ROSES, ZINNIAS AND GLADIOLAS -- A COMPATIBLE MIX

Cheery blossoms of a mix of State Fair Zinnias in shades of pink and corals, with cool colors of gladiola and yellow Hybrid tea rose "New Day" make this compact arrangement a lasting bouquet.

These summer, sun-loving blooms require similar soil conditions, fertilizer and care. They will continue to bloom all summer and into the fall until a killing frost.

State Fair Zinnias usually come in a mix---the stalks will bloom in various colors from creamy white to dark red, with yellow, coral, several shades of pink, rose, and fuchsia.

Zinnias are annuals, but propagation is easy. Collect the tiny seeds after the flower has bloomed by taking a piece of paper and shaking the dried flower over it. Store seeds in a cool, dark place, then sprinkle in beds in spring when all chance of frost has passed. Thinning may be necessary. When plants are 2-4" tall, careful dig up with the root ball attached and plant where you want it. Or, nurseries have started plants that can be planted out as well. I've done both, and each is successful. 

GLADIOLA -- COLORFUL, EASY-TO-GROW SUMMER BLOOMS

Colorful blooms of gladiola in late July brighten up any day. I plant the corms usually in April, depending on the weather conditions that year.  (Although some are left in the ground through the winter, and they will grow and bloom first). I plant several corms every two weeks, insuring blooms all through the summer months and into fall.

I add some every year to the beds and thin the ones that have stayed in the ground through the winter months. Most that I have used are a mix of colors; I rarely get corms of all one color. I like planting them because they don't take up much room vertically--they're easy to 'tuck in' in areas that don't have much room. I use them where spring blooms are through blooming and a color spot is needed in the beds.

The tall 48-60" glads may need staking. I prefer planting the 36-48" varieties--they are easier to take take of in my garden beds. Plant in full sun in soil that will be moist, but not wet. When cutting for arrangements, since they bloom from the bottom to the top, make sure color is showing on the buds not in bloom. Always use a floral preservative, and keep out of direct sunlight for longer-lasting bouquets.

SUMMER GLADIOLA WITH LILIES -- COLORFUL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUMMER

July through September means the gladiola will be blooming. Combined with other colorful summer flowers, the arrangements are always vibrant and cheery.

Used here are Blue "Love-in-a-mist," yellow "Easter Parade" lily,  rich rose-colored "Sensi" lily, and purple and coral gladiola.

"Pearl Carolina" lily is large, long-lasting lily in the garden and in the vase.

Glads aren't typically hardy here in zone 6. Dig up stalk in the late summer, after blooming, and store the corms in mesh bags through the winter. Plant in spring at 2-week intervals for blooms lasting through the summer and into the fall. NOTE: I have had luck with keeping them in the ground, with little, if any, loss.

SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS - Filling a non-waterproof basket

There are a vast array of unique and fun vases, planter boxes, baskets, etc. to make your flower arrangements in. In today's weekly arrangement, I used a nice-sized yellow wooden basket. It has a handle for easy carrying, and holds a medium-sized bouquet. To use this basket, since it isn't waterproof,  I purchased plastic basket liners; they come in a variety of sizes, and can be found online, or you can purchase them from a floral or craft shop. Just cut oasis for wet arrangements to fit into the liner. Fill the liner so the oasis is saturated and then arrange, always using water with a floral preservative. After cutting my stems, I make a second cut, under water, then arrange. I then put the arrangement in the garage 'flower' refrigerator, set at 40 degrees, overnight. This slows down the progression of the flowers, and the arrangements will last longer. This arrangement uses State Fair zinnias, garden mums, tea roses and a gladiola stem. It will last well over a week.

COLORFUL SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS - Dinner plate dahlias, roses,

September 7th and the garden is colorful with dinner plate dahlias, hybrid tea roses and more gladiola and zinnias. The zinnias will bloom until a killing frost. Dinner plate dahlias, the giants in the garden, aren't hardy, and need to be pulled two weeks after a killing frost in the fall, when they have turned black. If necessary, carefully divide the 'fingers' of the tubers--sometimes there will be many--other times there won't be. Shake off the soil and let them dry for a few days before storing in a dry, dark place for the winter. Check on them periodically to make sure they aren't dry or molding. If dry, take a paper cup of water and put in the box with them.  If molding, brush off and make sure they aren't in a damp or humid area. Replant in the fall. Pictured here are three of my favorites: Pink, with a yellow heart "Kidd's Climax," white "Fleurel," and yellow "Kelvin Floodlight." 

GLADIOLA - Luscious shades of shrimp for arranging

The weekly arrangement for August 23rd found these luscious shrimp-colored gladiola blooming in the garden. The top heavy 48-60" tall stalks are perfect for this 22" vase. Cut stems with some of the bottom flowers blooming, and others still in the bud stage for arrangements that will last over two weeks. If possible, keep cutting the stems shorter when the bottom blooms are spent. I did that to this one after picking it up from the dentist's office after a week, and enjoyed them for an additional week or so. I like to arrange in the evening, then put the arrangement in a refrigerator I have in the garage for flowers, set at 40 degrees, over night. I always use a floral preservative for extra long lasting displays.

LILIES, GLADIOLA & ZINNIAS for SUMMER BOUQUETS and ARRANGEMENTS

August 9th finds the garden lilies coming to an end.  "Anastasia," with it's huge white and pink upward-facing blooms, is very fragrant, and is very long-lasting in arrangements--upwards of two weeks. "Stargazer," a smaller Oriental lily, is also fragrant, and usually blooms a little earlier. Arranged with glads and zinnias, this feminine pink arrangement, in a lime green ceramic container, with wet foam oasis for flower arranging, will be long-lasting. Always use a floral preservative and cut flowers early in the morning or after dusk in the evening.  Keep flowers in a cool, dark place until needed.

GLADIOLA - Tall, stately blooms of color

The August 2nd weekly arrangement is all about gladiola! The corms are planted as soon as the soil is workable in early spring. (Although it is suggested that corms in my zone 6 garden be lifted for overwintering, I leave some in the ground the season before and they have done fine. This gives the plants a head start in spring; these glads bloom first).  I plant groups of 3-5 new corms every two weeks from March until the end of June or so. This gives me a steady supply of glads into fall. It takes about 90 days, for the corms to root, grow, produce, and store enough energy for next year's blooms. After blooming, don't cut down stalks until completely dried and yellow--that's where they get their energy for next year's bloom. Stake at the time of planting if you are growing ones that reach 48-60" tall so you don't harm the corms later on. Gladiola bloom from the bottom up, come in all colors, and are welcome color spots in the summer and fall.

MULTI-COLOR SUMMER ARRANGEMENTS with DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS, GLADIOLA, LILIES and STATE FAIR ZINNIAS

Bright colors in a myriad of warm tones make up the July 26th arrangement. Gladiola's are used again, and they will continue blooming until early fall, after planting them at two-week intervals through late spring.The mix today has yellow, white, pink, purple, and a multi-colored pink, red and white blooms.The first dinner plate dahlias of the season are out, and Kelvin Floodlight is one of my favorite yellows. State Fair zinnias, which will bloom through the fall until a killing frost and the last of the lilies, Flash Point, an OT lily. OT lilies are crosses between a trumpet lily and an Oriental lily--with the best of both combined. I like them in my garden zone 6 because they are more hardy and long-lived than the Orientals.