Magnolia Tree Gardening Blog

Even the most seasoned gardeners will have a question about their garden once in a while, and you can bet that beginners will be full of questions.  Gardening magazines can help with questions that arise involving nearly every aspect of gardening.  Not only will gardening magazines give instructions on gardening, they also provide readers with the latest news in the gardening world. 

Gardening magazine subscribers are privy to all of the latest information regarding things such as new gardening tools, fertilizers, and pesticides that are introduced to the market.  For example, there are always new programs and clubs for gardeners to join, or perhaps a local gardening class that is available.  When new tools are produced, such as a new kind of blower or vacuum, or new kinds of lawn mowers or tillers that are available, a gardening magazine is the best place to get all of the information.  Not only will these magazines tell you about these products, they will also give you options on where to find them and for the lowest costs.

Gardening magazines offer hints and tips on how to rid your garden of those ever pesky insects.  They will also discuss the many ways to recognize and fight diseases that may overtake your plants.  The information you get from these magazines could be what ends up saving your garden.

Gardening magazines usually come with a gardening maintenance section that will instruct readers on things like how to prune, when to divide, which fertilizers would be better for your plants, and how much to water.  They provide simple, easy to understand instructions on everything from how to deal with weeds to planting tulips.

Gardening magazines give ideas about landscaping and, if enforced, could change the entire outlook of your yard or flower garden.  Garden designs can be difficult at best, and magazines can supply gardeners with inspiration and ideas on what will look good and suit their area. 

Garden magazines also give subscribers the chance to write questions to be published so that they can get a specific answer from a gardening professional.  They also provide gardeners with the chance to share their knowledge and expertise with the public by submitting articles of their choice for publication.  One of the highest honors in gardening is to have your lawn or garden displayed in a magazine for everyone to see.  It is definitely the pinnacle of gardening.

Gardening magazines provide gardeners with inspiration, ideas, instruction, and even entertainment. Many times gardening magazines will also provide readers with coupons that they can use to purchase items that will either improve, enlarge, or enhance their gardens.  Gardening magazines are a primary source for both beginner and experienced gardeners everywhere to get all the latest news and age old gardening traditions at the same time.

Wilton Armetale is a new material based on an aluminum alloy, developed by the Wilton Brass Company in 1963. The material has the look of pewter and silver, and is capable of being cast into different forms with intricate, embossed designs.

The US Food and Drugs Administration have also approved the material for food service.

All these makes the material eminently suitable for making cook and serve ware suitable for different environments such as Americana, Artistic, Traditional, Classic and Natural.

We look at some of the American Inspiration products under the Wilton Armetale range.

America Inspired Collections

Wilton had offered an Americana Collection with center ceramic plates with Eagle and other Americana themes. These plates are no longer being made.

The American Inspiration range originates from uniquely American sources. These include American Folk Art, the earlier iron pieces made by Wilton family in the last century and other very traditional pieces such as the Give Us This Day bread tray.

The Antiquity collection includes designs based on American Indian art and American Colonial themes like Doves & Hearts that represent life in American Country of an earlier era.

The Ames Candlestick reproduces a pewter candlestick designed along mid-18th century style and was in the collection of the Ames family of Pennsylvania.

Auto Tags were used as decorative elements for the front of that very American product, the automobile. These are offered referencing hobbies such as fishing, hunting and golfing.

The Beat Up Mug is an authentic reproduction of an early American pewter mug, a nostalgic piece representing rustic Americana of the Country home.

One of the more prestigious projects of Wilton Armetale was its participation in the American Bicentennial celebration. The company produced the Two Handle Porringer and the Barber Bowl from the Revolutionary period, with the Bicentennial Seal of Approval granted by a group of scholars, historians and artists.

The Cantabria is a collection with a Spanish-American perspective, and came with recipes for Spanish food.

The Caudle Cup is based on a pewter design piece of around 1725, and was used to serve a hot drink of wine, eggs, rum and oatmeal.

The Colonial series reproduced the American Colonial era practice prominent families to have their coat of arms engraved on their pewter and silver pieces. The products in this series bear the Wilton family coat of arms. The Colonial Four mugs, on the other hand, reproduces the official government seals of four colonies – Virginia, Ohio, Peter Stuyvesant-New York and Plymouth.

