Archive for Flowers
Color in the Perennial Garden
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When planting your perennial flower garden, it is helpful to take into consideration the different colors of the plants. The color of the flowers will create a specific mood and ambiance in your garden. Here are some of the colors you may be considering for your garden and the perennial flowers and plants that will fit into that color category.
Yellow
The color yellow is perceived by the eye before the other colors. The members of this family attract and dominate the garden. You will want to plan groupings of yellow or gold as deliberate focal points. This will help to emphasize the features of your garden. You can also use yellow discreetly in order to make a surprise impact among a quieter planting. The color yellow is both warm and cheerful. It is reminiscent of the sun as it comes from behind a cloud. The following perennials have a yellow flower:
*Alyssum *Butterfly Weed *Columbine
*Coreopsis *Corydalis *Cushion Spurge
*Daylily *Evening Primrose *False Sunflower
*Gallardia *Geum *Golden Marguerite
*Iris *Lamiastrum *Leopard Bane
*Ligularia *Lupine *Marsh Marigold
*Mum *Poppy *Potentilla
*Rudbeckia *Sedum *Solidago
*Sunrose *Trollius *Yarrow
Blues
The color blue is stimulating, but it can be restful at times. In the distance, blue flowers will draw the eye after them and push the boundaries of the garden outward. At twilight, blue can seem to glow. The color blue will give your garden a cool feeling. The following perennials have a blue flower:
*Ajuga *Aster *Aubretia
*Balloon Flower *Blue Eyed Grass *Blue Flax
*Brunnera *Campanula *Catmint
*Columbine *Delphinium * Forget-Me-Not
*Geranium *Globe Thistle *Iris
*Jacobs Ladder *Lavender *Lungwort
*Lupine *Monkshood *Mt. Bluets
*Russian Sage *Salvia *Spiderwort
*Veronica *Vinca *Viola
Pinks
The color pink is soft, gentle and luxurious. It evokes an atmosphere that is peaceful. Sunlight can bleach the delicate tints to a washed-out paleness unless deeper tones of pink are used to add strength. However, in the evening light, the pale pastel pinks will appear luminous. The pink flowers will form a gentle and restful background to or between a more definite area of color such as the strong complementary blues and yellows or violets and oranges which paint distinct pictures. The pinks also help where related colors such as vivid and warm reds, oranges and yellow focus the eye and demand attention. The following perennials have a pink flower:
*Arabis *Aster *Astilbe
*Aubretia *Baby’s Breath *Beebalm
*Bergenia *Bleeding Heart *Butterfly Weed
*Canterbury Bells *Centaurea *Columbine
*Coral Bells *Coreopsis *Cupid’s Dart
*Daylily *Delphinium *Dianthus
*English Daisy *Filipendula *Forget-Me-Not
*Foxglove *Geranium *Hollyhock
*Iris *Japanese Anemone *Jo-Pye Weed
*Jupiters Beard *Lamb’s Ear *Lamium
*Liatris *Linaria *Lungwort
*Lupine *Lythrum *Miss Willmott Potentilla
*Mum *Obedient Plant *Oenothera
*Painted Daisy *Pasque Flower *Penstemon
*Peony *Phlox *Pink Panda Strawberry
*Poppy *Primula *Prunella
*Purple Coneflower *Salvia *Seapinks
*Sedum *Soapwort *Spider Wort
*Sunrose *Thalictrum *Thyme
*Toad Flax *Turtlehead *Veronica
*Yarrow
White
The color white helps to create a cool and restful mood in the garden. White gives a feeling of space. The neighboring colors will seem to glow more and be deeper. White flowers can separate the hues that contrast without altering their appearance of color. White can also make the color associations more pleasing and acceptable to the eye. Bright white will lighten up a shady area.
White flowers are an excellent choice for an evening garden during the summer. As the darkness begins to creep in, the white and pale pastels will remain distinguishable until all of the light is done. A border that is mixed with clumps of white will be given direction and coherence when the white clumps are repeated at regular intervals. The following perennials have a white flower or white variegated edge:
*Arabis *Astilbe *Aubretia
*Baby’s Breath *Bishops Weed *Bleeding Heart
*Boltonia *Bugbane *Campanula
*Candytuft *Columbine *Delphinium
*Dianthus *English Daisy *Forget-Me-Not
*Gooseneck *Hosta *Lamium
*Liatris *Lily *Lily of the Valley
*Lungwort *Lupine *Obedient Plant
*Phlox *Poppy *Sandwort
*Sedum *Shasta Daisy *Snowdrop Anemone
*Snow-in Summer *Sweet Woodruff *Thrift
*Veronica *Vinca *White Coneflower
*Yarrow
As you can see there are many different choices available for a perennial garden that will keep coming back year after year. While I have listed many varieties, this list is not inclusive. What are some of your favorite perennials and how will you use them in your garden this year?
