http://articles.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/rss.xml A blog about flowerbouquetsandmore.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/?a=36166 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>If you have a rose garden, sooner or later you will have to deal with an outbreak of blackspot. Blackspot is a common fungal disease that affects roses. It is caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae. When you notice a case of blackspot coming on, you must act as soon as possible. If you don't your rose will produce fewer blossoms, and even run a risk of not over wintering.<br /><br />It is very easy to spot blackspot when it is in its later stages, but if you keep a sharp eye out you might be able to find an outbreak in its earlier stages. The first sign that you will see are the tell-tale black spots that form on the leaves of the bush. It is from these spots that the disease gets its name. As blackspot infects a rose bush, yellow rings grow around the original black spots, which start to spread to the underside of the leaves. The symptoms will increase and soon the entire leaf will yellow and wither, before falling off completely.<br /><br />Blackspot is a fungal growth, and so it will spread from bush to bush. If you leave it untreated it can infect your entire garden. It will over winter in the fallen leaves, and on canes that it previously infected. Because it is a fungus, blackspot thrives under warm and moist conditions.<br /><br />The only way to keep blackspot from taking over is to take good care of your roses. Dispose of the leaves that provide shelter for blackspot. Cut off infected limbs and canes from the rose bushes. To treat an outbreak, buy sulphur and fungicidal soap in spring before your roses produce leaves. Spray both onto all affected plants. The fungicidal soap will kill living blackspot, and the sulphur keeps its spores from sticking to the plant. It is important that you keep reapplying sulphur with every rain, because water washes it off.<br /><br />Blackspot cannot germinate if the rose bush is not damp. So do your best to keep your bushes' leaves from getting wet. Don't spray the leaves when you water, or better yet, use a sprinkler hose. Water only early in the day so there will be plenty of sun to dry out the water throughout the day. Keep all your bushes well pruned so that air can circulate around the leaves.<br /><br />Finally, if you come across a rose that displays the signs of a blackspot outbreak, don't hesitate! Prune it immediately. And don't throw the leaves onto your compost pile, but into the trash. Composting will not kill the fungus. Then apply your sulphur.<br />With a little be of care, your roses will look stunning, and blackspot will be easily overcome.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as flower bouquets at <a href="http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/">http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com</a></p> 2006-10-26T23:53-04:00 http://articles.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/?a=36165 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>If you've got the desire to plant a rose garden this year, before you go out to buy a hoe, before you get a shovel, even before you purchase any seeds, you will need to look into which climate zone your hometown is. Because, knowing that there is sun shining outside and spraying Miracle Grow is not enough to get a great garden. You've got to know which plants can grow in your area. And it's more than water and dirt that counts.<br /><br />Gardeners and botanists all agree that the best source of information about what will or will not survive in your location is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The map is made up of eleven climate zones, which span all the 50 contiguous states, Canada, and Mexico. It tells you what the average lowest temperature in any given zone, which determines which plants will survive the winters there. Avocados, for instance, will not grow in Minnesota.<br /><br />When you go to the nursery to purchase seeds for your garden, or to buy potted plants, there will be a guide to tell you what sort of conditions are necessary for each particular plant. If you buy a plant that has not adapted to living in your climate zone, it will not thrive, and most likely, it will die.<br /><br />Now, On To Roses!<br /><br />Now that we've got that out of the way, it's time to move on to the rose garden. Contrary to popular belief, roses are not as fragile as they are believed. You do, of course, have to care for them, but it is far more important that you select a varietal that will grow in your climate zone. If you don't no matter how much care you give them, the roses will die. So choose a variety that can thrive in your location! If you live in a colder zone, choose a hardier rose. If you live in a warmer zone, choose a rose that will take full advantage of the climate.<br /><br />After that, clip, prune, fight off the aphids, and watch your roses thrive! Roses are a great flower that many people want to grow in their yards and gardens. Unfortunately many people are afraid of getting roses because they seem like too much work. But the beautiful red rose is worth all the trouble it takes to keep them up. If you have never tried growing roses it is about time you gave it a try. The next time you are in the nursery or flower store pick up a rose bush and try out your green thumb, you might just surprise yourself.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as flower bouquets at <a href="http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/">http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com</a></p> 2006-10-26T23:50-04:00 http://articles.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/?a=30200 <p>Giving flowers dates back to the 1700s when Charles II of Sweden introduced the Persian custom of &quot;the language of flowers&quot; to Europe. Books about the meanings of particular flowers were published, and entire conversations could be carried out using only a bouquet of flowers.</p> <p>The rose has become the traditional Valentine's Day flower. As it has always been a popular flower, the meaning of the red rose is still well known as the flower of passion and love. The red rose is also the favorite flower of Venus, the goddess of love, which helped give the rose its symbolic meaning.</p> <p>Cupid</p> <p>He is the winged child whose arrows are shot into the hearts of potential lovers. His victims are supposed to fall deeply in love with someone. In both Greek and Roman mythology Cupid is the son of the goddess of love and is always part of celebration of love and lovers.</p> <p>The heart</p> <p>The heart is linked to Valentine's Day because it was once considered the source of all human emotions. The custom of drawing a heart shape is believed to come from early attempts to draw an organ no one had ever seen. The symbol progressed to become known as a sign of love.</p> <p>Why does an X mean a kiss?</p> <p>In the Middle Ages, a lot of people couldn't read or write. When they had to sign a document, they would make an X in place of their name. In front of witnesses the signer would kiss the X to show themselves trustworthy. The kiss has since come to be represented by an X.</p> <p>It's for the birds:</p> <p>Lovebirds are often part of Valentine's Day. Found in Africa, these brightly colored birds sit very close together with their mates, earning them their name. Doves are also part of the tradition. They are symbols of love and loyalty because they mate for life. A pair of doves will also share the care of all their babies.</p> <p>Did you know?</p> <p>&bull; Valentine's Day and Mother's Day are the biggest holidays for giving flowers.</p> <p>&bull; One of the earliest Valentine's Day gifts were candies. The most common were chocolates in heart shaped boxes.</p> <p>&bull; Mostly men buy the millions of boxes of candy and the millions of bouquets of flowers produced for each Valentine's Day.</p> <p>Gregg Hall is a consultant to many businesses and has vast experience in a multitude of areas. For a great selection of <a target="_New" href="http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/">flower bouquets</a> and gifts go to: <a target="_new" href="http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com/">http://www.flowerbouquetsandmore.com</a></p> <!--UdmComment--> 2006-02-15T17:09-05:00