Magnolia Tree Gardening Blog

Posts Tagged ‘America’

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.

Everyone has a different idea about the best approach to garden landscaping. Canadians and North Americans may consider colonial layout the “classical” gardening landscape. Old-world types may prefer the use of Greco-Roman styles and statuary as the centerpiece in their gardening landscape. Others will consider the charm and elegance from the well-known gardens in Tuscany to be the standard classical gardening landscape.

Even with largely differing opinions, and they are just opinions, few gardeners argue against the traditional formal rose garden as The Classical gardening landscape. Kings and queens of old Europe, and their aristocratic hangers-on, much preferred the formal rose garden for their romantic dalliances and high teas. The rose garden has long been a favorite spot for relaxing, entertaining, and soaking up the sensual fragrances of this most popular flower.

A truly classic formal rose garden should be completely symmetrical, each side mirroring the other, with plenty of lawn areas separating the well laid-out beds. Garden beds should follow classic lines and curves, even creating an image or design. Surrounding the garden with neatly trimmed evergreen hedges is a wonderful way to frame the classic rose gardening landscape. A bluestone patio adorns one end of the rose garden, balanced by a reflecting pool set within more bluestone at the opposite end. Evenly-spaced stepping stones or an elegant stone path connects the two ends and provides a way for visitors to enjoy the garden without trampling the neatly trimmed lawn.

For many gardening landscape enthusiasts, the classic sundial is the perfect centerpiece or focal point to the garden, although an elegant foundain or birdbath might also add the desired effect. Your focal point should be circled by a small hedge and stepping stones or stony path so that visitors can take their time and enjoy this point of interest as they take in the wonderful sights and fragrances surrounding them.

Other smaller pathways radiate out from the focal point to lawn areas with benches and lawn chairs or trellises and pergolas providing support for lovely flowering vines and shade for lingering to read or meditate in this peaceful environment. These additions are placed so that stone paths or stepping stones form a large cross that divides the garden into even quarters. Benches aside the reflecting pool are accompanied by rose planters, and more planters of roses lend decoration to the patio at the other end. The patio is framed by trellises and flowering vines on either side.

On the sides of the classic garden are three oval-trimmed trees, complimented at their base by beds of blooming flowers. In the early spring, these flowers add color to the garden while the young roses blossom. In the fall, the blooms compliment the fading roses and maintain interest in the classic gardening landscape. Evergreens line the back of the classical gardening landscape, and each corner is highlighted by a neatly-trimmed evergreen to give visual balance.

The classical gardening landscape’s hallmark is its sense of order, peace, and comfort. Accented by cobbled paths, its lines are strong and symmetrical, their impact softened by the delicate rose blooms and vined overhead arbors. You’ll find many examples of classical gardening landscape at historic locations like the Biltmore in North Carolina or other Vanderbilt estates in New York and New Jersey. Hartford, Connecticut, boasts a world-famous rose garden at Elizabeth Park. Of course, America’s White House hosts a world-famous rose garden as well. Fort Worth’s Botanic Garden in Texas is proud of its lower and oval rose gardens, exhibiting all the elements of classic gardening landscape.

European rose gardens display true classic gardening landscape. Castle Howard and Mottisfont Abbey in England are well worth the time if you’re visiting Great Britain. The Roseraie de Bagatelle in Paris houses over 9000 plants of over 1000 varieties. The Roseraie de la Cour de Commer in Normandy, France, contains over 40 unique roses that exist nowhere else in the world. The Roseto Botanico di Cavriglia “Carla Fineschi” near the town of Cavriglia in Tuscany, Italy, contains representatives of each of the subgenera, sections, and classes of the genus Rosa.

