Spring flowers are welcomed each year with great joy, as you know that the winter has come to its end. You look forward to seeing the little crocuses as they push their way through the cold snow in various vibrant shades of purple, yellow, and even white. The hyacinth comes up also about the same time. With the hyacinth we think mainly of the color of blue, but they also come up in pink and white, making the cold snow appear not quite so cold.

Sometimes even before the snow is gone, the daffodils and jonquils start to push up through the cold ground, and you see the tips of green, then a short time later the flower appears nodding its little head. Tulips also appear in various colors, shapes, and sizes.

Not to be outdone by the ground flowers, trees and bushes burst forth with their own beauty. Spring flowering trees and bushes like the dogwood, magnolia, plum, and crab apple show their beauty, sometimes looking like lace on a tree. The bushes are no slouch either, with azaleas and lilacs bursting forth in their own beauty. The lilac produces a fragrant smell that floats through the air for some distance.

These are just a few of the many many spring flowers available for you to plant and enjoy. Most of the ground flowers can be planted in planters that can be brought inside during the cold months. Either way, you will have many years of enjoyment as you watch your spring flowers arrive.

Have you had any luck with growing irises? Here are some tips that may help your progress and make it possible for you to be successful when planting these seeds, and watching them turn into beautiful flowers.

When you purchase an iris at a shop or store, you will receive its root which is the rhizome. Don't wait longer than two weeks to plant the rhizome if you want your flower to survive. Always have a sunny spot in your garden and good soil that you have mixed and dug up. What will also help you is if you buy some fertilizer and add it to the soil for growth and blooming to be successful. This will allow you not to worry about weeds and grass using up your beautiful flowers' food source.

If you are wondering about planting in clay soil, it is possible. Make sure you gather sand and humus if you are using this kind of soil. About two to three years after you have planted them, you will need to check for new rhizomes. If you don't dig down into the soil, your older flowers will get tangled up with the new ones. You should cut the older flowers out and plant them separately from those you expect will bloom in the spring.

Digging and getting the irises separated need to be done at least two to three months before the rhizomes are in bloom. That will help you deal with weather changes such as freezing and thawing in the ground and keeping the root from dying. In the winter, you can use mulch salt if you want your plants to survive until spring. Watch out for your roots drying out and turning white. Ask a florist how you can save them before they die on you.

Many overly eager gardeners have made the mistake of buying flowers, and then coming home and putting them straight into the ground before they've done any of the prep work. They look wonderful, but then days later the beautiful flowers are wilting. People wonder what they have done wrong, and why the flowers are not maintaining their color and shape.

Instead of immediately purchasing any pretty plant and planting it, you'll want to check to see what planting zone you are in. Then, figure out where you'd like to plant your flowers. You must figure out if this are gets full sun, no sun, or partial sun. When you know for sure, that is when you'll decide on what flowers you'll be planting there. Your first tip is to make sure all big rocks are out of the way, above ground and below. Next, agitate and turn the soil with a hoe. This will loosen the ground and make it easier to plant. The second tip is that you might want to add some fresh soil and manure to the area for a healthier soil. When you’re ready to plant, space your flowers at least 4" to 6" inches apart from each other, and 2" to 4" inches deep. The third tip is to cover the flowers roots completely with soil. Press firmly down around the plant to squeeze out all air pockets. If air pockets are left, your plant will die. You may also want to use time release plant food to encourage growth. Last, but not least, water your plants fully at least once to twice a week.

There are many kinds of gardens, and much pleasure and profit can result from your hard work. Careful planning is therefore advised. Choose your location well. Many plants thrive only in sunshine, while some prefer partial shade. Soil is of prime concern. If you are lucky, rich soil is present, but usually it will need compost and perhaps additional chemicals to produce the richest outcome.

Raised beds are an investment that can pay off handsomely. If boundaries are defined by timber or stones, much labor can be saved over time and greater control over weeds, watering and enriching of soil maintained.

If annuals are planned for your garden, they should be given an early start by using flats as seed starters. If flats or seed starters are begun in a protected area, they may give you a head start over the weather. When weather warms so there is safety from freezing, young plants can easily be transplanted. Some plants can be started by simply placing seed directly where they should grow and most nurseries have young plants that have a good start and are reasonably priced.

Flower gardens are quite different from vegetable gardens and usually plants - either annual or perennial - are planted in locations for artistic effect, color and beauty. Flowers can be chosen for color, size, shape and even for aroma. Certain flowers attract butterflies or hummingbirds, or both. Consideration can be given for planting a butterfly garden to entice new species to your area. This can lead to a new interesting hobby as well as conservation.

Landscaping may seem like expensive work, but the increase in property value makes it worthwhile.

Most gardeners prefer peonies because they have beautiful, fragrant flowers each and every spring. Peonies are best transplanted or planted in the fall. The best time is September because there still is enough growing season left to allow the root to establish feeder roots. These roots will maintain the plant through the winter. Fall planted roots will produce much nicer flowers and the plant will grow stronger and faster in the spring.

When planting them, you will need rich well drained soil with six to eight hours of sun light. They will need an eight inch by twelve inch hole to be dug. This allows you to mix well rotted manure in the soil before planting. Once the hole has been prepared, you are ready to place the peony root. A great peony root will have three to five eyes on it. Peony eyes must be planted no more than two inches below the surface. If planted to deep, they will not bloom in the spring. After the root has been planted, water thoroughly and cover with a good organic mulch. This will protect the plant from freezing if there is no snow coverage in the winter. Peonies do not like standing water. This will cause the roots to rot.

When you have established peony plants, you will want to cut the plant to about one inch from the ground and burn the leaves. This will help control diseases. In the spring you will need to pull back the heavy mulch you placed on top of the peonies, water and fertilize. It takes about three to five years to grow to total maturity. Do not cut flowers from a first year plant. They need all their leaves to make food for the plant.