Gardening: Companion Plants

Those of us who love gardens and gardening are always in pursuit of finding ways and means to improve the look of our gardens and improve the health of the plants and flowers. Of many remedial measures to save the plants from insects and other harmful effects, planting of companion plants is one of the best remedial measures. I hadn't heard f this terminology or the technique before, until I sowed the bright coloured marigold flowers for this season.

Beside its majestic broad shaped flower spread, which comes in orange, gold and yellows, Marigolds are considered companion plants that keep insects away. So was I told by the wise man at the nursery, who confided that he gives this advice to everyone buying Marigolds from him to grow Marigolds amid a wide variety of flowers and vegetables. Marigolds not only ward off insects but its leaves and stems are also used in preparation of the organic insect sprays.

When I came home, I did a small search on the internet about the companion plants and came to know that besides marigold, garlic, basil, nasturtium, rosemary, sage, thyme, borage and mint are also some of the best companion plants. The concept of companion planting hinges at the establishment of two or more plant species in close proximity so that some cultural benefit (pest control, higher yield, etc.) is derived.

• Plant garlic in your rose beds – the mere smell of garlic would ward off aphids, insects and pests.
• Basil when planted with tomatoes, marigold and peppers, keep the mosquitoes and flies at bay.
• Plant nasturtium with squash, pumpkins and other vegetables to ward off cucumber beetles, aphids and squash bugs.
• To deter cabbage worms, plant thyme with cabbage.
• Mint and Rosemary are also best to keep the cabbage worms when planted with cabbage and broccoli.
• Sage helps the carrots by keeping the carrot flies away.
• Carrots are the best companion of English Pea, Lettuce, Rosemary, Onion Family, Sage, Tomato.
• Celery yields desired effects when planted with onion, cabbage, tomato, bush beans and nasturtium.

I could go on and on as there is much more to companion plants. But for home gardeners, the above information should suffice as normally the plants and vegetables listed above are generally sowed in home gardens. Try it – it would help. Happy gardening.

via The Fire Within
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Colourful Spring Signs

Gardening is one of the most creative hobbies of all. You plant saplings and seeds and then watch for the nature to sprout colourful flowers slowly changing the otherwise barren look of winters.

The Early Spring Signs

I being an avid gardening lover am also one of those who take pains all along the winter, starting November  preparing flower beds, buying seeds and saplings and planting these all along the winter. Protecting the fragile leaves from severe cold by shielding these with green cloth and cellophane sheets and tending these just like small kids.

What was just a few flowers two weeks ago are now bunch of colourful Nemesia and Musummary majestically shinning with their bright and multiple colours and freshness.

This is how the bed looked like about two weeks ago

And now that the spell of rains is seemingly over hopefully, the first signs of springs have started to show.

The remaining beds have blossomed with buds visible but flowers are still shy of the cold breeze whizzing past - may be they need a lot more warmth to come out of their buds and ornamate my little garden.

 Two weeks earlier

Today and still growing

Petunia in waiting

Hopefully soon enough I shall be able to write about my gardena dn my flowers when the entire carpet of these present these in a full turned out parade.

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A man's love for gardening grows in a bottle sine 1960

Gardening is one of the most liked and practiced hobby around the world that includes me and my wife too. Each year we plant many types of plant that gave our a refreshing, colourful and aromatic look during the Spring.

Still going strong: Pensioner David Latimer from Cranleigh, Surrey, with his bottle garden that was first planted 53 years ago and has not been watered since 1972 - yet continues to thrive in its sealed environment [Photo: BNPS/Mail Online]

But there is someone who is growing his garden in a large gree bottle since 1960 - amazing, isn't it?

Well yes it is amazing, innovative, awesome and interesting. David Latimer first planted his bottle garden in 1960 and last watered it in 1972 before tightly sealing it shut 'as an experiment'

And to his surprise, the hardy spiderworts plant inside has grown to fill the 10-gallon container by surviving entirely on recycled air, nutrients and water.

