CasaSugar

How-To: Raise Roses Even If You're a Beginner

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:00:43 -0800

Who doesn't love roses? The classic bloom adds elegance to any home, even if you only have room for a few potted varieties on your balcony. A recent SFGate article offered some tips and tricks for raising roses, even if you're a newbie to the flower world. See some of my favorite tips in the slideshow.

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Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:30:56 -0700

This beautiful flower can be cultivated in gardens, but is more often seen on rural roadways during the late Summer. Can you tell me what it's called?

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:00:02 -0700

This gorgeous, rather alien-looking bloom is found vining all over fences and homes, though there are some varieties that also glow as a shrub. Can you tell me what it's called?

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:15:32 -0700

The variety of this annual flower is called "Double Glorious." Can you tell me what type of flower it is?

Casa Quickie: Crate and Florals

CasaSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:37 -0700

The next time you come across wooden wine cases or apple crates, don't trash them - plant them instead. I especially love the way these crates' whitewashed finish looks so fresh against the green and blue of the florals. Have you ever planted anything in crates?
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Open House: How Do You Deal With Pets in Your Garden?

CasaSugar — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:30:00 -0700

My mother-in-law has amazing flower and edible gardens at her cabin on Whidbey Island, off the coast of Washington. She also has a very exuberant ball-fetching standard poodle named Zoe. When I visited the cabin last weekend, I walked around her property, stunned by the bursts of color from her rhododendrons, peonies, roses, lilacs, honeysuckle, and numerous other flowering plants. And then there was Zoe, who diligently followed me and dropped her ball at my feet whenever I'd pause.
Even though Zoe is a big, active dog, her damage to my mother-in-law's fabulous garden seems minimal at worst. There are several gravel paths, upon which Zoe usually travels when outside. Two grassy patches seem to be her preferred outdoor lounging spots, and she's well-trained enough not to tramp around in the surrounding flowering gardens or strawberry patches.

Do you negotiate the issue of shared garden and pet space? How do you deal with pets in your flower garden? Do you train Fido to stay out? Do you use fencing or natural deterrents to keep your pets away from your favorite plants? Tell me all about it!

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:00:04 -0700

This flower is a favorite in the Pacific Northwest, and has a nickname that makes it sound as if it's traveling with a band. Can you guess what it's called?

Name This Flower

CasaSugar — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:30:06 -0700

This flower has an intoxicating scent, and comes in an array of colors. Can you tell me its name?

Open House: Frustrated Flowers

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:00:44 -0800

In the UK, these beautiful pink blossoms adorn the Houses of Parliament, but don't expect these delicate blooms to last very long. England is facing the coldest Winter in 13 years, which means that many flowers that have started to bloom will be killed by the cold.

Are there any frustrated or confused flowers near your home? Have blooms come out too soon, only to be destroyed by a snowstorm? Or are plants not blooming or leafing due to a lack of rain? Tell me about it in the comments.

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How Often Do You Have Fresh Flowers in Your Home?

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:00:12 -0800

One of the advantages of living in the Bay Area is that I can count on blooming trees or bushes year-round. Even if it's just a humble single flower in a bud vase, I can add life to a room without spending a penny. Do you try to have fresh flowers in your house, too?