The Copacabana series represent a long beach typical of South Miami beaches, with stylized palm tree and coconuts.

Wilton Armetale commissioned the Designers series from some of America’s leading tabletop and jewelry designers. The designers included Katherine DeSousa, Laura Handler, Dan Reiser, David Tisdale, Ellen Evans and Will Prindle.

The Federal series representing the Federal period in the history of America was an adaptation of a Federal era pewter piece.

The Gates House plate, reproduced from a plate found in the home of General Horatio Gates during restoration, reproduces the original soft patina with a rough finish, and dents and knife marks of the original plate.

Wilton Armetale is a pewter and silver look-alike material developed by the Wilton Brass Company in 1963. The metal was ideal to make cook and serve wares that were inspired by specific themes.

The Artistic Design category is one of the collections created by the company. The emphasis of this collection was on historic reference. It was also more eclectic in applicable environments than categories like Natural, Grand or Classic. The products under this collection interpret historic references in a contemporary manner.

The Artistic Design Collection includes sub-categories like Antiquity, Songs & Sonnets and Visionary. We look at each of these sub-categories in the following sections.

The Antiquity Collection

The products in this collection reference various cultural designs, many of them dating back to antiquity. Ethnic designs of ancient and more recent tribal communities are reflected in this collection.

The tribal motifs include American Indian and African designs used during historical times. Early American folk art designs are also included under the Antiquity category.

The African collection includes pitchers, trivets, bowls, casseroles, chip & dip servers, trays and wine bottle coasters, with rim designs inspired by tribal art displayed on canoes, houses, fabrics, shields and other objects of the tribal communities of Chad, Kenya and several other African countries.

The Doves & Hearts series was based on American folk art motifs, such as the Lovebirds Bread Tray that depicted two lovebirds facing each other with a heart between them. The series seeks to recapture American Colonial, Traditional and Country environments.

Songs & Sonnets Collection

This series celebrates the diversity of the world’s people, as seen through songs, stories, poetry and designs of different communities. We look at a few examples.

The Potlatch series remembered the ceremonial gift-giving festival of American Northwest Coastal Indians. The series included carved Canoe Bowls, Eagle candleholder, a Totem of a Bear and Beaver, a plate with a Raven and Human Face, a tray with layers of masks and faces and a bowl with a Seal design.

The Reggae series employed a festive and whimsical combination of spirals and zig zags to evoke the rhythms of the Caribbean.

The Copacabana series references the deco architecture of South Miami Beach, with stylized palm tree and coconuts along a beach evocative of ocean waves and clouds above.

The Visionary Collection

This collection includes the Scroll, Oasis, Elara, Boston and Free Form series.

The lively scroll designs infuse the symmetry of classical designs with the dynamic movement of the scroll motif.

The flowing lines and sweeping forms of the Oasis series seeks to capture the strength of Italian Futurism and organic flow of Japanese Zen.

Elara is one of Jupiter’s moons, and products in this series have highly polished curvilinear surfaces and sculptured contours, creating a contemporary cosmopolitan ambience.

Free form designs are seen in such collections as those created by Bruce Fox in Free Form Bowls and Banana Leaf Large Servers, and in the Cloud series serving pieces inspired by cumulous clouds.

The Wilton Armetale Artistic collections are indeed eclectic, suitable for varied environments.

Paints, oils, and watercolor are traditional media for art. Over the ages, artists have used them to create stunning pictures that captivate the mind.

There is also another genre of artists that do not use traditional media. Instead, they use other nonstandard materials to make beautiful art. For example, some may use butterfly wings to make beautiful artwork. Some use coins to create an interesting mosaic.

Some of the easiest nonstandard materials to work on are leaves. Leaves come in an infinite number of shapes, forms, colors, and sizes. These factors make leaves a perfect art material.

Here are some wonderful art ideas that you can make easily.

1. Paint spatter silhouettes

To protect the surface you are working on, place some old newspapers on it. Now take a large poster board. Place your leaves on the poster board and arrange it to your liking. Any number of leaves is fine but it is best to restrict the number to around two or three. With the leaves in place, dip an old toothbrush into a color medium; enamel paint usually works best. Hold the brush near the leaves, and run your finger across the bristles, flicking the paint. You can do this process several times with different colors. When dry, lift the leaves carefully; you will see a wonderful bare leaf outline around color splatters. Frame the board and you will have an interesting leaves wall décor for your home.

