Paperwhite narcissus

You could also buy the bulbs and do it yourself.  Paperwhite narcissus bulbs  can be found at garden centers or online. The most readily available, and most reliable variety are the "Ziva" paperwhites. They are easy to grow.  All they need is a container and some growing  medium, such as potting soil.  You can even plant them  in pebbles and water, and they will bloom for you.  Plant  the bulbs halfway in the growing medium.  Water, and wait.




Paperwhite narcissus are related to the yellow daffodils of spring. They are native to the western Mediterranean, from Greece to Portugal, Morocco and Algeria. They grow from bulbs, forming grassy foliage and wonderfully fragrant flowers.

If  you  want to try growing paperweight narcissus bulbs, you could get a starter kit-- instructions, bulbs, soil and pot included--everything you need. These are very popular at holiday time, and you can find them  at Walgreens.  They make great gifts, and a fun project for kids, too.

In a few days, you will see signs of growth.  You can move the container to a brighter  location, and watch the roots, leaves and flower stalks  forming.  All the energy to produce this plant is stored in the bulbs.   You are "forcing" them to bloom, by creating springlike conditions.

The flowers will last several weeks indoors.  Keep them in a cooler place if you want the flowers to last longer.  When the flowers are finished, most people toss the plants, as they are not easy to carry over once they have been forced into bloom.

Gardeners Encouraged To Plant More Flowers To Help Bees Survive

Gardeners don’t have to shift to a beekeeping career to help the world’s bee population. The trick: plant more flowers and establish a better plant-honeybee relationship.



Plants rich in pollen and nectar need bees’ buzzing action, too. Although bees tend to target a single flower species during a foraging session, they do promote cross-pollination by moving from one plant to another.

Master beekeeper Jim Tunnell said that while not all gardeners are cut out to be beekeepers, the long-term wellness of bees along with other pollinators are everyone’s concern. "I think it's always a good thing to keep the pollinators in mind when we plant our gardens," he urged.

Here is how it works: bees gather nectar, pollen and water for making honey and survival in general. Pollen feeds them, water is tasked to cool the hives and dilute the honey for bee feeding and the nectar is stocked for overwintering – a time when they are faced with dormant flowering plants.

Mace Vaughan, spokesperson for Oregon-based Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, considers this move critically important. Honeybee hives delivering greater pollen diversity, he said, are more vigorous and better cope with forces such as pests, disease and even pesticides.

Vaughan added that since bees are active all year, natural nectar or pollen supply can run low at certain times. To help honeybee hives better thrive, gardeners should work to have blooms consistently available during the entire growing season.

Plants that love summer

Things will start heating up in the garden over the next couple of months and it will be time to reassess plants that cope and recover, and those that don’t.

If you are looking to replace plants that will survive the hottest spots in your garden, you can’t go past those with silver/grey foliage.

Here’s a couple of newcomers that may fit the bill.



Teucrium Silver Box

This is one of my favourite hero plants because of the combination of silver foliage and blue flowers.

It's a tough little plant that responds well to pruning but has a compact upright habit with silver foliage all year round.

The sky blue flowers appear in autumn through to early summer.

Teucrium prefers a full-sun position with added compost and manure to improve the soil. It’s an ideal plant for smaller gardens because it only grows to 1m high and 60cm wide.

Olive Garden Harvest

This is a dwarf fruiting olive that only grows to 1-2m in height, making it ideal for pots or as an edible hedge.

Grey-green foliage is the backdrop to small white flowers followed by masses of fruit in spring and summer, equally as suitable for the table as it is for oil. You would need quite a few plants to get your oil.

Olives prefer free-draining soil and a slow-release fertiliser. If they get too much nitrogen you will get lots of growth but little fruit.

Which animals live on glaciers?

In total, glaciers and perennial snow patches are frequented by 19 bird species and 16 mammalian species—or 17, if humans are included.



It’s not surprising that other vertebrate groups, such as reptiles and amphibians, are absent from glaciers, since they’re cold-blooded and could not survive long exposure to such low temperatures.

The most common order of birds in these habitats is the passerines, or songbirds. However, other groups are represented. The golden eagle is a member of the falcon order, and the common raven, like crows, jays and their relatives, is a corvid. Several species of ptarmigan represent the gallinaceous birds, a group which includes chickens, turkeys, partridges, pheasants, quail and grouse.
One bird species, the white-winged diuca finch, constructs its nest on the surface of glaciers in the Andes; it has been systematically studied on Quelccaya Glacier in Peru.

The mammals are more diverse, both in terms of taxonomy and behavior. Most common are the ungulates such as bison, musk ox, elk, reindeer, mountain goat, ibex, chamois and bighorn sheep, who come for relief from the heat; as large animals covered with fur and hair, they have difficulty cooling off during hot periods, and either lie directly on the ice, or rest in the cold air that drains off glaciers.

