Hamamelis virginiana is a large shrub usually growing in the United States and Canada that produces comestible fruits used either as dry fruits or as fresh ones.

      The leaves, having dimensions between 3.7 and 16.7 are frequently used in medicinal purposes. Another use is in cosmetics as the extract of Hamamelis contains several bioactive ingredients useful for the human skin in the process of depigmentation. It is used as ingredient in face lotions, body lotions and hair products and as additive in several deodorants and antiperspirants.

      A study made in the United States shows that Hamamelis also has in its composition: tannin, kemferol, saponine and leucocianidol.

      Because of its complex chemical composition the Hamamelis extract has astringent and haemostatic actions. At the same time, Hamamelis helps in the decongestion process and has great results in treating varix, haemorrhoids and phlebitis.

      The oval leaves fall in late autumn when the flowers emerge. The yellow flowers appear in late September or at the beginning of October and the fruits have a dark black color and contain comestible white seeds. The flowers have a pale yellow color and rarely reach an orange or reddish color.

      Native Americans used to use not only the leaves but also the bark in cases of external inflammations.

      Hamamels Virginiana enjoys full sun or partial shade and has a light reddish brown wood color and a density of 0.68. It prefers moist acidic soil and the best propagation method is by seed as cutting are pretty difficult to start.

       If talking about diseases the Which-Hazel has no major problems. It has high resistance when it comes to pollution and low sensitivity when it comes to pests or diseases.

Hamamelis virginiana Pictures Gallery
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      Native to Western Australia, Eucalyptus has, not only eye-catching flowers, but also very interesting leaves. The foliage manages to reach almost the same degree of beauty as the flowers, transforming Eucalyptus into an inestimable treasure of nature.

      The leaves have an ovate- elliptical shape and a pale silvery- gray color that comes in perfect contrast with the astonishing red flowers, a contrast that also manages to underline their beauty.

      The flowers, having a diameter of 100 mm can have colors such as bright red or even pink-red. The blooming period begins in early spring and the last flowers may be seen in mid summer. Besides the flowers, that can definitely not pass unnoticed, there is another important detail represented by the impressive dimensions of the leaves.

      Eucalyptus macrocarpa has as growing environments those with dry soil and even if it can also grow in tropical areas, that climate is not recommended.

      Regarding the use of Eucalyptus in medicine, the plant was discovered in ancient times and used with the purpose of healing fever. Nowadays, Eucalyptus is used as ingredient in various drugs and it is widely known for its benefic action in treating diseases such as: bronchitis or rheumatism. Other problems in which the use of Eucalyptus is recommended are: minor aches, pains of muscles or nasal congestion.

      Even though Eucalyptus is recommended, there also are cases in which the poor amount of information offered by the manufacturers of herbs can lead to poisonings generated by overdoses.

      These unfortunate cases come as a result of unprofessional behavior and are most definitely life- threatening. Some of the symptoms are: drop of blood pressure, circulation problems, collapse and asphyxiation. In case you recognize these symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical help immediately.

Eucalyptus macrocarpa Pictures Gallery

      Known to be a dwarf evergreen, the Winter Heath flower spreads itself over a 3 feet width and can reach up to 1 feet in height. The plant doesn’t require a difficult nurturing process, as it has been documented it can last up to 45 years without any special attention. Used with the harsh conditions, the Winter Heath adapts itself easily to any type of soil and to the lowest temperatures. Even if the temperature outside is measured at zero degrees Celsius; the flowers produced by the Winter Heath don’t frost or die out from the cold. Very resistant indeed, the Winter Heath can bloom starting with the winter season and also in the spring.

      Cultivators can recognize a mature Winter Heath plant by the size of its extension to the ground; if it’s spread on more than 2 feet on the ground then it means the flower has reached its maturity, if not, the flower tends to have a more erect appearance, its extension measuring less than 1 feet. The Winter Heath is easily recognizable through its full and abundant foliage of green leaves that give the impression of lance. The flowers are impressive and numerous and they usually occur on red, white or lilac. Because they are so numerous, the flowers can give the impression of being a sole one, like a bouquet.

