Comments on: Buying for Bloom Power http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/02/15/buying-for-bloom-power/ Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:23:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michael Kukielka http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/02/15/buying-for-bloom-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1067 Michael Kukielka Fri, 23 Feb 2007 07:19:56 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/02/15/buying-for-bloom-power/#comment-1067 Some of my favorite long-lasting flowers are perennial Geraniums, Baloon Flowers, and Yarrow. Generally, I try to structure my gardens so that something is blooming at all times. The hardest part of that equation is making sure that the balance is right, otherwise I tend to be stuck with beds full of foliage and few flowers during big chunks of the growing season. That's where the annuals come in handy! The best way to enjoy your short lived blooms is to take LOTS of photos. I must have thousands and I can't get enough! I did plant some of my first Hydrangeas last season and I'm eager to see what happens. My neighbor has tons of them but she really struggles to keep them alive (and she is the most proficient gardener I know). When I saw her struggle with them I thought I had better save my money since they are expensive experiments ;). But, I must try everything at least once! Hopefully I'll get good results, I believe I have the perfect sheltered location for them so they should take the winter better than hers. I bought them at Home Depot for $14 each, she buys them at Bordines for about $30 each. I have a lot of shade in my beds because of the well established landscape design so I tend to use Impatiens heavily. They require lots of watering, but generous fertilizing can produce MASSIVE plants which stun onlookers. I've gotten my Impatiens to 3' in height! Some of my favorite long-lasting flowers are perennial Geraniums, Baloon Flowers, and Yarrow. Generally, I try to structure my gardens so that something is blooming at all times. The hardest part of that equation is making sure that the balance is right, otherwise I tend to be stuck with beds full of foliage and few flowers during big chunks of the growing season. That’s where the annuals come in handy!

The best way to enjoy your short lived blooms is to take LOTS of photos. I must have thousands and I can’t get enough!

I did plant some of my first Hydrangeas last season and I’m eager to see what happens. My neighbor has tons of them but she really struggles to keep them alive (and she is the most proficient gardener I know). When I saw her struggle with them I thought I had better save my money since they are expensive experiments ;) . But, I must try everything at least once! Hopefully I’ll get good results, I believe I have the perfect sheltered location for them so they should take the winter better than hers. I bought them at Home Depot for $14 each, she buys them at Bordines for about $30 each.

I have a lot of shade in my beds because of the well established landscape design so I tend to use Impatiens heavily. They require lots of watering, but generous fertilizing can produce MASSIVE plants which stun onlookers. I’ve gotten my Impatiens to 3′ in height!

]]> By: Patrick http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/02/15/buying-for-bloom-power/comment-page-1/#comment-1050 Patrick Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:35:33 +0000 http://www.gardeningblog.net/2007/02/15/buying-for-bloom-power/#comment-1050 Hi Chris, I too was fixated on large showy blooms, but of course most of those don't last too long. I've been reading a Monty Don book to get an idea of how to make the garden bloom from Spring to frost. Here in Seattle it's much more mild but I really love Choisya ternata because of the foliage and scented nice scented blooms; Evergreen and cold hardy I think. Good luck. Cheers, Patrick - <a href="http://www.iheartgardening.com" rel="nofollow">I Heart Gardening</a> Hi Chris,

I too was fixated on large showy blooms, but of course most of those don’t last too long. I’ve been reading a Monty Don book to get an idea of how to make the garden bloom from Spring to frost. Here in Seattle it’s much more mild but I really love Choisya ternata because of the foliage and scented nice scented blooms; Evergreen and cold hardy I think. Good luck.

Cheers,

Patrick – I Heart Gardening

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