A GARDEN IN BLOOM FOR ALL SEASONS

by Beth Lopez
(click images to enlarge)

I would love to have a garden that has something in bloom and beautiful from early spring to late fall. How do I plant my garden ensuring that there is always something in flower?

I set out to research different blooms I could grow. When does each one come into flower and how long do the flowers last? Which flowers bring scent to the garden, as well as form and colour? After gathering the information, I thought this might be something I could share with other gardeners. I hope this helps you make your plans for next year’s garden.

The earliest flowers to appear in the spring are the crocuses and snow drops. The early daffodil, dwarf iris, grape hyacinth and early tulip all arrive soon after. All of these come from bulbs which are planted in the fall. They have all winter to gather their strength and are ready to break through the soil soon after it starts to warm up. Just a few weeks later, as spring settles in, up come the larger irises and daffodils, the hyacinth and tulips. These are followed by the allium with their purple pompoms on top of tall strong stems. All of these also come from those fall planted bulbs.

All of these are such a welcome site at the end of the dreary winter and repay your work of tucking them under the soil in the fall. Sadly, none of these flowers are particularly fragrant.

The wonderful perfume of spring though, is the lilac. I don’t have room to grow lilacs in my little garden, but whenever I spy one on a spring walk, I always take a moment to smell the intoxicating flowers. They grow on a bush or small tree and herald the spring with their heads of pale to deep purple or white. Take care where you plant a lilac however; they spread their roots and therefore need to be kept contained.

For my Dad, who did not plant bulbs, spring was the bright yellow flowers on the forsythia growing at the corner of the house. Spring in Vancouver gives us beautiful cherry blossoms carpeting the trees and sidewalks in pink snow. We are blessed with azaleas/rhododendrons throughout the neighbourhood, as well as the beautiful collection in Stanley Park.

If you have room for a bush or small tree, which one would you plant to herald the end of winter?

Not all of us grow our flowers from bulbs or seeds. Sometimes it’s nice to get a flat of flowers and plant them out. Instant gratification and instant colour are the gifts of plants already in bloom. Pansies, petunias, johnny-jump-us, portulaca and alyssum can go out in the spring and will bloom well into summer. These can also be grown from seed if you have the patience.

Hibiscus — two tone. *(Photos by Beth Lopez)*

As spring slides into summer, the peonies begin to shine as the day lilies and calla lilies also emerge. Peonies grow on a perennial bush which will grace you yearly with flowers from late spring into summer, once established. Hibiscus is another small bush that will give gorgeous blooms, either one or two colours per bloom. The individual blooms last for a brief time, but the plant will flower continuously until fall. Day lily roots are planted in the fall like the bulbs and will continue to bloom every year, needing to be divided as most bulbs do every few years.

Now that we’re getting into summertime it will be the gladioli that’s flowering. They are another fall planted bulb which blooms as summer warms up. Tuberous begonias can be purchased to plant out in the summer and will bloom into late autumn. Their bright waxy flowers will glow long after others have faded. They are another root that can be brought in for the winter and planted out again come spring. Of all of these plants, only some of the lilies will give you any fragrance.

Personally, my favourite summertime blooms are the sweet peas. These are an annual which must be planted as seeds every year. I have planted them in the fall to give them a head start come spring time. Peas do prefer cold weather for growing.

However, for the last two years, the cold snaps we had midwinter managed to kill off the plants. Very early spring planting does work just fine though. I soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting to speed up the germination. With a good support to grow up, like a fence or a trellis, the flowers begin in the summer and will continue to bloom for many weeks — as long as you harvest the blooms every day or two. Keep picking and it keeps blooming. The flowers are delicate and pretty, but they have a heavenly fragrance all their own. Those flowers picked daily will perfume your house.

Several flowers start blooming as summer winds down, heading into fall. The hydrangeas open their heads of tiny blossoms which stay well into autumn. Left on the plant, they continue to charm even as the heads dry on the plant. Sunflowers, started from seed, will climb toward the sun and bloom well into the fall. Leave the flower heads there and allow the seeds to ripen. You might have to outsmart the squirrels to collect any seeds. Cosmos, salvia and nasturtiums bloom from midsummer into the fall and can either be grown from seed or bought as bedding plants.

Of all the fall plants, my favourite are the dahlias. The varieties are numerous. Dahlias can go from small pompom size to what are called “dinner plate” dahlias which are, well, big as a small dinner plate. Some are mathematically perfect with their Fibonacci patterns; some have petals in unruly curly display. They can be one solid colour, or have two contrasting colours creating an eye-catching flourish. They also grow from bulbs which can be left in for several years after spring planting until they become too crowded and should be divided. If you don’t have the space, the bulbs can be dug up in the fall and planted out again in the spring.

I have not mentioned roses. They are a category all their own. There are some that bloom in early summer, some that go right into fall. I saw a beautiful bud on a rose in early November! Roses might also be scented, but not all are. They are a bush that needs space and particular care, but a garden of roses is a true joy. Luckily, I don’t have to plant them to enjoy them. The rose garden in Stanley Park brings beauty for many months.

Now is the time to plan for your next year’s garden. Will you have flowers blooming all season?

This is not an exhaustive list. What are your favourite blooms?