Among the countless varieties and hybrids of sweet peppers, there are those, such as the Ramiro pepper, whose popularity is literally worldwide. And if most vegetables on supermarket shelves are nameless, and it is almost impossible to find out about their variety, then the name of this pepper “Ramiro” will certainly be on the packaging. And, as my experience has shown, this pepper is worth letting other gardeners know about it. In connection with which this article was written.

Autumn is the most mushroom time. It is no longer hot, and heavy dew falls in the mornings. Since the earth is still warm, and foliage has already attacked from above, creating a completely special microclimate in the ground layer, the mushrooms are very comfortable. Mushroom pickers are also comfortable at this time, especially in the mornings when it is cooler. It's time for both to meet. And, if you haven’t introduced yourself to each other, get to know each other. In this article I will introduce you to exotic, little-known and not always edible mushrooms, similar to corals.

If you are a busy person, but at the same time not devoid of romance, if you have your own plot and are endowed with aesthetic taste, then explore the opportunity to purchase this wonderful ornamental shrub– karyopteris, or Nutwing. He is also “wing-hazel”, “blue fog” and “blue beard”. It truly fully combines unpretentiousness and beauty. Karyopteris reaches its peak of decorativeness in late summer and autumn. It is at this time that it blooms.

Pepper ajvar - vegetable caviar or thick vegetable sauce from bell pepper with eggplants. The peppers for this recipe are baked for quite a long time, then they are also stewed. Add to ajvar onion, tomatoes, eggplants. To store eggs for the winter, they are sterilized. This Balkan recipe is not for those who like to make preparations quickly, undercooked and underbaked - not about ajvar. In general, we approach the matter in detail. For the sauce, we choose the ripest and meatiest vegetables on the market.

Despite the simple names (“sticky” or “indoor maple”) and the status of a modern substitute indoor hibiscus, abutilons are far from the simplest plants. They grow well, bloom profusely and delight with a healthy look of greenery only in optimal conditions. On thin leaves any deviations from comfortable lighting or temperatures and disturbances in care. To reveal the beauty of abutilons in rooms, it is worth finding the ideal place for them.

Zucchini fritters with Parmesan and mushrooms - a delicious recipe with photos of available products. Ordinary zucchini pancakes can be easily turned into a non-boring dish by adding a few savory ingredients to the dough. During the squash season, pamper your family with vegetable pancakes with wild mushrooms; it is not only very tasty, but also filling. Zucchini is a universal vegetable, it is suitable for stuffing, for preparations, for main courses, and even for sweets there are delicious recipes - compotes and jam are made from zucchini.

The idea of ​​growing vegetables on the grass, under the grass and in the grass is scary at first, until you become imbued with the naturalness of the process: in nature, this is exactly how everything happens. With the obligatory participation of all soil living creatures: from bacteria and fungi to moles and toads. Each of them contributes. Traditional tillage with digging, loosening, fertilizing, and fighting all those we consider pests destroys the biocenoses that have been created over centuries. In addition, it requires a lot of labor and resources.

What to do instead of a lawn? So that all this beauty does not turn yellow, does not get sick and at the same time looks like a lawn... I hope that the smart and quick-witted reader is already smiling. After all, the answer suggests itself - if you do nothing, nothing will happen. Of course, there are several solutions that can be used, and with their help, you can reduce the area of ​​​​the lawn, and therefore reduce the labor intensity of caring for it. I propose to consider alternative options and discuss their pros and cons.

Tomato sauce with onions and sweet peppers - thick, aromatic, with pieces of vegetables. The sauce cooks quickly and is thick because this recipe contains pectin. Make such preparations at the end of summer or autumn, when the vegetables have ripened in the sun in the garden beds. Bright, red tomatoes will produce just as bright homemade ketchup. This sauce is a ready-made dressing for spaghetti, and you can also simply spread it on bread - very tasty. For better preservation, you can add a little vinegar.

This year I often observed a picture: among the luxurious green crown of trees and shrubs, here and there, like candles, the bleached tops of shoots “burn.” This is chlorosis. Most of us know about chlorosis from school biology lessons. I remember that this is a lack of iron... But chlorosis is an ambiguous concept. And lightening of foliage does not always mean a lack of iron. What is chlorosis, what our plants lack during chlorosis and how to help them, we will tell you in the article.

