Picture a constant supply of beautiful cut flowers for your home, or fresh
cut flowers for friends, and special occasions. Beautiful flowers at your
disposal are possible by planting a well-stocked flower garden.

To begin your flower garden, select a sunny area, as a flower garden
usually requires 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. The selected area
should be easily accessible for watering, in case your climate encounters
long dry spell. Another factor for your flower garden is easy access for
cutting your flowers, such as a raised flowerbed. The raised flowerbed is
then accessible from all sides.

Fall Bulb Planting
In order to have a constant supply of flowers available, consider when
each flower blooms. For instance, plant Daffodils and Tulip bulbs in the fall
for the earliest spring flower. A couple of other early spring flowers to
consider for fall planting are: Giant flowering onion, grows 3-4 feet tall, with
large purple flowers, and blooms early spring to mid-summer, and Crocus's
bloom in early spring, though there are varieties that bloom through
autumn.

Spring Planting
Gladiolus bulbs can be planted in early spring for beautiful blooms from
early summer through the first frost. You can plant your gladiolus bulbs as
early as two weeks before the last frost. Continue to plant the gladiolus
bulbs every two weeks and you will have cut flowers until the first frost.

Annuals such as snapdragons, cosmos, zinnias, etc., are also planted in
early spring after the last frost. Consider the length of time it takes your
annual to bloom and plant accordingly so that you will have a flower
bouquet right through fall.

With a little bit of planning and a little bit of work, your home can have
beautiful cut flowers all summer long. Good Luck!