This year has brought in a wealth of new products for me to test. Some of them were great while others turned out to be more of a joke than anything else. This month I am going to share with you my thoughts on some of the better products that I tested.

In the software design category, my favorite was the Garden Composer. This is an interesting garden design software program for Windows. It does include tropical plants which is a real plus. There are over 6,000 different plants to choose from with more than 10,000 images.

It takes a little time to learn how to use it. It definitely requires knowledge of the program but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy. The program also requests exact measurements of buildings and other permanent structures.

This program does allow you to view your garden during different seasons and different years. It also includes a plant encyclopedia which gives precise care instructions and other plant related information including information on pests and diseases.

The biggest difference I saw with this program was the fact that it did offer a choice of tropical plants which I really liked. It also allows you to update the database on the internet.

For more information on this product, please visit their website at http://www.gardencomposer.com

When it came to testing fertilizers this year, the Natural Science Organic Fertilizer was defiantly ahead of the rest. I have to tell you all that when I was told this fertilizer was made from leather I was skeptical. I like leather but I sure didn’t see how it would help my plants to grow.

I guess that’s what amazed me the most about this product. I tried the Natural Science 12-0-0 on one Datura and one Brugmansia. The Datura was about a foot and a half tall when I did this. It is now over three foot tall and producing buds like mad.

The Brugmansia was the most impressive though. I have been growing this plant for over a year and had never seen it bloom. The lady I got it from had grown it for a year, as had the lady before her. I put the fertilizer on this plant, having previously tried everything on the market, and within two weeks this plant was in full bloom!

I also tested the Natural Science 15-1-7 on some of my perennials. They do show a more lush growth but nothing like what the tropical plants showed.

This is one fertilizer I would highly recommend to anyone growing tropical plants. It doesn’t have a nasty fertilizer smell either.

Another plus to this fertilizer is you can pour it right on the soil and it will release the nitrogen at the right pace for the plant. You will also see the difference in the soil once this fertilizer has been used.

It does not contain phosphorus either. For additional information on this product please visit their web sites at http://www.standardtar.com or http://www.fertilizers.net

Please some back next week for part 2 of this article.

Part 2

In last weeks article I told you about some of my favorite products that I have tested this year, in part two I will tell you more about another product I tested that was tops on the list.

With my increasing mobility problems I decided it was time to quit watering everything by hand and try an automatic system. Now, I had some doubts about being able to find one that was easy to use and suitable. So, I contacted DripWorks who had a Yard N Garden Kit that looked interesting. Needless to say, it was great. If you are thinking about installing an automatic watering system in your yard, check out the Yard N’ Garden Kit from DripWorks before you decide on a system.

This particular system is very easy to assemble, comes with a variety of drippers and sprayers, including misters that are perfect for seedlings or cuttings.

The system contains everything you need to set up your automatic watering system except a timer. However, you can choose to run the system manually and it will work just fine. If you want a timer, you can choose a different kit that does offer one.

I was quite surprised at how easy this did assemble considering when I opened the box at first glance it looked complicated. We set it up and it took less than a half an hour to do approximately a 50′ area. The kit does contain enough tubing to cover 100′ area.

Another plus to this system is that you can always add more tubing should your garden grow. You can also use various types of sprinkler heads depending on whether your plant prefers to be misted, dripped or sprayed.

The kit also includes “goof plugs” just in case you accidentally punch a hole in the wrong spot.

I really like this system for two reasons. The first one is because of the versatility of the watering heads, if any of you have ever tried to use one sprinkler for all plants, you know it just doesn’t work well. The second reason is the ease of putting the system together in addition to being able to swap the sprinkler heads around without damaging the system. For additional information on this and other watering systems from DripWorks, please visit their website at http://www.dripworksusa.com

There were other products that I tested too, miniature greenhouses, seed starting units, new books that I reviewed and much more. Some of the products you will hear more about in later articles and some of them, well, I just don’t have much to say about. For your favorite gardener, think about some of these products as Christmas gifts. I’m sure they would be delighted and what could please a gardener more than a gift for their hobby.

This year has brought in a wealth of new products for me to test. Some of them were great while others turned out to be more of a joke than anything else. This month I am going to share with you my thoughts on some of the better products that I tested.