      Cultivated worldwide as a garden-ornamental flower, the Winter Heath is not very pretentious as it can survive low temperatures and can make of any garden a vegetal paradise. Some conditions are yet to be respected if you want to grow a healthy Winter Heath flower. Some of these conditions are: a large space to give room for the plant to expand its foliage, sunlight to help it feed properly and last but not least, an unfertilized soil. Remember that this flower is renowned for its resistance and ability to reach maturity even if the best conditions are not provided.

      The story has it that this flower was brought to England by a woman who started cultivating this plant she found on the fields of the Italian Alps back in the 1920.What started as a floral experiment made by a Scotland woman has developed later into becoming today’s most cultivated heath. Most people preoccupied in gardening have at least one Winter Heath flower in their gardens, and also the plant is known to be used at decorating residential area, replacing the dull green hedge with the beautiful dense foliage and the bell-shaped colorful flowers of this evergreen.

      Due to its ability to bloom even in the wintertime, the Winter Heath flower has become very popular amongst cultivators, as they have find a way to preserve their gardens even in the harshest of conditions. The gardens during wintertime may seem a bit depressing and gray, but this flower somehow manages to bring life and color to your garden and also, to bring vegetation to your home. Amongst some popular cultivars we could mention the Ann Sparks Winter Heath or the Aurea Winter Heath, both of them approaching unique and attractive colors.

Winter Heath Pictures Gallery

      Bellis perennis is a small plant with evergreen leaves that have the shape of a spoon, known not only as a wild plant but also as a garden plant. Daisies are thought to be a symbol of love and purity. The shape of the flowers, white with the center colored in yellow makes it even more delicate at first sight.

      Considering the fact that Daisies are opened during the day and closed at night, the name might also signify the “day’s eye”.

      Being such an easy plant to grow, this flower will spread just by leaving the lawn uncut and because of this, daisies are sometimes considered to be weeds.

      Daisy is one of the flowers that can be found in bloom all year long and that requires no special attention, a flower that should be present in any garden.

      The plant can be propagated by seeds and the perfect environment is one with well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Daisies will start blooming the next year in case you choose to plant them outside. In case the planting process is done indoor, the flower can also start blooming the first year. The soil should be kept moist until the seeds have germinated, after that, the watering process should be repeated when the soil appears to be dry.

      To become eye-catching, daisies should be planted in groups. In this case, be careful regarding the distance between your daisies. If to crowded, they will have problems with the blooms that will be smaller than usual and the plant will turn to be unhealthy.

      Daisies are also used as a homeopathic remedy for several illnesses and it is used in cases of rheumatic symptoms, traumatisms of the pelvic organs or acne. In ancient Rome from daisies was extracted a juice that was afterwards used on bruises or cut incised wounds.

Daisy-Bellis perennis Pictures Gallery

      The Bellflowers often occur in temperate climates of the Northern hemispheres, and their variation depends on the temperatures and host soils, being acknowledged the fact that in alpine climates we can meet Bellflowers reaching up to 5 cm height, in temperate climates reaching up to 2 meters, while in Mediterranean regions a great variety of hybrids of the Bellflower.

      The Bellflowers are annual, biennial and perennial plants which produce beautiful flowers that comprise of 5 lobes usually. The color diversity is not very unusual as it varies between blue to purple, although there are occasions when the flowers occur on white and pink. An ingredient contained by both its leaves and stem is latex, a highly demanded substance in our modern times.

      Not only beautiful in appearance, the Bellflower is known to produce fruit as well, even if they’re not edible. The fruit can be described as a small container which is full of seeds.

      Amongst the famous species included in this numerous family we can mention the Harebell in Britain, the Bluebell in Scotland or the Canterbury Bells, famous for their cultivation in gardens all over the UK. If planted in the garden, the Bellflower needs a well drained soil and as much sun as they can get. They can also grow in partial shade, being quite resistant to unpleasant weather conditions.

      The plant reaches its maturity and it blooms in the middle of the summer, starting with the month of July and extending the period up until September.

      Appropriate to plant in rock gardens or small places, you can be sure that Bellflowers can really add a touch of serenity and colorfulness to your home and garden. Amongst the most popular cultivated species of the Bellflower we can mention: the Campanula punctata or the Little Punky, the Campanula rutudifolia, also known as Thumbell Blue, the Campanula glomerata Superb (Clustered Bellflower) and the list could go on.

