Can anyone give me info on...................?

Phlox, Azaleas, and Daylily? I've narrowed my search down to these to plant at our new house, however I haven't had any experience with these. Last summer I had Zinnia's and they were very pretty but now they are ugly and bare and just look like a dead bush, I'm guessing because of the cold weather. Can anyone give me personal tips or their personal experiences with any of these flowers and how easy to care for they are or how they would do in a TX climate? Thanks in advance, and btw, I'm not really that great at taking care of plants..............I either overwater or underwater and I haven't had alot of planting experience.
Can anyone give me info on...................?
Phlox is a perennial ground cover that flowers (pink or white) in the spring for about 3-5 weeks. It will creep and spread all by itself and requires little to no maintenance with the exception of cutting it back when it gets to creeping places you don't want it. It is easily transplanted to other areas by digging up the roots and replanting.



Azaleas are a flowering bush with pretty pink, red or white flowers about the size of a fist. The leaves are a darker green and marquis shaped. They bloom in spring for about 3 weeks. Once the bloom has wilted, you can promote new growth by pinching it off. They love acidic soil but it's easiest to care for by feeding the special azalea food you can find in the garden store. They are slow growers but can get as tall as your house over the years... many years.



Daylilies are a common perennial bulb flower. They come in all sizes from the large 4 footers to the small 6 inchers. They have a trumpet shaped flower in orange/yellow or orange/red. They will bloom all summer long. The spent blooms can be snapped off to promote new growth but it's not required. In the cooler months, the day lily will wilt back to nothing and you can cut the dead leaves off about 2 inches from the ground. In the spring they will be back. When they get too large (maybe every 3 seasons) you can half the cluster by digging your shovel into the soil and removing half the bulbs. Very easy to do since they are only 4 inches under the soil and very tiny bulbs. You can then transplant those bulbs to another area or give them to a friend. They also make nice cut flowers for a vase.



I don't live in Texas and don't know if there are any requirements to water since you probably have less rain but all of these plants are very easy and self-sufficient. Just feed the azaleas to promote more blooms. And you are right that all these will look dead and gone in the cooler months. They'll be back!
Reply:chuck em out waste of time if not got green fingers.
Reply:Zinnia's are usually annuals meaning they only last for 1 season.. Daylily's are bulbs like tulips and are perennials meaning they come back every year. They usually only flower once then die off until next year. They are pretty easy to take care of. A good website is called Gardenweb and you can find pictures and info on almost all flowers. i can't be much more help since i'm in Canada and out seasons are very different..
Reply:Your best bet is to go to the library or bookstore and find a book on outdoor plants in your region.



Daylilies are easy to grow and don't need much water or care; they bloom in the summer and die back in the winter.



Azaleas are not difficult, but do require regular water and occasional pruning. Different varieties will bloom in different times of the year, and they may stay green all year round.



Phlox is a low creeping ground cover that flowers. Very pretty, low maintenance.
Reply:Well they are all perrinials and will come back every Spring. You don't really need to do much to keep them going other than making sure they don't dry to a crisp. You can put a little fertilizer on them after they flower. You don't want to fertilize before they bloom or you will create more green stems and less flowers. Your Azaleas you can just trim up when needed but again you don't want to do this until after it flowers. It will flower in the spring and stay green after that. Daylillies are just downright hearty. They pretty much can grow without any attention other than as I said before, don't let them dry out to crisp. When you get into the real hot summer make sure you water them if you're not getting rain. If you see them starting to droop just give them a good watering and they will be fine. Zinnia's are normally an annual but in a warmer climate they may come back. Just cut them back for now. If the root system hasn't died out it could come back. Or the flowers probably dropped seeds when they died and you could get some volunteers from that. If you ever need info on gardening you can get lots on HGTV.COM . If you have a chance watch Paul James on Gardening By The Yard on HGTV. He gives lots of good advice for people maintaining their home gardens. Good luck and don't be afraid of hurting your plants. They are generally pretty durable and were growing all by themselves long before gargeners even existed.
Reply:Zinnias are annuals, which means that they die at the end of the summer and don't come back. Perennials come back every year and those can save you a lot of trouble as well as money. All plants/flowers need to be adequately watered so there's no way to get around that. If you can find Impatiens, those are beautiful and last from late spring through the first frost (around November or so.) The lilies are usually good spring flowers but I don't think they last all summer . Your best bet is to speak to the salespeople at your gardening store and they can be your greatest guides.
Reply:I don't have much experience with phlox, but Azaleas and Daylillies are wonderful, low maintenance plants. Either should be an excellent choice.
Reply:for Texas:

azaleas-they will burn up in the heat, they won't like the alkaline soil.

