January Gardening Calendar

 

January Gardening Calendar

Start planning for Spring. January is the perfect month to start planning your garden for the current year. As a refresher for last year’s thoughts, ideas or plants you were thinking about purchasing, dust off

Beans and Tomatoes

your gardening journal to see what changes or additions you wanted to make this year. A garden is always evolving.

Start looking at seed and garden catalogs. January is a good time to start planning this year’s design features and plants. Seeds and new introduction plants sell out quickly. Don’t miss out and wait, try to order your seeds or reserve your plants soon. Reserving your plant purchase guarantees the plant will ship at the proper time for planting in your USDA zone.

Seed starting Kits. Growers recommend starting the seeds indoors in a bright location to get a jump start to spring. There are seed starting kits which are advertised as seed starter germination kit or seed starter greenhouse kit. The kits usually feature a tray, growing media disks, and a cover for the tray. The kits are an excellent choice to start growing your seeds before spring. Some kits even include a warming matt to get a faster germination rate. 

Bare Root Roses will be arriving soon at local garden centers. Prepare planting beds by digging an area 3 feet wide by 12 inches deep for each rose. Soak bare root roses in a mixture of SuperThrive and water for 24 to 48 hours before planting. Local nurseries will also have available roses in peat pots. The pots are biodegradable and can be planted where the pot degrades. Before planting cut the pot halfway down and around the pot four times. This action helps the pot degrade faster. For more information on Rose Care Click Here.

Poinsettias water only when the soil is dry to the touch. Start fertilizing in March. Poinsettias need bright light and cool temperatures even indoors.

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs the structure of the trees and shrubs can be easily seen this time of year. Prune all branches that rub or cross each other. Trees and shrubs can be planted now. Plan to plant on a warm day when the ground is not frozen. When the weather warms for a week or longer, and then the temperatures drop into the twenties, cover Camellias and Gardenias nightly until the temperatures are above freezing. The last week in January prune Pear and Apple trees, and Grape vines.

Vegetable Garden till the soil, if the ground is dry. This preventative measure helps to eliminate weeds, insects, and nematodes. Don’t have room for a vegetable garden, but would like to grow your own vegetables? All vegetables can be grown in large planters. The recommended size for vegetables is 16 inches or larger. In fact, that is how I grow my vegetables each season. For more information on Spring VegetableGardening Click Here.

Prune Pampas Grass and all other ornamental grasses down to about 12 inches. Prune Lantana and Cannas to about 2 to 3 inches. Shape Crepe Myrtles and Altheas and remove old seed heads.

Annuals water winter annuals like pansies, violas, ornamental cabbage and kale, after a hard freeze. This helps to rehydrate the annuals faster. Water outside container plants before a hard freeze, too.

Houseplants check for insects. Insects like mealy bugs, scale, spider mites are more likely to infest your plants during the winter months. Spray with a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, and make sure you spray underneath the leaves. Turn your houseplants a quarter to half turn once a week. This prevents leaning of your houseplants. I turn mine once a week when I water my houseplants.

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Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden

 

Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden

Attracting Hummingbirds to your garden can be very easy. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps and you will have these wonderful creatures visiting your garden on a daily basis. You do not need to redesign your entire landscape or hire a professional landscaper to design a Hummingbird Garden for you, because by providing a few key elemental ingredients and plants you can attract beautiful hummingbirds to your garden. There are certain plants that are Hummingbird magnets that you can use to attract Hummingbirds in your area.

To attract and keep Hummingbirds returning to your garden we need to discuss the key elements and simple steps to follow:

q  Create a habitat to encourage Hummingbirds to nest and feed.

q  Provide at least 3 Hummingbird feeders.

q  Provide Nectar rich, tubular flowers.

Creating a Habitat for Hummingbirds to Nest and Feed would involve providing trees or places for the Hummingbirds to nest. This can be provided for the majority of Hummingbird species by having horizontal tree limbs, and shelter from surrounding tree limbs. The material used by most Hummingbirds to build their nest is organic in nature and is available to your Hummingbirds in most back yard habitats. A few of the organic items used by Hummingbirds are downy plant material, bits of leaves, bark, fallen leaves, and moss.  A Hummingbirds diet consists of 90% of their food coming from nectar, and the other 10% of their diet consists of insects. When attracting Hummingbirds to your garden you’ll need to be aware of the use of insecticides on the plants that the Hummingbirds feed upon. There are two ways to approach the use of insecticides in the garden. One way would be let the Hummingbirds take care of your insect problem, or you can use organically friendly insecticides that are safe for Hummingbirds. By providing a consistent supply of nectar rich flowers and an additional supply of nectar coming from the Hummingbird feeders you will have very happy Hummingbirds in your garden.

