PINES

PINES

Pines are one of the most recognizable trees on the planet. Closely associated with Christmas and other festive holidays around the world, these majestic and fragrant trees from the Pinus genus, are real crowd pleasers. Fortunately, they are also easy to plant and maintain, which makes them a popular pick for professional landscapers and homeowners alike.

Pines are among the most well-known coniferous trees in the world. They thrive in temperate mountainous regions, but can also survive in tropical spots in the northern hemisphere.

Among the most popular types of Pine trees are:

• Scotch Pine: Commonly found in North America where it is commercially grown as a Christmas tree, the Scotch Pine is known for its beautiful bluish-green needles and full shape.
• Ponderosa Pine: Popular among landscapers, the large Ponderosa can grow up to 80 feet tall. Its pyramidal shape and long needles make it an excellent choice for a windbreaker on large properties.
• Bristlecone Pine: Known for its long life, the Bristlecone is among the shortest types of Pine trees. On average it grows to about 20 feet. Its short stature makes it an outstanding addition to a rock garden.
• Black Pine: Also known as the Austrian Pine, this highly attractive tree is a top pick for homeowners looking to add a Pine to their property. The tree is easy to maintain, doesn't exceed 60 feet in height and features eye-pleasing dense, dark green foliage. 

Botanists estimate that there are close to 125 species of Pines worldwide. Their height ranges from 45 to 135 feet with some Ponderosa Pines exceeding 250 feet. Despite their differences in height, Pine trees share a host of common characteristics that make up their familiar appearance:

• Needles: Instead of traditional leaves, Pine trees feature needles that are thin and pointed. Individual needles range in length from one inch to up to six inches. The needles typically grow in clusters and are traditionally dark green in color, though some trees feature green needles with a light blue tint. Pine trees are evergreens which mean their needles don't change color in the fall and don't shed in the winter months.
• Bark: One of the ways you can decipher the age of a Pine tree is to look at its bark. A young Pine has a smooth, greenish-brown bark, while older trees feature thick, dark brown bark covered with cracks and crevices. The one exception is the Scotch Pine with bark that turns reddish-brown as it ages.
• Cones: You won't find fruit growing on Pine trees. Rather, the towering trees produce cones that contain seeds. The scaly cones are used throughout the world as decorations in wreaths, centerpieces and floral arrangements.

Most Pines live between 100 and 1,000 years, though some have survived to nearly 5,000 years old. The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine is recognized as the world's oldest living organism having lived to roughly 4,600 years old.

http://www.2020site.org/trees/pine.html

SOMETHING GREEN LEAFY

SOMETHING GREEN LEAFY

PIC # 1 Grass (Tihoe-tihoe in akeanon / aklanon dialect)

Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

 PIC #2 Grass (Tihoe-tihoe in akeanon / aklanon dialect)

Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

 PIC # 3 Leaf
 Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

PIC # 4 Leaves
Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

 PIC # 5 Bermuda Grass
Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

PIC #6 Bermuda Grass
Location: Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines

PIC # 7 Pine Tree Leaves

Location: Tagaytay City, Philippines

PIC #8 

Location: Panay, Capiz, Philippines

CALADIUM PLANTS

Caladiums ay isang kapansin-pansin na kapalit para sa mga bulaklak, na may kanilang mga puso hugis-dahon at splashes ng kulay-rosas, puti at pula.

Caladium with red leaf with green round

   

 Caladium with white leaf with green veins 

Mini Caladium with white leaf with green

Caladium /kəˈleɪdiəm/^[1] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae. They are often known by the common name elephant ear (which they share with the closely related genera Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma), Heart of Jesus,^[2] and Angel Wings. There are over 1000 named cultivars of Caladium bicolor from the original South American plant.^[3]

The genus Caladium includes seven species, which are indigenous to Brazil and to neighboring areas of South America and Central America. They grow in open areas of the forest and on the banks of rivers and go dormant during the dry season. The wild plants grow to 15–35 inches (40–90 cm) tall, with leaves mostly 6-18 inches (15–45 cm) long and broad.

Cultivation and Uses

Several species are grown as ornamental plants for their large, arrowhead-shaped leaves marked in varying patterns in white, pink, and red (somewhat resembling the unrelated coleus) and have been in cultivation in Europe since the late 18th century. The two forms most widely cultivated are called "fancy-leaved" and "lance-leaved". The former is the more commonly seen and is the traditional caladium of cultivation; the leaves are more heart-shaped. The latter has more lance-head-shaped leaves. Most Caladiums in cultivation grow to about 24 inches (60 cm) high and 24 inches (60 cm) wide, although dwarf varieties are now in cultivation.

Numerous cultivars have been selected, most of them (over 120) derived from C. bicolor. The lance-leaved varieties are also derived from C. schomburgkii. Many are sold as C. x hortulanem.

Caladiums grow from corms and can be propagated by dividing the tubers. They are hardy only to USDA plant hardiness zone 10; in colder areas, they are typically grown as tender bulbs or as houseplants.

During their growing season, they require moderate watering (damp, not soggy). Most varieties prefer partial to full shade, although sun-resistant varieties are now in cultivation. Approximately 98% of all caladium bulbs are from Lake Placid, Florida, in the United States. In recent years many new varieties have become available through breeding and are now largely disease resistant. The bulk of bulb production is sold to pot producers who in turn provide your local nursery outlets with potted caladiums ready for immediate planting. Most of the bulb growers also sell direct retail via websites, shipping of bulbs takes place in the spring when temperatures permit (bulbs are subject to damage if temps too low).

In temperate areas, they should be lifted before the first frost. The corms are dried and stored for the winter when temperatures fall to 65 °F (18 °C), and stored moderately dry (not bone-dry) over the winter at temperatures between 56 °F (13 °C) and 61 °F (16 °C).

All parts of the plant are poisonous. They should not be ingested and may irritate sensitive skin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caladium