Mother's Day Gifts

ANNUAL

Spring/summer bloom
Frost tender

BEST TO START DIRECTLY OUTDOORS

In early spring, after all danger of frost is past, plant in a well-prepared garden bed in full sun. Shake packet to mix. Scatter the seed thinly and evenly over finely worked soil, aiming to have the seeds about an inch or so apart. Cover lightly, about 1/4 inch deep, and gently firm the soil over the seeds – a rake is handy for this step.

Water thoroughly and evenly with a very gentle spray. Keep the seed bed moist while awaiting germination and while flowers are actively growing for the most blossoms. The many flower varieties in this pretty mix will grow and bloom in succession throughout late spring and summer.

TWO DESIGN IDEAS

Plant your butterfly garden in a rectangular bed or border with tall, medium and low flowers from back to front, OR in a circle with tall flowers in the center, surrounded by the middle and then lower growing varieties.

For the back of the border in dramatic rows, OR planted in a circle garden as a central spiral, tall, branching Crimson Queen sunflowers offer both a convenient meal and a windscreen for your winged visitors.

At mid-level, Purity Cosmos' abundant snow-satiny white flowers with sunny centers dance and sway all summer, a magnet for air-waltzing butterflies.

At front of the border OR around the outer edge of the circle, low-growing Persian Carpet zinnias offer a beautiful tapestry of warm shades and provide nectar for many species.

CREATING BUTTERFLY HABITAT

Butterflies are attracted to blossom shapes and colors, so it's important to plant in mass blocks instead of a few isolated plants here and there. Planting these flowers behind each other produces an ideal combination of different flowers at varying heights, offering your visitors a choice of where to feed and rest.

These flowers provide flower nectar for nourishment and fuel butterflies need for flying. Flowers unique personal attributes of color, scent and shape lure butterflies and ensure pollination. With each sip from the heart of a blossom, tiny grains of pollen gather on the butterfly’s body and then it helps to pollinate the garden as it flutters among flowers.

Sunny days in the garden are synonymous with a busy freeway of flying butterflies. The sun warms their wing muscles, enabling them to dart, soar and fly seeking nectar and pollinating your sun loving flowers. On gusty summer days, the taller cosmos and sunflowers offer comfortable protection from the wind. Offer butterflies a convenient drinking spot with a shallow bird bath or decorative stone water container.

TWO DESIGN IDEAS

Plant your hummingbird flower garden in a rectangular bed or border with tall, medium and low flowers from back to front, OR plant in a circle garden with the tall climber in the center, surrounded by the middle and then lower growing flowers.

At the back of the border OR climbing up a central trellis in a circle garden, climbing Scarlet Runner Beans offer abundant coral-red blossoms that hummers love to sip.

At mid-level, Scarlet Flame Zinnias bright red flowers make a splash of color easy for hummers to see from a distance.

At front of the border OR on the outside of the circle, low mounding Summer Charm Nasturtiums are a sure fit for hummingbirds' nectar-seeking bills.

CREATING HUMMINGBIRD HABITAT

Plant as big an area as possible to create explosive bursts of color that can be seen easily from the air. Hummingbirds expend an extraordinary amount of energy for their size, and require an enormous amount of food – you just can't have too many flowers! After locating convenient nectar sources, these intelligent little creatures follow a foraging routine in a relatively small area despite their ability to roam and will return for ongoing meals from your garden.

These flowers offer complete natural meals: while nectar is their primary food source, blossoms also harbor small insects that are protein sources for the diminutive birds, so hummingbirds will help in your garden by dining on aphids and other tiny insects they snap up in their sharp pointed bills while simultaneously pollinating them.

Design elements such as a handsome trellis for your climbing runner bean blossoms provide a convenient, stationary perch where these territorial little birds can survey their entire domain. Enjoy watching them as they dine, hover, socialize, argue and perch, wings vibrating with amazing speed and grace, flying furiously up and down, backward, forward, even upside down amongst your colorful flowers.

ANNUAL

Spring/summer bloom
Frost tender

EASIEST TO PLANT OUTDOORS

Plant in full sun in good garden soil only when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range. Poke individual seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 in. deep, 4 to 5 in. apart. Press the soil firmly over the seeds and keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.

Important: when the seedlings are well-established, carefully thin them to a final spacing of 1 foot apart; this way they will have enough room to develop sturdy stalks that won’t blow over and big clusters of flowers. Any extra seedlings you need to remove can be transplanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up and given to friends.

TO START EARLY INDOORS

Several weeks before last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are well established and ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Space seedlings 1 foot apart so plants will have room to grow and mature.

GROWING NOTES

Growing these colorful sunflowers for pollinators and bouquets is both easy and rewarding. Make several sowings several weeks apart and you’ll have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded. Protect very young seedlings from bird predation by covering the bed with bird netting held tautly well above seedlings by supports. Or use plastic berry baskets, removing before plants get crowded.

START SEED DIRECTLY IN THE GARDEN

Sow seeds directly in fine textured, well drained soil in full sun as early in spring as the ground can be worked. Plant as early as possible in spring, as poppies can handle light frost and bloom best and longest when plants get a good start in cool weather.

Except in very poor soil, these California poppies will flower readily with no added fertilizer.

Sprinkle seeds thinly, cover or rake in lightly, 1/4 inch deep, and firm soil gently. Be sure to keep the soil moist while awaiting germination and when seedlings are small. For best results, thin well-established seedlings to a final spacing of 6 to 8 inches apart so plants have room to grow, develop and bloom.

In Mild Winter Climates, where ground does not freeze hard, poppies can also be sown in late fall to over-winter for spring bloom. Be sure to protect fall-grown seedlings from slugs, snails and marauding birds.

GROWING NOTES

When mature, poppy plants can handle dry conditions, but will thrive and always bloom much longer if watered regularly. Poppies are lovely cut flowers if brought indoors just as buds begin to open. At season's end, allow spent flowers to form pods and drop seed if you want poppies to self-sow.

FOR BEST RESULTS

Fill a 6 inch diameter or larger pot with moistened planting mix. Sprinkle seeds 1/4 inch apart over the surface, cover 1/2 inch deep with mix, and water gently. Keep pot moist but not soggy, and be sure to provide a good light source. The pot of grasses can be kept indoors for pets to graze on at their leisure. Fertilize every 2 weeks using a non-chemical fertilizer, such as fish emulsion.

GROWING NOTES

This generous packet provides more than enough seed for 10 to 12 sowings for consistent fresh greens. The grasses are ready for pets to nibble when the blades are at least a few inches tall, normally in about 10 to 14 days after sowing.

If grasses get too tall and fall over, "mow" them down to 3-4 inches with a pair of scissors. For a constant supply, try sowing 1 pot a week for 2 weeks. Give your pet access to only one pot of grass at a time, and switch pots each week.

When grass does not re-grow vigorously after cutting down and fertilizing, discard and start again with more seeds and soil mix.

DINING IDEAS

Most cats will recognize the grass as a treat right away. To encourage finicky eaters, place the pot beside the kitty's food and spritz it with water. This usually does the trick and cats who newly discover this treat delight in it!