Sunday 5 July 2009

Flowers from seeds have been a success!

At the beginning of this year I decided to sow some flower seeds for the allotment and my garden. At first it seemed such a chore looking after the 70 plus dahlias that germinated and Cosmos, Emilia, Cornflowers, Sweet-peas, Echinacea, Marigolds, Calendulas, Cerinthe -(planted in the autumn of 2008). But now I am so happy that I did it as the garden and the allotment look so colourful. The flowers have all done so well and for a fraction of the cost of buying plants. The only ones yet to flower and delight me are the Echinacea, (pink & white) when they do I will post a photo. The surprise seeds I collected from , shall we say a well known garden !!!!, (a surprise because I couldn't remember what plant they were from) grew to be a very delicate unusual tri-colour Calendula.

I know that I am posting about my garden again, and this is meant to be an allotment blog, but I have had to spend time this year re-planting beds in the garden as it got neglected because of the allotment all of last year. But now it's all done I shall be posting update photo's of the lottie during the week.

' Pretty in Pink'





This is the 'surprise' seeds I collected from 'Wisley gardens' ( sshhhh) I knew that if I had picked a seed-head it would have to have been something special and not just a common 'calendula' it's a beautiful three even four maybe? coloured 'calendula' and now I shall have my own seeds, and who knows what colour they will produce. This photo doesn't do it enough justice.

I just love these tiny, delicate, bright orange 'Emilia' 'Irish Poet'




I can't take the credit for growing these beauties, but they do get lot's of care.

This 'Lace-cap Hydrangea' was a Wedding Anniversary present to us from my daughter
many years ago, it's in a wooden tub and has now grown huge.

18 comments:

Val said...

Lovely pictures. I'm glad you have been so successful! Val

Jo said...

I agree, the Wisley Calendula looks wonderful.
Lovely colourful piccies there.

Maureen said...

Hi VALERI, welcome to the blog and than you leaving a comment.
........................
Hi JO, thanks for the comments the calendula really is pretty the photo doesn't do it enough justice. I'm off to Hampton Court flower show on Thursday, so I'm sure to 'find' some more seedheads that fall off as I walk past !!!!

Joanne said...

Hi Maureen love the garden photos. Ys seeds can be a mixed blessing i hate throwing any away and often grow too many. My echinacea did not flower until the second year and then the silly things didn't come up again after that not sure why I think they are all perennial anyway i am trying again this year but still very small plants.
Have fun at Hampton Court on Thursday.

Maureen said...

Hi JOANNE, It said on my Echinacea seed packet that if they were grown by a certain time (can't remember offhand) which I did, that they would flower this summer. They have come on this past week of so and have what looks like the forming of a bud, fingers crossed! i will post a photo if they do bloom this year.

Maureen said...

I just read my comment to VALERI, it was meant to say thank you for leaving a comment, there is no way to edit these messages, so must remember to check properly in future before publishing !!

Moe said...

Hi Maureen,
Gosh your garden looks so beautiful, I am glad that you were so succesful with the seeds, I also read your last blog entry and checked out that lovely site, it brought tears to my eyes its so sad, what a lovely man to carry on her blog, Sorry I haven't been around much lately all of the kids have been sick one by one so I have been on Nurse Duty!
Moe xx

Maureen said...

Moe, thanks for the visit and the comment. I hope the children have all recovered now, and I expect they are looking forward to breaking up for the summer holidays.

Renaissance said...

Your garden is looking lovely - post away it's always a delight to see such lovliness.

Maureen said...

RE, thank you for your comment. I have just been admiring your beautiful pale pink rose, and visited your other blog as well.

Renaissance said...

Hello again Maureen thanks for taking the time and trouble to comment on both of my blog. The rose you liked is the climber New Dawn.

Unknown said...

I was umming and ahhing about sowing flower seeds for next year, but after reading this I definately will!
Well done Mo.
Great photos' too!!!!
x

Maureen said...

Thanks ALI, I will post some of the flowers on the lottie this week, it looks so colourful and the bees love it. I am trying to not be so fussy with the plot and treat it for what it is - an allotment plot and not a garden, the point being I wont get so uptight when all the weeds appear. It's a constant battle isn't it?
I like being tidy though, and it's hard as vegetables don't grow tidy especially when they are full size.

Prospero said...

There is always such a satisfaction in growing plants from seed. Not only is it more economical, it is far more rewarding. And you really seem to have a gift for flowers. So colorful. So elegant.

Your surprise is really attractive. Good job.

I'll look forward to seeing what's up at the allotment. Keep us posted.

Maureen said...

PROSPERO, thank you for the comments. I watched your lovely little video with the enchanting music that you posted on your blog, that was over the week-end, but my comment wouldn't save for some reason, so I will try again today, as I would like to know what the music was.

Jan said...

Hi Maureen, the photos are lovely...what color you have in your garden! I love color, so even if your blog is about your allotment, the color you share is such a nice bonus! How great that those lovely flowers all came from seeds that you planted yourself! Isn't this time of year so nice...I wish it would last longer and we wouldn't have the cold weather ahead:-( Take Care!

Maureen said...

JAN, thank you for your kind comment. I feel good that I saved all that money from growing from seeds. When I look at the price of one plant in the garden centre it makes all the effort very worthwhile. As for the weather, it's been a bit too hot for me, I cope better with the colder weather, but having said that I do miss all the colourful summer plants in the winter.

ReapWhatYouGrow said...

Ooooh, so inspiring. I am really keen on growing more flowers from seed next year, so I am going to take note of what worked on your plot!