It has been a gorgeous weekend here. Nothing like a little
sunshine to perk you up and when it is warm and sunny I want to be outside. I
know we are probably going to get another cold snap or 2, but a girl can dream
about spring time can’t she? With the
thoughts of spring on my mind it is only natural to start planning for outdoor
flower gardens. I have always been a
very pale green thumbed person, nothing like my deep Emerald green thumbed Momma.
She can grow anything! I think it has something to do with patience…. So I stick with some of the tried and true favorites.
That translates into those varieties that are hearty and seem to survive no
matter their living conditions.
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| image via google |
I love a wild flower mix ~ nothing organized in tiny
straight rows. I have Mammoth sunflowers, and Zinnias, Marigolds and Dahlias.
You can plant these from seeds in early spring. The seed packets can be found
at your local hardware store, Walmart, Lowe’s or Home Depot. Directions are on the packets, it’s best to plant
them in a paper cup or paper egg crate with a little top soil and keep them
inside until it is time to plant them outside. They will take a few weeks to
sprout and once they are large enough you can plant them outside in your flower
bed or in a container. Remember I
mentioned my lack of patience. I have
been known to sprinkle the seeds into the pretty dark rich topsoil and pray for
the best. And this has worked. Birds will however LOVE to eat your sunflower
seeds, cover them well. I love eclectic containers too ~ galvanized buckets are so cute.
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| our flower garden |
Our deck is in full sun pretty much all day so the flowers I
choose must be “full sun” types. Be sure
to check the little name tag in your flower pack if you are unsure. We have containers of all different sizes
around the edges of our deck for potted flowers. These are typically Geraniums
(super hearty and forgiving). The only common
trait of the flower mixture is different shades of red and pinks; this attracts
butterflies and hummingbirds. I like the wildflower mixture because they make
great cut flower bouquets.
Container gardening is an easy way to grow gorgeous blooms
of your own, but it does take time. If
this isn’t for you, you are still in luck.
You can also find lovely fresh flowers at your local market most every
day. No matter where they are from fresh flowers are so such an
easy but very nice touch to dress up any area of your home. And here are a few tips to keep them looking
better longer:
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| image via google |
1)
Add ¼ cup lemon lime soda to the water
2)
Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2
tablespoons of sugar with water in the
vase before you add flowers. Change the mixture every few days
3)
Add 1 crushed aspirin to the water before adding
the flowers
4) Be sure to cut flower stems on an angle and clip
1” off the bottom before putting into the vase and tulips are very thirsty. Poke a hole in the cut stem
with a straight pin, this helps them absorb water
5) Also, remove any leaves that will be submerged
in the water
Do you enjoy gardening? Please post a picture of your blooms
~ we will be sharing tips all season long.
Our families are going to attempt a vegetable garden this year. Can’t wait to share our crop tips with you
all.
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