Green Circle Growers Blog

How to Plant Your Own Herb Spiral

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Rising from a corner of Cleveland’s Midtown Learning Farm like the coiled shell of a gargantuan snail is a swirl of rocks and green-leaved herbs. An “herb spiral” is a carefully planted microcosm designed to be a self-sustaining ecosystem. An outgrowth of permaculture, which promotes living and gardening in harmony with nature, herb spirals are becoming popular not only for their sound ecological design, but also for the visual interest they add to gardenscapes.

How Herb Spirals Work

Designed to save water and attract pollinators, garden spirals create a variety of growing conditions in a compact area. They accomplish this by rising in height as they spiral toward the center, giving the finished structure a conical shape. Sun-loving plants should be placed at the top of the spiral, while the garden’s rocky walls can provide shade for lower-growing shade-seeking plants. Similarly, because the spiral channels water downward, plants that require well-drained soil thrive at the top of the spiral, while plants at the bottom of the spiral enjoy moister growing conditions.

Step by Step

To create an herb spiral, use stone slabs or large rocks to build a stone wall by dry-stacking stones into a loose spiral that rises toward the center. Fill the interior of the spiral with soil and pack additional soil around the outer edge. Plant herbs that require sun and good drainage – like oregano, thyme, lavender, and rosemary – near the top. In the middle, plant herbs that require moister soil conditions, such as basil, sage (Gentian), tarragon and cilantro. And then at the bottom of the spiral, plant thirsty herbs like mint, parsley and chives (Allium).

To learn more about how herbs can make attractive and edible landscape plants, click here.

Image: jeamac

A Garden Good Enough to Eat!

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

A few pots of herbs on the back stoop or an herb garden under the kitchen window—cooks who love to flavor their food with fresh herbs have always managed to find a spot to grow the aromatic plants, which add a spicy kick to meals. Herbs, like vegetables, have traditionally been relegated to their own domain in the garden landscape; but in one of today’s hottest gardening trends, they are going rogue and breaking out of their narrowly defined spaces to pop up between the petunias and daisies!

Combining Herbs and Flowers

Rather than isolating edible plants, gardeners have begun incorporating herbs and even some veggies into flower beds and decorative container plantings. It is not unusual to see the bright green leaves of Oregano serving as a foliage accent next to a stand of feathery Salvia, or find curly Parsley doing double duty as a filler in a patio container filled with bright red Geraniums.

The sweet scent of Basil (Ocimum) adds a delightful spicy undercurrent to fragrant floral groupings. The herb’s green leaves and soft flower spikes add texture when planted with traditional annuals and perennials. Sage (Gentian) is another herb that is prized as much for its fragrance as its handsome foliage.

Texture is one of the greatest gifts herbs bring to the floral landscape. Use tall-growing Dill (Anethum) to add a touch of wispy grace to plantings of crisp, daisy-petalled flowers like Osteospermum and Gazania. Plant spiky Chives (Allium) in front of taller plants to hide bare stems.

Hardy, drought-tolerant and easy to grow, herbs make a delightful, edible addition to any garden. If you prefer a portable herb garden, follow these steps.

Image: Sandra Cindric

Shasta Daisies Add Flash of Brilliance to Any Garden

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Daisies come in many shapes and sizes, from the elegantly-petalled Gazania, commonly known as the African Daisy or Treasure Flower, to the big-headed Gerbera Daisy and the tightly-fringed Bellis, or English Daisy. But no daisy is more highly prized than Leucanthemum, the Shasta Daisy.

Caring for Daisies

When they think of daisies, most people picture Shasta Daisies. With bright white, fringed petals ringing a flat yellow center, long-stemmed Shastas epitomize the classic daisy. Favored for summer floral bouquets and weddings, the Shasta’s frilly petals add a flash of brilliant white to garden beds. This hardy perennial, which is best planted in drifting masses, requires plenty of mid-day sunshine (6 hours) and prefer fertile, well-drained, moist (but not soggy) soil. Daily watering during hot, dry spells will ensure that these daisies thrive.