Korean vegetables for the winter - delicious Korean salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. The salad is sweet and sour, spicy and slightly spicy because it is prepared with Korean carrot seasoning. Be sure to prepare several jars for the winter, cold winter This healthy and flavorful snack will come in handy. You can use overripe cucumbers for the recipe; it is better to prepare vegetables in late summer or early autumn, when they are ripe in open ground under the sun.

Autumn for me means dahlias. Mine begin to bloom as early as June, and all summer the neighbors peek at me over the fence, reminding them that I promised them a few tubers or seeds by the fall. In September, a tart note appears in the aroma of these flowers, hinting at the approaching cold. This means it’s time to start preparing the plants for the long, cold winter. In this article I will share my secrets autumn care for perennial dahlias and preparing them for winter storage.

To date, through the efforts of breeders, according to various sources, from seven to ten thousand (!) varieties of cultivated apple trees have been bred. But despite their enormous diversity, in private gardens, as a rule, only a couple of popular and beloved varieties grow. Apple trees are large trees with a spreading crown, and you cannot grow many of them in one area. What if you try to grow columnar varieties of this crop? In this article I will tell you exactly about these varieties of apple trees.

Pinjur - Balkan-style eggplant caviar with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes. Distinctive feature dishes - eggplants and peppers are first baked, then peeled and simmered for a long time in a roasting pan or in a thick-bottomed pan, adding the rest of the vegetables specified in the recipe. The caviar turns out to be very thick, with a bright, rich taste. In my opinion, this cooking method is the best known. Although it is more troublesome, the result compensates for the labor costs.

If you are bored with smoothly trimmed lawns and picturesque flower beds, and want change, you can build a summer cottage alpine slide. A composition of stones and living plants, like a corner of wild nature, is a suitable option for a hacienda. You just have to work a little to create a garden masterpiece.

The first is choosing a location. The slide will look great against the background of the lawn, near the garden pond, near the paths. A sunny location is most beneficial. And if you have allocated a slightly shaded place for the slide, then pay attention to the selection of plants; shade-tolerant species will be required.

The second is pouring layers. A slide is a kind of layer cake. Therefore, gradually form the relief. First, you need to remove a 15cm layer of turf to avoid overgrowing the future hill with weeds, and treat the prepared area with Roundup, Tornado, Hurricane Forte weed remover or cover it with a non-woven dark cloth. Then you need to make drainage from crushed stone, gravel, small pebbles, even construction waste so that the water does not stagnate. Just remove the stumps, as when they rot, holes will form in their place, which will disrupt the composition. It is better to compact the drainage, then subsidence of the slide in the future will be minimal. Spread a 5-10 cm layer of sand evenly over the entire site, and then additionally add mounds where there will be hills. The higher you plan to make the alpine slide, the thicker the drainage and sand layers should be. Apply a third layer of 10-15cm thick earth mixture for plantings. The soil should consist of turf, peat and sand (2:1:1). To settle and compact the sand and drainage layer, the hill must be watered with a hose with a sprayer in order to avoid destruction of the created relief. The slide will settle by a quarter of initial height, so don’t rush into planting right away.

Third is the placement of stones. You can use tuff, sandstone, and local rocks. It is better not to use granite; it looks great, but it strongly acidifies the soil. Place the stones from the bottom to the top, in groups or individually, as your imagination plays. Just no geometrically correct proportions, randomness will make the wild corner of nature more natural. Place small and medium stones so that they are half in the ground. The soil is noticeably trampled when stones are laid. Water it and add soil if necessary.

It is important that your work does not look like an alien element on the site. Not far from the slide, place stones of different sizes in one or several places.

Only in the spring, when the soil warms up after the snow melts, add soil and eliminate any deficiencies that appear. After this, you can plant the plants.

When flowers grow on the stones, you will be able to please your eyes and appreciate the fruits of your labors.

These are the most unusual of the green inhabitants of our planet. Since ancient times, each of the lithops has lived in a separate area, among fragments of stones and rocks, copying the shape and color of the boulders surrounding them. With visual contact, it is impossible to determine that these are plants until you touch them with your hands. This article will tell you how to grow lithops, stunning and amazing living stones.

