Flowers

May is a great month to plant annuals, perennials, shrubs, roses, trees, and ground covers. Fertilize new plantings with Fertilome Root Stimulator . Plant bedding plant annuals, such as begonia, impatiens, periwinkle, petunias, caladiums, zinnia , etc. Fertilize with TLC Garden Max or Espoma Organic Flower-Tone. Plant t omatoes, peppers, melons, cucumber, sweet potatoes, eggplant, okra , etc. Fertilize with TLC Tomato & Vegetable Food or Espoma Organic Garden-Tone. Prepare s

TLC’s March Checklist & Pruning Guide Early in the month, you still have time to plant cool-season vegetable crops. Plants and seeds are available now: Potato | onion | asparagus | beet | broccoli | cabbage | carrot | cauliflower | kohlrabi | lettuce | onion | peas | potato | radish | rhubarb | spinach | swiss chard | turnip This is a great time to plant shade, fruit and nut trees, as well as grapes and other berries. Plant shrubs, perennials and herbs now, but check with you

Breathtaking Beauty Meets Simplicity In terms of evolutionary history, orchids are the youngest flowering plants. They are also the largest plant family, with 10,000 to 30,000 species and more than 70,000 hybrids. Most orchids come from Asiatic regions and are most commonly found growing in trees. But a greenhouse or climate-controlled area isn’t required to grow them. Despite their elegant, graceful appearance, orchids aren’t difficult to care for, and by following a few sim

The Facts Height: Variety Dependent Spread: Variety Dependent Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast This perennial is tried and true in the hot Oklahoma summer sun. Verbena is a great source of vibrant color for hanging containers, windows boxes and garden beds alike. Reds, pinks, whites and purples pop in the landscape. Like Phlox, Verbena comes in tall and creeping. The majority of the time, though, creeping Verbena is what is found in t

The Facts Height: Variety Dependent Spread: Variety Dependent Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast Sedum are one of the most diverse and versatile perennial on the market. This plant can either serve as a tall backdrop, “spiller filler” or groundcover depending on the variety. Because of its diversity, it has a range of colors to its foliage and blooms. The tall sedum blooms either in the spring or fall; with a few varieties blooming in th

The Facts Height: Variety Dependent Spread: Variety Dependent Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast Sedum are one of the most diverse and versatile perennial on the market. This plant can either serve as a tall backdrop, “spiller filler” or groundcover depending on the variety. Because of its diversity, it has a range of colors to its foliage and blooms. The tall sedum blooms either in the spring or fall; with a few varieties blooming in t

The Facts Height: 1′ – 2′ Spread: 1′ – 2′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well-Drained Growth Rate: Fast Salvia, sometimes sage or meadow sage, is a very well-known and popular plant. Hues of purple, blue, red and white can be seen blanketing garden beds throughout Oklahoma. The most popular of these are the May Night and Gregii varieties (purple and red, respectively). Saliva apiana is a white salvia that is sacred to and used in some Native American ceremonies. Because

The Facts Height: 1.5′ – 9′ Spread: 0.5′ – 1′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast This particular member of the sunflower family, Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan), is a true North American native. The Native American tribes used it as a cure for colds, the flu and many other things. Large yellow flower heads with brown or black centers protrude on tall, fuzzy stems with their foliage staying lower to the ground. Though yellow is the predominant hue of R

The Facts Height: Variety Dependent Spread: Variety Dependent Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast Whether it’s crawling the ground or reaching to the sky, Phlox is always a brilliant addition of color to the garden. Phlox can be broken down into two separate categories, Creeping Phlox and Garden (Tall) Phlox. Creeping Phlox is an early to mid-spring bloomer. Once the temperatures rise the blooming subsides. Garden Phlox tends to be the

The Facts Height: 2′ – 4′ Spread: 2′ – 3′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Any. Growth Rate: Fast Monarda is a unique plant with many benefits to growing it. Native to the Americas, many tribes used it as an antiseptic for minor wounds and infections. Sometimes, the leaves were crushed and boiled to aid in curing headaches and fever. In addition to its medicinal properties tribes also used the bee balm to season wild game because of its taste that