In the software design category, my favorite was the Garden Composer. This is an interesting garden design software program for Windows. It does include tropical plants which is a real plus. There are over 6,000 different plants to choose from with more than 10,000 images.
It takes a little time to learn how to use it. It definitely requires knowledge of the program but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy. The program also requests exact measurements of buildings and other permanent structures.
This program does allow you to view your garden during different seasons and different years. It also includes a plant encyclopedia which gives precise care instructions and other plant related information including information on pests and diseases.
The biggest difference I saw with this program was the fact that it did offer a choice of tropical plants which I really liked. It also allows you to update the database on the internet.
For more information on this product, please visit their website at http://www.gardencomposer.com
When it came to testing fertilizers this year, the Natural Science Organic Fertilizer was defiantly ahead of the rest. I have to tell you all that when I was told this fertilizer was made from leather I was skeptical. I like leather but I sure didn’t see how it would help my plants to grow.
I guess that’s what amazed me the most about this product. I tried the Natural Science 12-0-0 on one Datura and one Brugmansia. The Datura was about a foot and a half tall when I did this. It is now over three foot tall and producing buds like mad.
The Brugmansia was the most impressive though. I have been growing this plant for over a year and had never seen it bloom. The lady I got it from had grown it for a year, as had the lady before her. I put the fertilizer on this plant, having previously tried everything on the market, and within two weeks this plant was in full bloom!
I also tested the Natural Science 15-1-7 on some of my perennials. They do show a more lush growth but nothing like what the tropical plants showed.
This is one fertilizer I would highly recommend to anyone growing tropical plants. It doesn’t have a nasty fertilizer smell either.
Another plus to this fertilizer is you can pour it right on the soil and it will release the nitrogen at the right pace for the plant. You will also see the difference in the soil once this fertilizer has been used.
It does not contain phosphorus either. For additional information on this product please visit their web sites at http://www.standardtar.com  or http://www.fertilizers.net
With my increasing mobility problems I decided it was time to quit watering everything by hand and try an automatic system. Now, I had some doubts about being able to find one that was easy to use and suitable. So, I contacted DripWorks who had a Yard N Garden Kit that looked interesting. Needless to say, it was great. If you are thinking about installing an automatic watering system in your yard, check out the Yard N’ Garden Kit from DripWorks before you decide on a system.
This particular system is very easy to assemble, comes with a variety of drippers and sprayers, including misters that are perfect for seedlings or cuttings.
The system contains everything you need to set up your automatic watering system except a timer. Howe ver, you can choose to run the system manually and it will work just fine. If you want a timer, you can choose a different kit that does offer one.
I was quite surprised at how easy this did assemble considering when I opened the box at first glance it looked complicated. We set it up and it took less than a half an hour to do approximately a 50’ area. The kit does contain enough tubing to cover 100’ area.
Another plus to this system is that you can always add more tubing should your garden grow. You can also use various types of sprinkler heads depending on whether your plant prefers to be misted, dripped or sprayed.
The kit also includes “goof plugs” just in case you accidentally punch a hole in the wrong spot.
I really like this system for two reasons. The first one is because of the versatility of the watering heads, if any of you have ever tried to use one sprinkler for all plants, you know it just doesn’t work well. The second reason is the ease of putting the system together in addition to being able to swap the sprinkler heads around without damaging the system.
For additional information on this and other watering systems from DripWorks, please visit their website at http://www.dripworksusa.com
There were other products that I tested too, miniature greenhouses, seed starting units, new books that I reviewed and much more. Some of the products you will hear more about in later articles and some of them, well, I just don’t have much to say about. For your favorite gardener, think about some of these products as Christmas gifts. I’m sure they would be delighted and what cold please a gardener more than a gift for their hobby.
I will be back next year with more enlightening articles. I hope to see you then. Until that time, I wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season!

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Although the Jardin Exotique was created in 1933, the collection of cacti and succulents was started in 1895 by Monsieur Augustin Gastaud. In 1912 Erudite Prince Albert l of Monaco took a fancy to the strange plants that were growing and decided to acquire the collection. He then called upon Monsieur Louis Notari, a chief engineer to help design the gardens landscape. Foot-bridges, artificial rock and additional dirt were all brought in and astutely camouflaged within large pockets. This was accomplished at a great expense. The work took close to twenty years to complete. On February 13, 1933 this beautiful masterpiece was inaugurated.

The collection now contains 7000 species of plants offering a varying degree of interest year-round. From December to May the Aloe produce the most brilliant blooms. From May to August, you will find spectacular flowers on the Opuntia and Cereus.

The garden is built on about three acres of very steep terrain, which forms the largest rock garden in Europe. The superior platform at 128 m above sea level offers a splendid panoramic view of the Principality of Monaco as well as the French and Italian Riveras. The southern exposure and the proximity of the sea, insure the very mild winter climate, which is one of the main reasons the plants thrive here.

In addition to being a botanical garden the botanical center serves as a conservation and breeding place for species that are threatening to vanish. One of their tasks is to ensure distribution of rare species to specialized gardens in order to increase their chance of survival.

Below the gardens are the observatory caves, real natural sculptures in the most varied shapes. Public access to these caves first came about on August 2, 1950, although they were still pretty much inhospitable. Before entering the cave you can see exhibits of the exposition on speleology: exploration materials, fauna, prehistorical scenes and more. Guided tours are given but you can also enquire about exploring parts of the cave that are not open to the public.

