Nutrients in Purple Produce At one time purple was said to be a dignified color reserved only for those with royal blood. Luckily, times have changed, and now anyone can wear purple or eat purple fruits and vegetables. So, what exactly makes up healthy purple foods? The nutrients in purple produce vary depending on the particular fruit or vegetable, however, one thing they all have in common is that they are rich in anthocyanins....

Sea Thrift Plant Info This slow grower produces beautiful sea pink flowers that are bright pink, red, violet, or white. These round flowers appear in clusters on top of wiry and erect stems. This dainty little plant, native to central and southern Europe, blooms from late spring to early summer. Over 80 species of sea pink exist and the plant has been known to be used medicinally to treat epilepsy and obesity, as well as used as a sedative....

Vandalay Cherry Variety The Vandalay cherry variety resulted from a cross between ‘Van’ and ‘Stella’ cherries. It was developed 1969 by Dr. Ghassem Tehrani at the Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario and named after one of his colleagues there. The Vandalay cherry tree produces fruit that is deep red on the outside, with wine-red flesh. The cherries are kidney-shaped and very attractive. They are also sweet and delicious, excellent for eating fresh from the tree but also perfect for use in pastries....

Continued exposure to high temperatures can cause leaf scorch, leaf drop, and even leaf sunburn. In addition, high temperatures interfere with photosynthesis and can cause a buildup of toxins in plants. Plants that are stressed because of the heat may develop misshapen or bitter fruit. Gardeners need to know how to protect vegetables in hot weather in order to avoid irreversible damage. Protecting Plants in Scorching Temps One of the most popular ways of protecting plants in the summer heat is by using a shade cloth for gardens....

How to Grow Kale in Zone 9 Nature has created kale to be a cool-weather plant and, so far, botanists haven’t created a truly heat-tolerant variety. This means that growing zone 9 kale plants requires strategy, and perhaps a little trial and error. For starters, plant kale in shade, and be sure to give it plenty of water during warm weather. Here are a few more helpful tips from zone 9 gardeners:...

What else is needed? 12 to 14-inch grapevine wreath (mine is a 14 inch) Wire cutters Scissors (optional if adding ribbon/bow) Hot glue gun and glue (I use Gorilla glue) Poinsettia/greenery of your choosing How to Make a Wreath I like keeping things simple and a little different, so for this project, I’m using a brown and white checkered poinsettia and branches of both juniper and fir with little brown cones attached....

Can You Move a Greenhouse? Since the greenhouse was obviously put in place, it stands to reason that it can be moved. The question is how? Greenhouses that are fiberglass or plastic are lightweight and fairly easy to manhandle. Those with glass, however, can be very heavy and require a bit of forethought before relocating. The first thing to consider, as simple as it sounds, is where you want to move the greenhouse....

What is True Indigo? Indigofera is a genus of over 750 species of plants, many of which go by the common name “indigo.” It’s Indigofera tinctoria, however, that gives indigo color, so named for the deep blue dye it produces, which has been used for thousands of years. The plant is thought to be native to Asia or northern Africa, but it’s difficult to be sure, since it’s been in cultivation since at least 4,000 BCE, long before good gardening records were being kept....

Button Fern Indoor Requirements Bright indirect light to part shade at most is best for these plants. A temperature range of 60 to 75 degrees F. (16-24 C.) is best but avoid any drafts. Cold drafts can be damaging, and dry, hot air can cause browning on the leaves. Although these are more tolerant of low humidity compared to other ferns, they still like high humidity (at least 50 percent humidity)....

If you live in a colder region, you can bring your plant indoors and continue to grow it there. Although these plants bloom, they are grown for their citrusy scent that is thought to repel mosquitos. Mosquito Plant Citronella Indoors One of the most important parts of growing citronella plants inside is to give these plants as much direct sun as possible. If you can give citronella plants six or more hours of direct sunlight every day, it will keep the plant bushier and more sturdy....

