Statice is a plant with many varieties. It has large broad leaves and many flowers, blue, white, pink, purple or greenish-yellow, on stems.

If we cut them, they keep well and need heat.

Propagated by seed in early spring.

Salvia is a perennial herbaceous plant, cultivated as an annual. It is also called “fire” because of the arrangement and crimson color of its flowers. It belongs to the Labiatae family. The genus Salvia includes about 500 species of plants. Among them is the Mediterranean aromatic sage S. officinalis. Many varieties and hybrids have been created including Salvia x superba with its impressive purple-blue flowers. Salvia is native to Brazil and remains in bloom throughout summer and fall. Its decorative value is due to the rich flowering but also to the contrast created by the red flowers with the lively green foliage. It is planted in groups in rock gardens, lawns, flower beds and plant containers, alone or in combination with other annual plants. The combination of salvia and yellow amber is excellent!

Cacti need full sun exposure, with very few exceptions, and a long warm season exceeding 6 months to grow. The intense activity of the cacti takes place during the spring and summer period, during which, in addition to growth, they also give their unique flowering. As for winter, a period of dormancy, cacti seek temperatures of 5-15°C, although some of them can withstand sub-zero temperatures for a while. Cacti need coarse, sandy, draining soil to grow. An ordinary general-purpose potting soil is not suitable for cacti, as it retains a lot of moisture. That is why we use specialized potting soil for cacti enriched with nutrients. Cacti definitely need fertilization, especially during the spring and summer when they do most of their growth. Specialized fertilizers for cacti, water-soluble with enough trace elements, are needed to improve growth and give their wonderful flowering. We add water-soluble fertilizer to the cacti twice a month for the spring and summer periods.

Zinnia is an annual ornamental plant that impresses with the variety of colors and shapes of its flowers. The zinnia has upright strong shoots with a length of half to one meter and large flowers that remain in bloom throughout the summer. We can find tall and short varieties of zinnia and plant them in a pot but also in a rock garden, on the lawn, and in flower beds, in various combinations with other herbaceous flowering plants.

Carnations, one of the classic and much-loved flowers that are traditionally found in the gardens, yards and balconies of Greek homes. The carnation (carnation or dianthus) stands out for its lush vegetation with its characteristic elongated lance-shaped leaves and its rich flowering in impressive colors. There are single color carnation varieties in shades of pink, red, yellow and white, as well as bicolor carnations with wonderful color combinations. This is an extremely popular ornamental plant that, especially in previous decades, was not missing from any home. After all, the carnation has been cultivated since ancient times and was known by the name Dianthos, which means the flower of Zeus. The carnation is planted in the spring and gives us the rich flowering from April to November.

Gaillardia is an impressive flower with characteristic green-grey foliage and beautiful flowers that resemble daisies in shades of red, yellow and orange. Gaillardia is characterized by abundant and prolonged flowering that lasts from early summer to mid-autumn. It comes from America and belongs to the same family as the sunflower with several varieties, some annual and others perennial and a height varying between 30-90 cm. Gaillardia is an ideal choice for planting in a flower bed, in a rock garden, as well as in a pot on the balcony. The Gaillardia plant gives a wild flower feel to our garden and is also one of the plants that attract butterflies and birds. Gaillardia needs sunny positions to give us its impressive flowering. It wants light and sandy soil that has good drainage, as young Gaillardia plants are sensitive to excess moisture. To plant it in a pot on the balcony, we prefer places with southern exposure and relatively sheltered, as it is sensitive to low temperatures and strong north winds. In any case, we put a layer of gravel at the base of the pot to drain away the water and not to close the holes of the pot due to soil compression.