Wildflowers will bloom in eight to 10 weeks.
Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

It takes several weeks before the blooms arrive, but the results can be dramatic. Hardware Hawaii in Kailua sells the Scotts Wildflower Patchmaster mix for $3.59. The seeds and fertilizer are part of a paper mesh that holds in the moisture and helps germination.

Your job as a gardener is to keep the paper mesh damp, so you must water twice a day. Plants start to appear in a week or two and blooms arrive in eight to 10 weeks. The Scotts package lists more than 25 varieties of flowers. One bag covers about 50 square feet.

If you are worried about birds getting the seeds, put down aluminum pinwheels that spin in the wind. These send off flashing light to scare off the birds. Birdscare Flash Tape does the same thing. It is made by Modern Agri-Products of Lynden, Wash.

You may be able to find these wildflower packages at some local garden shops, but not all. If you can do without the fertilizer component, many garden shops carry seed mixes for different types of flowers.

Eagle Hardware, for example, carries several varieties: fragrant meadow seed mix, wildflower mix, and a mix with flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. These are made by NK Lawn and Garden and cost $9.47.

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