Description of lithops

Lithops living stones are characterized by a huge variety of colors of petals - from carmine and purple to white, cream, and yellow. Flowers appearance differ little from ordinary daisies and are comparable in size to or larger than the leaves. And when the mass flowering of living stones begins in their habitat, this spectacle is one of the most amazing in nature.

Lithops Lithops is a genus of succulent plants of the Aizaceae family, numbering more than 30 species. These “pebbles” come from the sandy and rocky deserts of Namibia, South Africa and Botswana. Inhabited in natural conditions, they have adapted to the harsh conditions of existence in an arid desert climate. And in order not to become prey for wild animals, which sometimes have nothing to eat in these harsh places, they camouflage themselves under the rocky ground with such care that they can only be distinguished from real stones if you touch them.

Lithops form vast colonies, populating dehydrated places on the planet, on the most impossible soil - quartz, limestone, granite. The ground part of the lithops consists of two thick leaves fused together, containing a supply of moisture, consuming it during severe drought. The gap between them can be shallow or can reach the ground itself, cutting the “stone” into two halves. From this cut new leaves and inflorescence appear.

The young lithops shares a common root with the mother plant until it dies. The color and pattern of the leaves repeats the pattern and color of the stones of the surrounding area. The underground part of the lithops consists of a short stem and a long root that goes deep into the sand in search of life-giving moisture. When drought occurs, the roots pull the entire plant into the depths so that it practically disappears from the surface. The Lithops flower is similar to a daisy - in young plants they close at night. This way they save moisture.

How to care for lithops

In order to avoid mistakes when making lithops, you should understand the cyclicity and conditions of its growth in its homeland. Live stones often go on sale, and the only reason for the low prevalence of these interesting plants is poor knowledge of their biology and, as a consequence, improper care, which leads to their death.

This is a very decorative, but also extremely sensitive plant. They peek out from under sandy soil to get your share of sunshine. These small succulents come in extremely varied colors. The top of the leaves is spotted and can be dark red-brown or yellowish, orange, blueberry, dark purple.

Spots, lines and stains on the surface are a kind of windows through which a plant covered with sand absorbs weak light. With the onset of spring, a pair of new leaves appears from the gap, replacing the old ones, which have given up their strength for renewed growth.

• Lithops feels great on light windowsills and responds positively to ventilation.
• Every day for 4 hours he needs direct sunlight or artificial lighting for 12 hours.
• In low light, the plant may die.
• In winter, it is worth maintaining the temperature at 10-15 degrees. From December, watering is completely stopped, resuming it in March. Lithops can only be sprayed occasionally. Its life cycle ends - it consumes moisture from dying leaves.
• Watering begins in the spring, when a new one begins life cycle, as a result of which new leaves appear.

The best way to water is to pour water into a tray and pour out the rest after 10 minutes. Or place the container in a bowl with damp peat, which is periodically wetted. At the end of our summer, the life of the lithops stops again - watering should be suspended. In September, lithops blooms, after which watering is reduced again. During the growth period, you can place the container with “pebbles” outside under a canopy to prevent raindrops from entering.

Going into a period of rest, it stops developing, and its leaves become dull. If you notice these signs, you should stop watering and place the pots in a bright, cool place.

Twice a year you can fertilize with complex fertilizer, which should be added to the water for irrigation in minimal quantities. This should only be done for plants that have not been replanted for more than 2 years.

Soil for lithops

For living stones, pots about 7 cm high are selected. When selecting a container, take into account the size of the root system - too much soil will lead to souring, rotting and death of the root system. Be sure to arrange drainage at the bottom of the planting container.

• The soil substrate can be prepared from store-bought soil for succulents, sand, perlite (1:2:2).
• Living rocks can be planted in wide containers in combination with other desert succulents.
• Living stones need to be grown in groups - this is how they grow in nature, closely huddled together. Planted alone, they grow poorly, do not bloom and may die.
• It’s good to do fine mulching decorative stones: this will have a positive effect on the microclimate in the soil and will create additional decoration for the composition.

