Friday, June 10, 2011

WATCHIN' 'EM GROW!

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One of the most enjoyable things to do this time of year is watching the fruits of your labors grow and bloom into beautiful, fragrant, flowers.  I have a list of "favorites" and have, over the years, slowly weeded out those that don't do well in my area, are too unmanageable, too invasive, or those that require too many special requirements, or are finicky.This time of year, probably more than any other in the season, I have so many "favorite" plants.  I love the columbine, as seen in the top collage, that are in bloom now.  They have a wonderful free form and graceful petals, and I have them in some of my favorite colors.  As long as I keep a part of the plant through fall, I'll have the exact plant next year.  By sprinkling their seed, you never know what you'll end up with, because their seed isn't true to the parent plant.  The bottom collage shows some of my other favorites that are in bloom presently:  Dutch iris, giant allium, poppies, Snow on the Mountain, Mountain Blue Centaurea, and the early to mid-blooming clematis.  It's a  pleasure to work in the beds among the dragon flies, bees, occasional hummingbird and these spring beauties!  
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Susanne Holland Spicker Mother, Grandmother, Homemaker, Gardener, Teacher, Photographer

Passion is defined as the love of, or the object(s) of affection and emotion. I am passionate about family, friends, flowers, food, photography and fabulous music! This blog is dedicated to those loves.

5 comments:

  1. KexinApril 28, 2016 at 3:17 PM

    What do you mean by keeping a part of the columbine? I have been wondering about how to keep them the same. You seem to have the answer! Could you please teach me?

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    Replies
    1. Susanne Holland SpickerMay 6, 2016 at 10:31 PM

      What I mean is that sometimes they get too big, and I need to thin or take some out. So to keep the exact plant color, I make sure that part of the original plant is still in the ground growing. If I scatter the seeds of that plant, there is no guarantee that the plant will be identical--columbine seeds aren't "true to plant," or, in other words, they don't necessarily grow into the exact same plant--they will be variable.

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    2. Susanne Holland SpickerMay 6, 2016 at 10:32 PM

      What I mean is that sometimes they get too big, and I need to thin or take some out. So to keep the exact plant color, I make sure that part of the original plant is still in the ground growing. If I scatter the seeds of that plant, there is no guarantee that the plant will be identical--columbine seeds aren't "true to plant," or, in other words, they don't necessarily grow into the exact same plant--they will be variable.

      Delete
    3. KexinMay 7, 2016 at 2:48 PM

      I read that columbine is short live. I am wondering if they will die in a few year then I will lose the types I got.... This is my first year have them from seeds I planned last year. I planted so many kinds(not all survived). I don't even know what's gonna come out! Haha. I m planting more seeds this year. They are those hybrid colorful ones. Have you had those before? If it survived the winter, will they flower the same next year?

      Delete
  2. KexinApril 28, 2016 at 3:17 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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