Garden

Flowers are undeniably a thing of beauty; and when the right combinations are found and placed together, the result can be breathtaking. Gian Carlo Menotti said “Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers – and never succeeding.” I, for one, totally agree. However, like art, designing a flower garden has only a couple of factors that can not be changed, but the rest is completely up to the artist or gardener’s imagination. In art, yellow and blue will always make green and in gardening a plant will only thrive when its grown during its natural growth season and when its particular needs are met.

When designing your flower garden there are many things to consider, but only two factors that can not be ignored, the plant requirements and the life cycle of the plant. Botanists estimate that there are more than 10,000 species of flowering plants world wide. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of these will thrive in your location. Therefore, it is very important to do research and learn which plants grow best in your region and garden conditions. First, go to the National Arboretum – USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find which zone you live in. Then research which plants/flowers grow best in your zone. Next, you will need to break this list down according to your particular garden.

Every garden has different growing conditions. You will need to watch your desired garden location and regularly make notes on the number of hours it gets of sunlight and/or shade, whether it is morning or afternoon sun, if the area has good drainage and if the soil is prone to stay moist. You may also use this notebook to track which plants have worked well for you in the past.

Once you know the growing conditions of your particular garden the real fun begins. You can search online nurseries or visit your local lawn and garden centers to choose which plants you want. From this point on there are no rules. Simply, choose what you like that will work with your gardens growing conditions.

However, I will offer a few other tips (not rules) that you may keep in mind while planning your flower garden. When choosing your plants make notes on the size (height and spacing). This information will help you find the best combinations and where to put them in your garden. You would not want to make the mistake of planting a short flower behind a taller one. Also, make notes of the bloom time. You may want to choose plants with alternating blooms so that there is always something of interest in your garden no matter the season.

The last tip to keep in mind is color combinations. You may want a garden with strict lines and perfect color combinations or you may choose to let your garden “explode” with random burst of color. The choice is yours and I’m sure the outcome will be more beautiful than a priceless piece of art.

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