For several long years scholars have used encyclopedia to gather knowledge and passed it on from one generation to another. It’s easy and ready available. In the early times the contents were very general, more on theological notion and cookery recipes. Even today such encyclopedias do exist but in the specialised encyclopedias the focus is on one subject alone which are already launched in market to the extreme joy of the customers.

The fact is, these volumes have more detailed as well as complete information on our chosen topic which can be easily accessed by millions of readers. Those of you who love flowers and gardening also benefit from these encyclopedias. Now-a-days an encyclopedia on plant/flower gardening is easily available.

So, in case you are getting into the hobby of gardening and are in the process of gathering information, you can get enough information on it. Even if you are already a veteran in gardening, you may yet want to know how one species differs from the other. You can get volumes written about it in these encyclopedias and specifically on gardening of plants and flowers are also high.

The classic way to read the subject is by going to the bookstore or a library is of course, a possibility but there variety is limited. You may not find the entire information you require in one volume where as an encyclopedia on gardening of plants/flowers will cater specifically to that A specialised encyclopedia will take you on an elaborate journey about the biology of flowers, their species, scientific and common plant names, hardiness zones, their flowering times, cultivation notes, light conditions, the care required and all that. There you also get information on how you can choose a particular place for the flower garden, the design content, why and how to choose the plants etc., you can also get tips on gardening techniques, photographs of magnificent blooming flowers, garden designs and other garden tips. You can also learn and get troubleshooting tips and ideas to deal with pests or other aspects from an encyclopedia on plants and flower gardening

If you are computer friendly you can purchase an encyclopedia CD. These may also come with software, packaged to help you to design your new garden. You could use the internet to get you an encyclopedia on gardening plants/flowers. A commonly used search engine will get you a lot of information on the different type of encyclopedias available. Among the most famous encyclopedias online on gardening of plants/flowers is http://www.backyardgardener.com/plantsearch.html which claims to be the biggest one of this type in the world. Which has 38,000 terms also available is Floridata and garden.lovetoknow.com which is an interactive encyclopedia actually and users can update it themselves.

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Did you know that gardening is one of the oldest hobbies? Plants have, of course, been around since the beginning of mankind. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and gardening has long been a leisure activity for the elite.

In Asia, plants have been used to treat and cure diseases for hundreds of years. Chinese medicine is especially known for its use of herbs and other plants. Not only have plants been cultivate for their medicinal properties, but also for their beauty. Early on, gardeners learned how to cross two varieties of plants to create a new type of plants. Many of these early plants are useful as well as beautiful.

In the Middle Ages, members of royalty grew gardens of flowers, but most people grew plants as food more than for aesthetic reasons. Herbs were very popular for their healing properties. New spices and herbs were introduced to the European world due to travelers who brought them back from faraway lands.

Between the Middle Ages and the Victorian period, gardens became more popular. Many members of the nobility were famous for their extensive gardens, include Marie Antoinette. Exotic plants because very popular. In the Victorian era, gardening reached heights never before seen in England.

English gardens created during the Victorian era were meant to display the wealth of the homeowner, as well as provide a place for entertaining. Roses were a popular addition to Victorian gardens. Greenhouses and conservatories became popular for hobbyist gardeners to try their hand at growing unique plants from far away lands. Gardeners created many new varieties of common and popular plant species, including begonias and daffodils.

Victorian gardeners soon turned their attention to adding architectural elements to their gardens, as structures and rows of hedges became popular. Topiary plants were also a common addition to English gardens, including those shaped like animals.

In contrast, American gardens of the same time period were a bit more restrained. Many of the founding fathers were farmers with practical vegetable gardens and orchards. Even though flowers and greenhouses were popular, many people lived in cities and did not have room for such luxuries.

After the Industrial Revolution, formal lawns with shrubs were replaced by much more elaborate gardens including fountains, large conservatories, and massive plantings. As people began to rely on store-bought medications, plants formerly grown for their medicinal qualities were abandoned in favor of those with more beautiful blooms. Today, the use of herbs is coming back into style, and many modern gardens have a place for herbs and other medicinal plants.

Landscaping plants like the kentia palm plants are becoming more and more popular today as people try to create a retreat in their own backyard. New plant varieties are being developed that are hardier and require less care. As you can see, gardening has long been a popular hobby. If you decide to start a garden, you will be continuing a tradition that is many hundreds of years old.

