flower topping

iced Bee Balm seed heads

I am a staunch advocate of keeping spent flower heads

of perennials through Winter

In Tasmania when blossoms are few

in a flower bed the frosted seed heads

of many flowers will create architectural

feature where a bare garden would normally be
uninteresting

frosted Pincushion Flowers

Now though,

with Spring on its way

I must cut off the seed heads

as the new Spring growth forces leaves ahead

and I need to make way for fresh blooms

I cut the seed heads back to ground level

and give the dried stalks a good shake over the garden

just in case there are a few seeds that have remained

now for a good feed of manure and a mulch of

mushroom compost and we should be set for a Summer show

laced Love-in-a-mist