April showers bring May flowers, or so the old saying goes. And while May flowers are delightful (and a welcome part of spring in snow-weary northern Wisconsin), June flowers, July flowers, August flowers and September flowers are equally welcome around the farm.
The truth is, flowers are enjoyable all times of year. Many different types of flowers, both wild and cultivated, grow around my farm and bloom in waves as the seasons shift. But you can never have too many flowers, and I have ambitions to plant more—many more.
Daylilies
They’re big, they’re beautiful. They come back year after year. And they don’t require much attention.
A bed of daylilies in full bloom is a beautiful sight. I found a patch of orange daylilies growing wild in the woods of my farm a few years ago and transplanted some into my orchard. I intend to transplant more this year, since daylilies do best in full sun and don’t bloom to their full potential under the shade of trees.
Read more: Daylilies look great and taste good, too!
Hydrangeas
A few years ago, I bought a lovely hydrangea in full bloom from a local nursery. The giant clusters of flowers change color from white to pink as they age, and it’s a lovely centerpiece in my garden.
I want to purchase more hydrangeas this year and plant some in my orchard. I may even try growing one in a raised bed or large pot so I can control the soil pH and grow blue flowers.
Grape Hyacinths
They’re among the first flowers to sprout in the spring up here, and the burst of deep blue color they provide is refreshing coming off the dull grayscale of winter.
I once saw a photo of a walkway planted entirely with grape hyacinths. While I wouldn’t want to replicate the approach on a heavily-used path, the beauty of the expansive grape hyacinth planting left a vivid impression in my mind. Somewhere, somehow, I want to plant a similarly large group of grape hyacinths.
Crocuses
They also come up early in spring, providing a flash of color almost as soon as the snow melts. By the time winter ends, I’m ready to see signs of life and color. Planting more crocuses is high on my list.
Irises
They love water, so I’ve been planting them extensively in a low spot of my orchard where water often gathers after heavy rains. I find their foliage pretty even when they’re not in bloom, but when their flower buds shoot up and burst into bloom… beautiful!
My iris flowers are various shades of blue and purple. But many other colors are available, and I want to plant more for variety. A few dashes of yellow might look lovely amidst the blues and purples.
Feeling inspired to embark on a flower-planting mission of your own? You’ll need the right tools. A hand trowel, a digging shovel, and a rake are good places to start. But if you want to go all in, check out our list of 12 gardening tools you’ll be glad to have.
Have fun planting!
