Savvy Gardening: Garden Ideas, Tips, Pictures, and More » Photos of Flowers

When it comes to an outdoor space, there can never be too many trees. I love them and the images they provoke. The large willow out to the side of our yard gives me images of children playing in its thick limbs, the small maple tree in the side yard brings me images of early spring days when I used to marvel at the brilliant greens of the new province I lived in. Trees are a work of art and they can be used for shade, privacy or as a focal point for any garden.

Which is why, when I went to the Royal Botanical Gardens this last week, I was amazed by the trees and shrubbery that was shaped into works of art. I wanted to share the photographs with you and hopefully over the next couple of weeks, I will have more information on shaping trees for your own garden. So please enjoy the photographs and if you are interested in learning more about shaping trees into works of art, please visit this site. These two artists created an art called Pooktre. The living art that they produce is amazing and you can contact them for tips on how to create your own.

In the pictures above and below, the tree branched up over the pergola creating a figure 8.

Then a lattice work.

A Few Interesting Facts About Vanilla Orchids

Jennifer — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:25:38 +0000

Did you know that vanilla is an essence that comes from vanilla orchids? If you did not, you know now. The vanilla that you love so much in your cake and ice cream is derived from a beautiful orchid species from the Vanilla genus and is grown in Mexico. The meaning of vanilla is Spanish – the language spoken in Mexico – is ‘the little pod’.

Some Not So Well Known Facts About The Vanilla Planifolia

Did you know that vanilla (Vanilla planifolia – its Latin name) is the only agriculturally profitable by-product derived from orchids? No other orchid produces an agriculturally important crop. All others are valued by their show quality rather than agricultural value.

The vanilla orchids grow as a huge vine which often exceeds one hundred feet in length. This huge plant gives some tiny pods as fruit and there you are – you find the vanilla essence there.

The orchids as a plant family are one of the oldest flowering plants in the world as well as the largest.

The vanilla essence is not a modern discovery; it was well known to the Aztecs for flavoring another popular food, the cocoa drink.

A Brief Description Of The Vanilla Orchids

You will find the vanilla orchids normally growing in tropical forests. You would recognize these flowers by their typical light green color which open very early in the morning for pollination by bees and hummingbirds, though there is no trace of the vanilla essence at this stage.

The flowers which are hermaphroditic (contain both female and male parts which are divided by a thin membrane to prevent self pollination) will develop into little pods after they are pollinated with each pod containing thousands of small black seeds. These pods are long and thin very similar to the string beans but quite smaller in comparison.

Since the flower does not develop into a fruit unless it is pollinated, artificial pollination needs to be done in places where natural means are not available. It takes the pod about one month to mature and once they are fully developed they are harvested and dried. The curing of the vanilla pods would at last give you the aroma that is so much loved and used throughout the world.

The vine grows huge in length and has the tendency of growing upwards therefore every year after the harvest the farmers get the vine pushed downwards to keep it ‘within hand’s reach’. This process – it was observed – increases the flowering capacity of the vanilla orchids.

Vanilla Orchid Photo Credit : Everglades National Park

Photos from the Garden: Orchids

Jennifer — Thu, 17 May 2007 20:27:49 +0000

Today’s flower photos are from gardens and indoor pots – the spotlight is on the ever-lovely orchid…

This one was taken by Cynthia Berridge in England:

And this shot by Nigel Roe was taken in Allen Gardens, Toronto Canada:

Photos from the Garden: Daffodils

Jennifer — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:01:25 +0000

Today’s featured flower photos are of sunny daffodils – enjoy!

This was taken by Katinka Kober of Hessen, Germany:

And this one was taken by Greg Olsen in L.A.:

Thanks for sharing the photos – and if you’d like to share a photo or see a flower featured here, leave us a comment!

Photos from the Garden: Calla Lilies

Jennifer — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:40:32 +0000

Marco Michelini from Italy took some beautiful close-up shots of a Calla Lily that I wanted to share today:

By the way, if you’re looking for a large, lovely, hassle-free flower to plant, this is definitely the way to go – plant a few of these and you’re likely to have lush greens and colorful flowers soon enough.Â They’re one of the easiest plants for me to grow and mine usually come back year after year.

Tulips Tulips Everywhere

Jennifer — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 21:37:38 +0000

…and plenty of drops to drink!

With the warmer weather and the beautiful spring showers we’ve been getting here in Tulsa, the tulips have been popping up everywhere and the land is suddenly alive. And it’s not just here ~ here are some recent tulip photos from around the globe:

These were taken by Greg Olsen in L.A.:

This simple and lovely one is from Stephanie Berghaeuser in Bonn, Germany:

Photos from the Garden: Crocuses

Jennifer — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 22:54:50 +0000

Today’s featuredÂ photo of lovely blue crocuses were taken by Alfred Borchard of Germany: Related posts:Photos from the Garden: DaffodilsPhotos from the Garden: CarnationsPhotos from the Garden: Calla Lilies Related posts: