The Aromatic Flowers, All In Here

Most of us would probably agree that having fresh flowers close to us where we live or work makes us feel good. Recent behavioural research, “The Home Ecology of Flowers Study”, takes a close look at flowers and the important role they may play in our daily lives. Dr. Nancy Etcoff, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School studied the effect of the presence of flowers in the home on people’s moods, feelings, and energy levels.

Of fifty-four participants, ages 25-60, half received a “control” home décor item, other than flowers, and the others received fresh flowers. Participants used a series of self-report measures for up to a week to permit the research team to know where they were and what they were doing at specific periods of the day and to record their emotions. Here are the three main findings:

1. Flowers affect compassion. Participants who lived with fresh cut flowers for up to a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion and kindness for others.

2. Flowers chase away anxieties at home. Overall, people felt less negative after being around flowers at home. They most often placed flowers in kitchens, eating areas, and living rooms and reported a desire to see flowers when they got up in the morning.

3. Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work. People were more likely to report feeling happier and having more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers were present in their home environments.

“As a psychologist, I’m particularly intrigued to find that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings,” Etcoff says. “Our results suggest that flowers have a positive impact on our well being.”

The role of a flower during its life-cycle is to reproduce. The bright colors and scents of a flower are important for a pollination and reproduction. Birds, bats and wind are also important factors for the process of pollination. A flower contains four important parts that are necessary to enable a successful reproduction process.

It provides a platform for the sexual reproductive system of the plant (androecium – male and gynoecium – female) – both monoecious and diecious flowers. Within the flower pollen and ovules are produced normally through the process of meiosis.

Pollination takes place and ovules form into seeds, with the swollen ovary normally forming into a fruit (or seed pod). Flowers are a feature normally associated with angiosperms, and cones characteristic of gymnosperms.

It provides a mechanism to attract pollinators to facilitate pollination (petals) – monoecious flowers and diecious flowers. Flowers provide a visual attractant to many pollinators (insects, birds, animals etc.), this is also sometimes in conjunction with a scented attractant such as nectar. These sensory “lures” attract insects which then transfer pollen between the flowers and facilitate pollination (either cross pollination or self pollination).

It provides a platform for fertilized ovules to develop and be distributed as fruit and seeds – monoecious flowers and female diecious flowers only.

Peonies, like roses, have an ancient pedigree dating back to at least 1000 BC. For centuries, peonies were grown primarily for their seeds, leaves, and roots which were widely used for a variety of ills. The medical value faded in Western cultures as it gained favor with horticulturists, though there is now an renewed interest. Peonies are also a favorite of artists in almost every culture.

Among the many reasons to grow peonies are fragrance and color. Doubles are extremely fragrant whereas single blooms are much lighter. Some have no scent at all. Colors range from white, cream, and ivory through myriad pinks, roses, and dark reds. Several lovely yellows, which are intersectional crosses between herbaceous and tree forms, are also available, though the cost for these rare peonies is high.

Peonies make beautiful cut flowers, though you want to avoid completely denuding your plants, especially when young. Planted at the back of a perennial bed, the deeply cut, glossy green foliage makes a pleasing background throughout the summer for other plants.

Types of peonies

Peonies are available in dozens of varieties including herbaceous and tree forms, The herbaceousPaeonia lactiflora, a native of Siberia, is the Chinese peony with the large, opulent flowers.

Tree peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa) are deciduous shrubs that lose their leaves every fall. They are usually between 3–4 feet tall, but can be shorter or taller depending on the variety. Some can grow as tall as 6 feet.

Paeonia (Peoniaceae) includes woody and herbaceous species, respectively called Mudan and Shaoyao in China. The germplasm is important to the floral and medicinal industries. Although herbaceous peonies traditionally have not been as desirable and popular as endemic tree peonies in China, varieties and hybrids of Chinese origin are increasingly grown around the world for cut-flower production and landscape use (Wister, 1995). Cultivars of herbaceous peonies that originated and were bred in China are nearly all from the speciesP. lactiflora Pall., so even though other species are specific to China (e.g., P. veitchii, P.obovata, P. mairei, P. emodii) (Hong, 2001), P. lactiflora and all its cultivars comprise the plants commonly called the Chinese peony (Wister, 1995). As one of the most ancient crops originating from China, P. lactiflorawas introduced to gardens during the Xia dynasty (1936–1909 B.C.) about 4000 yr ago and become well known before the tree peony became rapidly popularized during the Tang and Song dynasties (619–1279 A.D.) (Cheng, 2007). As an ancient economic crop with splendid floral beauty and an irreplaceable role in Chinese medicine, P. lactiflora has been sustainably developed and selected for desirable traits from generation to generation in China. Today, thousands of its cultivars are widely grown in temperate climates of the world while the species still grows in the wild (Hong, 2001;Wister, 1995).

The germplasm resources of P. lactiflora have brought great changes to peony breeding since being introduced to Europe and America in the 19th century (Wister, 1995). Undoubtedly, P. lactiflora will play a key role in future peony breeding efforts because of its wide ecological adaptation, strong resistance to stress environments, and the variability in flower color and form from the offspring of seeds. Therefore, suitable molecular markers are greatly needed to identify, assess, conserve, and use the germplasm of P. lactiflora, especially those cultivars inherited from ancestors in China where repeated hybridizations over thousands of years and the fluctuating habitats of wild plants have created abundant genetic diversity in the species (Hong, 2001;Wister, 1995). For such an objective, microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) have proven to be effective and useful for the study of genetic diversity in crops (Yves et al., 2005) because of their codominance and hypervariability. In Paeonia, however, available SSR markers are relatively limited (Wang et al., 2009; Yuan et al., 2010; Andreas et al., 2010). In this paper, we report the first development of 10 polymorphic microsatellite primers and their characteristics for the Chinese peony, P. lactiflora.

The availability of tree peony varieties in the United States has been considerably limited. For many years, only a few Japanese varieties were available. A few years ago, we encountered some Chinese and Japanese tree peony specialists. They helped us acquire many beautiful varieties that were difficult to obtain in the United States. As we started to collect these beautiful plants, one thing came to mind: “Why not share this pleasure with other flower lovers. We can provide high-quality tree peonies at prices affordable for any enthusiast.” Thus, the “Tree Peony Garden” web site was created.

We have been collecting, and will continue to collect, tree peony varieties. Our goal is to provide large selections of varieties that have thrived in our garden at State College, Pennsylvania. As we successfully obtain and cultivate more varieties, we will introduce them to you.

If you need to plant or transplant your peony, do it in the fall. Grandma used to say that peonies don’t like being transplanted, and that is certainly true of mature plants. If you must move your plant, give your peony plenty of time to develop a strong, vigorous root system before it faces the double stresses of blooming and summer heat. Experts also advise dividing your mature peony rather than trying to transplant it intact. The bonus is two fast growing plants that may bloom the first year after transplant. A plant that is not divided may not bloom for several years.

Let the plant die back in the fall and don’t rush to cut the foliage. After blooming, peonies offer lovely foliage which will allow the roots to store the nutrition it needs for next seasons flowers. Wait until the first hard frost, then cut stems back to the ground.

Peonies are susceptible to fungal infections. The best way to control the problem is to make sure they have good drainage, air circulation, and clean up clippings in the fall so pathogens don’t have a place to live.

Peonies do grow in pots, but are successful only in large, well-draining containers that can accommodate their huge root system. They need to be fed often (once a month) and protected from very cold temperatures. Peonies prefer to be planted in the ground, so your success may vary depending on your diligence.

That said, peonies really need a good cold period of dormancy. Like many other perennial flowers such as lilacs, peonies need not freeze to produce their summer bloom, but being aware of how cold your winters are means you will be able to select the most appropriate peony for your climate.

Each peony variety blooms for only a week or two at the most. To get a more gratifying peony season, choose several varieties with different bloom times.

Morning Glory are grown from seeds. The seed coat is thick. Nick Morning Glory seeds, or soak it in warm water for a couple of hours, to soften it. This will increase germination rates, and speed the time to germinate the seeds..

Sow Morning Glory seeds early in the season, and cover lightly with 1/4″ of soil. Water thoroughly once. Thin or space plants to a final distance of 6″ apart. They will tolerate a little crowding, if there is ample supports for their vines to spread up and out.

Growing Morning Glories is easy. Morning Glory plants like full sun. Add a general purpose fertilizer when planting them, then once a month after that.

Once your Morning Glories are established, they should grow well, even if left unattended. Soil should be moist, but not wet. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week. Mulch around them to keep weeds down and improve appearance.