Planting Daisies

Their brilliant white color allows Shasta Daisies to be paired effectively with nearly any plant. These flowers provide stunning contrast against a hedge of evergreens and create a stunning display when planted with Purple Echinacea (Coneflower) and Indigo Spires Salvia. The Shasta Daisy’s versatility as a garden plant is due not only to its neutral white color, but also to the wide range of sizes available among the plant’s many varieties. A recent Perennial Plant of the Year, Becky soars to 30 inches while slightly shorter varieties Snowdrift and Aglaia grow to a more moderate 24 inches. Dwarf varieties, such as Snowcap and Snow Lady, are just 12 to 18 inches tall. You can help manage the height of Shasta Daisies by pinching back the growing tip to the desired height. This will cause the plant to bush out rather than grow taller.

For helpful hints on trimming daisies and other perennials, visit our Pruning Guide here.

Image: Chuck

Creating Attractive Plant Partnerships in Your Garden

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Creating attractive plant partnerships is the key to creating an attractive garden bed. In deciding which plants to group together, it is important to consider the following:

Grouped plants should share the same light and water requirements.
Plants should be of various heights and provide a variety of shapes and textures to add interest to the garden.
Choose plants that complement or contrast each other in color, while maintaining the integrity of your overall color palette (see our previous post).
Consider the plant’s role in your gardenscape; a single, large or particularly stunning plant can serve as a focal point where as many flowers make a bolder statement in massed plantings.

Before digging, place plant pots in different configurations in your garden bed until you are satisfied with the overall appearance. Remember to check plant tags for information about spacing so you allow the proper amount of growing room between plants. When planting your garden, allow for the mature size of each plant to avoid crowding the plants as they grow. Don’t be afraid to get creative. The nice thing about gardening is that you can always dig up a plant and move it!

To get your creative juices flowing, consider these attractive plant partnerships:

In a partially shaded area, pair three or four varieties of Hosta, choosing different leaf sizes and colors for variety, with fronds of Hearty Fern and the bright red feathery blooms of Astilbe.

For a sunny space, pair the purple spires of Agastache with the red and pink pom-pom blooms of Armeria and the charming purple-flowered Lisianthus.

And don’t forget to clean up your garden from time to time. For more tips, click here.

Image: Laura Gilmore

Tiers, Plant Partnerships Key to Attractive Gardenscape

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

There are many approaches you can take when planning garden beds, but taking a tiered approach and thinking in terms of pleasing plant partnerships will put you on the fast track to creating an attractive gardenscape. Of course there are a few general, but critical, rules to keep in mind when choosing plants for any garden location:

Choose plants that will thrive under the sun, soil and drainage conditions available in the garden location, such as Paeonia Peony and Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy).
Choose plants that thrive under similar watering and light conditions, such as Hosta (Plantian Lily) and Hemerocallis Daylily (Daylily).

Sketching out a basic plan before you start choosing plants will make plant selection easier.

Decide on a basic color theme. Unless you are creating an English garden, choose one main color to tie the garden together. You can increase variety by selecting flowers that repeat your theme color in different shapes, sizes and hues.
Choose two accent colors that can be repeated in different flowers here and there within the garden space to add sparkle and contrast to your overall theme.
You can, of course, feature additional colors in your garden, but limiting the number of colors will make for a more stunning visual display.
In creating a tiered garden plan, you will achieve a more natural look if you don’t think in rows of plants stretching across the garden, but rather in plant groupings – with tall plants toward the rear, mid-sized plants toward the middle or sides, and low-growing plants toward the front.

Check back next time to learn how to create attractive plant partnerships!