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Gardening with vinegar has many uses and benefits and best of all, it is safe to use, doesn’t harm the environment, is freely available and it is cheap! It really is, therefore your organic and eco-friendly pesticide, insecticide, and herbicide.

Here you will learn about these benefits and pick up a few tips along the way. It can also be used full-strength or diluted depending on the job at hand. It can also be used quite readily in the kitchen, bathroom and other areas of the house, but today, we are going to just concentrate on the outside areas. One word of warning, however, remember that when it is all said and done, you are working with acid, so make sure you protect your eyes. So what exactly can vinegar do for you?

First of all, for those of you who are plagued by pests and little critters in the garden, fret no more. It will keep cats at bay if you spray in areas you want to deter them, particularly that sand-pit you may have in the garden for the children but those cats will insist on using as their own private toilet! Heavily spray full-strength vinegar around the edges of the sandpit and remember to re-apply after it rains.

Are those rabbits eating your vegetables, particularly your beans and peas? Soak corncobs in full strength vinegar for a couple of hours until they are thoroughly soaked. You may even soak them over-night if you wish. Then place the cobs strategically around your veggie patch. They will keep rabbits away for as long as you re-soak your corncobs every two weeks.

Do you have an ant problem? Again you can apply this full-strength to the ants and they will not come anywhere near the stuff. This is very useful if you find a trail of them making a way into your house. Just spray the thresholds and reapply every couple of days to ensure that they stay away.

Slugs are real pests, because they eat both vegetables, especially lettuces and plants, especially hostas. In this case, vinegar acts as a poison to the slugs because, if you spray slugs with it directly, they will die. You can treat snails in exactly the same way. However, because vinegar is also a herbicide, be careful where you spray your vinegar. Salvias for example will die, if they are sprayed as a casualty.

Are your fruit trees being invaded by fruit flies? Try this fruit fly bait, which is deadly and effective. Take 1 cup of water, a half a cup of cider vinegar, a quarter of a cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of molasses. Mix it all together. Take old tin cans without their lids and make two holes in opposite ends for wire handles. Attach the handles and add an inch of the mixture to each can. Hang 2 – 3 tins in each tree. Check on the traps on a regular basis to refill and clean when necessary.

After you have been digging in the garden with your gardening tools, soak them in a bucket of half-strength vinegar. This will act as a fungicide and kill off anything that may be lurking unsuspectingly so that there is no possibility of cross-contamination when you use them next.

Are your garden plants struggling and your roses suffering from black spot or other fungal diseases? Take 2 tablespoons of white vinegar and mix it with 4 litres of compost tea. Now spray your garden plants with this mixture and see the difference. For roses, the method is slightly different. Take 3 tablespoons of cider vinegar, and mix it with 4 litres of water to control those fungal diseases. Of course, don’t forget the compost tea either on your roses to get the best results. For powdery mildew take 2-3 tablespoons of cider vinegar and mix with 4 litres of water and spray your plants. This will help control the problem.

What about your acid-living plants like azaleas, gardenias and rhododendrons? Are they flowering as well as they could be? If not, increase the soil’s acidity. In hard water areas, add 1 cup of vinegar to 4 litres of tap water. It will also release iron into the soil for the plants to use. And if you have too much lime in your garden, add vinegar to neutralize it.

Do you have weeds coming up in between your paving slabs on our driveway or pathway that you cannot remove by hand? Don’t use a herbicide that is know to damage the environment. Use an eco-friendly alternative instead. Take 1 litre of boiled water, 2 tablespoons of salt and 5 tablespoons of vinegar. Mix altogether, and whilst still hot, pour onto the offending plants.

Did you know that you can improve your germination success rate of seeds by using vinegar? This is especially useful for those seeds that are more difficult to germinate such as asparagus and okra, morning glories and moonflowers. Rub the seeds gently first between two pieces of coarse sandpaper. Then soak the seeds overnight in 500 ml of warm water, 125 ml of vinegar and a squirt of washing-up liquid. Plant the next day as normal. You can use the same method, but without the sandpaper for nasturtiums, parsley, beetroot, and parsnips.

And finally, are your chickens pecking each other? Add a tablespoon of cider vinegar to their drinking water, and they will stop!

Written by Kathryn Bax, owner and web site developer of Country Living and Farm Lifestyles: A Worldwide Farmers’ Market for Farm Food, Farm Accommodation, Game Farms, Wine Farms, Farming Jobs, Farm Swaps, Rural Services, Country Living and much, much more. Buy local and support your local farmers.

http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com