Flowers

By Adnan Younis, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan

Hortist: Gladioli are herbaceous perennials with long, sword-like leaves and tall spikes of showy, colorful flowers. Numerous cultivars have been bred with extended vase life, floral novelty, or extended flowering periods. Recent focus has included transformation for potential creation of a genetically modified organism (GMO) cultivar. Most of the Gladiolus spp. are originally from South Africa, although they are widely distributed to as far north as Russia and into the Mediterranean. Winter-hardy species from Russia include G. imbricatus and G. palustris. It has been reported that several species are adaptable to cultivation. Modern G. hybrids are derived from S. African species. Modern gladioli are primarily grown as summer-growing cut flowers and tender annuals.

There are several environmental factors that affect the winter hardiness trait, including low temperatures, variable snow/ice cover, low light periods, and secondary invasion by pathogens. Winter hardiness is a necessary trait for herbaceous perennials growing in northern climates and is important for floriculture crops as well as consumers. Underground storage organs in geophytes, e.g., corms, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, etc., allow herbaceous perennials to survive cold winters. The underground structure of perennial Gladiolus is a corm or fleshy storage stem from which shoots and roots grow. Gladiolus is a genus that has not been studied to any great extent in the area of winter hardiness. Most or all cultivars are ‘non-hardy’ in Minnesota and other northern latitudes.

By Manzoor Ali, Tribune

Tribune: A small street in the Qissa Khawni Bazaar in Peshawar hosts the city’s claim to a horticulturalist’s dream. Translating to Flower Street, the city’s flower business was based here until a few years ago, when shops began to close down amid changing trends.

Marigold (also known as Calendula officinalis) is not just a beautiful flower, but a natural medicine for many conditions. The marigold has now been placed in the books of cancer and anti-cancer cures, because it has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The marigold is also able to help in the treatment of wounds. It is excellent in healing burns, stings and impetigo (a contagious skin infection.) It is also wonderful in the treatment of warts, corns and calluses. The flowers are also used in the treatment of many skin conditions from eczema to varicose ulcers.

The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has developed latest technology and processing units besides identifying various areas for the production of tea to rid the country of huge bills it has been spending on tea imports as the per capita tea consumption has reached to 1. kg per annum.

According to data, the country imported as much as 127,316 metric tons of black tea costing $301 million in 2010-11 while the green tea imports during this period stood at 3,322 metric tons of $4.25 million. – AP Photo

The blooming gadget connects wirelessly to the home's electricity meter and changes colour and shape depending on the amount of electricity used.When electricity use is low the flower glows a healthy greenish-blue and stands tall and open.

Keep me blooming: This high-tech flower changes colour and shape depending on how much energy you use

By Muhammad Nadeem, Dr. Adnan Younis and Dr. Atif Riaz, IHS UAF, Pakistan

“He who appreciates the beauty of a flower and its colors appreciate the beauty himself.”

Flower acts as precursor to enhance our emotions, excitement, we smile and vibrations in brain are positive, increase level of positive energy flow through us, love, positive thinking, personality development, the power gained being more flexible and most of all happiness.

University of Agriculture Faisalabad is going to celebrate its “Golden Jubilee Celebrations” in March 2011 by arranging a series of sensational events throughout the year but one-week mega program “Spring Festival” would be held in March from 13-20, 2011. UAF intends to organize various national and international seminars, conferences and would hold an Agri. Exhibition, Horse & Cattle Show, Fancy Birds & Pet Show, Alumni Meet, Flowers’ Show, IT Exhibition, Monsanto Job Fair, Food Mela etc. As part of that, Institute of Horticultural Sciences is going to organize “Annual Spring Flower Show”, 13th–20th March, 2011 at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Many international delegates, politicians, scholars, farmers, industrialists and students are expected to participate. The organizing & management committees of this show request the pleasure of your company and as well as participation of your organization / institute. Therefore you are cordially invited to participate in this beautiful eve.

By Christopher Middleton 7:00 23 Feb 2011

The orchid exhibition at Kew reveals the obsessive world of exotic plant collectors, says Christopher Middleton.

You can’t really approve of how the bee orchid behaves, but it’s hard not to feel a certain grudging admiration. Like many other members of its species – the majority, in fact – Ophrys apifera relies on a mixture of low cunning and shameless deceit to ensure its survival.

New rose will be less prone to wilting and will create longer lasting bouquets.

The idea of offering celery as a Valentine's Day gift to your loved one instead of chocolate might send the wrong message, but scientists working to improve the rose genome could make the low-calorie stem a popular Feb. 14 present after all.

Cool-season flowers bring a splash of color to your garden right when you need it most.
Where freezes are infrequent, you can plant cheery pansies (pictured), snapdragons, English daisies, and more from early fall through late winter. They'll overwinter, filling your borders, containers, and pocket gardens with months of flower power.

In cold climates, plants will die off in winter but can be planted again in spring.
Look for sturdy plants with good leaf color in six-packs and 4-inch containers. Click ahead for some of our favorite picks for the cool season.

Garden takes new shape after partial destruction by visitors.

A paradise that was ravaged by some unruly visitors will re-surface shortly as Al Ain looks to set yet another world record with huge pyramids of flowers covering more than double of the existing area in the Oasis city.

Al Ain Paradise, has been a major tourist attraction since March last year when it set a world record of being the largest garden with hanging flower baskets.

The Paris japonica has a genetic code 50 times longer than that of a human being, and if it were laid end-to-end it would stretch more than 300 feet.

An ordinary-looking white flower from Japan may carry something quite extraordinary within its pale petals — the longest genome ever discovered.

SIZE DOESN’T MATTER: Bigger genomes don't necessarily mean a more complex organism. Whereas genes are generally supposed to correspond to some traits, many genes don't appear to correspond to anything.

By Doreen Howard, The edible explorer, Diggin' It

Helpful tips on growing lavender in less than ideal conditions.

By summer's end, plants are blanketed with lavender wands.

One of the rarest flowers in the world which is now extinct in the wild has been successfully grown in a part of Britain where it disappeared 200 years ago.

The Franklinia alatamaha – known as the Franklin tree – has large fragrant, cup-shaped, snow-white blooms and is part of the tea family.

The Franklinia alatamaha had been extinct in the wild since the 1800s

It was first discovered in 1765 by Philadelphia botanists John and William Bartram who named it after close friend Benjamin Franklin.

The fire was caused when the flowers heated up because of the decomposition of organic materials — spontaneous combustion, in other words.

 FLOWER FIRE: Brian Duncan, whose home is a few miles south of Paragould, said the flowerpot had contained dead, decomposing flowers and potting soil that his wife had planted in the summer of 2009.