The list of great cutting flowers is long and diverse. Most plants will benefit from having a terminal bloom plucked before it’s peak so that the plant can then shoot out lateral stems of blossoms. (Cutting a little before the flower has reached it full bloom will also give you a longer vase life.) This fills the plant with colorful blossoms and you won’t feel as guilty snatching a bloom or two later in the season . Flowers should always be cut early in the morning or well after sundown. It is too stressful to the flower to be harvested in the middle of the day. It is imperative that before putting your flowers in a vase that you remove any foliage from the stem that will sit below the water line, re cut the stems on an angle with a clean sharp knife and place it immediately in cool fresh water. When the temps outside are high the vase water should be changed every 2-3 days and a fresh cut be given to prolong the life of your cu lossoms.

Along with flowers stop and think of the lovely different foliage’s in the garden to accompany your blossoms or stand on their own in a vase.

Great cutting flowers easily grown in our area are;
Dahlias
Shasta Daisies
Salvias
Liatris
Hosta
Gerbera Daisies
Calla Lilies
Asiatic – Hybrid Lilies
Delphinium
Lisianthus
Achillea/ Yarrow
Balloon Flower
Celosia
Phlox
Roses
Coreopsis
Lavender
Sedum
Crocosmia
Zinnias
Peonies
Lilacs

Foliages great for cutting;

Dusty miller
Hosta
Asparagus fern
Shade ferns
Dead Nettle
Ornamental Kale
Lambs Ear