediterranean region. Today, it is often used in scented products such as candles, oils, perfumes, soaps, and house sprays. The scent also has a deterrent effect against clothing moths.

Tenweeks stock

Tenweeks stock (Matthiola incana) is a flowering annual plant native to southern Europe. The Tenweeks stock is commonly grown as an ornamental plant and as a component of cut floral bouquets.

Love-lies-bleeding

Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) generates spectacular blossoms of deep red to crimson-purple in summer. Edible seeds follow in fall. Known for sweet and savory culinary applications, the seeds of the Love-lies-bleeding can be ground into a nutritious gluten-free flour while the leaves can be cooked like spinach. It was likely an important food crop for ancient South American peoples.

Common corn-flag

The Common corn-flag takes its Latin name, Gladiolus communis, from the way its sharply-pointed leaves resemble the old Roman sword known as a gladius. They are grown as ornamental plants that bloom tall spikes of magenta flowers from late summer to early autumn.

China rose

The China rose (Rosa chinensis) is a Southwest China native. The plant has been cultivated for so long that it has become hard to tell the difference between wild and cultivated varieties. With medium-sized clusters of flowers and a long blooming season, it is easy to see why the China rose was chosen as the basis for many rose hybrids.

Easter lily

Lilium longiflorum, commonly known as Easter lily is a perennial bulb, famous for the beautiful fragrance of its large, trumpet-shaped white flowers. It plays an important role in Christianity, as it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus Christ celebrated during Easter (hence the common name). Easter lily is most often cultivated for cut flowers.

Persian buttercup

Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus) is a flowering buttercup species native to the eastern Mediterranean region. It is known to tolerate lower temperatures than many buttercup species. The Persian buttercup is a popular ornamental plant for its attractive blossoms.

Common heather

Common heather (Calluna vulgaris) is an evergreen flowering shrub that produces hundreds of rose-pink to purplish-pink, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in late summer. Relatively low maintenance, it is perfect in rock gardens or used as a border or ground cover. It prefers acidic soil and will grow from 1 to 2 feet in full sun to partial shade.

Peruvian lily

Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria aurea) is a tuberous perennial with stunning orchid-like flowers, most commonly cultivated as an ornamental. Flowers are usually yellow to orange, spotted or striped. They are often visited by bees, butterflies and other pollinators. A number of varieties have been selected over the years to create greater diversity of flower colors.

Carnation

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is a herbaceous ornamental perennial known for its fragrant, distinctive flowers. Wild varieties of this species can be found in the Mediterranean. Carnation has rich symbolism, both in the traditional and religious sense. Its symbolic representations can be found in numerous cultures, from North America to the far East.

Candle larkspur

The Delphinium elatum is a beautiful ornamental plant, which includes cultivars ‘Magic Fountains’, ‘Dwarf Pacific’, ‘New Millennium’, ‘Pacific giant’, and 6 varieties of ‘Aurora’. It was first referred to as its scientific name by the Greek botanist and physician Pedanius Dioscorides.

Bird of paradise

The Bird of paradise is a bright, flowering plant. It is native to South Africa, where it is important to national culture, even being featured on the country’s 50-cent coin. The Bird of paradise has also become the official flower of Los Angeles in spite of its non-native status. In the wild, these flowers attract sunbirds as pollinators.

Flame lily

Flame lily (Gloriosa superba) is a climbing flowering plant also known as the tiger claw, fire lily, and creeping lily. Flame lily attracts sunbirds and butterflies. This plant is extremely toxic when ingested.

Aphrodite's phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis aphrodite, colloquially known as Aphrodite’s phalaenopsis or goddess of fertility, is an orchid species native to southeast Asia. Aphrodite’s phalaenopsis is commonly mistaken for moon orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis), as both have white flowers. However, Phalaenopsis aphrodite has smaller flowers and calyx with four horns compared to Phalaenopsis amabilis which has two-horned calyxes.

Love-in-a-mist

Love-in-a-mist is a member of the buttercup family with leaves that resemble those of the dill plant. The flowers, which bloom in early summer, sport tiny black seeds at their centers. Love-in-a-mist seeds get added to bread in some Middle-Eastern countries with a flavor like oregano or nutmeg. But note that it could be toxic if ingested in quantities.

