Gardening

Gardening is the practice of growing flowers, fruits, vegetables, trees, herbs and shrubs in a plot. Gardening is an age old pastime. It needs interest and involvement to develop a garden. Flowers, fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants can be grown in a garden. A wide variety of grass is available for the lawn, which an integral part of the garden. Gardens can be designed by a professional or the gardener himself. 


Gardening takes place in areas like parks, offices, hotels and transportation corridors. Several large botanical gardens with a wide variety of plants and trees can be seen in different places across the world. 


Any space near the house can be turned into a residential garden. Suitable plants have to be chosen according to the available space & climatic conditions of the area.   

A wide variety of flowers can be grown in a garden. Flowers are grown generally for ornamental purposes. Roses of different varieties in a wide range of colors are grown. Bougainvillea, Dahlia, Orchids and Lotus are some of the perennials that can be grown. Aster, Carnation, Dahlia, Zinnia, Marigold and Balsam are some of the favorite annuals. 


Ornamental plants are also grown in a garden. Some ornamental plants are grown for their colorful foliage and some for their bloom. Most of these plants and seeds are available in a plant nursery. Plants can be grown in a container (pot) or can be planted outside.  
Some varieties of plants can be grown indoors. Water plants can be planted in a tub or in a pond. A wide range of vegetables like beans, cauliflower and carrots are also grown in a garden.

Shade Loving Plants

Most plants require sunlight to grow and flower. But some plants can also grow in the shade without direct exposure to sunlight. Some gardens may have trees which limit the sunlight. In most gardens there will be some corner which is not exposed to sunlight. Shade loving plants can grow under the trees and dark corners of the gardens. 

There are different varieties of shade loving plants. Some can grow in partial sunlight and the others cannot withstand any sunlight. Plants that grow in the shade have better foliage than the sun loving plants. The larger leaves of the plants helps them to make better use of the light they receive. Begonia is a very popular plant that can be grown in the shade. It can withstand humid conditions. It can be also grown in hanging baskets. Lady’s mantle is a perennial which has bluish green colored leaves. The plant grows 18 inches tall and the green colored flowers bloom in summer. Impatiens is another plants that grows in partial sunlight and produces flowers of various hues. 

Some leafy vegetables can also be grown in the shade. Lettuce, spinach, radiccio and endive can grow very well in the shade. These plants are ideally suited for successive planting. 

Some shrubs can also grow in the shade. Carolina allspice does not require much sunlight . It gives reddish purple flowers and emits a pleasant aroma. Viburnum shrubs give attractive fragrant flowers and are partial to shade.