Planting a Rainbow Garden

Red Cardinal Flower

The Red Cardinal Flower is an American wildflower native to the midwestern region, including Michigan and Wisconsin. Lobelia blooms are tall perennials that flourish in USDA hardy planting zones 1 through 10.  Red Cardinal Flower's Appearance Tall spikes of splendid red, trumpet-formed blooms transcend the dull green foliage. Each bloom has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals assembled into a tube at the base. Erect verdant stems, frequently in groups, with racemes of blossoms looking like flaring red spires. They add a beautiful, bright touch of color to any landscape or floral garden. They are deer and rabbit-resistant yet attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Red Cardinal Flower's Bloom Developing cardinal blossoms sprout amid summer and, in some cases, into fall. Many insects have a hard time following the long necks of Red Cardinal Flower, so cardinal blossoms rely upon hummingbirds for preparation. Cardinal blossoms develop best in areas with morning sun and evening shade, aside from cool zones requiring full sun. They also require clammy, ripe soil and perform best, considering organic matter is incorporated into the dirt before planting. Planting Red Cardinal Flower The mature height of the Red Cardinal Flower is typically 24 to 48 inches. The seeds must be planted indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the late frost in delinquent winter. You can transfer the blossom seedlings outside four weeks after you planted them in the fitting plate, picking a zone with full sun or incomplete shade and rich, loamy, and ideally wet soil. For best results, place a 2-to 3-inch layer of natural mulch around the blossoms and water consistently, keeping the dirt continually sodden for the bloom amid the developing season. The bloom is not dry-season tolerant and performs best with continuously wet soil.

Mayapple

The Mayapple will be a delightful addition to your Spring garden. It is easy to plant and will grow happily and with minimal maintenance. Gardeners and landscapers enjoy the distinctive beauty of the plant. The leaves are large and striking in color and colossal mass. This perennial plant will look beautiful for months to come. The Growth Of Mayapple Mayapple will grow to a height of about 12 inches to a max of 18 inches. The leaves will grow to more than 12 inches in width. The plant is known as a species of podophyllum peltatum. It sometimes goes by the name of duck's foot. It is a member of the Japanese barberry family. A part of the plant, grown on the leaf as a small fruit, is considered edible by some researchers. If eaten, it should be only when the apple is fully ripe.  The Stunning Foliage Of The Mayapple The leaf's colors will vary throughout the season. It will start as a variation of olive green. Throughout the shades of olive green, there will also be a copper hue that will be evident in the early growing stages of the Spring. This would be in May and a bit sooner in Zone 5 for most zones. Later in the season, expect a change of color to solid green. It is not unusual to get variations of colors from leaf to leaf.  Where The Mayapple Does Best Mayapple plants are found in the northeastern areas of North America. They typically prosper best in zones 3 to 8. It is recommended that they be planted in a sunny location with moist soil and compost. In a more shady location, they will do best with abundant water. The plant will blossom in some climates in the early summer, possibly as early as May.

Sweet Violet

There are many members of the viola family, and one of them is the Sweet Violet. Unlike most Violas, they are often used in rock gardens, and soil that is not dry is preferred. If you would like to plant them, you should make sure you amend the dirt with ample portions of compost or rotted manure. You can also choose to plant them in a container filled with lightweight potting mixtures, and they will thrive. Planting Bare Root Sweet Violet Timing: Plant bare root violets in early spring or fall. Location: Choose a location with partial to full shade. Sweet Violets prefer cooler, shaded environments. Soil: Well-drained, rich soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal. Preparation: Soak the bare roots in water for a few hours before planting to rehydrate them. Planting Depth: Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the roots without crowding. Plant with the crown just at or slightly below the soil surface. Spacing: Space plants about 6-12 inches apart to allow for spreading. Sweet Violets Love Sunshine  If you want to see them at their best, they will require lots of sunlight. However, keep in mind that they do not like temperatures over 80 degrees. If the temperature gets too hot for too long, the plant's blooming will stall down, and the plant will ultimately die. Experts advise that you should provide the flower with sunlight during the morning and make sure it has some shade in the afternoon. Sweet Violets Love Water  The Sweet Violets also stop blooming in dry soil so that they will require a lot of consistent watering. But do not water too much because this will also cause them to die. Experts say you should let the top layer of soil dry before the next watering so they do not become saturated. You are also advised to deadhead the flowers to keep them blooming for as long as possible. This means removing the dead flowers as soon as possible to preserve the healthy ones. These plants often return and regrow after being deadheaded. Sweet Violets Are Very Low-Maintenance  Sweet Violets are beautiful plants that are generally low-maintenance. Their flowers are delightful to look at, and it has been scientifically proven that they have a calming effect. The plant can be grown in several parts of the United States. Get your Sweet Violets at Garden Plants Nursery.

Turk Cap Lily

The Turk Cap Lily is a lovely six-petaled flower with gorgeous bright orange flowers and dark spots. It has a sleek, upward curve makes it seem like it is reaching for the sun. Below, at the base, the leaves combine green, yellow and muted green. These lovely perennial lilies can grow to between 3 and 7 feet tall and it's not unusual for a single plant to produce as many as up to 12 blossoms. Typically, they bloom from the early to mid-summer, and the blooms last up to a month. These lovely flowers do best growing in zones 5 through 8. Turk Cap Lily's Flowers The flowers are very popular with bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plant these lovely flowers as a landscape edge, and your backyard will soon be buzzing and fluttering with activity. Plants from bulbs form in the fall in rich, moist, wet, organic, slightly acidic soil. Planting Turk Cap Lily Since Turk Cap Lily grows so high, plant it in the back of your garden as a cap to your backyard greenery. This vigorous plant still prefers to grow in at least light shade or filtered shade areas. It will grow in complete shade, but you will probably need to stake it as the plant will lean towards the sun. Caring For Turk Cap Lily If you live in the country, though, be sure to grow Turk Cap Lily in an area enclosed by a fence because deer love these precious blooms as snacks. While the plants prefer loamy, wet soil, ensure the soil drains and there is not too much water. Be sure to add 5-10-5 fertilizer to your soil if you want your plant to grow high and produce plenty of blooms. Water regularly in the first two years, less after that.