Phlox- will only bloom in the spring and are very slow growing

Dayliliy- Stella D' Oro will rebloom during the summer. feed regularly and give water regularly.

Zinnias - they are annuals. this year try Profusion zinnias they are very heat tolerant and don't get powdery mildew, and they re seed.

ALSO TRY-

shrubs- hardy hibiscus, lantana, santolina, butterfly bush

annuals- vinca(heat tolerance is excellent), penta, cosmos.

perennials- gaillardia, cone flower, shasta daisy.

all the ones i listed are easy and can handle the heat and soil type you have.

have fun with your yard
horns

How does one brace oneself while giving kittens up for adoption??

I fear I may sob, or atleast cry when giving away 3 cats tomorrow

:--(



A cat adopted us late spring this past yr. due to what seemed to be a chaotic and obviously atleast a neglectful environment. Her original home that is.

Hmmm, anyway she had her kittens right next to our home Labor Day. She had 4.

We fed them all throughout the summer and she filled out nicely and we all grew to really love one another. And we watched her kittens nurse, wean, grow up some, and frolick in my garden between the roses, zinnia's, and Indian corn.

Now w/the autumn leaves blowing in the wind, the weather is getting much colder. They have been living indoors now. However due to our small apt. and we've 2 cats already, were able to adopt one kitten. Anyway, found great homes for the rest and tomorrow is "The Day".

I will miss them terribly. [should I take a xanax b4 I knock on the adoptee's door?]

THis is stressful man.
How does one brace oneself while giving kittens up for adoption??
you done a good job finding them homes off there own,where they can get love,as you can have your time with your cats.just take some nice picture of them together so you have got to look at
Reply:Don;t know
Reply:Just know you provided a loving home while you could and took care in finding wonderful new homes....



Showing that you are upset just shows how much you care for them.



Ask the new owners if you can call and check to see how they are doing....to ease your "suffering"



Good luck to you...your babies will be o.k. and you will feel better in time!
Reply:You might be emotional. I foster cats. I just think of this

"One more happy cat in a new home. Now I have to place billions more. I will start it by one-by-one.
Reply:You have to realize that the kittens are going to a good home. It's not like you are totally abandoning them. I speak from past experience.
Reply:I am sure it will be tough, but just keep telling yourself they are going to Happy new permanent homes. where they will be spoiled rotten.

Good luck!

olay regenerist

Many plant/flower questions! please help!?

how long after planting morning glory seeds will it take for it to bloom?



do nasturtiums grow like morning glory's?



how long after planting giant imperials will it take to bloom?



will my lupines and foxgloxes bloom this summer if i just planted them a week ago?



how long until coleus bloom after planting seeds?



how long until purple coneflower blooms after planting seeds?



how long until zinnia's bloom after planting seeds?



i live in north carolina - coast -and have no idea what zone i'm in.

i'm new to planting.

just started planting all of these seeds last week.

any info regarding my questions is greatly appreciated.

thanks.
Many plant/flower questions! please help!?
morning glories will take a little over a month to bloom. start now so in early july they will be anice size for outside. also you may want to consider a moon vine which is a reletive to morning glories only very fragrant and will come back up in southern noth carolina. the pink moon vine is also a cold hardy relatinve of morning glories.



here is a photo of nasturtiums

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...

it doesnt gorw like a mornig glory because it is not a vine, but a ground cover. this is an annual in yor state.



yes your foxgloves will flower in time for summer. in colder climates they dont come up till june and flower by july so yours may be in flower by late may.



purple coneflowers as well as zinnias take about a month or so to bloom so it may not be until early or mid june before they are mature enough to go outside

your zone is a zone 8a if in southern north carolina and a zone 7b in northern or mid north carolina.



zone 8a has many plants such as medditeranean fan palms, cannas, moon vines, pink moon vines, pindo palms, clematis, hydraneas, dusty millers and lots lots more.



zone 7b is also a good planting zone. you can grow cannas, pink moon vines, hydraneas, windmill palms, mazari palms, needle palms, vincas, clematis, roses, cherrys and also lots more.



good luck
Reply:All plants started from seed take a month or so before they have blooms. You will have green plants, but the blooms will take a longer time. But it is worth it. Be sure to keep your new planted seeds moist. Touch the ground each morning to make sure it has not dried out. As the plants get taller with about two or three sets of leaves, you do not have to keep the soil moist each day, but don't let them dry out.



