Flower gardening is one the most attractive aspect of gardening which is followed and admired by a lot of individuals. Having an attractive flower garden outside your house will enhance the overall appearance and beauty of your house and you will have an attractive garden with lots of different colors to enjoy as well. In this piece of writing, you would find some simple tips for growing beautiful flowers in your flower garden. Following these tips will assure you an attractive and blossoming flower garden for a long period of time.

In order to grow beautiful flowers in your flower garden, first of all, you would have to find a most appropriate for your flower garden. The location of your garden will matter the most when it comes to flower gardening. You have your choice though, either you can go with conventional type of flower gardening which is gardening on the piece of land, or you can with more modern type of flower gardening which is known as flower container gardening. If you go with container gardening then you will have some associative advantages of container gardening such as , you can carry container from one place to another with ease as per your needs and requirements and a small container require less maintenance as compared to conventional flower garden.

On the other hand, if you decide to carry out gardening in a conventional way and you want to plant your garden on a piece of land then you must make sure that the condition of your land is appropriate for flower gardening. In order to determine the condition of your land, you need to get a hand on a test soil kit in order to know the current conditions of your land. If you find the results positive, then you can consider you land in order to grow some attractive and beautiful flowers.

Next, you should consider getting some sort of assistance from a gardening journal. Getting assistance from a gardening journal is recommended by many professional gardeners. There are lots of advantages of keeping a gardening journal with yourself such as, you can easily determine the work which needs to be done quickly and the work which you have already completed and etc.

Lastly, make sure you stay all organic; by organic I mean that you must avoid using synthetic chemicals and pesticides within your flower garden. You must consider organic fertilizers and other organic materials in order to make sure that your garden remains healthy for a long period of time.

If you follow the above mentioned simple tips as described then I am sure that you would see some attractive flowers blossoming in your own flower garden within a short period time of time.

Many people like perennials because you don’t have to buy them year after year, but they do have a short blooming period so will not add color to your garden all season.  One thing that is handy about them is that they will propagate so that you will have more and more plants over time.

Since perennials do grow in number, it is inevitable that you will need to divide and move them if you find them taking over an area of your garden.  When moving these thes plants you must be gentle as they can easily be damaged. Try to be as caring as possible when transferring from one place to another. After you have transplanted them, be sure to keep the soil around them moist for the first week.

When you transplant perennials, make sure you do it after they have bloomed.  If you find there are any shoots or blossoms on the plant, they need to be taken off the plant. If you leave these on the plants they will require food and the plant will have a difficult time establishing it’s root system in it’s  new home. You will allow the plant to grow properly if you do this small chore.

There are all kinds of perennials. Wildflowers are perennials as are most herbs.  Some flowers are perennials in warmer climates and annuals in colder climates.  This is because the warmer climates allow them to grow all year, but the frost in the north kills them off.

Some popular perennials include aster, bee balm, campanula, coreopsis, hollyhocks, peony, coneflower, lily of the valley and foxglove.  Perennials do not need much care and they aren’t as finicky as annuals.  If you buy perennials that are suited to your zone then you really don’t need to do any extra watering.  Using fertilizer is always a good idea, just make sure you get the appropriate kind for your plant.

Mulching perennials in the winter can be a very good idea. I have found that wood chips have a great insulating property. It keeps the ground from freezing when hard wintry winds can cause damage to the more delicate perennials. Of course, there are plants which are stronger than others but, some may need a bit of extra care over the winter.

Once they bloom, the flowers live less than a month. Even though the flower is rare, you can easily grow this beauty at home – and even if you’re not an expert with plants, by following the care tips, you can enjoy this horticultural gem.

These flowers enjoy the heightened temperatures and can grow rapidly when properly potted and cared for. You’ll need to have a place in your room that gets a lot of sunlight, and if you have a wide enough windowsill that sits in the direct line of the sunny heat, this is perfect for these flowers.

To keep them from dehydrating and withering, you’ll need to water them every day and the flowers will need to be fed once every seven days. The best growing pot for Blue Orchids is a basket made out of wood.

By potting this flower in the wooden basket, you’ll help it to grow to its best and produce numerous flowers. When you’re ready to repot the plant, very gently lift the plant from the basket.

You can expect that not all of the plant roots will survive intact – this is common and not a mistake on your part – these roots tend to be more fragile than some flowering plants. But once you have it out of the basket, you’ll need to drench the roots with water.

