Scientific advancements have made it possible to change the natural colors of several flowers. And this changing of colors is not just limited to roses. Recently, orange petunias have been developed in the laboratory. This ‘orange petunia’ is among many other “High-Tech” varieties which you will not find normally in the flower gardens.

Based on these new technological advancements, the scientists plucked a gene from corn plants and then stuck it in the petunia’s cells. Gene is a segment or region along the twisted strand of DNA. Determination of basic traits and features of an organism becomes possible with the study of genes and DNA. Color is an important feature of the flowers. A human eye sees it as blue, brown, hazel, and in many ways that we know as the flower colors.

The corn genes when induced in to the petunia cells start working like ‘Chemical Switches’. It controls the flower with specific directions and commands. Flower gets signaling commands from these genes about how to make a new pigment for orange-colored petals instead of the conventional blue ones.

Pigments in a plant are typical natural segments that add color to the stem, leaves, flowers, and all other parts. Plant pigments could be of numerous types.

Changing of color from blue to orange is not the end. Flowers virtually display a complete rainbow of colors. Now it is possible to have roses in red (that’s its own color of course) yellow, pink, or even in creamy white colors. And that is how you often decide to gift a bouquet to your beloved ones having a rainbow of same flower.

It is no wonder now to see rainbow colored roses. Only trick in this is to locate the right and most suitable genes and their proper mixing. There are three funky-sounding pigments which need to be mixed in right amount.

• Flavonoids Pigments - These pigments are the most common pigments present in roses. They are primarily responsible for the red colors through blue colors. Flavonoids are not related to flavor
• Carotenoid Pigment - Generally found in sunflowers and marigolds. Yellow and the orange colors of these flowers are derived from these pigments.
• Chlorophyll Pigment- A color producing pigment that gives green color to the plants.

A well defined ratio-based careful mixing and matching of all these three primary pigments provides an endless array of colors that can be created.

If the acidity level of the flower’s cells or the pH is changed the flower’s color would also be changed. Similar effects can also be introduced if acidity level or pH level of the soil is changed. Such type of chemical transformation would trigger the change of pigment color in certain flowers like ‘petunias’ and ‘morning glories’. If you see the ‘morning glory flower’ in the early morning hours you will notice that the buds of this flower are bright pink. Watch it in the afternoon and you will observe that the buds have opened up and the petals are pale blue. This is the magic of pigment mixing and matching.

You can do the magic with roses also. A change in the pH of the rose flower cells and an interaction with the rose flower cell flavonoids pigments will turn the rose petals blue instead of becoming blood red.

If the genes from one flower or plant are stucked in to another flower or plant then a new palette of splashy colors could easily be created.

By mixing and matching these three pigments an endless array of colors can be created.

Spring Garden Flowers Pictures

Spring Garden Flowers Videos

Spring flowers in my mother's garden	Joan's Spring Garden
Spring Garden 2007	Tulips for the Spring Flower Bulb Garden

Spring Garden Flowers Question & Answers

Spring Garden Flowers Question: 1

Have You Started Spring Shopping Yet?

Clothing, lawn and garden, or plants and flowers?Stacy G, I know! can't do nothing early with our Michigan weather, sheesh!

Answer: 1.
Not yet. I expect some more rain in Ca. I will buy humus for the garden toward the end of April and work it into the soil. In May I will do most of my planting as the annuals become spent too early if I plant before that. My lilies are already starting to grow, planted last year and transplanted 2 weeks ago. The roses now have buds. The crabgrass preventer was applied in the first part of March. I can hardly wait as I change parts of my flower garden every year. This is one of my favorite things to do. Horray!
Answer: 2.
absolutely
Answer: 3.
I got tons of seeds which I will not put out yet.

I am putting out spring bulbs. It was to cold today to do it.

So much for global warming!
Answer: 4.
yep my mom and i planted over 100 seeds for flowers!

i LUV SPRING!!!!!!!
Answer: 5.
yes! I still have dirt under my nails from planting several varieties of peppers in our garden this evening. We bought them last night...couldn't wait to get them in!!! Happy Spring!!
Answer: 6.
i have, at this moment in time no pressing needs for springs, and therefore have no plans to shop for them
Answer: 7.
I started shopping for some spring clothes the other day with my mom and sister. Bought a couple of really cute spring/summer dresses. Very excited about getting a chance to wear them.... but that would me it would have to stop snowing, EVER for that to happen... seriously! What is going on with our weather right now, is it ever gonna be warm and stay warm?!

Spring Garden Flowers Question: 2

What do I do with my compost pile?

