When it comes to flowers there are many different varieties, types, and seasons: when to plant them, how long it will last, etc. If you are interested in having a few flowering plants or some garden beds, then this is the article you should read!

One question that comes to mind about flowers is why are they bright and colorful? And why are they so important? Some may say to give us pleasure or that they smell wonderful. Even though both are true, the true reason why flowers are so bright and colorful is to attract pollinators such as bees or butterflies. This is important to our world because they help plants reproduce to bring us fruit, vegetables, and nuts.  

Pollination is the transfer of pollen to a stigma, ovule, flower, or plant to allow fertilization. Self-pollination can occur when there is wind or water to move the pollen from one plant to the other. This method does not help the bees and other pollinators because there can’t be a bee for every flower in the world.

According to Mr. Harrington, the Horticulture teacher here at BHS, if space is the problem then a solution could be a community garden. If you have a community garden then this is a great way to be able to be surrounded by plants and get your hands dirty. If you live in a townhouse or something like that, you could use your balcony by having hanging pots with trailing plants or put plant shelves on the side of a railing. If your apartment has a rooftop where you could plant flower beds (with permission) this can enable you to plant flowers that require full sunlight. One great way to start flowers from seeds is a small greenhouse. A smaller greenhouse is not one that is thousands of dollars, it is a greenhouse that is made out of plastic with a base and a lid that has individual cells, it is truly a space saver, allowing you to just set it on a shelf or a table. Those are just a few ideas to get you started!

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Now, the most important part is picking your flowers. The flowers you chose can vary on where your flowers will be planted, when they will be planted, and how much space you have. Some things to keep in mind is the type of plant you wish to plant. An annual only grows for one year, a perennial can grow for many years, and a biennial takes two years to complete its life cycle: one year to grow and the other one to bloom. Some great annuals are: morning glories, marigolds, cosmos, snapdragons, sunflowers, and zinnias. Some perennials are: peony, black-eyed susans, aster daisies, babys breath, astilbe, and hydrangeas. Finally, some biannual flowers are: hollyhock, canterbury bells, forget-me-nots, sweet williams, and foxglove. If you’re growing flowers that are at the end of their life then don’t throw them out! Some flowers, when they dry, will have seeds that you can replant for your second go at a flower garden. 

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Some great hands-on places you can visit to learn more about flowers and ways to plant are going to flower shows. There are many shows coming up where you can spend time browsing different plants and learning new things. Here are a few shows in the area that are coming up…

• Hagerstown Flower Show: March 19 & 20
• PHS Philadelphia Flower Show: November 19
• DC Botanic Gardens
• Surrreybrooke Garden and Nursery

If you need help getting started, some great places to look for seeds or plants are Southern States, Tractor Supply, Farmers Cooperative Association, Home Depot, Lowes, Parks Seed Company, Burpee Seed Company, Myers Seed Company, Harris Seed Company, Thanksgiving Farms, and Duch Plant Farm.

Have Fun Planting!