By Laurie Hawley
Cut flowers/foliage come in five main groups: focals, spikes, discs, fillers, and airy bits. If you are wanting to put together some really killer bouquets and floral arrangements, you’ll want to think about growing plants that fit into each of these groups. I know this can be a bit overwhelming, so I will share with you some common and easy flowers to grow in each season, plus how you plant each.
Spring
FOCAL: Tulips (bulb), Daffodils (bulb), Anemones (corm), Ranunculus (corm)
SPIKE: Snapdragons (seed or transplant), Stock (seed or transplant), Larkspur (seed)
DISC: Poppies (seed), Hellebores (transplant)
FILLER: Bupleurum (seed), Statice (seed or transplant), Queen Anne’s Lace (seed)
AIR: Bachelor’s Button (seed)
Summer
FOCAL: Lilies (tuber), Zinnias (seed), Sunflowers (seed)
SPIKE: Celosia (seed), Salvia (seed or transplant), Bee Balm (seed)
DISC: Cosmos (seed), Rudbeckia (seed), Yarrow (seed or transplant), Marigolds (seed or transplant)
FILLER: Amaranth (seed), Basil (seed or transplant), Mint (seed or transplant), Oregano (seed or transplant), Cress (seed)
AIR: Gomphrena (seed or transplant)
Fall
FOCAL: Chrysanthemums (transplant), Zinnias (seed), Sunflowers (seed)
SPIKE: Celosia (seed), Salvia (seed or transplant)
DISC: Cosmos (seed), Rudbeckia (seed), Strawflower (seed), Marigolds (seed or transplant)
FILLER: Amaranth (seed), Basil (seed or transplant), Sweet Annie (transplant), Eucalyptus (seed or transplant)
AIR: Orach (seed)
Remember it’s important not to “spring” into a garden clean-up too soon; wait until temperatures are consistently above 10 C. Many butterflies, bees and other pollinators are currently wintering in dead leaves and hollowed-out stems of last year’s plants. Let them “bee” and save the bees.
For further information about gardening in our area, consider joining the North Thompson Valley Garden Club. The next meeting will be on Sunday, March 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Barriere Seniors’ Hall, and will feature a guest speaker discussing soil amendments to improve your garden. The club will also be announcing “Seed Fun Days” this spring, with dates to be announced.
For more information about the North Thompson Valley Garden Club, contact secretary-treasurer Laurie Hawley at 250-299-9986 or email Laurie.hawley@live.ca.
