A snow covered garden means that plants remain moist and are protected from all the freezing temperatures. When it is freezing cold out, snow is actually warmer than the temperature of the air and this protects your plants and maintains healthy roots. Also, all that snow on your flower garden helps to lock in moisture on the roots of your plants before the top layer freezes allowing the plants to have enough water until spring arrives.

All that snow covering your plants is providing a steady temperature for all your bulbs, shrubs, trees, and perennials. One problem that I had with my flower garden when I lived in New York was that when the ground began to thaw, some plants and bulbs just came right out of the ground. If this happens, just push them back into the ground. The following year, I covered the garden with a thick coat of mulch in the fall and that extra protection stopped the problem with plants coming up from the ground.

Did you know that most of the damage done to your garden is not from the snow? Damage to your plants is actually caused by ice, freezing temperatures and wind. But the damage is caused by these is usually done above ground so the roots are protected. Lots of shrubs and trees suffer from cracking and splitting when they get hit by freezing temperatures and ice forms.

So remember that a snow covered garden is good for your plants and bulbs and it is best to leave it alone. If trees and shrubs become frozen as a result of freezing temperatures, leave it them alone too. Trying to scrape ice from them may break all the branches and create more problems. Also, be careful when salting near your garden or flower beds. The chemicals from de-icers can poison your plants. Remove the snow near you garden using a shovel to protect the plants from harmful chemicals.

Technorati Tags: Bulbs, Gardening, Perennials, shrubs, snow covered garden, trees, winter plant protection

According to the American Iris Society, Irises can be classified in two groups, rhizomes and bulbous. There are countless varieties and species of Irises within these groups but the most commonly found in most gardens is the bearded German Iris. Other types of hybrids have come along which are crosses between tall and dwarf varieties. Irises with rhizomes are the ones used in many perfumes even today and in medicine during ancient times.

Did you know that some Iris bulbs are shipped in the fall and some in the spring? Before you start planning your Iris garden, figure out if you want the iris bulbs in the spring or fall. Assuming that you ordered the bulbs in the spring plant them in the fall in well drained soil and 4 inches deep. Make sure the bulb is near the surface and firm the soil tightly. Take a look and be sure the bulb is just beneath the surface of the soil. Irises like a sunny bright location but will also do well in partial shade. To give you an idea of the Irises that ship in the spring and fall, here are a few of my favorites.

Spicy Cajun Louisiana Iris – ships in the spring
A beautiful Iris that blooms mid-summer with two toned flowers to add beauty to your landscape! The flowers are sunny yellow and have violet or lavender petals and the plants have long stems and grass like foliage. It is hardy and deer resistant so it can be planted anywhere in your garden, backyard or even near ponds. Spicy Cajun thrives in zones 4-9 and grows 38″ high.

Siberian Iris Blue King – ships in the spring
Blue King has brilliant blue flowers that are a bit smaller than those of the bearded Iris. It is easy to grow and blooms in late spring and returns every year with lots more gorgeous blooms. After its blooming season, this Iris will add beauty to your garden as it remains in the garden with its attractive grass like foliage all summer long. It thrives in zones 4-9 and grows to 40″ tall.

Beverly Sills re-blooming Bearded Iris – ships in the fall
Bearded Irises come in different colors and most of them bloom in the spring and again in the fall. It is the most popular Iris by most gardeners and used extensively in bouquets and many other flower arrangements by florists. Beverly Sills described here comes in a pink color that is just beautiful. It blooms mid to late spring and then again in the fall. It grows from 30 to 36″ tall and thrives in zones 4-9.

Lion King Dutch Iris – ships in the fall
Gorgeous Iris created by one of Holland’s premier bulb growers and first offered by Breck’s which is a reputable bulb company. Lion King is very unique in that the flowers have purple and bronze falls with tiger yellow stripes. It is very different than most Irises with this color combination that will add a very dramatic and exotic look to any garden or landscape. Lion King blooms early to late summer and grows 20 to 24″ tall. According to Breck’s, these tall stemmed plants will thrive under most conditions and do well in zones 5-9.

Technorati Tags: Bulbs, Gardening, Iris Bulbs, Iris flower, Iris varieties

There are hundreds of species of anemones and most of them have become favorite garden plants for generations. Anemones belong to the buttercup family and grow from rhizomes or tubers. They are considered a perennial herb with basal leaves that have long stems and some of the species provide flowers throughout the year. One of the most commonly known anemones is called the poppy and it is a tuberous rooted plant that has poppy like blossoms. Anemones come in various colors but the most common ones are blue, purple, white, crimson and scarlet. There are also double flower varieties where the stamens in the center look like a tuft of narrow petals.