      Bellflowers make for very diverse flowers in indoor or outdoor settings. Stemming from their biological makeup, they can also survive in many different climates and surroundings.

      Amazingly beautiful and easy to nurture, the Bellflowers can adapt easily to any garden conditions, lest they don’t suffer from cold or high sun exposure.

Bellflower Pictures Gallery

      Native from Europe and Asia, Crocus is perfect for cultivating it in pots. The flowers have the shape of a cup with sharp or rounded petals and colors like red, white, bicoloured or with dots and striations. Depending on the specie, they can either bloom in spring or in fall.

      The cultivation process when talking about pots has strict rules regarding the pot combination. This should be a mixture between fertile soil, rotted leaves and sand and the bulbs have to be planted at a depth of 8 centimeters. The perfect period in which they should be planted is the beginning of fall or the beginning of august, depending on the blooming period. Regarding the propagation process, in the case of Crocus, the only way of doing it is by transplanting the small bulbs growing at the base of the main bulbs.

      The fact that the flower begins to bloom at the beginning of spring is perfectly explained by the waxy cuticle that protects the flower from frost. Other species related to Crocus are: Crocus chrysanthus, an ideal pot flower, Crocus flavus, Crocus sieberi, Crocus speciosus and Crocus tommasinianus.

      Autum Crocus, a species belonging to the Crocus genus, can become very dangerous if eaten. It contains a chemical known as colchicines that becomes even more dangerous if the leaves are previously boiled.

      Some of the symptoms that suggest a case of poisoning with Autum Crocus are: nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, increased blood pressure, respiratory failure, temporary hair loss and hemoglobinuria. The treatment should be prescribed and taken under the close supervision of a professional.

      Crocus is, as any other plant, sensitive to diseases or pests that can either harm or kill the plant. Some of these diseases and pests are: algae or slime, alphids, black sooty mould, fungal leaf spot, grey mould, rust, powdery mildew, cushion scale, caterpillars, coral spot, vine weevils and whitefly.

Crocus Pictures Gallery

      The Aster belongs to the family of Asteraceae and at first; botanists had trouble with classifying this genus. Before the 1990’s it was considered that the genus contained around 650 species, but after this year the specialists decided that it was better to include some species in other categories and other particular genera, and so the Aster genus now comprises of only 180 species. Some of the most famous species of this genus are: Aster alpinus, Aster amellus, Aster divaricatus, Aster ericoides, Aster pilosum (also known as Frost Aster) and so on.

      The name of Aster comes from the ancient Greek and it refers to the shape of a star, the Aster being amongst those multicolored flowers which delight our eyes with their innocent appearance and their joyful colorfulness. They are known to bloom from August through October, but there have been cases when these flowers were even found in late December.

       The Aster is generally known as the September flower or as the Michaelmus daisy. Even though the Aster can resist up until Christmas, the flower is available to buy all year long through importation from other countries. Very appealing to use at creating bouquets or arranging one’s house, the Aster is mainly cultivated and grown in personal gardens where the care and attention of the owners seems to be just what this flower needs to reach maturity. Very resistant and un-pretentious to the properties of the soil, the Aster can grow even in the areas with less sun or partial shade and also, it can grown in cold and temperate climates.

      One curious thing about the Aster flower is that it doesn’t bloom in yellow or orange shades and it’s only available on white, violet, blue and even purple. The flower does not wither up until 10 day after its cutting and so this makes it even more sought by the florists who are continuously seeking for resistant and beautiful flowers to contribute to their unique floral arrangements.

      Many species of the Aster genus and many hybrids are known to be grown indoors, as people have come to appreciate the beauty of this flower and have found it comfortably easy to cultivate for decorative purposes.

Aster Pictures Gallery

      Poppy, a plant discovered 3000 years ago in the Egyptian Pyramids, used to be considered by some cultures a symbol of deep sleep and death. The first significance is inspired by the opium that can be extracted from it and the second one by the powerful red color that has great resemblance with that of blood. Greeks and Romans considered poppy a symbol of love or a sign of fertility that brings health. Poppy was also used as a symbol in literature and the best example is „The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

      Poppy is a small herbaceous plant that usually grows in groups and that has just one flower per stem. The diversified palette of colors and the not very demanding growing process, alows gardeners to play with it in order to create an explosion of beauty underlined by the fragility of its appearance. The colors can vary from white, pink, yellow, orange, red to even blue and in almost all cases the flower disks have dark centered markings.

