"Clipping Garden"

[Moe]

Does anyone out there have any ideas for a "clipping garden"? I'm in the northeast and would love to be able to walk outside and clip a variety of flowers for indoor floral arrangements.
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Moe

[doccat5]

You might want to google for cutting gardens. It just depends on what you like best and what might work together well. I saw an arrangement in a gardening magazine recently that was using varigated hosta leaves in the mix. It was stunning!
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doccat5

I'd rather be gardening!

[Gardenmom]

I did that a couple of years ago - it was so funny that even the kids still talk about it. I planted all these beautiful flowers to be able to bring inside and enjoy. We left for about 5 days and I left the soaker hose on in the garden at just a trickle. When we came home, I almost needed a machete to get through! I have bachelor buttons (not sure of the latin name) up to my shoulders. I had cleome up taller that me, rudbeckia (black-eyed susans) also up to my shoulders. It was great!

I know that liatris (gayfeather) is grown for bouquets. Also stock, statice, carnations, Oriental lillies, gerbera daiseys, alstromeria, iris, yarrow, and roses, of course. One thing I love to grow, and it's very fragrant is buddleia (butterfly bush). They smell great, but they aren't good to bring inside because they are usually filled with teeny tiny micro-mites that scatter all over your counter top. I also love to bring in arm loads of hydrangea - they're gorgeous clumped together by themselves.
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God Bless!
Debbie

[JPlovesflowers]

When I lived in Virginia, I planted so that I could have fresh live flowers at all times. I had tons of hydrangeas and they do very well, although the lace cap varieties are incredibly messy. I also did very well with zinnias, they are quick growers and they last long in a vase. If you have a sunny spot and are willing to put forth the effort, roses would be a great idea. Shasta daisies, coneflower (used to be just purple but now comes in all colors) and black eyed susans are nice. Hope this is helpful.

[webmaster]

Helpful Gardener has a great article about planning a garden that produces fragrant flowers for several consecutive seasons, from Spring through Fall. Flower gardening article here. The author of the article, Scott Reil, is from Connecticut, so many of the suggestions may be especially useful to you.