So I thought I'd get a head start on my garden planning last year, and I threw all of the dog poop from the yard into the compost pile that I'm starting. Now it's the spring, and I'd like to get serious about this pile, but I'm reading that you shouldn't compost dog poop because of harmful viruses and parasites. Do I have to start over? Or can I just use what I've got on my flowers but not my veggies?

Answer: 1.
Just use it on the flowers and lawn unless you've got someone who is immunocompromised who visits your yard often. Compost this pile hot, if possible. Or solarize it.

If you're looking for a way to get rid of the dog manure, consider an anaerobic digester, aka "doggie dooley":
e.g.: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Pr...
Answer: 2.
you can use the dog poop for your compost your right though i wouldn't put it on my veggies.
Answer: 3.
just throw it away---somewhere---it stinks !!!
Start a new pile with garden waste,,,powdered limestone,,,water,,a little fertilizer.and maybe a few worms.
Answer: 4.
Manure is poop from cows, pigs, chickens, horses etc. so it doesn't matter where the manure comes from just how long it takes to process. I use a 4 foot fence looped in a circle about 4 feet around mounted on poles 6 inches off the ground. I put leaves, old food scraps, dog droppings in and sprinkle with a cup of sugar, then cover it all with more compost. The sugar starts the heat and composting cycle and speeds the decomposition. In the spring I reach under with a shovel and take the lower portion of fresh compost which is safe to use on any plants- virus and parisites die in the heated compost!
Answer: 5.
Use it on your ornamental plants but not food plants. It's fine for the ornamentals.

Spring Garden Flowers Question: 3

When is the best time to start a garden?

We are in Spring, almost April, when is the best time to start a garden?? what kind of flower seeds can i buy that will grow every year without re-seeding again?

Answer: 1.
depends where you are at. usally when the danger of frost has gone.
Answer: 2.
I started mine last weekend but I live in an area not prone to frost. If you do live in an area where frost is prevalent, check to see when the last frost date is and start it after that. I would seek seeds that yield periennal flowers because they come back every year. I am more of the instantaneous gratification gardener so I buy the flats or small container plants so I have an immediate garden and don't have to thin seeds or wait for germination.
Answer: 3.
Check the internet for a Planting Calendar in your area. Most states have an Agricultural Extention Service with offices throughout. Check the telephone book. Good luck.
Answer: 4.
Here is nifty site that tells your last frost date for your zone. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/te... Hope this helps.
Answer: 5.
I start my garden around mothers day and i live in Utah your local garden shop should be able to tell you when and what to grow in your area annuals only grow 1 year perennials grow for more then one year so if you want it to come up every year look for perennials
Answer: 6.
I suggest to start planning your garden in the winter. You have lots of time to think about how you want your garden to look, what kind of garden you want, when you can actually start tilling, cleaning, & planting it. Do you want plants & flowers to climb, do you want low growing plants, do you want fruit that you can pick and eat or make jelly or wine out of.
There are endless possibilities when starting a garden. Annuals only grow for one season, perennials come back every year, bi-ennials flower their second season.
Check out the links below to get more ideas of what you would like in your garden.
Answer: 7.
june will be best. as for seeds that come back up hostas and cone flowers are nice as well as swamp sunflowers, cannas, irises, and morning glories.

morning glories re seed them selves
Answer: 8.
Probably May 1. If you have a sunny area, grow coreopsis, shasta daisy, and galardia from seed.

Spring Garden Flowers Question: 4

New house - need landscaping ideas? And plant selection help?

We purchased a home in late fall last year. Now that things are begining to green up and bloom here I am desperate to work on the old homeowners messy landscaping. I've got two questions for you. I would like to replace her plants around the foundation of our home with evergreen plants, some that "flower" in the spring or summer would be nice also. I need to know what to go to Lowe's and buy - I get in thier garden center and they have so many choices; I don't know what plants stay green! Please help!We have also removed a very badly installed pond and have a 15x15 area to landscape that is literally in our "front door". It's surrounded by a brick wall and concrete steps so it's not really connected to the yard. I am at a loss as to what to put there but I do know I won't be reinstalling the pond. It's too close to the house to do a tree, but I dread the maintence of a flower garden. I like low maintence plants!I appreciate any help you can give me!Ooops - I meant to put in where I am located!It's soutwest Virginia.

