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Posts Tagged ‘Wildflowers’

I’m especially interested in wildflowers and flowers native to wisconsin.

I’m going to have a garden 50′ x90′ and an addition 20x’40′ with tomatoes. I was planning on planting a 2-4 foot wide strip of mixed wildflowers round the edge to help attract bees and stuff. Is this a good plan?
I’m running drip irgation to the garden, will the flowers need to be watered this way also?
I’m in zone 7 with very sandy soil.
Thanks in advance!
To reply to 3rd comment: The garden will be in a already fenced area which has a wide gate for tractor access and I’ll be planting the flowers around outside the fence so it wont be hindering the garden at all. The Tomatoes will be grown right next to the fenced area where last years garden was so they are connected and easy access.
I’m planting so much becauce I will be home canning most of it from my family and close relatives. We have sucessfully grown everything before, I just want to do it bigger and better then before. We have gotten a tractor and plows so it wont be as big of a chore. Plus we’re multching everything and combined with the drip irrgation that should keep alot of the weeds down. I’m a stay at home mom so I’ve got the time it will take. I’ve even got the wildflower seeds already due to some deaths in the family and they make thoes packets up for people and we have a bunch left over. Thanks for the thoughts and advice from everyone!

The easiest way to add some color to your yard is by utilizing flower seeds.  Whether you want to have burst of color provided by swaths of wildflowers, or more formal beds that you start with seedlings, seeds are the least expensive way to create your landscape.

Compared to the cost of having plants or rootstock sent to you by mail, seeds are remarkably inexpensive.  For the cost of a single plant at a nursery you can have hundreds of seeds arrive at your door.  True, some seeds need a lot of nurturing to grow, but most flowers are used to doing things on their own.  All you need is a patch that won’t be disturbed, soil, and water. Seeds that have particularly woody husks can be pre-soaked prior to scattering.  Letting the seeds get wet can assist them in germination.

Then you stand back and let nature do its thing.

Determine what kinds of seeds you want to plant and when, based on their blooming times.  Seeds can be planted in the fall as well as during the early spring.  Plants that like cool conditions will do well when planted in the fall.  Your rate of attrition will be higher though, as animals getting ready for the change in weather are looking for food energetically (and seeds represent a stash of nutrition), but it is a great way to add color to the bleak fall landscape.  Just as everything else in your garden is starting to die back, your fall fireworks will be ready to go.

Another consideration is whether you want to plant perennials or annuals.  If you are going to mow over your area each year, there is no sense in planting flowers that will come up again and again.  You can pick something annual and change the look each year.  If, however, you are scattering seeds in a meadow and you intend to leave it in a natural state, consider investing a bit more and getting perennial seeds.  They will bloom year after year, increasing your return on investment.

Wildflowers group will meet Saturday
Wildflowers, etc. will begin its season Saturday at Powers Bluff. Wildflowers, etc. is a group of nature enthusiasts in the Town of Rome and Central Wisconsin who have interests in natural gardening. The group is nonprofit and the main purpose is to help members learn about the natural world and promote the use of native plants in home landscapes. Lilas Smith will guide a walk of wildflowers and …

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Product Description
Using a simple question and answer format, this informative and user- friendly book focuses on the Lower Midwest, and includes everything you need to know about gardening with plants and wildflowers native to the region. It explains methods of planning, site and soil preparation, garden design, plant selection and propagation. Illustrated with 125 drawings and 100 color photos, this is the must-have book for Midwestern gardeners.

Go Native!: Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest

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