Spring Flowers

(Note: this is a duplicate post from another blog that I write for at http://hellotherehouse.blogspot.com.  I write a Garden Seeds blog each Monday and this appeared a couple weeks ago)

Gardening in Arizona is twice the fun!  Unlike many parts of the country, the low desert has two gardening seasons:  a cool season and a warm season.  As much as I have enjoyed the cool season vegetables, I am equally excited to begin my warm season flower planting. 

Warm season planting is just around the corner - it runs from mid to late-February to mid-March.  These plants love the heat and will thrive until it gets cold again. 

Purchase your seeds now and begin planning where to sow some beautiful flowers seeds!  Here are good choices for easy plants to grow from seed:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Butterfly Weed
• Marigold
• Desert Milkweed
• Daisy
• Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
• Gazania
• Geranium
• Hollyhock
• Mexican Sunflower
• Nierembergia (Cup Flower)
• Pansies
• Petunia
• Poppy
• Ranunculus
• Safflower
• Sage
• Snapdragon
• Sunflower
• Sweet Peas
• Verbena
• Wild Hyssop
• Yarrow

Some photos from my garden last year:  (Hollyhock, Breadseed Poppies, Sunflowers and Mexican Sunflower)

In my experience, some are easier to grow than others.  For more details on planting these seeds, please refer to the University of Arizona's Cooperative Extension publication "Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert."

http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/summary/az1100ndx.html

This document includes a chart similar to the Vegetable Planting Guide I have referenced in the past.  It is an excellent resource that charts the time to plant, amount of sun, days to bloom, height, water needs and growing difficulty.  Everything you need!