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BOTANICALS: Grape hyacinth
Grape hyacinths' tiny, violet blooms have a deep, memorable scent and are wonderful companions planted in boxes or pots with other spring bloomers.
General: The hardy flowers of the grape hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) are relatively impervious to disease but can become fodder for foraging snails because they grow low to the ground. The cut flowers will last four to six days in floral arrangements.
Size: Each flower spike grows 4-6 inches tall. The flowers tend to grow in clusters, or drifts.
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BOTANICALS: Bailey's acacia
Although relatively short-lived, Bailey's acacia can be a positive change to your landscape.
General: A. baileyana, commonly known as Bailey's acacia or fern leaf acacia, is a round-headed tree with a wide canopy composed of pendulous branches. It does not tolerate blustery winds or sustained below-freezing temperatures. In its habitat, the plants grow under the canopies in eucalyptus forests, where they are protected from damaging overhead and lateral winds. Because they grow in temperate climates, they need adequate soil moisture to withstand extended periods of drought or heat. Most acacias are short-lived, about 15 to 20 years.
Size: The tree grows about 30 feet tall and spreads to 40 feet wide.
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BOTANICALS: Chinese evergreen
Variegated Chinese evergreen
This houseplant's pleasing dome-shaped growth habit, low-light requirements and minimal-care needs make it a mainstay for commercial interior plant design.
General: This plant (Aglaonema commutatum) grows in clumps of broad, 12-inch, spear-shaped leaves that camouflage a 20-inch stalk from top to bottom. Depending on the variety, the foliage is deep green with boldly marked spots, dots or stripes in pale green, white or silvery gray.
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IBM Keeps the European Horticultural Industry Blooming with Sensor Technology
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Container Centralen today announced that by February 1, 2010, Danish Container Centralen -- Europe's largest provider of re-usable transport equipment and services -- will use IBM sensor technology to allow participants in the horticultural supply chain to track the progress of shipments as they move from growers to wholesalers and retailers across 40 countries in Europe. The project is the largest of its kind in the horticulture business.
Approximately 80,000 growers, wholesalers, and retailers use Container Centralen's flower and pot plant trolleys to deliver fresh flowers and plants speedily and in the best possible condition. The company's flower and pot plant trolleys -- called CC Containers -- are designed to meet the specific needs of the horticultural industry. The containers are suitable for mechanical handling, and since they are also used as retail display units, the flowers and plants can be transported right from the grower to the consumer in the store with no need for product
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Fresno's Oklahoma attack plaque found
The search is over.
A plaque honoring 168 victims of the Oklahoma City bombing that was part of a memorial in downtown Fresno has been found.
In fact, thanks to Daniel Rivera and Joe Archacki, the plaque has been secure except for a short time after it was ripped from its concrete base in front of the old federal building a couple of years ago.
What makes this plant special is the color it provides in the garden during all four seasons of the year.
General: Associated with the genus Nandina, it's not a true bamboo but a member of the Berberidaceae, or barberry family. Its origins are China and Japan. The plants are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Both are needed for cross-pollination for the development of berries. They tolerate drought, cold and heat, but they prefer protection from the wind.
Size: The plant grows to about 6 feet tall.
Flowers: White flowers bloom in summer. In addition, heavenly bamboo is grown for its colorful red seeds.
Cultivation: Plant any time of the year from 1- or 5-gallon containers. For accent groupings in your landscape, plant them 4 feet on center. Make the watering basin twice the plant's diameter, create a berm 4 to 6 inches in height, and mulch the basin's surface with 2 inches of compost or humus mulch. Partial shade is preferred, although they will grow in full sun. Heavenly bamboo plants tolerate pH ranges from 6.5 to 7.0. They prefer loam soil, but will adopt to denser soil.
-- Source: "California Gardener's Guide" by Bruce and Sharon Asakawa (Cool Springs Press, $24.99)
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