This flower is grown mainly for garden color. The floribunda grows lower, which can be a positive attribute. Known as a cluster rose, the floribunda tolerates neglect better than any other rose type except shrub roses. A floribunda is a good landscape choice because it can provide an almost nonstop source of color.

Positive aspects of the floribunda include: abundant flowers, long-lasting blooms, versatile for landscaping, can be used as a hedge or just to accent the landscape, some have a more intense fragrance than most other roses, and they have a delicate appearance.

Negative aspects include: not eligible for Queen of Show, need plenty of feeding, fare far better on a regular feeding schedule (be sure to consider this if you are the type of person who forgets to feed your plants or just doesn’t have the time to devote to a regular feeding schedule), takes 3 years to reach maturity, has shorter stems, and has a small size.
Floribundas will be healthier with good air circulation; so when pruning, it helps to leave the center of the bush open. If you have trouble remembering when to prune, prune near a holiday or a special day during the pruning season. If you leave the older canes when pruning, you are rewarded with larger amounts of color later. Also, take care to remove a cane that rubs another. Pruning will aid in air circulation, which helps to cut down on insects and disease as well.

Other things to remember to maintain healthy floribundas that are grown in pots are: plenty of root space, good drainage, a pot that is heavy enough to sustain against wind should the pot be kept in an area more susceptible to windy conditions, a pot that is wide enough to provide stability. [ A word of caution: saucers under pots can invite root rot.]
Even in floribundas, chemicals are needed to control problems. Concentrates must be applied with care so as not to cause leaf burn.

Some interesting names of existing floribundas are: Playboy, Playgirl, Pure Poetry, Eye Paint, French Lace, Show Biz, Cherish, and Trumpeter.

If you wrap your roses in paper or foil, then plunge them deep into water, it will keep their stems from sagging should you desire to display them.

The word floribunda alone could be a helpful source of entertainment for a gardening parent. Give your child a pencil and piece of paper while you garden and ask he/she to see how many words they can make from the letters in the word floribunda!

Although very well-known in the southern states of the United States, an antique rose plant can also be found in other parts of the globe, including China, Canada, and Russia to name a few. Some places in the United States that are known for antique roses are: Brenham, TX (Antique Rose Emporium), Sebastopol, CA (Vintage Gardens), Laurens, SC (Roses Unlimited), Eustes, FL (Seminole Springs Antique Rose and Herb Farm), and in Canada (Pickering Nurseries, Inc.).

If you want your roses to stay strong in the winter, you must be sure to not neglect them in the summer months. A healthier plant is a hardier plant. It is said that the fall’s cooler temperatures will stimulate the antique rose plants. It makes sense when the cooler weather also stimulates us humans. Doesn’t a cold shower tend to get the blood flowing? While I wouldn’t recommend giving your roses a cold shower, except by nature’s own rain, I wish only to make a point.

Many people start roses from cuttings. I am not one blessed with a “green thumb”, so I have yet to try this. It is interesting to think that only a piece of another plant could produce a thing of such beauty when tended properly.
Certain things should be taken into consideration when growing antique roses. Things such as the PH balance of the soil, insects, proper grooming and pruning, fertilizing, fungus, mildew, and a late freeze are some things to guard against.
Certain things that a rose might coax for your viewing pleasure, are bumblebees and butterflies. There are sure to be human visitors ready to pour their admiration for your beautiful antique roses.

Keep in mind that some plants will bloom only once a year, so make your selection carefully. Be sure to consider your climate as well. Protect your investment and you won’t be disappointed. The price of quart sized pots range anywhere from $5.95 to $15.95-US dollars.

Antique rose memorabilia can be found in many shopping places that sell flowers. If cash is an issue, you can check discount shops, auctions, garage sales and flea markets.

You can find items with antique rose themes in jewelry, paintings, valances, lamp shades, bedding, photo frames, stationery, and posters, to name a few.

Just the name, “Antique Rose”, carries a hint of romanticism, class, and a certain sophistication. There is the old saying that a rose by any other name is still a rose! Ahhh, but the many kinds we are blessed with! And the name of this such kind seems to demand respect.

