Sophie 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.

As we cover many fields of expertise, we make it a priority to ensure every beat remains fresh and comprehensive. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Sophie Johnson

  • Produce
    Produce By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Problems With Bougainvillea

    Problems with Bougainvillea. Bougainvillea is a tropical vining plant, with some varieties growing up to 30 feet. The attractiveness of the plant is not just in its showy foliage, but in its easy care. It takes to pruning, it takes to pots and it can support itself on its woody growth or climb on supports provided. It blooms profusely in proper conditions; its small flowers are not nearly as noticeable as the large, colorful bracts (leaves) surrounding those blooms. The plant is generally disease and pest free.

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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Flowers That Lack Petals

    Flowers That Lack Petals. Flowers lacking petals are described as apetalous and may defy our notion of what a flower is for. Petals, especially colorful and showy petals, attract pollinators such as birds and bees. Some flowers are pollinated by the wind, though, and these don't need petals or any other showy elements. Still other plants produce colored leaves or showy sepals--sepals are a kind of modified leaf--and use these petal posers to attract attention instead.

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

    Plants And Flowers Of The Bahamas

    Plants and Flowers of the Bahamas. With more than 700 islands and 2,500 islets and cays, the Bahamas, which spread out over an area of approximately 100,000 square miles, have a number of ecosystems boasting many kinds of plant life. Different areas support plants from cacti to orchids. Depending on the area, plants must tolerate, among other conditions, salty spray, dry conditions, wet conditions and the shady areas of forest understories.

    By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Chaste Tree Pros & Cons

    Chaste Tree Pros & Cons. The chaste tree (Vitex angus-castus) possesses many commendable qualities, with pros far outnumbering the cons. Indeed, it's hard to find downsides to the tree, which grows up to 20 feet, unless pruned to keep it a shrub. Flowers bloom in pale purple or nearly blue, with varieties offering colors like white and pink. Chaste tree leaves look similar to those of marijuana; the chaste tree is sometimes called the hemp tree. According to the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, the trees got their name as the ancient Greeks used extracts from the plant's fruits to calm "sexual passions."

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    Produce
    Produce By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    The Importance Of Different Types Of Soil

    The Importance of Different Types of Soil. Soil does more than anchor a plant. It provides air for roots to "breathe," it lets a plant absorb water, it provides an alkaline or acid environment and it contains nutrients. Different types of soil create different experiences for the plants rooted within it. Plants have evolved to prefer certain soil conditions. This makes soil quality crucial to a plant's survival.

    By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Trees
    Trees By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Fruit Trees In Puerto Rico

    Fruit Trees in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's climate is tropical, with average temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunshine is abundant--as is rain. The mountains get the most rain, about 200 inches annually. The southern part of the island receives about 36 inches annually. A diversity of micro-climates exists in Puerto Rico--it is sometimes thought of as a "continent" in one island. Rain forests, deserts, mountains and beaches all occur on Puerto Rico. The environment gives fruit trees many opportunities to flourish. It's not uncommon for trees to provide more than one crop every year.

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    Produce
    Produce By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    The Properties Of Sandy Soils

    The Properties of Sandy Soils. Productive and beautiful plants have roots sunk into soil that suits them. For gardeners wanting to get the most out of their plot of earth, understanding what plants are suitable for a particular soil means understanding the properties of their soil type. There are three basic types of soil: sand, silt and clay. Though soils typically contain all three, sandy soil is predominately sand.

    By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Trees
    Trees By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    What Pests Afflict Magnolia Tree Flowers?

    What Pests Afflict Magnolia Tree Flowers?. The magnolia tree, with its magnificent blooms, has been flowering on Earth for tens of millions of years. Magnolias are found throughout the world, widely planted and prized for their ornamental value, shade and wood. Luckily for home magnolia growers, the trees have few problems with pests and diseases; the same holds true for magnolia flowers. Even better, problems are seldom fatal to the tree.

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

    Problems With Crown Vetch As A Ground Cover

    Problems With Crown Vetch As a Ground Cover. Crown vetch (also, "crownvetch") is an often-used ground cover, especially in challenging landscaping spots like hills. Plants reach about 2 inches high, with leaves that grow to about 4 inches long. Flowers range in color from pink to lilac and look similar to those of pea flowers, to which crown vetch is related. Though crown vetch can serve usefully gardeners usefully to, for instance, help control erosion, the vine has several drawbacks that gardeners should take seriously.