You can do this by letting the roots sit in a bowl of room temperature water (you don’t want to shock the roots with water temperatures that are too cold or too hot). Once the roots are thoroughly moistened, you can repot the plant into a larger basket.

Make sure that you do not use a regular brand of soil to pot these plants in. These rare beauties need a soil that’s specifically designed for their growing health. The care needed for these flowers isn’t that much more involved than regular flowers – the grower just needs to be more vigilant about making sure the sunlight, watering and food specifications are followed.

Whereas most plants can bounce back with treatment if they are neglected, this rare orchid isn’t as hardy. Like many flowers, Blue Orchids like humidity, and in their natural environment, this helps them flourish.

The flowers live best at temperatures between 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When the night temperatures drop, orchids need to be in temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you have the plant on a windowsill, make sure you check the temperature around the window.

One of the most important parts of designing a flower gardening is texture.  You need to use flowers in a wide variety of shapes and heights.  You should include plants with various sizes of flowers, different leave shapes and sizes, etc.  Variety is very important to the aesthetics to of your flower garden.  It will be very boring if you have too many flowers that are extremely similar!

You need to keep the seasons in mind as you design your garden.  You’ll probably want to work to keep your garden blooming for as much of the year as possible, but you may prefer to focus on a particular season.

If you want your garden to bloom mostly in the spring, you might want to choose pinks and purples, or you might want to go with classic tulip colors such as red and yellow.  A lot of spring-blooming flowers are yellow, so that’s a very classic color for the season.

Whites and blues are very good for summer, and if you add red it will make a wonderful garden for the fourth of July!  You can also use spring colors or fall colors in your summer flower garden.

Fall flower gardens should probably contain reds, yellows, and orange.  These colors are wonderful for the fall, and look striking with the standard oranges and browns of the fall leaves.  African Marigolds are wonderful for fall gardens.

You don’t have to stick with these colors, but you’ll definitely need to choose colors that go well together.  You probably won’t want to mix blues, purples and oranges together, for example.  You might wish to use a wide variety of colors together for a wildflower garden. 

It’s fine to use a wide range of colors if you intend to go for the wild, natural look.  But if you want a more refined or elegant garden, you need to be careful to choose colors that complement each other well.

You need to remember to vary the height of the flowers you plant.  If you’re planting flowers near a border of some sort, like a fence or wall, then you should plant taller varieties in the back, gradually planting shorter and shorter flowers as you move forward.  Then you should plant some sort of very low-lying ornamental grass in the front to act as a border between the flowers and the walkway.

You probably won’t want to plant solely annuals, because annuals need to be replanted each year.  You should mix annuals in with perennials.  After all, one of the best things about a flower garden is how relaxing it can be.  If it’s too much work, it might not be so relaxing!

This gorgeous plant has somewhat willful roots that don’t always adhere to a common growth pattern. In many cases, the roots of this plant will grow up and outside of the pot. To try and force them to grow downward is destructive to the root, and in some cases, the plant won’t thrive.

If you don’t have a healthy root for your plant, eventually it will die. Don’t make the mistake of believing that all orchid roots can be treated with the same type of care. There are several care-taking tips that you have to take into consideration.

If you don’t factor in the plant’s environment, you can end up causing your plant to have root rot. Though the plant needs a lot of water, too much water is just as bad as not having enough. The environment is what decides how much or how little water you should give your flower.

Even if your plant is inside your home, you have to figure how much of a breeze your plant gets. Does it sit in front of an open window? If so, the air can dry out the soil and it can also change the temperature surrounding the plant.

Is the plant showing signs of new root growth? If the leaves on the flower look brittle or withered, that’s a clear indication it’s not getting enough water. How big or how small the pot your flower is planted in can make a difference in how well the water is used by the plant.

Some classes of orchids don’t need as much water as other classes, so you want to follow the watering guidelines exactly as instructed. If you are giving your plant too much water, you can tell by the condition of the roots.

Overly watered plants will have roots that are squishy and rotted. Many of the roots will have died from having too much water. It’s always better to underwater your plant than to over do it.

The roots of your Orchids flower need to be in a soil that’s right for it. If you buy regular potting soil, you can kill your plant. Instead, use a base – like fir bark chips, peat moss, etc.

You can find these at local gardening centers and most will be clearly labeled for use with Orchids. The reason that you don’t want to use regular potting soil is that Orchids need air circulation and regular potting soil doesn’t provide this – it often becomes hard and packed, especially when dry.