Calla lily

The Calla lily is a well-known ornamental plant with several cultivars receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. The most common cultivars include ‘Crowborough’, ‘Green Goddess’, ‘Pink Mist’, and ‘Red Desire’. They are popular as a cut flower or a rhizomatous herb in the warm gardens.

10 Flower Bulbs That Deer Usually Don’t Eat

If you share your garden with deer, you might be tired of them eating your precious plants! But there’s no need to worry, as we’ve put together a list of the ten flower bulbs that deer won’t eat, so you can have peace of mind that your plants are protected.

Glory of the snow

This perennial, Glory of the snow or Scilla luciliae gets its name because it blooms so early in the spring or late winter that the light blue blossoms sometimes appear poking up through the snow. Grown from bulbs, it tolerates full sun to partial shade and can be used as a cut flower.

Common hyacinth

Common hyacinth is one of the heralds of spring. The name hyacinth comes from the Greek name Hyákinthos. According to Greek legend, Hyákinthos was admired by both Apollo and Zypherus. Hyákinthos ended up being killed out of jealousy and a flower bloomed on the spot where his blood was spilled. Apollo named the flower after his lost love.

Crown imperial

Regal crowns of flowers perch atop tall stems of the Crown imperial, or Fritillaria imperialis. Bulbs can be planted in mass plantings, flowerbeds, and container gardens. These striking flowers grow from bulbs and bloom in early spring. The skunk-like fragrance is a great pest repellent.

Snowdrop

A herald of spring, the Snowdrop grows up to around 7–15 cm tall. Sprouting from bulbs, the drooping bell-shaped white flowers are accompanied by two slender, erect leaves. These flowers have been noted throughout history, with references going as far back as the fourth century.

Wild daffodil

Wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is a perennial flower that grows from bulbs. It is a common ornamental plant, famous for its pale-yellow flowers with a bright-yellow central trumpet. In the wild, Narcissus pseudonarcissus can be found in forests, grasslands, and rocky terrains. Its bulbs and leaves are poisonous when ingested.

Siberian squill

Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) belongs to the lily family. Its common name is a misnomer, since it’s not native to Siberia. Siberian squill originated in other parts of Russia. It’s a plant that’s been cultivated since 1796 and grows best in partial sunlight.

Lily of the valley

Lily of the valley is highly poisonous and originates in Euroasia. Although it is toxic, it is popular in gardens and perfume industry for its charming flowers and fragrance. Lily of the valley is the national flower of Finland and was the national flower of former Yugoslavia.

Dutch crocus

Dutch crocus (Crocus vernus) is an early spring blooming bulb with large flowers that range in color from yellow, white, and purple to striped or bronze. The plant grows 4 to 6 inches tall in full sun or partial shade. Makes a colorful display when planted under trees, in rock gardens, or in flower beds.

Armenian grape hyacinth

Armenian grape hyacinth is an easy to grow spring favorite flower. These little bell-shaped blue flowers grow in clusters under trees, in pots, and also work well in cut arrangements. These little beauties can thrive in both full sun or part shade, as long as soil is moist but well-draining. For a striking visual effect, plant at least 25 bulbs close together. Armenian grape hyacinths are deer and rabbit resistant.

Giant onion

Giant onion, Allium giganteum, or ornamental onion, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. This hardy perennial grows large purple clusters of tiny florets. It’s the largest of the ornamental onions, and although it produces onion-like fragrances, it is not grown for consumption.

12 Plants That Symbolize Love and Romance

Romance is often shown with a rose, but what if you can symbolize your love with more garden plants? We have the perfect list of plants that create a romantic atmosphere to showcase your love.

Carnation

Sweet basil

Sweet basil is a species of mint plant native to Asia and Africa. It is a popular houseplant, and thrives when it receives plenty of regular sun and water. This plant is also easy to transfer from one soil environment to another. The edible Sweet basil leaves can be eaten fresh or dried with pizza, salads, soups, teas, and many other dishes.