Image: Amy Halligan

Old-Fashioned Favorites Add Charm to Modern Gardens

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

“Old-fashioned favorites” – the flowers that graced our grandmothers’ gardens – were made popular in another era, but look just as beautiful in our own gardens today. Lovely ruffled peonies, majestic foxglove, charming columbine and stately spires of hyssop have stood the test of time, proving to be both durable and beautiful. If you want to add elegance to your garden, look for these “old-fashioned favorites” at your local garden center:

Agastache, commonly called “Giant Hyssop,” sends tall spikes of fragrant flowers shooting up from mounds of deep green, heart-shaped leaves. Most commonly available in rich purples; a bright yellow Golden Jubilee Agastache was introduced in 2002 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 50-year reign. This sun-loving perennial is heat-tolerant and a magnet for butterflies and honey bees.
Paeonia Peony, or Peony, features huge beautiful blooms of densely ruffled flowers in shades of pink, deep red or white surrounded by attractive green foliage. Easy to grow in nearly any location, this lovely perennial thrives in both full sun and partial shade.
Papaver, also known as “Iceland Poppies,” open their slightly-cupped petals to reveal a burst of color. An excellent flower for naturalizing, this sun-loving perennial tolerates heat, drought and poor soil. Try planting Papaver en masse for a breathtaking display.
Aquilegia, or Columbine as it is commonly known, have unusual bi-colored blooms and pretty, scalloped leaves that always attract attention. Loved by hummingbirds, these charming perennials thrive in both sun and partial shade.
Digitalis, the common Foxglove, produces multiple majestic spikes of bell-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds. This showy perennial easily adapts to most soil types.

To learn more about caring for your plants, visit our plant care library.

Image: Anita

Green Circle Growers Sustains Fire Damage to Growing Space, Business Will Continue Running Smoothly

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:02:00 GMT

Green Circle Growers sustained significant damage to a one acre production barn and five acres of greenhouse structure in an early evening blaze that took firefighters 10 hours to extinguish last night. Cause is yet to be determined, but the fire originated in an outdoor area is used to store materials.

Our primary concern was the safety of our employees and the firefighters. The firefighters did an excellent job in controlling the blaze despite high winds and freezing temperatures that made their job even more difficult. Thankfully, no one was hurt in either the fire or the process of putting out the fire, and the firefighters were able to minimize the damage through their efforts.

Green Circle grows indoor and outdoor plants under 105 acres of greenhouse in Oberlin, Ohio. With more than 600 employees, we serve as one of southern Lorain County's largest employers. We have strategically built our greenhouse and production facilities to minimize the impact of events like this. In addition to having alternative production areas in other parts of the facility, we have great relationships with other greenhouses throughout the country if the need arises to have plants grown for us to satisfy our customers' demands. This fire, while a significant event, only impacted 5 percent of the growing space we use, and we are already working on preparations to repair this area.

We are extremely thankful for the outpouring of support already from individuals and businesses in the surrounding community and across the country. We are also blessed to have a great team at Green Circle that is already working together to ensure any interruption of daily business is kept to a minimum. As we work through the next few days, we will keep our customer and industry partners informed of our progress in keeping their business running smoothly.

As one of the largest greenhouse operations in the Midwest, we are committed to introducing fresh new ideas to the market place while utilizing production methods that are efficient and environmentally conscious.

Colorful Plant Combinations Make Beautiful Container Plantings

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Plant selection is one of the keys to planting successful container gardens (see our previous post). Because plants in a container planting must co-exist in the same small environment, it is essential to select plants that have the same light and watering requirements. Before purchasing plants, decide where the container will be displayed so you know whether to choose plants that require full sun, partial shade or shade.

Color is an important consideration in selecting container plants. Traditional container plantings usually feature three colors: one dominant color and one attention-getting “bright” in addition to the green foliage background. Color choice is a matter of personal taste, but eye-catching arrangements can be created in numerous ways:

Color wheel. Use one primary color (red, yellow or blue) as your main color palette and add a secondary color (purple, orange or green) as a bright, or vice versa. Suggestion: Yellow Bromeliad with orange Reiger Begonia.
Emotional heat. Combine one hot color (red, yellow, orange) with one cool color (blue, purple, green), or vice versa. Suggestion: Red Petunias with purple Salvia.
Monochrome. Surprisingly stunning container arrangements can also be created by choosing varying shades of a single color. Suggestion: Burro Tail, Aeonium Echeveria (Succulents) and Sempervivum (Hens and Chicks).
Confetti. The confetti container arrangements that have become popular in recent years throw color theory to the winds and combine multiple colors in a chaotic riot of color. Suggestion: Geum, Ivy Geranium (Pelargonium), Lobelia and Lisianthus (Eustoma).