Wolverines have also been seen caching their prey on glaciers; the author suggests that this behavior may provide lactating females with critical components of their diet during the period when they are nursing their cubs.

In the meantime, Rosvold’s website, Frozen Fauna, provides a variety of information about the mammals and birds which inhabit, or at least regularly visit, glaciers, as well as about thearchaeology of the hunters and herders who have also inhabited these zones for many centuries.

New baby animals on display at Wildlife World Zoo

On this first day of fall, it’s the perfect time to start planning outings for the cooler weather. One of your must-visit attractions this autumn should be Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park, where lots of baby animals are making their debuts!



The baby animal nursery is bustling right now at the attraction, because three different feline species are now on display at the same time.

The latter two species will be featured among dozens of others in the upcoming expansion nicknamed "Adventure-land" that is currently under construction along the state route 303.

The bobcat and mountain lions are the first of their kind to be on permanent display at Wildlife World. Their arrival, along with several varieties of foxes, skunks, and other native species earlier this year marks a new direction in collection planning that is focused on adding North, Central, and South American species. Other new species to be added include bison, llamas, black bears, and a host of mammals, birds, and reptiles.The entire project, including an all-new Mexican restaurant, is scheduled to open by early January.

It will also include four new ride attractions: a family coaster, a 100-foot tall zip line, a flying scooter ride, and a 100-foot tall swing ride. As with previous ride attractions at Wildlife World, animals remain the focal point. For example, as the swing ride ascends to the top, riders will briefly hover at the level of the tree tops creating unique views of nearby habitats featuring acrobatic spider monkeys, known for their climbing skills and prehensile tails. The new zip line zooms passengers over and among a number of animal habitats.

10 interesting places to see animals near Atlanta

There are several places around Atlanta where you can see live animals. How about trying something new?



1.Hillcrest Orchards – When you go apple picking this fall, head over to Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay where your family can enjoy animals "gentle enough to be held and fed by hand" including chickens, cats, goats and deer. Your admission charge includes the petting farm, wagon rides and playgrounds. $8 per person.

2.Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo – Open seven days a week, Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo isn't your typical zoo. They have 10 pathways covering 25 acres where you can see animals including lions, tigers, zebras, elk, alligator and servals in natural enclosures. Adults, $10; children, $5.

3.Chattahoochee Nature Center – The animal sanctuary is the home to eagles, a beaver, opossums, snakes, turkeys, vulture and hawks among other species. Keepers frequently invite guests to watch feeding time and learn more about species at the Center. Adults, $10.00; students, $7.00; children, $6.00; children two years old and younger receive free admission.

4.Phinizy Center for Water Sciences – Plan a day trip to Augusta where your family can explore the scenic canal area and spend time communing with nature at the Center. Explore trails, boardwalks and bridges that all make ideal spots for viewing animals including birds, beavers, water moccasins and fish. The park is free to visit and open seven days a week.

5.Tanglewood Farm – Nestled into a space of land between Alpharetta, Woodstock, Milton and Cumming, Tanglewood Farms is a 10-acre Wild West Town filled with over 150 miniature, rare and heritage breed animals. $15.00 per person; infants under one-year old receive free admission.

6.Amicalola Deer Park – Just off 575 in Cherokee County, you'll find a family-friendly attraction unlike other animal-centric attractions. In addition to petting deer, Amicalola Deer Park invites you to hike on their trails, picnic, skip stones in the river and enjoy the great outdoors. Adults, $8.00; children over three years old, $5; children under three years old receive free admission.

7.Noah's Ark – Twenty minutes south of Atlanta you'll find an animal sanctuary that is home to 1,500 animals on 250 acres of mostly shaded land. A herd of emu? Check! A lion, tiger and bear living in the same enclosure in harmony? Check! No large admission fees? Check! There is no cost to visit Noah's Ark but donations are accepted and appreciated.

8.Yellow River Game Ranch – Near Stone Mountain Park, a mile long trail guides guests around the 24-acre facility where white-tailed deer, rabbits, buffalo, sheep, goats and black bears await your perusal at the family-friendly facility. Adults, $8.00; children ages 2-11, $7.00, children under two years old get free admission.

9.Wild Animal Safari – Just north of Callaway Gardens, Wild Animal Safari is a drive-thru animal park. Don't want to drive your car? Take a complementary bus tour that will take you on a tour of the grounds which features over 650 animals of over 65 different species. Adults, $21.95; children, $19.95.

10.The Rock Ranch – In addition to zip lines, a rock climbing wall, train rides, a carousel, tiny town, pedal boats and pedal cars, visitors to The Rock Ranch will find a petting zoo where adults and children can get up close with a donkey, miniature horse, pig and more. $15 per person.