A beautiful plant with amazing flowers which open late in the afternoon and close again the next morning, hence the name ‘Four o’clock plant’. This plant has an amazing number of other common names: Four o’Clock flower, Marvel of Peru, Purple Jasmine, Jalap, Mirabilis jalapa, Maravilla, Clavilla, Bonina, Gul Abas, Hendirikka, Anthi Mandhaarai, chandrakantha, and
Cacti are some of the most exciting and exotic houseplants there are. Most of the species of cacti are easy to grow, even for the beginning grower. Cacti can be bought at your local home improvement center or gardening store all year round, although the summer is the best time to get them. You will
Exacum (or Persian Violet) is a small and neat plant which is only a few inches high when offered for sale. Its flowers, pale purple with a yellow center, are also small, but this plant still has several points in its favor. The blooms are abundant and fragrant, and the flowering season extends from mid-summer
The most modern and convenient way for people now to enjoy fresh crops without worrying about chemical toxins in the body is organic gardening. Organic fruits and vegetables are becoming popular for vegetarians or people with green thumb. But then, it doesn’t stop there! Aside from eating a fresh and healthy salad, enjoying organic rice
Onions and their relatives belong to a group of vegetables that have evolved a rather specialized growth habit results in the formation of bulbs at the end of their growing season. A bulb is a swollen storage organ that allows a plant to survive climatic extremes in its natural environment. The great advantage to us
Climbing plants have many different uses in the garden. Climbing plants can be trained to cascade over walls, fences or statues, or to climb up and over trellises and entrances. They are a valuable landscaping tool that add a little extra color, liveliness and texture to a garden. Climbing plants are an excellent option for
Strawberries are excellent fruit for the patio gardener and are especially attractive grown in special strawberry planters or tubs, producing their white flowers in late spring and delicious red fruits that ripen in summer. They can also be raised in growbags, planted in late summer to bear fruit the following year. It is possible to
The vanilla bean plant, also known by its botanical name as V. planifolia, is actually a member of the orchid family. Commercial vanilla beans are cultivated in Central and South American countries; particularly in Mexico. You can plant your own vanilla bean plant at home. You may need to order the plant root or a
Gardenia is a beautiful and fragrant plant for your home or garden. Delicate blossoms and a deep, sultry scent make these an attractive flower for many gardeners. Gardenia care takes some effort, as the plant is quite finicky about temperature, moisture and soil requirements. With a little care, you can have beautiful gardenias each year,
Dill (Anethum graveolens), a member of the carrot family, has been a favored culinary herb for centuries. Not only its flavorful foliage, but its pungent seeds are used. Native to southern Europe, dill is a staple in Greek cooking. Though dill is best known as a pickling herb for cucumbers, the leaves can be used
Planting lavender (Lavandula) is a great way to start off the spring gardening season. Easy to grow, these fragrant flowers can be pink, blue, grey, white or purple. A little effort now will pay off for years to come as this low maintenance perennial yields its aromatic and useful blossoms. Purchase a plant from a
Water in the garden – whether a formal pool, a small stream, a short cascade or a wildlife pond – will allow you to grow many plants that do not thrive in any other conditions. Even in the smallest plot you can have a trough with dwarf water lilies floating in it. In a larger