The longer a compost is allowed to decompose the finer, darker, and richer it becomes.  But you do not have to wait until it reaches this state to use it.  If you want to use the compost as mulch for your flower beds or other areas of your garden you can use it when it is still in a chunkier state.  The mulch is used to keep an even temperature for the soil and discourage weed growth.

If you are going to be using the mature compost to add to your planting pots, the compost should be at the last stages of the process.  Things to look for to know that your compost is ready are:

* The amount of material that is in your bin is reduced to approximately half of the original contents.
* When you look at the finished material, you can not tell what it used to be – no parts are recognizable.
* The pile will no longer be as hot (if using the hot composting method)
* The compost is dark in color and looks very much like a rich top soil

In order to have a steady supply of mature compost it is recommended to have a two-bin system going.  Once your first container is full, you can continue to compost with the second bin until you can use the material from the first.

A homeowner can create a compost bin or pile to reduce the amount of trash they are throwing away.  As an added benefit they are creating a fertilizer for their house plants or garden plot.  Since compost bins require green food (grass clippings) and brown food (organic waste) you can collect your grass clippings and add them to your bin too.

On a farm, crops can produce a lot of waste.  A farmer can use crops that are not consumable and add them to a compost bin along with manure from any livestock they may keep.  Once the compost matures and is ready, the farmer can use the material for added nutrients in the soil; build up low spots in his field; and to keep the soil healthy – mature compost has the ability to prevent weed seeds from sprouting.

A professional landscaper can create compost material for clients that want only natural or organic materials used on their lawn or flower beds.  This can be a low-cost material for a landscaper to utilize providing his clients with Earth-friendly options with a low overhead cost.

If you like the idea of composting but do not have the space or time to create one, check with your city or municipality’s recycling center.  Some will accept your yard waste and clippings for a city compost heap.  This material will then be used throughout the city’s parks and gardens.  In certain centers they may let the residents utilize the mature compost for their own needs too.

Schools will utilize compost to teach the students the process of decomposition and to teach children what we can do to help our planet.  This is in addition to the cost savings for the school in up keeping the grounds and park.

In Latin Christian iconography, the first use of the rose appears in the scenes representing the next world. Also used were the lily and other flowers. These flowers also became symbols of virtues and of categories of the elect. The red rose represented the martyrs, and the lily, for the virgins. The rose as the queen of flowers, was evidently a privileged symbol for Mary. She is called a rose among the thorns. The rose is also a symbol of Christ who is called the Rose of Sharon.
Wonderful examples of this symbolism are found in the gothic cathedrals and their rose windows. These circular stained glass windows enhance the three entrances of these churches. These immense roses symbolize the world of salvation offered and revealed by God to our lost human race through the old and New Testaments. Christ, at the center of these rose windows, appears usually as judge or in the mystery of his Incarnation. In the latter example we see Mary presenting the Child Jesus.
During the Middle Ages the theme of the rose garden developed from the symbolism of the rose in the literature of courtly love.

In the literature’s of these times the rose was the symbol of the beloved lady. Later the influence of the Song of Songs led to the rose symbolizing the mystical union between Christ and his Church or between God and each member of his people. Mary was honored as the model of our union with God. The rose then became a symbol of the union between Christ and Mary thus titled the Mystical Rose in many writings. Marian symbolism of the rose was later popularized by the devotion of the rosary. The structured prayer form of 150 Hail Mary’s was termed a “rosary.” Here, with the religious, the symbolism of the rosary stands as an anthology of spirituality.

Our Lady of the rosary is Our Lady of the roses. The roses are the symbols of greeting offered to the Mother of God. The religious greet her with spiritual flowers.

Another use of the rose as a spiritual symbol is symbolic. The rose became a moral emblem to illustrate various old sayings or rules of conduct. For example: “Life is a rose. Its beauty fades rapidly.” “As the rose blossoms under the sun, I shall blossom under the eyes of God.” “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.”

