Whether you have a green thumb or not, these tips can help you have a flower-filled spring and summer.

• When giving fresh-cut flowers to friends, consider their special interests. Place simple daisies in a rustic camping pitcher, drape English Ivy in a teapot or stand hydrangeas in a glass vase.
• Want a beautiful flower bed without all the fuss? Plant zinnia seeds for a long-lasting show of vibrant colors. These low-maintenance flowers only require decent soil, sunshine and water. Their gorgeous blooms are sure to make you smile.
• Start a family tradition by adding one or two new perennials (flowers that grow back) each year to a small flower bed. Label each addition with the name of the plant and the year it was planted for a special memory garden your children can grow along with.

Originally printed in MOMSense Magazine, May/June 2007