To help your plants regenerate and continue growing, check out our pruning tips.

Image: Joana Roja

How to Combine Thriller, Filler and Spillers into Attractive Containers

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:21:00 GMT

It’s fun to get creative with container gardening. As long as plants share the same light and watering requirements, you can combine any number of them to make an attractive container planting. To achieve a harmonious plant arrangement, professionals use the thriller-filler-spiller method of container design.

Basically a pyramid, the three-dimensional design is created by placing a somewhat taller, eye-catching plant—the “thriller”—in the center of the container to give the arrangement height. “Filler” plants are placed around it in a rough circle. Around the outer edge of the planter, plants that have a trailing, vining or drooping nature—the “spiller”—are planted. As the plants mature, the filler flowers will grow to fill in the center of the arrangement and the spillers will cascade over the edge of the container and down toward the ground, anchoring the container to the surrounding landscape.

Use the plant combinations suggested below as inspiration and have fun creating your own container gardens:

Combine vegetables and herbs for an edible container garden. Use a staked Tomato plant or Dill (Anethum) as a thriller, surrounding it with Sage (Gentian Sage), Chives (Allium), and Basil. Plant Oregano and Parsley around the edge.
For a patriotic planter, begin with a spike of purple Salvia Farinacea or Agastache (Giant Hyssop) in the center of the pot. Fill with white Iberis (Gibraltar Candytuft) and add a skirt of trailing red Wave Petunias.
Create a unique arrangement in a large planter by choosing Bromeliad as the thriller, a combination of Caladium and Coleus as the filler, and Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron) as the spiller.

If you choose to go the edible route, you can get more out of your tomatoes by checking out our top tips here.

Image: SBT4NOW

How to Create a Hand-Tied French Bouquet

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

To make a stunning hand-tied French bouquet, you will need:

3-6 stems each of 5 different flowers, cut a minimum of 12 inches long

3 stems of foliage or green leaves, cut a minimum of 12 inches long

Waxed florist twine

Florist’s scissors

2 14-inch squares of green florist’s cellophane, optional

4-foot length of ribbon, optional

Narrow spout watering can, optional

Instructions:

