Flower Beauty

When we left for vacation, we only had a few flowers showing their beautiful colors. When we returned, they were all starting their summer show. I made my first bouquet yesterday. I so love the privilege of having fresh cut flowers in our home.
I also enjoy using the sunflowers to fill up a basket for the house. I will usually use a filler like cosmos foliage and then add a few sunflower blooms to that. It is always a cheery basket. My kids all enjoy the fresh flowers too. My boys almost always comment on a new vase or basket of flowers.

When I was planting the garden this year, I did something different. If I had a hole to fill in a raised bed, I would fill it with flowers. It makes my garden pretty. I love looking out the kitchen window and seeing the different splashes of color all throughout the garden. However, it wasn't the most productive way to plant. For example, I will be tilling up the squash and zucchini bed soon to reuse. I have several zinnias sprinkled throughout which makes tilling the bed a nightmare. I also realized that I didn't plant near the amount of flowers that I normally do. I thought I had a good amount because there were some in most beds. The fun part about gardening is that you learn something new each year. What I thought was a terrific idea in the beginning, has turned out a mediocre idea at best. I keep garden notes so that I can remind myself next year. It is amazing how much I forget about the garden through the winter months!

I will be starting more broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and lettuce seeds in the shop this week. I want to get plants ready for the fall planting. I am not for sure if I am on a good time table, but it has been my experience in the past that you want the plants to be a good size before planting in the fall. Last year, they were too small and they did not survive. So I am going to try something different this year.

grace and peace,
julie