Many wild flowers are very hard to grow and are sometimes impossible to copy in gardens. The flowers that grow in the woods need an acid soil. Most of them need shade. Some can only grow in soil made of rotted oak leaves, or pine needles, or very special material.

Indian pipes must have a certain kind of fungus in the soil. The soil also must be made of rotted plant material because these white flowers have no chlorophyll (green coloring matter) in their stalks and no leaves so they cannot make their own food. Some of the other wild plants take a long time to grow from seeds to blooming stage. An example is the dogtooth violet or trout lily, which takes seven years to grow big enough to bloom. Few gardeners want to wait that long.

Fringed gentian seeds must fall in exactly the right place to grow or they die very quickly. They could not be put in a packet and sold.

Many other plants, that are lovely in their showy enough for cultivation. They may only bloom for a day or the flowers may be very small. In the woods or waste places, however, they are a bright spot of color for people who enjoy the out-of-doors. Other wild flowers grow too well for gardens. The many varieties of bright wild peas and beans that bloom on southern wastelands grow so fast that they would quickly choke out garden flowers.

Goldenrod and wild asters grow over most of the United States and Canada in fields, woods, and along roads. They are so common that few people would bother to grow them.

Of course, some wild flowers are cultivated. All cultivated flowers were once wild. The poinsettia is a wild plant of tropical Mexico and Central America. Geraniums grow wild in South Africa. It is interesting to find the wild ancestors of cultivated plants. Some plants that are wild in one part of the United States are cultivated in homes and gardens of other parts. Lupines grow wild in the west, but are sometimes raised in eastern gardens. Fields of wild California poppies brighten the western countryside. In the east, California poppies may be carefully planted in gardens.

Perhaps the best way to enjoy wild flowers is to learn to know them where they grow. Finding a patch of bloodroot, or arbutus, or hepatica in the woods can be a lot of fun. Finding some of the wild orchids like pink lady’s-slipper or the showy orchids of the spring is like finding a hidden treasure.

Sometimes when people find these flowers they feel that they must pick them and take them home with them. Usually this is selfish and often against the law. The petals of the bloodroot drop as soon as the flower is picked. Most woodland flowers wilt when they are carried in warm hands. Hepatica, spring beauty, and many others are too small to make good arrangements even if they do not wilt.

Picking the flower also keeps the plant from making seeds and new plants for people to enjoy. In some plants when the leaves are also picked the parent plant is killed too, for no food factory is left to store food in roots or bulbs for next year’s flowers.

You can have the wedding of your dreams and you can have it at any location imaginable – when you carefully plan and select your wedding flowers and lighting.

The charm and fragrance of flowers in combination with the usage of natural light, candle light and lighting fixtures sets or enhances your wedding theme. If you’ve always planned to be married in a romantic paradise, set the scene with soft lighting and warm or pastel shades of pink, lilac, creamy white, gold-tones in the lights, flowers, and ribbons.

Flowers have always been part of the love and romance of weddings, right back to European’s brides and grooms, who wore garlands of flowers to symbolize new life and fertility. Later brides wore light orange blossoms in their hair to represent purity and fruitfulness.

Flowers set the mood and tone for your entire wedding and choosing them has never been easier. That’s because the newest trends in wedding flowers are not about matchmaking – the bridal bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages and centerpieces no longer have to be identical. The latest floral styles are all about color, boldness and individual design. Wedding flowers usually follow fashion trends and right now individuality is in, while conventionality is out. This means that the bridesmaids’ bouquets do not have to match the bride’s and each bridesmaid can potentially have a unique bouquet. Colorful blossoms, as opposed to conventional white, are also in style especially plums and lavenders. This makes it easy for brides making their own centerpieces because anything goes. Be creative! Create a different floral assortment for each table.

Beautiful wedding flowers will enhance your special day and will remain in your memories and pictures forever. Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life.

Beginnings. People have always been interested in plants and have used them in many ways. Prehistoric people gathered wild plants for food and used plants to build shelters. By about 8000 B.C, people in the Middle East had begun to depend on cultivated plants for most of their food. Prehistoric people also raised plants for their beauty and used plants for medicine.

The ancient Greeks and Romans made the first scientific studies of plants. The Greek philosopher Aristotle, who lived during the 300′s B.C, collected information about most of the then-known plants of the world and Types Of Flowers . His pupil Theophrastus classified and named these plants. Theophrastus is often called the father of botany. Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist and writer who lived from AD.23 to 79, recorded many facts about plants in his 37-volume reference work Historis Naturalis (Natural History). The knowledge gained by these scholars served as the foundation of botany for more than 1,000 years.