The Facts Height: 1′ – 2.5′ Spread: 1′ – 1.5′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Well-Drained Growth Rate: Fast Milkweed, or Asclepias, is one of the most important native perennials a person can plant in their garden. It is also the one that requires the most specific care. This is because it is the number one food source nesting place for Monarch Butterflies as they emerge and travel south for the winter. It is important that no harmful or toxic chemicals

\ The Facts Height: 1′ – 1.5′ Spread: 1′ – 1.5′ Sun: Morning Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Moderate Hellebores, sometimes called Lenten Rose, are an amazing perennial choice for shade and woodland gardens. Like many plants throughout time, the Hellebore was used in early medicine. It would treat paralysis, gout and a number of other diseases. Although it is also highly toxic and can cause cardiac arrest if used improperly. Delicate petal cups surround sta

The Facts Height: 1′ – 1.5′ Spread: 1′ – 1.5′ Sun: Partial Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Moderate Unlike its annual cousin, Hardy Plumbago likes a little more shade in Oklahoma. Also unlike annual plumbago, it tends to stay lower to the ground. It can take a little more sun, but it’s recommended it be in the morning. Brilliant, electric blue flowers displays on soft, dark green leaves. It spreads slowly, providing elegant and wonderful drifts of color. In

The Facts Height: 2′ – 5′ Spread: 1′ – 2′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast Gaura is a truly unique specimen. Native to North America, they are seen taking over prairies and grasslands. Their clumping habit almost makes them appear like thickets. The stems appear leafless, but sport them on the lower part of their body creating the thicket look. The blooms themselves clump and face in one general direction, usually upward. Gaura blooms

The Facts Height: 2′ – 3′ Spread: 1′ – 2′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast A true native to the Americas, Gaillardia (Blanket Flower), this perennial is classic and ignites memories in our inner child. This is especially so if you are a child of Oklahoma, as it is the state wildflower. This is fitting as the name blanket flower came from the brightly colored patterns Native Americans would weave into their blankets. These bloom

The Facts Height: 2′ – 5′ Spread: 1.5′ – 2′ Sun: Full to Part Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast Echinacea, or Coneflower, is an Oklahoma native that never fails to impress. Its vibrant hues draw the eye to the large flowers it produces. Excellent heat and drought tolerance make it a garden favorite. The relatively low maintenance it has doesn’t hurt either, as it often reblooms without deadheading. At the center of the up

The Facts Height: 1′ – 2′ Spread: Undetermined Sun: Full Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast The Daylily (Hemerocallis) is often referred to as “the perfect perennial” for its wide adaptibility. From zone 1 to 11, drought to frost, this perennial is vibrant in color and vigorous in growth. It is hard to pin down a spread for daylillies as they can reach far if kept untamed. The common daylily blooms once per season with its bloom lasting an

The Facts Height: 2′ – 4′ Spread: 1′ – 1.5′ Sun: Full Sun Water: Dry to Medium Soil: Any Growth Rate: Fast Coreopsis is a native of the plains and is often referred to as tickseed. While some might call this a weed because of its native properties, this perennial is truly a stunning one. The varieties and colors which Coreopsis provides is vast and vibrant. Because of this, it is hard to define the plant structure in any one instance. Most, however, sport s

The Facts Height: 1′ – 2′ Spread: 1′ – 2′ Sun: Morning Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast Columbine is a fascinating perennial. Its genus name, Aquilegia, derives from the Latin word for eagle (aquila), because of its resemblance to that of an eagle’s claw. The flowers of this plant were used by the Native Americans as a compliment to other fresh greens because of its very sweet nature. Although safe if consumed in small quantities, it is not recommended

The Facts Height: 0.5′ – 1.5′ Spread: 1′ – 2′ Sun: Morning Sun Water: Medium Soil: Well Drained Growth Rate: Fast Anemone are beautiful to behold. They’re soft look only masks their hardy nature. These perennials have a wide zone range and are adaptable to many regions. Though this may be, filtered sunlight or full shade is best for these beauties. Spread by runners underground, these make fine additions to large areas of shade or woodland gardens. They’re bright colors are