The Shopaholic

Yes, I love to shop. It doesn’t really matter what for, I love a good trip to the mall, craft store, home improvement store, grocery store, wherever. My mom and I can do some serious damage on Black Friday! But this time of year, I love shopping at the garden centers.  I try to get a few things from each of the nurseries around town, to support them all as best I can. Shop local!  Anyway, my approach to buying flowers seems to resemble that of buying sweaters – if you like them, buy them in every color! So by the end of a weekend of shopping, my car is full of a wide array of flowers, all colors, all varieties. I bring them home, lay them out according to their sun requirements, then somehow convince myself that I have all the plants I need. That lasts for about a day, then I find myself back at the nurseries looking for more. I can’t help it, my motto is, there is always room for one more flower.  I feel like there are no rules when planting a flower garden, buy what you like, in any color you like.  As long as you pay attention to the sun and watering requirements, go all out.  I have a great time mixing and matching the seasonal annuals to bring splashes of color to the yard. I am particularly excited when I find a blue flower, as blues are less common in nature.  Mixing in some perennials not only looks great, but gives you something to look forward to year after year, and can help save some money down the road.  A vibrant flower garden can be done on a budget, it doesn’t have to break the bank.  Some nurseries have sales as the summer progresses. Others offer weekly specials, or have coupons in the local papers. Even just a few perfectly spaced flowers can make a huge statement if you can’t afford a lot!  The happiness these little annuals bring is so worth the time and effort to plant and care for them (and the compliments from the neighbors feel good, too!).  Be adventurous, don’t be afraid of color.  You’ll be amazed at what your yard will look like!