Archive for the ‘Sunflower’ Category
- Patented spiral perch attracts more birds and allows more birds to feed
- Birds love to perch on the patented spiral and “run the spiral” instead of flying to another perch
- Aluminum and stainless steel parts
- Squirrel-proof patented “locking lid”
- Bottom comes completely off for an easy clean
Bird Quest SBF6G 18″ Super Spiral Sunflower Bird Feeder – Green
Product Description
18-inches tall. Patented spirals attract more birds and allow more birds to feed. Birds love to perch on the patented spiral. They love to “run the spiral” instead of flying to another perch. Spiral design allows cardinals, grosbeaks, and other desirable large songbirds to feed. With normal “perch” tube feeders, these birds have difficulty feeding without a seed tray. Lifetime warranty on workmanship and normal wear and tear. Aluminum and stainless steel parts. … More >>
Bird Quest SBF6G 18″ Super Spiral Sunflower Bird Feeder – Green
Katie and the Sunflowers
Product Description
Katie visits five paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin and Cezanne! Katie tries to pick the sunflower seeds from the Vincent Van Gogh painting, but when the vase tips over, the flowers go everywhere. Mimi, a little girl from a painting nearby, comes to help Katie, but when Mimi’s dog Zazou comes too disaster follows! This imaginative fantasy about a mischievous character is an original and fun way to introduce children to art. A page of notes at the end gives background i… More >>
Katie and the Sunflowers
A technoid guy dancing with a sunflower…..
Everyone knows intuitively what a “normal” sunflower looks like. Tall and bright, they take on an almost majestic appearance by the time they’ve grown to full height. Mexican sunflowers are striking in the way they look, but many passersby would be surprised to discover that the plants are actually part of the sunflower line. They look different, they’re shorter, but they look no less regal than their taller brethren.
In this article, we’ll explore growing Mexican sunflowers (it’s scientific name is Tithonia rotundifolia). I’ll describe some of the traits that are exclusive to the breed as well as how to plant and care for them to encourage the best crop.
Their Appearance
They typically grow to a full height of only 5 feet. Some varieties have been known to reach 8 feet while others only reach 2 or 3. In most cases, the plant is relatively short when compared to a regular sunflower at twice the height. One of the reasons why people don’t realize that they’re part of the same breed is because they look completely different. Tithonia have heads that are only a few inches in diameter and they boast a deep orange-red color. Through cross-breeding, some varieties have been grown with yellow heads, though most growers prefer the distinctly sharp orange or vibrant red.
The leaves of the Mexican sunflower are usually coarse and reach a length between 6 and 8 inches. They’re green, shaped like a spade, and have a noticeable fuzz across their surface.
Traits Of The Breed
Tithonia love the sun and grow quickly under full exposure. They have 2 flowering seasons: one in the summer (from July to the middle of September) and one during the fall (from October through the end of November). When grown to harvest, they’ll only yield approximately 50 seeds, a tiny amount compared to the several hundred seeds produced by a regular sunflower. Most gardeners who grow them do so for their appearance rather than their seed yield.
How To Plant Them
Most varieties of Tithonia are extremely easy to grow as long as they have direct, plentiful access to sunlight. They’ll develop well in fertile soil that has been drained properly, but can also thrive in sites that haven’t been drained or offer less fertility. Like regular sunflowers, they’re resilient. That said, they should be planted after the last trace of frost has disappeared; while the plant can withstand arid or dry climates well, it can’t tolerate frost.
Also, it’s important to note that Tithonia are soil scavengers. Because they tend to scavenge the nutrients within the soil and grow outward, they should be planted approximately 3 feet apart. That will prevent them from cannibalizing the site.
How To Care For Them
Mexican sunflowers need plenty of water when they’re grown in extremely dry climates. However, take care not to drown them. They absorb water well and don’t need a constant supply. When you first plant them, you should water them daily. After a week, watering them every other day is sufficient. Also, consider using a compost or fertilizer mix, especially if the site in which they’re planted isn’t particularly fertile.
You may also want to mulch the soil around each plant and stake them once they’ve reached nearly a foot in height.
A Dazzling Display
Because this variety has such a vibrant color, it makes an ideal ornamental plant. When used within an outside garden, only a few are necessary to have a noticeable impact. When used in a bouquet of flowers, 1 or 2 heads in the middle can have an unparalleled intensity. Inside or out, in gardens or bouquets, Tithonia captures attention and makes an unforgettable impression.
Imagine the next time you adhere a discussion about butterfly patch. When you depart allotment the fascinating butterfly backyard certainty below, your contacts will be absolutely amazed.
What is butterfly farming? Simply put butterfly farming is the art of rising flora and plants that will invite these bright and magnificent creatures to our own gardens. A suitably planned butterfly backyard offers great joy to visitors of the plot by attracting these lovely flitting creatures for our amusement and delight. It also ensures a cautious haunt for the butterflies.