Pot marigold

The Pot marigold is a herbaceous perennial plant often recognized by its thick, orange-yellow blooms with numerous petals. Flowers of the Pot marigold have a long history of table use. They are often served in salads or as a decoration. The flowers can also be made into a similarly-colored dye for foods, textiles, or cosmetic products.

Garden thyme

While best known for culinary purposes, Garden thyme has historically seen use in embalming rituals and as incense. In the kitchen, it most often ends up as a flavoring herb or brewed in tea. Garden thyme was gifted to warriors in the Middle Ages because it was supposed to spur courage and energy.

Patchouli

Patchouli grows as a bushy perennial herb, with erect stems reaching up to 75 cm in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers. Noted for its fragrant essential oil, it has many commercial uses and is now extensively cultivated in tropical climates around the world. Extraction of patchouli’s essential oil is by steam distillation of the dried leaves and twigs, which may be harvested several times a year.

Common yarrow

Common yarrow is a wildflower that has feathery leaves and flowers in white, yellow or pink. In China, the plant is considered to be good luck while for some time in Scotland it was believed to have magical properties. It has been brewed into beer, tea, and liquors, but it has low toxicity. Don’t consumed in large quantities. Common yarrow’s bitter leaves are toxic to pets and horses. Other livestock can eat it, though it gives cow milk an unpleasant flavor.

English lavender

Oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a herbaceous perennial plant closely related to marjoram. Ancient Greeks and Romans considered it a symbol of happiness. It is one of the most popular spice herbs, used in various cuisines all over the world. Oregano oil can be derived from the plant as well. Unfortunately, legal action has been required to stop suppliers of the oil from falsely claiming unproven health benefits.

Sweet fennel

Sweet fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a flowering perennial plant related to carrots. It is native to the Mediterranean region, but is used throughout the world as a flavoring herb. Sweet fennel has a sweet aromatic flavor similar to anise, and is an important ingredient in absinthe. In the wild, it often becomes a noxious weed.

Chinese peony

Garden tulip

Garden tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) is an ornamental bulbous plant native to southwest Asia. Ottomans brought it to Europe in the 16th century, and it almost instantly became popular, especially amongst Dutchmen. Garden tulip’s showy flowers are usually red or orange, but there are also varieties with purple, pink or yellow flowers.

Sweet violet

Sweet violet is a mainstay in European gardening and cuisine. Its sweet smell has engendered a long tradition of use in the perfume industry. The leaves and flowers are edible and can be mixed with salads or made into syrup. In the wild, Sweet violet is often found near woodland edges, forest clearings, and other shaded areas.

Trees That Bear Edible Nuts

Crunchy, nutritious, and satisfying, nuts are one of nature’s most delightful gifts. Cracking open that hard shell is worth the effort when there is an edible nut inside. Some of the species on this list may already be among your favorites, while others may prompt you to bring a new flavor into your world.

English walnut

The English walnut is a large deciduous tree. There are many superstitious beliefs tied to it, one of which originates from the island of Skopelos: people believe that the planter of a walnut tree will die once the English walnut grows tall enough to see the sea.

Common sunflower

Sweet chestnut

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) is a chestnut tree native to the southern region of Europe. The seeds of Sweet chestnut are one of the most ancient foods. Sweet chestnut grows well in weathered soil at an acidic pH.

Pecan

Pecan is a stately deciduous tree best known for its tasty pecan nuts. Generally grown in southern, warmer states, the pecan trees are known for being messy and quite large. A single tree can grow up to 130 feet tall and 75 feet wide.

American chestnut

American chestnut is a rapidly growing deciduous hardwood tree, historically reaching up to 30 m in height. It was once considered one of the most important forest trees in its habitat but was nearly completely wiped out by chestnut blight early in the twentieth century. Today, very few mature trees remain, although small shoots are plentiful.

Italian tone pine

Italian tone pine (Pinus pinea) is an evergreen tree whose rounded, umbrella-like canopy provides plenty of shade. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant. Its pine cones produce the popular and delicious pine nuts, a valuable food crop that can be harvested, dried and eaten.

Almond

Almond (Prunus dulcis) is a tree native to the Middle East that’s prized and cultivated throughout the world for its edible nuts. The fruit of this species is called a drupe. Experts believe Almond trees were one of the first trees cultivated by humans, starting some 4-5,000 years ago.