Morning Glory are half hardy annuals. They will often survive the first frost, especially if grown along the house or other buildings. They will not survive a hard frost or freeze.

Morning Glory plants like full sun. They will grow in average to poor soils. Add compost prior to planting, if your soil is poor.

Sow Morning Glory seeds early in the season and cover lightly with 1/4″ of soil. Water thoroughly after planting. Thin or space plants to a final distance of 6″ apart. They tolerate a little crowding if there is ample supports for their vines to spread up and out.

For optimum growth, add a general purpose fertilizer when planting them, then once a month after that.

Established Morning Glories require little attention. Ideally, the soil should be moist, but not wet. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week. Mulch around them to keep weeds down and improve appearance.

Morning Glory plants often survive the first frost, especially if grown along the house or other buildings. They will not survive a hard frost or freeze.

Species of morning glories are native of tropical America. Morning Glories are also present in Asia although they also grow in subtropical and temperate regions.

Morning glory is the common name for a number of species of flowering plants in the family the Convolvulaceae, belonging to the following genera: Calystegia, Convolvulus, Ipomoea, Merremia and Rivea.

Morning glories belong to a different genera with slightly different floral, fruit and leaf characteristics but all Morning Glories produce typical funnel-shaped blossoms in white, red, blue, purple and yellow.

The Morning Glory flowers often show marks where the corolla is neatly folded or rolled up in the bud. The Morning glory flowers start to fade 2 hours before the petals start showing a visible curling.

Morning Glories prefer a full sun throughout the day. Morning Glory flowers can be as much as 8 inches across although most are around 4 inches.

The vines grow quickly to 10 feet or more only two months after seeds sprout. The leaves are heart-shaped, and the flowers are normally open from dawn to midmorning, but new varieties will stay open longer, especially on overcast days.

Growing morning glory vine: Requirements are undemanding. Morning glories will thrive in full sun in any soil, especially if it is not too fertile or too moist. Sow the seeds outdoors when all danger of frost has passed. Provide support. Because they grow by twining, they need extra help if planted around large posts. Plant morning glory 8 to 12 inches apart.

Propagating morning glory vine: Start new vines from seed. Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting to speed germination. In the North, earlier bloom can be achieved by starting indoors in peat pots 4 to 6 weeks before planting out. Germination takes 5 to 7 days at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Transplant the peat pots to the garden — pot and all — without disturbing the roots.

Uses for morning glory vine: Morning glories are splendid for enhancing fences or for covering up eyesores. They will rapidly cover fences, arches, pergolas, and trellises or can be made into their own garden feature with stakes and twine. They don’t have to grow up. They’re just as effective as trailers from hanging baskets and window boxes.

When the seeds are chewed up, the effects of the drug will take affect within 30 to 90 minutes of ingestion with results that mimic taking LSD. If Lysergic Acid Amide is extracted from the seeds, it can be injected to produce a more immediate and intense experience, and too many children are aware of this. Morning Glory seeds are available to kids at just about any retailer, but store owners have taken some precautions, such as changing the bar code on the seeds so that the supply can be monitored when a teenager is attempting to purchase them in bulk.

The physical effects of ingesting Morning Glory seeds can have a large range of affects varying from anxiety or panic attacks, distortion of time, space and body image, difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly, severe mood swings, often ranging from a hyper-interested mood to a withdrawn disinterested mood, questionable behavior resulting from the confusion, panic, and paranoia that the drug produces when ingested, toxic psychosis from children suffering from depression, and death.

Unfortunately teenagers have the common misconception that because the drug comes from a natural source, that it’s safer than other drugs, but this just isn’t the case. Signs that teenagers are in fact experimenting include stores nationwide reporting missing packages of Morning Glory seeds, large amounts of the seeds being sold from various retailers, internet searches of the Morning Glory, and hospital visits from teens suffering from spiked heart rates and hallucinations that admit to eating the crushed up Morning Glory seeds.

Growing flowers takes a while, and needs almost daily maintenance it isn’t as tedious as it seems. The first thing that you will need to decide is what flowers you are going to grow, and the location in which you are going to grow them in. Make sure they get some sunlight, but not direct sunlight because that can be just as bad for them then getting no sunlight due to the fact that it can make them wilt, and dry out faster.

After you have found the place that you would like to grow your flowers in the next thing you will have to do is dig. If you want to create a bigger flower bed then you will need to take the top grass layer off of the ground, and make sure you till, make the ground softer, in order to be able to plant and make those plants grow.