Most people are not picky about the composition of the soil - the main thing is that it drains water well and does not contain a lot of humus. To reduce acidity, crushed wood ash or chalk is included in its composition.

Diseases and pests of living stones

• Well-cared for lithops are rarely susceptible to attack by pests and the development of diseases.
• If signs of the disease are noticed, the affected part is cut out with a knife, and the wound is dried and sprinkled with activated carbon.
• They are sometimes affected by fungus gnats or scale insects, which happens with excessive watering. In this case, the soil substrate is watered with a very weak solution of potassium permanganate, followed by drying.

Lithops from seeds at home

Lithops propagation by seeds is quite simple. It’s better to immediately buy a bag of the mixture - then you’ll get a lot different types simultaneously.

• Sowing is carried out in a wide, shallow container with a transparent lid and drainage holes.
• The soil mixture for sowing is prepared from standard store-bought soil, sand, perlite (1:2:2).
• The soil is thoroughly moistened and the seeds are distributed over the surface as little as possible. Thinly sprinkle sand on top, cover the container with a lid or glass, or cling film.
• Seeds do not lose their quality for a long time, so germination can be 100%. They germinate unevenly. The first ones may appear during the first week.
• To accustom small plants to air and for ventilation, the lid on the container is lifted every day.
• Watering is carried out through a tray - water is poured into it and drained after some time.
• Pebbles grow very slowly. Sometimes they fall over on their side, because the roots are not yet sufficiently developed - in this case, we use a toothpick to help them take a vertical position, slightly pressing them into the ground.
• It is better if the container with seedlings is placed in a sunny place.

The first flowering under optimal conditions can occur 3 years after sowing.
Living stones grow very slowly - this can be used to create mini-compositions that will be preserved in your original form some years. Lithops literally radiate positive energy, which is felt by people in the room.

At correct landing They require virtually no maintenance - you can forget about them for several weeks. And the “pebbles” will only be grateful to you for this, because they do not like excessive attention. This composition is ideal for people who cannot devote sufficient quantity of your time caring indoor plants, but want to have a living corner of the house. Lithops will ideally cope with this task, creating a piece unique landscape sultry desert in the house.

Types of Lithops

Living stone Lithops Conophytum

Its leaves are connected, and at the top of the rounded “stone” there is a tiny hole for the flowers and leaves of next year’s season.

Living Stone Argyroderma Lithops Argyroderma

It imitates sharp chipped pebbles; its paired leaves are somewhat pointed at the top and loosely adjoin each other. The name of this species alludes to the silver color of the leaf's skin.

Living stone Fenestraria Lithops Fenestraria and Frithia Lithops Frithia

Barrel-shaped leaves form continuous thickets. They are a little distanced from each other so that round shape each was not subject to deformation.

Lithops pseudotruncatella

It is distinguished by the presence of a shallow fracture and the pinkish-gray color of the leaves with a pattern of a more intense shade. Golden yellow buds appear in autumn.

Salt-tolerant lithops Lithops solicola

Outwardly it looks like a slingshot stuck into the ground. The top side is darker than the sides. During flowering, a chrysanthemum-shaped snow-white flower shoots out.

Lithops beautiful Lithops bella

A deep fissure can be seen between the olive-gray leaves. The pattern on the surface is formed by thick broken lines, and flowering is accompanied by a pleasant aroma.

Lithops fuller

Height does not exceed 1.5 cm. Leaves gray-blue or brownish-yellow with a convex upper surface covered with a brownish-green pattern and red-brown spots. The flower is a white chamomile.

Lithops Optica Lithops Optica

These pebbles are painted in a lilac-lilac tone, and inner surface slightly lighter and do not grow more than 3 cm. White flower with yellow stamens located deep in the cleft.

Lithops Olive Green Lithops Olivaceae

Its shape resembles a heart with the tops cut off. These are greenish-gray pebbles with whitish randomly located spots. Pale yellow buds are located on light green peduncles.

Lithops Marmorata

Their upper gray-greenish surface, mottled with many gray lines, looks velvety. Chamomile flowers bloom after rain.

Lithops Lesliei

Its fleshy leaves are greatly shortened, gray-blue in color with a shallow arched crack. Their flat part is dotted with a fine mesh pattern.