The rose also symbolizes the trials and tribulations of life. There will be pain amongst the beauty, blooming even in the deserts of life and thorns within the trusting of the Vine. The rose, whether depicted through the Virgin Mary or The Christ, is a symbol of love, passion and perseverance throughout all the ages and the ages to come.

Bonsai harvesting, as I already mentioned, needs some effort, time and a lot of other investments on your part. Remember, a bonsai is a plant like any other. It needs sunlight, it needs oxygen and water, and all the other nutrients to prepare its own food and stay healthy. In addition to these, it needs other artificially provided nutrients for it to maintain the size and shape you desire it to have. The job becomes even more difficult when it comes to harvesting indoor bonsai plants. They embellish your home like no other, but they need equal care and concern.

Choose a plant for bonsai formation that is suited to be kept at home and indoor. These plants should not need much direct sunlight and a minimum regular exposure to direct sunlight should be able to do the trick. Plants like the Chinese Pepper Tree, the Chinese Bird Plum, Chinese Privet and the Chinese Elm form ideal indoor beautiful bonsai species. Other indoor bonsai gardening plants are the Fig Tree, the Buddhist Pine, Serissa Foetida or the Tree of a Thousand Stars and the Fukien Tea Tree. These plants need less amount of direct sunlight and that is why they can survive being stored indoor.

The bonsai plants are not only an additional element in decorating your room. It also enables the flow of positive energy in your room and that is how it can influence the people staying in your house and instill the same positive energy in them. You can mould the bonsai into a shape you want. But be moderate while you are pruning a bonsai, because a careless cut here or there may cause your plant to die. Also remember to be proportionate while watering your plant. Bonsai plants need a lot of water but a gardener knows what “a lot” means. Too much of water can even rot the roots and underground stems of your bonsai.

Always remember to place your plant where it is lighted. Feed it with adequate fertilizers but make sure that you use bio-friendly fertilizers, because it means health for both you and your plants. It is always recommendable that you grow your bonsai outdoors in case you are a beginner, and bring it in occasionally. But if you want to opt for growing it indoors, make sure you have kept certain very important points in mind. A beautiful bonsai is the gardener’s pride. For more tips on bonsai gardening, consult a local professional.

Suppose I give you an image flower lovers can appreciate? Imagine a field such as seen under the warm California sunshine. It’s a grapevine field, with rows and rows to fill. Now substitute the grapevines with climbing roses! What a vision that would be to behold.

However, you must choose your climber with care, for some are only able to tolerate small amounts of sunshine and will bloom only with the proper amount of sunlight. You’ll need to keep it properly pruned for the better health of the plant. It will need plenty of room to spread its spectacular beauty. Some climbers grow taller and larger depending upon their climate. You’ll need access to the taller parts of the plant. You may decide to shape it.

Some questions to consider are: ‘how often will you want the climber to bloom’, ‘will you want a certain color theme among your climbers’, ‘would you need to treat it for bugs native to your area’.

A climber and a rambler are different types of rose plants. Climbers need to be tied to a structure to maintain stability. They have heavier vines, or canes if you will, than the rambler. The rambler’s vines are more flexible and must be trained to grow over an object.

As with many flowers, the best time to plant a climber is at least 6 weeks before the first hard frost or in the spring or fall when the weather is cooler, but not wintry. You could start the plant indoors and then move it to the garden. Build a teepee of wooden poles; make sure the height of the legs will suit your container; wind nylon wire or string in a criss-cross fashion around the poles to give the plant places to grab as it works its way up the poles.
An easy idea for use with climbers is a trellis, which is made with either lumber or plastic. Although, personally, I would think the plastic surface would be harder for the plant to grab and hold. You could substitute nylon netting in place of the string or wire.

If you have little ones who want to help garden, you could buy popsicle sticks for them to glue together in lattice fashion for use with your climber. If you are comfortable with the art work of a child, you could have he or she paint the container and put their own pictures and letting on it. One idea that may be of interest to moms or grandmothers is to allow the child their own climbing garden area. It would teach them the wonders of the rose on a level they could accept more readily.

