Flowers are part of nearly every culture on earth. There are thousands and thousands of flower species, and people grow different types of flowers in gardens all over the world. A flower is the lovely product of a plant that allows it to reproduce, and different types of flowers reproduce in different ways.

There are as many types of flowers as there are people who grow them. Some types of flowers reproduce from bulbs, some from cuttings and some from seeds. Some types of flowers are perennials, meaning they do not have to be replanted every year, while some types are annuals. There are even types of flowers that are edible!

A beginning flower gardener may want to start simple. Some types of flowers that reproduce from seeds may be pre-planted into a strip of soil. The gardener prepares a suitable place, unrolls the soil and sets it properly, waters it and waits for the flowers to grow. Types of flowers that start from seeds include zinnias, wildflowers, poppies, strawflowers, morning glories and others. These are generally perennials and will sprout, grow and die in the same season.

Tulips and daffodils are types of flowers that start from bulbs. A gardener usually plants the bulbs in the fall and the spring brings the flowers up. Bulbs can be dug up and replanted, but are generally left in the ground, where they come up faithfully each year. When dormant, bulbs can also be dug up, divided and replanted to increase the number of flowers in the spring.

Roses are probably the most common of the types of flowers that usually grow from cuttings. It is easy to cut a small branch from a rosebush, root it in a pot and plant it in the yard, and have that kind of rose growing in a few months. Most roses are sold already rooted — some even flowering — in pots at garden centers.

Their beauty prompts people to plant, display and give flowers for special occasions or for no reason at all. Nothing brightens up a dreary room like a few flowers in a vase. Some people even have flowering houseplants, such as African violets, on their desks at work, and they are also popular in nursing homes.

Care should be taken when giving flowers. The giver needs to make certain the recipient isn’t allergic to flowers and doesn’t mind if any have a fragrance. Not all flowers have a fragrance, of course, but especially strongly scented plants, such as gardenias, honeysuckle or lilies, may trigger an allergic reaction. Whether wildflowers along the roadside, gorgeous cultivated blooms or just the backyard daisies, flowers brighten our days and decorate the whole earth.