Black walnut

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a large riparian zone tree native to North America. It is cultivated for nutritious walnuts and the high-quality dark timber. Juglans nigra produces juglone, a compound that inhibits the growth of other plants in the walnut tree’s proximity, so it may be undesirable near lawns and gardens. It is susceptible to Thousand cankers disease.

Common hazel

Common hazel (Corylus avellana) is a deciduous shrub species that is cultivated for its edible nuts. Hazelnuts can refer to the nut from any Corylus species, but it most often refers to Corylus avellana. The nuts from Common hazel are eaten straight or used in making confectionary. Common hazel is native to Europe and western Asia.

Colorado pinyon

A well-known tree of southwestern North America, the Colorado pinyon is a state tree of New Mexico (USA), and the most common tree in Colorado (USA) where it makes 22% of state forests. The seeds are dispersed by the famous Pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus). Many other birds, such as the Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) eat Colorado pinyon seeds. It’s an extremely drought-tolerant tree.

Macadamia nut

Macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia) is a broadleaf evergreen prized for its nuts. Indigenous to Australia, macadamia nuts have been an important food source for aboriginal Australians for thousands of years. The tree made its way to Hawaii in 1837. The shells are so hard that ordinary handheld nutcrackers can’t open them, and commercial growers use powerful husking machines to crack them.

Cashew

It may surprise you to know that Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is related to poison ivy, pistachio, and even mango! It is a tropical evergreen native to Brazil and produces a wood used to build shipping crates, boats, and charcoal. The resin in the shells of the fruits are used to make insecticides and plastics, so the nuts must be separated from the shells before being sold as food. Explorers from Portugal are responsible for introducing Cashews to the outside world.

Pistachio

The tree grows up to 10 m. It has deciduous pinnate leaves 10–20 cm. The fruit is a drupe, containing an elongated seed, which is the edible portion. The fruit has a hard, cream-colored exterior shell. The seed has a mauve-colored skin and light green flesh, with a distinctive flavor.

Singleleaf pinyon

Singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla) is an evergreen tree that will grow from 15 to 30 feet tall. Growing slowly it has attractive gray-green foliage. The needles are very ornamental and the tree is prized for its beautiful foliage. Grows in full sun with low moisture and well-drained soil. It cannot tolerate standing water. Makes a great wind break, hedge or street tree in urban areas.

Peanut

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an annual that can grow from 18 to 24 inches tall. It is a legume crop grown mostly for its edible seeds. Golden yellow flowers bloom in spring and seed begins to develop after flowers fade. The peanut pods grow underground. Cultivated and harvested peanuts and peanut oil are used in a variety of products.

Mexican pinyon

Mexican pinyon (Pinus cembroides) is an evergreen pine tree that grows from 50 to 65 feet tall with an attractive conical shape. It produces reddish-brown cones in spring. Cones mature in fall with edible seeds or pine nuts, which are consumed by both humans and animals. It thrives in full sun, requires low irrigation, and is drought tolerant.

Try Mushroom Hunting This Fall!

Interested in mushroom hunting? Learn which are edible, which are poisonous, and how to forage correctly.

Turkey tail

The distinctively-striped Turkey tail fungus grows on stumps and logs all over the forests of the northern hemisphere. It is, in fact, probably the most common species you will find. That doesn’t mean this mushroom is plain, however; each cap is uniquely patterned. Look for bands of alternating textures as well as color.

Chicken of the woods

Chicken of the woods is very noticeable in hardwood forests, appearing in clusters on standing tree trunks in bright orange and yellow hues that sometimes last through the entire winter. It is a parasite that causes an unfortunate brown heart rot, and is considered a particularly troublesome pest of Yew trees. If the fruitbodies can be seen, the tree is likely already beyond saving.

Fly agaric

In Northern Asia and Europe, Fly agaric grows under trees near the winter solstice and is collected for ritual use tied to the season. Its characteristic shape and coloring are still ubiquitous in many European fairy tale illustrations and Christmas traditions. It is highly toxic.