What better way than to spend your vacation in Orlando than by playing golf. The area offers some fantastic courses for every level of golfer. So while the kids are enjoying the world famous attractions you van enjoy some serious golfing time. Here are a selection of courses which you can enjoy whilst on your Orlando vacation. MetroWest Golf Club : Par 72, Yardage: 7,051 Designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., MetroWest is a classic design blended with a landscape of changing elevations. The course offers wide fairways, large, undulating greens guarded by numerous grass and sand bunkers. Opened in 1987, it remains in superb condition year-round and is known for having some of the best conditioned greens in Florida. Westerly’s Restaurant is conveniently set above the golf shop and is open for breakfast, lunch, cocktails and appetizers. Located in the Bay Hill area, only minutes from Universal Studios Orlando, MetroWest has hosted the US Open Regional Qualifier and the Senior PGA Tour Regional Qualifying. Celebration Golf Club : Par: 72, Yardage: 6,792 Opened in 1996, Celebration is an upscale daily-fee resort course designed by the father and son team of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. The course exudes an atmosphere of beautiful tranquility and fun, challenging golf. The layout is framed by borders of native trees and natural wetlands and is home to native oak, pine and magnolia trees. Featuring strategic hazards and challenging greens, this championship course demands accurate shot making and consistent putting. Celebration boasts 18 distinctively fascinating holes and its five tee boxes make it accessible to all skill levels. Champions Gate: National Par: 72, Yardage: 7,128 Greg Norman has designed the National as a classic American style layout that rolls gently through 200 acres of southern woodlands and wetlands. The layout’s key trait is diversity with wall-to-wall fairway bunkers running up along holes 12 through 16, three double doglegs, a massive double-green shared by the 4th and 16th holes, and a sunken fairway on the seventh. Impeccably maintained, the National boasts a pristine, natural golf experience without bordering homes or developments. Superior service, including free valet parking, is a hallmark of the management of Meadowbrook Golf. Champions Gate: International Par: 72, Yardage: 7,363 This world class 36-hole facility, created by Greg Norman, opened in the fall of 2000. Although Norman designed it as an ‘Australian links,’ the International was also clearly influenced by his British Open success and features a wild, windswept appearance. The fairways are peppered with devilish pot bunkers, making it a tough challenge to safely reach the small, slick greens. At a stretch of over 7,300 yards, it has the highest course rating in the state and is one of the most unique and challenging anywhere. Awarded Honorable Mention in Golf Magazine’s Top 10 New Upscale Courses for 2001. Falcon’s Fire Golf Club : Par: 72, Yardage: 6,901 This Rees Jones signature design pays respect to the timeless traditions of the game of golf. The front side is forgiving with water on three holes, while the back wraps around two large lakes with a run of holes (12-18) that will challenge the most skilled player. Boasting tournament playing conditions 12 months a year, the course is arguably the finest maintained in Central Florida. Falcon’s Fire has often hosted such events as the Senior PGA Tour Qualifying School and the Oldsmobile Scramble National Finals. Truly a complete facility, Golf Shop Operations has rated the pro shop as one of America’s Top 100 Pro Shops. Whatever your level of skill, if you are a beginner or an experienced golfer, Orlando has a course to suit your needs.

The State of Virginia has adapted the dogwood flowering tree as its State tree, and many cities in America have named themselves ‘The Dogwood City.’ Atlanta, Georgia holds a spring festival every April to coincide with the flowering of the of the dogwood trees in Atlanta, Georgia. The Dogwood Festival has continued for 70 years, successfully attracting visitors for events such as outdoor musical extravaganzas in Piedmont Park and the attraction of many artists to display and sell to those visitors who wish to buy pottery, sculpture, oil paintings, and photographs.

Flowering dogwood trees, Cornus florida, were discovered in the South by William Bartram in 1773; these trees were beautifully described in his exploratory book, Travels (page 399). Near Mobile, Alabama. Bartram encountered a grove of dogwood trees that aggressively covered an area 9 miles long. The dogwood trees were growing so thick that sunlight was practically excluded, and almost all other plant life was excluded except for an occasional white flowering Magnolia grandiflora. The land on which the white flowering dogwood tree grew was level soil that was loose with a humid black organic mould on the surface with dogwood roots growing into a stiff yellowish clay. The limbs of the flowering dogwood trees were interlocking and spread horizontally at a tree height of 12 feet. The vast interlocking limbs of the dogwood trees covered the entire area as a shade tree that cooled the camping area used by William Bartram. After exploring for another seventy miles, Bartram wrote “spacious groves of this fine flowering tree, which must, in the spring season, when covered with blossoms, present a most pleasing scene; when at the same time a variety of other sweet shrubs display their beauty.

The white flowering dogwood is a native tree to the forests of America and has been exported worldwide as a seedling dogwood and as a grafted white dogwood also flowering in pink and red. The pink flowering dogwood is available to buy as a seed grown tree, but the most desirable, stable, predictable pink dogwood trees are nursery grafted trees. Red flowering dogwood trees are not available as seedling trees, but as grafted cultivars, such as the Cherokee Chief, red flowering dogwood tree.

The dogwood tree, Cornus florida, is very adaptable in America, ranging from Massachusetts to Florida, and the tree is generally grown as an understory tree 12-15 feet tall, although some old specimens of 40 feet tall are recorded. The flowering dogwood tree is perfect for planting and growing in a small garden or in large parks and as big landscape specimen trees. Dogwood has the unusual quality of growing well when planted beneath pine trees, where only a few other shrubs such as redbud trees, azalea plants, and camellia shrubs can compete successfully, because of the dense root pine tree competition near the surface of the ground.

