wedding garden

The good news is that my son is getting married. The bad news is that the garden is a mess. I have until the reception on June 17th to get it ready. I need to know how long it takes flowers to come to full bloom so that I can plant early enough. Not too early, not too late. Where can I find this type of information? I haven't selected the flower types yet. Are any species "more dependable" or "error free"?
I live in the smack-dab center of California.
Thanks
Mark

What zone are you in? What exposure does the area(s) get ? Any preference for colors ?

You could start the easy annuals come springtime...(or buy them) ...prolific ones like Marigolds, alyssum, lobelia, zinnias, larkspur, cosmos, etc. and they should be blooming for you by then.

I don't know what your temps are in Modesto at that time of year, but by that time in my zone, the spring annuals are pretty well finished. Your inland temps. by that time are no doubt warmer than ours.

Down here, we can get 4" perennials around April which are very easy to grow and put on a good "first year show" i.e. : Rudbeckia, coreopsis, Echinacea, Achillea, etc.

Look in the Sunset Western Garden Book under warm season annuals.

It's hard to pinpoint exact bloom time if you're growing them outdoors vs. in a controlled environment like a greenhouse.

Gladiola bulbs typically take 85 to 90 days to bloom from when they're planted...but then you only get one bloom per bulb...but they're pretty inexpensive and they'll come back next year and multiply.

I think it gets pretty hot in Modesto by June, yeah? and sure to be dry..... I do not know the name of this one but you can find it called African Daisy, they are pretty and tolerate much abuse and some think they are invasive. Also, Gazanias are excellent for dry and poor soil and there is a brilliant array of bloom variety. Poppies. You might also consider renting or purchasing a few contrasting elements by the way of larger foliage plants in containers, so you can make a nice scene, instead of only a mix of annual flowers all pretty much at the same level of visual interest.....

Forgive my designing mind there, cain't hep it. ;-)

Also, you might want to phone up or visit local nurseries and ask. A good nursery will be happy to give you advice even if you are still doing research and don't immediately buy anything, or ever for that matter.

Good luck!

African Daisy is Osteospermum http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Osteospermum&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&searcher%5Bgrex%5D=&search_prefs%5Bblank_cultivar%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search

Yup, that's the one I was thinking of, thanks for the reference Dale.

Don't forget that foliage plants and grasses intermingled can fill in gaps and make your plantings look lush.

Osteospermums are wonderful plants, but in my experience they are more of a cool-weather bloomer, so in June in Modesto they may be taking their summer vacation. Mine will put out occasional blooms during the summer, but I wouldn't count on a spectacular show for the wedding unless you have cool springlike temps all the way through May...and given our recent almost summerlike temperatures in January I'm not sure how likely that is! I don't grow many annuals, but there are some common and readily available perennials that I've found tend to bloom all summer long (if not longer)...Lantana, Gazania, Gaillardia, and Nemesia are some that are very reliable bloomers for a full sun area and they're guaranteed to be all over any garden center you go to. Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve' (and probably other cultivars as well) also tends to bloom over a long period, but I can't remember if mine performed well their first year in the ground or if it waited until the second year.