Detroit Flowers | Detroit gardening tips, native plants, and best places to buy flowers

Warm Weather | When to Plant Those Annual Flats

It’s getting so close I can taste it. Well, more like smell it. I can smell spring coming. If you aren’t from a cold, northern state, you don’t get what that means. You don’t understand how it is possible to smell a season, but I can. And, do. You see, the ground has been frozen for so long that as the snow melts and the sun warms up old Mother Earth, the ground turns to mud. So, I guess we are smelling mud, which is a fabulous thing to smell after a long, cold winter. What does mud smell like? Hmmmmm. It smells fresh and, oddly, clean. It smells musty and musky and earthy and oh-so-yummy.

The thing to remember with gardening in southeast Michigan is that even though it may be in the 70’s this week and we actually had tornadoes, March is too early to plant. The actual last day for frost is May 15^th. You can start some seeds indoors or in a greenhouse before that date and, of course, you will see the crocus, daffodils and tulips poking their little heads out way before then. Everytime we have unseasonably warm weather for more than a few days straight, I see some eager beaver with those trays of annuals and a kneeling pad. They are ignorant to the inevitable frost coming. It may be tomorrow or it may wait until May. Rest assured, it will come. They do not make up those frost dates. They have been keeping track for decades. Be patient; May 15^th will be here before you know it.

A Sure Sign of Spring | The Michigan Home and Garden Show

Right about March, cabin fever in Michigan hits us hard. We cannot stand the thought of being indoors any longer. We need sunlight. We need warm weather. We need to actually see the grass. Then, like a super hero, cape and all, the Michigan Home and Garden show comes swooping out of the sky to rescue us, just in the nic of time. It’s a great use of the Silverdome, too. In fact, heading out to Pontiac brings back a lot of memories for all of us.

Never been? Oh, you are in for a treat. The show is huge. And, when we say huge, we mean huge as in rivals-the-Auto-Show- huge. The entire Silverdome is transformed into a spring garden oasis. Real live gardens with ponds and streams as well as landscaping displays, paver patios and nouveau decks for your enjoyment. Whether you have an upcoming project and need ideas or just need somewhere to wander on the weekend, head on down and check it out. There are hundreds of exhibits and seminars on everything from gardening and landscaping to kitchen and bath remodeling.

The show will be at the Pontiac Silverdome Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11. Show hours are 12 noon to 9 p.m.. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children (6-14), under 6 is free. Parking is just $5. Be sure to check online for a coupon and have fun.

The Michigan Home and Garden Show

A sure sign of spring....

Matthei Botanical Garden | A Winter Haven

Yes. It is cold outside. No. You cannot garden in the snow. Why not take advantage of the downtime and head over to Matthaei Botanical Garden and Nichols Arboretum on the campus of the University of Michigan? Situated on over 123 acres, just outside of Ann Arbor, it makes for a great place to walk on the weekends … when it’s not snowing. For colder months, they have a 10,000 square foot conservatory that is sure to satiate your need for plants and Mother Nature, even

when the thermometer is well below zero and the winter wind is howling.

Dress in layers because the conservatory has a Tropical House, Temperate House and an Arid House and the indoor temperatures reflect those zones. The University also owns a fabulous bonsai collection and is currently constructing a new and improved bonsai and penjing garden for display purposes. Each area provides a little gardening pleasure for everyone, from tropical banana and pineapple trees to drought-resistant cacti. You can even test your courage with their carnivorous plant collection in the bog. Very cool. Weird, but cool.

The plants in this huge conservatory have been collected and studied for over 100 years and, luckily, they are willing to share what they’ve learned with you. Check out their weekly lectures for a cold weather gardening treat. Topics covered run the gamut from caring for roses to caring for the Great Lakes and everything in between. And, don’t worry, they’ll let you in even if you root for State.

Perennials to Plant in Detroit

A popular type of flower to plant is a perennial as it comes back every year without you having to do anything. This can be especially important when you live in a climate such as Detroit where you have to deal with snow and the melting that comes with it. Depending on the winter and when the snow flies, you may not have time to deal with your flowers before the snow is covered in white. By having perennials, there is not much you need to do with them in the spring except possibly clean out the dead bits that you did not remove in the fall and wait for them to re-bloom.

If you are not sure what types of plants might work well in the climate, here are some ideas of perennials that would work well in Detroit. These particular ones work well in an area where they will get some shade at some point in the day. You will want to keep that in mind when you decide where to plant them.

Bleeding Hearts – The branches put out little “flower” that look exactly like a heart. They come in pink or white and will bloom in April or May.

Hosta Plants - It is recommended to use these with Bleeding hearts. They are also a shade loving perennial that can help to fill in space around various plants as they lay low to the ground. These are a leafy looking plant which you can get with blue, green or a golden-yellow leaf.

White Flower Farm | More Winter Reading For Gardeners

For those of us forced to stay in the cold, blustery Michigan winters instead of migrating south to Florida or west to Arizona, it can be not only chilly but also a little depressing. Paging through gardening catalogs and dog-earring all the pages that inspire us can be a great way to lift one’s spirits and plan for the upcoming seasons. The people over at White Flower Farm are more than happy to help with that. Their catalog, as well as their website, is filled with page after page of shockingly vibrant pictures of flowers, fruits and vegetables. In fact, brace yourself because after endless days of nothing but white snow and gray skies, this will be intense.

