LOL With the exception of tulips and roses as cut flowers, I agree with you. I mean I love blooms on house plants (african violets, peace lilies, christmas cacti, etc), but I'm not much of a flower person either. They really don't seem worth the trouble to me. If I was gonna bother with the outdoor stuff it would be veggies, strawberries, trues or shrubs.

Hmmm. I guess I'm pretty close to amany's position on this. I like some cut flowers, but I don't buy houseplants specifically to see them bloom. (Too much pressure!)

When the plants I have *do* bloom, though, then I'm really happy, even if the blooms are ugly (people won't write songs about Haworthia flowers anytime soon). It's not the flowers, it's what they *mean*: that the plant is reasonably happy with where it is and how I'm caring for it.

I so totally agree with you! those darn 18 pack of lowes plants get so much attention from shopping cart pushers on the weekend. I sometimes wonder if people do thier research b4 buying.

I much prefer greenery/foilage, especially when it is big and healthy. I have an urban patio garden where the only flowers on are anthurium blooms, gardenias and plants that flower sometimes but are usually green.

Green plants are so much easier to please!

My mother has a giant trellis on her front porch and for many years would put some new variety of a short lived annual flowering vine. By the time it got a third (or less) up the trellis the season would be over. I've finally convinced her to put a vine that is evergreen in our zone on the thing. I think in the end people would be much happier with perennial greenery and a nice smattering of evergreen stuff just to fight away the off season blahs.

Personally however I don't garden outside. If I can't grow it indoors I don't grow it. I don't like flowers, but I loathe bugs. You can't garden outside without them though, I've tried.

If I did bother to buy a pack of flowers at Lowes, I wouldn't even bother to plant them. Just leave them in the pack until they die. What's the point digging up the ground for them.

I LOVE my summer annuals!! I look forward to getting my seed catalogs every year. I spend many enjoyable evenings with something hot to drink looking through them and deciding what I am going to plant that year. Then the seeds come and I so enjoy planting and babying them. Being able to watch them grow from just little things to what brings so much color to my yard is a joy. But I also love my houseplants, hostas and EEÂs which are just foliage. My family always tells everyone that unless my hands have some sort of soil on them IÂm not happy.

Jane

I like pretty much all plants, foliage, flowers, you name it. But market packs of annuals are becoming less and less appealing each year. Now I prefer the big tropical shrubs that bloom, like hibiscus or cannas, or plants with unusual foliage, like bananas, cannas, palms, acuba japonica, umbrella palms, etc.

I agree the banana foliage is gorgeous. So is bird of paradise.

I am with you on the fleeting flower, give me beautiful foilage.

That said I do have a collection of tropical hibiscus, Armaryllis inside for winter flowers. In the garden for summer I have bananas, cannas, Heucleras, caladiums, hostas love those big colorful leaves.

How did I forget bird of paradise, caladiums, big-leaved hostas? Also elephant ears. I have lots of all of these. Just love big leafs. Makes me think I'm in the tropicals. I really gotta move to Hawaii.

Watergal, do you have a giant Bird of Paradise? I live in MD also and I cant seem to find anything other than the regular birds. Can you recommend a place that sells GBOP?

I love flowers..on house plants and outside..though I must admit, this yr I'm running late so no annuals here..I think it's great to sit outside and smell scents of blooming flowers..especially types like Petunia/Nicotiana. Those two knock me out..
Before getting the gh, I'd place all types of flowers in that area, tallest in back, med in middle and short in front..Sometimes I'd toss in Castor Bean way in back, but don't like their scent.
I do NOT buy cut flowers though..Not even roses..which are overpriced flowers that die in days..
When I grew various Zennias, I'd cut a few off and bring indoors, but mostly just let them grow on plants..
Also, get excited when a house plant blooms..especially fragrant types/hoyas.
Spiritual, the Giant Birds are sold at HD..it's the smaller birds that are rare here..those w/orange flowers. Check out your HD, though most stores are focusing on outdoor plants right now..perhaps in fall/winter they'll be available..
Ironically, my father couldn't stand the scent of any flower. In fact, before he died, he told my mother to make sure when she placed an ad in the paper to request NO flower...my mother never liked plants..wonder where I got my love of plants..Toni

I don't like Annuals for the most part, I do throw some seed in 3 long planters every year because somehow I always wind up with a few packets of annuals. but as far as buying them in the packs, no way. Anything that gets planted in my various beds are going to come back every year. Something about the idea of planting the whole bed over and over again just does not appeal to me, I prefer the idea of making a new bed to plant more perennials in:) granted most perennials only bloom for a day, but still they come back darn it! My Hollyhocks are actually bi-innials but as they do a fabulous job reseeding themselves I always have them with no work at all. I do have a thing with Morning Glories and Clematis, but they go back in the same spot every year and I just throw seed down for them as well, kind of interesting with the Morning Glories because they are suppose to be a anuual, but I have colors that I planted 3 years ago that reseeded themselves and managed to make it through the winter, so I have about 7 different Morning glories going when I only planted 2 kinds this year:)
This one lady in the neighborhood just moved in not to long ago, she pulled out the round beds that were there originally and worked 3 days on making new beds by her driveway (really interesting watching her sitting on the ground pulling out grass strand by strand) I thought man she is going to put some really nice plants in there, next time I drove by she had her driveway filled with sad looking annuals, she planted them and I think at this point the beds are empty again. One thing I did learn however. Is that how you make a flower bed? You make the bed first then plant? I just plant what I want where I want then make the bed around my plants (lol! just kidding, I have only done that a few times or so.....)

