Photo by Sophia Martin
Did you know that there are more than 300,000 different flowering plant species in the world? There are two major types of flowers: perennials and annuals. Perennials regrow for a year or two, while annuals grow for one season. Marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers are examples of annuals; coneflowers, daylilies, geraniums are some perennials. Flowers can obviously add beauty to your garden, but can also attract pollinators and improve soil health, among other benefits.
Lovely to Look At and Edible
Some flowers are edible and can be added to baked goods, salads, and teas. Be sure to research the proper preparation and picking process if you want to try this. Edible flowers include honeysuckle flower petals, which can be used to make syrup, tea, or even pudding. Pansy flowers taste great in salads. And lilac flowers can be used in jellies, baked goods, butter, and more. Fellow bakers and cooks may want to look up ways you can add different flowers into your recipes.
Roses and tulips are particularly interesting. Roses are used in drinks, fruit dishes, jams, and jellies. The flower itself is related to peaches, pears, cherries, raspberries, and apples; summer fruits many of us love and enjoy. In the Victorian era (and still sometimes today), roses were used to convey different meanings: White roses were said to represent purity and innocence; red roses signified I love you. Then there are tulips. In Holland in the 1600s, tulip bulbs were perceived to be more valuable than gold. There were fights fought over them. “Tulip Fever,” a 2018 film, explores this. And need an onion when you’re cooking? Try using a tulip bulb instead.
Veggies and Herbs Can Be Companions
But what if you want to plant something other than a flower? Try veggies and herbs. You can find multiple charts and articles on companion planting online. They’ll tell you how to pair different food crops to avoid pests. Along with companion planting, the zone you live in can also be crucial to your gardening. Nyack is the USDA Hardiness Zone 7a zone. And here’s a fun fact: Broccoli is actually a flower!
Why Garden and Why Now?
Why am I writing about this so late into the planting season? Next year, there will be another planting season and planning is an important thing to consider when deciding to garden. Online articles can be a great help with that.
But why even garden? In my opinion, gardening is an enriching hobby and flowers can clean polluted air. It may not be the solution to global warming, but it can be a good filter. For example, sunflowers can absorb radioactive elements.
Also, growing your own food has other benefits: taste, sustainability, and nutrition. I highly recommend doing your own research to find out more about this.
Some people may think gardening is too complicated and too much. If so, maybe gardening isn’t the ideal hobby for you, but you never know. It could be your next favorite hobby.
Sasha Weintraub is a rising sophomore at Nyack High School who likes writing, art, and music.
