Focus on Flowers

Directions Website

Focus on Flowers Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Focus on Flowers, Nonprofit Organization, 1229 E 7th Street Radio and TV Building, Bloomington, IN.

Focus on Flowers is a weekly podcast from WFIU Public Radio about flower gardening, created by the late Moya Andrews, a master gardener from Bloomington, Indiana.

Veronia is the botanical name for the native ironw**d that pops up and self-seeds in my Midwest garden. It is a tall pla...
10/09/2026

Veronia is the botanical name for the native ironw**d that pops up and self-seeds in my Midwest garden. It is a tall plant and has clusters of dark purple flowers. Its full name is Veronia altissima.

One often sees Veronia, a.k.a. ironw**d, on roadsides and in fields and ditches. The wind disperses the seeds, which explains why it is a surprise when it appears in our gardens like an uninvited guest.

Most perennials we should cut back in the fall. They don’t look good once it gets cold, so it is best to cut them to the...
10/01/2026

Most perennials we should cut back in the fall. They don’t look good once it gets cold, so it is best to cut them to the ground and they will come back well next spring.

We should cut back most perennials in the fall. They don’t look good once it gets cold, so it is best to cut them to the ground and they will come back well next spring.

Tall plants are a mix of color that show up well from a distance, and they will tend to shade out stray w**ds.
09/25/2026

Tall plants are a mix of color that show up well from a distance, and they will tend to shade out stray w**ds.

Joe-Pye w**d looks great next to a splash of sunshine yellow from goldenrod or helianthus.

As summer transitions into fall, we usually rely on mums and asters to give us color as the growing season wanes. But so...
09/17/2026

As summer transitions into fall, we usually rely on mums and asters to give us color as the growing season wanes. But some other reliable bloomers are our native Culver’s Root, liriope, Japanese anemones, hyssops, and plumbago...

As summer transitions into fall, we usually rely on mums and asters to give us color as the growing season wanes. But here are some other reliable bloomers.

By the early 1600s, glads were being grown in gardens in England, and by the 1700s, glads were being imported to England...
09/10/2026

By the early 1600s, glads were being grown in gardens in England, and by the 1700s, glads were being imported to England and were quite common, with new species arriving frequently from South Africa. New varieties were also bred in both France and Germany in the 1800s.

The yellow and orange colors of the glads we have today came from the genetic legacy of a variety called Gladiolus primulinus.

Agastaches belong to the mint family. Commonly called Mexican hyssop or hummingbird mint, they can be perennial but only...
09/03/2026

Agastaches belong to the mint family. Commonly called Mexican hyssop or hummingbird mint, they can be perennial but only a few are hardy as far north as zones 4 and 5. Otherwise, they are easy going and make few demands. Grow in full sun or light shade. They spread to make 2-3 foot clumps.

These are good plants for an informal, colorful, easy-care planting that will show up well from a distance.

"Division often has a negative connotation; it is something that separates us. In the garden, however, division can be a...
08/30/2026

"Division often has a negative connotation; it is something that separates us. In the garden, however, division can be a good thing."

When Division is Desirable: Splitting Up Perennials to Promote Plant Health Division often has a negative connotation; it is something that separates us. In the garden, however, division can be a good thing. Some perennials become crowded over time which may result in smaller or fewer flowers; t

The common sunflower goes by the botanical name of Helianthus annus. Extensive breeding has resulted in a great number o...
08/27/2026

The common sunflower goes by the botanical name of Helianthus annus. Extensive breeding has resulted in a great number of cultivars with yellow, orange, red, cream, white, and bi-color blooms, in many different sizes and flower shapes.

“Heli” means sun and “anthus” means flower.

One annual that requires no deadheading is angelonia. The tall ones make good cut flowers and the shorter ones look pret...
08/21/2026

One annual that requires no deadheading is angelonia. The tall ones make good cut flowers and the shorter ones look pretty anywhere in the garden or in pots, and they also are deer resistant. They grow in full or part sun and come in pinks, whites, blues, and purples.

Many annuals need to be deadheaded to keep blooming all season. While snipping off the spent blossoms can hardly be described as hard work, it is easier not to have to remember to do this chore. For that reason, many of us try to buy annuals that do not need deadheading in order to re-bloom all seas...

William Shakespeare included so many botanical references in his plays, including comments about how to care for various...
08/14/2026

William Shakespeare included so many botanical references in his plays, including comments about how to care for various items, so he must have been knowledgeable in this area. Here are just a few examples you may recognize.

William Shakespeare included so many botanical references in his plays that there are about 175 mentions of flowers, fruits, grains, grasses, seeds, w**ds, trees, spices, herbs, and vegetables in his works.

Address

1229 E 7th Street Radio And TV Building
Bloomington, IN
47405

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Focus on Flowers posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category