April 2026

Is the zebra striped iris real? Zebra iris cultivars are grown primarily for their attractive striped leaves, although in early summer they do produce pretty, lavender-blue flowers with small, yellow beards on three-foot-tall scapes. Irises don’t like high-nitrogen fertilizers, because they encourage soft growth that is prone to rot. Use a balanced 10-10-10 or low-nitrogen […]

What is the story behind the red poppy? Two women were key in the adoption of the poppy as the symbol of Remembrance. In 1918, in response to McCrae’s poem, American academic Moina Michael wrote ‘And now the Torch and Poppy Red, we wear in honor of our dead…’. She campaigned for the poppy to

What are the benefits of red poppies? The flowers of the field poppy have long been used as a pain killing drug for soothing mild aches and a mild sedative/relaxant, an expectorant for treating catarrh and coughs, as a digestive, and even for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and in lipstick! More recently, chemical extracts

What are the benefits of oleander leaves? Despite the traditional use of N. N. Oleander (Nerium oleander) should be grown with extreme caution. All parts of the plant contain substances toxic to humans. Nevertheless, oleander usually does not pose a danger to children or pets, as it tastes very bitter.Nerium oleander is an ornamental shrub

Are Goeppertia and Calathea the same? But did you know most “Calatheas” are now officially called Goeppertia? Why the name change? Botanists reclassified many species formerly known as Calathea into the Goeppertia genus based on updated DNA and morphological studies. The Calathea genus, now known as Goeppertia, is a tropical houseplant grown exclusively for its

Are Calathea lancifolia easy to care for? They’re not shy to let you know when they need something, but they’re easy to keep happy. A potted calathea will command attention in any room you place it in. Calatheas don’t thrive on neglect, but care is as simple as regular watering and giving them a light

Are calathea lancifolia hard to care for? Caring for your Calathea is extremely easy once you understand its needs and signs. These houseplants like their soil to be evenly moist with little dry periods between waterings. On average, watering tends to be around every 8 days. Calatheas hate overwatering and are susceptible to root rot.

Do junipers like full sun or shade? Do junipers like sun or shade? Junipers prefer full sun, and will benefit from some afternoon shade in hotter climates. Juniper grows best in moist but free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Dry, chalky and sandy soils are all suitable for juniper trees, and they’re unusual

What is special about juniper trees? Practical uses of the juniper’s wood are few, and it was most commonly used to burn. This wasn’t so much for its heat, but rather for its smoke. Though burning juniper wood gives off only minimal visible smoke, this smoke is highly aromatic. In ancient times people used it

What does juniper do to your body? Juniper berries contain chemicals that might decrease swelling. It might also have antibacterial effects and increase the need to urinate. People use juniper for cancer, diabetes, gas, indigestion, kidney stones, wound healing, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Summary.