Ann Johnson

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

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Stories By Ann Johnson

  • Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson November 4th, 2022

    How To Dry Flowers In Salt

    How to Dry Flowers in Salt. Craft enthusiasts have discovered there are many ways to dry flowers. Drying usually alters the flower's color. One way to help preserve the original color is to use salt in the process. When choosing a container for the project it should be large enough so the flowers can be spread over the bottom of the container in one layer, without overcrowding. You will need enough of the drying mixture to cover the bottom 2 inches of the container, along with covering the tops of the flowers. This approximation will help you judge how much drying mixture you need to make.

    By Ann Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson November 4th, 2022

    How To Preserve Lilac Flowers

    How to Preserve Lilac Flowers. During Victorian times, specific flowers given conveyed secret messages or codes, commonly referred to as the "Language of Flowers." Purple lilacs represented the first emotions of love, while white lilacs symbolized youthful innocence. Like the rose, the lilac is an exceptionally fragrant flower. As a cut flower, the lilac will stay fresh a relatively short time. Keeping it in water with a floral preservative will help extend its fresh appearance. Drying the cut flower can preserve lilacs for weeks, months and sometimes years. Dry the blossoms immediately after cutting from the bush.

    By Ann Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Plant Grass Runners

    How to Plant Grass Runners. There are several ways to begin a new lawn, including seed, sod, sprigs and runners. Stolons, also called runners, resemble vines, which grow atop a lawn's surface. Attached to a runner are grass blades and roots. It is possible to cut runners from one lawn and start an entirely new lawn by planting the runners in prepared soil. Depending on the region, late spring and early fall is often the ideal time for planting runners.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Dry Gardenias

    How to Dry Gardenias. Gardenia flowers have a distinct fragrance. The white petals quickly brown if handled and the blossom is not suitable for drying. The leaves of the gardenia can be dried, and will turn an attractive black shade. The dried gardenias foliage can be used in art and craft projects. There are various methods for drying foliage and flowers, yet not all are suitable for all plants. Gardenia foliage should be dried using the glycerin method.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Clean Sunflower Seeds

    How to Clean Sunflower Seeds. After petals start falling from the sunflower, the birds will begin feasting on the tempting seeds. To avoid losing the seeds to the wildlife prior to harvesting, cover the wilting flower head with cotton sack or clean panty hose. If you can easily dislodge the plump, black and white seeds from the flower head by brushing your hand over them, they are ready to harvest. Cut the flower head from the plant, leaving about 12-inches of stem attached to the flower. Remove the covering and rub the seeds with your hand to dislodge the remaining seeds.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    List Of Nut Trees

    List of Nut Trees. When people think of nuts, the first nut that often comes to mind is the peanut. The peanut is actually a subterranean legume, more closely related to the pea than the nut. The peanut does not grow on a tree, nor technically does it grow on a bush; rather, it grows under the bush in the ground. Examples of true nuts include black walnut, macadamia and pecan.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    Flowers That Do Well In Arizona Heat

    Flowers That Do Well in Arizona Heat. Arizona, known for its desert terrain, does have cooler mountainous regions, such as the Flagstaff and White Mountain areas. Many of the desert cactus which grow throughout Arizona have spectacular flowers, such as the saguaro, which is also the state flower. Arizona flowers aren't confined to cactus flowers, or to flowers that grow in the state's cooler mountain regions. It's possible to enjoy an Arizona desert flower garden, without a single cactus.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Water Begonias

    How to Water Begonias. Begonias are flowering plants used as houseplants and in the garden. Landscapers select begonia varieties for their attractive foliage or flowers. Many begonia varieties do not tolerate severe winters. Cold region gardeners dig up frost-intolerant begonias prior to winter, use them as houseplants and replant outside in the spring. Some varieties do well in the sunlight while others require partial shade. Flowering time varies by begonia variety. Avoid wet and soggy soil if growing the begonia in the garden or as a potted plant indoors.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Cook Fresh Dandelion Root

    How to Cook Fresh Dandelion Root. Dandelions are more nutritious than spinach and broccoli. All parts of the plant are edible, and the leaves are high in potassium, iron and calcium. The plant has a deep taproot that can be anywhere from 6 inches to 3 feet long, according to the University of Wisconsin Extension Service. Dandelions have the most flavor before the first flowers appear, when the plants are tender and young. Dandelion roots have a turniplike flavor and are best dug up in early spring when prepared as a vegetable.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Store Pure Maple Syrup

    How to Store Pure Maple Syrup. The production of maple syrup begins by tapping a maple tree, setting free the tree's flow of sap. Boiling the clear sap reduces its water content and brings out the rich sweet favor and dark color of the maple syrup. When packaging maple syrup, it should be stored in a glass, plastic or tin container. Glass is the preferred container, as it maintains the syrup's flavor indefinitely. Syrup will store in tin for about a year, yet the container can rust. Syrup stored in plastic has a shorter shelf life -- between three to six months.