Anemones grow better in a loamy soil that has been enriched with well rotted manure and if you want flowers in May and June, plant them now. When the leaves turn yellow and die, you can dig the bulbs up and place them in a dry room. Anemones thrives in partial shaded areas or even full sun but in southern areas be sure to shield them from the afternoon sun which is the hottest part of the day. So think spring and get your anemone bulbs now. Lots of companies that specialize in bulbs are running specials and this is the time to buy. Here are two of my favorite anemones.

Glacier Anemone
Gorgeous white flowers with a unique purple-blue flame design on the outside of the petals. This unusual combination of colors is very unique with its contrasting blue anthers and small cone-shaped green centers that offset the white blooms. These are ideal for a bouquet of flowers in your home. Thrives in zones 5-8 and likes sun to partial shaded areas.

Poppy Anemone Burgundy
Deep burgundy two inch cup-shaped blooms with a very unique black cone-shaped center circled by a white ring makes this anemone very dramatic and beautiful. This anemone will certainly make a big impression and you can plant these with other spring perennials for a spectacular show. It thrives in zones 6-10 and likes sun to partial shaded areas.

Technorati Tags: Anemones, Bulbs, flower gardens, Spring Blooming Bulbs

It goes without saying that most flower gardening enthusiasts love to have a beautiful and colorful garden but tend to overspend when buying plants, trees and shrubs. For example, I have a friend who loves irises and she always has to have the latest type of iris that is available. Recently she confided in me by saying that she was spending a fortune on her iris garden. My reply to her was that if she loves her iris garden and has the money to spend, she should just sit back and enjoy every minute of it. I also suggested to her to shop online for irises and she could spend less money than going to her local gardening place.

When redoing my gardens, I am tempted to just buy everything on site when I visit my local garden stores or even when I buy from online places like Breck’s. Knowing that this is not a good idea, what I normally do is to design the garden area first. If you design your garden area before shopping for plants, you can basically count how many plants you will need for your garden. Believe me this will save you lots of money. You will be tempted when you visit your local gardening place but just make a decision to buy the plants you need and nothing more.

So yes, flower gardening can be addictive but this is one addiction that is easy to combat and it is a positive one. Don’t be tempted when you see a two for one sale at your local gardening place and just buy what you need to redo your flower garden. Be sure to take you garden design plan with you when buying your plants and this will help you to control your spending. Whatever you decide to spend on your flower garden will be money well spent. Remember that a beautiful flower garden adds value to your home and your heart and soul. There is nothing more satisfying than stepping outside and seeing a flower garden in full bloom.

Technorati Tags: Bulbs, Flower Gardening Design, Flowering Plants, Gardening, Iris, Roses

If you buy bulbs from a local gardening place, there are some things to look for when selecting them. Make sure that bulbs are firm but not dried out and free of mold, spots and anything that resembles fungus. Another thing to remember is that the bigger the bulb, the bigger the flower will be and a double bulb normally means that you will get two plants.

The companies that sell bulbs usually offer good information and advice about planting, storing, nurturing and propagating bulbs. However, the planting depth for your area really depends on where you live. For example, if the ground where you live does not freeze to any significant depth or for extended periods of time, you can plant bulbs about an inch shallower than the depth suggested by companies.

There are a few things that are a must before planting bulbs and at the top of the list is the soil. Unless you have good soil, your bulbs or other plants will not do well. Rich soil is the key to healthy plants and beautiful flowers. So be sure to prepare the soil by following the directions given with your purchase. Also be sure to note the best location to plant the bulbs. Some bulbs should be planted where there is full sun while others require a shady area or part sun.

Next decide how you want your garden to look when the bulbs are in full bloom. Spacing them is the key and you can follow recommendations given by the company where you bought them from or you can plant them closer together for a very beautiful and dramatic look. If in doubt, buy bulbs from a reputable company like Breck’s that has been bringing us quality bulbs from Holland since 1818. You will get all the advice you need from this company as well as top quality bulbs.

Technorati Tags: Amaryllis, Bulb Planting, Bulbs, Crocus, Hyacinths, Tulips

Cyclamen are herbaceous plants with a surface or underground tuber which produces leaves and blooms during the winter months and continues to bloom until April each year. They can be propagated from seeds but usually takes between 9-18 months to reach the flowering stage. For this reason, it is best to buy the plants at a local nursery which are already established.

These garden beauties rarely do well in warm weather and they do have a dormant period during the summer months. One key feature of Cyclamen is its unusual variety of leaves and markings which range from round to oval, arrowhead shape, and ivy-leaved ones. Cyclamen is a tuberous potted plant that loves the cool weather and indirect sun light. They thrive in temperatures ranging from 55 to 65 degrees.

This gorgeous plant will give you lots of much needed color during the winter months and will continuously bloom all season long. The leaves are deep green heart-shaped with silvery marbled patterns. Cyclamen will do well if planted in the garden where winters are mild, but my advice is to plant them in containers and place them in the patio. They also do well in balconies, window boxes and large flower pots.

