A danger to Domestic Pets - which Plants and Flowers to avoid?

There are many plants, flowers and foliage which can be hazardous to animals and which should be avoided if you have domestic pets.  I thought it would be beneficial to talk about what is safe and what is not with household pets.

This delightful artificial Amaryllis Plant is the perfect Christmas Flower and is perfect for adding a touch of 'Christmas' to your home.  This delightful foliage will add a Christmas warmth and welcome to the interior of your home. It can be re-used again and again!



White lillies are well known as being a serious danger to cats, and certain varieties are also highly toxic to dogs as well.  The Peace lily, the Cala lily, Amaryllis, Lily of the Valley, the autumn Crocus and the popular houseplant 'Dracaena' or palm lily are all believed to be dangerous to dogs according to the ASPCA (American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals).  Should a dog digest a lily, it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, depression, anorexia and even tremors.

Artificial plants and flowers have become more and more popular with people who have domestic pets at home.  There are a vast array of realistic plants and foliage on the market today and the artificial kind are a popular choice to protect those loved animals. 



 This artificial Calla Lily Flower Stem with a bright orange flower is as realistic as the real thing and is a popular alternative to the real Calla Lily which is harmful to dogs.  Cream and Purple flowers are also popular.

Another plant which is deemed dangerous to dogs is the Azalea.  The Azalea is a deciduous shrub which flowers with clusters of brightly coloured, sometimes fragrant flowers. Azaleas are typically smaller than other rhododendrons and there are numerous cultivars.  These flowers are also used as a popular shrub for landscaping purposes. 

The popular artificial Azalea Plant with beautiful clusters of flowers

 For cats and dogs, simply the indigestion of only a couple of leaves of Azalea can cause loss of appetite, stomach upset, drooling in some cases, weakness and even paralysis.  These are very toxic shrubs and are also dangerous to cats.

Amongst the very first blooms to celebrate the arrival of Spring, are the popular Daffodils.  These are a happy addition to any garden setting.  Daffodils ccontain poisonous alkaloids that can arise to diarrhoea, substantial vomiting, excessive salivation, tremors and heart defects.  The bulbs especially are the most dangerous part of the plant.


Daffodils of the artificial kind are so real

Lilies in general - Easter lilies, Stargazers and the oriental variety can cause vomiting and kidney failure in cats.  In fact it is best to keep your cat away from any plant in the lily family and it is recommended that the vet is contacted immediately.



The popular Tiger Lily Plant - the artificial variety is a great alternative to the real thing.

With cats, it is best to avoid Diffenbachia and Philodendrons also.

Philodendrons are available in Stems, Leaves and Sprays


Diffenbachia Plants can be as realsitic as the real thing and have wonderful variegated bright green foliage.

There are more plants which can be harmful and it is important to mention these in my blog.  The Sago Palm which is a cold hardy plant with long feathery leaves which contain a toxin called cyasin which can cause damage to the liver of a cat.  A good artificial alternative if you love Palm plants and foliage is the Fountain Palm Tree.


Fountain Palm Tree - an artificial alternative.

To mention some other types of flower which can be harmful to your beloved pets, is the Desert Rose.  This flower is native to tropical regions of Africa and they make excellent houseplants.  They do unfortunately contain toxic chemicals called glycosides which can have a serious effect on a cat's heart rate and can cause serious nausea.


Artificial Houseplants like this Rose Bush is an excellent choice should you wish to go with an artificial solution.

Corn Plants and the very popular Dracaena Plant are extremely common due to the fact that they can tolerate extreme weather conditions.  These plants are a definate 'no' for cats as they contain saponins which cause cats to salivate excessively and vomit due to their toxic compounds.


The very popular Dracaena Plant of the artificial kind.

All plants with bulbs should be avoided as well near cats even though the very common daffodils and Tulips enhance any garden setting in the Spring.  These can be dangerous to cats and be a threat to them.  Bulbous plants contain sever toxins and can have various side effects on cats such as vimiting, diarrheah and even convulsions.

There are a variety of artificial spring flowers which can brighten your living environment without posing as a threat to your beloved animals.


Spring Flowers such as Tulips are very popular.

I will be doing a follow up Blog on this subject soon so watch out for more interesting plants, flowers and foliage can cause a threat to domestic pets and what are the best artificial alternatives to meet your needs.



