Pussy willow

Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring .Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as “pussies”. The catkins appear long before the leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of spring. At other times of year trees of most of these species are usually known by their ordinary names. The flowering shoots of pussy willow are used both in Europe and America for spring religious decoration on Palm Sunday, as a replacement for palm branches, which do not grow that far north.

Since the Chinese like numerous blossoms on a branch, the many buds of the pussy willow make it a favorites flower for Chinese New Year. The fluffy white blossoms of the pussy willow resemble silk, and they soon give forth young shoots the color of green jade. Chinese enjoy such signs of growth, which represent the coming of prosperity. Towards the Lunar New Year period, stalks of the plant may be bought from wet market vendors or supermarkets.
Once unbundled within one's residence, the stalks are frequently decorated with gold and red ornaments - ornaments with colors and text that signify prosperity and happiness. Felt pieces of red, pink and yellow are also a common decoration in South East Asia.
Xie Daoyun's comparison of snow and willow catkins is a famous line of poetry and is used to refer to precocious young female poets.

 
Pussy willow also plays a predominant role in Polish Dyngus Day (Easter Monday) observances, continued also among Polish-Americans, especially in the Buffalo, New York area.
Pussy willow trees are native to wetlands of Canada and the eastern U.S. As a willow, the trees are part of the genus, Salix. The terminology "pussy willows" is used loosely to refer both to the trees themselves and to the furry buds on their branches (also known as "catkins"). However, to make a distinction, I refer to the former as "pussy willow trees" and to the latter as "pussy willows." The Latin name for these trees in North America is Salix discolor, while its rough equivalent in Europe, the "goat willow," goes by the scientific moniker, Salix caprea. Technically, Salix discolor is a deciduous shrub that can reach a height of twenty feet, if not pruned properly

Stenocarpus sinuatus, known as the Firewheel

Stenocarpus sinuatus, known as the Firewheel Tree is an Australian rainforest tree in the Protea family. The range of natural distribution is in various rainforest types from the Nambucca River (30° S) in New South Wales to the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in tropical Queensland. However, Stenocarpus sinuatus is widely planted as an ornamental tree in other parts of Australia and in different parts of the world.
Other common names include White Beefwood, Queensland Firewheel Tree, Tulip Flower, White Oak and White Silky Oak.

Symplocarpus renifolius

The strangely attractive Symplocarpus renifolius is almost unheard of by European gardeners. Native to Asia, though more specifically to Korea, Manchuria, Russia and Japan, Symplocarpus renifolius is a species of flowering plants from the family Araceae. Also known as the arum family, it is a group of related monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix.
The genus is characterized by large leaves and a deep root system. Unusually they also produce contractile roots which are used for changing the plant's level with the ground!

Symplocarpus species grow from a rhizome and their leaves release a foul odour when crushed.

It grows in damp places, mainly in the open, although it is sometimes found under trees. It is often seen growing alongside stream but never submerged unless the surrounding ground is prone to flooding .

The flower is actually a modified leaf known as a spathe and appears in the early spring. Unlike most other flowering plants Symplocarpus renifolius are pollinated by flies. Using a sophisticated chemical reaction the spadix is able to produce heat which helps to release their rather pungent fragrance further afield.

The colour of the spathe and outer hood are purple. The spadix is also purple but the densely arranged flowers are yellow when they bloom. The large round cabbage-like foliage emerge after the flowers start to die back.

The Roselle

The roselle is known as the rosella or rosella fruit in Australia.
In the Caribbean sorrel drink is made from sepals of the roselle. In Malaysia, roselle calyces are harvested fresh to produce pro-health drink due to high contents of vitamin C and anthocyanins. In Mexico, 'agua de Flor de Jamaica' (water flavored with roselle) frequently called "agua de Jamaica" is most often homemade. A...lso, since many untrained consumers mistake the calyces of the plant to be dried flowers, it is widely, but erroneously, believed that the drink is made from the flowers of the non-existent "Jamaica plant". It is prepared by boiling dried sepals and calyces of the Sorrel/Flower of Jamaica plant in water for 8 to 10 minutes (or until the water turns red), then adding sugar. It is often served chilled.

HYDRANGEA ~ ''Blushing Bride'' ~

For hydrangea blooms to be pink, the plants must not take up aluminum from the soil. If the soil naturally contains aluminum, one must try to keep it away from the hydrangea's system. Following are a few tricks that might work:
Add dolomitic lime several times a year. This will help to raise the pH. Shoot for a pH of about 6.0 to 6.2 (If it goes above 6.4 hydrangeas may experience an iron deficien...cy). Since hydrangeas take up aluminum best at lower pH levels, raising the pH will help to keep the bluing effect of aluminum out of the hydrangea's system.

Use a fertilizer with high levels of phosphorus. Phosphorus helps to prevent aluminum from creeping into the system of the hydrangea. Choose a fertilizer close to the ratio of 25/10/10 (Phosphorus is the middle number).

In areas that naturally produce blue hydrangeas (soils with aluminum), consider growing pink hydrangeas in large pots. If hydrangeas are grown in pots, it would be best to use soil-less mixtures, since these mixes would probably not have aluminum in them. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for growing pink hydrangeas.

