March 12th is celebrated as National plant a flower day. Today in our garden of goodies we will participate by planting flowers in our garden. Flowers are beneficial to our gardens. Not only do flowers add beauty but act as a deterrent to unwanted pest and bring wanted insects such as pollinators. By interplanting flowers this saves time because you can tend to more of your garden. Flowers are our "side kicks" in the garden. Flowers are cost effective benefits for gardeners. Saving money on pesticides can be eliminated by planting flowers your garden. Depending on the variety of the flower that you plant, it may come back year after year, that saves money and provides eye catching beauty to your garden.
My Top 6 flowers I love in my garden.
6. Zinnia..... Number 6 because they attract Japanese beetle but are a magnet to pollinators.
5. Sunflowers.... Can be used as a trellis for climbing plants.
4. Borage.... This is a bees delight and a bonus both the leaves and flowers are edible.
3. Bee Bal ......Bee, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attacked to this daisy like shape, with tubular petals in shades of red, pink, purple, and white.
2. Nasturtiums ... Aphids love this plant and make a good trap crop. Seeds are big, easy to collect for next years crop. These flowers bloom until fall and beyond (depending on the zone where you live).
1. Marigolds ..... These flowers don't get the credit they deserve. Marigolds deter pest above ground and below ground. They keep rabbits away and by interplanting Marigolds with beans helps keep Mexican beetles away. The flowers also deter tomato hornworms, white flies, and squash bugs. Underneath the soil a chemical is released that kills root nematodes in the soil. (Leave the marigold roots in the ground for continued protection throughout the grow season.
~Evelyn your friendly Master Gardener
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