ARAWDA – Association

They might seem like different variations of the same plant, however the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and also the Easter cactus (Rhipsalidopsis gaetneri) are entirely different plants. They flower at different times of the year, as their titles suggest, but that is just the beginning when it comes to telling these two colorful and decorative plants. Origin Both kinds of cactus originated at precisely the same part of the world, the forests in Brazil, but each type’s kind of forest…

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By introducing poplars for your 12, increase the worth of your landscape. These rapid growing trees grow from five to eight feet per year in height. Bright green leaves are produced by poplar trees throughout summer and the spring that turn to shades of gold at the autumn, filling your landscape with color. Poplars are propagated through both softwood and hardwood cuttings, allowing you to begin your own trees. With proper maintenance, your yard will reap the advantages of these…

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In the sparkling beaches into the craggy mountaintops, Northern California’s magnificent scenery and activities beckon summer vacationers. Those same places also vividly display the region’s wildly contrasting plant ponds which make gardening so varied and so interesting. While you’re traveling, keep your eyes open for planting ideas you can use in your home. I’ve collected a few for you below, in the foggy California shore into the steamy shore to the trendy, high Sierra. Try this at home if you…

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Folks are always lamenting they have few blossoms both late in the growing period and ancient. I will solve the latter together with pasque flower (Pulsatilla patens), a clumping, gradually expanding native blossom that’s before the game every April. Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens Botanical name: Pulsatilla patens (syn. Anemone patens)Common title: Pasque flowerOrigin: Native to the central and northern U.S. plains from Wisconsin, south to Nebraska and west, all the way up and down the Rocky MountainsUSDA Islands: 4…

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Most wild plants aren’t that spectacular; whatever you find in a nursery is often an exception to the rule and a small misrepresentation of the real world. If you’re a plant collector, seeking out something a bit different that nobody else has, you tend to overlook a number of nonflashy aspects that may make a plant less desirable for a gardener. If you are a native plant collector, your discerning eye concentrates more narrowly. I guess what I’m saying is,…

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Tea tree burst of dainty blossoms and wild twisting branches thickly straddle the line between garden showcase and feral shrub, on no form more so than New Zealand tea tree (Leptospermum scoparium). Though the gnarled back and twisted type of Australian tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum)may be appropriate against the rocky shores of its ancestry, New Zealand shrub and its cultivars are beautifully suited to the residential landscape. Compact and densely ordered leaves, branches and blossoms make this drought-tolerant Oceanic native…

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Pieces from the streets of Philadelphia, inspiration from art nouveau Parisian train stations and barn doors out of Amish country come together to connect this historical home to its landscape. Situated in Princeton, New Jersey, the property appears as though it had been buit and planted over several centuries, but the bulk of the job is fresh. “My clients had renovated the inside of the house; as soon as they finished, they turned their focus to the exterior,” states David…

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Of all of the traditional Christmas carols, “The Holly and the Ivy” is maybe one of the most obscure. While the tune dates back to 17th-century England, holly and ivy are important because olden days, when the two plants had spiritual meanings. Rather than ban their use, the ancient Christian church adopted them for Christmas decorations by changing the symbolism to match the Nativity story. The tradition of working with these two evergreens has continued up to present times, likely…

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From the desert scene, the agave is reversed when it comes to sculptural character and beauty — and it has a bonus culinary price. Native to the Southwest United States and Mexico, agaves typically thrive in climates like those found there: hot and dry. This poses a problem for many locales. Agave parryi is a problem solver and a landscape gem. Its streamlined spread will not dominate planting beds, and its glaucous green leaves are genus standouts. Cold hardy to…

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Long, formal rows of perfectly spaced bushes are not the only way to incorporate roses into your own landscape. Planted among other perennials or even evergreens, or bunched together in no specific pattern, roses are able to look perfect even in lawns that lack a committed “rose garden” space. Mixing roses into your own landscape, in one color or some, is simple with the ideas below as inspiration. Zeterre Landscape Architecture The expression of a country cottage is charming. The…

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