Countdown to Halloween - Autumnal Themes for your Garden

 

With Halloween only 6 days away, it’s time to create an Autumnal theme to your outdoor Planters. Think Autumn colour and group planted designs together with pumpkins and for that seasonal look that continues to grow in popularity.

 

Welcome and embrace the Season – it’s what we’re so good at!



Cute small Artificial Pumpkins to place near to your Planters

Realistic little Pumpkins that you can re-use again and again!!

 

 

These attractive Maple Leaf Sprays in various shades of brown and red are most popular. 

 

The dark, wet, cold and rainy days combined with gloomy reporting from the media on the economy have produced some unexpected results when it comes to Spring Flowers – they are in great demand! People want something to brighten their mood and cheer themselves up and spring flowers with their glorious colours and lovely forms are just what the doctor ordered for this Autumn.

 

This beautiful Chinese Lantern Spray is just what the doctor ordered.



It is important to mention everybody's favourite, the Anemone.  Anemone, is a genus of about 120 species of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the temperate zones. It is closely related to Pulsatilla ('Pasque flower') and Hepatica. Some botanists include both of these genera within Anemone.There are some beautiful colours to lift ones spirits.  They are just gorgeous with their large clear heads of flowers.

 

 



Anemonies are available in an array of colours and varieties

Orchidaceae is a diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with blooms that are often colorful and often fragrant, commonly known as the orchid family. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species.

This artificial Phalaenopsis Orchid Flower Stem (Moth Orchid) with vibrant coral flowers is as realistic as the real thing.

The advantages of Artificial Plants are endless.  There is no need for sunlight, absolutely no maintenance is required, they will look good all year round, and they don't attract insects.  Just sit back and enjoy their effect in the Planter of your choice!  There are many varieties on the market today, cubed ones, troughs, tall vase planters, the galvansied variety and loads more!

These plastic Trough Planters are ideal for both indoors and out.

Happy Halloween from All of us at

Smashing Conkers

I was taking my son to a riding lesson at the weekend and to my great delight I saw a familiar part of my childhood on the grassy ground and under a horsechesnut tree - a polished, shiny brown conker gleaming from inside its prickly and spiky shell.   This year’s long, hot and dry summer has led to a cracking crop of bigger and shinier conkers.  I have memories as a child climbing up the trees at the local park and shaking the braches until the conkers came crashing to the ground.  I am sure many people remember the same experience?

For kids who adore this traditional game to play in the playground at school, its good news for them!  The game is played by two players, each with their own conker threaded onto a longish piece of string, they take turns hitting each other's conker until one breaks.  The hardest conkers usually win.  Hardening conkers is often done by keeping them for up to a year, by briefly baking them, soaking or boiling them in vinegar, or even painting them with clear nail polish.  It is incredible the lengths some people go to in order to win a simple conker game!!!  There is some uncertainty of the origins of the name. The name may come from the dialect word conker, meaning "hard nut" (perhaps related to French 'conque’ meaning a conch, as the game was originally played using snail shells and small bits of string.  The name may also be influenced by the verb conquer, as earlier games involving shells and hazelnuts has also been called 'conquerors'.

Due to the incredibly dry summer, the Horse Chesnut tree has clearly enjoyed these perfect weather conditions.  This time last year was wet and miserable and the conkers from memory were poor to say the least.  The conkers were shrivelled up and not as large as in previous years.  Many trees were also damaged last year with the leaves attacked by leaf eating larvae and bacteria and as a result the trees became damaged and the crop not as big, shiny or good looking.

The game grew in popularity in the 20th century, and spread beyond England.  The first recorded game of Conkers using Horse Chestnuts was on the Isle of Wight as far back as 1848.  In 1965 the World Conker Championships were set up in Ashton (near Oundle) Northamptonshire, England, and still take place on the second Sunday of October each year. In 2004, an audience of 5,000 turned up to watch more than 500 competitors from all over the world.  This year’s world conker  championships will go ahead at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, near Oundle, Peterborough in Britain.  Let's see what this year's championships bring?

 

 

 

Autumn Conker Picks great for Autumnal Decoration ideas this Autumn

 

 

There are some fabulous Autumnal decoration ideas on the market today, Garlands to enhance your Autumn displays, decorative leaves and fruit picks to add a touch of colour to your creations.

 



Fabric Autumn Leaves to enhance Autumn Displays

Autumn Leaf Garlands and Autumn Sprays

Autumnal Foliage is wonderful this time of year.  Its great to select some colourful tones such as oranges, reds and yellows and mix it with decorative foliage such as Lonicera with its beautiful terracotta leaf foliage.

