Winter Garden Magazine May 2018 | Page 29

Tips for Festive Flourishing Flowers, Vibrant Plants and Hardy Herbs Spring is in full bloom, but are your plants keeping pace? If the answer is anything but a resounding yes, don’t worry. There’s still plenty of time to get into the spirit of the season and grow your most beautiful bed of flowers. “There’s nothing like the start of the season,” says Emily Murphy of Pass the Pistil blog. “I love planning my space, buying seeds and starts, and making sure I have the right tools to make the gardening season a success. Before I start any project, I do a quick inventory to be sure I have everything I need, like my circular sprinkler. It makes customizing water coverage easy, with shape control collars that move to mirror the area you want to water, which is a real lifesaver throughout the season.” A lush bed of flowers or a row of beautiful plants is an instant focal point in any outdoor space. To help create a flourishing bed that everyone will notice, follow these easy tips. Plant based on your zone. Not all flowers succeed in the same weather conditions, which makes planting based on what grows best in your geographical area crucial. Use this planting map as a great tool to learn more about what to plant based on your zone. For example, geraniums thrive best in zones that have mild winters and hot summers, like Zone 10. If you live in Zone 1, look for a drought-tolerant and tremendously cold hardy plant, like sunflowers. continued on pg. 49 Third Annual Night at the Preserve Saturday, May 12th 6:00pm-9:00pm Oakland Nature Preserve 747 Machete Trail Oakland, FL 34760 Join us for an elegant evening at the Preserve! Hors d'oeuvre · Great Music · Chance Drawings Sunset Toast · and More www.OaklandNaturePreserve.org/natp Advance Ticket Required · Online or In-Person · Adults Only Please MAY 2018 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE |   29