Caring for Cyclamen is easy as these require very little care. Just make sure that the soil if kept moist but be careful not to over water them and that they have indirect sun light. With proper light, adequate moist soil and cool temperatures, you will have beautiful color in your garden all winter long. If your garden lacks color during the long winter months, go ahead and get some Cyclamen plants and place them in your garden. To get you started, here are some Cyclamen that I am familiar with.

Hardy Cyclamen Lily Pad White – Botanical name is Cyclamen coum Lily Pad White

This hardy Cyclamen blooms continuously from December to April with gorgeous white blooms above silvery green foliage. The blooms seem to arch above the wide rounded heart shaped foliage which looks like little frogs jumping from one lily pad to the next. The leaves usually arise in autumn and are olive green shade with silver overtones. These will tolerate frost and other inclement winter conditions and around December, white blooms will appear which will continue for up to 5 months. Lily Pad White likes the shade and thrives in zones 5-9.

Hardy Cyclamen Neapolitanum – Botanical name is the same

Wow! This Cyclamen is hardy even in 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This dainty Cyclamen is ideal for planting under the shade of trees to add beauty and color to your garden. It offers masses of lilac flowers with rich dark eyes and petals curving upward above heart shaped foliage. It thrives in zones 5-9 and in the shade beneath trees and shrubs and can also be planted in containers or pots.

Hardy Cyclamen Lily Pad Pink – Botanical name is Cyclamen coum Lily Pad Pink

This Cyclamen actually tolerates frost and inclement winter weather. Recommended for the shade garden, Lily Pad Pink blooms continuously from late winter to mid spring. It has lavender-pink flowers and two tone green foliage marked with silver. Plant these in containers or large pots or even beneath trees or shrubs for a stunning winter flowering garden.

To a beautiful winter garden,
Diana

Technorati Tags: Bulbs, container plants, Cyclamen, cyclamen seeds, Fall Gardening, flower pots, Perennials, persian violet, primrose, shade plants, tuberous plants, window boxes, winter blooming bulbs

This unique plant produces a cluster of flowers at the top of a leafless stalk. The Alliums bulb is also known as an onion and members of the genus include vegetables such as onions, shallots, leeks and chives. It has been said that Alliums species are found in most regions of the world except the tropics, New Zealand and Australia. Don’t know why.

Alliums add beauty to your garden when in full bloom and the flowers can be dried for use as winter decorations. These are hardy perennials that have true bulbs, are easy to grow and require little care once the plant is established.

You can mix Alliums with other perennials around your garden for a gorgeous look. It will add lots of color and interesting shapes to your garden. Most Alliums are in full bloom during the spring and early summer so the time to plant the bulbs is now. Here are a few of my favorite Alliums.

Allium ‘Globemaster’ – Botanical name is the same
Wow! Globemaster has fluffy violet blooms as big as soccer balls that shoot up from 3 foot stalks. Early summer these huge stems are topped by gigantic violet-pink cluster of flowers that are 8 inches wide. It is a Dutch hybrid that blooms for up to 3 weeks and thrives in zones 4-8.

Allium Karataviense ‘Ivory Queen’ – Botanical name is the same
Considered a dwarf Allium because it only grows 6 to 9 inches high. Ivory Queen is ideal as a border plant. Masses of fragrant white globe like florets appear early summer and Ivory Queen will look gorgeous in front of taller perennial beds. You can also plant it in a container or a window box. It thrives in zones 4-8.

Allium Atropurpureum – Botanical name is the same
This is a unique Allium in that the colors deepen with age. Atropurpureum is an heirloom dating back to 1800 and it is considered one of the most dramatic members of the Allium family. It produces masses of outstretched stars in a round 2 inch flower head. Each white-red bloom has a round green center and tiny green pads on the tip of each petal. The plant grows up to 3 feet tall and thrives in zones 4-9.

To your gardening success,
Diana

Technorati Tags: Alliums, alliums bulbs, Bulbs, dried flowers, Flowering Bulbs, fragrant flowers, hardy perennials, Lilies, Spring Blooming Bulbs

As stated before, Amaryllis is a winter bulb that you can plant at home in the fall and have beautiful flowers during the gloomy winter months. It is real easy to plant the bulbs and any container will do. But, if you want to impress your family and friends, do buy a nice container to display the stunning Amaryllis flowers.

Here are some new Amaryllis bulbs this year.

Amaryllis Alfresco – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Alfresco
Wow! This Amaryllis blooms in only 30 days from planting. It is considered one of the most beautiful white Amaryllis in the market. I am sure you will agree when you see the picture below. It has large 6-inch blooms with a soft chartreuse center. The blooms are borne on strong 14-inch stems and last for several days. The plant produces 5-8 large blooms.