Micke, that's ironic..while working outside the other day, and we're in zone 5, I too found Morning Glory from last yr, 1 Petunia, lol, and several Daturas..
One thing that baffles me is, several yrs ago I planted 4 o'clocks..could have sworn this plant was annual. Well, since then, every spring it returns..amazing..So, that covers one side of my house..Now the bad news is, I had a lovely butterfly bush out front..It's been there about 8 yrs..well, don't know what happened, but it'd dead!! And another flowering bush, nearby the bb is also dead..Branches turned black..I plucked the trunk and it crumbled in my hands..I'm pretty sure the plant is flowering almond..the second Flowering almond about 6' away to the north is doing fine..flowered and all..
I still love flowers..LOL..Toni

That reminds me... my sons both picked some seeds out last year for fun and planted them, 4 oclocks was one of them and I too noticed them coming back up.
I have a huge Wiegela bush and this year we got a horrible freeze after everything had started to leaf out, it looks really bad as does my Crepe Myrtle and my ROS's, I hope they come back better next year, I am 100% sure that wiegela won't be blooming this year:(
I have never had any luck with butterfly bushes they die on me within moments of bringing them home.
wonder if something got sprayed on those bushes on accident? that is odd, never heard of the branches just turning black like that, strange.

I love flowers outdoors. I grow lots of flowering perennials, and I grow annuals from seed, and even buy a few for my containers and hanging baskets. If you don't like something, fine, but there is no need to disparage those who do.

Indoors, I'm a foliage kind of gal, in that my favorite plants are those that have interesting colors or variegation, or just plain pretty green leaves. Even so, I do enjoy the few flowering plants I grow, and am thrilled when they reward me with flowers.

Micke, actually it was the Flowering Almond that turned black..hmm, it's possible something was sprayed on it, but we don't use chemicals..so can't imagine..
The butterfly bush in the yard, well, 2 in the yard, one yellow flower, one white flower are fine..but the one in front has died..guess I'll be digging up tons of roots this wk..geesh.
What zone is the Crepe M for? I didn't know they survived in z6..You know, maybe you got something..we had a freeze too, -4, not counting wind chill..maybe that's what killed my 2 plants..
Did u guys get Cicadas? Could they have anything to do with it? blame it on something else..LOL.

Karen, do you sow seeds indoors or right out in the garden? I remember I'd start working from Feb on..annuals galore..lol..don't have anymore room so those days are over..in fact, didnt even buy Petunias this yr..
What type of annuals do u sow? One thing about sowing, there's a ton of flowers to choose from, so unlike shopping at the store..
Karen, I'm sure the poster didn't mean anything disparaging by the heading..just something to discuss, u know? lol..Toni

Toni,
As long as the tuber does not freeze, 4 o'clocks will come back. I have some in the back yard of one of my g'parents' rentals that I planted 18 years ago when I was 16, and they are still growing. I am going to ask my uncle if I can dig up a few, he lives in the house now. He mows my 4 o'clocks down twice a year. *sniff*

Micke,
Most of the older hollyhocks are perennials, not biennials.

Mentha, do you think since I live in IL, the tuber would freeze? I don't know how deep they are since I planted seeds that started these plants, not tubers..
Why does grandpa cut back? Does he not like them? They're so pretty and fragrant..mine come in 3 colors, red, yellow and I think orange..they're up but haven't bloomed..still too soon..Toni

spiritualcipher, if by giant bird you mean white bird, I see them at Lowe's or Home Depot a lot. Behnke's Nursery in Beltsville on Rt. 1 usually has both the white and the orange; I know they did back in Feb. or March when I was there. Not sure if they cut back on their houseplants this time of year, but it's definitely worth a trip sometime in Jan/Feb/March - they usually have an enormous stock and if you're lucky you can get there during a good sale. I got a nice white bird at discount.

toni, we had a flowering almond for years and it just up and died a little over a year ago. I think it got drought stressed in August and just couldn't pull through the winter. Shame, too - a pretty plant.

I know a lot of people who lost butterfly bushes this past winter. I think the lengthy and late cold spell we had here did them in - perhaps where you live too? One suggestion, never prune them in the fall, so water can't get into the cut branches and freeze. Instead, prune in spring just as or just before the new growth comes out (here, usually around March).

Crepe myrtles vary quite a bit on hardiness depending on type. Some are good down to zone 6, esp. if you wait until spring to do any pruning. I was scared to try one here, but we've had one for years now and it's doing great (don't know the type but it's a nice red bloom).

