Plant for Spring!

[AmyMichelle]

Gardening is all new to me and I am interested starting off small, and learning in the process. Any suggestions will appreciated:) Yes, I have read and researched on gardening, but I would like some ideas! What flowers, after the frost has pasted, should I plant for Spring?? One area is SHADE/ the other is FULL SUN?? Please help!:)

[Newt]

Hi Amy,

I'm not sure what you are asking for here. You don't say what your state or hardiness zone is but you mention planting after frost, so I'm thinking you want to plant annuals. Is that what you are asking for? You say you've researched on gardening, so I'm thinking that you know what an annual is.

Newt

Newt

Hi Amy,

never having lived in the midwest (and I have no idea what zone Iowa is,
or how long a growth period you have), I don't know really what to
recommend. Assuming that Newt is right about you wanting to grow
annuals, do you want them only for decoration or do you (like me, and
some people I know) want something useful from them? You also don't
wite how much space you have to work with, what you try to accomplish
(some people might plant sunflowers for wind break, bird food and to keep
the neighbors out of view whereas others want just low bedding plants
to look at for decoration), or whether you'd rather have something that
will last for years after you planted it (like e.g. lavender (don't know how
hardy that is though) or Jerusalem Artichokes)

Aloha,

Maren
(didn't live in the tropics all my life, I do remember something about what
survives German winters, but winters in the midwest are colder)

[Newt]

Maren, I just realized that Amy does show her state from your reply. Oops! Sorry Amy I must have had a brain hiccup!! But, that does shed a different light on things because of the cold climate. I would imagine that Amy's hardiness zone is about a 5.

Newt

But, even with that we still don't know whether she is more interested
in daisies or in oregano :-)

Herbs can make wonderful bedding plants, fruit trees have nice
flowers too.

Aloha,

Maren
(finally back to a decent on-line connection)