Local experts offer tips for beautiful gardens
WRITTEN BY CRYSTAL SANDS
The colorful beauty of flower gardens adds something special to any home’s landscaping. In addition to improving your home’s value, flower gardens bring a charm that makes them well worth the time, work, and investment.
Marie Sekera of Eddington is a retired teacher and landscaper who ran a landscaping business in the Bangor area for 10 years. She continues to consult with family and friends who are seeking to use flowers to enhance the beauty of their homes. She also continues to keep many gorgeous flower gardens around her home.
Native Plants Are Strongest
Sekera said there is a lot to consider when choosing plants for your flower garden, but a good place to start is to think about what works well in our region.
“It would be wise to get native plants because they are indigenous, and you’ll have better luck,” Sekera said.
Native plants may be a little less “showy,” but there are plenty that will give you color and will be less susceptible to bugs and diseases. Native plants have become so popular that they are easy to find locally, Sekera said.
Rebel Hill Farm in Liberty specializes in Maine native plants, and their plants are available in the Bangor area at Tiller & Rye in Brewer, as well as Sprague’s Nursery in Bangor. Hutching’s Greenhouse in Eddington is also a great place to purchase reliable, healthy plants.
Plan for Color
A mix of perennial plants, which live for multiple growing seasons, and annuals, which live for just one growing season, can be used to create color throughout the spring, summer, and fall. When purchasing plants, it’s important to study when the flowers will bloom, and if you plan well, you can have color in your gardens throughout the growing season here in Maine.
It’s important, however, to remember that it’s not just flowers that can bring color.
“I’ve learned to appreciate foliage shape and color as much as the flowers,” Sekera said.
There are many native plants that will bring variety and color to your gardens at different times of the year, so it’s not just about the blooms when you make your plans for color.
Location, Location, Location
Once you have considered color, it’s important to think about where you will plant. Sekera said it’s good to remember the “rule of three” when planting. Planting in groups of three is visually appealing and mimics how plants will naturally group in the wild. Of course, one of the most important considerations when it comes to location is sunlight. Different plants require different amounts of sun — full, partial, shade — and in order to have success, sunlight requirements for your plants will be crucial.
It Takes Some Work
There is much to consider when planning for your garden. It takes some research to make good decisions. Your gardens will need weeding and care, but working in the dirt is both healthy and rewarding. And, at the end of the day, you can have beautiful gardens that will bring joy to yourself and others.
Sekera said to remember that gardening is a process of learning. Failures are not really failures but are more teaching experiences. Sekera emphasized that the science and beauty of the flowers makes the work completely worth it.