There are many things that you have to consider while growing wildflowers in your garden. One is the various types of wild flowers and the characteristics of each type. Wild flowers are seasonal plants. They might look brilliant and stunning at their peak season but can also become progressively duller as the season ends.

There are three major types of wild flowers ‘ perennials, biennials and annuals. Perennials are those that bloom and are vibrant all throughout the year. Annuals, as the name suggests, bloom only for one season every year while biennials bloom one season every two years. Choosing the type of flowers to grow in your garden is important in order for you to get the most out of every peak season.

To give your garden a different look every season, it is best to intersperse the types of wildflowers to plan for every seed batch. Since perennials are present all throughout the year, make sure that this type of wildflowers represents a considerable portion for every batch of seeds you wish to plant. Perennials must be included in the set of plants for every season to ensure a garden that’s vibrant with blooming flowers all throughout the year.

There are many kinds of wildflowers that are annuals, or bloom in one season every year. Make sure that you include one type of annual wildflowers for each season so you will have a set of flowers blooming at a particular time of the year.

It is best that you include one flower special from all blooming seasons for every patch in your garden. With matching perennials and a different batch of wildflowers blooming for every season, you are guaranteed a garden that has a diverse vibrant look all throughout the year.

Make sure that you keep your perennials, or the flowers that will bloom all throughout the year, constantly watered. If possible, reseed the biennials and annuals in your garden to maintain excellent flowering all the time.

Keep your flowers healthy by protecting them against weeds. Weeds are always a constant problem in gardens and the best way to keep them from growing is to stop them from seeding. Before planting different seed batches of wildflowers in your garden, till the soil and eradicate weeds in your flowerbeds.

Growing wildflowers in your garden is one of the best gifts that you can give to your home. Not only will they provide a necessary color and liveliness to your place, wildflowers also attract butterflies, bees, hummingbirds. These animals and insects bring you closer to nature and give you a richer presence of the natural beauty that is inherent in this world.

Some of the names of these plants have exotic meanings, others are pretty self-explanatory. For example, the Butterfly Orchid looks like a butterfly and has an amazing flower.

This plant’s scientific name is Psychopsis Papilio. The flower blooms large at the base, has a narrow waist part with two upper pieces that look like a butterfly’s wings. Two growths at the top of the flower complete the idea of a butterfly by spreading upward and resembling antennae.

If you wanted to give a flower that has a special meaning to someone in your life, you could choose a special Orchid such as the Colmanara Wildcat. This is a hybrid Orchid that closely resembles the markings of a wildcat. The only care that it needs is to be watered and fed every seven days. This is another Orchid that’s highly sought after.

The Encyclia Cockleata is a botanical beauty that garners plenty of attention wherever it’s displayed. The reason this flower gets so much attention is for its unusual shape. The flower looks like an octopus and is sometimes referred to as the Octopus Orchid. This particular orchid is one that gives off a strong, pleasing scent.

There are even miniature Orchids like the beautiful white with burgundy stripes and spots. The name of this little one is called Sedirea Japonica and can be found in Japan. It adapts well to indoor living and likes temperatures comparable to those suited for humans.

Of course, no home grower should be without some flowers from the Brassavola Orchids and one of the most popular is called ‘Lady of the Night.’ You can find these in a lovely pure white flower and the plant is sturdy and will bloom repeatedly.

The Miltonia – the Pansy Orchid – is so called because it does look like the pansy flower. These Orchids have petals that look like a large, droopy lower lip. They have gorgeous markings stemming from the center of the flower and stretching to the end of the bloom.

There are so many types of Orchids that you’ll have a hard time choosing a favorite. But with the hardiness of some of these flowers, even kids can grow some of the ones that they like best.

A hit with kids are the Orchids that look like bumblebees. While it’s not known for fragrance, the flower is attractive and easy to care for. Some kids are fascinated by the Brassia – the Spider Orchid. The flowers are hardy and they are fragrant. They’re not the most popular of Orchids because their blooms are in the shape of a large spider.

Oncostele Wildcat 'TOW' Blooming Size Orchid Plant, Shipped in a 4" Pot

US $9.95 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 13:21:33 PST Buy It Now for only: US $9.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Colmanara Wildcat 'VCD' orchid plant IN SPIKE/BLOOM

US $13.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Sunday Feb-12-2012 8:46:32 PST Buy It Now for only: US $18.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

These plants are (especially the Blue Orchid) are very in-demand, and most growers create a booming business selling them. Whether you’re new or not to this flowering plant, you can benefit from knowing how to get the healthiest flowers from your efforts.