Lithops Brownish Lithops Fulviceps

Stains irregular shape scattered across the coffee-brown flat surface of these stones and creates the impression of an extruded, uneven grid. The diameter of the yellow flower reaches 3 cm.

Lithops Aucampiae

A rich chocolate shade with lighter interspersed leaves reminiscent of chocolate truffles.

Not every plant is able to fully develop and grow without sufficient moisture. They can react to its deficiency in different ways: some are stunted in growth, others lose leaf turgor, and others dry out completely. But what if in hot, dry weather it is not possible to water the flower garden often? In this case great solution The problem will be the selection of drought-resistant plants for decorating a flower garden, which, even with insufficient moisture, do not lose their attractiveness, delighting others with lush flowering and a wonderful aroma.

When designing flowerbeds of drought-resistant plants, you can adhere to standard planting schemes, in which the foreground is filled with low-growing flowers, and tall, handsome flowers are planted as a background in the background.

Decorative flower beds can act as a spectacular decoration for a site and serve as a source of aesthetic pleasure for their owners

When creating a flower garden that will decorate the site for many years, it is necessary to take into account a number of points:

• Place of arrangement. Drought-resistant flowers feel comfortable in depleted soils. But they do not tolerate marshy soils where there is no sufficient outflow of moisture. On waterlogged soils they simply rot and die. Reliable soil drainage – required condition when arranging flower beds. When laying out flower beds, the factor of illumination of the area is also important, because some drought-resistant flowers love sunny areas, while others love shady places.
• Combination of plants. When selecting compositions, it is important to take into account the conditions for growing a particular species. Plants with different moisture needs may feel uncomfortable in close proximity. And with such a combination of plants, the gardener may have difficulties with watering.
• Creating conditions for growth. To ensure reliable drainage, a sufficient amount of gravel and sand must be added to the soil. It is advisable to water only in the morning, thereby reducing moisture loss during the day.

Plants must be planted at a sufficient distance from each other, leaving room for free growth of their above-ground parts.

Since most drought-resistant plants in nature grow on depleted soils and soils lacking vitamins, when preparing a flower garden it is better to limit the amount of organic fertilizers.

The opinion that drought-resistant plants look inconspicuous compared to their sun- and moisture-loving counterparts is wrong. Among the drought-resistant plant species you can find many bright and showy decorative flowers. Beautifully flowering, drought-resistant perennials are unpretentious in nature and can grow even on depleted soils.

Many gardeners love drought-resistant plants not only for their unpretentiousness and beauty. Around the flower beds with these plants there is always pleasant aroma, attracting insects that pollinate flowers.

But even among the variety of beautiful drought-resistant plants, there are clear favorites that, even with insufficient care, can delight with lush, unique flowering throughout the season.

Using tall and low-growing drought-resistant grasses when designing compositions, you can even create real masterpieces of landscape art

Unpretentious plants can feel comfortable in both sunny and slightly shaded areas. Periwinkle, wormwood, milkweed, arabis, sedum and yarrow grow well between rocks. They are indispensable when decorating dry slopes, as well as for arranging and.

Among ground cover and low-growing drought-resistant flowers, the most decorative ones are: awl-shaped phlox, gaillardia, alyssum, saxifrage

Lilac lavender bushes planted along garden paths and exuding a magical aroma in the area, can literally transform the territory of the site

Irises, beloved by many gardeners, are also not particularly demanding to care for. Most of them bloom for 3-5 weeks in the spring, but some varieties bloom again in autumn.

Irises – amazing plants, numbering in tens of thousands of varieties, amaze the imagination with their exquisite flower shape and variety of colors

Echinacea is also great for decorating dry areas. A native of warm countries, it is interesting for its bright inflorescences of pink, yellow, burgundy and purple.

In addition to their decorative appeal, miniature “suns” can also have a healing effect: they help improve immunity, as well as cure colds and flu

Byzantine clearing will help give the garden an original texture. The plant, popularly referred to as “lamb’s ears,” is interesting due to its silvery foliage with a velvety texture.