Answer: 1.
here are a few plants that are evergreen

camellias.
they are cold hardy to 5 degrees and they are evergreen, and have large red bloom in the spring around this time of year. some verieties bloom in the fall as well. can be treated as a tree growing as tall as your house, or a bush as small as 5 feet tall or smaller.

cannas. they arent evergreen, but there attractive foilage will add attention. all they need is lots of water in the summer, and no water in the winter. the only maintnence they need it to cut the dead flower stalks off so the plant looks more attractive. it is a perennial that is cold hardy to 5. after the first frost, it will look very ugly because the whole plant will be dead looking. all yo need to do it cut it back to the ground.

also some yuccas are great. add some sandy soil if you dont have dandy soil. they grow slow, so it will be at least 100 years before it turns into a tree. also they need no maintnence and no water. it can go weeks wilthout water. plus some are in water withoust problems. cold hardy to -30

maybe some palm trees that arent trees are the answer. even if you dont live in a warm area palm trees are great. the neddle palm will grow no larger than 5-8 feet. it has needles on the trunk, so great by a window if you dont want people there. also the worlds most cold hardy palm surviving to -20 F.

in southwest virginia you can also grow crape myrtles. they are trees, but they dont grow that large. they are bare in the winter, but well worth it in the summer. they flower all summer long and dont stop till freeze.

hibiscuses are also an option some are temperater such as a lord baltimore. red flowers in the summer with some whoat attractive foilage. they do die in the winter to sticks, but you can cut those sicks to the ground.

also another evergreen palm that is cold hardy and lo maintnence it the sabal minor. it has large attractive blue leaves and no trunk which means that is will only grow as tall as the leaves do which is about 5 feet.

also another palm is the saw palmmetto. not the best though because it is alot of maintenience to keep it looking clean
Answer: 2.
We would really need to know where you live to make any recommendations. Something that's ideal for one climate may be a complete bust in another. For example, something like a hibiscus would do well in a warm climate, but would die out over winter if it gets below freezing. Also, a humid place like the gulf states would support completely different plants than the arid desert states.
Answer: 3.
Need location, but you can go to your local nursery, they will be able to help you.

Spring Garden Flowers Question: 5

I need help planning a flower garden this spring!?

The way my porch is set up makes it hard for me to plan a flower garden. Instead of being higher off the ground, it is almost level to my yard. The concrete is about 2 inches higher than the yard, and there is a sidewalk going to it. Anybody have any ideas for a flower garden that would make it look awesome??? Thanks!

Answer: 1.
Oh boy you are in trouble. You need soil retainers to hold 18'' of soil and holes punches into the concrete for drainage. Just use containers.
Answer: 2.
Retainer wall w/pavestone, called a raised flowerbed.
Answer: 3.
yes.

you can add soil to the areas that dont make it to the patio. also try adding large plants and vines. also flowering bushes should help.
rased flowering beds can work for the annual you decide to use.
here are a few plants that would look nice in a garden

hydraneas.
they are cold hardy to -30. endless summer is my fav. because it has maxinum blooms

bananas
musa basjoo,
is the most cold hardy banana in the world. it is cold hardy to -4 F and although will not bloom, it will look great near some blooming plants.

cannas
they have tropical foliage and large flowers that rise about 2 feet above the leaves. there are many colors from red to orange and yellow, as well as white, pink, and even muilticolors.
here is a photo of canna lucfier. this is cold hardy to 0 degress and is a perennial. it has red and yellow flowers
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...

also try camellias
mast camellias are cold hardy to 5 f, but some are cold hardy to 0 or even -5. they are evegreen, and bloom during the spring and some also bloom in the fall.

gardenias
they bloom in the 70s. perfers shade if in a warm summer climate like high 80s and 90s. will bloom in the spring in warm climate. in califorina it will bloom all year.
the most cold hardy is kliems hardy gardines. it is cold hardy to 0. others are cold hardy to 5

pink moon vine
a pink flowering vine that is fragrant and tropical looking. cold hardy to 0

jackmans clematis
another flowering vine. cold hardy to -20. the flowers are very large

vincas
a large genus of many flowering plants. some are cold hardy to -20, and some are cold hardy to 20. be careful when chosing

WARMER CLIMATES
if you live in a warm climate, these are for you

mandevilla.
this is really beautiful. it is only cold hardy to 30 f , but really is nice and comes in many colors.
here is a photo of one called red riding hood
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showima...

bougainvilla
sharp thorns, but great flowers.
cold hardy to 30 f

birds of paradise
banana like plant, has flowers that look like a bird called birds of paradise.
cold hardy to 27

hibiscus
these evegreens come in many colors and are a sybol of the tropics particuarly hawaii
cold hardy to 32



GOOD luck.......................................