2. Angel feathers

Magnolia leaves are best used for this project. Start of by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda for one quart of water in a porcelain boiling pan. Lay the leaves in the vessel and pour over the baking powder solution. After boiling for half an hour, set aside to let the leaves cool in the solution. Take the leaves out and scrape the green surface with a knife. Once this is done, you will have a nice shape of a feather.

Make a solution of two tablespoons of chlorine bleach per quart of water. Place the leaves into the solution and set aside for an hour. When the leaves turn white, take them out and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Gently dry the leaves with a washcloth. Once dry, place the leaves between paper towels and press or weigh. Place wires on the leaves for stems and wrap it with florist tape. You can then frame the leaves.

3. Iron-on leaf designs

Choose nicely shaped leaves of different sizes. Then choose the substrate, the material to transfer the design to-be it cloth dinner napkins, T-shirt pocket, stationery, or a hanky. Color the back of the leaf with a bright colored crayon; then colored side on the material.

Cover the leaf with a thin cotton cloth, and press a warm iron on it for a few seconds.

4. Leaf prints

Here is another good leaves wall décor for any room in your house. Lay the leaf on a surface. You can use poster board, but you can be creative by using an unusual material such as papyrus or recycled brown paper. Use the side of a crayon to rub over side of the leaf. You can use as many colors as you like. When you lift the leaf off the material, you will be left with the shape of the leaf.

Congratulations! At last you have decided to have a nice garden for your biggest house. Now the big question is how to choose gardening supplies, which are useful for your garden at nominal price but with good quality. Identifying proper gardening supplies is an important thing for a garden lover like you.

Do you know gardening is an art, which requires tender care and deep passion for growing plants? But the part of the art knows how to choose gardening supplies. Just like that of pet care, you pat them on the head, you take them for walks and you talk to them. Your plant also requires same care from you. You should clearly know how to choose gardening supplies- the gardening trade tools.

As you care your plants, you can visually see how they grow? It can be both fulfilling and gratifying and also teach how to choose gardening supplies is a step towards that goal. You should also know that different kinds of garden require different kinds of garden supplies.

In general most of the garden supplies are available in packages, which deals with a particular type of garden. Hence the first and foremost tip on how to select your garden supplies depends mainly on the type of garden you own or envisioned. Some garden requires specialized watering system and not a water sprinkler, and some garden may require held shovel instead of ditch digger. It is also advisable that you don’t spend more money on the garden supplies.

In case if you are going to make a nice garden, you can contact the nearby garden supply store and may ask them to stock your requirement or in some instances gardening supplies can be made by yourself.  But it is necessary to know how to choose your required gardening supplies won’t pinch out much from your budget.

Another important indispensable matter to consider is knowing the garden supply stores that can accommodate your type of garden. There are multi various garden supply stores, which are specialized in rooftop gardens, indoor gardens, and all the other kinds of gardens. Even you can easily identify the garden supplies stores, which offer alternative garden supplies such as ergonomic garden tools, pest control methods, and organic fertilizers.

If you find no time to visit mortar and stone shops of shopping malls to get your required garden supplies, you can browse and get your preferred garden supplies through online. Online shopping helps a lot to the gardeners by the way of comparing the prices of an individual garden supplies for better tools. In addition to this, online shopping helps to order your garden supplies without leaving your homes, and also get to know the latest trends in gardening supplies. It is noted that some online shops offer discounts for your supply of garden supplies in their shops. So go visit the online garden supplies to get a product at nominal price with esteemed quality.

The beauty of flora with their enjoyable perfume, faintness and manifold insignia charm the people around the world. There are many types of flora found around the world.

The plants can be classified in many habits according to the purpose. Their beauty mendacity in their suppleness, their pleasant aroma and their diverse flag. Flowers have also enjoyed exclusive place in the hearts of lovers and poets. Many different types of plants can also be found in mythology, sacred signs and myths of different races.