He hopes to pass on the ‘experiment’ to his grown-up children after he is gone.

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How the Bottle Garden Grows:

If you have been inspired by Latimer and his bottle garden and want to experiment this, here some tips as to how you have to go about it:

• The idea of a bottle garden is to create a world in microcosm. It will have its own special habitat and should require little maintenance, writes Nigel Colborn.
• First choose a glass container. It will need a wide neck for easy access and to look attractive. A goldfish bowl is ideal, or for children, a big jam jar might do.
• You'll also need some good-quality potting compost, shingle or coarse grit and, of course, the plants.
• Use a large spoon to insert a layer of grit into the jar and cover that with compost deep enough to accommodate the plant roots. 
• Finally, introduce the plants. You'll need very few and they must be tiny specimens - unless it's an enormous receptacle. Little ferns such as indoor maidenhair or Adiantum, small varieties of Tradescantia and baby plants of Chlorophytum will all establish easily. Miniature trailers such as 'Mind-your-own-business' (Soleirolia) will also flourish.
• Move each plant gently into position, adjusting them with a stick or with kitchen tongs until you've got them where you want them. Adding a final layer of grit after planting will hold the compost down and make your micro-garden look prettier.
• Water with extreme care (your jar won't need much) and place the finished mini garden in a well-lit spot, but not on a hot south-facing windowsill.

Watch video below to learn how to make your own terrarium"

via Mail Online
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Wisteria Tunnel - The most 'Flowery' place on the earth

In my childhood I saw a film 'The greatest show on the earth,' the memory of which I have not been able to erase from my memory. But that was fiction and just a couple hours of entertainment, though with a life time nostalgia.

But those who have been to the the Wisteria Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens, in Kitakyushu, Japan  would not only carry the nostalgia, but the fragrance too in their memory lane for as long as the live.

When I first saw the photos of Wisteria Tunnel, I took these for paintings, but then it dawned on me that I was seeing something natural, very aesthetically laid with countless flowers of different hues and fragrance, giving one a rare sight of one's life. 

The multicoloured flowers hang artistically overhead and sideways when one passes through the densely flowered tunnel of the Wisteria at Kawachi Fuji Gardens. And the fragrance of these flowers is so rich and awe inspiring that one doesn't want the tunnel to end or even to leave the gardens after the tour is over.

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I have not been to the Wisteria Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens, but it would be my wish to be there somehow and see this heavenly garden and preserve it beautiful landscape in my memory lane forever.

All photos are courtesy Jeannie 

[via Jaho Jalal]
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Sun brings the spring

'Here comes the sun' is one my favourite songs by The Beatles. Whenever I listen to this song, which I do very occasionally, it takes me back into my memories of good old days when I bought this 45-RPM record long time ago. Herein under are the beautiful lyrics of the song, which once you read will find out the relevance of the song with the caption of my post today (I have edited and shorten the compelte lyrics so as not to make it long for the actual post down below):

Here comes the sun
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clearHere comes the sun

As narrated in the lyrics of the song above, it is about the sun coming out of the clouds after a long cold winter - a winter that we had this time in Islamabad, which is said to be one of the coldest in the recent past. It really made us shiver when outside and when inside the house, it restricted us closer the fireplace  all day long.

But in this cold winter, my wife who had a passion of gardening, was outside planting seeds and saplings to blossom in the coming spring. and with the sun coming, here is the much awaited spring that my wife prepared our lawn in the cold winter last year.

And today, a sunny day after a long spell of clouds took me outside and see how have we welcomed the warm sun and the accompanying spring - and wow!! I was amazed and dazed at the colourful flowers that have sprang up all over our garden and lawn. I cannot describe the joy I saw on my wife's face as it radiated the same glow as being displayed by the fresh and colourful flowers. While I appreciated the beauty and the gift of the Nature to us, I took a few shots from my cellular camera for sharing with you. Here are some:

And this reminds me one of the beautiful verses:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I am counting the days

that I can finally

see you

A little digression from the traditional poem, but counting of the days is over as it is spring all over with its multitudes of hues and colours and so soothing fragrance spread into the environment, a making one happy, joyous and cool. and  thanking the nature for all the seasons and the suns, specially the spring. 

