When summer comes, there is almost an embarrassment of riches, particularly among the Lilium (Lilies), many of which give scent as well as colour to a room. One of the tallest and most handsome of plants grown from bulbs, the Lily gives excellent value for money because its flowers are long-lasting. Lilies need deep pots, and are at their best in a group of three. The auratum variety (Queen of Lilies) is particularly recommended for growing in pots: huge waxy flowers, several to a stem, are deeply scented and often decorated with distinctive golden stripes and crimson spots. They grow with great vigour and need little care. L.speciosum (crimson markings on cream petals) and its varieties in white, red or pink, and L.longiflorum and its varieties, with white funnel-shaped flowers, are also popular and particularly suitable for pot growing.
Another lily-like flower, easy to grow and deserving a pot to itself, is Amaryllis belladonna (Belladonna Lily), which produces several enormous fragrant pink or deep red flowers. The Amaryllis is frequently confused with the Hippeastrum as they look very similar. There are many species and varieties suitable for pot growing. Flower colours vary considerably; some are bi-coloured at the top of a 11-2 foot stem.
Agapanthus, too, is spectacular, particularly if a group can be grown in one large tub or urn. Sometimes called African Lilies, they have round heads consisting of dozens of small flowers. The best-known variety, A.umbellatus, grows 2-3 feet tall with bright blue or white flowers. Agapanthus needs plenty of water and fertilizer during summer.
For a more discreet charm, a group of Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal) could grace the corner of a cool room, perhaps among Ferns. P.multiflorum is the best choice for growing in a pot: from each arching stem hangs a row of small greenish-white bells.
Other well-known bulbs for summer include a few varieties of Gladioli, tuberous Begonia and Montbretia. If you want to try something less familiar, look for Brodiaea uniflora (profuse, neat flowers on 6 inch stems, which remain in bloom a long time and smell sweetly), Tritonia crocata (taller, with long-lasting, funnel-shaped, orange
flowers), Streptanthera cuprea coccinae (exotic orange and black flowers borne on 9-inch stems among a fan of sword-shaped leaves), Achimenes (the small, prettily drooping magenta or pink flowers last a long time and the plants multiply every year - a good choice for hanging baskets), Crinum powellii (the Cape Lily - handsome white, lily-like flowers veined with red), and Valotta specioza (at least 18 inches high with several funnel-shaped flowers in bright scarlet).
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Water Garden -
First dig out a sufficiently large hole to the size of the water garden , Pumpkin Beetle required, plus about six inches in floor , Bonsai Gardens depth, and at least four inches in width for each wall. , Fertilizing Houseplants This space allows for solid construction....
Ferns -
Ferns can be used to create a cooling, restful section of landscape, , Asbestos Removal often where it is difficult to grow , Displaying Cacti a range of general plants. , Gardens and Garden Design Nurseries are offering an increasing number of ferns, and regular visits show that the unusual or rare ones are more often...
Furniture Beetle -
The furniture , The Oriental Fruit Moth beetle (Anohium punctatum) infests pine timbers, , Cactus Pests and Disease and shelving, flooring , How to Grow Orchids and furniture , Grouping House Plants may he attacked. Willow. maple, beech and certain other timbers , Planting a Rose Garden may also be infested. Usually the first indications of attack are the flight or exit holes...
When to Plant Roses -
All types of dormant rose-bushes can be planted. The season , Landscaping with Trees selected depends upon factors such as soil , Growing Apples, Pears and Plums from Pips and climate. , Choosing House Plants In heavy soils , Miniature Roses which hold much moisture, , Climbing Roses planting in early spring , Light and House Plants is often more successful. A planting in late August or during September i...
Adenium -
Adenium is a genus of flowering plants , The Oriental Fruit Moth of the family Apocynaceae. It is native to tropical , Fertilizing Houseplants and subtropical eastern and southern Africa and also Arabia....
Flowers and Colour -
The ideal bed for picking contains annuals , Great Pergola Plants and perennials, , Landscape Lighting - Outdoor Lighting together with plants , DIY Safety and shrubs , Codling Moth for cutting for their foliage colours. , Builders Insurance But there is also the question of what colour flowers , Australian Bushland Gardening to grow. , Landscape Lighting - Outdoor Lighting Naturally this is more a matter of personal taste than anythin...
Insects and Pests -
If something does begin to bug your plants, , Home Improvement - Windows don't panic. First step is to temporarily isolate the plant , Seed Raising and Drainage so the pests , Will lime break up clayey soil? won't spread to other plants. , Weed Control Methods In most cases, the non-chemical controls listed opposite will eliminate the problem. If they don't, try spra...
Red Legged Earth Mites -
Red-legged earth , Orchid Flasking mites (Halotydeus destructor and Penthaleus major) are active only during the winter , Red Scale months. The eggs hatch after the first autumn , Prinicples of a Japanese Garden rains and, under favourable conditions, they pass through a succession of generations and build up to large...
Standard Roses -
Standard roses , Organic Food (sometimes called tree , Ferns roses in other parts of the world) are those budded on to long canes to give them stems of the desired length. These include miniatures on 15 to 20 in. stems, hybrid teas and floribundas on 24 to 36 in. stems, and wee...
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