How to Make Mini Pumpkin Lanterns Carving a mini jack o’ lantern is essentially the same as creating one of the standard sizes. There are a few things to keep in mind to make it easier and more successful: Choose pumpkins that are small but round. Too flattened and you won’t be able to carve it. Cut a circle and remove the top as you would with a larger pumpkin. Use a teaspoon to carve out the seeds....

Mountain Mint Information Mountain mint, a group of about 20 plants in the Pycnanthemum genus, is native to the southeastern U.S. They are perennials and bloom from about July through September. Mountain mint grows in clumps up to about two to three feet (0.6 to 1 m.) tall. It grows densely with dark green leaves that have a strong spearmint aroma. The plants produce a profusion of pretty, tubular flowers in white or pink....

Reasons for an Almond Tree Not Blooming There are a few possible causes for no flowers on almond trees. One very simple one is that your tree is having an off year. If you experienced a bumper crop last year, this means your tree put more energy into producing fruit than setting new buds. This is perfectly natural and fine, and it shouldn’t be a problem next year. Another common reason is improper pruning....

October Glory Tree Info There are several cultivars of red maple, Acer rubrum, and ‘October Glory’ is a popular one for its spectacular display of fall color. October Glory red maples are also popular because they grow vigorously and easily. If you need a tree that will grow fairly quickly and fill out some space with great color in the fall, this is a good choice. October Glory grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet (12-15 m....

About Oklahoma Redbud Trees Oklahoma redbud (Cercis reniformis ‘Oklahoma’) are lovely, little landscape trees. Like many other redbuds, their pea-like flowers are a deep, brilliant pink and appear in spring before the leaves. They develop into attractive purple pods as long as your hand that persist on the tree into autumn. Their glossy leaves are also very ornamental. The trees make eye-catching additions to backyards or woodland gardens and also support wildlife....

Papaya and Weed Killers Signs of papaya damage from herbicides may differ depending on stage of growth, plant size, temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and type of herbicide used. Papaya herbicide injury may affect blooms, leaves, stems, and fruit. Common symptoms of papaya herbicide injury include the following: Cupping or curling of lower leaves Mottled and discolored leaves Stem dieback Poor fruit quality Spots or freckles on fruit, sometimes with water-soaked appearance Reduced yield...

Patio Water Garden Containers Since you won’t be digging a pond, the size of your garden is going to be determined by the size of your container. Patio water garden containers can be just about anything that holds water. Plastic kiddie pools and old bathtubs are made for the job, but less watertight things like barrels and planters can be lined with plastic sheeting or molded plastic. Drainage holes in planters can also be plugged with corks or sealant....

Fox Sedge Information Fox sedge in gardens provides lovely clumps of slender-stemmed native grass. The grass shoots up to 3 feet (91 cm.) tall and about half that wide. The narrow leaves of fox sedge plants grow taller than the stems. Fox sedge flowers grow densely on spikes. They are green and bloom in May and June. After blossoms come the seedheads, maturing in late summer. It is the seedheads that give fox sedge plants their common name since they spray out like fox tails....

Poblano Pepper Facts There are a number of poblano uses in the kitchen. Since they’re so sturdy, poblano peppers are ideal for stuffing. You can stuff them with nearly anything you like including cream cheese, seafood, or any combination of beans, rice, and cheese. (Think chili rellenos!) Poblano peppers are also delicious in chili, soups, stews, casseroles, or egg dishes. Really, the sky is the limit. Poblano peppers are frequently dried....

Podranea Queen of Sheba Vine Queen of Sheba trumpet vine, also known as Zimbabwe creeper or port St. John’s creeper, is not the same as the common trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) that many of us are familiar with. Queen of Sheba trumpet vine (Podranea brycei syn. Podranea ricasoliana) is a quick growing evergreen vine in zones 9-10 that can grow up to 40 feet (12 m.). With its glossy green foliage and large pink trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom from late spring to early fall, Queen of Sheba vine is a stunning addition to the garden....