Sweet Pea Seeds

The Sweet Pea seeds from the front plants are 'Miss. Willmott'.

Seeds for Linda

Linda, you got me going on seeds and since I can't sow them, I thought I would look through them... again and again! It is raining here and I don't have to go to town for another hour so I decided to create some more rainy day fun for us. Here is a list of the seeds I would be happy to share with you. No worries, there are way more per package than I will use in one season and once things are seeding here, I end up with more seed than anyone could ever need.

Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy', 'Cappuccino',

Laceflower 'Queen of Africa'

Monarda 'Bergamo'

Zinnia 'Oklahoma Pink', 'Oklahoma Scarlet', 'Zig Zag', 'Profusion Fire', 'Profusion Cherry', 'Polar Bear' and 'Zahara Rose Starlight',

Scarlet Flax

Calendula 'Victoria Sunset',

Sunflower 'Claret'

Nasturtium 'Tall Climbing Mix'

Acroclinium 'Sensation Giants'

Ammi Green Mist

California Poppy 'Jelly Beans'

Sweet Pea 'Streamers Mix', 'Spencer Giant Mix'

Strawflower/Helichrysum 'Monstrosum Mixed'

Larkspur 'Giant Imperial Mix'

Snapdragon 'Giant Tetra', 'Chantilly Deep Orange', 'Blushing Bride Mix',

Coreopsis 'Early Sunrise'

Gaillardia 'Goblin'

Salpiglosis

Some of these, I have to start inside to see flowers in my short season but you should be able to direct sow a lot more than I can.You can see them all on Vesey's or McFaydens. Let me know what you want and I can look up the seed to bloom time.

In Linda's Garden

Papyrus 'King Tut' in Linda's garden today. Another view there. We got all the plants in that I brought with me. Enjoying a garden I don't have to weed. 

My Mom's Violas

Today would have been my Mom's birthday. Her name was Viola June although she went by June or Junie or Junebug :) In fact, I was an adult before I even heard the name Viola. She loved my garden in the city. She never got to see the garden here but it is full of Violas for her. I don't visit gravesides for so many reasons it would be a rant to list them. What I do is plant Violas every June 20. I think of her much more often than that but this day belongs to her in my garden. Johnny-jump-up is the most common Viola around here and self-seeds rampantly but most other violas tend to disappear over the winter... seeds and all. Likely because I plant so many, this year, I have four varieties other than Johnny that are self-seeded in my garden. I think the credit for those belongs to her as well. Today I added 'Black Duet', 'Erlyn Lemon Bluewing' (both pictured) as well as 'Antique Shades' and 'Valentine'.

'Bonfire'

Ever since I decided I like orange, it seems to be all I plant ! I love this Begonia 'Bonfire'. The color is fantastic. It was one of the plants that caught my eye when I was at the greenhouse trying to spend no money. No rain today. No sun either. It was cool and wet. Still found lots of things to do outside though. The tulips are all almost done. Most dropped their petals with the rain last night. I have a single Narcissus bloom this year with Narcissus 'Tahiti' and am very happy to see it. I have always had limited success with Narcissus and when I planted them last Fall, I told myself I would not plant them again if they did not come up this Spring. Of course I tell myself things I don't believe all the time ;)

The Sun Showed Up

Planted some annuals that were in danger of expiring in their starter pots, got most of the glads in, weeded and refreshed the mulch at the Chiminea. Started early this morning so I could get Mikaela and Yehoni walked before I drove Nicholas to school. It was a beautiful sunny day but not too hot. Perfect gardening day and it is supposed to be the same tomorrow. I am starting to forget what the inside of the house looks like ;)

Cabin Fever

Another rainy day and I am feeling cooped up ! Took another run to the greenhouse and picked up the few plants I needed to finish my Aunt's garden since I managed to get the plan for that finished last night. Took the camera out and got pictures of all the closed tulips, identified them on my maps and recorded the blooms. I am running out of things to do inside though and the list for outside chores grows each day of rain. I'd love to see sun soon but they say rain until Sunday when it will snow. Today we received our first flood plain warning since we moved here... it is wet. Lilacs are budding up though and I finally got to my email today so there is always a silver lining.

Greenhouse Day

Another rainy day but this time with more cloud than rain. No sun at all though and the ground is wet. A perfect day to run to the greenhouse. I needed a couple of things so you know... any excuse ! I bought Gaura 'Blushing Butterflies' and a Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' for planting out with my 'Winnipeg Parks' and 'Country Dancer' Roses. Diascia 'Wink Orange' and 'Darla White' to plant together in an odd spot under a tree, above the fern where Diascia did well last year. It is a spot that is just outside the kitchen window so close enough to see the tiny flowers and its' open, airy look when it sways in the wind encourages daydreams so I wanted to repeat that planting. I got Zinnia 'Zowie Yellow Flame' not because I needed more Zinnia but because I couldn't resist the colors and wanted to plant it in the new front bed with the Lantana 'Bandana Orange Sunrise'. The Euphorbia 'Breathless Blush' and Bidens 'Mexican Gold' are fillers for the pots along with 2 Fuchsia varieties; 'Swingtime' and 'Angel Earrings Snowfire'. Finally, there are pink and white varieties of Osteospermum in that photo but I haven't decided who's garden those are going in yet.