Cutting Garden | Backyard Garden Flowers | Johnson County K-State Extension
The purpose of the Cutting Garden is to demonstrate varieties of annual and perennial flowers that can be grown in our area and used for flower bouquets. The flowers are cut and arranged in bouquets each week during the summer. They are donated to local food pantries along with the vegetables and fruits that are grown in various areas within the Backyard Garden.
Points of Interest:
- In 2024 we donated 640 bouquets to local food pantries. This year we expect that total to increase again.
- We believe several factors will contribute to another successful growing season.
- We installed new raised beds and irrigation lines funded from a grant received from the Johnson County Extension Educational Foundation. The new raised beds and irrigation lines were installed by volunteers at the Backyard Garden.
- We utilized soil blocks. 600 flower seeds were started in soil blocks at a Bed Captains home in February. Another 350 seeds were planted in soil blocks at the greenhouse onsite at the Olathe Horticulture Research and Extension Center(OHREC) in March. Being able to start our flowers from seeds in this manner, saved us money and allowed us to try different methods.
- We plan to experiment this fall by planting cool season flowers directly into the soil and allow them to winter-over in the garden. This will give us a head start on flower production in early spring - 2026.
- Some of the flowers that we are growing include Zinnias, Larkspur, Celosia, Gomphrena, Lisianthus, Strawflowers, Scabiosa, Yarrow, Feverfew, Sunflowers, Iris, Gladiolus, Sedum, Love-in-a-Mist, Orlaya, and Poppies.
- We also grow a few herbs such as Cardinal Basil and various Grasses and fillers such as Dara, Golden Drumstick, Bupleurum, and Eucalyptus, as they add additional interest to our bouquets.
- We benefit as well from what is grown in other beds at BYG. For example, when the asparagus is done in the spring, we use the fronds for additional texture to the bouquets.
- We are also trying various methods to dry different flowers so they can be used in craft projects.
Tips:
- We hope that the flower bouquets donated to the pantries along with other produce are a surprise and bring a little joy to feed someone’s soul.
Garden Address: 35230 W 135th St
Olathe, KS 66061
Master Gardeners are available to answer questions and provide tours while they work the gardens Wednesday mornings, March to October. To schedule a visit on another day (M-F), please contact us at bygjocoemg@gmail.com
For all garden questions, contact our Hotline at 913-715-7050 or Email: garden.help@jocogov.org