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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Thistle Blossom Facts

    Thistle Blossom Facts. Thistle is a common, not scientific, name of a broad group of flowering plants, most of which belong to the aster family. Thistles have prickliness as a characteristic physical feature. Typically, prickles or spiny leaves surround the flower especially, though some thistles are prickly all over, a defense against being eaten.

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  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Pests That Eat Impatiens

    Pests That Eat Impatiens. Impatiens delight gardeners with their ease of care and flower color range. They grow in shady areas, enlivening places that would otherwise be bare. Another important charm impatiens offer is a rarity of problems. The plants aren't ordinarily prone to diseases and pests. To support this happy situation, gardeners should keep their impatiens in the environment they like, which keeps them healthy. When impatiens are afflicted, though, the bugs bothering them commonly include thrips, leafminers, aphids and spider mites. All suck the flesh from vegetation.

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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Parts Of A Composite Flower

    Parts of a Composite Flower. At first glance, a composite flower like the daisy looks simple, with petals forming rays around a colorful disk. Upon closer inspection, however, these flowers aren't simple at all. The flower is actually made up of many flowers--inflorescences--masquerading as a single flower. Each "petal" is a flower, as is each bump on the disk. Other examples of composite flowers are sunflowers, chrysanthemums, dandelions and zinnias.

    By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022

    Types Of Imperfect Flowers

    Types of Imperfect Flowers. There are four basic parts that flowers may have: sepals, which protect the bud of an unopened flower; petals, which may help to attract insects and animals; the androecium, the male reproductive part of a flower; and the gynoecium, the female part of the bloom. If a flower has all four, it is considered both complete and perfect, perfect because it has all the parts for reproduction. Flowers that don't possess both male and female parts, then, are incomplete and imperfect. All imperfect flowers are unisexual.

    By Sophie Johnson November 4th, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Sophie Johnson November 3rd, 2022

    How To Grow Boysenberries

    How to Grow Boysenberries. Like raspberries, youngberries, loganberries and blackberries, to which they are related, boysenberries are known as bramble fruit. Boysenberries are actually a variety of blackberry. This perennial produces fruit on canes that live biennially; the plant sends up canes, the canes bear fruit in two years, then the cane dies. Because they can spread as brambles, boysenberries can be grown on trellises. Growing boysenberries this way uses less space and makes it easier to pick the fruit. Boysenberry should be planted in early spring.

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

    Six Basic Parts Of A Plant

    Six Basic Parts of a Plant. Nothing mysterious awaits those trying to learn the basic parts of a plant. Parts you've been aware of for as long as you can remember will give you most, if not all, six basic plant parts. Those parts are, from underground to farthest out, roots, stems, buds, leaves, flowers and fruits.

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

    Characteristics Of A Flowering Plant

    Characteristics of a Flowering Plant. Flowering plants comprise the largest, most diverse group of plants on Earth, having populated most of the world--even the seas. As such, these "angiosperms," as flowering plants are called, are of great importance to human life, responsible for producing much of the oxygen we breathe, along with fruit, vegetables, herbs and seeds. They are producers within the ecosystem, while we are consumers.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Examples Of Angiosperm Flowering Plants

    Examples of Angiosperm Flowering Plants. During the cretaceous period, a group of plants developed called angiosperms. These plants were characterized by a new evolutionary development: flowers. Flowers exist to help angiosperms reproduce. This reproductive strategy was successful enough that there are more angiosperms on Earth than any other type of plant. They are also the most diverse group of plants.

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

    How To Dry Flowers In A Book

    How to Dry Flowers in a Book. Drying flowers lets a gardener remember the success of gardens past. By drying flowers in a book, the flowers become flattened and can then be used to make personalized stationary or bookmarks. Naturally, the flatter the flowers start off, the easier it will be to press them. Examples of flat flowers include pansies and buttercups. Flowers with petals that radiate out from the center--asters, for instance--are also good candidates.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Parts Of The Passion Flower

    Parts of the Passion Flower. The West discovered passion flowers in the 1600s as Spanish missionaries traveled in Peru. The priests found that the passion flower's parts could serve as an illustration of the suffering or "passion" of Jesus. Seeing the crucifixion story in the parts of the passion flower gave the flower its name. Today, the flower has traveled beyond Latin America, and the vine is grown in warm climates for the beauty of the flower. About 400 species exist. One of them, Passiflora edulis flavicarpa, provides passion fruit juice.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    The Advantages Of Flowering Plants

    The Advantages of Flowering Plants. Flowering plants are all around us, the most abundant kind of plant on land. They developed before humans, and their diversity and abundance has been an important part of our survival, culture and history. We have used them in our rituals, given them symbolic meaning and even used them as currency. Their relevance continues, affording gardeners several advantages.

