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Hawaiian flowers are beautiful and exotic. Few of us are lucky enough to get to live in Hawaii where these majestic beauties grown but you can incorporate some of Hawaii into your mainland garden and grow Hawaiian flowers of your very own without having to own a greenhouse or botanical garden of your own. The key is to select only those flowers which perform well in mainland climates which does limit the select somewhat. However, there are four popular selections for mainland landscapes which can be grown during the spring and summer in most venues, offering up beautiful foliage and blossoms certain to delight you.

You may be able to locate Hawaiian flowers from these top four choices at your local garden and landscape center or a specialty garden boutique. If not, you can order Hawaiian plants through catalogs or via the internet and have them shipped to your home for incorporation in to your garden.

• Hawaiian Ginger: Ornamental ginger from Hawaii produces flowers which are shaped like ice cream cones and waxy in appearance. Hawaiian Ginger is so easy to grow in the islands that these plants are often used for landscaping hedges. However, on the mainland they thrive as specimen plants and prefer high humidity and moderate temperatures. The best location in mainland gardens for Hawaiian Ginger is in an area which is partially shaded during the heat of the day. You can find gingers from Hawaii in varieties which produce red, pink or magenta flowers but the red variety is the most commonly available and most well-know in mainland garden circles. The foliage is very attractive, so even if you do not generate flowers, you'll still enjoy the plant very much. But with a little care and the right conditions, you can enjoy the waxy flowers which are long-lasting when left on the plant. They also last quite a while when cut and used in arrangements.

• Orchids: In Hawaii, orchids grow and bloom so easily that they require almost no care. This is because orchids are actually a form of "air plant", obtaining their moisture from the humidity in the air and the water which collects in the corners where tree branches meet. On the mainland, most any variety of orchids can be grown in clay pots of orchid growing media if proper conditions are provided. In the extreme Southern United States, orchids can be grown outdoors all year long except during those very rare freezing temperatures, as long as there is sufficient humidity. The Southwest, while warm enough in many cases, is often too dry to make outdoor orchid growing easy except for those with green thumbs and lots of dedication. Most other areas allow orchid growers to place orchids outdoors after freezing temperatures have passed. The magnificent blooms of even the most common orchid species of these often-seen Hawaiian flowers are well worth the trouble of growing these beauties indoors or outdoors, depending on your location. You may be able to locate an orchid grower in your area or orchids in your local garden center in season. You can also order via the internet and have specimens shipped to your home.

• Bird Of Paradise: Beautiful blossoms which are reminiscent of a crane's head and crest are the signature of these Hawaiian flowers.. The flowers are truly spectacular when several sets emerge from each of the green bracts edged in red or purple. The bracts are shaped much like boats. The flower petals are bright orange and there is an arrow-shaped "tongue" in the "crane's mouth" which is vivid blue. Some variations produce white and blue blossoms. If seeds are used to start a Bird of Paradise, it will not bloom for five to seven years even in optimal conditions, so it is best to purchase established specimens of these Hawaiian flowers. These flowers like full sun and can withstand summer heat but prefer cooler temperatures. They do require lots of humidity, provided either by nature or misting. Overwatering can be a problem, so be careful moisture levels. These plants can commonly be found from quality landscape center on the mainland.

• Pikake (Arabian Jasmine): Pikake is one of the Hawaiian flowers often used in leis. On the mainland, it is more often known as Arabian Jasmine. However, the plant is the same (Jasminum sambac), no matter what it is called. The blossoms are fragrant and can be used to create jasmine tea. A member of the olive family, it grows into a hedge of two to three feet in height when given the right conditions. There are several varieties of Pikake available. The largest blossoms are one and three-quarter inches in diameter while the smallest are about three quarter inch in diameter. Look for these Hawaiian flowers at your local nursery under the name of Arabian Jasmine.

Affordably backyard plants allow you to have a beautiful backyard to enjoy at optimal prices. However, you must understand what an affordable plant is before you begin your landscape planning. In order to be affordable, the price must be reasonable but the plant should also be low in maintenance time and costs. With this definition in mind, you can still create an attractive backyard landscape without breaking your budget. Here are a few of the methods to get the best values possible:

Multiply

Propagation may be the single more affordable way to get backyard plants because these plants are free. Everyone loves free plants. You'll need to determine whether your plant will root from cuttings or whether you must propagate using air layering. When using either method, invest in a small container of root hormone to increase your success rate.

Use the Internet

You can locate many affordable backyard plants and even free plants using online resources. You can locate discount nurseries selling plants at affordable prices, but you are taking a chance since you can not see the health of the plant before it is shipped. Craigslist.com is a wonderful place to locate plants in your area which are affordably priced and right for your climate. Freecycle.com is an online resource which connects people living near each other to post messages for items wanted and items to be given away so you may locate some great free backyard plants this way.