Next year, plant nursery shop "bedding" plants. These will be about 4", 6", 8", or taller and will bloom sooner for you.



You are gonna love gardening, don't try to do it all in one year. Get to know where the sun shines the most, and where the shaded areas are. Because you will need flowers for the sun areas, and flowers for the shaded areas.





Since you are a beginner, this year start your garden with plants that you get from a garden center or nursery. They are called bedding plants and come in a six pack. Look for a little tag sticking in the six pact showing directions on how to grow the plants. If the tag is not there, ask for one or buy something else. Directions are VERY important.





Seeds are not always easy to grow. And wildflowers are the hardest so don't be disappointed if they don't show up.





Two good things to do for yourself is to call your local County Extension Service and ask for all the information that they have about gardening in your area. They usually have a packet/kit of things for the home gardener.





And number two would be to pick up a couple of beginner books. You really do need to know about soil, compost, mulch and etc.





To keep from over watering or not watering enough, buy a water analyzer from a nursery or garden center. Be sure to read the directions. This will be one of your best tools.





Send for some free gardening catalogs and get use to the different types of plants, colors, and when to plant. They are filled with good informtion and pictures. And they will keep you company during the long winter months. Here is a list of just a very few. There are hundreds more:





http://www.waysidegardens.com

http://www.dutchbulbs.com

http://www.jacksonandperkins.com (Roses)

http://www.parkseed.com

http://www.burpee.com



Other catalogs:

http://www.leevalley.com

http://www.gardeners.com

http://www.GardensAlive.com

http://www.deerbusters.com (all types of animal control)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Container/pots/window boxes needs:





All need holes in the bottem for water drainage,

Potting soil that comes in bags,

Slow release fertilizer for flowers (not for green plants), OR liquid fertilizer that will need to be used more often-read directions,

Water crystals to be mixed into the soil for holding water,

Bedding plants or full grown plants.





Here is an excellent link to check out for color combinations and plants that look good together:





http://www.fernlea.com/awesomeaccents/re...

Does anybody know this song's name in episode 10 of Medium s3?

i just watched the episode 10 of Medium season 3,, and at the end of the episode,, when Manny's wife ask him to see the white zinnia, there's a very beautiful song showing up~~wow,,i like that song,,sounds so nice~~ Does anybody know this song's name ?
Does anybody know this song's name in episode 10 of Medium s3?
is it this ?



"Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban







Kdo ;)

Butterfly Flower Garden AND Weed Problem?

In the Spring I'm going to plant a seed mixture of Alcea rosea, Asclepias tuberose, Aster novae-angliae, Clarkia amoena, Cosmos bipinnatus, Delphinium consolida, Digitalis purpurea, Echinacea purpurea, lavatera trimestris, Malope trifida, Mirabilis jalapa, Monarda citriodora, Nicotiana affinis, Petalostemum purpureum, Phlox drummondii, Salvia coccinea, Trifolium incarnatum, Tropaeolum majus and Zinnia elegans.



Last Spring/Summer we had a huge weed problem we would spray weed killer and rip out weeds but they would keep coming back. We finally put down Weed Defense Fabric that lets air, water and nutrients through, not weeds. Then put mulch on top to hold down the fabric. I would like to start a butterfly garden and I'm worried if I cut the fabric that the weeds will grow through the openings. If I plant a butterfly garden I can't use a weed killer as it will harm the butterflys. Can anyone help?
Butterfly Flower Garden AND Weed Problem?
You can use the fabric, and put mulch on top of it. I prefer to use newspaper instead of the fabric, because the newspaper will breakdown and It helps the soil.
Reply:I am assuming you are going to propagate your seeds into plants first?? because you wont be able to cut lots of holes in the fabric to sow them, as that will defeat the object of the weed fabric.