In the broader brains, the types of plants can be classified as three groups , Single Flowers, Clusters and Inflorescence. Single Flowers are found at the tip of the long follow on the diverge of the conceal. Magnolia and Tulip are examples of this capture. Clusters are a group of flowers compactly formed in kindling. Pentas, mango and firethorn are some examples of this brand of flowers. Inflorescence is arrangement of groups of flowers. The spectacle has a great assortment in among different types of flowers.

Spring spell is synonymous with flowers and it brings with it an array of unusual blossoms known as jump flowers. Tulips are the most well known coil flowers. Other common helix flowers are the, crocus, dahlias, lilies daffodils and hyacinth. A unsullied garland of bounce flower arrangement can make a great flower gift and liked by one and all.

Roses are considered sign of honey and romance. Red roses are particularly celebrated as lovers switch roses everywhere. Valentine’s being are incomplete without red roses. Usually lone red roses are sued to say “I worship you”. Tulips are whispered to have originated from the Middle East expanse and enjoyed the location of the emblem of the Turkish Empire about a thousand days ago. Tulips embody dreaminess, imagination and declaration of love. Iris is named after the Greek goddess Iris. Iris also represents meaning along with faith, heroism and wisdom by its three grass. It is the pictogram of royals and divine protection through centuries. Daisies have white petals with fair centers. Daisies are flawless to show that you trouble. The variety and beauty is spectacular in lively colors. They are symbols of friendship and innocence.

Flowers are loved universally for their beauty and perfume. Flowers have been worn to embody the creature sentiments over the centuries all over the world.

I think you know very well about the rules and regulations to keep your plants to grow healthy in your garden. For getting sustainable growth of your garden plants you do require good soil quality, sunlight and sufficient water. Although these items have been gifted by nature, you ought to require modern gardening tools to upkeep your garden in a good state. Gardening tools help a lot in taking care of your plants as well as the good growing conditions and positive effect on your plant’s health.

Defective gardening tools might have cause injury on your plants or cut your plants or totally plug your plants from the soil. In order to prevent the occurrence of such untoward incident, it is a must to look for the best gardening tools, which will provide your plants loving tender care. Once you called a tool as ‘Best gardening tools”, it refers to a tool, which will permit labor saving methods and that allows energy efficiency.

Here you can see some of the best gardening tools available in the market to provide a better care than ever for your plants in the garden.

Lawnmowers
Luxus Push Reel Mower rated as best by the gardening aficionados provides large top cover that protects overhanging flowers and shrubs. Another special gardening tool called American Lawn Mower Deluxe has also been accredited as best which will be helpful to operate on elbow grease alone and also causing no pollution. But this is not conducive for too tall grasses.

Garden Shredders
In general all the garden shredders have a high power motor and come with a silent crushing system. This kind of gardening tool used to accelerate your shredding activity.
Garden shredders with electric shredder is an easy to assemble gardening tool, which aids in tree pruning with maximum of 40 mm and making healthy hedges. This gardening tool is considered to be a best among all the garden shredders since it is available with a plunger for increased portability and built-in wheels.

Cultivators
These modern gardening tools are available with patented tines to help in cutting the hard compacted soil smoothly. Cultivators are available with a free border edger. It is perfect to use in cleaning the moss, aerating and in thatching. This garden tool helps extensively in preparing vegetable plots, flowerbeds, etc.,

Leaf sweeper
These gardening tools are extensively used for smaller lawns. It is having an infinite height adjustment with 200-liter collector.

Edge Trimmer
This gardening tool has also been accredited as important equipment by the gardening equipment reviewers. This aids in trimming the hedges and also aids in plant pruning.

Spading fork
This is a wonderful gardening tool used for aerating and transplanting.  By using this gardening tool it is possible to perform splitting grasses and perennials. In addition to this these gardening tools helps a lot as the job of a manure fork, mulch, sorting hay, for tiny gardens.

Mattock
Mattock is an important gardening tool for breaking up the clay soils and also working around established trees with the roots. There is no need to have a pick and a hoe and handles in your garden, if you are having mattock with you.

Before you leave the garden center, it is highly advisable to have a look at these check list of gardening tools and confirm if you’ve got all the gardening tools you’ll need to make your garden just like that of spring to life.