Step one – don’t start out behind. You want to make sure that the plant you select will give you beautiful blooms. Some people buy very small Orchid plants and then don’t understand why it doesn’t flower. It can take years for a new plant to flower, so what you want to select is one that already has flowers on it.

Step two – check out the health of the leaves. If the leaves are pale or look spotted, then the plant isn’t healthy. If you already have Orchids at home and the leaf color isn’t consistent, then something’s wrong with the plant.

Step three – give your plant the water amount that’s suitable for the type of orchid that you have. Give it plenty of water, especially in the hot summer months. But keep an eye on the roots to make sure you’re maintaining a healthy moisture level.

Step four – when it’s nice outside, let the plant spend some time outdoors, but not under the direct glare of the sun. Just like human skin, these plants can sustain a nasty sunburn. But remember not to leave them out once the temperatures begin to drop.

Step five – feed your plant on a regular schedule. You can use plant fertilizer for this, but be aware that the fertilizer can contain salts, which aren’t good for your plant if it has too much.

Step six – if you’re bringing home new Orchids, odds are that they’re in a pot that’s meant as a temporary home for it. Don’t make the mistake of leaving them in the pot for too long, but replant them with a mix that’s specifically made for your orchid.

Step seven – watch out for the little bugs. Pests love to devour plants, draining them of their beauty – and in the case of a serious infestation, killing the plant completely. There are special sprays that you can buy to treat your Orchid, killing any infestations and keeping new ones at bay.

Caring for Orchids can yield a crop of flowers that you can enjoy time and time again. Don’t let the thought of the kind of care they need overwhelm you. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be glad that this was the flower you chose to have in or around your home.

Orchid Plant Slc. Tutakamen 'Pop' SM/JOGA Near flowering size.

US $17.99 End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:11:50 PST Buy It Now for only: US $17.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Orchid Plant Blc. Fuchs Orange Nuggett 'Lea' Fl Size

US $14.99 End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:11:50 PST Buy It Now for only: US $14.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Orchid Plant C. schroderae seedling Great pink species from Colombia

US $19.99 End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 16:11:50 PST Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Historically, they play quite an important role in various early civilizations. In the modern times, one can also graze at miles and miles of lovely tulip flowers in bloom. As a matter of fact, tulips come in third as the most popular flower after rose and chrysanthemum. For those who are interested in gardening, tulips are a great bulb plant to include in your garden and one of the first bloomers you will see once the snow clears out.

Coming originally from the Central and Western Asia area, tulips have been around for about 500 years. The name tulip comes from the Turkish tulbend, which means turban. This is in reference either to the inverted look of the flower, which resembles a turban, or to the actual use of the flower being placed inside a turban.

So, how do we grow such lovely blooms?   Here are some tips for growing tulips in your garden:

Soil conditions

Tulips need good drainage. The best option is to go for sandy soil, which is airy and well-drained. Improper soil drainage can cause the tulip bulbs to rot. Adding compost to the soil is also a must like with any other kind of plants.

Planting

 Since tulips come in different sizes, the most logical way to plant the bulbs deep enough is to get the bulbs’ sizes and multiply them by three. The result is the depth of the hole where the bulb should be planted in.

When To Plant

 The best season to plant these flowering plants is during the fall.

Tulip Care

 In terms of sun, tulips need a fair share of it but they will grow in partially shaded areas. For water, regular rainfall is enough for their healthy existence. However, they need to be watered at least once a week in warmer places. Fertilizing tulip plants at least twice a year is another must. The most recommended time is during the early part of spring right before they start to bloom. One tablespoon of the regular fertilizer in granules does the trick well enough.

Tulips are perhaps the cheeriest and most recognized flower. Whether it is a red, yellow or white one in bloom, there is no denying the beauty of a tulip and since they are fairly easy to grow, everyone can enjoy tulips right in their own yard. 