Providing at Least 3 Hummingbird Feeders will entice more Hummingbirds returning repeatedly to your garden. By providing an additional and constant food source you will encourage Hummingbirds to stay in your garden for food, and to nest. Place your feeders where you can see all the activity going on. You can place the Hummingbird feeders in any tree limb near your patio, or hang from eaves outside a kitchen window, or an exterior window(s) that you frequently visit. By placing your Hummingbird feeder near the places, you frequently visit outdoors your Hummingbirds will eventually become accustomed to your presence and no longer be afraid when you are present. There are two key ingredients to remember when using Hummingbird feeders in addition to nectar rich plants.

1)    Always keep a good supply of nectar in the Hummingbird feeders.

2)    Always clean your Hummingbird feeder once a week to keep your Hummingbirds healthy.

Hibiscus and More has a beautiful selection of Hummingbird Feeders. Click Here to Order Your Hummingbird Feeders.

Providing Nectar Rich, Tubular Flowers will give your Hummingbird Garden an additional food source that will keep your Hummingbirds coming back each year. Attracting Hummingbirds to your garden is an art.  Nutrition for the Hummingbirds, and how to attract Hummingbirds year-round, all must be taken into consideration.  An abundance of nectar rich flowers, at least 3 Hummingbird Feeders as an additional food source, creates a habitat for nesting and feeding all need to be provided.  The more nectar plants that are provided and Hummingbird feeders provided will attract more Hummingbirds to your garden for years to come.

To bring numerous Hummingbirds to your garden you need to plan for masses and clumps of nectar rich perennials and annuals. Both perennials and annuals should be planted, but perennials are more useful since they bloom year-round, thus attracting Hummingbirds throughout the year.  The blooming periods of the annuals should be staggered also, in order to attract Hummingbirds year-round. Both flower shape and flower color are important in regard to attracting Hummingbirds to feed are the best.  Hummingbirds prefer single flowers with a tubular shape and upright blooms for feeding, and they also prefer flowers with bright colors and a distinct scent, with shades of red, from pink to orange being their favored colors. After planting the plants and hanging your Hummingbird feeders it will take some time for the Hummingbirds to find you, and as the year’s progress you will see more Hummingbirds visiting your garden. Each year the Hummingbirds will come back to the same area as the year before. My father’s house in Georgia has a Miss Huff Lantana bush and that same year the bush was planted the Hummingbirds were frequent visitors and continue to this day to visit the Lantana bush each year. Some of the plants that I will mention will also attract butterflies to your garden as well.

Autumn Sage: Salvia greggii 'Maraschino'. Type: Perennial. Height: 3’ – 4’. Spacing: 18” – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. 

Autumn Sage

Bee Balm: Monarda spp. Type: Perennial. Height: 3 – 4”. Spacing: 24 – 30” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. 

Bee Balm

Blue Porterweed: Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Type: Perennial. Height: 2 – 3’. Spacing: 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. 

Porterweed

Butterfly Bush: Buddleia davidii 'Pink Delight'. Type: Perennial. Height: 4 – 6’. Spacing: 4 – 6’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.  

Butterfly Bush

Columbine: Aquilegia 'Cardinal'. Type: Perennial. Height: 24 – 28”. Spacing: 18 – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.

Cardinal Columbine

Firebush: Hamelia patens. Type: Shrub. Height: To 15’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.

Firebush

Firecracker Plant: Russelia equisetiformis. Type: Perennial. Height: 36” – 48”. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. 

Firecracker Plant

Garden Canna: Canna X generalis. Type: Perennial. Height: Depends on variety but can range from 3 – 5’. Spacing: 1 – 2’ apart for rhizomes, and 3 – 5’ apart for container plants. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.

Canna

Homestead Purple Verbena: Verbena canadensis 'Homestead Purple'. Type: Perennial ground cover. Height: 6 – 10”. Spacing: 12 – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.

Homestead Purple Verbena

Korean Hyssop: Agastache rugosa. Type: Perennial. Height: 3 – 4’. Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.

Lantana: Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'. Type: Perennial. Height: 4 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat, and drought tolerant. 

Lantana Miss Huff

Lemon Bottlebrush: Callistemon citrinus. Type: Shrub. Height: To 12’. Spacing: 4 – 6’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: N/A. 