To obtain a blue hydrangea, aluminum must be present in the soil. To ensure that aluminum is present, aluminum sulfate may be added to the soil around the hydrangeas.

Authorities recommend that a solution of 1/2 oz (1 Tbsp) aluminum sulfate per gallon of water be applied to plants (which are at least 2-3 years old) throughout the growing season. Important: Water plants well in advance of applicat...ion and put solution on cautiously, as too much can burn the roots.

To make the aluminum available to the plant, the pH of the soil should be low (5.2-5.5). Adding aluminum sulfate will tend to lower the pH of the soil. Another method for lowering the pH is to add organic matter to the soil such as coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, grass clippings etc.

If the soil naturally contains aluminum and is acid (low pH) the color of the hydrangea will automatically tend toward shades of blue and/or purple.

The choice of fertilzer will also affect the color change. A fertilizer low in phosphorus and high in potassium is helpful in producing a good blue color(25/5/30 is good. Potassium is the last number). Superphosphates and bone meal should be avoided when trying to produce blue.

Perhaps the best idea for growing blue hydrangeas in an area with alkaline soil would be to grow them in very large pots using lots of compost to bring the pH down. The above suggestions for bluing would also work for a potted plant. Reduce the strength of the Aluminum sulfate to 1/4 oz per gallon of water. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for bluing.

One last suggestions for those who are serious about this process. It is important to have your water tested so that it will not "contaminate" the soil that you have so rigorously balanced. The pH of the water should not be higher than 5.6.

Planting hydrangeas near a concrete foundation or sidewalk will often affect the color since the pH of the soil may be raised considerably by lime leaching out of these structures, making it difficult to obtain blue.

 These gorgeous 10" mophead blooms display a brushstroke of pink or blue (depending on acidity) in the center of each white petal-a unique combination to be sure. This variety will be attracting a lot of attention! Blooms early to midsummer until frost.

.Sieboldii alias flowers " Magnolia which symbolizes hard-working kind .

Sieboldii  alias flowers  Magnolia sieboldii .
Naturally distributed in the north of the Yangtze River and south of the Great Wall , prolific in Liaoning, Anhui , Jiangxi, Guangxi, northern suburbs, but also in northeast China 's only wild magnolia species . Swire Quaternary period surviving rare and precious flowers.
 Tennyo mosaic broadly elliptic or obovate-oblong , white flowers fragrant, single Acremonium , pedicel protracted bloom wind drift, fragrant , like flying all named sieboldii . Flowering early June to mid-July , fruit ripening in mid- September .


According to legend , in ancient times , there came from Jiangxi Lushan two people , one a boy named Amu , one had a daughter Jiao Alan . Two families farming men and women weave , hunting fishing , living and beauty day. One day, out of the city palace vintage hunting patrol , Alan's pretty fancy , they sent messengers to get into the palace . Amu heard about , sneak into the palace courtyard , along with Alan escape, unfortunately palace discovered , sent to catch up. Amu and Alan fled Wangjiang cliff on the muddy river , see below pursuers , the former without the approaches were forced both to join the river bottom .
 They put Amu and Alan 's parents congjiang  salvaged and was buried in Wangjiang cliff jungle. The following spring , Wangjiang cliff jungle room with exotic woody trees and flowers grow , monoecious , flowers soak into the depths , miles without a break. It is said that this is the incarnation of Amu and Alan .
Local people to commemorate this unyielding youth , giving tree blooms named " Magnolia flower .... Magnolia symbolizes hard-working kind .

There is another legend around the Queen Mother Flutist fairy, tired of heaven life, like earthly landscapes, ancestral mountain fun day came and found a good mountain and the water is good, but only lack of flowers and herbs , so the Jade Pool heaven ancestral mountain magnolia shift Abstract . Day open peach event coincided with the Queen Mother , Ji Zhao Sheng female Flutist fun, tracing nowhere , he sent Juling Shen find , searched Sanshanwuyue , and finally found Zushan Yun fog shrouded, clouds are found sheng women being moved Abstract magnolia, then go back and re- charge Sheng female life . Queen Mother to the Galaxy penalty female Huan Sheng yarn, yarn endless, uneven water shall not return to the Jade Pool , Sheng female rather Stick to your guns , willing overtaken ancestral mountain of a boulder . Magnolia sieboldii hence the name. Today Qinhuangdao ancestral mountain , at an altitude of one thousand meters into the film there is shady at Magnolia sieboldii growth to stoning as partners, in mid-June Turui , aroma light, noble elegance .

Blue Cymbidium Orchid

Blue Cymbidium Orchid Dyed is a cool, breeze-like flower, gentle in touch with a still capability of presenting a honed inner strength and simple beauty. The bloom itself is a delicate, smaller flower, with five points similar to a star, the background a pure, pale white coloration, streaked over with the outstanding hues of blue. A lip hangs over the bloom, almost completely adorned by that same blue, though small, circular twinges of pink. This also flows upwards into yet another lip, colored with a pale yellow background and hot pink. The statuesque nature of this bloom makes for absolutely stunning bouquets and centerpieces, especially when partnered with Leather Leaf and Nova Zembla White Roses, perfect for weddings, anniversaries, or even just to show a piece of your heart.

 

Blue Cymbidium Orchid Dyed