Wilton Armetale developed the aluminum alloy based material that they called Armetale, combining ‘art’ and ‘metal’. This metal was capable of being cast and worked upon by hand.

The Wilton Company’s emphasis was on producing themed cook and serve ware, and incidentals with the new material. This was not a problem as US Food & Drugs Administration had approved the material for food service.

The range of themes was varied, and included Antique, Natural, Classic, Americana and Artistic. In this article, we look at products with themes of different holidays.

Christmas Season

The 12 Days of Christmas series consisted of Christmas Tree ornaments, depicting Partridge to the Drummers, one each year. While 1978 saw the Partridge the last one in 1989 showed the Drummers. These are not being produced any more.

Wilton Armetale has continued to introduce other items like collectible plates, and serving pieces such as trays, dinner plates, mugs and bowls each Christmas season. Traditional Christmas songs, Street scenes, Angels and other religious depictions adorned these items.

Christmas tree motifs, in alternating green and red, were the theme of a festive Christmas service series that included a goblet and a crested mug with a ceramic insert. A more formal alternative to the trees series was the star topped tree in an oval signet, accented in red.

The White Holly series that included three plates, a wine bottle coaster, a trivet and a goblet had decorative rim motif and was accented in white.

The Christmas series are collectibles and heirlooms, and could be used for presenting food on the table, or for displaying on the wall.

Halloween

A dancing skeleton is the theme of the dancing skelly series of Halloween season products that include an oval tray, large round bowl, trivet, large round tray and wine bottle coaster.

Easter Collection

The Easter collection combines the scenes of spring and the traditional celebrations associated with Easter.

The collection includes a bunny egg tray and bunny bread tray depicting a bunny among undergrowth and hen egg tray with a hen on her eggs in the middle.

Wilton Armetale Holiday Range

Though probably not as extensive as many other themes, such as artistic and Americana, Wilton Armetale’s holiday collections do effectively celebrate the spirit of the holidays. The products are both collectibles and utility articles that could last a lifetime.

The holiday range is supplemented by Grill ware that can be used for both grilling and serving. The grill range includes trays, saucepots, bowls, platter, griddle, trivet and a vegetable griller.

Cut Worms- The cutworm attack many types of vegetables, especially lettuce and brassicas.

Control- Biological Pest control: There are several types of beneficial insects available which, when released, will attack a particular pest species. The trichogramma wasp lays it’s eggs on the eggs of cabbageworm, cut worm, corn borers, and others. The larvae feed on the eggs and destroy the host eggs.

Earwigs- Earwigs can be a real pest in the garden, second only to snails and slugs. They eat almost anything soft. They do have some good points however, as they eat insects such as aphids. Unfortunately they also feed on soft plants. They can do quite a lot of damage if there is a high population.

Control-Earwigs are nocturnal, coming out to feed at night, and running back to hide in a moist, tight fitting place during the day. You can trap them by putting out moistened, tightly rolled newspaper or corrugated cardboard in the evening. In the morning dispose of the paper and the trapped insects.

Flea Beetles- Flea beetles can do extensive damage to many crops. There are a number of species of Flea beetles, they are tiny little black or black and yellow, insects that hop when you touch them, much like a flea. They chew little holes all over the foliage, and left unchecked, can cause crop failure. Flea Beetles are most active in hot weather conditions, and seem to disappear once the weather turns cool.

Control- A natural way to control flea beetles is to start early, while the plants are still small, sprinkling Diatomaceous Earth (DE) to the leaves. As the name implies, diatomaceous earth consists of tiny little diatoms from the ocean that have been dehydrated into a powder. It is available in many garden centres, or nurseries, or web sites and is relatively inexpensive. The powder is razor sharp to soft-bodied insects and soon inflicts fatal damage. The most important thing with using this control is that you are vigilant about re-applying it after rain.

Leatherjackets- The larvae of the harmless Cranefly or Daddy-long-legs are the notorious and destructive Leatherjackets. They feed underground on many types of plants roots, bulbs and tubers, and are a common pest on the lawns, where they cause patches of grass to die.

Control- A good way to deal with them is to soak the grass with water or it can be done after a heavy rain, lay sacking or a sheet of black plastic weighted down with bricks or some other reasonably heavy objects. This will bring them to the surface where they can be collected and disposed of. If this seems an unpleasant task then the biological control is an option.