Deciding leading how to target your butterfly patch is just a count of personal preference on your part. In reality, butterflies modestly do not nurture about the manner of your plot, only the plants that magnetize them. Typical points to believe for choosing your butterfly farming diagram are the volume of your backyard and the types of flora and plants you want to grow. Pick grandeur of patch that appeals to you and guarantee it contains the plants and flora that plea to the butterflies you fancy to charm.
It is important to do thorough seek on exactly which plants and plants will draw certain species of butterflies. Speaking of butterfly species, do you have an idea of what kinds you want to attract to your backyard? Do you know which ones live in your sphere? Once you work out this firmness and resolve which types of butterflies you want mission around, and visiting your home, then easily originate your butterfly gardening plot around those species.
When edifice your butterfly plot be gentle how you coordinate the ensign you prefer for your flower beds. Although butterflies do not tending about your array of influence, it\’s better to diagram forward. You want to sidestep having your butterfly patch looking like a hodgepodge of unrelated flag and textures that could produce mayhem to you and possibly even the butterflies.
Some people find it useful to draw and influence an arrange of their butterfly gardening chart to see what the wrecked outcome would look like. Keep in opinion that welcoming ensign like red and orange are flashy and gaudy. The insignia have a larger influence against a fanatical green background. Cool colors such as cerulean and purple are peaceful and toned down and would work better with a white disparity to make the look of newness and brightness.
Lastly, here is a brief directory of plants and flowers that you can look into when deceitful your butterfly gardening mean. They are the honeysuckles, sunflower, milkweed, summer blue, Valerian, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Yellow Sage, day lilies and lavender.
Think about what you\’ve read so far. Does it boost what you already understand butterfly plot? Or being there something completely new? What about the lasting paragraphs?
When creating a butterfly patch, the possibilities of what to compose in your butterfly patch motif are endless. Below are some suggestions to help get you ongoing when designing your butterfly backyard intend. They are designed to invent the creative treat of your thinker and get you started on your way to creating a lovely and well-right butterfly plot.
- First, before you even start your butterfly patch, find out which species of butterflies are in your issue. Consider winning an exploratory hike around your position with a butterfly identification book to find the butterflies that dwell close to your acreage. This may take a little more time and some inquiries on your part but the results will be value the exertion. After you have compiled your list of citizen butterfly species, be convinced to write down in your butterfly backyard graph what these particular species of butterflies use for nectar and food plants.
- Be reliable that your butterfly backyard plan includes a spot that provides at least six hours of sunlight per day. Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures and thus, do better where they are balmy and cozy.
- Wind can be a butterfly\’s nastiest rival so be certain to have heaps of bend protection in your butterfly patch mean. You can workshop tall bushes and other plants to create a meander disobey. Know the objective of your section\’s prevailing winds. The first option, however, is a finicky \’tucked away\’ place that avoids violent winds.
- Keeping the above points in brains, select a suitable spot to have your butterfly backyard. The best of all worlds would be a butterfly backyard located on the south feature of your home with windbreaks on both the west and east sides. You may also long to be surely that you are able to watch you butterfly patch from inside your home as well as bestow spaces slim from which to follow the frolics of the butterflies.
- If your corner permits, a potential suggestion for scene of barbara provided a butterfly patch Damrosch in her book Theme Gardens. She suggests the use of an old basement or home foundation if such is unfilled around your home or the place you want to have your butterfly garden. As an alternative, you can exhume a part and make a rock side around the excavation to simulate an old construction foundation. Remember to roof the floor of the excavation with numerous inches of gravel where you do not intend to plant your nectar and food plants for the butterflies. This will revive you from an unclear saunter through your butterfly garden after a hail.
There are many creative customs for constructing a butterfly garden. Take your time to pattern a garden that you will enjoy and be proud of later finally.
That\’s how things remain right now. Keep in attention that any subject can change over time, so be assured you keep up with the hottest rumor.
Song for free grateful dead – China Cat Sunflower – Three From The Vault
Boot drive raises funds at Manitoba Sunflower Festival Parade
The Altona Fire Department is hopeful people will once again dig deep in their pockets for an annual fundraiser.
Read more on Altona Red River Valley Echo
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The manner in which you store your sunflowers can play an important role in the preservation of your seeds (as well as the ease with which they’re unloaded). For example, if there is excess moisture during storage, it’s possible for the moisture to freeze the seeds, causing breakage. This happens often when they’re harvested early and stored without proper drying. Harvesting them early can help limit the potential for bird damage and shattering, but the seeds must be dried before storage. In this article, I’ll provide a few tips for storing your sunflowers properly to prevent them from being damaged.
Tip #1: Measure Moisture Accurately
Because storing your seeds when they contain too much moisture can cause problems, you’ll need to use a moisture meter. However, if your seeds are less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the meter will not be able to measure the moisture accurately. So, put the sample you’re using for measuring into a container and allow them to reach room temperature. Then, measure the moisture.