Planting tulip bulbs carefully and safely inside containers isdiscussed in this free educational video series. Expert: Yolanda Vanveen Contact: www.vanveenbulbs.com Bio: Yolanda Vanveen is sustainable gardener who lives in Kalama, Wash. Filmmaker: Daron Stetner
Video Rating: 0 / 5

Perennial flower beds can be considered as a basic component of a well-planned landscape design. They not only complement any garden, but are also easy to maintain. With perennial flower bed plans, you are not required to replace plants frequently, which is so in case of growing annuals and biennials. Once a perennial garden is established, you can follow simple maintenance tips to preserve the aesthetic value of the garden.

The color and flower type of perennial plants are plentiful; you can select specific varieties as per your flower garden theme. As we already know, the blooming period of perennial plants are short, usually 4 – 6 weeks. A properly planned perennial garden will give you the advantage of enjoying vibrant flowers throughout the year. While designing garden flower beds of a perennial type, make sure that you plan properly regarding the theme, beds and plant variety.

Perennial Garden: Designs for Flower Beds

Though perennial flowers can be grown randomly, plantation in beds gives a special visual impact. When viewed at a glance, vibrant colored flowers appear more beautiful when they bloom in groups, rather than in singles. Anytime, a perennial garden bed with full bloomed flowers is appreciated by every viewer. You can practice basic landscaping ideas for flower beds while designing a perennial garden. Following are some basic tips on perennial flower beds and designs for garden flower beds.

Perennial Garden Theme: First of all, select the theme of the perennial garden. You can opt for a formal type, scented type (roses and lavender), butterfly garden (salvia and buddleia), water garden or any other theme as your choice. If you are a beginner, it is always better to choose a manageable and attractive perennial garden type. Once you gain knowledge about the maintenance tips regarding various themes, you can go for more complex garden types.

Perennial Flower Bed Plan: Lay out the plan of the perennial flower beds according to the area of the yard. A wider bed gives more flexibility for designing the flower beds. Also, narrow flower beds give a crowded appearance. Nevertheless, too wide garden beds may be difficult to manage, as you will not be able to reach the middle plants. An 8 – 10 feet wide bed is a preferable dimension for perennial flower beds.

Selecting Perennial Flower: Selecting the plant variety is the most crucial step for designing a perennial flower garden. A basic tip is to select plants according to their required growing conditions (soil, light, water, temperature) so that they grow best in your garden. Another important aspect for selecting plant variety is the height, flower color, length of blooming and flowering time.

Creating Color Scheme: You can sort out the plants according to the height, flower color and blooming time prior to creating a color scheme. Also, make sure you consider the light requirements of the plants, while grouping perennial flowers. Speaking about the color scheme of the perennial flower bed, you can group perennial plants (of different colors) in odd numbers. A cluster of three perennial plants with various colors looks appealing. Warm flower colors include yellow, orange and red together; while cool colors are white, pink, purple and blue.

Plantation Pattern: While growing the perennial plants, place the short varieties (dianthus and phlox) on the front and tall plants (peony and iris) at the back. You can include 14 – 18 inch tall flowers in the front section, 1 – 3 feet tall varieties in the middle portion and 3 – 5 feet perennial flowers at the back. Planting in this pattern will create a scenic beauty to your perennial flower beds.

You will need to make sure you are planting at the correct time of year. Some bulbs and tubers need to be planted in the spring while others need to be planted in the summer or even in the fall. Time of year is very important for successful growth with a great number of plants. If you are uncertain then you should have this information before you begin.

They may not grow as well in your average soil. You may want to add a special bulb planting mix for best results. These are usually rich in calcium and special nutrients that bulbs and tubers need most. You can place this mixture in the hole before planting.

They also have special tools designed for planting bulbs. Each different type of bulb may require a different planting depth in your soil. Bulb planters allow you to gage the depth at which you are planting to get exact results. They also lift out the soil allowing you to add any need nutrients before planting and replacing the soil.

After the actual planting the care is much like that of any other flower in your garden. You weed and prune as necessary. Add mulch if need. Make sure they have adequate water especially during the dry seasons.

Once the blooms begin to die, you will want to let the die back naturally. The dead blooms have nutrients the bulbs need to bloom adequately the next blooming season. This may apply to tubers as well. You should always check any special instructions for any new flower you are planting. Watering needs often vary.

Really a tuber is much the same as a bulb. The main difference may be the shape. There is little difference in the care for them. The main differences may be the same as that in any other plant with moisture needs varying from species to species.

Gardening is very rewarding for all age groups and is something that can be passed on from generation to generation. If you have a love for gardening then share that love with a special someone in your life. The art of growing flowers and vegetables is very creative and fulfilling.