The flowering of dogwood trees begins in early spring and the flowering lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Oval berries of bright red are formed following the blooms and persist on the trees into fall and winter after leaves are shed, and until they are eaten by wildlife and birds. In the fall the dogwood trees are covered in brilliant red leaves that change to purple. The fallen dogwood leaves are very fragile and usually easily deteriorate without raking. Flowering dogwood trees will grow well underneath oak tree shade as well as under pine trees, but the dogwood tree remarkably will grow well in full sun. Dogwood trees are well adapted to stress and are very tolerant of dry weather. Dogwood trees are tolerant of cold weather, and thrive in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Every landscape gardener appreciates the spring blooms of the white flowering dogwood trees as a background companion tree for flowering redbud trees or in a combination of flowering azalea shrubs in colors of red, pink, purple, or white.

Dogwood trees can be propagated by growing from the seed or by rooting the cutting, but the best dogwood cultivars are grown from grafted trees. The Cloud Nine, flowering, white dogwood tree produces very large (hand-size) blooms, especially in the juvenile stage. The Weaver’s Select, white, flowering dogwood tree is grafted and can produce a flower 6 inches wide.

The dogwood tree has been rumored to have been the wood from which the crucifixion cross of Jesus Christ was made in the year 33 AD. This rumor is ridiculous in several respects: first, there is not Biblical record of dogwood trees in the Scriptures of the Old Testament Bible or the New Testament. Most plant references in the Bible are very vague except for a few references to the date palm tree, olive tree, pomegranate trees, fig tree, and grape vines. The identity of those plants and trees is obvious, because of their fruits that are produced, but accurate plant identity could not be done easily until Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish physician, suggested rules on naming plants in the early 1700’s.

There are many species of dogwood trees and shrubs, but it is unlikely that any of the Mideastern species of dogwood trees grew trunks large enough to shape into a crucifixion cross. The wood of the dogwood tree is so hard and dense that nails driven into the wood would split the wood. That tree definitely could not have been the North American dogwood tree, Cornus florida, since that tree did not grow in Israel at the time of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the reason for the rumor is that the dogwood tree was the wood of the crucifixion cross is the fact that the four white bracts (flower) are shaped like a cross. This resemblance of a white cross-shaped flower occurs in innumerable species of flowers of trees and, of course, should not be given any weight of evidence of the dogwood tree wood being the substance of crucifixions by the Jewish High Priest and the Roman rulers.

He State of Virginia has adapted the dogwood pinnacle ranking as its State hierarchy, and many cities in America have named themselves ‘The Dogwood City.’ Atlanta, Georgia holds a skip festival every April to coincide with the pinnacle of the of the dogwood plants in Atlanta, Georgia. The Dogwood Festival has constant for 70 being, successfully attracting visitors for measures such as outside musical extravaganzas in Piedmont Park and the attraction of many artists to exhibit and vend to those visitors who fancy to buy earthen, statue, oil paintings, and photographs.

Flowering dogwood foliage, Cornus florida, were discovered in the South by William Bartram in 1773; the foliage were beautifully described in his exploratory book, Travels (page 399). Near Mobile, Alabama. Bartram encountered a coppice of dogwood grass that aggressively enclosed a sphere 9 miles long. The dogwood grassed were budding so thick that sunlight was practically debarred, and almost all other lodge life was barred excepting for an occasional colorless zenith Magnolia grandiflora. The land on which the pasty peak dogwood ranking grew was direct soil that was freed with a sticky black organic mould on the ascend with dogwood roots emergent into a stiff yellowish soil. The limbs of the pinnacle dogwood foliage were interlocking and spread horizontally at a hierarchy height of 12 feet. The limitless interlocking limbs of the dogwood grass covered the entire section as a shade hierarchy that cooled the camping area used by William Bartram. After exploring for another seventy miles, Bartram wrote “roomy groves of this payment zenith ranking, which must, in the mechanism flavor, when covered with blossoms, submit a most enjoyable commotion; when at the same time a variety of other lovable bushes strut their beauty.

The fair peak dogwood is a native ranking to the forests of America and has been exported worldwide as a sprout dogwood and as a grafted ashen dogwood also acme in pink and red. The pink peak dogwood is existing to buy as a seed adult ranking, but the most popular, durable, predictable pink dogwood leaves are playgroup grafted plants. Red acme dogwood leaves are not available as sapling foliage, but as grafted cultivars, such as the Cherokee Chief, red zenith dogwood hierarchy.

