In the Garden: Dead flowers can be feast for the birds this winter

After such a hot, dry and smoky summer, I can’t blame you for wanting to clean up your yard and move on to other things. But before you get started, I have a request: leave something for the birds to eat this winter.

A few years ago, fall came much earlier than usual. I ended up skipping my yard clean-up and figured I’d catch up in the spring. I’ve heard some gardeners do this on a regular basis but have to admit I was worried about feeling overwhelmed by the time spring arrived.

Every time I looked out a window that fall and winter, I was met with views of untidy flower beds that gave testimony to the “lazy gardener” indoors. Were neighbors and other passersby judging my gardening abilities, I wondered?

One wintry day, something wonderful happened. As I glanced out the window, a slight movement caught my eye. To my delight, I saw a goldfinch perched on the top of a black-eyed Susan seedhead, nibbling away. At one point, it had one foot on one spent flower, the other foot on a second, and was precariously close to doing the splits.

Plants get better as breeders correct their problems

If the only apple I’d ever eaten was a mealy Red Delicious, I would think apples weren’t anything I ever wanted to eat again. But “Fuji,” “Pink Lady” and
“Jazz” are three I relish.

All are apples, but not the same. German shepherds and Jack Russell’s are dogs, but poles apart in looks and performance. With ornamental plants, it can make a world of difference to know the desirable cultivars, and be open to improved forms.
This is not true across the board. If I want a Shumard oak, most any Shumard acorn planted will produce a similar tree, but you could not give me a free magnolia,crape myrtle, or rose of Sharon that sprang up from seed in your yard. I don’t want it.
It’s not free. I’ll put effort into planting and watering, protect it from mowers and dogs, and years from now it might be a decent looking plant...but then again, it might not. I don’t know anything about its genes.

I’d rather go to a progressive garden center that pays attention to breeding improvements. I’ll happily plop down my dollars for a plant that made the big time because it had good DNA. I’ll know the growth habit, the color of the foliage and bloom. I might even get an idea of its eventual size, but truth be known, that information is often dubious.

A few years ago, I would have had no interest in a rose of sharon. Most look lanky and tired. The flower colors are insipid pastel pinks, lavender or white, and spent flowers brought to mind Kleenex littering the ground where they dropped.
Now I am the proud owner of a form called “Purple Pillar,” and picking out a spot to add another called “Blue Chiffon.” These are just two of the “newer models” that have been introduced and have won me over in display gardens.

Flower photography skills

Flowers spend their flowers are no longer satisfied with their appreciation, more willing to shoot out to share with the netizens, where it is necessary to talk about the flower shooting skills, and this article like the flowers of some of the flowers of flowers experience, Skill is helpful.

1. choose thin clouds cover the scattered light weather.

This kind of weather light soft, no light direction of the restrictions, the picture by the smooth surface, tone and contrast moderate, color reproduction is good, the details of the rich performance. After the rain scattered light weather better, the picture of the flowers will look moist and fresh, color seductive.

2. shooting time should be before 10 am.

Flowers through the night moisture, posture tall and straight, bright color, this time the light and color temperature is also consistent with the best shooting conditions. If you bring a small spray to create raindrops, dew effect, will be more perfect. It should be noted that some flowers are open when sunny enough.


3. Use aperture priority mode to blur the background.

When using the aperture priority mode (AV) to shoot close-up of flowers, you should set the large aperture blur background, that is, reduce the aperture value, this is because the aperture value of the size and aperture size is inversely proportional relationship.

In fact, with a manual function of the card machine shooting close-up or macro better use. SLR for large scenes and the vision of the shooting, the lens of the large aperture value is often difficult to meet the requirements of macro shooting.

Enjoy lotus tea on Hanoi’s West Lake

VietNamNet Bridge - Every summer season, lotus ponds next to West Lake are a meeting place for a lot of Hanoians who want to relax and cool off.

Lotus ponds are assigned to households to grow lotus and do business. Hence, in afternoons, when the weather is not so hot or on weekend mornings without sunshine, people gather here to enjoy cool air.

You can take photos, hire a small boat to see lotus blossoms, enjoy a cup of lotus tea or simply enjoy lotus fragrance at West Lake.
You can taste delicious rural dishes such asball cake and peanut candy.
Each tea pot costs from VND30,000 to VND50,000.

While sipping tea, you also have a chance to see people here separate the pistils to marinate tea in the traditional way.

Gilbreth column: Night vigils needed for mysterious flower

The two best months in Charleston (in my opinion) are May and October. It’s nearly a toss-up. Most of the pollen is gone this time of year and everything is fresh and green with the renewal of spring; we’re into the white nights (longest days of the year) that will last from now until a month after the solstice and the anticipation of summer fun adds to the excitement. On the other hand, a perfect and refreshing day in October with the big autumn skies and multitude of colors, low humidity and waning insect population — can it get any better?
Now that the secret is out and the whole world knows that life here in Charleston is pretty sweet, it’s fair to note that sometimes it’s sweeter than others based on climate, seasonal activities, amount of available daylight and so forth. Accordingly, I rate the months out of the year as follows, staring with the best: October, May, April, September, March, August, November, June, July, February, December, January.
I surprise even myself by putting an autumn month as #1. Ten years ago that wouldn’t have happened, proving once again how progressive and amenable to change I’ve become with age (if not confusion.)