ok .. i did it .... sorta ... first .... to simplify wildly .... annuals bloom according to the intensity of the sun .... i doubt you can be successful is starting them later ... and hoping to delay bloom since sept/oct sun in MI is not going to be sufficient to trigger bloom.. and i am talking outdoors ... you are not going to FORCE a plant that is suppose to bloom in the high sun of JUNE.. to bloom in the relative darkness of OCT ... i can not address greenhouses ... next ... i had a rose collection.. over 100 plants ... their last bloom of the season in MI is often the largest flower of the year ... deepest colored.. and scented ... something about the effects of the refrigerator MI is in october ... and it worked for me ... i took two 5 gal buckets of budded roses to the florist to be inserted into the flowers i bought from them ... but i dont see you buying many roses and growing them successfully.. it defeats the money savings .... but, as i say .. the fail safe was the florist ... IMHO.. there is NO WAY you can insure that you will have flowers on the specific date ... short of a professional ... and on top of all that ... as noted.. in the few weeks before the big day .. you will surely have WAY TOOO MANNNYYY things to worry about besides mother nature ... like we can control that ... so .. my best advice ... pay for your flowers .... and set the deal with florist that anything you or future mom-in-law bring in.. they will add into the design ... and do shop around.. as i recall from 1995 ... prices for our concept varied between 300 and 1000 dollars ... and we went with the 300 plus all i could add ... and it turned out wonderful ... flowers were very important to this gardener ... but i gotta admit .... it is nearly one of the most ridiculous wastes of money in a wedding .... PLEASE focus on the important things.. like your bouquet.. and the maids .... and dont worry all that much about any other flowers ... the guests really dont care.. if you have a fully functional bar across the room ... lol ... so.. bottom line.. its money well spent for a fail safe.. and let mom in law worry about adding some late blooming perennials ... which most likely wont bloom from seed this year ... asters and mums would be perfect ... good luck with the wedding ken

Martagon Lilies(recurved petals) Orienipet Lilies Trumpet Lilies Limelight and Tardiva Hydrangea Pinky-Winky Hydrangea Butterfly Bushes Veronicas Liatris Balloon Flowers Russian Sage Zebra Grass Showstopper, Rugosa, Fairy Roses Globe thistle (Sea Holly) Hibiscus Rose Campion Various Daylilies Sanguisorba Clematis Tantigua Oakleaf Hydrangea Phlox, Various Agastache, both kinds Periennial Salvias Rose of Sharon shrubs Butterfly weed Gallardia Tall Sedum, flowers almost open, seems early Milkweed in the fields Hostas Mullien Geranium, pink and blue Red allium about gone Lobelia, Salmon Delphinium, new, planted in spring Guess that is more than I thought! I do have annuals interspersed for steady color. Planted a bunch this week after purchasing on sale, $1 a 4 inch pot, very full plants. Added a lot of fill for the price, along with steady color. Got some very interesting morning glory plants with attractive varigated leaves, purple with white edged flowers, get about 12" tall. Used for a whole row of seeds that didn't sprout. Nice colored Coleus, Bonfire begonias, new style geraniums with dark pink, white edge flowers, blue phlox, blue salvia just keeps blooming. I got a lot of soaker hose laid last fall, sure paying off now in watering. We are getting rain, but deep dirt seems dry. Heat is pretty high, need the water. I love the perennials for variety, but count on annuals for being in bloom, color all the time. I do place a number of potted annuals around the place for bright spots. You can change them around or leave in place as anchor color.

Tommysmommy, I guess different elevations and wind flows make a big difference. I believe the grow zones have to do with frost and temperatures. Here we have the Great Lakes to moderate our climate. Karyn1, yes indeed the tubers have to be lifted in the fall. As soon as the first light frost hits them, I dig them up and prepare them for their winter's nap. You can see my process on the dahlia forum here. Just search under my name, jroot, and you'll see that several folks follow what I do. Gottahosta, no most of my hibiscus which are in bloom already are tropicals. I think I have 14 different tropicals here now. Soon the perennial hibiscus will be in bloom. They are sprouting up very quickly this year, and higher than I've ever seen them. I'll try to catch them in bloom. Some of my tropicals have specific names, while others are NOIDS. This one is called "Red Velvet" with an 8 inch flower.

Start them in some potting soil- damp but not wet & you shouldn't have to water them until they start growing. Now is a good time to start them for planting in mid May. 06* is OK- 68-70* is better.