Lemon Bottlebrush

Mexican Sage: Salvia leucantha. Type: Perennial. Height: 2 – 4’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant.

Mexican Sage

Pentas: Pentas lanceolata. Type: Perennial. Height: To 3’, depends on variety. Spacing: 24 – 36” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.

Pentas

Petunia: Petunia X hybrida 'Purple Wave'. Type: Annual. Height: 4 – 6”. Spacing: For a thick coverage, 12 – 15” apart, 3’ apart for regular coverage, plants will spread 3 – 5’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant. 

Purple Wave Petunia

Pineapple Sage: Salvia elegans. Type: Perennial in USDA zones 9 – 11, treat as an annual outside zone 9. Height: 3 – 5’. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant. Crushed fresh leaves in fruit salads and drinks; the fresh flowers can be used in salads and desserts.

Pineapple Sage

Texas Gold Columbine: Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana. Type: Perennial. Height: 18 – 36”. Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant.

Texas Hummingbird Mint: Agastache cana. Type: Perennial. Height: 24 – 36”. Spacing: 12 – 18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and drought tolerant.

Trailing Lantana: Lantana montevidensis. Type: Perennial, annual outside USDA zone 8. Height: 18 – 24”. Spacing: 3 – 4’ apart, can spread to 5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, heat and drought tolerant.

Trailing Lantana

Tropical Hibiscus: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 9. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and heat tolerant. 

Tropical Hibiscus

Turk's Cap: Malvaviscus arboreus. Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 9. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, and heat tolerant. 

Turk's Cap

Wax Begonia: Begonia X semperflorens-cultorum. Type: Annual. Height: 6 – 12”. Spacing: 8 – 12” apart. Light Requirements: Partial shade to shade, the bronze-leaf varieties will tolerate more sun. Additional Uses: None. 

Wax Begonia

Yellow Elder: Tecoma stans (Stenolobium stans). Type: Shrub, annual outside USDA zone 7. Height: To 12 – 15’, pruning can control height. Spacing: 3 – 5’ apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Butterfly attractant, drought, and heat tolerant. 

Yellow Elder

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All photographs maybe purchased as fine art prints at HibiscusandMore.com  

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Fresh Cut Flowers at Home

Did you know there are health benefits to having fresh cut flowers in your home or office? Let’s explore the wonderful benefits of having fresh cut flowers in your garden, home, or office. The benefits are easily obtainable and can be created in your garden. There are a wide range of annuals, perennials, bulbs, tropicals, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees that can be used as fresh cut flowers and floral greens. A fresh cut flower garden does not necessarily mean only flowering plants; there are non-flowering trees, shrubs, and groundcovers make an excellent addition for fresh greens in your flower arrangement. There are several flowering shrubs and trees that can be used as fresh cut flowers indoors. Depending on your USDA planting zone you may be lucky enough to enjoy a year-round cutting garden. 

Strelitzia nicolai - White Bird of Paradise

Some of the plants that are suggested in the newsletter you may already have planted in your garden, and a cutting garden does not necessarily have to be in a specific area of your garden. Your cutting garden can be placed throughout your planting beds. A cutting garden can be desirable plants that meet the criteria of being a fresh cut flower, this is based on vaselife of the flower or floral green used. Vaselife is defined as to how long a flower or greenery retains its appearance in a vase.  Besides having a beautiful garden to look and enjoy, there are health benefits to having fresh cut flowers in the home or office. Numerous studies have shown an increase in positive emotional mood changes when fresh cut flowers and plants were present, and a range of age groups were involved in the studies from groups of people just entering the workforce to the elderly. All studies showed a positive emotional mood change to having fresh cut flowers and plants in their home or office. In one study conducted by Harvard Medical School, revealed “that people feel less depressed, have less anxiety and worry, and people feel more compassionate toward others when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.” In an eight-month study conducted by Texas A & M University research, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital “worker’s idea generation, creative performance and problem-solving skills improved substantially in workplace environments that included flowers and plants”. Another study conducted by Harvard Medical School to the benefits of having flowers in the home showed “Flowers feed compassion, Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues away at home, and having flowers at home can carry-over to our mood at work”. In one study by Rutgers University the study demonstrated “when flowers are present, ease and decrease depression, inspire social networking and encourage companionship, and refresh recent memory as we age”. For more information about these studies, visit: www.aboutflowers.com. 

Rudbeckia sp.