Do fall in love in the hobby of gardening and you would know one day what is real joy seeing the sapling and seeds you planted, cared for months during the severe winters and finally seeing these sprouting into beautiful colourful flowers, with butterflies hovering these.


Originally posted at Jaho Jalal

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How to set up your Herb Garden

Have you ever tried to grow anything in a garden? If you’re not the type of person that wants to spend time managing an elaborate fruit or vegetable garden, you might consider planting and maintaining an herb garden. 

While the product might not seem as significant, you’ll still enjoy the constant availability of fresh, delicious herbs to flavor your meals with.

If you want herb garden setting up tips, read "How to set up your Herb Garden - Heb Garden Tips" at Bubblog.

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Gardening can improve your eating habits

Poor nutrition is a major factor in the deaths of many older adults; even comparable to deaths caused from cigarette smoking. Though older adults tend to report a higher intake of fruit and vegetables than other age groups, over half of the U.S. older population does not meet the recommendation of five daily servings of fruit and vegetables. 

A new study now concludes that gardening can increase one’s intake of fruits and vegetables. Continue to read HERE for more on this revealing findings.

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The mysteries of the garden

The Gold by Jalal (Flickr: Jalalspages)

Every garden has its own mysteries, which only the patient hand of a gardener can unravel

                                                                                                                          ........Paulo Coelho

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Plants as Architecture

Plants are generally grown naturally world wide. But there are some who apply aesthetics to their surroundings and greenery and turn ordinary plants into architecture. Yes, architecture as the photos below would show how an innovative mind can do this.

The regular rythym of an allee beckons us to move forward at a steady pace.

Plants have so many uses! Some people treat plants as architecture. They can become houses.

Photo by Swami Stream

They can be used to create walls.

Photo by Loren

Plants can provide doorways ...

Photo by Goobertron

and gateways.
We walk on plants as flooring.


Plants can be used to create the effect of a ceiling ...

Photo by wallyg

or canapy overhead.

And they can also be sculptural, like art ...
... and given life-like qualities.

Why do we do this? Because we can.

Plants can even become furniture ...

Plants are a living medium that can become whatever the designer imagines or envisions them to be.

Shared from: GardenDesigns+more: Plants as Architecture:

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Art of Gardening

This Mediterranean-inspired garden, complete with a pool built for the event, represents a landscape and design that reflects the Principality of Monaco -- interaction of architecture and garden. never having been to Monaco, I'll have to take their word for it. The designer of this garden was Sarah Eberle. working with gardener Peter Dowle. 

For details, visit here. ArtofGardening.org: Spring DIY project Before & After

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White Lillie in the darkness

Just today our White Lille blossomed and gave out beautiful flowers. A bunch of three is simply adorable and I could not resist taking a shot even when it was almost dark. The result came out to be exciting and awesome. I was simply fascinated and I thought to share with my viewers. 

I will share more of these tomorrow. I have also shared this at Flickr (Jalalspages)

Labels: | Photography | Gardening |

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Roses are not always red ...

In January earlier this year, I talked of planting rose samplings as January is the month (January is the rose lovers' month) when rose saplings are generally planted, specially in Pakistan. My wife brought over a dozen varieties of roses that included bedded, pedestal and double pedestal roses. Well now all the saplings are flowering and our entire beds are full of rose, beside the multi coloured flowers of the spring plantation. Some of these give beautiful smell, typical of roses that make our garden a part of the heaven.

See some of the beautiful fully grown roses of our garden and enjoy the gift of nature.

The single pedestal and double pedestal roses are budding and I will share their photos when these are in full bloom.

Labels: Roses | Gardening |

Related link: January is the rose lovers' month

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