After you have picked a level site for your composting bin, you will need a good base for the bottom of leaves and high-quality soil.  The leaves should be chopped or chipped so that no one piece is larger than two-three inches (this is a good rule of thumb for all materials added to the bin).

Once your bin and base are in place you can start to add your green food (nitrogen-rich) and your brown food (carbon-rich).  The ratio that should be roughly followed is one part green for every two parts brown.

Monitor the pile every other day for moisture control and temperature.  During this time you need to rotate or turn the pile to get good air flow inside the pile and to help with odors. 

Once your pile is full or has finished the heat phase, let it cure.  The length of curing will depend on your intended use of the finished product.  To eliminate any larger pieces of organic matter that did not break down use a screen to sift them out.  But if you follow the rule of not putting in anything that is larger than three inches this should not happen.

A compost humus can be ready to use in as little as 3-4 weeks with a hot composting method and maintenance to the pile on a regular schedule.  If you are going to use the cold (or inactive) method of composting, it can take up to one year for usable compost to be ready.

Many fertilizers that you purchase at your garden center contain artificial or toxic elements to make your lawn look nice – not necessarily healthier.  The benefit of this type of fertilization is the ability to purchase a mix that meets the needs of your specific lawn.  If your lawn is too dry, patchy, or has a lot of weeds – there is a product available that can target each problem (be aware that a pesticide is part of this solution).  If you are using a commercial mix in your garden, read all labels carefully to ensure the product is safe to use around vegetation that is going to be consumed.

In contrast, when you use compost humus as a fertilizer there isn’t a lot you can do to customize the end result.  But the good thing is, you don’t really need to.  Mature compost is a process that occurs naturally (in a forest, the leaves on the ground are composted with only help from Mother Nature).  The compost contains a wide range of benefits for your lawn that do not involve chemicals.

It will really depend on your personal preference whether or not you use commercial fertilizer or compost.  If you like the idea of using compost but not the idea of making it yourself you can purchase the compost from some gardening centers.  Also contact your city’s recycling department, they may have a program set-up that allows residents to donate food and other organic waste for composting and then share in the mature compost when it is ready.

Create a calendar of things to do in your garden for routine maintenance throughout the summer growing season and follow it is closely as time and the weather will allow. Make sure this list allows for upsets such as a week of rain or a week of no rain as well as time to adjust for these inconsistencies and an inability to work in the garden when temperatures are well over the mark on the thermometer that reads uncomfortably hot. By having a list of things to do written down in a place where it can be seen it will weigh more heavily and be much more likely to be accomplished than if it were out of sight and out of mind.

Make sure you keep your garden weeded, watered, mulched, and fertilized according to the needs of specific plants within your garden. Check for leaves that are turning yellow and any pruning that needs to occur on a weekly basis. Remove the leaves and perform necessary cutting when needed and remove all weeds whenever the opportunity or need arises. If weeds are becoming a prevalent theme you may want to increase the amount of mulch being used in your gardening efforts.

Trim the areas of your lawn that need trimming in order to create a more uniform appearance between lawn and garden. You do not want to ignore the beauty of your garden because your lawn is looking shaggy and unkempt. Devote a little time to lawn care in order to keep your lawn and garden on a consistent scale with one another throughout the summer gardening season.

Make sure that you carefully study each plant that you have in your garden and are aware of any special needs that exist for one plant over another. If your plants that need shade or extra water are either receiving too much sunlight or not enough water you need to make efforts to add shade to them and get more water to them throughout the remaining months or you risk losing the investment of time and money you have already made in procuring and growing these plants.

Taking proper care of your garden during the summer months can make the fall harvesting process go a lot more smoothly while also helping prepare for the planning that will occur in the winter months ahead. Learn from the maintenance of your garden and plan the next garden with the needs you became aware of this season in mind. Always take time to learn from both your successes and your summer gardening failures for the best possible results. Learning to maintain your garden is the best way to determine whether or not you want to attempt a more or less ambitious garden in future growing seasons.