So intense, in fact, that you may actually feel the warmth of the sun on your face, if only for a fleeting moment.

Sometimes I go through the catalog and just circle everything that instantly appeals to me (and will grow in our Zone 5 temps) and then edit my list down to what I can actually manage to maintain, have room for and can afford – all important factors for any gardener. I mean, sure, I’d love a 12’ by 20’ greenhouse to start all my seeds in and to winter over tender perennials, but neither my budget, my backyard nor my husband would allow it (I may get rid of the husband one day, though, because I really, really want a greenhouse).

The way I see it who needs a kindle or a library when you have a new catalog and a garden to plan?

January, Burpee And Daydreams

A cold blanket of snow covers the tri-county area. The ground is frozen solid. The days are short, dark and bitterly cold. *sigh* Gardeners throughout the metro area can only daydream about the warmer months to come. There is not much gardening to do but sit by a cozy fire or near the heat vent and wait.

Wait for Spring? Well, yes and no. Spring will take months to arrive but the gardening catalogs are arriving now.

The catalogs have helped many a gardener make it through the winter. Browsing the pages and planning next year’s beds is a great way to pass the time. Selecting which seeds, bulbs and seedlings to purchase is always fun and exciting. A classic and all-American favorite is the Burpee Catalog. Just the sight of it in the mailbox can cause butterflies in stomachs, send shivers up spines and even create a few audible gasps.

Sure, to non-gardeners, it is filled with page after page of vegetables and fruits that you can pick up at any decent grocery store but, to those of us that like to work with the soil, it is full of possibilities, potential, tasty treats and tons of fun.

As the winter wind blows, you can discuss the merits of stakes and cages with your spouse. You can cross reference which heirloom tomatoes your father-in-law will be plating. You could even decide to split part of your order with a neighbor. It kills the time. In fact, this is how all gardeners across the state spend the month of January. Dreaming of Spring and all its possibilities.

Winter Gardening | Forced Bulbs

Detroit. Michigan. The entire Midwest. Cold. Dark. And, perpetually dreary. What is a gardener to do as the winter closes in around us? How can we bring a little bit of life indoors to help us through the months of darkness? Forced bulbs, of course.

A popular holiday tradition that can be used all winter long, in spite of the dropping temperatures. Actually, bulbs are forced because of the dropping temperatures. Lucky for us. So, what can you cajole to bloom indoors, out of season? Try these blooms on for size:

1. Narcissus: Often called Paperwhites, this lovely, white flower is related to that sure sign of Spring, the daffodil. Grouped in a pot and placed on a sunny window ledge, they will brighten even the darkest winter day.

2. Amaryllis: Yes, this flower is traditionally forced around Christmas but who says it “has” to be? Why not enjoy this beautiful, red giant in January? Live a little.

3. Crocus: Hands down, one of my favorite flowers of all time. It just holds such promise, such excitement as it pushes through the snow each year. Spoil yourself just a little by bringing that joy indoors and witnessing it a little early, without the snow and on your kitchen counter.

4. Lily-of-the-Valley: This delicate little bloom is the traditional “birth” flower for the month of May, but you can sneak a peek as early as February.

Spring will be here before you know it. I promise we will survive another Michigan winter.

3 Things You Should Have Already Done

Prepping Your Garden For Winter

It’s cold, Detroit. Really cold. Winter is officially upon us; are you prepared? The Detroit metro area is in Zone 5 and there are many things that you need to do to prepare your plants, trees and gardening beds for the long, cold winter ahead. Here are just a few:

1. Pots: If you dug up and tossed those annuals earlier in the fall, you need to do something with the empty pots. Ceramic, clay and terra cotta pots do not mix well with the constant freezing and warming spells of a Michigan winter. Clean them up and store them in the garage where water cannot get to them, causing many a pot to freeze and then crack.

2. Tender Perennials: Zone 5 is too cold for tender perennials to winter over. They need to be dug up, the dirt removed and stored in a cool place. Don’t bring them indoors, as the warm weather may confuse them. You can store them in a paper bag with newspaper as insulation in a cool, dry place. Your garage or even a storage shed will work, as long as rodents can’t get to them.

3. Protective Coverings: Young bushes and trees can be helped thru the winter with a protective covering of mulch or dried leaves. Sure, it won’t keep a person warm, but a warm wrapping of burlap and some leaves will make any bush quite happy. Keep everything loosely packed and they will survive whatever Mother Nature has to throw at them this year.

Growing Flowers in Detroit

When you are tackling growing flowers in Detroit, it is important that you do your research. You may think that you can grow anything in your area, but in reality, there are plants that are best for your part of the country and some plants that likely will not survive. Thankfully, when you are looking at seed packs, they tend to tell you right on them what regions they are good for. If you go to a reputable store to purchase your seeds, they likely can help you with any questions you have and help you select the best options.

You also are going to want to consider the location you are planting your seeds in. Some areas of your yard may get more light than others which can make the difference between a great location where your plant will prosper or a location where you will be lucky if it breaks through the dirt. Other plants that you may already have planted there can make a difference as they could crowd your new ones or drink all the water.

Another consideration when picking out plants is if they are annuals or perennials. You may just want flowers that will last one year as you like to try different things or you may prefer plants that you put in one year and never need to do anything with them again. There are definitely advantages to each type of plant so it is really up to you as to which you prefer.

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