A popular choice for planting a border, the January flower selection brings color and vibrancy to any garden. Picking the proper flowers for your area can be a challenge. The January birth flower is actually a Carnation. The Latin name for this flower is Passiflora incarnata, which means “other flower of the month.” So when you plant it along a border, you are not only selecting a beautiful flower that blooms in the month of January, but you are selecting a flower that can provide color and beauty to your garden all year round!
When you are choosing flowers for your garden in the month of January, there are several choices that will please your eye and your palate. Some of the most common choices for planting in a border with roses are the pink snowdrops, red carnations, and the purple sunflowers. Snowdrops and red carnations are perennials, which means they will come back again each year, for new growth. Red carnations are best planted right after the first frost, as they will bloom beautifully in the spring time.
Pink carnations are also great to plant right after the first frost. You will love how they brighten up the garden with their soft pink tones. Snowdrop and red carnations are the perfect choice for a full bloom in the month of January. But don’t forget that you don’t have to plant them right after the last frosts.
Butternut squash, zucchini, and watermelon would be ideal choices for an all year round display of bright, colorful flowers. Try planting them in groups of three or four. Snowdrops, red carnations, and pink carnations are great for accenting areas of your yard that get a lot of sunlight throughout the day. If you want to plant with more color, try mixing orange and yellow flowers.
If you like your plants to come to life during the day, there are two options for you. Plant your carnations and vegetables in late winter and early spring, before the first frosts hit your area. That way, you’ll have fresh vegetables to snack on and enjoy as you prepare meals. If you plant your flowers and vegetables later in the season, you’ll have to wait until the flower buds start to open for their blooms to appear.
An easy way to create a unique flower bouquet for your birthday’s is to make a snowdrop flower arrangement. Buy a bunch of long stemmed wintergreen plants, then cut off the tips of the branches so that the flowers can hang down and start to form a beautiful snowdrop shape. Snowdrops look terrific when arranged in small clusters, with two to three small flowers in the middle of the bouquet. Use a vase or other container to hold the arrangement as you give your guest flowers at your baby shower.
Wintergreen plants are beautiful, even when they’re not in flower. The best thing to do if your only option for growing wintergreen greens is to purchase an indoor bonsai tree that can be brought indoors in the winter. Grow the bonsai in a small pot, fill with gravel and then add a medium such as sand or bone meal. Place your carnations inside the bonsai for about a month, changing the medium every few days to continue to keep the plant growing. Then in the spring, remove the bonsai from its container and cut the top of the root ball in half. Drill holes in the center of the plant, stick the ends of the carnations into the holes, and then tie the loose end of the flower onto the end of each stem.
Pink carnations are blooming in April. These dainty flowers look great when mixed with white or red roses. Plant pink carnations in a large vase filled with water and plant on top of the other flowers. You can even arrange them on a shelf or buffet. They are wonderful for weddings or other special occasions. The sweet scent of the pink carnations makes them a great choice for floral arrangements.