Terracotta Lonicera Foliage Spray to add a 'touch of Autumn' to oyur home or garden this Autumn.

Candle Candy for your home this Christmas

 

 Great Ideas to decorate your Christmas Candles

 

Beautiful Pine Cone Design Pillar Candle

 Want great ideas to decorate a candle?

“Love Candy cane wrapped candles, love garland wrapped candles, love Candle Ring decor to look Christmassey? Nice idea.”

“Close up of Candle Ring decor”

 

 

 

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with realistic artificial red berries and leaves is the perfect solution to dress your candles.

 

“Christmas decorating”

“Christmas Candle idea”

“Xmas candles...Candy cane candles...Cute candle decor...With white candles...Candle is adorable...Candle decor...easy decor...Cute for candles...Table decor...Candle idea...Pine Cone Candles”

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with artificial spruce foliage, mistletoe, silver glitter apples, pale green orchid flowers and other various plants is the perfect solution to dress your candles.

 

Or simply with Artificial Red Berries

This Candle Ring Decoration with realistic artificial berries and glitter snow is the perfect solution to dress your candles. 

 

 

This Candle Ring Decoration with artificial pine foliage, pine cones, artificial silver berries and silver glitter is the perfect solution to dress your candles.   

 

 

“Christmas decorating”

“Christmas Candle idea”

“Xmas candles...Candy cane candles...Cute candle decor...With white candles...Candle is adorable...Candle decor...easy decor...Cute for candles...Table decor...Candle Rings...Candle idea...Pine Cone Candles”

 

 

 

Fabulous Christmas Candle Candy with this great solution all in one!

 

Festive Decor with Christmas Foliage, Garlands and fantastic Pine Cone Picks are great ways to enhance your dining table or your home.

 

This delightful Christmas Goodies Basket with a mixture of Christmas Tree decorations, Bow and Candle candy is perfect for adding a touch of 'Christmas' to your home or even a Winter themed event.  

Happy Christmas from all of us at

 

There are many Festive Garlands, Decorations, Holly and Mistletoe available on the market today and you cancreate your very own stocking of Festive Foliage to hang on your mantelpiece.

 

 

Foliage and Flowers for Christmas 

 

There is a Christmas Competition to win all of this on FaceBook, so like UKGD on Facebook, share with your friends and Enter Now!

 

 







Would you choose maintenance free greenery for your home

 

Potted orchid with flowering pale pink flowers

Whether you are looking for the perfect low maintenance home and garden solution, more and more people nowadays are considering completely maintenance-free artificial flower, tree and topiary options for their home and gardens.  There are many decorative additions on the market today from artificial trees to artificial plants, herbs and flowers including orchids in an array of colours and varieties.

 Most interior environments benefit from some form of greenery, but very few are suited to the long term survival of real living plants. Poor light and fluctuating temperatures are just a few reasons why it is difficult to keep vibrant and healthy looking live plants.  Below are examples of how real these artificial varieties can look. 

Will your live Dracaena look as real as this artificial one?

 

 Whether you require a simple potted plant, or a whole forest of tropical trees, any specimen that is alive & available can be produced in replica.  The results are really quite stunning!   There are trees, shrubs & ivy's that are almost indistinguishable from living specimens. 

Artificial Fountain Palm Tree

 

Seasonal garlands, wreaths, herbs, climbers and vibrant artificial outdoor plants are just some more of the choices on offer for time restricted consumers.

Seasonal Garland with berries and Pine Cones

There are many wonderful Festive Trees, Spruce Sprays, Frosted Twigs and Christmas Garlands to decorate your home this Christmas.  Everybody's favourite are the frosted variety which are covered in a whitewash effect for that additional atmospheric effect.

This artificial Podocarpus Tree  has a beautiful whitewash effect and will add a touch of 'Christmas' to your home or garden.

Podocarpus from the Greek, podos, meaning "foot", and karpos, meaning "fruit") is a genus of conifers, the most numerous and widely distributed of the podocarp family, Podocarpaceae. Podocarpus are evergreen shrubs or trees usually from 1 to 25 meters tall, known to reach 40 meters at times.
  

Welcome to the new blog from UKGD

Welcome to the New Blog from www.ukgd.co.uk

Spring is in the air, the morinings are lighter. It is nice to be going to work in daylight. see our range of spring flowers to brighten up the office or your home