Monthly Gardening Tips

I always thought it would be nice to have a cutting garden.

At a recent garden club lecture we heard about the many seeds that can be sown in the fall.

Nigella is one.

The plants winter over and produce sturdy long stemmed flowers.

The flowers bloom earlier and are healthier.

( A topic for August to try in September.)

We have heard the term thrillers, spillers and fillers for flower arrangements.

Another tip I found for floral design is

1-Focal

2-Accent (the flowers are smaller)

3-Whimsy (pop out here and there in an arrangement )

4- Foliage

Some easy seeds to start now are Zinnias, Celosias, Gomphrena and Marigold.

Below is a partial list of seed varieties that can be ordered.

Cosmos Zinnias
'Double Click'
'Rubenza'
'Cupcake series'
'Apricot Lemonade'

Zinnias
Jazzy mix- bicolors
'Oklahoma' series- salmon, golden yellow
'Benary's'

African Marigolds

Ammi majus -looks just like Queen Anne's Lace but not prone to spread readily.
(It has a milky sap which can cause contact dermatitis)
A couple years in a row I had native Queen Anne's Lace amidst Culver's Root. Very pretty and interesting to see the QAL turn towards and follow the sun daily.

Scabiosas (pincushion flowers)

Fennel is a beautiful bloom when left to bolt.
'Smokey Bronze'

Nice grasses for bouquets

-Feather top grass
Pennisetum Villosum
Basil Alternanthera (a glossy purple)
and
-Purple Love grass
Eragrostis spectabilis

Johnny's select seeds is where I have gotten my seeds.

Dahlias! ( another topic all by itself ) are great cut flowers!
Tip - the looser the petals the shorter the vase life.

(Looking forward to my indoor sprouted bulbs planted outside in the next week or two )

Most all flowers benefit from pinching! One source I read said when a plant is 4 inches high or when it has 3 sets of true leaves to pinch. It's hard to do it but your plant will produce more blooms and grow healthier.

Queen Anne’s Lace and Culver’s Root