A Love Letter to Flowers

Oh flowers, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! This week fall in love with flowers that are a perfect match for English gardens, perennials that are sure to last longer than a secret admirer, all the red flowers you (and the hummingbirds) could ever dream of, plus there’s even an entire gala just for Galanthus lovers! 

Though the terms “English” and “cottage” gardens are often used interchangeably, the big difference is in the history—early English gardens were expansive and formal, created by the noble class, while cottage gardens were their smaller, functional counterparts.

Design elements for an English garden include gates for transitions between garden rooms (pictured), hardscaping, roses, repetition, pathways, roses, layered mixed borders, roses, and more (oh, and did we mention roses?). See 16 design elements to try in your own garden. Photo by Elliot Hook.

Roses are a given for English gardens (I mean the ‘Graham Thomas’ English rose, pictured, is a classic for a reason!), but there are also other plants to help shape the dreamy design; English lavender for fragrance and hedging, hollyhocks for height and color, boxwood for the formal feel, and wisteria for that touch of whimsy and romance. Learn about each plant, plus how to maintain your English garden, here. Photo by Janet Loughrey. 

If you love English gardens, you definitely don’t want to miss our next webinar on February 18th, “Succession Planting For A Long Season” with Fergus Garrett.

In 1992, Fergus became head gardener at one of England’s most revered gardens, Great Dixter, working closely with English garden legend Christopher Lloyd until his death in 2006.

You will learn:

• Tips and tricks for making your garden look better for longer with succession planting.
• How plants can share the same space.
• The importance of building a strong infrastructure with reliable, season-long plants—and how to add plants that come and go.

Make your garden its most beautiful this year!

Red may be the classic color for Valentine’s, but how about including red in the garden year-round to make our hummingbird and butterfly friends feel loved? Liven up your baskets, beds, and borders with 32 of our favorite red-flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs. 

Bonus color tip: Red compliments green, blends well with violet and orange, and forms a color triad with blue and yellow. Read more about How to Use Color in the Garden.

Why worry about what plants will do best in the garden when there’s already a collection of best-sellers (work smarter, not harder). Proven Winners recently put together their top 20 perennials that not only look great but also provide unbeatable performance in the garden as well. Win-win!

Pictured: Sweet Romance® Lavender, Zones 5-9, available now for preorder from Proven Winners. Fragrant, attracts pollinators, and definitely adds a dash of romance.

Tip: Prefer to buy at you local garden center but rarely see the plants you want? Try asking if they can order it for you!

If Galanthus have a special place in your heart, you’ll be happy to know the Galanthus Gala is back for 2023! This year the event is a hybrid, with options for attending in person and online.

Hosted by David Culp, speakers include Mary Keen, Panayoti Kelaidis, Gerald Simcoe, and Janet Benjafield—plus the celebration of the legacy of Alan Street.
All lectures will be in-person and on Zoom for online participants.

Vendors include Brandywine Cottage, Broken Arrow Nursery, Edgewood Gardens, Issima, Look Again Garden, Twinning Garden, Scratching Post Gardens, Paula Squitiere, Matthew Bricker, and John O’Brien.

Are you giving your sweetheart flowers this Valentine’s Day? Make sure the flowers you’ve chosen are sending the right message. Learn more about the meaning of a rose, and the language of flowers. Photo by Vedrana Zupanic.