Amaryllis Amico – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Amico
Here is an Amaryllis that produces up to 12 blooms per bulb. Awesome! This Amaryllis is considered a miniature because the stems are just 12 inches tall but you can expect at least 12 4-inch blooms from each bulb. The blooms displays bold white stripes that begin at the throat of the flower lining the center of each red petal somehow fading as they reach the petal tips. For a gorgeous look, plant multiple bulbs in the same container and 26 days later you will have beautiful flowers in your home.

Amaryllis Jade Serpent – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Jade Serpent
This unusual miniature Amaryllis produces up to 8 soft green blooms in just 34 days from planting. This Amaryllis looks very different than most traditional ones in that it is a rarely seen color for Amaryllis. Jade Serpent offers 3-inch blooms on stems that are only 10 inches tall and produces up to 8 blooms per plant.

Amaryllis Molto Bello – Botanical name is Hippeastrum Molto Bello
This is a truly elegant Amaryllis as it displays beautiful white blooms which are perfect for any occasion. Molto Bello is considered a miniature Amaryllis as the flowers measure 3 inches across and the stem is only 10 inches tall. The pure white flowers have curving petals and a soft green center. For a stunning look, plant a Molto Bello bulb and pair it with an Amico bulb and you will get red and white contrast. Wow!

Enjoy,
Diana

Technorati Tags: Amaryllis, Autumn Bulbs, Bulbs

Did you know that you can have a thriving flower garden in the autumn? Yes, you can! There are lots of autumn blooming bulbs that you can plant now and these will bloom next fall. Plant them this year and as other flowers begin to disappear in your garden, next year beautiful blooms will appear in the fall season.

Start visiting your local nursery or shop online for autumn blooming bulbs and get busy in your garden. Next year, you will be glad you planted your bulbs when you see the flowers come up. To help you get started, here is a short list of some autumn blooming bulbs that you can plant now.

Autumn Crocus ‘The Giant’ – Botanical name is Colchicum Speciosum ‘The Giant’

Rose color flowers streaked with white will appear from this bulb. See the picture below. This is a very easy plant to grow. Just set the bulbs in well drained, moist soil in a sunny area of your garden. The Giant is pest resistant and grows well in zones 5-8. It blooms from early fall to mid fall.

Colchicum Cilicicum – Botanical name is the same

A native of Turkey, if you like Colchicums this is one of the most reliable to plant in your garden. It blooms freely with about 15 flowers per bulb. The flowers are about 2 inches and the shade is a dark rosy-purple. When the flowers die, large 1 foot strap-shaped leaves will appear. Colchicum likes full sun, well drained soil, and grows well in zones 4-9. Blooms early fall to mid fall.

Autumn Crocus ‘Waterlily’ – Botanical name is Colchicum Waterlily

Somehow, the blossoms of this colchicum resemble floating waterlilies. Large, 4 to 5 inch lavender-pink double flowers appear on leafless stems in mid-autumn. It is easy to grow, just plant the bulb in well drained soil. Colchicum likes full sun, it is pest resistant and grows well in zones 5-8. Blooms early fall to mid fall.

Hardy Cyclamen Neapolitanun – Botanical name is Cyclamen Neapolitanum

Wow! This Cyclamen is hardy to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. It offers masses of lilac flowers with rich dark ‘eyes’. The petals curve upward above variegated, heart-shaped foliage. You can plant this bulb under trees, shrubs or pots as it likes the shade. Blooms early fall to mid fall and grows well in zones 5-9.

To your gardening success,
Diana

Technorati Tags: autumn blooming bulbs, Bulbs, flower garden, flowers

Although most gardeners do enjoy the spring gardening season, just remember that it does require work in order for you to have a beautiful flower garden later in the season. To help you tackle those tasks, here are some tips to make your spring gardening a little easier.

If you planted flowers last fall such as bulbs, you should be delighted to see those come back in full bloom this spring. But, along with those beautiful flowers you will also have weeds. So, weed your flower garden first. Remove dead plant materials from your garden including old winter mulch. (photo courtesy: hickerphoto.com)

Get your flower garden soil ready once the snow melts (if you live in colder areas) and days start to warm up. Till the soil and keep it moist but not soaking wet. Add compost and peat moss to the soil and let it sit for a day or so before planting anything else in your garden.

Spring is the time to add new plants to your flower garden, so if need be, decide on what additional flowers you want. You can choose from annuals, roses and perennials and the varieties of these are endless. Visit your local nursery to get ideas on the various plants and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions.

So, enjoy this beautiful spring season as you begin your flower gardening. Remember that you do have many options when it comes to spring gardening and maybe this is the reason why to many gardeners, spring is their favorite time of the year, including yours truly.

Happy spring gardening, Diana

Technorati Tags: Bulbs, flower garden, Perennials, Spring Flower Gardening, Spring Flowers