Finally, before leaving be sure to visit the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology which was founded in 1901 by Prince Albert l, “in order to preserve the vestiges of primitive humanity unearthed from the soil of the Principality and its vicinity.”*

The museum consists of two halls, the Albert l Hall, which is ‘general prehistory,’ and the Rainier III Hall, which displays ‘local collections.’

The entry fee includes the Exotic Gardens, the Caves and the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology. For more information on opening times and cost visit their web site at http://www.monte-carlo.mc/jardinexotique

* taken from Principaute De Monaco Exotic Garden

Have you ever wondered what some of the “hottest” plants to have this year are? We’ve all seen the magazine covers with Lycoris Lilies and black colored flowers on them this year, but what do the majority of people prefer to grow?

You may be a bit surprised by this list. Some of the plants are common and others aren’t, but they are without a doubt the hottest plants so far this summer.

For water gardens people are grabbing up Nymphaea spp. (Waterlilies) in various colors as well as Nelumbo spp. (Lotus) and Canna spp. There doesn’t seem to be a particular preference on color either. The Cannas are being grown as water plants instead of in the ground.

Flowering shrubs seem to be another hot item this summer, especially Rose-Of-Sharon. The favorite species of these include Hibiscus syriacus ‘Aphrodite’, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’ and Hibiscus syriacus ‘Diana.’ ‘Aphrodite’ has dark pink flowers with dark red eye spots. ‘Minerva’ sports lavender flowers with dark red eye spots while ‘Diana’ has white flowers.

Other flowering shrubs that are popular this summer include Hydrangea species with pink or blue flowers. Rhodendrons are also quite popular. The favorite ones seem to be ones that sport orange, red, pink, lavender or multi-colored blooms.

Daylilies are also quite popular this year and again there is not a particular preference for color. Other popular perennials include Ratibida pinnata (Grey-Headed Cone Flower), Campsis radicans (Trumpet Vine), Rudbeckia hirta (Common Black-Eyed Susan), Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-Pulpit), Rudbeckia maxima (Great Coneflower), Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed), Clematis spp. and Monarda didyma (Bee Balm).

Another trend this year has been Conifers. Everyone wants them, but which ones are they growing? Here is an idea of the ones that seem to be getting chosen. They include Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki False Cypress), Lagerstroemia fauriei, Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Kiowa’ (‘Kiowa’ Crape Myrtle), Pinus flexilis ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ (‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’ Limber Pine) and Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’ (‘Red Obelisk’ European Beech).

Bonsai is also red-hot. What plants are trendy this summer for making a bonsai? Well, you have quite an option here and they aren’t all trees or shrubs! Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort), Stokesia laevis ‘Blue Danube’ (Blue Danube Stoke’s Aster), Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s Root), Lagerstroemia fauriei, Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’ (‘Blue Bird’ Rose-of-Sharon) and Hypericum frondosum ‘Sunburst’ (‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort).

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting on, the hottest tropical and exotic plants for the summer of 2001! They are Clethra fargesii, Poliothyrsis sinensis, Dianthus japonicus, Koelreuteria paniculata (Goldenrain Tree), Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia), Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush) and Datura inoxia (Angel’s Trumpet).

If you aren’t growing these plants already, it’s not too late to get some started. I would suggest getting rooted plants this late in the year. Seeds will germinate but you may not get blooms and the same goes for cuttings.

The Chelsea Flower Show has come to a close for another year. For those of us who were not lucky enough to attend, we had the opportunity to watch it from a webcam (http://channel4.com/), or to preserve pictures of some of the flowers from Chelsea on our desktops. The joys of the internet!

After all, while many of us weren’t lucky enough to be there in person, we didn’t have to fight the crowds or tolerate the rainy weather, and we can still be in on the action, virtually. One of Chelseas entrants sported a tropical display this year, and though it was mostly rainforest plants, they definately did not like the weather. For example, a Victoria Amazonica that was being displayed for the first time ever at Chelsea, refused to bloom.

So, you may ask, how do you go about not only having a successful display at Chelsea, but also winning an award? Well, that depends on what inspires you to acheive a unique and breathtaking display. For some, it has been the combination of colors and shapes, the history of the plants themselves, or maybe just a particular type of plant.

Last years Chelsea show sported a shipwreaked plant display. I found myself very inspired by the idea. The boat was upturned and filled with flowers, and beside it on the beach was a treasure chest full of flowers. For plant lovers, what better treasure then flowers?

Not only is Chelsea the place to be to see great garden displays, but it is also the place to find brand new plants that haven’t been seen by anyone else yet.

Another interesting fact that I found out is that some of the display gardens are being auctioned off on e-bay. So after you take a virtual tour of Chelsea, you can bid on some of your favorite gardens, and maybe walk away with your own bit of Chelsea. Where else but on the internet?