You can have a fresh cut flower garden in a specific area, have a fresh cut container garden, or you may have a few of the flowers already growing in your garden. For people living in apartments, condos, or town homes you can have your fresh cut flower garden in containers that will entice everyone to your patio this summer and fall. Here is a list of flowers and greens that can be used for floral arrangements. A few are my favorites that are easy to grow in your garden and would make excellent fresh cut flower bouquets. Some of the plants listed can also be used as floral greenery.

Agapanthus africanus 'Queen Anne': Queen Anne Lily of the Nile; African Lily. Type: Ground cover, border, edger. Height: 2 – 2.5 feet. Spacing: 20” – 24” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring, summer, and fall. Vaselife: 6 – 12 days. Foliage and flowers can be used in arrangements. 

Agapanthus africanus 'Queen Anne'

Alpinia mutica: Small Shell Ginger. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 5 – 6 feet. Spacing: 4 – 6 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Summer, fall, winter. Vaselife: 6 – 14 days. Foliage and flowers can be used in arrangements.

Small Shell Ginger

Alpinia purpurata: Red Ginger. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 5 – 6 feet. Spacing: 4 – 6 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Summer, fall, winter. Vaselife: 6 – 14 days. Foliage and flowers can be used in arrangements. 

Red Ginger

Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata': Variegated Shell Ginger. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 5 – 6 feet. Spacing: 4 – 6 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Summer, fall, winter. Vaselife: 6 – 14 days. Foliage and flowers can be used in arrangements. 

 Variegated Shell Ginger

Anthurium 'Lady Jane': Lady Jane Anthurium. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 1.5 feet. Spacing: 18 – 24 inches apart. Light Requirements: Semi-shade to shade. Flowering Season: All year. Vaselife: 14 – 28 days. Immerse flower head in water for 10 minutes. 

Lady Jane Anthurium

Antirrhinum majus: Snapdragon. Type: Annual. Height: 6 – 36 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Fall to summer. Vaselife: 10 – 16 days. 

Snapdragon

Asparagus densiflorus 'Myers': Foxtail Fern; Myers Asparagus Fern. Type: Ground cover. Height: 2 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to shade. Flowering Season: Spring and summer. Vaselife: 6 – 14 days. 

Foxtail Fern

Leucanthemum X superbum: Shasta Daisy. Type: Perennial. Height: 8 – 30 inches, depending on variety. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring. Vaselife: 1 – 2 weeks. 

Shasta Daisy

Cyrtomium falcatum: Holly Fern. Type: Ground cover. Height: 2' - 3'. Spacing: 1' apart. Light Requirements: Shade to semi-shade; no afternoon sun. Flowering Season: N/A. Foliage can be used in arrangements. Vaselife: 7 – 10 days. 

Holly Fern

Dahlia hortensis 'Figaro Mix': Dahlia. Type: Annual. Height: 18 – 30 inches. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring, summer, and fall. Vaselife: 7 – 10 days. 

Dahlia

Davallia solida: False Leatherleaf Fern. Type: Ground cover. Height: 2.5 – 3 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Semi-shade to shade, no afternoon sun. Flowering Season N/A. Foliage can be used in arrangements. Vaselife: 7 – 15 days. 

False Leatherleaf Fern

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly': Chinese Delphinium. Type: Annual and perennial varieties. Height: 2 – 5 feet. Spacing: 12 – 24 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring and summer. Vaselife: 12 – 14 days. 

Chinese Delphinium

Dendrobium spp. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 6 inches – 6 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 12 – 18 inches apart. Light Requirements: Semi-shade to shade, in tropical climates the orchids can be grown on tree trunks. Flowering Season: All year. Vaselife: 7 days. 

Dendrobium spp.

Gerbera jamesonii: Gerbera Daisy. Type: Perennial. Height: 1.5 – 2 feet. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring, summer, and fall. The crown needs to be above the soil. Vaselife: 4 – 14 days. 

Gerbera Daisy

Helianthus annuus: Sunflower. Type: Annual. Height: 2 – 12 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Flowering Season: Summer – fall. Vaselife: 6 – 12 days. 

Sunflower

Heliconia 'Butterfield': Heliconia. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 4 – 5 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: All year for tropical climates, spring, summer, and fall for all other areas. Vaselife: 7 – 14 days. 

Heliconia 'Butterfield'

Heliconia rostrata: Lobster Claw. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 6 – 7 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: All year for tropical climates, spring, summer, and fall for all other areas. Vaselife: 7 – 14 days. 