Once you have done that to a patch of land then you can decide on which flowers that you will want to grow. There are numerous seeds out there, or you can even buy them already pre-grown, and then grow them from there. If you look on the back of your seed packet then you will notice the estimated growing time for them. They will most likely differ between each type of plants so you should then plan on when you want to plant what at the correct time. If you are creating a bouquet then the best idea is to have the flowers become fully grown at nearly the same time so you can cut, and harvest them together to make the bouquet.

After you have decided when to plant them, and if you have already planted them then all you have to do is wait, and feed your plant. You can use the fertilizer as above mentioned or even that plant food that was also mentioned. Another must you have to do while your plants are growing would be to water them. You do not want to over water them, but you also don’t want to under water them. It can be a little tricky but you will notice when you over water them because the water will stop being soaked into the ground.

When you are gardening with children, simple is best. Growing flowers from seeds can be a daunting task for even seasoned gardeners if they choose a variety of flower that is fussy. Some flowers need special lighting conditions, some need watering done is a specific way, and some need extra food and attention. So if you want to grow flowers for kids to plant and tend- what are the best flowers to grow?

Zinnias – My daughter’s favorite garden flower. They grow tall and produce large, brightly colored blooms. Our favorite variety is Candy Cane. It produces striped blooms. Zinnias are great for centerpiece displays and their beauty ensures that they are always a conversation starter.

Sunflowers – As children, most of us grew sunflowers (even if they lived short lives in a dixie cup). Sunflowers are always a source of fascination with children and adults. Some varieties grow as high as 12 feet, but there are smaller varieties available for those who don’t want that tall of a flower. Sunflowers are pretty, hardy, and bound to make you smile every time you look at them. Planting sunflower seeds are easy and fun to do. You also can harvest sunflower seeds for a delicious, nutritious snack. Planting sunflower seeds and watching the plant grow is a childhood must.

Cosmos- Large seeds make for easy planting for little fingers. An easy flower to grow, eight hours of direct sunlight to the plant will provide you with numerous gorgeous blooms. Colors vary, including pink, orange, red, and yellow. Cosmos make a great flower arrangement element. If Cosmos are left to seed themselves, they will generally return the following year, making them one of the best easy grow flowers.

Daisies – Children have loved daisies since the beginning of time. Daisy crowns, daisy chains, and he-loves-me-not are all games/activities that most kids should have done or participated in by the time they have grown up. Daisies come in multiple colors. Some have a single set of petals, some have double sets. They are as distinct and as unique as each child is. They are another one of my favorite easy grow flowers and every child loves daisies.

Snapdragons – A personal favorite of mine, I remember those lazy summer days when my brother and I would pick snapdragons of varying colors and make them “talk” to each other. A few weeks ago, I picked one from my garden and showed my daughter. She was terrified and thought it would eat her. I felt awful. However, once I calmed her down and explained that it was fun to squeeze the sides and watch the ‘mouth” open, she was loving these playful flowers as much as I do. We grow different colors from light and dark pink, to yellow, red or white and each color has its own style of talking, temperament, etc. Snapdragons remind us of an important lesson – you are never too old to play in the garden.

It was difficult to stop this list at five. Some others I recommend trying are Petunias, Pansies, Johnny Jump Ups (edible) and Nasturtiums (also edible). The best way decide which ones to grow is to take time and choose what flowers to grow with the child. Give him/her some input into colors, shapes, etc. You can guide the decision-making process. Be sure to steer a very young child away from foxgloves and other poisonous flowers, no matter how beautiful or interesting they are. Stick with simple flowers for kids. Large, easy to handle seeds are best to begin with. Move on to more difficult flowers as the child gets older.

You plant flowers, but you harvest so much more than pretty blooms. The seeds you sow aren’t only flowers- they are seeds of communication, camaraderie, and learning. It’s a chance to teach. Be sure to discuss the “whys” of gardening as you go. Growing flowers from seeds is a great way to explain math, science, and vocabulary in a fun, hands-on setting. Look through the eyes of the child and see the world around you in a way you had forgotten. Gardening is a fantastic opportunity to spend time with each other. The best flowers to grow allow you to really enjoy each other’s company in a unique and beautiful environment. Remember – the flowers you plant together will die at the end of the season, but the memories you make will never ever fade.