Flower Gardening

Flower gardens, from catalog to flowering performance, are a delight to the senses. From Spring through Fall they offer encouragement to slip on the gloves and go at it.

How to Make Flowers Grow

You don't have flip a coin to choose the most popular of gardenjng activities. Flower gardens with their visual delight offer so much variety as to the choice of millions. Even during the coldests months of the year our mind rarely wanders far from that spring promise.

All those catalogues and magazines are warm comfort as we wait out the cold months. Enthusastic folks know that flower gardening need not be limited only to summertime. If you plan carefully and plant ahead of time, your garden can be filled with an abundance of flowers for most of the year.

Dedicated gardeners are planners that follow the seasons. And the way to plan for spring is planting bulbs. Readily available from garden centers and mail order, these are among the first to flower. Greenhouse providers have become as savvy as any merchants by introducing new varieties every season. Some of the exotic ones are "must haves" for those willing to pay extra.

Spring Favorites

One of the old standbys are early springtime Crocuses and cheerful Snowdrops. Tulips though, the world famous Dutch prize tulips are by and away the most famous of bulbs in demand by flower gardeners, are available in a variety of shades, for those looking for the perfect springtime lift.

For tulips and other bulbs, timing is important. Remember that all spring flowering bulbs are best planted in mid autumn, as this is the best time for them.

The celebration of summer is in full swing when garden shops bring out the perennials, a sure favorite for flower growers as they yield blooms almost continuously throughout the season, and sometimes beyond. With a little luck and care, you’ll also find that most of your perennials will last through to next year, and the year after that.

You’ll also find that as the years and the seasons wear on, your perennials will spread and become fuller. With a little care, perennials generally will become more abundant as time progresses.

Generally late summer can be a harsh time, heat and lack of water can take their toll. Do your part with weeding and heavy watering when they show signs of wilt.

As autumn gently closes in most flower gardens are left bereft of anything but a few small hardy plants. If you're into more dedicated flower gardening however, that need not be the case for you.

Hardy Plants

Hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters number among the many types of fall flowers available, and will look stunning in late summer and early fall, Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colors, as well as the more genteel pastel colors to choose from.

Rock walls and patios are helpful for extending the growing season. Planting benefit from the stored heat and walls offer protection from wind.

The last days of summer and early fall are a good times to enjoy Turtlehead, Purple Coneflower, Toad Lily and flowering plume grass.

Don't despair as the growing season turns to a close, there are many winter blooms available. Amaryllis, Hyacinth, and Narcissus are a few of the more common known flowers and are available in bulb form.

If you want something a little more out of the ordinary, you could always try Winter Jasmine, or Winter Honeysuckle.

So, take pleasure from privet hedges, large rocks and gaily painted bird houses that will offer a different kind of beauty. And then it it's once again back to the home hearth armed with catalogues and a warm fire.