    By Ann Johnson November 3rd, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    4 Main Parts Of A Flower

    4 Main Parts of a Flower. The thorny stems and pointed green leaves of the rose bush are not the reasons gardeners choose to grow the plant; it is the fragrant and lovely blossoms. Flowers are the primary reason for selecting many plants for the garden or landscape. However, the flower is not just an ornamental object; it serves a vital function for the plant. It is the plant's reproductive system.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    How Are Sunflower Seeds Taken Out Of The Shell?

    How Are Sunflower Seeds Taken Out of the Shell?. Sunflower seeds are available with or without shells, roasted or raw, salted or unsalted, and as human, livestock or bird food. When snacking on a sunflower seed with the shell, the shell can be cracked by the teeth and then separated from the seed using the tongue or fingers. Birds use their hard beaks to break open the shells. Commercially hulled sunflower seeds have their shells removed by mechanical devises. The hulled seeds can be eaten alone, used as a garnish, added to baked goods or made into sunflower butter or oil.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Foods To Grow In Hawaii

    Foods to Grow in Hawaii. The state of Hawaii, a series of islands located in the central Pacific Ocean, is especially suited for those crops that thrive in tropical climates. Many foods grown on the mainland are also grown in Hawaii. But, there are specific crops that do better in Hawaii than in most mainland states. Not all of Hawaii's successfully grown commercial food crops would be appropriate for the home gardener, primarily due to the amount of processing required after harvesting.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    How To Propagate Junipers

    How to Propagate Junipers. Adding more juniper bushes to your garden or landscape doesn't necessarily require a trip to the local nursery. Junipers can be propagated by strategically taking cuttings from an existing juniper (the parent plant) and then rooting and planting that cutting, which will develop into a new juniper plant.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    How To Plant Ocotillo

    How to Plant Ocotillo. The ideal time to plant an ocotillo in your desert landscape is from March through May. If you buy an ocotillo in Arizona, the desert plant is tagged with an Arizona native plant tag, verifying you legally acquired it. You must keep the tag on the ocotillo until you've planted it. The ocotillo typically comes from the supplier with its canes tied up, making it easier to handle and plant. To increase the chances of survival, the bare-rooted ocotillo should be planted immediately. If you can't plant it immediately, water the canes and store the plant in the shade.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    What Can Make Leaves & Grass Clippings Decompose Faster?

    What Can Make Leaves & Grass Clippings Decompose Faster?. To promote the decomposition of your leaves and grass clippings, combine them to create a compost pile. A properly cared for compost pile heats up, which accelerates the decomposition process, compared to a pile of damp leaves or grass clippings left unattended and vulnerable to rain or excessive heat. When you decompose your leaves and grass clippings in a compost pile, the debris transforms into a rich soil amendment for your garden.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022

    How To Grow Avocado Seeds In Water

    How to Grow Avocado Seeds in Water. After you make up your next batch of fresh guacamole, or slice an avocado as a garnish for your salad or sandwich, don't toss the pit or seed in the trash. With minimal effort, use the seed to start a new avocado plant. It's a suitable project to share with the kids. After the seed develops roots and leaves, you can eventually plant it in a larger pot with soil or move it outside to the garden.

    By Ann Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Ann Johnson March 23rd, 2022

    How To Grow Huckleberries

    How to Grow Huckleberries. Huckleberries ripen in the late summer and can be used as the filling for pies or to make jam. The small round berries grow on the huckleberry bush, which can get from 2 to 6 feet in height. There are different varieties of huckleberry plants, with some bearing blue colored or black colored berries. The plant prefers moist soil that is either sandy or peaty in composition, and locations with partial shade. Huckleberries grow in the wild and can be found in regions such as the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

    By Ann Johnson March 23rd, 2022 Read More