Lavender Hollyhock
Lavender Hollyhock
Organic Flowers, Natural Beauty And Habitat For Pollinators
Organic flowers have risen in popularity largely due to Fair Trade practices that promote small farms in other countries growing organic produce or fruit to earn their own income. The typical bouquet that you would have delivered by a florist or one that You Pick up in the supermarket has been grown in a foreign country where the crops are sprayed with large amounts of herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers exempt from U.S. regulations.
The result is that many of the workers have suffered terrifying illness to the extent that their very DNA has been altered permanently and their immune systems no longer function adequately. There are also links to various forms of cancer associated with repeated exposure to these toxins. Remember that the next time you lean in close to those flowers and take a deep breath and inhale!
It sounds preposterous I know, but some of these same chemicals are used right here in the United Stated on our own crops, just in smaller doses. Think of it as a slow bullet. One such chemical is Glyphospate. It is marketed in the United States under the brand name Round Up. Have you read the warnings on the label? It is there for your protection, that alone should be a warning to you. This chemical is designed to kill, the only problem is that is continues to do so long after the weed is dead.
The United States is facing a crisis and apiarists have been aware of this growing problem for years now. Our honey bee population, butterflies and even hummingbirds have been decimated. Now there is new evidence that the use of cell phones disrupts the bees innate navigational system and they die before ever finding their way back to the hive, leaving the queen and eggs abandoned. It is so common now that is has been termed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Strange as it seems parasites and other wildlife that normally raid honey, after a colony dies refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives. Leave the cell phone in the house may be god advice.
An estimated 60 per cent of its commercial bee population has been lost on the West Coast of The United States and on the East Coast it is estimated that 70 per cent are gone. Many can recall Albert Einstein saying that if the honey bee disappeared man would die off in four years. I really don’t want to test his theory considering his track record. Do you? Now is a good time to start your own organic flower garden to provide a natural and safe habitat for nature’s pollinators. You can do your part by maintaining organic flower beds for bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. There are a wide variety of flowers that you can choose from that bees find irresistible.
Here is but a partial list of the best known varieties. Asters, Buttercups Catnip, Clover, Comfrey, Daffodil, Fennel, Geranium, Goldenrod, Hollyhock, Lavender, Marigolds, Marjoram, Mint, Rose, Rosemary, Sage, Strawberry, Sunflower, Thyme and Zinnias. This should give you a few possibilities to think about.
You will be helping to preserve and reclaim your portion of the environment while your plants absorb carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Did you know it is an old practice for greenhouses to vent exhaust from the heating units into the greenhouse? Plants need carbon dioxide to live and raised levels actually increase plant growth. Growing your own organic flowers is a lot of fun and there is a a natural calming sense when you are outside tending to your flowers. You can start with a simple container and progress to a raised bed garden as space and experience permit.
Declare your garden a chemical free zone and encourage others to follow your example. Enjoy the natural beauty and fragrance without risking the side effects associated with exposure to chemical toxins.
About the Author
Greg Traver is a free lance copywriter and viral marketer who has a passion for organics. His writing is informative and entertaining, which explains why he is featured on millions of websites world wide. To more information or to contact him visit ===>
http://www.organic-gardening-for-life.com
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What do I do next to my sprouted seedlings? Are they Okay?
I have 14 different plants, planted in peet pellets in a little green house dome by Jiffy. 9 of these plants are flowers and 5 are herbs. All of them have begun to sprout, except Lavender and Rosemary. The Hollyhocks were the first to sprout, and now are about 3 inches in height. I have trimmed down all but the strongest seedling in each pellet, but they have begun to fall down by their weight. Will my Hollyhocks be okay? Is there something wrong with my Lavender and Rosemary? Most of my other seedlings are just starting to sprout. What should I do now? Should I put my Hollyhocks in a pot already? Help me!?! -First Time Gardener
Also, I live in Zone 5 in the U.S. I don’t know if you need to know that or not.
Seedlings that are growing strongly need potting on or planting out, especially the hollyhocks – set them deeply enough in the ground to support their weight and firm them in well. It’s hard to say about the others not knowing what you’ve planted, except that in general a newly-sprouted seedling needs enough space in a small pot (3ins) to grow on independently, so its roots have space to grow and there are more nutrients available to the plant. Any flowers that are hardy should be planted out as soon as you can in your area, ie when danger of frost is over if they are tender ones. Lavender and Rosemary are usually propagated from cuttings as these are quicker to mature. Lavender Seeds freely when it’s in the ground, but it may be that it’s one of those things that needs to seed freshly as soon as it’s ready, rather than spend time in a packet. If no joy with Lavender or Rosemary, I’d advise buying a couple of little plants, they’s not expensive, and maybe taking cuttings from them when they’ve grown a bit.
Nature with alternate audio