The development of modern botany began during the Renaissance, a 300-year period of European history that started in the A.D. 1300s. During this period, European exploration of the world greatly stimulated the study of botany and other sciences. The study the plant form made tremendous advances during the 1600′s after the development of the compound microscope.

Later developments. The study of plant ecology grew from research on the geographic distribution of plants. The German naturalist and geographer Alexander von Humboldt made major contributions to the development of plant geography. He traveled throughout the world during the late 1700′s and early 1800′sand mapped plant distributions. Modern ecology, which includes the study of both plants and animals, emerged in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s. Pioneers in this field included the American scientists Frederick Clements, Henry A. Gleason, and Robert Wittaker.

Research by the Austrian botanist Gregor Mendel during the second half of the 1800′s had a tremendous impact on the study of botany and other fields of science. His experiments on the breeding of garden peas established the basic laws of heredity.

In the 1900′s, scientists working in plant genetics and molecular biology have made many spectacular discoveries. For example, through research on corn plants, the American geneticist Barbara McClintock found that certain genes can move around within the chromosomes of cells. This discovery, announced in 1951, greatly added to understanding of how plants and other organisms inherit their traits.

Florists are able to produce blooming plants all year round by planting in greenhouses and through artificial forcing. In forcing tulips as potted plants for an early Easter, the florist keeps them at a low temperature for a considerable period and then at a higher temperature to promote growth and flowering. In certain other plants, length of exposure to light each day is most important. For example, chrysanthemums can be forced into earlier bloom by covering them with a black cloth morning and night so that they receive light for only 10 to 12 hours a day; on the other hand, poppies bloom only when exposure to light periods are long.  For greatest amount of bloom, plants should not be given an excess of nitrate fertilizer.

Flower production by potted plants can sometimes be increased by growing the plants in rather small pots so that root growth is limited. Flower production by shrubs can sometimes be increased by pruning, so that the remaining branches get lighter; but care must be taken not to remove so many leaves that food manufacture for the entire plant is decreased.

Planting of tropical plants

If the bought plant is in a small planting cell (with diameter 5 cm) it needs to be immediately moved into a pot.

If it already grows in a pot – it is possible to leave it alone for 3-8 weeks, and then to move it into a container of a big size. Choose a pot with diameter about 10-12 cm (it is possible and more but then be especially attentive: do not pour the plant because its roots can rot).

It is better to use for landing of tropical plants not glazed clay pots – they provide better breath for roots. But at first steps a plastic pot will do too, but the main thing is not to over water it.

Carefully move the root clod of a plant into a pot with planting mix.

The structure of planting mix for tropical plants

Small yellowish or greenish balls of planting mix in which the bought tropical plant grows are not eggs of Florida mini crocodiles, but the granules of slowed action fertilizer; and white balls in soil is perlite and foam chips.

Do not even try to use garden humus soil for planting of tropical plants.

It is better to use special corresponding mix for the pottery plants, bought in shop for planting of such plants. It has to be well drained, and contain a big percent (not less than half of volume) of peat and a small amount of perlite (the volcanic hoe product that accumulates moisture and provides air penetration to roots), or very small (2-3mm) foam chips.

The illumination of tropical plants

The main condition for successful development of tropical plants – is good light exposure!

The new arrived plant has to be put in a well shined place (the more light, the better), BUT WITHOUT HIT OF DIRECT SOLAR BEAMS.

In 3-5 days it is possible to put the heliophilous plants on the open sun – EXCEPT those plants which demand filtered light (for example, whitefeldia, streptocarpella, barleria).

In autumn and winter the direct solar beams do not burn leaves of the plants, therefore and shade-loving tropical plants can bare them too.

Probably in winter tropical plants may need additional illumination.

The adaptation and reanimation of tropical plants

Some weak types of tropical plants on which the lasting many days way through seven seas and customs influences bad, look tired after transportation. Here are some advices how to help such plants to cope with the endured stress and to faster adapt to new conditions:

1. Remember that in natural conditions of growth the tropical plants lived in high humidity of air (70-90 %) and temperature (27-35?). The majority of plants grew under the bright tropical sun, and apartment conditions obviously differ from the environment. But if at first to take a special care of such plants they will adapt to new conditions. As soon as your plants will recover from stress, they will make you less problems.

2. Having replaced the tropical plant in a bigger pot (first – not widely than the native pot on 5-7 cm) and having watered it let the water to COMPLETELY flow down, then put the pot on a dry pallet. The roots of the plant densely sitting in a close pot got used to the absence of moisture stagnation and they have a risk to rot in damp soil. Do not water the plant until the top layer will slightly dry up.

