Whenever most of us think of any kind of gardening, then usually the first thought that pops into most of our minds is related to flower gardening. (Flowers and gardens being somewhat naturally synonymous with each other). I also guess that depending upon how dedicated a gardener that you are, you'll likely be doing your own flower gardening this year.
The good news for those of us who are (or have been) less dedicated gardeners, is that flower gardening need not be limited only to summertime. If you plan carefully and plant ahead of time, your garden can be filled with an abundance of flowers for most of the year.
If we start by seasons, taking spring first, the best thing you could do to ensure that you have a beautiful floral display, would be to plant bulbs. Any nursery will have them, and if you're more inclined towards the exotic, and rarer flowering bulbs, there's a good chance you can have them ordered in especially in the larger nurseries or the local ones where you are a known customer.
Favourites amongst bulb lovers are often the early springtime Crocuses and cheerful Snowdrops. Daffodils and Narcissi are always a sign of Spring arriving to me, blooming as they do at the end of winter. Tulips though, are probably the most famous of bulbs in demand by flower gardeners, they are available in a variety of shades, including a black-colored one, (which is really more of a deep maroon and one of those rare flowers I was talking about earlier).
Remember that all spring flowering bulbs should be planted in mid autumn, as this is the best time for them. Plant any closer to winter and you're in danger of losing your bulbs altogether.
As we think about summer flowers, we can pretty much bet that perennials are a firm favourite for flower gardening as they yield blooms almost continuously throughout the season, and sometimes beyond. With a little luck and care, you'll also find that most of your perennials will last through to next year, and the year after that, and, well yes, ad infinitum is the idea here.. You'll also find that as the years and the seasons progress, your perennials will become fuller, and more abundant than the first year during which you planted them.
As autumn gently closes in most flower gardens are left bereft of anything but a few small hardy plants. If you're into more dedicated flower gardening however, that need not be the case for you. Hardy, drought resistant plants like Asters number among the many types of autumn flowers available, and will keep your garden looking stunning in late summer/early autumn, Generally, autumn plants will grow to a good 3-4 feet in height, and have vivid colours, as well as the more genteel pastel colours to choose from. Ornamental grasses are another favourite and will nicely complement your autumn flowers.
To round off the year and your efforts at flower gardening, don't despair as there are many pretty winter blooms available. Amaryllis, Hyacinth, and Narcissus are just a few of the more common known flowers that are available in bulb form. If you want something a little more out of the ordinary, you could always try Winter Jasmine, or Winter Honeysuckle.
So, take heart, take plenty of notes, plan well, and shop to your heart's content. By the end of it all you truly will have a flower for every season, and your flower gardening efforts will be rewarded most beautifully with year round displays.