Tip #2: Use Aeration
The larger the storage facility, the more important aeration is. In the past, most professional growers relied upon aeration fans to keep the stored sunflower seeds cool. Today, larger facilities are being used for storage due to increased crop acreage. As a result, many growers have switched from using fans to ducts mounted into the floors.
The temperature at which the sunflower seeds are stored should remain between 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that aeration systems are not meant to dry the seeds (that’s the role of a high-temperature dryer).
Tip #3: Monitor Storage Quality
Don’t assume that the storage atmosphere is constant. When you first store your sunflowers after drying, you should monitor samples each week. Take the time to inspect the storage temperature and the seed moisture. You should check samples from several areas in your facility for consistency. When your seeds and the facility reach the target winter temperature, you can begin monitoring every 4 weeks. The key is frequent (weekly) monitoring in the beginning. If you neglect to do so, the temperature may be too high, attracting insects and disease.
Tip #4: Clean Out The Facility
You should clean your storage facility each day. Begin by cleaning your dryer, but also devote time to cleaning the aeration system, air ducts, and the handling structure. Trash, sunflower lint, and other debris can easily accumulate. Not only will this open the door for insects and fungi to collect, but it can cause a fire during the drying process.
Tip #5: Control Insects
It’s not uncommon for stored sunflower seeds to attract insects despite proper moisture levels, aeration systems, and a clean storage facility. Unfortunately, these insects can significantly damage your seed crop. You can control the insects by spraying your facility. Just make sure that you’re using a solution that has been approved for sunflowers.
Storing Your Sunflowers Properly
A lot of professional growers neglect to take preventative measures to ensure their seeds are unharmed by insects, disease, or combine fire. Often, it’s just a matter of devoting time and attention upfront to avoid major problems later. While some issues may not have a large economic impact, others can. By controlling seed moisture levels, using an effective aeration system, and monitoring storage temperatures, you can protect your sunflower seeds from freezing, disease, and insect infestations. When the time comes to unload your seeds from storage, you’ll be glad you took these steps.
Several cultures have enjoyed sunflower seeds for thousands of years. Harvested from tall sunflowers, the seeds can be eaten raw, roasted, or used for flavor and texture in a variety of meals. Today, they’re often eaten as a healthy snack between meals, providing an energy boost in a convenient package. Despite this, many people are unfamiliar with the benefits of eating sunflower seeds. In this article, you’ll learn how the seeds are a powerful source of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Plus, we’ll explain how sunflowers seeds can even have a mild relaxing effect on your brain.
A Rich Source Of Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an essential component of your daily nutrition. It’s an antioxidant that stops the rampant spread of free radicals within your body. Because free radicals can cause cellular damage, having a source of Vitamin E is critical. Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin E and can help your circulatory system function properly. It also allows your blood to clot more readily when your body sustains external wounds, aiding the healing process. Other benefits include a lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
Dietary Fiber For Easy Digestion
Sunflower seeds are a bountiful source of dietary fiber. A deficiency in daily fiber consumption leads to a host of health problems. While the recommended amount of fiber is approximately 30 grams per day, most people fail to consume more than 15 grams per day. This can cause digestive problems which leads to increasing toxicity within your intestines. By eating sunflower seeds, you can take advantage of a powerful supply of the dietary fiber your body needs. Doing so can reduce the likelihood of cancer, lower your cholesterol levels and aid your body’s elimination process.
Protein, Carbohydrates And More
One of the reasons why many athletes enjoy eating sunflower seeds is that they provide a supply of protein and carbohydrates. Both are important for maintaining energy levels while training or competing. The seeds can also stimulate the liver to release glycogen into the bloodstream. Because glycogen is a form of sugar, this provides an additional boost of quick energy.
Your body also requires a store of minerals in order to function properly. Sunflower seeds are a heavily-laden resource of magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc and iron. Each of these has inherent health benefits. While magnesium lowers your blood pressure (and thereby, reduces the chances of a heart attack), selenium can aid in repairing cellular damage while slowing the spread of cancerous cells. Meanwhile, iron helps to distribute oxygen to your muscles and zinc provides your immune system with the boost it needs to defend against common colds.
Sunflower Seeds For The Brain
Most people don’t realize that sunflower seeds can actually have a calming effect on your brain. This is due to high levels of tryptophan contained within the seeds. When you consume foods that have tryptophan, it effectively increases your brain’s production of serotonin (a neurotransmitter). High levels of serotonin reduce tension which creates a relaxing effect.
Enjoying Sunflower Seeds For Long-Term Health
The trend toward fast foods and meals that are heavy with unhealthy ingredients can have a lasting impact on your health. Many of these foods don’t provide a source of protein, carbohydrates and essential nutrients. A deficiency in dietary fiber aggravates the problem. By eating sunflower seeds regularly, your body can enjoy a rich source of the minerals, nutrients and fiber that it needs to function properly. If you’ve been looking for a convenient snack that’s tasty, healthy and can provide a quick jolt of energy, consider adding sunflower seeds to your diet.
