Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Gladiolus


Gladiolus

This year I took the plunge and bought
500 bulbs, which was a lot for me.   I wasn't sure I would get them planted but I had always wanted to try growing them in succession with my flowers.  The glads got special attention this year, as the one of the most beautiful summer flowers.
So far, I have had peach, white, purple, and red.  I did leave some of last years glads in the ground but that did not go over very well as they are not flowering.  It could mean they are in too heavy of soil to their liking.  That is one of the struggles of growing bulbs in Kentucky as the soil needs amending.  but I will be digging them up as the weather cools.
I also had bought some in small quantities last year and they were planted at the beginning of the season.  The orange and yellow flowers are from that bunch.


I did cut some of the purple ones for showing florist in the city. It was because of a florist in Lexington that encouraged me to grow more flowers over 3 years ago when I had started this cutting garden by the house. This season made it our 4th growing season in this garden and the beds are starting to have some good health to them. I never thought then that I would plant 500 bulbs since I have always just planted flowers for pure enjoyment.  I always thought about sharing my love of cut flowers that my grandmother and mother passed on to me.
 So that is what I am doing.
I would like to be part of the community of growers in the US, and encourage people to buy from the local market.

Go out today and put some beauty in your house, bring the outdoors inside with some local cut flowers..

Summer in the Garden

Summer Flowers It never amazes me how hard we work through Spring for our Summer flowers. Zinnias, Sunflowers and of course Dahlia...