Byzantine chistets is a herbaceous perennial 30-40 cm high. As it grows, it creates elegant soft “pillows” with a silvery tint

Crocosmia – unusual beautiful plant, numbering about 50 species, is of South African origin. The aroma of its flowers is somewhat reminiscent of saffron, widely used in cooking.

Crocosmia, decorated with spikelets with star-funnel-shaped flowers, is famous for its abundant and long flowering which can last from mid-summer to late autumn

This drought-resistant plant looks great in open flower beds.

Among the tall, drought-resistant beauties are mallow, miscanthus, and decorative onions. Reaching a height of two meters, they are able to create elegant screens that will protrude bright decoration plot throughout the season until the first frost.

The graceful stems of hollyhock roses can be decorated with about a dozen semi-double or double flowers of various shades, from snow-white, rich yellow to dark purple and burgundy.

These showy plants are ideal for a low-maintenance garden. It is enough just to sow the seeds in the ground at a distance of 50 cm from each other on fertile and well-drained soil - and within a year or two you will be able to enjoy the stunning flowering of mallow from June to late autumn.

Allium or decorative onion deserves special attention. Throwing out flower-bearing arrows 80-170 cm high in the spring (depending on the variety), it dresses up in spherical inflorescences of stunning beauty.

Large balls of allium inflorescences, smoothly swinging on thin arrows, are strewn with star-shaped flowers in white, pink and light purple shades

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, thanks to its specific “onion” smell, allium is able to protect not only itself, but also its flowerbed neighbors from harmful insects.

Drought-tolerant grasses

When designing a flower garden, a special place should be given to drought-resistant herbs. The most attractive among them are gray fescue, two-tasseled fescue and elimus.

Compact bushes of gray fescue, the height of which does not exceed 20-25 cm, look like sea ​​urchin with bluish needles

Such “bumps” look impressive against the backdrop of ponds and rocky gardens. Gray fescue grows best in sunny areas with fertile, well-drained substrate.

Two-bottle grass is a rapidly growing ornamental grass that forms tall “cushions” collected from white-green variegated grass

The decorative grass elymus is also attractive with its pointed bluish-gray leaves.

Since elymus grows quickly and behaves somewhat aggressively towards neighboring plants, it is better to plant it in a flower garden, limiting the roots using a container without a bottom

Decorative trees and shrubs

The beautiful barberry shrub is a clear favorite due to its unpretentiousness and drought resistance. Its thorn-strewn stems, growing up to 1 meter high, are decorated with elegant yellow, pink-brown and bright red leaves.

Among the variety of barberry varieties, the most decorative ones are Golden Ring with small red leaves in a yellow border and Rose Glow with pink-brown leaves with a fancy pattern in the form of white strokes and droplets

Branched barberry shrubs love the sun, but can also grow in slightly shaded areas. Some varieties of barberry also delight you with edible bright red fruits in the fall.

Euonymus - bright and unusual beautiful bush attractive with a beautiful openwork crown and small elegant foliage.

The plant, whose foliage is a rich dark green in the summer months, is engulfed in an “autumn fire” as September approaches, turning into shades of orange, purple and violet.

The pinkish fruits that cover the stems of the euonymus open as they ripen, revealing bright red-orange seeds. Amazing sight! But it is worth remembering that ripe fruits, like all parts of the plant, are poisonous.

The silver oleagin shrub is no less decorative. It feels most comfortable on very depleted soils, enriching and improving them with nitrogen.

Bush branches decorated silver foliage, during flowering they are strewn with miniature flowers that emit a pleasant aroma, thanks to which they are widely used in the perfume industry

In place of the flowers, fruits are later set, which by autumn grow into yellowish berries with astringent, sweetish pulp.

- absolutely undemanding to care and unusually beautiful forest guest, which has long taken root in suburban areas.

The flexible branches of an evergreen shrub are decorated with tiny needles and scaly needles, spreading a pleasant resinous aroma around them.

An amazingly beautiful forest dweller, withstanding unfavorable conditions, is capable of transforming any place on the site. It will be an effective addition to a rocky garden, a multi-level flower garden, a mixborder, or a frame for a garden path.

Drought-resistant plants are ideal for garden and flower garden decoration. They take root well and serve as a worthy decoration for the site.