Caring For Your Roses
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If you were to ask most people what their favorite flower is, more than likely their answer would be the rose. There are several things that you will need to consider when you decide to establish your own rose garden. One thing that you will need to think about when you are planting your rose garden is the amount of sunlight your roses will receive. Roses need to have a minimum of six hours of sunlight each day. They will also need to be planted in an area that offers good air circulation. This will help to prevent disease.
You will want to be sure to thoroughly water your roses when you arrive home after purchasing them. If you will not be able to plant your roses right away, then you will need to place them in a shaded area to keep them cool. You will need to continue watering them until you are able to plant them.
The following tips will help your efforts be successful as you establish your garden of roses:
Amending the Soil: Roses prefer a soil that is slightly acidic and well-drained. Prior to planting your roses, you will need to amend the garden bed with one part organic material. This can be a mixture of Soil Pep, Coco-Peat, Peat Moss or manure that is well-rotted to two parts soil.
Planting-You will need to dig a hole that is a minimum of 6 inches wider than the root ball. The hole should also be deep enough that it will cover the graft of the rose. In colder climates, USDA Zone 5 or colder, you will want to make sure that the graft is 2 inches below the level of the ground. This will help to protect the rose from dying back to the rootstock. Most hybrid roses are actually grafted onto a hardier rootstock. If the rose dies back to the roots, then a different rose will begin to grow than what you planted. You will want to apply a root stimulator to the root ball before you cover it with your soil mixture. This will help the plant to become established more quickly.
Mulching-The application of a mulch product such as a Soil Pep does several things. It will aid in the retention of water, help to prevent weeds, and keep the roots of the plants cool during weather that is hot. It will also help to give the roses an attractive and finished appearance.
Watering- A drip system is the best way to water roses because it allows the water to soak into the ground and keeps the water off of the foliage of the rose. This will help to discourage disease. It is okay to use an overhead sprinkler, but be sure to use it in the early morning. This will allow the foliage of the plant to dry and will help to prevent disease. Be very careful that you do not over-water your roses. The roots need air as well as water. Do not keep the soil soaked continually. If the soil is moist around 1 inch below the surface, you do not need to water.
Fertilizing-Roses prefer a fertilizer that is balanced. You will want to choose one that has a fertilizer analysis of 15-15-15 or 5-10-5. You will want to fertilize the rose plants when they are in full leaf. Fertilize them again after the first bloom and finally about six weeks prior to the first anticipated frost. Do not fertilize them later as they canes of the roses need a sufficient amount of time to harden off properly before winter arrives.
Pruning-Roses are pruned in order to not only give them direction, but to promote their health and vigor. Pruning gives the plants shape, removes wood that is unproductive, removes wood that had been damaged by winter and provides a good circulation of air. The best time to prune your roses is in the early spring before the new growth begins. This should be done sometime after the last killing frost.
You will want to prune out any wood that is weak or has been damaged by the winter. Cut the wood about 1 to 2 inches below the damage. Remove any branches that are crossing. Be sure to leave any of the new and healthy canes. Also remove any of the suckers that are growing below the graft. When you are pruning, you will want to cut ¼ inch above the dormant bud eyes that are facing to the outside of the bush. The new growth on the plant will come from these eyes.
Pest and Disease Control-For an easy control of insects, you will want to apply a systemic rose fertilizer about every six weeks. You will also want to spray your roses with a systemic fungicide to help prevent disease.
Winter Care-Your roses will need to be prepared for winter. You will want to prune them back to around 18 inches. Be sure to mulch around the rose plant. This should be around 6 to 12 inches deep and you will want to use Soil Pep, leaves or soil. In colder climates, it is also helpful to place rose cones or rose collars around your roses. If you choose to use rose cones, you will want to make sure that the cones are well ventilated.
Realizing that there are many acclaimed rose growing tips, what are some of yours?