When selecting flowers from your garden, choose single flowers with longer stems or flowers that cluster at the top of the stem. Choose one larger flower (Rose, Dahlia, Gerbera Daisy, Tulip) to use as your focal flower and build your color palette around. In addition to your focal flower, you should select 1 to 2 medium-size flowers (Leucanthemum, Ranunculous, Oenothera, Calla Lily), and 2 to 3 smaller flowers or flowers that grow in clusters (Celosia, Stokesia, Coreopsis, Phlox). If you want to include foliage in your bouquet, it must have a defined stem. Twigs of shrubbery such as Hydrangea and Lilac work well in French bouquets. Cut all stems at least 12 inches long. At this point, stems do not need to be the same length; you will be trimming them again after constructing the bouquet.
French bouquets feature a compact, rounded mound of flowers on top of spiraling stems. A unique feature of these bouquets, the spiraled stems create a stable base that allows the bouquet to stand on its own when placed on a table. Do not become discouraged if it takes you more than one try to spiral the stems correctly. Simply disassemble the bouquet and start over. Make sure you hold the stems tightly together as you work.
Trim all flower stems at an angle and remove the leaves. On foliage stems, retain leaves on the top 4 to 6 inches of the stem and remove the rest. Place all stems in a vase of water for one hour to hydrate.
Remove the flowers from the vase and sort into piles by flower type.
Loosen the end of the florist’s twine but do not cut. You will be using a continuous length of twine to secure the stems as you build the bouquet, wrapping a circle of twine around each new group of flowers as you add them. The waxed twine will help keep flower stems from slipping as you add to the bouquet.
Holding the largest focal flower in your left hand (right hand if you’re a leftie), encircle it with 3 foliage stems. The tips of the foliage should protrude slightly higher than the flower. Hold the stems securely about 6 inches below the base of the flower head.
Pick up the end of the waxed twine; and using your thumb to hold the end in place, circle the group of flowers three times, pulling the twine tight but taking care not to cut into the stems. Do not cut the twine.
Using your thumb to keep the twine from slipping, begin adding stems to the bouquet. Add 3 to 4 flower stems at a time, slanting the stem ends toward your body at a 45-degree angle. Check the top of the bouquet with each addition for color and flower balance. Avoid placing two of the same flower next to each other. Reposition stems as necessary. Secure each new addition with two circles of twine.
Give the bouquet a quarter turn clockwise after each addition and continue adding flowers as in step 8 above. After you have completed one circuit of the bouquet (every fourth turn), you should be able to see the stems beginning to spiral. Position the next circle of flowers slightly lower to create the domed shape of the finished bouquet.
Repeat steps 8 and 9 until the bouquet is full and you are pleased with its appearance.
Wrap a length of waxed florist twine 4 to 6 times around the bouquet immediately above the hand holding the flowers. Tie the ends firmly in a knot to secure the stems.
Trim all stem ends straight across. The spiraled stems should hold your bouquet upright when you place it on a table.
Stand the bouquet in a bowl of cool water until you are ready to present or display it. Display the bouquet in a shallow vase or bowl.
If you are presenting the bouquet as a gift, cut two 14-inch squares of florist cellophane. Place the squares on top of each other, rotating the top square a quarter turn.
Place the stem end of the bouquet in the center of the cellophane. Bringing together each set of diagonal edges, gather the cellophane around the stems of the bouquet. Secure with waxed florist’s twine, wrapping the twine twice around the stems and knotting. Wrap the ribbon around the bouquet twice to hide the twine, knot and tie in a shoestring bow with trailing ends. Trim the ends of the ribbon at a 45-degree angle.
Carefully insert the spout of the watering can between the stems and dribble 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water into the gathered cellophane, forming an instant vase that will keep the bouquet fresh until the recipient can place it in water.

For even more indoor project ideas, visit our project library.

Image: Flower Factor

Create a Picture-Perfect Flower Arrangement

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

To create a picture-perfect flower arrangement, you will need:

1 tall, flared vase, about 10 inches tall (the top should be slightly wider than the base)

3-5 stems of foundation foliage, such as Kimberly Queen Fern, Sago Palm, Hydrangea branch, Plectranthus (Mona Lavender) or Mexican Heather

5 long-stemmed, large-headed, showy face flowers, such as Paeonia Peony, Dahlia, Amaryllis, Asiatic Lily or Ranunculous

6-10 stems of small wispy filler flowers or greens, such as Fuchsia, Juncus, Lavandula (Lavender), Liriope (Lilyturf) or Perovskia (Russian Sage)

Gardening shears or sharp scissors

Instructions:

