I usually grow my aquilegias from seed even though it takes two to three years from them to start blooming up here in the north.
With William Guiness (Aquilegia vulgaris ‘William Guiness’) I made an exception and bought a root ball.
The color of this aquilegia is very dark purple and it sort of needs a suitable background to stand out. The shape though is beautiful and stems tall.
Bordeaux Barlows (Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Bordeaux Barlow’) is blooming nicely this year. Must try to grow more Aquilegias from the Barlow series.
I have managed to spend two weeks on the summer cottage by the lake and the weather has been great.
I sometimes wonder how much joy and happiness can a small lake bring to your life.
My mother’s parents and her grandparents have a small farm by the lake. The farm is as modest as it can be. My great grandparents established it and my grandparents and now my parents live there. After retiring they decided to move to the farm and be here by the lake.
As a child I spend all my summers with my grandparents while my parents were working. A whole summer taking care of the cows with my gramma and I guess it was her and my other grandmother who thought me my love to grow plants.
I cannot think having a better childhood.
My grandparents from my father’s side have a summer cottage on the other side of the lake. All the grandparents and all the family around the lake made all the difference.
The Blue Barlow (Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata ‘Blue Barlow’) is doing well.
I have had a fair share of challenges trying to get it to grow but I think I have finally succeeded.
For the Barlow series we are a bit too north when it comes location and it is hard to get them flourish.
Gardening in the North 