      Besides the natural purpose of the plant that is as a garden plant, Poppy plays, because of the opium that can be extracted from it, an important role in producing several drugs or foods. Opium Poppy or Papaver somniferum is the species of Poppy used as an ingredient in producing several drugs and the seeds in cooking and baking.

      Being considered drugs only prescribed by doctors under close supervision, the morphine, the opium alkaloids and the codeine contained by Poppy can mislead people in judging the way in wich the plant was administrated. For example, the seeds produced by Poppy are used as ingredients in several foods such as muffins. It was proven that, if consuming muffins the result can be a false positive drug test.

      Some countries have chosen, because of the morphine contained by Poppy or even because of various religious reasons as in the case of Saudi Arabia, to bann the sale of the seeds.

Poppy Pictures Gallery

      The origin of the Yoshino Cherry is basically unknown and the species is thought to be somewhere between Prunus speciosa and Prunus subhirtella.

      Also known as sakura in the place after which it is named, the Yoshino Cherry enjoys temperate climates, has bronze-toned leaves and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. The flowers have a sweet fragrance, a number of 5 petals that are either white or pink and grow in clusters, creating the impression of a beautiful throng. When talking about the fruit, the Yoshino Cherry is nothing but delicious. Small little fruits that have a diameter of 8 or 10 mm and that contain a delicious juice considered to be a big enemy of clothing, as the stains will most definitely remain on them permanently.

      The elegant, beautiful aspect has turned the Yoshino Cherry into an ornamental tree frequently used in decorating public parks, for example. Because of the pleasant fragrance, the Yoshino Cherry tree is usually planted in a large number, in order to make it even more persistent, obvious and inviting.

      The best growing place for the Yoshimi Cherry is in an acidic soil with very good drainage. As the tree has drought-sensitivity, the root should always be moist and the planting process is to be done after taking in consideration all the requirements, one of being related to the light conditions. Make sure to plant it in full sun otherwise the result will be a one-sided crown.

      Some of the pests that could attack the tree are: aphids, borers, scales of several types and tent caterpillars.

      Several diseases can also harm the tree and in some cases bad weather can make the situation worse. Some of this diseases are: powdery mildew, black knot, a bacterium that causes leaf spot or twig cankers on the fruits and a fungus that affects the leaves by causing reddish spots.

Yoshino Cherry Tree Pictures Gallery

      Inspired by the shape of the flower, in 1735, Carolus Linnaeus has symbolically named it Protea, after the Greek god Proteus known for the infinite amount of forms he could take.

      For those interested in planting Protea, one important aspect is the period in which the planting process should be done. As the plant is very sensitive to high differences of temperature between night and day, the perfect time for planting it is in spring or fall. Pay attention also to the seeds, as the plant needs a slightly acidic soil mixture.

      Protea is also sensitive to fungal infections and, in order to avoid losing your plant use fungicide solutions, not only for the seeds but also in the case of the plant that already reached maturity.

      The watering process should be carefully done, in order to avoid fungal infections. Besides the perfect time to do this, that is most definitely not in the evening, as this can generate even more chances of killing it, avoid also alkaline or salty water.

      The Protea genus gathers more than 92 species, subspecies and varieties such as: Protea compacta, Protea cynaroides, Protea magnifica, Protea nerifolia, Protea obtusifolia, Protea repend and various hybrids.

      Protea cynaroides also named by Linnaeus, was given this name because of the great resemblance between its bud and the artichoke vegetable.

      Protea is very popular among flowers used in dry flower arrangements, especially in wedding arrangements. The diversified genus gathering 92 species offers the possibility of creating astonishing, eye-catching bouquets.

      Even though all the existing species belonging to the genus are eye-catching and unique in terms of aspect, the most popular one when it comes to commercialization is Protea cynaroides.

Protea Pictures Gallery