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  Convolvulus mauritanicus is one of those plants that always does a good job. It is hardy, attractive, humble and very giving. Plant details Common name: convolvulus (not often called by its common name, 'bindweed') Botanic name: Convolvulus mauritanicus Description: Trailing perennial with small, oval leaves and soft, slender stems. The violet-blue, morning glory-like flowers appear in early spring and continue until early autumn. Best climate: Most areas of Australia , including warm protected sites in Hobart and the mountains. Uses: spillover plant ground cover plant hanging baskets coastal gardens Good points: hardy flowers for most of the year good in sun or shade tolerates salt spray Downside: A member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Although morning glories (Ipomoea) can be extremely invasive in warm zones, Convolvulus mauritanicus is of moderate vigour only and never likely to be a nuisance. Care: Convolvulus likes a sunny posi...

Common name: False kamani, almendras, badamier, Java almond, amandier de Cayenne, tropical almond, wild almond, Indian almond, myrobalan, Malabar almond, Singapore almond, ketapang, Huu kwang, Sea almond, kobateishi, West Indian almond, amandel huu kwang . Family: Combretaceae (Combretum family) . Overview This tree thrives as an ornamental tree in many tropical cities in the world. Tropical almond is a large deciduous stately tree, originally from India , growing up to 90 feet tall with horizontal whorls of branches offering clusters of foot long; obviate leaves that turn pink-red to red - yellow before falling. Some of the pigments responsible for this are: violaxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. There are also flavonoids present such as quercetin and kamferol. The leaves contain also tannins (s. a. punicalin, punicalagin and tercatein). The greenish - white female - and male flowers are on the same tree; these flowers are inconspicuous and not very showy. It has large (2...

Family:  Myrtaceae Genus:  Callistemon Species:  rigidus Category: Trees Height: 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m) Spacing: 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Danger: N/A Bloom Color: Red Bloom Time: Late Winter/Early Spring Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer Foliage: Grown for foliage Evergreen Other details: Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Patent Information: Non-patented Propagation Methods: From semi-hardwood cuttings From seed; direct sow after last frost Seed Collecting: Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds

The next time your neighbor with the emerald green lawn casts a look down their nose at your less than perfect lawn, don’t feel bad. The fact of the matter is that your weedy lawn is doing more for your garden, the environment and your wallet that the supposedly “perfect” lawn your neighbor maintains. One of the major benefits of having a weedy lawn is that many weeds in your lawn attract butterflies and caterpillars. Common lawn weeds, such as plantain, dandelion and clover are sources of food for the Buckeye butterfly, Baltimore butterfly, Eastern tailed blue butterfly and a great many others. Allowing some of these common weeds to grow in your garden, encourages butterflies to lay their eggs in your yard which will result in more butterflies in your garden later on. Weeds also help to attract other beneficial bugs to your garden as well. Many good bugs, like predatory wasps, preying mantis, ladybugs and bees find food and shelter in the weeds in our yards. These “good” bugs will ...