Summer Gladiolus

One of my favorite flowers of summer are gladiolus. The are so majestic and intensely colored, I just love having them in the house. The flower stand at the local farmer’s market didn’t return this year, but I’ve been able to find almost as beautiful bunches at the grocery stores. This week’s selection is a gorgeous, deep purple.

In case you missed my post last summer on how to care for gladiolus last August, I’ve reprinted it here. (Gladiolus from the Farmers Market).

Gladiolus are one of my favorite flowers to have around the house. They are just so dramatic, colorful and cheerful. With so many colors to choose from, it’s usually hard to decide. If you’ve ever seen a field of gladiolus, it’s quite a sight!

My local farmers market has a wonderful local fresh flower vendor. While maybe a little more expensive than the grocery store florists, the flowers are always super fresh and last longer in the vase. They also give wonderful flower care advice. This is this week’s purchase and some of their advice.

The flower vendor always offers to make a fresh cut with a super sharp chopper — The flower vendor always offers to make a fresh cut with a super sharp guillotine type cutter

Buy the bunch that seems to have the most color peeping out from the buds. If there's color, it'll bloom. Closed up tight, it'll never bloom! — Buy the bunch that seems to have the most color peeping out from the buds. If there’s color, it’ll bloom. Closed up tight, it’ll never bloom!

Pinch off all the tips where the buds are closed up tight. No sense making the stem waste energy on bids that won;t bloom. — Pinch off all the tips where the buds are closed up tight. No sense making the stem waste energy on bids that won’t bloom.

Taking off the tips makes the bouquet look a lot neater.

Beautiful, stunning display. A few years ago, I finally invested in just the right sized vase to hold these flowers.

Do you have a favorite gladiolus color?

The Garden in Fall: The Bad

It’s the beginning of October and the days are getting shorter, the nights growing colder. While yesterday I posted about the good things in the fall garden, there are also a lot of plants and beds that are really past their prime. Whether it’s overgrown, or the plants need to be trimmed back, or just haven’t aged well, they really detract from the pretty parts of the yard. Here’s some of the plants and spaces that don’t make me smile.

Those beautiful daylilys are really past their prime!

I’m not even sure what happened to these hostas??? Slugs, rabbits, too much sun, water???

Some beds are just not right and need plants moved/and or added. Will be doing that soon!

My vegetable garden is just too small and becomes overgrown every year. But, I think I finally have a plan to expand the garden!

Plants need to be split. Need to get on that, too!

After looking at all this mess, I went to the farmers market and pick up a lovely bunch of gladiolas!

Gladiolas from the Farmers Market

Gladiolas are one of my favorite flowers to have around the house. They are just so dramatic, colorful and cheerful. With so many colors to choose from, it’s usually hard to decide. If you’ve ever seen a field of gladiolas, it’s quite a sight!

Tag: gladiolas