Virtual Gardening

Virtual Gardening - Part 1 Yesterday I had an interesting discussion with a faculty member of the Wageningen University in the Netherlands. It was an informal gathering, but between the peanuts, beer and cola he told me some pretty interesting stuff. First we were talking about the adaptation qualities some plants seem to have. In what way and how do they adapt. My for this post anonymous researcher told me that you can always see plant adepting to their environment. Take a look at a lot of plants growing together compared to some “loners” of the same species in an isolated spot. The reason for this is the competition between plants, plants growing in close proximity to each other will grow longer stems and larger leafs growing more upright to the sun. This is really a nice try to eliminate the competition. The grow high and form large leafs to get the most sunlight on the system. But how do they do it? It seems like a smart move, but how do they do it. Humans living in densly populated areas are no different than those living in rural areas. There seem to be a few mechanisms involved in this proces. Think about the overall influence of photosynthesis. A lot of plants on a small piece of land mean low sunlight conditions at the bottom. Plants notice changes in light, but also they detect the amount of output from their surrounding fellow plants. The know how they are doing among their peers. And there also seem to be relationships’ based on mutuality. There is a lot still to be learned , but in computer models we can now predict the end result of a plants growth. We develop 3D models of growth and development. In our computer model we also program data about the know adaptation mechanisms in and adjust when needed. Building a virtual garden that way you can easily try out new ways of planting, combining species, changing lighting conditions and calculate an optimum for a plant to max. produce. More about Virtual Gardening can be found a http://www.gardening-guides.com

This year I''ll do it... I build my pond

This time I really made up my mind. I’m going to have a pond!! No matter what other family members say or do. And where the garden is concerned they are mostly heavily involved in other futile tasks when the garden is at stake. Now I will start to build my little piece of paradise It’s going to be a fairly small pond bordering the lawn at one end and a heavily grown outer piece of my garden at the other end. I think I’m going for the prefab ponds but I’ll check that a the garden center. There are gardeners that plant from A – Z but I’m one that needs to be inspired in places of great abundance like garden centers. I do want something for the birds and bench to sit at night and feel sanity coming back to me from the feet up. One think I will NOT buy a swing. A fifty year old woman on a swing that pityfull. But why am I so attacked to them. Why is it that every year I have to fight the urge to buy one? I see myself on the swing, it’s a hot summers night I enjoy the outside, the stars and my pond and then he comes. You see… hopeless. I’m sure everyone who is over 50 knows about either the non existence or the extreme danger of a prince on a white horse. So I’m of. Tell you all about my dealings tonight or tomorrow

Rain, Wind and Hail.. and a spring garden

A few heavy spring storms and raindrops like golf balls turned my promising spring garden into a disaster area. Got to go to work, and nature must have its way. Meaning as in life if we don’t want to control everything and just do what we are supposed to all will be well. Anyway that’s what I tell myself now..

Automatic Watering Systems - Smart Garden Design

One of the technical gardening gadgets that made my life a lot easier is an Automatic Watering System.

It not only saves you time but is also:

• Better for the Plants
• Environment Friendly

The first advantage is obvious; you can adjust your system to an optimum for each plant group.

It’s a great tool in our Smart Garden design plan because we are adjusting the needs exactly to what we want to grow.

The second advantage I sometimes find heavily debaded.

But I only have to show my clients a garden with the system installed. Then take them for a quick ride through the neighborhood and they are convinced. Instead of use brute force with the manual devices, with an automatic system you don’t spill resources. You only use what the plants need.

These systems are easily installed. Tim will write a how-to plus some drawings and upload them this week.

Next to water your plants need nutrients. There are smart solutions for this challenge as well.

I’ll write you an introduction tomorrow, and a more in depth story on the site.

First Bulb Flowers at Keukenhof

Hello All, Driving to the Airport this morning I noticed the first flowers blooming at the Keukenhof. Spring defenitely is here Hans