Mealy Bugs- A common soft bodied, 2-7 millimetres, oblong, waxy white insects move very little, and look like cotton tufts. They mature slowly and live in colonies that are usually located at stem joints. Like aphids, mealy bugs excrete sticky honeydew. Mealy bugs are fairly easy to control, since they reproduce and move slowly. Control- By spraying the plant with a strong stream of water. Spray with non-detergent soap and water with a drop of alcohol mix.

Millipedes- Snake Millipedes are often mistaken for wireworms and they feed on the roots of many plants. They can destroy the sown seeds of peas and beans, and often extend the damage caused by slugs and wireworms.

Control- A biological control involves a predator beetle Cryptalaemus.

Red Spider Mite-These minute orange insects feed on leaves, turning them dull with yellow mottling, often with a covering of fine webs. Common under glass, but they can also attack outdoor plants such as fruit trees, especially in hot dry seasons. Control- Discourage them by regularly misting or hosing foliage to keep humidity high. Under glass introduce Phytoseiulus persimilis a predatory mite.

Scale Insects resemble small, discoloured blisters on stem or leaves. Their bodies are protected by scale, which varies in shape, and colour according to the species, and they live their lives sucking the sap through elongated mouthparts. Brown Scale is chestnut brown, about 1/8-inch long and very convex, often found on bark of plums, peaches and soft fruits. The Mussel Scale is flatter, grey and shaped like a mussel shell, is found mainly on apple trees but can occur on other trees or shrubs. Cushion Scale is prevalent under glass attacking orchids but also infests camellias and magnolias. The Rose Scurfy Scale is a flat, white scale found encrusting the stems of roses, especially in sheltered places.

Control- Easily controlled with biological treatments. For hard scale use Chilocorus. Soft scale use parasitic wasp Metaphycus helvolus available from the Garden Centre.

If there’s a gardener on you list to buy for this holiday season you have quite a bit to choose from. Any gardener would appreciate reference guides or other garden related books. They’ll also appreciate a quality garden tool or a bag to organize and carry them. Add decor to a yard with a garden accent such as a sundial. Allow your friends keep their feet dry in the garden with a pair of clogs.

Pruners are an essential part of the gardener’s tool collection. As a landscape professional, I know the value of well made garden tools. They’re the difference between a pleasurable gardening experience and frustration. Qualities to look for in a pruner are reliable, sturdy construction and a soft grip.

Garden Bag Gift Sets are great way for the avid gardener to organize and carry tools. Since a garden bag carries sharp tools, choose one that is well made and easy to carry. Some garden bags will include some products to add to your collection of tools such as towels and hand rakes.

Garden clogs are wonderful since they provide protection for the gardener’s feet while in the garden. Along with keeping feet dry, a pair of soft clogs are comfortable enough wear all day while working in the garden. Waterproof clogs are also easy to clean up.

Garden benches can transform someone’s garden or patio into a sanctuary. They’re great as they allow you rest and view the landscape. Choose a bench which will add character to the garden as well as a place to relax. Garden benches can be traditional or modern. Benches made from eco-friendly, weather-resistant wood are long lasting and age beautifully.

Birdbaths are an attractive way to enhance a garden or turn a backyard into a wildlife habitat. Depending on the type, birdbaths can either be hung from a branch of a tree or placed on a stand in the garden. Styles can vary from very simple and modern to ornate and decorative. If the water will freeze in the winter where you live, consider including an ice melting device so the birds have adequate water in the winter.

Sundials are classic garden decor. A decorative one, such as a Butterfly Sundial, is perfect for any garden. Decor such as this gives character to the garden and helps make it unique.

The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants is great for gardeners seeking specific plant information or general gardening advice. It covers 15,000 trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials, annuals, rock plants, bulbs, and succulents. It’s an ideal reference guide for those who want descriptions of popular plant species.

Garden Gloves are essential when pruning roses, raspberries or other thorny shrubs. Look for gloves that provide a balance between dexterity and protection. Leather or canvas usually provide the best protection.

Gardeners are generally easy to please and patient. Any of the gifts listed above are sure to put a smile on their face.