Ringless honey mushroom

The appearance of Ringless honey mushroom can mimic other honey mushrooms. However, those other mushrooms have a ring, which is a circle of flesh around the mushroom’s stem that this mushroom lacks. Ringless honey mushroom is a decomposer of wood with a particular preference for the deadwood from oak trees.

Honey fungus

The Honey fungus is a parasitic fungus that grows on the roots of many woody and perennial plants, damaging and possibly killing its host. It spreads underground and is considered to be the most damaging fungal disease in gardens across the UK. The appearance of the mushrooms above-ground heralds a much more extensive infection below.

Pear-shaped puffball

The mushrooms of this species grow in such tight clusters that they may cover fallen trees and stumps almost entirely in a brownish, puffy coat. Pear-shaped puffballs appear all around the northern hemisphere on decaying hardwoods from fall through winter.

Oyster mushroom

Oyster mushrooms grow wild but are also cultivated for sale in supermarkets. They can even be cultivated at home. They will grow on coffee grounds and spent grain, and are occasionally even fashioned into an environmentally-friendly substitute for styrofoam. There are several toxic look-alike species, so it is best to buy these mushrooms at the store.

Jack-o'lantern mushroom

The Jack-o’lantern mushroom is so-called because of its bright orange color, and because it often appears in the fall (usually before Halloween, though). This vibrant little mushroom can be found growing on decaying hardwood stumps and logs. The species does have some superficial resemblances to the highly edible chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), but it is toxic and should be avoided!

Dyer's polypore

This shelf fungus grows annually on living coniferous trees and may kill its host if left untreated. As the name suggests, Dyer’s polypore can be used to produce dye for yarn in a variety of shades from yellow to orange to brown, depending on the age of the mushroom used and also the type of metal it’s processed in. It is not considered edible.

Artist's conk

This shelf fungus can live for several consecutive years and can be dated by the growth ridges seen on its dark surface. Artist’s conk grows in tiered groups at the bases of oak, beech, and conifers, as well as deadwood. When its spores release, they cover the area with visible brown dust. Scratches in the white undersurface create dark lines.

Hen-of-the-woods

Often found at the base of oak trees, this clustered fungus grows in distinctive rosettes. It attacks the roots of living hardwood trees. Hen-of-the-woods is considered edible when harvested young, and is cultivated in Japan on top of compressed sawdust.

Sulphur tuft

The Sulphur tuft grows on rotting wood of all types of trees; it is a particularly efficient decomposer of hardwoods. The mushrooms appear from spring to autumn and are often so tightly packed that they interfere with each other’s shape. This poisonous mushroom can cause temporary paralysis, distorted vision, and stomach pain if consumed.

Bear's head tooth

The Bear’s head tooth is a white fungus that is often described as having a “shaggy” or mop-like appearance. It gets its common name from the appendages it grows, which resemble long teeth. The fungus is native to North America and grows on both living and rotting hardwood trees.

Sweet tooth

This mushroom is distinctive for the spines, or teeth, that hang down from the underside of its cap. It can be found on forest floors singly or in groups. In spite of the name, Sweet tooth, it has a slightly spicy bite and bitter aftertaste. This wild mushroom needs to be cooked before it is truly edible, and only young, parasite-free mushrooms should be harvested.

Blewit

The Blewit mushroom grows in fallen leaves in autumn and winter, sometimes appearing in ‘fairy ring’ circles. It can be used to make a green dye when chopped and boiled in an iron pot. The scientific name, Lepista nuda, derives from Latin words meaning “bare goblet,” a reference to the shape and texture of the mushroom.

How to Build a Cold Frame for Your Garden Plants

Cold frames offer an easy way to extend your growing season and protect vulnerable plants from temperature extremes. They are simple to make at home from materials you might already have on hand. Here’s everything you need to know about cold frames.

If you’re looking for a way to extend your gardening season without investing in a full greenhouse, a cold frame is a perfect compromise. These simple boxes will add weeks to both ends of the growing season and protect vulnerable plants from frost damage.

Building a cold frame is a relatively straightforward process, and the final product is versatile enough for many garden tasks. In this article, you’ll learn all about cold frames and their benefits as well as how to build one of your own.

What is a Cold Frame?

