Throughout the year, we experience four seasons due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, its movement around the sun, and the angle of sunlight. As the Earth orbits the sun, the amount of sunlight we receive changes, influencing seasonal flower growth.
Each season brings flowers we commonly associate with it—tulips and daffodils in spring, peonies in summer, chrysanthemums and asters in autumn, and poinsettias in winter.
Tulips come in many sizes, colors, and bloom times, making them excellent cut flowers. Their stems continue to elongate after harvest, and blooms typically last about a week. Daffodils, often recognized by their yellow trumpet shape, also come in white, pink, and orange hues. Autumn is the time to plant spring bloomers like crocus, daffodils, and tulips, allowing roots to establish before spring growth.
Peonies come in a variety of plant forms and growth habits. They bloom in a variety of colors including lavender, peach, pink, purple, red, salmon, white, and yellow. They have attractive green foliage. Their bloom season is May through June with some cultivars having extended bloom seasons that last 4 to 6 weeks.
Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular plants for late summer and fall flower gardens. Their flower is technically a composite of many individuals flowers. They can bloom in a variety of colors including white, yellow, orange, bronze, red, purple, and pink. They can vary in size from a few inches to 4 feet tall. They do keep well as a cut flower. Asters have small daisy-like flowers that bloom in shades of purple, blue, white, and pink. They can get rather tall and often do well with an early summer pruning to prevent them from flopping.
Poinsettia is a traditional flower associated with Christmas. The brightly colored parts of the plant are modified leaves, called bracts. The true flowers are the yellow bead-like structures in the center of the poinsettia, called cyathia. Poinsettias vary in color from red, pink, white, peach, and bicolor.
The Putnam County 4-H Council is selling Poinsettias for the holiday season. The proceeds from the sales will help support our local 4-H program. This year they are selling five different colors of poinsettias: red, white, pink, Ice Crystals and Shimmer Surprise. The poinsettias are produced by Heartland Growers in Westfield, Indiana. Each plant is guaranteed to have at least 5 bloom stems and stand 14" to 16" tall. The poinsettias sell for $10 each. You can order online at https://tinyurl.com/yc53cv9t.To ensure you get the color and quantity you want, orders are due on Friday October 24. Payment is due at time of order. You may pay cash or check (made out to Putnam County 4-H Council). Plant Pick up will be Friday November 21. Please don't miss this opportunity to support Putnam County 4-H and provide a beautiful holiday decoration for your home or business!
Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 765.653.8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. All times listed are Eastern Time.
Upcoming events:
Oct. 22 – Extension Office Closed for Professional Development
Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 – Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association Annual Meeting,
field tours in Putnam County on Oct. 31, more info and to register at:
https://ifwoa.org
Nov. 2 – 4-H Achievement Awards
Nov. 2 – 4-H Open House Carnival, 3:30- 6 pm, Putnam County Fairgrounds