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

    What Is The Purpose Of A Flower On A Plant?

    What Is the Purpose of a Flower on a Plant?. The sole purpose of a flower is reproduction, and for that purpose, a flower comes armed for the job. Every part of a flower, including scent and beauty, furthers the plant's reproductive strategy. When it blooms, a flower reveals male and/or female parts. The male part is the stamen, which consists of a filament topped by an anther. The anther produces pollen, and within that pollen are sperm. The female part of the flower is a carpel or carpels that might be fused to form a pistil. Within the pistil is an ovary that contains ovules ready for pollination. Some flowers have both male and female parts; other flowers are either male or female.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
  • Statue of Zeus in Greece
    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Flowers In Greek Mythology

    Flowers in Greek Mythology. Greek mythology is alive with such things as love, lust, heroism, betrayal--and flowers. Flowers spring up everywhere, sometimes as as a main feature of a myth, sometimes as a part of the backdrop and sometimes blurring the line between plant and person. When flowers appear in Greek myth, it is often according to certain themes and scenarios--a red flower, for instance, might make the reader think of blood, for instance. Many of these flowers grow in our gardens today.

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

    How To Balance The pH In Water For Plants

    How to Balance the pH in Water for Plants. The hydrogen potential of water, or, pH, refers to the balance--or imbalance--between positive hydrogen ions (H?) and negative hydroxide ions (OH?). When these ions are in balance, pH is neutral, and measures 7. In acids, hydrogen ions outnumber hydroxide ions; pH measures between 0 to 6.9. Bases (alkalines) have more hydroxide ions and pHs of 7.1 to 14. How minerals dissolve is affected by pH. Since plants \"drink\" these dissolved nutrients, pH affects plant nourishment. To avoid extremes of malnourishment or toxic mineral levels, proper pH is necessary. You don't need to hit 7 pH exactly since plants usually like slightly acidic conditions.

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

    What Are Some Examples Of Plants With Seeds?

    What Are Some Examples of Plants With Seeds?. Plants that produce seeds are either gymnosperms, which make seeds in cones, or angiosperms, which create seeds with flowers. This means that all conifers and all flowering plants bear seeds. Gymnosperms and angiosperms reproduce sexually; that is, they have male and female aspects. Pollen, for instance, contains "male" sperm that must fertilize "female" ovules for successful reproduction to occur. The outcome of that reproduction is seed.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Meaning Of Violet Flowers

    Meaning of Violet Flowers. A diminutive flower, the violet has a whole array of meanings, many to do with color, many to do with its gentle size and appearance. Most meanings are pleasant ones, and the fondness people have for the flower has placed it in the calendar as the flower for the month of February and made violets the state flower of Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Rhode Island. With a history connected to many myths, it isn't surprising that the violet is the flower of Greece.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More
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    Flowers
    Flowers By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022

    Meaning Of A Magnolia Flower

    Meaning of a Magnolia Flower. Magnolias grow as trees or shrubs and as evergreens or deciduous plants, producing flowers that bloom in several different colors. These flowers don't have petals, per se. Instead they have tepals, leaf-like structures that take the place of both sepals--the outermost whorl of a flower--and petals. On magnolia, tepals make for a show-off of a flower, one that has garnered attention throughout its history with humans. It's a long relationship, occurring in two widely separated continents; the magnolia is native to both Asia and the Americas. The meaning of the flower varies according to culture, location and history.

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

    How Do Strawberry Plants Reproduce Asexually?

    How Do Strawberry Plants Reproduce Asexually?. The strawberry plant, which is a perennial capable of living several years, has more than one way of reproducing. One of its reproductive strategies is the typical sexual method used by vegetables and fruit, wherein a plant produces flowers that, after pollination, lead to fruit and seed. The strawberry plant has another reproductive strategy, though, this one asexual, accomplished through stems called runners. Additionally, strawberry plants can produce shoots from the main stem capable of becoming new, separate plants.

    By Sophie Johnson September 6th, 2022 Read More