If you have questions about gardening then look up information on the internet or just ask around. The elderly lady who lives on your block and loves flowers will probably be glad to share her knowledge with anyone who asks. If you don’t have a garden then get started today and see for yourself all the rewards you can get from this.

The design your butterfly garden is a matter of personal preference. Typical points to consider are the size of your garden and the types of flowers and plants you want to grow. Pick a style of garden that appeals to you, but ensure it also contains the plants and flowers that appeal to the butterflies you wish to attract.

To create the kind of environment that they find attractive, you will also need water of some kind. A birdbath will look attractive and keep the butterflies up off the ground, away from stray cats or mischievous puppies. A shallow dish on a post or hung in a tree will do just as well.

When planting your butterfly garden be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flowerbeds. Although butterflies do not care about your choice of color, you don’t want your garden to be a hodgepodge of unrelated colors and textures. Butterflies are attracted to those flowers that have nectar rather than pollen, like honeysuckle, milkweed, summer lilac, Valerian, daisies, Purple Coneflower, Yellow Sage, day lilies and lavender.

Some people find it helpful to draw and color a layout of their butterfly gardening plan to see what the finished product would look like. Keep in mind that warm colors like red and orange are flashy and showy. These colors have a greater impact against a strong green background. Cool colors such as blue and purple are soothing and toned down and would work better with a white contrast to create the look of freshness and brightness.

The term ground cover is in reference to any kind of plant that grows over a specific area of the ground. These plants grow low and are made use of for various purposes. Aside from the plants’ various benefits, their functions as ground covers are also very important. They add beauty to the whole area as they cover bare soil. More so, they are very effective in the prevention of soil erosion.

There are a number of ground cover plants that are highly attractive. They are perfect for aesthetic purposes. Adding some ground cover plants to your flower garden is definitely a good option for anybody. Here are some good points about it.

1. They make use of the soil. Making use of a land area for plants is a good way to maintain the healthy quality of the soil especially when ample care is taken by the gardener through regular fertilization and watering.

2. There is lesser possibility of soil erosion. Plants not only look good but they also play a great role in preventing soil erosion. The roots of plants hold soil together and keep if from washing away during rainy times.

3. Garden covers keep the soil healthy. They serve as insulating covers that keep the soil cool during the summer and also help to hold water in. More so, these plants are very useful in building the level of humus present in the soil. They serve as living mulch and are also perfect insects that are good for your garden to live in.

4. Weeds are kept off with the presence of ground cover plants. Since they grow in a way that ends up covering the entire area, there is no space left for the seed of the weeds to occupy and grow in. More so, they are the perfect alternative for growing turf grass.

5. They are perfect for steep slopes and areas near the sidewalks. This is because they do not need much irrigation and are perfect for keeping the soil in elevated areas in its place.

Just like anything else, there are some drawbacks to groundcovers. One of the more serious ones is the fact that they provide the perfect habitat for slugs, snakes and other garden pests. It is of course wise to avoid pest susceptible vegetation in areas where such pests abound.

For those who are in love with being able to grow these lovely creations, it is essential to be knowledgeable enough to plant and care for them. Having ample knowledge about the difference between annual and perennial flowers, for instance, is a good foundation to start with when considering the types of flowers to deal with.

To get a good look at the difference between these two types of flowers, it is best to take each one and examine its specific characteristics.

Annual Flowers

The basic feature shared by different annual flowers is how they complete their whole life in a single growth cycle. They grow from seeds, bloom and give seeds in one growing season. After which, they wither and die.

Annual flowers grow based on the season they are planted. There are three types of annual flowers. They are grouped according to the type of weather they grow in and the types of soil that they need in order to grow well.

Hardy annual flowers have the capacity to bloom during the cold winter season. They have the unique capacity that enables them to survive the harsh weather. However, they cannot tolerate high heat which makes them inappropriate for hot, summer gardens. They should be planted during the spring or fall. Examples of this type are viola, stocks, cornflowers and pansy.

Half hardy annual flowers, on the other hand, can live with damp and mildly cold weather but unable to survive the coldest winter months. The most ideal time to plant them is during the late parts of spring. They don’t do so well in the scorching hot summer months but will perk up as summer starts to fade away. Baby’s breath, bells of Ireland and forget-me-nots are examples of this type of annual flowers.