The dogwood ranking, Cornus florida, is very adaptable in America, ranging from Massachusetts to Florida, and the ranking is commonly grown as an understory hierarchy 12-15 feet tall, though some old specimens of 40 feet tall are recorded. The acme dogwood ranking refine for planting and rising in a small garden or in large parks and as big landscape specimen plants. Dogwood has the unusual value of mounting well when planted beneath pout grass, where only a few other bushes such as redbud leaves, azalea plants, and camellia bushes can compete successfully, because of the dense nose sulk ranking competition near the ascend of the ground.

The pinnacle of dogwood leaves begins in early movement and the flowering lasts 2 to 3 weeks. Oval berries of quick red are formed next the blooms and persist on the grass into decrease and winter after leaves shed, and awaiting birds ate them and birds. In the fall the dogwood plants are covered in brilliant red leaves that change to purple. The fallen dogwood leaves are very fragile and typically simply deteriorate lacking raking. Flowering dogwood plants will grow well underneath oak ranking shade as well as under pine leaves, but the dogwood hierarchy remarkably will grow well in complete sun. Dogwood foliage was well adapted to stress and are very tolerant of dry season. Dogwood plants are tolerant of cold climate, and bloom in USDA zones 5 through 9.

Every landscape gardener appreciates the spiral blooms of the sallow flowering dogwood trees as a background companion hierarchy for flowering redbud trees or in a combination of flowering azalea shrubs in ensign of red, pink, purple, or fair.

Dogwood trees can be propagated by upward from the seed or by rooting the biting, but the best dogwood cultivars are grown from grafted trees. The Cloud Nine, flowering, sallow dogwood ranking produces very large (hand-amount) blooms, especially in the juvenile juncture. The Weaver’s Select, white, flowering dogwood tree is grafted and can emit a flower 6 inches extensive.

The dogwood treed has been thought to have been the woodland from which the crucifixion oppose of Jesus Christ was made in the year 33 AD. This worded is ridiculous in several greetings: first, there is not Biblical notation of dogwood trees in the Scriptures of the Old Testament Bible or the New Testament. Most hide references in the Bible are very nebulous except for a few references to the court palm tree, emerald tree, pomegranate trees, fig tree, and grape vines. The character of those plants and trees is apparent, because of their fruits that are twisted, but accurate place identity could not be done easily pending Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish surgeon, optional policy on naming plants in the early 1700’s.

There are many species of dogwood trees and shrubs, but it is dodgy that any of the Mideastern species of dogwood trees grew trunks large enough to mold into a crucifixion traverse. The copse of the dogwood tree is so hard and dense that nails ambitious into the copse would divide the coppice. That treed definitely could not have been the North American dogwood tree, Cornus florida, since that tree did not grow in Israel at the time of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps the purpose for the chitchat is that the dogwood tree was the coppice of the crucifixion obstruct is the fact that the four white bracts (flower) are shaped like a thwart. This resemblance of a white fractious-shaped flower occurs in innumerable species of flora of trees and, of course, should not be given any weight of sign of the dogwood tree wood being the substance of crucifixions by the Jewish High Priest and the Roman rulers.

>The Best of the Yellow-Blooming Magnolias

The first magnolia tree was discovered in 1703 and was named for Pierre Magnol, a French botanist. Over the next 250 years dozens of species were discovered and hundreds of hybrids introduced, all with blooms in various shades of pink, purple or white. For about 50 years researchers have been crossing two really good magnolias – the Cucumber Magnolia and the Yulan Magnolia – in an attempt to develop a yellow – blooming magnolia. This week we are featuring the best hybrid to come out of the researchers’ efforts because of its superior deep yellow color, Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ - a truly exceptional magnolia.

In early spring, ‘Butterflies’ is covered with canary yellow blooms, the deepest yellow of any magnolia. A large tree in full bloom is truly an eye-catching, mouth dropping display. The four to five inch, semi-double blooms sit upright on their otherwise naked branches – just as a butterfly would. After the blooms have finished, deep green leaves appear, followed in late summer by pinkish-red, small cucumber-like fruits which remain throughout the fall. ‘Butterflies’ will grow into a nice, pyramid shape; expect it to mature to about 18 feet tall and 10 feet wide. This unusual tree is sure to be the highlight of your spring landscape! Magnolia ‘Butterflies’ is rarely seen. As a gift, you can be almost certain the recipient doesn’t have one.

Planting and Care

‘Butterflies’ is extremely hardy; it was bred in Michigan. It is easy to grow and tolerates pollution, making it ideal for an urban landscape.
Plant in a location with acid, moist, well-drained soil.
Avoid locations that are extremely windy, as well as hollows where the frost tends to settle.
Prefers full sun to partial shade.
Keep adequately watered until well-established.
Hardy in Zones 4-9.