Full Bloom: The colors of summer are ready to plant out

An early spring has had flower lovers blossoming with delight, although the early spring didn't bring warm temperatures at night -- until last weekend, when the planting in the core area began.

While the full bloom is a few weeks away, annuals are starting to show their colors around the Valley.

Up until last weekend, it was still too cold to get them into the ground, but gardeners are busy this week as planting season is finally here. Warmer evening temperatures have finally arrived.

"They are still getting some frost up in Willow and Talkeetna, but in the Valley and Anchorage, it's time to start planting out," said Rhonda Williams of Recluse Gardens.

June 1 -- today -- is the magic date for planting outside, said Dottie Kallam of Wilderness Nursery. By waiting until the first of June, you avoid headaches and floral letdowns, she said.

"Last year we had frost on June 4. It never pays to jump the gun and plant real early. June 1st is the safest date I think," Kallam said. "Spring was warm this year, but it still wasn't been warm enough to plant earlier than normal."

Take a look around Valley gardens and you'll find some of the same flowers as you always have. The "old standbys," as Williams calls them, are as popular as ever.

Popular annuals include alyssum, geraniums, pansies, snapdragons -- the same as most seasons.

"Million Bells and Bacopa have also been popular this year," Williams said.

Taking a couple of different species and putting them together can be a nice way to get as much color in your garden as possible, Kallam said.

"We do a lot of combination planter boxes and those have been popular again this year," Kallam said. "Those are nice because you get a couple of different colors and flowers in the same box."

While the "old standbys" have been extremely popular, one newcomer caused quite a commotion at Recluse Gardens.

This spring, Recluse Gardens got a new geranium in -- but quickly sold out of it as gardeners got word and made their way to the greenhouse.

"The Rocky Mountain Geraniums had this gorgeous, intense violet," Williams said. "We sold out as fast as we got them. One man came and bought 100 of them and wiped us out."

Williams is especially excited about a perennial this season -- the Freya rose.

"Finally, we've got a new climber rose for Alaska," Williams said. "It is a 14-foot climber with double pink blossoms. It's beautiful. They are very popular this year."

Because of Alaska's colder climate, certain precautions -- like planting later than normal -- should be taken.

Kallam said that a good rule of thumb is that flowers that do the best in the Lower 48 can do good here, but in a planter box and not in the ground.

This year's early spring brought earlier than usual blooms, and a good gardening attitude, just for good measure.

"People have been really excited about getting their flowers out this year because of how nice the spring has been," Williams said. "We've had a lot of good, early sun this year."

There are a number of greenhouses and nurseries around the Valley that are hard at work trying to keep flowers in stock.

If you didn't plant your own from seed this year, there is still hope.

"Our busy season starts around the first of May," Williams said. "It's been pretty crazy around here."