Wild Flower Gardens
.....This picture shows something of the atmosphere which wild flower gardens can create. I think the peace and tranquility are perfectly summed up in this delightful image. Please note, we now have a free worldwide weather forecast service on the site... see the 'Weather' link on our 'Home' page.
Creating wild flower meadows and gardens is a complete joy for those who have the privilege to so do... they will also be a haven for all the many and various 'fauna' who will come to either visit... or to take up permanent residence. You can create a Wild Flower Garden in a small backyard filled with tubs, a medium sized garden, or have acres in which to create a luxurious wild flower meadow. Your smallest visitors will be the insects, like ladybirds and bees... and who knows what your largest visitors will be! But even a backyard with tubs can support more than you can ever imagine. A water feature, no matter how small, even a half barrel will add an extra dimension to the garden and support wildlife. My daughter has a cat who will insist on bringing back live frogs late at night... if it is too late to take them to someone elses pond down the road they have to go into her half barrel! She never knows how many are there... as you don't know if he just catches a few unlucky frogs numerous times, or if they are different ones every time. [He became a 'father' this spring... LOTS of frog spawn! It was duly taken to an out-of-town wildlife pond!] I digress. But, it just goes to show what unexpected joys a wild flower garden can bring.
if you want to create ANY garden.
In order to create a wild flower meadow there is only one important consideration! Preparation. Preparation. And still more... preparation! First, what type of soil you have. Second, the aspect of the garden. Then wet and dry areas. Shade, partial shade, or full sun. Try and visit some wild flower gardens in your area, see what aspects they have in common with your garden, and check out which wild flowers grow well for them. Next you must decide what you would like changed within your area and check out if it is at all feasible. You will be able to landscape an area with mechanical aids... for example, if you want to create a bank. You will also be able to dig out a pond, but please don't try to put it in the dry area and want to dry out the wet area! That would be going too far. Take note of any trees and the shaded areas they create, you could get some woodland species growing. Then decide the shape of the wild flower gardens, their areas, and where you would like to have any pathways... if you decide just to have mown paths within the meadow they are very easy to maintain when you walk round to enjoy your flowers, you just push the mower in front of you! It makes it extremely easy to walk round and enjoy your meadow. A very good idea is to mark out your proposed paths with sharp sand, if you decide to change your design just rake it in and start again! When all the studying is done and the mechanical preparation finished, the soil then needs to prepared as if you were going to lay a lawn, but without the fertiliser. You can purchase flower seed complete with grass seed, the two mixed in the correct proportions. Most lawns have a great deal of rye grass in these days and it is too strong a grass and competes with the wild flowers and suffocates them. The correct type of grass is vitally important. Also, please remember when you do mow your entire area... you MUST clear away ALL the resultant mowings... if left in situ, they would feed the area... AND THAT YOU MUST AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
If you already have an area with wild flowers in and you just wish to increase numbers, it is possible to do this in one of two ways. First you could buy 'plug' plants and put them in, either one at a time, or in clumps. It is possible to get plugs which are suitable for sunny areas, shady ones, boggy parts of the garden, or specifically to attract butterflies. Alternatively, it is now possible to buy what are called 'seed mats' which come in various sizes. You need to prepare a flat weed free area and place the mat there and keep moist. You could divide the mat into pieces and put where required. Whichever options you choose I hope your wild flower gardens will bring you much joy and fulfillment!
Further details of our wildflower seeds suppliers will be found on the Wild Flower Seeds page, but for your convenience as a quick reference, they are detailed below...
Seeds for Wild Flower Gardens from 'Crocus'
[Not only is 'Crocus' a Garden Writers Guild website of the year winner, jam packed with everything to do with flowers and gardening, but also, from the site you can register for Alan Titchmarsh's Garden Care Tips e-mails!]
And last, but definitely not least, for seeds for your wild flower gardens, comes... a firm you can always rely on to over-deliver... well, they always have when I've shopped with them. Try
Thompson & Morgan I know you won't regret it!
Tree Seed Flower Kit ... USA only, sorry!
Another interesting website to visit is 'flowers and butterflies', with flower and garden articles, plus much, much, more... just click the link below to visit...
Fascinating website with Flower and Garden Articles
If you need help with landscaping and design for your wild flower gardens (or conventional gardens) try visiting the following recommendation. "Numerous free landscaping ideas,
information and resources are offered at landscaping-ideas.net. Get gardening
and landscaping ideas on designing the perfect landscape for you and your
family."
Just click the link to visit http://www.landscaping-ideas.net/
There are many books available which explain how to create a wild flower garden, meadow and/or pond. If you try any of the new books on wildflower meadow gardening you will not be disappointed.
Please visit our Books... Choosing Books page for a greater choice from several different sources of books; with new, second hand, hard to find, and out-of-print books available... a really superb selection! Can I recommend a book published by 'Guild of Master Craftsman Publications' in 2000 [UK] entitled 'Gardening with WILD PLANTS' by Julian Slatcher... the photographs are superb. The book has been in the bookstores at both Kew and Wisley. Update... 'Success with Wild Flowers & Plants' is his new book by the same publishers. (OK, hands up, I admit it... there is a special reason for the recommendation... it is by my son!.) He also has a new book published on Seaside Gardening... the title is 'Coastal Gardening' by Julian Slatcher, published by The Crowood Press [www.crowood.com], ISBN 1-86126-722-3
The link above takes you to a brilliant 'new to me' resource... it is SO useful! You can find virtually any book using it, and have best prices, availability, etcetera, all sorted for your convenience!
Please do find time to read the fascinating write-up below (just click the link)... you will find out all you need to know, in a very short space of time. Makes riveting reading too! If YOU have a special dream, I know Sitesell can make it happen. This 'Wild Flower Gardens' webpage is brought to you courtesy of SBI, without which this website would be a figment of my imagination... a dream!
Sitesell 3rd party referral ... brilliant write-up ... read NOW on our Wild Flower Gardens page
With Site Build It! you, too, could build a website like this... and with no previous knowledge! Why not click the above link to check it out? You can't lose... well only a few seconds of your time... and it could put you on your way to making your fortune! It's such a fascinating journey. I'm loving every minute and looking forward to starting on my next site soon... and with more or less NO previous knowledge!
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