Choosing an opaque vase will hide the jumble of stems inside the vase and focus complete attention on the floral arrangement. Before starting, fill the vase 2/3 full with room temperature water so stems can “drink” as soon as they are trimmed and placed.
Throughout these instructions, trim all stems at an angle to encourage water absorption. You may trim more, but you should trim off at least the bottom 1/2 inch of each stem before placing it in the arrangement. You will also want to trim off leaves that fall below the water line.
Build the foundation for your arrangement by placing three of the foliage stems in the vase in a loose triangle. The center stem should be about 2 to 2-1/2 times taller than the vase, creating a high point for your arrangement. Allow the side stems to cross inside the vase and fall against its lip so that they angle out to the sides. Depending on the shape and fullness of the foliage chosen, you may want to add an additional foliage stem to one or both sides of the arrangement. These stems can either be placed to fill in the area between the peak and the side points or positioned to sweep down toward the vase. For a formal arrangement, place your background foliage in a symmetrical triangle with the tallest stem in the center of the vase. Side stems should be the same length. For an informal arrangement, position stems asymmetrically, placing the tall middle stem off-center and making one of the side stems longer than the other. For asymmetrical arrangements, look for foundation stems with some curve to give your arrangement a sense of movement.
Place the face flowers. Strip the leaves from the flower stems. Trimming as necessary, place the first flower at the top edge of the vase so that it overhangs the lip slightly. Place the second flower above the first, leaving a gap of about 4 inches between the flowers. Form a rough diamond shape by placing one flower to each side of the center gap, making sure to leave space between the flowers. Place the upper-most flower last, keeping it in line with the two center flowers but leaving a gap of about 8 inches between it and the second flower. For a formal arrangement, the line formed by the 3 center flowers should be straight and centered. For an informal arrangement, the center flower line should curve gently to one side. To maintain the integrity of the focal diamond formed by the center 4 flowers, trim the side flower on the interior of the curve so that it is slightly lower than the flower on the outer side of the curve.
Add the filler. Add filler stems above, below and between the other elements to add fullness to your arrangement. Filler should extend somewhat beyond the foundation. For a formal arrangement, add filler to create a fairly symmetrical triangle. For an informal arrangement, trim filler to enhance the curve and movement of the arrangement. On the inside of the curve, position low filler so it appears to be spilling out of the vase, curing into and in front of the vase.
Add water to your arrangement as needed.

To find more plant and flower project for the whole family, click here.

Image: cybaea

How to Make a Flower Pomander (Kissing Ball)

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

To make a flower pomander, you will need:

1 ball of 8-inch diameter wet floral foam

50 flowers (you may need more or less depending on flower head size)

Note: Flowers should be in full bloom. Large-headed flowers with stiff stems work best, such as Rose, Gerbera Daisy, Dahlia or Chrysanthemum

Gardening shears or sharp scissors

1 bamboo skewer

Small bucket

Instructions:

Soak the foam ball in a bucket of water for about 30 minutes. When completely saturated the ball will sink to the bottom of the bucket. Remove the ball from the bucket and allow it to drain on a dish rack for about 10 minutes or until it stops dripping.
Using the shears and cutting at an angle, cut the flower stems 1-1/2 inches from the base of the flower head.
Using the skewer to make shallow starter holes, push the flower stems into the foam ball. Making starter holes will help prevent stems from bending or breaking. Determine the placement of each flower before making the starter hole. Note: Any tool can be used to make starter holes as long as it is slightly smaller than the stem diameter. If too large a hole is made, the flowers may not stay in place.
To achieve even flower placement, begin by making a ring of flowers around the center of the ball, dividing the ball into halves. Starting at the top of the ball, fill half of the ball with flowers. Turn the ball over and repeat until the entire ball is covered with flowers. When placing flowers, overlap petals slightly to completely hide the underlying foam ball.
For an elegant centerpiece, display your pomander on a crystal cake stand or plate.

Additional display ideas: Cover several smaller floral foam balls (2 to 4 inches in diameter) with small flowers (mini carnations, miniature roses, zinnias, marigolds or bellis) and display them in hurricanes or glass bowls. Popular wedding decorations, pomanders are called kissing balls when they are hung above the bride and groom’s reception table.

Find more project ideas, from a low-maintenance dish garden to a flower pounded note card, here.

Image: zambase

Coleus Adds Pizzazz to Summer Gardens

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Bold, bright and colorful, Coleus adds instant pizzazz to garden and container plantings. A summertime favorite, this hearty annual is prized for its lush, colorful, textured foliage. Available in a wide variety of exuberant colors ranging from lime green to brilliant fuchsia to deep chocolate, Coleus is most often used as a bridge plant to tie together garden flowers with clashing colors. Coleus also performs beautifully as both an attention-getter and backdrop for other plants. Its thick, cushiony leaves add desirable texture to mixed garden plantings and container groupings. Available in a variety of sizes from tiny minis suitable for terrarium plantings to large plants that can reach the size of small bushes at maturity, Coleus is one of the most versatile summer annuals available.

