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

I got some packets of ground-cover type flower seeds, like wildflowers I guess, to plant in a section of garden area in front of my house. I am not too concerned with placement so I’m just going to spread them around and see what happens and hope they grow.

I am figuring mulching over top of seeds or newly grown plants will suffocate them, but I just want to make sure because I’m not too educated with gardening.

Thanks in advance.

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Natural gardens utilize native species of plants which are often quite easy to grow. These plants have adapted to certain site conditions and are generally self sustaining. They’ll need little, if any, fertilizer and no more water than is provided by rain. Natural gardens consist of a rich and varied mix of plants. They introduce a diversity of trees, shrubs and perennials not found in some gardens. Natural gardens also provide a garden with a sense of place. It’s often difficult to distinguish a garden in New York from one in Washington even though their landscapes and climates are completely different.

Lawns are one the most common garden features in the landscape but turf grasses are rarely a natural occurrence. While some lawn is preferable, consider introducing wildflowers into a portion of your existing lawn. Wildflower meadows are noted for their stability, low maintenance and wide diversity of plants resulting in vibrant colors, textures and an increased awareness of seasonal change. The meadow approach to the landscape requires a clear understanding of a site’s natural conditions, more so than say a formal perennial garden bed. Wildflower meadows are a constantly changing landscape with some species surviving year after year while others may disappear and be replaced with something new. Along with these aesthetic benefits there are ecological benefits as well, including the reduced need for mowing, the creation of a habitat for native species of animals and the fact that wildflower meadows are very effective at trapping airborne pollutants.

In woodland settings, gardens which emphasize the natural conditions of the forest are easy to maintain and provide the landscape with a variety of plants. In the spring, perennials and bulbs bloom profusely in the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees which have yet to develop leaves. In the shadier conditions of summer, the spring floral display gives way to perennials and shrubs with rich varied foliage. In the fall, after the colorful leaves drop to the ground, a second bloom will often brighten up the garden. Many native species of trees have winter characteristics which are often overlooked. The form of some trees, such as the birch or ironwood, is quite striking. Woodland gardens also provide a shady respite from the hot afternoon sun of summer.

Natural gardens are not limited to country settings, they can be established in urban environments as well. A small urban lot can be transformed in to a garden which resembles the natural environment of the surrounding countryside. Planting a tree which creates dappled shade will allow a gardener to plant many native species of woodland perennials or, in sunnier spots, summer blooming wildflowers. Small native shrubs can also be used. The soft lines and lushness of a natural garden can be a welcome contrast to the consistent geometry of the city. In suburban areas, potions of vast lawns can be transformed into meadows.

If you’re not ready to give up your more traditional garden complete just yet but would like to add variety to your landscape, consider incorporating native perennials or native shrub species into your existing flower and shrub borders.

Gardens which mimic the existing landscape or incorporate native plants are successful because they’re easy to maintain and will thrive even in the most extreme conditions. They’ve adapted to do so. Planting a natural garden can help restore the landscape, attract a variety of bird species and provide the garden with a wonderful mix of under utilized, interesting plants.

Natural gardens utilize native species of plants which are often quite easy to grow. These plants have adapted to certain site conditions and are generally self sustaining. They’ll need little, if any, fertilizer and no more water than is provided by rain. Natural gardens consist of a rich and varied mix of plants. They introduce a diversity of trees, shrubs and perennials not found in some gardens. Natural gardens also provide a garden with a sense of place. It’s often difficult to distinguish a garden in New York from one in Washington even though their landscapes and climates are completely different.

Lawns are one the most common garden features in the landscape but turf grasses are rarely a natural occurrence. While some lawn is preferable, consider introducing wildflowers into a portion of your existing lawn. Wildflower meadows are noted for their stability, low maintenance and wide diversity of plants resulting in vibrant colors, textures and an increased awareness of seasonal change. The meadow approach to the landscape requires a clear understanding of a site’s natural conditions, more so than say a formal perennial garden bed. Wildflower meadows are a constantly changing landscape with some species surviving year after year while others may disappear and be replaced with something new. Along with these aesthetic benefits there are ecological benefits as well, including the reduced need for mowing, the creation of a habitat for native species of animals and the fact that wildflower meadows are very effective at trapping airborne pollutants.

In woodland settings, gardens which emphasize the natural conditions of the forest are easy to maintain and provide the landscape with a variety of plants. In the spring, perennials and bulbs bloom profusely in the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees which have yet to develop leaves. In the shadier conditions of summer, the spring floral display gives way to perennials and shrubs with rich varied foliage. In the fall, after the colorful leaves drop to the ground, a second bloom will often brighten up the garden. Many native species of trees have winter characteristics which are often overlooked. The form of some trees, such as the birch or ironwood, is quite striking. Woodland gardens also provide a shady respite from the hot afternoon sun of summer.

Natural gardens are not limited to country settings, they can be established in urban environments as well. A small urban lot can be transformed in to a garden which resembles the natural environment of the surrounding countryside. Planting a tree which creates dappled shade will allow a gardener to plant many native species of woodland perennials or, in sunnier spots, summer blooming wildflowers. Small native shrubs can also be used. The soft lines and lushness of a natural garden can be a welcome contrast to the consistent geometry of the city. In suburban areas, potions of vast lawns can be transformed into meadows.

If you’re not ready to give up your more traditional garden complete just yet but would like to add variety to your landscape, consider incorporating native perennials or native shrub species into your existing flower and shrub borders.

Gardens which mimic the existing landscape or incorporate native plants are successful because they’re easy to maintain and will thrive even in the most extreme conditions. They’ve adapted to do so. Planting a natural garden can help restore the landscape, attract a variety of bird species and provide the garden with a wonderful mix of under utilized, interesting plants.

With the increasing reduction of wild habits for many plants, many people have begun to look afresh at what they are losing and have gained an appreciation of their native flora. This has encourage them to create areas within their own garden in which wild flowers can flourish, partly to help preserve these flowers and partly because they simply enjoy them.

What is a wildflower garden? A wildflower garden is one in which native flowers are grown in as near wild conditions as possible. The idea of wild conditions is not so much to create picturesque landscape but more to create conditions in which the flowers will grow.

There are several types of garden all based on habitats in the wild. The most common is a wildflower meadow. Next are those based on plants of the cornfield and arable land, which like the disturbed soil of the open border. Then there are the woodland plants that need a shady garden. Finally, there are the wetland plants, which need a pond, stream or boggy area. Once established, wildflower gardens or borders are wonderful for attracting native birds and insects. They are, after all, their natural food.

When planning a wildflower garden, do not source your plants from those growing in the wild. Although they seem to be there for the gathering, always resist the temptation and buy seed from a respectable seed merchant instead. Leave the plants in the wild for others to enjoy.

What are wildflower meadows? These are best created by first sowing grass or using an existing lawn. Once the meadow has become established, mow it regularly to eliminate the coarser grasses. Now is the time to plant the wildflowers. They are more likely to become established if you grow the plants from seed in pots and then transplant them into the grass than if you simply scatter the seed. Prevent rank grass from taking over by mowing in high summer after the plants have seeded and then at least a couple more times before the winter sets in. Do not leave the grass lying after cutting.

Dickinson students plant trees at Pine Hill Arboretum
The Pine Hill Arboretum has plenty of wildflowers, but no trees, at least not along one hillside of the Enola estate.

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