Local Trade and Barter Clubs

Along the same lines as internet resources are offline bartering and trading groups. Most of the larger town and cities have organizations much like clubs where members gather periodically to trade or offer items for barter. Other clubs hold events much like garage sales but which are closed to the public and the exchange medium is trade or barter only. In fact, you could offer propagated plants from your garden as a trade item for other plants and almost everyone has items around the house they don't want but someone would really treasure which can be offered in exchange for plants.

Start Small

Purchasing mature plants for your backyard costs much more than purchasing younger, smaller plants; starting seeds costs even less. Whether buying trees, shrubs, foliage plants or flowering plants for your backyard, when you start with smaller specimens, the prices are much more affordable than when purchasing the same species as a larger, more mature specimen. This method is especially practical as a means of obtaining affordable backyard plants which grow quickly.

Flea Market

Most areas have a flea market which is open on weekends. Virtually every flea market will have at least one vendor that offers plants as all or part of their merchandise. Often these plants are specimens the vendor has reproduced from their own backyard plants. Some of them may be specimens which the vendor has rescued just before being discarded by a nursery and nursed back to health. Some will come from large wholesale nurseries if the vendor has a large quantity and only sells plants. The plants may be growing in just about any recyclable container but this does not affect the value of the plant as long as it is healthy and shows new growth.

Orchids are tropical delights that many people believe they simply cannot grow. You can, however, grow these beautiful specimens if you offer then a little loving care. While some species of orchids do require hot, humid, tropical environments, there are many specimens which thrive in much cooler, slightly dryer temperatures. In fact, 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperatures preferred by many species. Cymbidiums and Dendrobiums are two species which can handle cooler temperatures.

If you are a novice to the world of orchids but want to try you hand at growing orchids, you’ll want to begin with healthy, mature plants. While you can purchase tiny, baby orchids called ‘in vitro plants’ for lower prices, these are best left to the much more experienced orchid grower. Instead, visit your local garden center or orchid farm and learn which species thrive in your area and what conditions each of these choices require. Then select the color and shape you love best. Investing in a mature plant will pay off in the long run.

Choose a Reputable Source

Buy your first orchids from a reputable source. Check the stock available and determine if the leaves are green and fleshy. Dry, yellow leaves usually indicate unhealthy plants. Black spots on leaves, except in the case of a few oncidium orchids such as ‘Sharry Baby’, are another indication of poor health. Plants with pest infestations, poorly maintained garden conditions, and drying plants are sure signs to find another source.

An orchid show can be one of the very best sources for a novice orchid gardener. Often held in malls or other gathering places, orchid growers gather to show off their beautiful specimens and you can glean some true expertise from these growers who have years of orchid growing experience behind them. Most growers at an orchid show love to share their knowledge.

It is very important to be totally honest about the conditions you have available in which to grow orchid. If the advice you are given by an orchid expert is that a certain species requires at least 2-3 hours of direct, full sunlight but you only have shade or indirect light, no matter how much you love the beautiful specimen, you will not enjoy success growing that species in incorrect environmental conditions. There are too many beautiful species from which to choose and it is much better to begin with a single specimen that is suited to the conditions you can provide than to try to force a plant to fit where it can’t thrive.

On mistake beginning orchid grows make is to repot the orchids because they see roots extending from the pot. Because many species of orchid grow in bark or even on slabs of wood, taking most of their nutrition from the air and moisture, the orchid is perfectly happy in its pot. Instead, look for exposed roots that are white or light green in color and have healthy-looking tips. Then resist the temptation to repot frequently; remember, most orchids attach themselves to limbs of trees or crooks in branches in the wild.

Provide the Right Conditions

Orchids, when thriving, should not be moved to a different location, at least in your first efforts at orchid gardening. Provide the right conditions and leave well enough alone. All too often a novice orchid gardener will become discouraged because they have moved their orchid which has been in perfect health to another location only to stress the specimen enough that it dies.

Provide humidity for orchids in pots if you live in a dry climate by placing a container or tray filled with a layer of pebbles and inch or so deep. Then fill the container with water almost, but not completely to the top of the pebbles. The orchid pot is placed on top of the pebbles where the water evaporating provides humidity but the water is not soaking the orchid pot. Too much water can cause roots to rot, disease to get a toehold, and the orchid will die. Don’t rely on spraying potted orchids in dry climates because that method only provides higher humidity for minutes instead of hours.

As you can see, you really can grow tropical delights and non-tropical species of orchids in your home. If you happen to live in a warm climate, you can even grow them outdoors year round. Having an orchid bloom for you for the first time since bringing the mature plant home is a very satisfying experience that you can and should enjoy.