Splendor in the grass: plan the perfect outdoor wedding with tips from Mississippi botanical pros.

even though the weather outside might be frightful this time of year, now is the perfect time to begin planning for a gorgeous June wedding in the garden, surrounded by beautiful roses and brilliant blue hydrangeas.

January and February are the ideal months to bundle up, get out the shovel, and start playing in the garden. So grab the coat and warm garden gloves. It will be worth every goosebump when the bride walks down the garden path to be married this summer.

Planning is the key for beautiful spring and summer weddings in the garden. Experts agree that timing a particular flower to bloom on the morning of June 14 will take more of a miracle than muscle, but steps taken now can guarantee a beautiful display of blooms just in time for wedding bells to ring.

"You can't wait until spring to start thinking about the wedding season," says Larry Stewart, groundskeeper for Monmouth Plantation in Natchez. "You have to stay on top of things. Bed preparation is very important."

Stewart says fall and winter can actually be among the busiest seasons in the garden, and it is important to not waste time when creating the background for a special event such a wedding.

Betty Blanton, garden center manager at Live Oak Landscapes in Natchez, says garden wedding planners should concentrate on cleaning up the garden space in January and February as well as planting shrubs and bulbs for maximum color come spring and summer.

"But have a plan," Blanton says. "Don't go planting things haphazardly. Talk to your local garden center, and get an idea of what works in your area of Mississippi. Things that grow beautifully here in Natchez may not always work in north Mississippi."

Nick Thompson, owner of Madison Garden Center in Madison, agrees that cleanup of the garden space is essential when planning an outdoor wedding. It may not be the most glamorous part of gardening, but trimming shrubs and trees is key to having a beautiful lawn, and January and February can be a good time to get started, Thompson says. A good six inches of mulch around new trees and shrubs will help them get established, he adds, noting that just before the wedding, the trees and shrubs will benefit from another top-dressing of mulch.

Timing is an important part of the planning process. Thompson says spring bulbs and pansies will begin to fade in mid-May but will continue to bloom throughout June. But by July, when temperatures hit 90 to 95 degrees, those posies are gone with the wind.

Thompson suggests planting pansies, dianthus, snapdragons, and ornamental cabbages for spring and early summer weddings. Look for more hardy, drought-resistant plants to take on the hot Mississippi sun for outdoor weddings in July and August.

Hayden Petkovsek, groundskeeper for the antebellum home Dunleith in Natchez, says it is important to get bulbs and plants established in the fall and winter months to ensure continuous color throughout the spring and summer. At Dunleith, that continuous color allows the garden to remain beautiful for the numerous weddings that take place outdoors each year.

"You want your garden to be like a fireworks display in the flowerbeds," Petkovsek says. "We have weddings and special events in the garden throughout the year, and it is important to make sure there is beautiful color at all times."

Designer Tracy Proctor of Tupelo says June is the peak month for perennials in Mississippi, and garden favorites such as Stargazer and Casablanca lilies are excellent choices for a June wedding. Roses are "incredible" in June, Proctor says, even after their mid-May peak.

Nandina and elaeagnus are two other sure-fire perennials that Proctor has used on a variety of blissful occasions, and he says he loves hostas for variety and texture.

"Hostas have all those different shades of green, which is so popular now," he says. "The apple green and the variegated plants bring in the creams and lighter colors. And they are super for shade gardens."

Early June is also a perfect time for using hydrangeas. According to Proctor, hydrangeas are at their most intense hue in early June before shifting to greener shades by the end of the month.

When the temperature cranks up in July and August, annuals are the perfect way to transition to hardier plants. Proctor says zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds make a good showing in the garden and provide a punch of color during the mid-summer heat.

Proctor suggests concentrating the planting of flowers in the area in which most of the activities will take place. "Put the most color in the places your guests will be circulating," Proctor says. "You can have a lovely presentation at the altar and at the tables for the reception without planting throughout the lawn."

Proctor says the hottest color for flowers and fabrics at weddings this year will be "green, green, green!" Peaches and corals are also making a comeback, and hot pink is great for summer weddings, he adds. At Monmouth, pastel shades are the most common floral order; many brides prefer white, light pinks, pale yellows, and powder blues, Stewart says.

All of the flowers at a garden wedding don't have to be planted in beds, of course. Potted plants are a major element of garden wedding design today. Annuals can be placed in terracotta pots for instant color that looks fresh, and Proctor says mixed plantings in painted terracotta pots make unique centerpieces for reception tables.

Susan Smith, co-owner of Smith Landscaping and The Greenhouse in Columbus, says she uses a lot of ivy topiaries in pots throughout the garden to add a sense of formality to a garden wedding. Potted plants can also help to cover up unsightly areas, Smith notes.

There's still another positive point about plantings that are placed in pots instead of in the ground--they allow for a quick transition to "Plan B" in the event that the wedding has to be moved because of rain. This is Mississippi, after all.

10 tips for al fresco "I do's"

1. Formulate a comprehensive planting plan. Don't plant haphazardly.

2. Consult with your local garden center on plants that work well in your area.

3. Get the lawn in good shape. Trim or replace trees and shrubs as needed.

4. Prepare beds properly, and mulch for the best blooming results.

5. Stay on top of things. Know when to plant in order to have blooms around the time of the event.

6. Be aware of when spring flowers will fade or when hardy annuals will perform best. You cannot use pansies in August.

7. Use potted plants for additional color and to hide less appealing areas of the garden.

8. Concentrate flowers n focus areas such as the altar and the reception tables.

9. Don't expect blooms on a specific date. Go for a general range of blooming time.

10. Have a backup plan in case of inclement weather.