Author Archives: Kari Koskinen

flower, gardening

Ice Poppy

Ice Poppy

I wanted color to the garden and bought some ice poppies (papaver croceum) to the garden last summer. Colors they have are bright and clear as so many poppies have.

What I was surprised about was that they flowered through the whole summer. They even started before aquilegias and were still blooming in September. A nice surprise since I am used to the fact that poppies only bloom for a short while.

Half of them made it through the winter and this year I bought seeds to ensure that I have a bit more of them around next year.

I bought the original ones as plants and not sure if I am able to grow them successfully from seeds. After I planted my mother’s cat decided to help and after his doings I am not quite sure where the seeds ended up. Well I guess we will see that in the next few weeks.

PS. Bought the plants from http://www.viherpeukalot.fi, just fell in love with the picture they had on their website.

Ice Poppy

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flower, gardening

Primrose

Primrose

It is still cool and wet up here but the primroses are starting to bloom. Their vigorous colors brightening the flower bed just before the tulips start their show.

The winter was not a good one for them and only less than half of them made it to the spring. I was so waiting to see my first drumstick primroses to bloom for the first time.

In the autumn they looked well and strong. Now I look at them and only hope that even some of them would start to show some signs of life.

Well I am not yet ready to give up. New pack of seeds is now in the bed and I am waiting. The sad thing is that it takes longer than a year to see the blooms.

PS. Primrose seeds are tiny but seem to grow if they manage to stay in a moist ground in the beginning.

Primrose

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flower, gardening

Tete-a-Tete

Tete-a-Tete

Sometimes you just get lucky! When gardening you never know are you heading for a success or for a total failure. This time I accidentally managed to plant something beautiful.

During Easter I always end up buying daffodils. They last few weeks in a pot and then you need to decide what to do with them. Last year I took mine to the garden and just stuck them next to a stone and forgot their existence.

This week I remembered them when Tete-a-Tetes started to bloom. Small and delegate but so easy for my eyes.

PS. If you have a possibility plant the bulbs that you have bought in a pot. You never know. You might get lucky as well.

Daffodils

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flower, gardening

Violet

VioletFinally it begins to be warm enough in the north so you can run to a florist an buy the first violets. Something colorful to your balcony which can manage the cold nights and unpredictable weather. The days are now longer and active part of the year has started.

And I sure have waited for this!

Violets come in various colors and usually arrive to the shops early in the spring shortly followed by pansies. Usually have both in my balcony to have something blooming in the beginning of the season.

Sadly violets only last until the end of July even if I cut them short. The balcony simply becomes too hot for them to make it longer. Luckily by that time the other flowers have begun their show.

Now I just need to wait and see which of the plants have made it through the winter. It sure has been a mild and warm one here in the northern Europe. A second one in the row. Bet that the forthcoming will be a cold and cruel.

PS. Bought the violets from a florist nearby simply because of the quality.

Violet

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flower, gardening

Easter

DaffodilsTime to relax a bit and enjoy life. Planning to visit my parents and spent some time with them next weekend.

Here in the north it is still too early to plant anything but Easter is anyway a good excuse to buy few flowers.

Managed to find a beautiful pot of daffodils from a flower shop near me. A variety that I have grown for years in our summer cottage. Once they have stopped blooming I will plant the bulbs and enjoy them also during the forthcoming years.

Wishing you a great Easter! I hope you have a possibility to enjoy it with your family and friends!

PS. I keep the pot in the balcony while I am not at home. Coolness simply makes daffodils bloom longer.

Mugs

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flower, gardening

Pleione

PleioneIt is still one month before the first spring flowers start to bloom up here in the north. So in my search for spring I ended up booking a holiday trip to Amsterdam where the flowers are just starting their colorful show.

When walking around the city I bought Pleione bulbs as a gift to my friend. This small pink flower is completely new to me and I have no idea how to take care of it. It just looked like something my fried would appreciate and because Pleione is just 10 centimeters high it seems to be perfect for terrariums.

Your friends usually know you and receiving a flower from one is something I cherish. It simply brightens my day. Now back to the city. I simply have to buy something for myself. Just to make sure that I have enough to plant when the ground finally melts.

PS. I bought my bulbs from Amsterdam Tulip Museum.

Pleione

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flower, gardening

Hyacinth

HyacinthPast few days have been stunningly beautiful in the north. Sun is shining and snow reflects the rays. Best time of the winter.
We still have two more months to go before the first spring flowers start to bloom. Cannot wait that long anymore.
So during my Sunday walk I ended up buying hyacinths. Just wanted to have something that reminds me of the forth coming spring.
And the scent is simply overwhelming even a bit too strong for some of us. But still so sweet and compelling.
PS. I bought my hyacinth from the nearby Ikea and it did not cost much.

Hyacinth

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gardening

Terrarium

TerrariumI simply could not resist the temptation. I had to try to construct one. In Pinterest I had seen so many wonderful creations and since it is winter time I cannot grow anything outside.
When walking in a store I noticed a glass jar. It was large enough and the shape was something I had been looking for.

It was a bit challenging to decide what to plant. I wanted to grow something from a seed. Something that would not over grow the jar immediately. Coleus came to my mind and I found some seeds from my stock.  Unfortunately I was out of the dwarf variety seeds and had to go with the medium size breed. Hope that was a good decision.

I am afraid that this might turn to an addiction. Already looking for the next jar and planning to grow something that requires a humid atmosphere. I have not been able to try varieties which require much moisture because of the merciless central heating.

PS. I prefer jars that have cover because they seldom need watering and do not collect dust inside. Outside is always easy to clean but inside much more challenging.

Terrarium

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flower, gardening

Orchid

OrchidI do not know why I keep on buying them. I enjoy their beauty only few months and then they are gone. But what flowers and colors they have.

I have never managed to keep an orchid alive after it has bloomed. I guess the central heating and lack of light is just too much for them.

Terrarium might work and if I find a suitable one I might try to keep one alive. Luckily orchids are available all year round and usually there is one in my kitchen table to brighten the day.

PS. There is Ikea close by my flat. Their orchid price is typically less than five euros. So it is a nice Sunday walk to get a new one while I try to figure out how to stop killing them.

Orchid2

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flower, gardening

Cosmos

CosmosOne of my mom’s favorite flowers is cosmos. Originally she got the seeds from an old and a dear friend of hers. After that we have had them blooming every year. They have never failed her no matter what kind of summer we have had.

The colors of cosmos are many and also I have grown fond of them. We have decided that next spring we will try a new variety called Sonata Pink Blush. It should bloom early and be a bit shorter and steadier compared to the one we currently grow.

PS. You can collect the cosmos seeds in the autumn. I do not think that my mother has ever bought the seeds. She has just harvested them each year.

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