Guests should bring their own shears (clippers) if possible. Experienced volunteers will be available to demonstrate appropriate pruning techniques. The rose garden is located on Taylor Street at Spring Street just east of Coleman Avenue. For more information or to make reservations, contact Lucy Perez at 408.298.7657 or lperez@grpg.org (www.grpg.org is where you'll find the website for Guadalupe River Park and Gardens).

In about a month or two, cool season annuals will be replacing warm season annuals. Those who prefer to grow their annuals from seed in flats should get started now. The seedlings will then be mature enough to plant when the warm season annuals are finished. Stock, nemesia, Iceland poppy, calendula, candytuft, pansy and viola will all be seasonal at that time. (If you think you can grow snapdragon without rust, then go for it.)

Seed of cool season perennials such as columbine, coreopsis, heuchera, Shasta daisy, dianthus and primrose may also be sown in flats now. (Most primroses are used as annuals.) Seed of cool season vegetables such as beets, radishes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce may all be sown directly into the garden. Because these vegetables produce only once, small groups should be planted through the season so that as the each group is exhausted, the next will begin production. Cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage may be purchased as small plants in cell packs or six packs later rather than grown from seed if only a few of each are desired. Lettuce is also available in six packs, but because each plant is so small at maturity and so many plants are consequently preferred, seed is more practical.

Crowded bearded iris may be divided in late summer or autumn. Iris are not necessarily divided every year, but as they become crowded. Of course, they all become crowded at different rates depending on foliar structure and health of growth. Iris that bloom on taller stems produce longer and broader foliage that requires considerably more space than the smaller foliage exhibited by dwarf iris.

Only the distended section of rhizome between the terminal foliar "fan" and the somewhat dehydrated section of rhizome that either grew or was installed during the previous season should be planted after division. The older sections may be discarded. Foliar fans can be cut at least in half to minimize moisture lost to evapotranspiration (evaporation from foliar surfaces). The outer foliage will dehydrate and may be removed as it is slowly replaced by new foliage through autumn and winter.

Iris rhizomes are becoming available in nurseries, as well as a few other spring bulbs. They can be planted as they become available for earliest bloom in late winter or early spring. Like the vegetables, they may be planted in phases so that they bloom in phases next year.

Flower of the Week: Floss flower

I first met floss flower, Ageratum houstonianum, in college during the late 1980s, but have not seen much of it since then. It is available through summer and blooms through autumn, but has not been as popular as the "common" annuals. After seeing it in a pot next door, I realized that the recent increased popularity is likely because the pale blue flowers conform so well to the current trend of gardening in red, white and blue. Of course, anyone who is anyone must employ these colors.

Most varieties exhibit dense clusters of small, lavender-blue flowers on 5-inch-tall plants. One of these dwarf varieties blooms a deep purple-blue. Other varieties are about twice as tall. One of these taller varieties blooms pale pink and another blooms white, but there are, sadly, none that bloom in red. Rich soil, regular irrigation and full sun exposure are preferred, but glare from reflective surfaces can be damaging by enhancing exposure. The soft green, round foliage is wider at the base of the plant and somewhat hairy.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408-358-2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com.