3. Put the pot with a tropical plant on well shined place, but not under the direct solar beams. If your windows are on the south part and there is no possibility to avoid the sun, during the first days it is possible to slightly shade the windows with gauze or with a grid from mosquitoes. When the plant will recover, the direct beams will be good for them (except shade-loving plants). Exactly sun is the basic pledge of successful cultivation of tropics plants on your window sill.

4. First the tropical plant with faded foliage is better to cover with a transparent cellophane package. Air the plant 2-3 times a day in order not to allow the stagnation of air under the package. In 2-3 days the package needs to be removed. First for maintenance of the raised humidity of air (later the plant will adapt to your conditions) try to spray more often the foliage with pure water of room temperature. Thus try not to get on the stalk and especially – on the root neck of the plant. It is possible to place a small tray with pebbles and water under the pallet – its evaporation will raise the humidity of air near the plant.

5.  If you noticed signs of mould or rot on the plant – dry the plant’s crone (it is possible to put a weak fan near it). Keep in mind that the white touch on leaves can be simply sediment from hard water – it can be easily removed by wiping the leaves by a soft damp rag.

6.  It is not possible to return to life the yellow leaves and the dried up branches of a plan so they need to be accurately cut off.

7.  Do not fertilize the bought tropical plant minimum 4 weeks (or until the plant will have new shoots).The experts assert that the size of new shoots is equal to the size of evolved roots and you need exactly this. The more the root system will develop, the easier it will be for the plant to take the fertilizers; otherwise the fertilizer can burn the plant’s roots. However, if the bought plant looks vigorously, a week after purchase it is possible to start to spray on its FOLIAGE a weak solution of water-soluble fertilizer. If you bought a tropical plant in the beginning of winter – remember that in winter the fertilizer needs to be excluded completely, or lowered to minimum.

The bouquet on the facing page shows all the state flowers as of 1953. The key picture at right and the table below identify the flowers by states. The sagebrush of Nevada and the violet of Rhode Island have not yet won official acceptance. Alabama’s camellia, Indiana’s peony, Alaska’s forget-me-not, and Hawaii’s hibiscus are not shown because Alabama and Indiana chose their official flowers after 1953 and Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states when the bouquet was made. The flowers shown for Alabama and Indiana were traditionally associated with them.

ALABAMA STATE FLOWER– Camellia , Goldenrod

ALASKA STATE FLOWER- Forget-me-not

ARIZONA STATE FLOWER- Saguaro cactus

ARKANSAS STATE FLOWER- Apple blossom

CALIFORNIA STATE FLOWER- Golden poppy

COLORADO STATE FLOWER- Rocky  Mountain columbine

CONNECTICUT STATE FLOWER- Mountain laurel

DELAWARE STATE FLOWER- Peach blossom

FLORIDA STATE FLOWER- Orange blossom

GEORGIA STATE FLOWER- Cherokee rose

HAWAII STATE FLOWER- Hibiscus

IDAHO STATE FLOWER- Syringa

ILLINOIS STATE FLOWER- Native violet

IOWA STATE FLOWER- Rose

INDIANA STATE FLOWER- Peony, Zinnia

KANSAS STATE FLOWER- Sunflower

KENTUCKY STATE FLOWER- Goldenrod

LOUISIANA STATE FLOWER- Magnolia

MARYLAND STATE FLOWER- Black-eyed Susan

MASSACHUSETTS STATE FLOWER- Mayflower

MICHIGAN STATE FLOWER- Apple blossom

MINNESOTA STATE FLOWER- Lady’s-slipper

MISSISSIPPI STATE FLOWER- Magnolia

MISSOURI STATE FLOWER- Hawthorn

MONTANA STATE FLOWER- Bitterroot

NEBRASKA STATE FLOWER- Goldenrod

NEVADA STATE FLOWER- Sagebrush

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE FLOWER- Purple lilac

NEW JERSEY STATE FLOWER- Violet

NEW MEXICO STATE FLOWER- Yucca flower

New York STATE FLOWER- Rose

North Carolina STATE FLOWER- Dogwood

North Dakota STATE FLOWER- Wild prairie rose

OHIO STATE FLOWER- Scarlet carnation

OKLAHOMA STATE FLOWER-  Mistletoe

OREGON STATE FLOWER– Oregon grape

PENNSYLVANIA STATE FLOWER- Mountain laurel

RHODE ISLAND STATE FLOWER- Violet

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FLOWER- Yellow jasmine

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FLOWER- American pasqueflower

TENNESSEE STATE FLOWER- Iris

TEXAS STATE FLOWER- Bluebonnet

UTA STATE FLOWER- Sego lily

VERMONT STATE FLOWER – Red clover

VIRGINIA STATE FLOWER- Dogwood

WASHINGTON STATE FLOWER- Coast Rhododendron

WEST VIRGINIA STATE FLOWER- Rhododendron

WISCONSIN STATE FLOWER- Violet

WYOMING STATE FLOWER- Indian paintbrush

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – American Beauty rose

Spring flowers, perhaps are one of the most gentle and beautiful of all flowers! The inhabitants of the tropical countries will never understand what it means.