At their most basic, cold frames are shallow boxes with a transparent cover (usually made from glass or plastic) attached by a hinge. Most cold frames don’t have bottoms but instead are placed directly on the soil.

Unlike greenhouses, cold frames aren’t heated. Instead, they act as passive solar energy collectors. This means that they trap the sun’s heat during the day to insulate plants inside. As the temperature drops in the evening, the frame’s stored heat keeps the plants up to ten degrees Celsius warmer than they would be outdoors.

Their hinged lid makes it possible to adjust how much heat stays in the frame. Once the weather warms, you can prop the top open to increase airflow and lower the interior temperature to prevent plants from becoming fried.

Benefits of a Cold Frame

Despite how simple they are, cold frames offer a lot of value for gardeners. Here are some of the advantages of having one at home.

Reduces the risk of frost damage
Stores heat to help plants grow faster
Extends the growing season
Provides a safe space for plants to overwinter
Helps harden off seedlings before outdoor planting
Improves seed germination rates for starting seeds outdoors
Lets you grow cold-hardy plants like lettuce, radishes, and brassicas through the winter
Protects against strong winds and hail or ice storms
Keeps plants better protected from pests and hungry rodents in the summer

However, cold frames won’t work for all kinds of crops. They are best suited for low-growing, cool-season varieties like lettuce or root vegetables, rather than tall tomato vines space-hogging squash.

Four Steps to Set Up a Cold Frame

When it comes to building a cold frame at home, you are limited only by your creativity. You can construct a cold frame from scrap wood, plastic, cinderblocks, bricks, and even straw bales. The key is to choose a material that offers insulation, so captured heat won’t escape.

If you decide to build your own, it’s best to follow these general tips for success.

1. Choose or Build the Lid First

Your cold frame’s dimensions depend on the size of the lid, so choose that detail first. Many gardeners repurpose old windows for this purpose.

You can also use greenhouse plastic or make a cover from fiberglass sheets reinforced along the edges with narrow strips of wood for the hinge. In general, the thicker the lid material, the better the insulation.

Make sure that the lid is light enough to lift easily and not so large that you’ll struggle to reach the plants in the middle of the cold frame.

2. Build the Frame

Once you have a lid, you can build the frame based on its dimensions. The best cold frames are higher on one side than the other. This helps them capture more sunlight while preventing rainwater from collecting on the lid.

Aim for dimensions around 18 inches high (45 cm) at the back to 12 inches (30.5 cm) at the front. Many gardeners sink the frame up to ten inches (25 cm) in the ground to further improve heat retention, so factor that into your construction plans.

It’s wise to add weather stripping to the sides of the frame to prevent heat from escaping and maximize the interior temperature. If the structure is built from wood, consider staining it or applying a treatment to make it rot-resistant.

3. Attach the Lid

Securely attach the cold frame lid to the box. You want something that creates a tight seal when closed, but that is easy to prop up when planting and weeding within the box.

Many gardeners find sticks to prop up the lid on the frame at different angles in order to allow for ventilation on hot days.

4. Place the Cold Frame in a Good Growing Spot

Once your cold frame is assembled, it’s time to place it in a suitable spot. Angle it so the lowest part is facing south to maximize early morning sunlight exposure. Keep the frame out of shaded areas, especially on north-facing sides of buildings.

Make sure that the soil underneath the frame is fertilized and prepped for planting. Alternatively, you can use the frame for potted plants and skip preparing the soil.

Note: Looking for a more temporary cold frame? Make a square with four hay bales and put a window on top. You can break the bales apart and spread them through the garden after the growing season to improve soil fertility.

Use a Cold Frame for a Better Garden this Year

Once you’ve built a cold frame, it’s time to put it to work. You can plant in frames several weeks earlier than your growing zone would otherwise allow and keep plants in there for several weeks after.

Open the lid for ventilation whenever the temperature climbs, as it’s easy to accidentally overheat the plants inside. If you’re unsure when it’s time to take the lid off, consider using a minimum-maximum thermometer to track temperature fluctuations before they get out of control.

With care and attention, a cold frame offers a great way to get the most out of your gardening season. Take the time to build one right, and you’ll reap the rewards of controlled growing conditions for years to come.