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. 

RED, WHITE AND BLUE ARRANGEMENTS -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Red hybrid tea rose "Abraham Lincoln," white daisy "Esther Read," and Asiatic lilies "Red Alert" and "Olina Eyemaster" and white "Royal Respect" with true blue bush delphinium make a colorful and patriotic arrangement for the 4th of July holiday.

Some years I didn't have white roses all month long, so I planted early blooming white Asiatic lilies. They, along with my favorite daisy, Esther Read, which was a transplant more than 40 years ago from my Grandmother's garden, always give me the white that I need. I've also used white clematis in years past--it just depends what is blooming the day I need them.

I snip off the stamens from the white lilies--this keeps the petals white (no falling pollen on them), and also increases their longevity in the arrangement.  However, in some arrangements, the stamens add some real beauty.

I'm always happy for July to roll around, and anxious to see what is blooming for the arrangement.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE ARRANGEMENTS -- FESTIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

Planting flowers that will bloom in July is something I've worked on through the years. Timing has to be just right to have something blooming in these colors on the Mondays in July that I make my arrangements for a local dentist's office. They are displayed for a week, and so the blooms have to last that long.  

The roses have usually finished their first flush of bloom, but sometimes I get lucky.  The Asiatic lilies are in bloom, and the delphinium is blooming as well. This arrangement showcases these blooms, as well as the blooms of my Royal Standard hosta, which are pure white. 

It's been interesting to compare bloom times year to year in the garden. Sometimes there's been as much as three weeks difference in bloom time. However, it's usually within a week or two at the most. 

Pictured are hybrid roses white "Piscali," red "Portland Trailblazer," red Asiatic lily "Red Alert," Blue bush delphinium, and a few stems of Royal Standard hosta white blooms.

HYBRID TEA ROSES- USING THE FIRST FLUSH OF SPRING ROSES IN BASKET ARRANGEMENTS

The first flush of the fragrant HYBRID TEA ROSES makes a colorful basket arrangement.  I can always count on the first flush to bloom around June 1. They will bloom throughout the summer, with the last blooms in fall, until a killing frost.

Hybrid teas roses come one bloom to a stem, which makes it easy to cut and use for arrangements. For arrangements with optimal life, cut in a loose bud stage. I always 'de-throne' them, and have a thorn stripper which is fast and easy to use. They can be purchased on most online garden supply companies.  

Baby's breath, allium, mums, daisies, and other perennials make good companion flowers for arrangements, Greenery, or just the top leaves of the rose stem also make the arrangement look pleasing to the eye.

FALL ARRANGEMENTS of ROSES AND ZINNIAS - the last blooms are colorful and large

I love the fall colors of the roses and zinnias in the flower beds. When the nights get longer and the temperatures dip, the colors are brighter, and the blooms get larger. This year was no exception; the hybrid tea roses, with their last buds of the year, and the last blooms of the State Fair zinnias, before the temperatures nip the foliage, have been stellar! This arrangement showcases the lively colors of the last blooms of roses, zinnias, delphinium, geranium and garden mums. 

To get ready for winter, if the roses have some tall canes 5 or more feet high, I prune them back to 3-4 feet. This helps to protect cane breakage in the snowy winter months. I also make sure the base has a layer of mulch to protect them in case of extremely cold temperatures during the winter months, which occurs quite often here in zone 6. The zinnias are pulled out; they are an annual.  To preserve seed to scatter for next spring, take dried blooms and shake into an envelope. The tiny seeds can be stored in the refrigerator. Delphinium readily reseed, and I let them do this naturally, moving small seedlings next spring to areas I want them. Garden mum stalks are cut to the ground; they will have a new growth at the base that you will see when you cut the stalks down.

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." 

GIANT ALLIUMS, ROSES AND LILIES IN JUNE

By June, the huge globe alliums are in bloom. Some, like long-lasting Globemaster, reach 10" across, with hundreds of blue-violet florets. Alliums have foliage that emerges early in the spring, and Globemaster's leaves remain green longer than other varieties. Violet Gladiator and white White Empress, with 6-8" spheres, are also reliable and beautiful varieties that grow well in my zone 6 garden.  The first flush of hybrid tea roses are still in bloom, and a favorite, long-stemmed Brandy, is a luscious color of soft apricot-peach. Tree lily Conca d' Or, with its 6-feet tall stems, grows more beautiful each year. Lilies are exceptionally long-lasting in the vase, especially if the pollen ends of the anthers are snipped off. Alliums are also long-lasting in the vase.This June 14th arrangement will last well over a week with proper cutting--early in the morning or after dusk--using a floral preservative and keeping it out of direct sunlight or drafts.

ARRANGEMENTS IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE--Roses, Lilies

The first flush of hybrid tea roses usually begins the first week of June. They will continue to bloom until a killing frost in the fall.  I can expect 3-4 good bloom cycles--with the main flushes in June, August and October. There will be intermittent blooms in between, but those months are the major bloom times. When arranging roses, cut stems of roses still in the bud on an angle. Strip all the leaves that will be below the water line; this keeps the water clean, and the flowers will last longer. Always use a floral preservative--the arrangement will last much longer if you do.

ROSES AND MUMS - The last of the hybrid roses in a fall arrangement with decorative mums

I harvested the last of the roses and fall mums before the hard freeze that we had this week end. I keep them in a big bucket of treated water on the covered patio, or, if too cold, in the garage, until needed.The bright cream and pink-toned hybrid tea rose "DOUBLE DELIGHT", with baby miniature rose-colored buds, and dark bright pink hybrid tea "BOB HOPE" and the large decorative chrysanthemum "SEATONS J'DORE" make a pleasing presentation of bright colors. The mums will outlast the roses, but they can be pinched off and the arrangement will still look good.  As always, cut after dusk and use a floral preservative for a long lasting vase life.