Yellow Mexican Hat Coneflower Flower

I took this photo of Yellow Mexican Hat Coneflower from our yard this summer of 2007. They blooms by the dozen, so they look really nice and noticable in group.

I guess one of the reason why they call this flower Mexican Hat is because it really looks like one, dont you think so to?

These flowers do have skinny delicate stems so watering them too much will cause the plants to bow down, until the sun dries them up and usually they go stand up again.

I think they would be great as accents or touched for floral arrangements. I think Mexican Hat Coneflower would look great with white daisies with yellow pollen in a base!

Thanks for dropping by and dont forget to enjoy the summer outside before the leaves start falling and before you know it, it is already Fall!

Have a nice day to all!

Read More

Dual tulips stand stronger

One of the many reasons why I love springtime is because our yard awaits many different types of flower plants that we planted all these years. One of the short time bloomers are the tulips, usually our tulips here in California only blooms around the month of March to April. And during these blooming season, our flower garden transforms into a very colorful display of beautiful flowers. We planted different variety of tulips, some miniature some long-stemmed. We have wide variety of solid colors and some combo or mixed colors, like the one shown in the photo (white and hot pink). When I found this batch of tulip in our yard, I cannot help but take a snapnot of it as is. Both tulips were leaning side by side against each other, standing straighter and taller compare to the others, that started to bow down to the ground because stem cannot support the heavy weight of the flowers.

Lesson learn from the photographs:
The photo shows that if you feel you have some weaknesses and hindrances as an individual, do not be afraid to look for strength and support from people you can trust that can help you stand stronger and straighter.

Read More

Growing Daffodils

Daffodils are very easy to grow and easy to plant. Most daffodils bulbs can be bought at most nurseries and home improvement centers at the start of fall season because its the best time to plant daffodils. Find a sunny spot in your yard with lots of sunshine and has well-drained soil. Once you have the perfect spot to plant your daffodils, dig 3-4 inches diameter holes, or enough to fit each bulb into. Holes should be around 8 to 12 inches distance from each other to allow room for growth of each bulb and promote plant multiplication. Holes should be around 4-5 inches deep. Place each bulb in a hole, cover the holes with bulbs with the loose soil. To encourage great flower blooms, you can sprinkle some bulb foods around the covered hole. Water everyday the area after planting, enough to keep the soil moist and encourage growth. Do not over water to avoid soaking the bulbs too much that may cause the bulbs to rot.

Read More

Trees benefits

There are many great reasons and advantages for planting trees around your home:

1. Trees helps lower your electricty bill. Trees provide shade, therefore if you plant trees around your home, they will provide shade and keep the sunlight from directly hitting your house, helping lower your electricity bill, automatic heater or air conditioner will not run as much.

2. Trees give you a nice comfortable place to enjoy your yard. You can enjoy your yard more without worrying about the direct sunlight burning you easily specially during hot summer days. You can stay in your yard longer comfortably.

3. Trees in your yard allows you to plant all the beautiful shade plants. Give more color to your yard by adding shade plants around your home and at the same time enjoy the the shade the trees provide.

4. Trees around your home will help improve the visual effect of your home. With trees around, your home will not look bare and plain. Trees will give character to the overall look of your home and yard.

5. Trees will help keep the noise down specially if you are near a busy highways or roads.

6. Trees will give you lots of privacy specially if there are several houses in your area, trees will help your house from being so visible from from other properties and giving you the privacy that you want.

7. Trees attract some wild birds and squirrels. So if you want their presence in your yard, trees will help attract these lovely creatures in your yard.

8. Trees omit oxygen, and intake carbon dioxide, therefore it will help keep your air healthier, cleaner and fresher! People need to breathe healthy oxygen.

So plant trees, they are good for you, good for the environment, good for all of us.

Read More

Orchids Phaleanopsis

Most of our flowers in the yard are not in bloom yet because its winter season and its been cold and snowing.

To add some colors in our kitchen island, we been buying the cheapest cut flowers available in Safeway for $3.99 to $6.99 per boquet. Other nicer flowers like tulips and roses is around $12.99 to $19.99 so we just deal with the carnation and daisies because they are cheaper and they look just as nice.During our grocery trip to Raleys this week, we saw this totally beautiful orchids displayed near the front area of the store. We tried growing orchids 2-3 years ago but it didnt survive very long. But when we saw the potted orchids, we just have to give it another try. This time we decided to put it indoor, in our kitchen area. Its only been few days since we bought the orchid plants, so we are still trying to study what works best for them. Been transfering them already in different area of the house, making sure they have enough lighting and not expose to too much heat from our wood burning stove.

Read More

Bearded Iris

Bearded Iris is one of the favorite collectible flowers here in the U.S. There are several people who are in the look out for all different iris colors available. There are several different color varities like purple, black, white, blue, yellow, gold, bronze, and more!


Bearded Irises can grow 24 to 36 inches tall with strong sturdy long-stemmed. One iris plant can produce two or more flowers per season. They usually bloom around spring time, or around the month of March to May. Irises is very easy to plant, just place the iris rhizomes buried one inch below the ground in a well-drained soil around fall season before the danger of frost. Water them daily to encourage germination but do not over water them because you dont want the iris rhizomes to rot.

Read More

Long-Stemmed Tulips

Tulips, they speaks simplicity, beauty, crisp and fresh. Tulips are one of the most beautiful and natural beauty on earth. These long-stemmed flowers stand tall with firmness and elegance. Tulips come in different colors, blue, pink, orange, black, white, yellow, red, combination of two or three colors. Tulips usually grow around 16-24 inches tall but dwarf tulips are shorter, 10-12 inches tall.

Tulips normally blooms at spring time here in the U.S. around the month of March to May. Tulips are planted by their bulbs. The best time to plant tulip bulbs is during fall season before the frost season. Dig small holes around 3 inches in diameter, or enough to put the bulb in place. Holes should be around 6 inches deep. Yes, the deepness of the bulb matters specially when the tulips began to grow. If you dont place the bulb deep enough, the tulips could possibly not support itself, they have really long stems, they need to be well-established with the soil. If you bury the bulb too much, it could possibly not grow properly. Plant the bulbs atleast 6 inches away from each other to make room for the leaves and to promote growth and rooms for new baby bulbs that will develop from the original bulbs.

Use bulb food to enhance growth and healthy blooms. Both bulbs and bulbs food are available in most home and garden centers like Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart, Kmart.

Read More

Marigold

Marigold flowers are annual plant that will grow up to around 12 to 18 inches tall at maturity. Marigolds are best planted in a full sunny location in a well-drained soil. Marigolds are great in in both planters and beds of flowers.

The most common marigold flower colors are the dark maroon and bright orange. But marigolds are also available in other colors like yellow, white, dual-colors, and more.

Marigold flowers are very easily to plant and almost with no maintainance required. You can buy marigold seeds in most home and garden centers here in the U.S. like Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Kmart. Just follow the planting instruction as indicated in the seed packaging. Marigold seeds are usually planted in a well cultivated soil, then plant them around 1/4 inch deep. Soil must be keep moist everyday to encourage seeds germination. As soon as seedlings reach around 2-3 inches in height, re-plant each seedling around atleast one feet away from each other to give room for each plant to grow bigger.

Read More