Toni,
4 o'clocks are very hardy, some people dig up the tubers in zones 4-1, but I have never had the need to. I have also heard of someone growing one in a bonsai pot with the root exposed. I bet it would be pretty. My uncle doesn't like the four o'clocks because they are out in the yard now, not just under the window where i planted them. howev er they are the only thing besides the vinca that thrives on such neglect.

Toni:

For the most part, I use the winter sowing method, described in the FAQs of forum in the link below. I've had a lot of success with it.

The only seeds I start indoors these days are tomatoes and peppers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Web's Winter Sowing Forum

Okay so up until now, I have had a container garden with annuals in the back yard (see photo). I too am getting sick of the flowers... Any idea's on potted plant perrenials that do well in pots.. I have ALL LEDGE so I need to use the pots. This photo(half my yard) I am showing you has my Japanese maple (1 out of 4) in a pot, of course and then a bunch of potted petunias and snap dragons...

Here is a link that might be useful: half my ledgy garden.

Watergal, perhaps you're right..but we only had a few days that were below 0 last winter, and in past yrs (winters) were really icy..All I know is it's going to be a pain digging up the BB..Does anyone know what they're life span is? The one in front is the oldest out of 3.
I bet your Crepe is and smells fantastic..I think MI Bulb had one stating it was hardy to z5, but w/their reputation, I doubt it..too scared to try one..
That's strange your flowering almond also died..I'm sorry..it's terrible when we lose plants..I also have FA in back and so far it's doing great..there's something about the front that is killing plants..In fact, I had a Weigelia, sp, growing in a huge container about 4 yrs..last night went outside and noticed, NO growth..I'd bet that's dead too..can't understand it..haven't done anything different.

Mentha, oh I'd love to see a 4 o'clock growing as a bonsai..bet it's a beaut..Does it flower? Do u have a pic? Does your friend keep outside in winter?
LOL, so your uncle has 4 o'clocks growing as weeds in grass..LOL..bet he's happy..well, they're easy enough to pluck..I wonder if mine are now tubers..what do u think?

Karen, what month do you start sowing? I don't have time to find your feedback..looked at the first page but didnt see your name..I've gotta go outside and dig up weeds, lol. I love both tomatoes and gr peppers, but terrible allergic to tomato plants..

Stacy, hope your Japanese Maple survives..that is one of the most beautiful maples known to man..I love its ferny look..wish they were hardy here..they sell them at HD, but of what I read, they're hardy from z6 and up. Toni

Well, I still hate flowers but I bought my first one anyway. It's a perenial though so it's not like the disposable flowers at Kmart in the cases. It's what I call a "pipe cleaner plant", others call it a peace lily. I was trying to convince my niece that it's what the Civil War era soldiers used on the front line to clean their muskets when other supplies had run out but I don't think she bought it.

It had flowers on it when I bought it. I'm not hopeful of keeping it flowered since it will get regular light as opposed to natural circadian rhythm.

Funny, I never thought of a peace lily as a flowering plant, or at least a plant you buy for it's flowers. It falls more in the line of foliage which blooms like anthuriums, or caladiums. One of my favorite plants of all times is Bear's Britches, which looks like a type of arum until it blooms, it sure is a hansome plant. It gets too large to stay inside, but I've been succesfull to keep one for a year or so before it got too large and had to go out.

When I started reading this thread I thought "How could anyone hate flowers... a natural part of the plant. It's like saying you hate roots!" But into it a ways I realized you mean you hate the mass-market annuals right? Especially when they are used alone as landscape for the yard? Many gardeners use annuals for filler or to add a highlight to a certain spot. I would not call the person who just goes out and buys flats of annuals every year, and nothing else, a gardener. I would say they are trying to pretty up their yard without much interest in gardening.

I personally grow plants inside and out for foliage, flowers and food, all 3. I love them all. I grow streptocarpus mainly for the flowers but I have lots of foliage plants too. Some you would not think of as flowering plants but they do have flowers. For example, my aloe veras flower every winter. The flowers are not showey but I love to see them because it just shows the whole process is going on as it should.

One of my favorite houseplants is the oncidium orchid. The plant itself is awesome with big dramatic pseudobulbs at the base. You would not think of an orchid as something you would grow primarily as a foliage plant, but I do. When it flowers it's just the icing on the cake!

Plant Delights Nursery (in NC and online) sells t-shirts of past catalog covers. One has the red circle with diagonal line thru it that is universally used to show something is banned. There's a annual flower of some sort inside it. It says "FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS BUY ANNUALS". There's a shirt for you Mkiker!

Chris, what's wrong with buying annuals every yr? LOL..I do so to fill up windowboxes, and edging around front garden, which contains perrenials.
Up until a few yrs ago, I'd sow my own annual seeds, which by doing so, gave me numerous choices of annuals that couldn't be found here..Since we added a gh, I don't have the extra room for, the F word.."Flowers" LOL
Guess I do this to add flowering throughout the season, not to impress ppl..I could care less about others who grow grass and poodle hedges..LOL..Toni