For warmer weather, the best option is to go for tender annuals. They are best sown about three weeks after the last spring frost. During the last parts of spring and the early days of summer, these flowers are at their best. Petunias, morning glory and scarlet sage are tender annual flowers.

Perennial Flowers

Perennials have a lifetime of two to three years in average. They survive the whole year and bloom once a year at a specific time.  They are self propagating so it might seem like they live forever, but it is simply that new flowers are coming up when the old ones lifespan is over.

Perennial flowers come in three groups. They differ according to the amount of sunlight they need to grow most perfectly.

Full sun perennial flowers grow best in places where they are able to get about six to eight hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis. Examples of this type include chrysanthemum, iris and Japanese anemone.

Perennial plants that can do well without direct sunlight are referred to as part shade perennials. They can easily be traced under the trees where they are accessible to the sunlight through the foliage. Primrose, bleeding heart and foxglove are three examples of part shade perennials.

The third type is called full shade perennials. This is obviously because they need to be in areas where sunlight cannot get to them. The perfect location for these flowering plants is under evergreen and other similar trees with thick branches.

Autumn is a wonderful season! All the different hues of nature can be witnessed in the trees around! Flowers give out heady fragrances, and there is generally an atmosphere of magic all around! This season is therefore a boon for garden lovers, since there are any number of plants which are created just for fall flower gardening!

Some features of fall flower gardening are listed below–

(1) Why fall flower gardening at all? These magnificent plants give a new look to the landscape around the house. The gardener gets immense pleasure from what he/she has created. And best of all, one is surrounded by intoxicating perfumes!

(2) Fall season stretches to a few months. So when is the best time to begin fall flower gardening? People who live in highly warm climates are lucky! The (annual) flowers can be planted during autumn itself. Additionally, they even grow and bloom in the same season; so the owner can enjoy everything at one and the same time!

Those dwelling in places with colder climates will have to plant the flowers before fall, and wait to enjoy their color and fragrance during the autumn.

(3) In actual fact, there is no standard answer to the above question–it is just a matter of guesswork. Every year, there could be a different time period that seems appropriate for fall flower gardening. All that an avid gardener can do is wait till the opportunity presents itself, and then grab it!

To illustrate with an example, a mild summer may be followed by a period of rainfall. This occurs somewhere towards the end of August. This then would be an ideal time for growing flowers. In other areas, September would seem to be the ideal month for growing flowers.

(4) There is another choice available–an entirely new flower garden can be started just before autumn.

When the summer season comes to an end, local garden centers offer those plants which could not be sold during the spring season, at discounted rates. Unless there are pests on these plants, they can be safely taken home and brought back to good health via container gardening. Once the weather turns cooler, the same plants can be transplanted into the outdoor garden.

(5) Fall flower gardening can include annual plants as well as perennials. Annual flowers are tender and may survive for a briefer period than perennial flowers. Perennial plants are sturdier and able to tolerate early frost–so their flowers can be enjoyed for a lengthier period of time.

(6) With a little research, the gardener can obtain plants that grow late blossoms, but generally before the arrival of the first frost. These flowers are actually planted during the summer; so, it is possible that excess foliage will need to be trimmed during fall season. This is done by pruning or staking. A disadvantage is that pruning leads to late blooming.

(7) Fall flowering garden can include plants that grow vegetables too. Some of them are peppers, cabbage and kales. As a matter of fact, ornamental peppers exhibit wonderfully colored flowers and fruits. Thus, enjoy them and taste them too!

(8) Some popular flowering plants are–perennial asters that blossom every fall, year after year, and pansies; pansies bloom during the fall, winter and spring seasons.

(9) Some exotic and colorful additions to the garden can be attempted if the gardener so desires. These could be–reddish-purple love-lies-bleeding flowers, pinkish-purple mums, and New England asters.

(10) There are other blooms that can really be breathtaking in appearance! They are therefore welcome additions to the flower garden.

Nasturtiums (give out orange and yellow flowers).
Silver king artemisia.
Reddish-purple plumed celosia.
Bronze coleus.
Marigold (give out yellow, gold and orange flowers).

(11) Perennial plants come in a vast range. The gardener can take his pick from among sunflowers, aconite, yellow wax bells, phlox, autumn crocus, tall verbena, golden rod, Russian sage, black-eyed susan or the ragged coneflower.

(12) To enhance the fall flower gardening experience, the gardener can visualize the difference that vines, shrubs and ornamental grasses will create when invited to become part of the already vivid panorama!