Lobster Claw Heliconia

Hydrangea macrophylla: Common Hydrangea. Type: Deciduous flowering shrub. Height: 4 – 6 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Semi-shade. Flowering Season: Spring. Vaselife: 7 days. 

Hydrangea

Iris spp.: Iris Hybrids. Type: Rhizome or bulb, which is planted in the fall. Height: 8 inches to 3 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 15 – 20 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Spring. Vaselife: 2 – 5 days. 

Siberian Iris

Liatris spicata: Blazing Star. Type: Perennial. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 12 – 18 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Flowering Season: Summer and fall. Vaselife: 5 – 7 days.

Lilium spp.: Lilies. Type: Perennial bulb, which is planted in the fall, the plant can be purchased in the spring. Height: 2 – 4 feet. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Spring. Vaselife: 1 to 2 weeks. Lily pollen may stain anything it touches, so anthers need to be removed.

Liriope muscari 'Evergreen Giant': Evergreen Giant Lily Turf. Type: Ground cover. Spacing: 18 – 24 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to shade. Flowering Season: Spring and summer, the foliage is used as greenery. Vaselife: 7 days. 

Evergreen Giant Lily Turf

Narcissus spp.: Daffodils. Type: Bulb, which is planted in the fall. Height: 6 – 18 inches depending on the variety. Spacing: 6 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Late winter (February) to early spring. Vaselife: 4 – 8 days. Daffodils exude a slimy material that is toxic to other flowers. DO NOT hydrate, store, or arrange daffodils with other flowers. 

Daffodils

Phalaenopsis sp.: Moth Orchid. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 6 inches – 6 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 12 – 18 inches apart. Light Requirements: Semi-shade to shade, in tropical climates the orchids can be grown on tree trunks. Flowering Season: All year. Vaselife: 7 days. 

Phalaenopsis

Rosa 'Black Magic': Hybrid Red Rose. Type: Deciduous flowering shrub. Height: 3 – 20 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 4 – 6 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade, or at least 5 to 6 hours of full sun. Flowering Season: Most varieties will bloom spring, summer, and fall. Vaselife: 6 – 16 days. The hybrid tea rose called Memorial Day is a very good rose that is easy to care for. 

Schefflera arboricola: Dwarf Schefflera. Type: Shrub. Height: 8 – 10 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to shade. Flowering Season: N/A the plant is used as greenery. Vaselife: 7 days. 

Variegated Dwarf Schefflera

Dwarf Schefflera

Limonium sp.: Statice. Type: Annual. Height: 2 feet. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Late winter to summer, seeds are usually planted from September to December for late winter to summer blooms. Vaselife: 1 to 2 weeks. The flowers can be harvested and dried upside down.

Matthiola incana: Stock. Type: Annual. Height: 18 – 24 inches. Spacing: 8 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Fall, winter, and spring. Vaselife: 5 – 8 days. This plant is very fragrant and I have always loved the fragrance.

Strelitzia reginae: Bird of Paradise. Type: Tropical Herbaceous perennial. Height: 3 – 4 feet. Spacing: 3 – 5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi-shade. Flowering Season: Summer, fall, winter. Vaselife: 6 – 14 days. Foliage and flowers can be used in arrangements. 

Bird of Paradise

Tulipa spp.: Tulips. Type: Annual bulb in southern climates, perennial bulb in northern climates. Height: 8 – 24 inches. Spacing: Is determined by the Tulip variety chosen, and which climate zone you reside. Light Requirements: Full sun to semi – shade. Flowering Season: Spring, it is suggested to stagger your planting of Tulip bulbs every 7 to 14 days to give you continuous color during the spring. Vaselife: 3 – 6 days. For the southern climate areas, you need to chill your Tulip bulbs in the refrigerator for 12 weeks in the crisper section before planting, even if the grower has already chilled the bulbs in advance. Illustration: Right: Variegated Schefflera.

Woody Branches that are blooming: Pussy Willow, Bittersweet, Flowering Cherry, Flowering Crab, Forsythia, Redbud, and Spirea. Harvest the branches when the plant starts to show color or the bloom is starting open. Pussy Willow can be harvested after the blooms are fully open.

Woody Branches that are non-blooming: Curly Willow, Red Osier Dogwood, and Yellow Twig Dogwood. The branches can be harvested at any time.

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All photographs and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2009. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. Place your cursor over the picture for the plant name.