The Beauty of Coleus

The striking color patterns on its leaves are what set Coleus apart from other foliage plants. In more sedate varieties, single-color leaves are bordered in a bright contrasting color. Chocolate Mint coleus, for example, features dark purple, nearly brown, leaves edged in brilliant lime green. At the other end of the Coleus color spectrum are exuberant varieties that explode in a profusion of neon-bright colors with as many as four colors decorating a single leaf. For example, the leaves of Watermelon coleus feature a neon pink center, thickly edged with a bright green border through which slashes of dark purple and bright yellow radiate. Pale violet leaves tinged with red and white and flecked with deep maroon characterize the aptly named Bipolar Bygolly.

Look for colorful Coleus at your local garden center and add some pizzazz to your garden!

Diverse Celosia Shines in Garden and Vase

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A florist favorite in fresh and dried flower arrangements, Celosia also shines in garden plantings. This showy summer annual blooms in three very distinct forms. Some varieties of Celosia are topped with elegant feathery plumes and can reach a height of 4 feet. So called “wheat” varieties bloom in more compact, upright spires shaped like stalks of wheat. The most unusual Celosias are the crested varieties that have a unique thick and twisting flower formation that resembles a rooster’s comb. It is from this variety that Celosia gets its common name, cockscomb.

Celosia 101

Sun-loving plants, Celosia thrive in full sun and can easily withstand drought and extreme heat with minimal watering. In fact, these lovely flowers can be grown in nearly any location except wet or soggy soils. Easy to grow, Celosia are prolific bloomers, adding lovely color to home gardens from mid-summer through mid-fall. Available in seven sunset colors from sunny yellow to brilliant red to smoky purple, these attractive plants are best used in mass plantings. They are particularly effective when massed against evergreens or leafy shrubbery. Celosia also provides an attractive backdrop for border plants, and the wheat varieties mix nicely with ornamental grasses. Its broad height range—from 6 inches to 4 feet—makes Celosia an extremely versatile plant that can be used successfully in numerous garden settings.

Prized by florists as both a cut and dried flower, Celosia can be enjoyed throughout the summer; then harvested in the fall for use in dried arrangements. To dry, cut before seeds set, remove the leaves, and hang flower stems upside down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place.

To press your Celosia, follow our pressing tips here.

Image: Dano

Lilies Are a Mainstay of Summer Gardens

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Lilies in all their beautiful forms are a mainstay of summer gardens. Blooming from early summer through late fall, these colorful perennials with the trumpet-shaped flowers are a carefree garden choice. Highly adaptable and extremely hardy, lilies can be found blooming everywhere from dank roadside ditches to the world’s most beautiful gardens. Lilies typically prefer sunny locations but will also bloom in partial shade. They prefer soils that are evenly moist but will generally survive bouts of drought or soggy weather without damage.

Here’s a primer on the delightful variety of lilies available at home garden centers:

Asiatic Lilies (Lilium) are tall and stately with a lovely fragrance. A duet or trio of trumpeted blooms rises on a tall stem, the length of which is fringed with narrow leaves.
Easter Lilies (Lilium) share the characteristics of Asiatic Lilies but in a more compact plant. Multiple trumpets top leafy-fringed stems that rarely rise above 18 inches.
Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) are an old-fashioned favorite popularly used in bridal bouquets and wedding decorations. Striking heart-shaped flowers on slender stems rise in clusters from attractive mounds of dark green leaves.
Canna Lilies (Canna) are the giants of the lily family. Stout stalks that soar 5 to 6 feet into the air; huge, broad leaves; and exotic ruffled blooms give Canna Lilies a tropical air.
Hemerocallis, the common Daylily, is a compact version of the taller lilies often seen along country roads. Stems of branched trumpet-shaped blooms rise from a nest of narrow green leaves. Its short height makes this a popular border and bedding plant.