Colourful Summer Garden Flowers

You may wish to make a few enquiries before planning your Summer garden. Some plants like a lot of sun while some will get killed by it. Depending on where you live, then the amount of sun that gets to your Summer garden may vary widely. You can also create micro-climate zones in your garden. Under a large tree would be great for plants that enjoy shade, while an elevated rock bed would make a great home for succulents or cacti. Most plants have flowers but it's usually the bright and colourful ones we choose for our Summer gardens.

As you purchase and plant your garden, place similar needs plants closer together. That way you can control those micro-climate zones much better. Water is also a factor in this. You may need to supplement certain areas of your garden with additional hand watering. If you can locate these types closer to your house, then you won't have to go our and buy hundreds of extra yards of garden hose! A lot of garden books will offer info on which flowers may be planted together. You will also want to plant flowers that you like so you can pick a lot of bouquets throughout the Summer.

A few suggestions for beautiful flowers are listed below:
● Geraniums. These hardy plants come in a huge variety and will bloom year after year. They can be used in borders or as spots of bright colour. They may also be planted in pots that you can move around.
● Hibiscus. These are hardy tropical shrubs that will come back year after year and they can grow quite tall. They come in many different types and species and colours.
● Marigolds. These is another species of extremely hardy plants. They come in many colours and varieties, bloom year after year, and also, they keep away most bugs as well as deer! The peppery smell and taste is probably their best defence.
● Impatiens. These beautiful flowers love the shade, along with filtered sun. They come in many colours and types and stay fairly small. These would be could for under a large tree garden, but as long as they can get enough light.
● Viola. These are the flowers that look a bit like African Violets. They can be grown in borders or clumps, but are not a full sun plant.
● Mimulus. This is a colourful plant that can tolerate partial sun.
● Lobelia and Ageratum. These beautiful plants have gorgeous blue hues that may add just the right mix to your Summer garden.

This is only a small sampling of the huge variety of plants and shrubs and flowers and even vegetables (ornamental cabbage is one) that you may choose for your Summer garden. Plan your garden before plunging in and buying a lot of plants. There are even computer programs that may help you.

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Flower Care Tips - Florists Guide for Flower Care

Everybody loves receiving flowers, but people often hesitate to purchase a beautiful bouquet for themselves. Generally the misconception that flowers will last only a few days tends to drive most prospective buyers away. Flowers add such an incredible atmosphere to any room. Here are a few tips used by florists that help ensure bouquets stay looking fresher for longer.

When purchasing flowers

Quality is the most important factor to consider when buying flowers. Therefore it would be advised to purchase your flowers from a reputable florist. Not only do they have the knowledge and experience to handle flowers properly, but they will also be able to prepare the bouquet for you to make the conditioning process a little bit easier. This includes little things such as ridding roses of thorns or including a special flower food sachet that has been scientifically proven to help extend the flowers' lifespan.

Although you might have to pay more for better quality, it will show at the end of the day when the flowers last longer, proving to be well worth it. But purchasing quality flowers is not enough, conditioning is vital if you want to make sure that your flowers last longer.

Flower growers have created harvest programs that need to be followed by both florists and the customer in order not to break the life chain of the flowers. Without following these basic flower care steps, you will ultimately shorten the life of your flowers.

Conditioning

Conditioning flowers correctly extends your flowers' vase life. There are a few do's and don'ts that you need to follow to make sure you get the best value for what you paid for. If you are unable to put the flowers into a vase quickly, and the flowers start to show severe signs of water stress, simply submerge the whole flower, including stem and head, into lukewarm water for about 15 minutes. After that you can start conditioning the flowers for the vase.

You can start the conditioning process by making sure that any buckets and the vase you put the flowers into are disinfected. Bacteria loves dirty containers and will shorten your flower's life span. While busy conditioning your flowers, place them in fresh clean warm water that contains flower food. Using warm rather than cold water is better for your flowers because it contains less air, limiting the chances of any air blockages in the stems.

While preparing the flowers for the vase, make sure that you use a good sharp knife rather than a pair of scissors to cut the stems. A knife will give a good clean diagonal cut which will prevent any damage to the water conducting cells in the stem. Although this might seem difficult to do, this technique is easy to master and is much easier and more efficient than a pair of scissors.

It is best to cut approximately 2cm off the stems at an angle under water. This will accelerate rapid water uptake. The excess foliage that will be below the water level in the vase should be removed. Also clean the stems of the flowers to get rid of possible existing bacteria to help prevent rotting and further development of bacteria once the flowers are in the vase.

Make sure you use a non-metal container or vase to arrange your flowers in. Add lukewarm water and add flower food before you start arranging the flowers in the vase. Once you've arranged your flowers beautifully, make sure to place the flowers out of direct sunlight or heat and away from any droughts. Although flowers love light and even temperatures, they do not react well to droughts.

Top the vase up daily with fresh water. Should the flowers start to droop, simply re-cut the stems using a sharp knife. If you have purchased roses, and they start to droop at the head, simply re-cut the stems and place them in deep water for approximately an hour. After you have followed these easy steps you will be able to appreciate your flowers for much longer, knowing that your flowers are worth every cent and more!

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