Butchart Gardens: Victoria B.C., Canada

One of my favorites places on the planet! The world famous Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

These Zinnias can grow quite nicely here in Utah.  They will want a sunny location.

A Dusty Miller (grey plants) border is always nice. You want different colors and textures in your flower bed.

Lots of running water always makes for a beautiful garden!

Look for a great blog post next week about tips for summer planting in Utah -- how to make your own mini Butchart Gardens!

Make it Homegrown!

So, a question that might be on your mind...is it a good time to plant your garden?  Here in Utah we are experiencing the total opposite of 2011's spring. We are breaking records for high temperatures that have lasted some 80 years! My garden is planted and is thriving in this unusually warm weather.  Warm and dry is better than wet and cold.

Now, this doesn't exactly mean that summer is here and that we don't need to worry about cold or even freezing temperatures.  You just need to be aware of the ever-changing weather conditions. I have my garden blankets and hot caps ready to go if necessary!

TIP:Cool crops that are perfect to plant even in cool weather:  broccoli, lettuce, onions, spinach, peas, radishes, turnips, beats, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, swiss chard.

My garden spot is only about 15 ft. by 18 ft. I believe that any garden bigger than this is considered a "farm". I don't want a very big job because it's feeding only two people!!

Plant vegetables that you and your family will eat, not items that you won't eat and are growing them just for fun (I've done that!). This year I am planting only the following: two types of broccoli (Packman, Premium Crop), string beans (Slenderette), spinach, and three varieties of tomatoes (Celebrity, Roma, and Cherry (Husky Cherry Red)).

I've planted yellow Marigolds this year for the first time around my garden to thwart insects (I've seen it done before with success!).  The preparation that goes into a garden is very important! I make sure I add a garden compost to the area (several bags) then I roto-till it into the ground and make it very rich and easy to plant. I don't mess with seeds; I go for the 1 gallon tomatoes and 4 inch cup on the other items. I don't have a lot of patience waiting for seeds to come up!!

Question:
What do you plant in your garden?

Potted tulips

TULIPS!!! 
I planted the bulbs and pansies late last fall in October.  

They look great in this large pot (seen below) next to my water feature! 

I placed some other pots right next to the rose garden to bring some color to that area of the yard since the roses won't bloom for a while.

I tried to cram as many bulbs in the pots as I could.  The standard is 3 - 4" apart.  My wife's favorite color in landscaping is pink and they turned out really nice this year! The best tulips come from New York from a company called Van Bourgondien.   Don't buy from "big box" stores -- they're cheap and you'll be disappointed in the size of the tulips.  I use a good potting mix from a nursery or garden center.  Because we had a very dry winter, I had to water the pots periodically (every two weeks).  Now I water them about twice a week, depending on the weather. 

Any questions?  Ask me in the comments section below.

Questions I'd like you to comment on:
What do you put in your pots?
What's your favorite color of tulips?
How many tulips do you have in your yard right now?

Lush Lawns and Summer Annuals

LUSH LAWNS:
With a lot of rain and a bit of sun and warm temperatures lawns are looking good! If you haven't had a chance to fertilize your lawn yet may I recommend 32-3-8 from IFA.  I have been using this product for a couple of years now and I really like the deep green it gives grass for a fairly long period of time (2 months).

GETTING RID OF LAWN WEEDS: 
 Also, if you have a few of those pesty dandelions popping up just get a bottle of the pre-mixed broadleaf dandelion killer at Lowe's or Home Depot.  It works great and you can hit exactly where you have the problem.  Just remember to read the label for directions.  Most of the time you need to wait 24 hours before getting the dandelion wet after spraying.

SUMMER ANNUALS:
By the way, even though you maybe tempted to plant those summer annuals right now- DON'T DO IT! I know that all the nurseries have your favorite flowers out now but resist the temptation. It doesn't take much to send temperatures below freezing some night and turn those Geraniums or Impatiens to an early death.

Plus, my tulips are still thriving!  I planted them in every square inch of my yard and I'm not tempted to plant those summer annuals just yet!

I'd love to hear from you!
What do you do to keep your lawn green?
What summer annuals are you most excited to plant?