A blog site about all aspects of plants. Plants to grow & admire, plants that give back ecologically, plants that produce bounty, plants that offer medicinal quality to our health and creating sustainability with plants.

Name: Plantstolove.com
Telephone: 123-456-7890

LATEST BLOGS

Thai Basil - where have you been all my life!?!
I’ve had sweet Italian Basil in my potted herb gardens for as long as I can remember, (I love to cook Italian food, and I prefer using fresh herbs since they’re always nearby.)
When I was at the garden center this spring, a Thai basil plant caught my eye. I think it must have been the purple stalk against the green leaves combined with its fresh scent. At first, I thought it was just an ornamental type of basil, until I began reading about it when I got home.
I discovered Thai basil was the mystery flavor in some of my favorite Thai dishes that I never could pinpoint! I had no idea this variety of Basil was edible. The flavor combination of spicy anise is a unique flavor that I crave, especially when it’s combined with curry and lemon grass!
I found out there are many ways to consume Thai Basil, that it’s not only limited to Thai cooking.
You can make a refreshing cold drink with the seeds. Thai Basil Pesto is also one of my new favorite twists on Pesto. I love to make tomato sandwiches in the summer - super simple with good bread, mayo and fresh sliced tomatoes from my garden.
I was experimenting with my new favorite herb Thai basil this summer and incorporated a few leaves on my tomato sandwich - it created a whole new dimension of bursting flavors!
Without a doubt, Thai Basil is now a staple to my herb garden. #thaibasil #thaifood #siamqueen #queenette #chaimagic #antioxidants #antiinflammatory #thaibasiltea

Can you really Grow Hydrangeas in Summer Heat?
Yes!!! Heat Tolerant Varieties
Oakleaf and Panicle hydrangeas are known for their heat tolerance.
There are more than 70 species of flowering plants native to Asia and the Americas.
There are only six varieties grown in American gardens: Bigleaf, Smooth, Panicle, Oakleaf, Climbing, and Mountain. Each one requires a different type of soil, sunlight, and blooming time.
They date back millions of years and fossils found in North America show they arrived here 40 to 65 million years ago. They touched down in Europe much later in 1736.
The greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Korea, and Japan. They were first cultivated in Japan.
Most are shrubs 1-3 m (3 ft 3 in - 9 ft 10 in) tall, but some are small trees, and others lianas reaching up to 30 m (100 ft).
Hydrangea flower color can change based on the pH in soil. Soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower, more acidic, will produce blue flowers, a pH of 6.5 or higher, more alkaline, will produce pink hydrangeas, and soil in between 5.5 and 6.5 will have purple
hydrangeas. White hydrangeas cannot be color-manipulated by soil pH because they do not produce pigment for color. In other words, while the hue of the inflorescence is variable dependent upon cultural factors, the color saturation is genetically predetermined. To find out more please check out my blog PlantsToLove.com. #hydrangeas #oakleafhydrangea #paniclehydrangea #phbalance #watervessel #sepals #jawmountainalaska #nantucketblue #stateflowerofalabama #allergysafepollen

Morning Glories - Morning Glories -
They probably wake up around the same time you do every morning.
About:
Morning Glories primarily open in the morning due to a combination of factors including light,
temperature, and internal plant processes. Light, especially the rising sun, triggers the expansion of petal cells, causing the flower to unfurl. Additionally, morning glories are sensitive to atmospheric pressure and internal hydrostatic pressure, which are optimal for blooming in the morning.
Ipomoea tricolor is the botanical name for Morning Glories. They belong to the Convolvulacee family.
Morning Glories are fast-growing, twining plants often grown as perennial plants in frost-free areas. The trumpet shaped flowers that bloom in the morning
and close in the afternoon are a favorite way to add color to large garden walls, fences, or trellises in warm weather.
Several favorite varieties include Heavenly Blue, Pearly Gates and Flying Saucers.
Some species, like Bush Morning Glory, can live for many years (up to 50 years)
Moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a night-blooming species with large, white, fragrant flowers that open in the evening.
*Keep in mind that Moonflower can refer to two different plants: Datura, also known as “Devil’s Trumpet is highly poisonous.
Care:
Morning Glory, usually an annual flowering vine, hardy in Zones 2-11, is grown from seeds and thrives wherever you plant it as long as it gets plenty of sun and a bit of afternoon shade.
They prefer warmer climates, 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit to produce multiple blooms daily during their growing season which is early summer to the first frost.
They require regular watering to keep the soil evenly moist. Please go to my blog site PlantsToLove.com to learn more!
#Morningglory
#ipomoeatricolor
#heavenlyblue #pearlygates #flyingsaucers #moonflower #