After several months of cold weather, many people become sensitive to the harbingers of spring and though some people consider that crocuses are the first spring flowers, there are a lot of small bulbous plants blossoming even earlier. These plants usually lower stalks and smaller flowers, but at group landing they create the same effect in landscape, as well as bulbous plants of big size, as, for example, tulips and narcissuses.

The first spring flower is Hionodoksa or «Glory-of-the-snow» (Chionodoxaluciliae). Hionodoksa meets in several color variants, but everyone has its own features. These are exclusively cold-resistant bulbs and they are easy for growing up, as they do not demand special attention. Low, charming in their grace and heavenly blue hionodoksas can be met about thawing snows of mountains, on the Alpine meadows (at the height of 2 km). The beauty-hionodoksa blossoms in early spring, within two weeks. On its thin small stalk (till 15 cm in height) takes place nearby 10-15 wide bells looking upwards flowers (with the average diameter of 3 cm). During blossoming of hionodoksa, its curtain from several bulbs represents a magnificent “small basket” filled with graceful flowers lined with their graceful bright emerald leaflets.

A

B

C

• Camellia, red:

• Camellia, white:

• Carnation Pink:

• Carnation Purple:

• Carnation Red:

• Carnation Striped:

• Carnation White:

• Carnation Yellow:

• Chrysanthemum, Red:

• Chrysanthemum, White:

• Chrysanthemum, Yellow:

D

E

F

G

H

• Heather, Pink:

• Heather, White:

• Hyacinth, purple:

• Hyacinth, white:

• Hyacinth, yellow:

I

J

• Jasmine, White:

• Jasmine, Yellow:

L

• Lilac, Pink:

• Lilac, White:

• Lily, Orange:

• Lily, White:

M

N

O

P

• Periwinkle, Blue:

• Periwinkle, White:

• Poppy, yellow:

Q

R

• Rose, Carolina:

• Rose, Christmas:

• Rose, Coral/Orange:

• Rose, Dark Pink:

• Rose, Light Pink:

• Rose, Musk:

• Rose, Pale:

• Rose, Peach:

• Rose, Pink:

• Rose, Pink White:

• Rose, Red:

• Rose, Red Yellow:

• Rose, White:

• Rose, White on Red:

• Rose, Yellow:

• Rose, Yellow Orange:

S

T

• Tulip, Red:

• Tulip, Variegated:

V

W

X

Y

Z

• Zinnia, Pink:

Fruits are really the female reproductive parts of flowers. These are called ovaries and the seeds they contain are fertilized ovules. Botanists, the scientists who study plants, classify fruits according to the way in which the fruit is formed and what additional flower parts are included. Fruits fall into three main groups: simple, aggregate, and multiple.

Simple fruits develop from a single ovary in a flower. Peas and beans are examples of dry fruits that split open and scatter their seeds. Other dry fruits such as the acorn and maple remain closed when mature. Some simple fruits have thick fleshy walls. These include the tomato and the grape, which are called berries and have hard seed coats and fleshy, juicy ovary walls. Peaches, plums, and cherries are called drupes. In them the innermost layer of the fleshy ovary wall becomes a stony pit that encloses the seed. Apples and pears fall into a different group called pomes. Their fruit is actually only the core while the part that is eaten is formed by a part of the flower.

Aggregate fruits include strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Each berry is made up of many liny drupes grouped together. It develops from a flower that has several ovaries. Multiple fruits include the pineapple, an ear of corn, and the mulberry. They are produced by a cluster of flowers. Fruits protect seeds and help scatter them. The fluff of a dandelion and the blade-shaped wing of a maple seed use the wind to travel to new places. Fleshy fruits are eaten by animals and the seeds pass through the animals to be eliminated elsewhere.

Sometimes fruits develop without seeds. This process is called parthenocarpy. It may occur naturally or it may be produced artificially by the use of plant hormones. Since 1934 fruit growers have produced such seedless fruits as tomatoes, watermelons, and peppers.

Fruits are rich in vitamins and are considered a necessary part of the diet. Apricots, peaches, and prunes contain vitamin A and currants, guavas, citrus fruits, peppers, and strawberries all have high vitamin C content. Most fruits are good sources of mineral salts. Some, like the avocado, are rich in fats.