If you cut a cross in the fabric, then plant your plant in the hole and fold the 4 corners back in, this should stop any annual weed seeds from blowing in.But unfortunately there may already be annual seeds in the soil from previous years (the old saying goes-one years seeds are 10 years weeds) and these weeds may find there way through the slits.If you have perennial weeds in there they may also find their way up if close to a slit.You will just have to pull or dig these out by hand.

If you want butterflies, you will get lots if you plant a buddleia shrub.Most grow into huge shrubs which will withstand hard pruning, but there are dwarf varieties. Lavender and thyme do the trick also.

Good luck with the butterflies.
Reply:Mulch mulch mulch. At least 3" if not 4". And keep weeding. Weeds will only grow if you allow them to.
Reply:Use plants, not seeds, even if it means growing them all in pots first. The more developed they are the better they will stand up to the weed competition! A seed doesn't stand a chance and a bulb isn't much better.

I wouldn't worry too much if you use plants. You'd only be cutting small holes to put them in and you can push the fabric and mulch back around them. A few weeds probably will get through but the fabric will still suppress most of them and you'll only have to weed just around your plants.



Good luck!
Reply:I gather you want a nice pleasant low maintanance garden, that attracts butterflies. I have to say that most weed suppresents's are ineffective, I've been in the horticultural business for 20 years, and my family a lot longer. If you cut the fabric weeds suppresent, boy are you inviting trouble. You don't say which area you're from, this would help all on web to give advice.

As to to the seed mixture , I'd be a little wary of Digitais purpurea, I presume you know foxgloves are poisionous, especially where children are concerned?
Toothpaste

Have you read these books?

here's a list of some books that i dont think many people have read:



Idda B

Heaven Eyes

Corner of the Universe

Hoot

Chasing Redbird

The Secret Garden



Idda B-a girl who is very independent, has been home schooled her wholle life, and talks to trees until her family starts having problems. i kno that sounds boring, and maybe it will be to some people, but i really enjoyed it.



Heaven Eyes-2 kids who find a weird girl with webbed feet and hands[no, i wont have magic stuff in it] while running away from an orphanage. she lives w/ her granpa and has never been to the outside world.



Hoot-3 kids trying to save the owls' homes from some people trying to build something on top of their little holes.[they made a movie about it]



i havent read Corner of the Universe, but my friends said it was really good!



Chasing Redbird-a girl named Zinnia, or Zinny, who's cousin/best friend died when she was very young. her aunt died too a couple years later. her uncle calls the aunt his
Have you read these books?
I haven't read any of them. The only one I've ever heard of is The Secret Garden. I may have read that one when I was a kid but I don't remember it.
Reply:Hi, now I remember The Secret Garden! That was a good book. Report It

Flower combo for wedding?

What do you think of these flowers together for my wedding bouquet? My colors are hunter green, chocolate, and ivory:



White tulips, italian ruskus greenery, green zinnia, and a chocolate/black colored calla?



Zinnia:

http://lh4.google.com/speliopoulos/RrSTZ...



Calla Lily

http://www.callalilyshop.pacificcallas.c...



Italian ruskus:

http://www.mellano.com/cgi-bin/products....
Flower combo for wedding?
3 words immediately came to mind...beautiful, elegant...and unique! love it!
Reply:I love the colors!!
Reply:love it, love it, love it! Since the zinnia adds a lot of green to the combination, you might think about brightening it up a bit with some ivory/white flowers. Maybe orchids, gerbera daisy, or alstromeria. Another green to look at is hypercum...they're green stems with little green beeding.



I really do love those hybrid callas...so very pretty!
Reply:You've done an excellent job with your flower selection. I will be using dahlias %26amp; Italian ruskus as well mixed in with orchids.



Who doesn't love tulips? I used to have a ton of calla lilies when I had my garden and I grew zinnias from seed as one of my favorites, especially the green! All I can say, as far as flowers . . . flawless!
Reply:I think that is a lovely and unique combination. That calla lily is really awesome...
Reply:calla lily are for the white, pure etc...= ok!; ruscus ok!; zinnia ok... but it all depends on the drama of the arrangement... i like lilies...
Reply:I think it would look nice- and you could tie an ivory ribbon around to brighten it up a bit.

Alternatively, swap the brown calla lilies for white/ivory and tie with a chocolate ribbon.

Either would be beautiful!

lipstick