Ladybugs - A Natural Gardener’s Friend
Ladybugs, also known as “Lady Beetles” are a welcome insect in my garden. They feast on unwanted insects such as aphids, fruit flies, thrips, and mites.

Ladybugs are colorful for a reason. Their markings tell predators to eat something else. When threatened, the bugs will secrete an oily, foul-tasting fluid from joints in their legs. They may also play dead.
Birds are Ladybug’s main predators, but they also fall victim to frogs, wasps, spiders, and dragonflies.

They come in several different colors and patterns with the most familiar in North America being the seven-spotted ladybug with a bright red and black body. Go to my blog site Plants to Love for the entire post - Thx! #ladybugs #ladybeetles #polishedladybeetles #asianorangeladybeetle #diapause #delawarestateinsect #massachusettsstateinsect #newhampshirestateinsect #ohiostateinsect #tennesseestateinsect #ladybugwholostherspots #10littleladybugs #ladybuggirl #fivelittleladybugs

Red Yucca Plant - Simplistic Beauty:
Hesperaloe parviflora, also known as Red Yucca or Coral Yucca, is a striking, low-maintenance succulent native to the Chihuahuan Desert in Northern Mexico, covering a large portion of the state of Chihuahua, along with portions of Coahuila, north-eastern Durango, the extreme
northern part of Zacatecas and small western portions of Nuevo León. The Chihuahuan Desert is also the largest desert in North America, spanning parts of the Southwestern United States in parts of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

The plants are very drought and heat tolerant once established.
Its drought tolerance and minimal care needs make it a great plant for xeriscaping, contemporary landscapes, and low-water gardens. Please go to my blog site to read entire post!
#plantstolove.com
#redyucca
#xeriscaping
#Yuccaspines
#Hummingbirds
#sandyloam
#Hesperaloeparviflora
#Chihuahuandesert
#Texas
#NewMexico
#Arizona

How Long Does A Hibiscus Blossom Last?
Hibiscus blossoms usually last 1-2 days. Hibiscus is in the mallow family, Malvaceae and has hundreds of species native to tropical and subtropical regions. They are known for their bright eye catching flowers which come in yellows, pinks, reds and purples. The flowers can be single or double-bloomed. Some varieties can even have blossoms up to 12 inches in diameter.
Blooming:
Most hibiscus flowers, especially in tropical varieties, open in the morning and close or wilt by the end of the day, lasting only about a day. However Hibiscus plants compensates for this short bloom duration by producing a continuous supply of new buds that open in succession, leading to a long blooming season. Go to my Blog to find out more about Hibiscus. #tropicalregions #hardyhibiscus #tropicalhibiscus #hibiscustea #stateflowerhawaii

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@plantstolove.blog

A blog site about all aspects of plants. Plants to grow & admire, plants that give back ecologically, plants that produce bounty, plants that offer medicinal quality to our health and creating sustainability with plants.

LATEST BLOGS

Morning Glories

Ladybugs - A Natural Gardener's Friend

Red Yucca Plant - Desert Beauty

FOLLOW US

A blog site about all aspects of plants. Plants to grow & admire, plants that give back ecologically, plants that produce bounty, plants that offer medicinal quality to our health and creating sustainability with plants.

LATEST BLOGS

Morning Glories

Ladybugs - A Natural Gardener's Friend

Red Yucca Plant - Desert Beauty

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FOLLOW US