To those of you who are new to the more organic way of gardening, here are a few tips:

Monitoring — that means catching problems when they are small. For example, spider mites feed on the leaves from the underside, leaving small speckles on the leaves that can be also be seen on the top side. Aphids love to suck on the tips of new growth in the spring and will mutilate the foliage if it is left unattended. Thrips can enter flower buds right after the outer green sepal covering peels away and then they suck on the flower petals, which show damage when they unravel and are exposed to sunlight, leaving a nasty brown edging.

Catching insects early makes them easier to control. A regular spray with All Seasons Spray Oil every few weeks will suffocate the eggs or young larvae. Monterey Take Down Spray also works well as an organic spray. Once the insect population gets large, it's more difficult to slow them down. Follow label directions.

Another control is to attract birds and ladybugs; be sure to keep a water source close by. Larger birds often like worms, caterpillars and such. Smaller birds — especially hummingbirds — and ladybugs will keep the aphid population down . Keep bushes hosed off; that should help with most insects.

A Rose History Lesson:

Species roses have been growing wild for hundreds or thousands of years. Early Romans loved roses and used them in many ways, even as medications. Early Christians used rose pictures in stained glass windows of medieval churches. The rose garden of Josephine, first wife of Napoleon, at Malmaison, is still in existence. It contains almost 250 different roses, mostly distinct species and natural hybrids.

China roses and most ever-blooming types came from the Orient. The Bourbon roses from Reunion, an island in the Indian Ocean, are also ever-blooming.

Hybrids between ever-blooming China roses and Rosa Moschata led to the Noisette roses. The 'Hybrid Perpetuals' were developed from mixed parentage. These were crossed with tea roses from China, resulting in the first hybrid tea rose, known as 'La France,' in 1867. Thus any rose introduced before 1867 is classified as an Old Rose.

The Hybrid Tea Rose is the most popular class of rose and outsells all others combined, due to the large and shapely flowers that make excellent cutting roses. Floribundas were originally developed from a cross between Hybrid Teas and Polyanthas, and are noted for producing large quantities of smaller flowers in clusters and shorter bushes. Grandifloras are more vigorous growing than Hybrid Teas, often reaching up to 8 ft., and are a cross between Floribundas and Hybrid Teas. Their flowers resemble Hybrid Teas but are slightly smaller and in tall stemmed clusters.

Many of the plants we call bulbs aren't bulbs at all. It's become common to lump together under this term not only true bulbs, but all plants that grow from a thickened or bulbous storage organ. (Plants like daylilies, clivia, and iris are in a shady area between bulbs and perennials, so you find them discussed in books on bulbs and also in books on perennials.) Here's how bulbs differ so you can tell them apart.

True Bulb

A modified subterranean leaf bud, the true bulb has a basal plate, above which are food-storing scales (rudimentary leaves) surrounding a bud that contains the magic makings of a plant. Some bulbs, like onions, tulips, and daffodils, are tunicate — they're covered with a papery skin. Others, like lilies, are imbricate — they have overlapping scales.

Corm

A thickened subterranean stem that produces a plant. The inside is just a solid piece of tissue. The buds are on top. After bloom the old corm is used up, but new ones have grown on top or at the sides to take its place. Gladioli, sparaxis, and freesia grow from corms.

Rhizome

A thickened stem or branch that grows on the surface of the ground or horizontally underground, such as bearded irises and calla lilies.

Tuber

A thickened stem that serves as a storage chamber but is usually shorter, thicker, and rounder than a rhizome. It grows totally or partially underground. Tuberous begonias, cyclamen, and potatoes grow from tubers.

Tuberous Root

Growing underground, this differs from a tuber in that it's a swollen root rather than a thickened stem. Tuberous roots have growth buds on top in the old stem portion, from which spring the plants. Dahlias and sweet potatoes grow from tuberous roots.

Lithophanes were conceived in 1827 in Europe, when it was discovered that a remarkable three dimensional image could be produced by shining light through a carving of varied thicknesses in porcelain.

These beautiful transparencies were achieved by first carving the image into soft beeswax, lit from behind. The translucency of the wax allowed the artist to see the results of his work as he worked. A plaster casting was taken from the original masterwork, then a fine porcelain paste was pressed into this plaster mold. After drying, the porcelain plaques were then fired to 2300° F to achieve their extreme density and amazing translucency.

Production of these fine works tapered off through the late 1800's, and by the early 1900's these wondrous techniques had passed away with the artists that conceived them. Antique lithophanes are now rarely seen but in museums or private collections.

The Porcelain Garden has breathed new life into this all but lost art and are dedicated to its preservation. They produce the finest detailed lithophane night lights available, still hand-crafted by skilled artisans as they were over a century ago.

They are available in a variety of designs such as Angels, Animals, Celestial, Fairies, Florals, Nautical, Scenic Nature, Wildlife and various other themes. These delicately detailed transparencies make wonderful unique collectables and very desirable gifts.

We offer many different designs and can also take special orders out of our catalog. We invite you to see these fine lithophanes on your next visit.