Archive
April:
Annual
Versus Perennial Flowers
Each type of flower
has its own characteristics and advantages. Annual flowers are those where
you plant a seed (or a seedling plant), it grows foliage, then flowers,
seeds and then the plant dies, all in the same year. Perennial flowers
are those that grow for three or more years. Annuals and perennials can
be combined in your planting design to reap the best of both!
Praire
Wildflowers
Interest in prairie
wildflowers has increased in recent years due to increasing public interest
in environmental isssues and ecology. The prairie region once occupied
over one-third of the land area of the United States. At present, only
one-half of one percent of those areas remain. Enjoy your restoration
efforts, and remember that successful prairie wildflower establishment
requires patience, and a little bit of luck!
Planning
a Fragrance Garden
Many gardeners complain that modern-day flowers have lost
their sweet fragrance compared to old-fashioned varieties. It is true
that some hybrid flowers have been bred for larger blooms, bolder colors,
disease resistance, and other improvements at the expense of fragrance.
However, there are still plenty of choices for planning an aromatic showcase.
Ornamental
Grasses in Your Yard
Ornamental grasses
can be cut back any time from fall to spring, but I like to leave them
in place over the winter. They bring motion and texture to the garden
when they're desperately needed!
Flowers
Just for Cutting
Many gardeners like
to cut flowers from their garden to brighten up the home, cheer a friend
or bring a bit of color to the office. Why not plant a separate garden
geared only toward providing cut flowers? It's similar to planning a vegetable
garden for harvest, only in this case the crop is flowers.
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