flower, gardening

Dahlia

Unexpectedly something went right. The dahlia tubers I planted in the spring looked pathetic. I was so sure that they will not grow. They were dry and tiny.

Not quite sure what happened. Was it the new flower bed I made? Was it the cold and rainy summer we had? Was it my mom’s cats who decided that this new bed was the best litter box they have ever seen? I was so mad at them. I did not even use any fertilizer. Did not see the point after I saw what the cats did.

Anyway the end result was stunning blooms – size of my head. The smell they have is so sweet. I have never managed to grow so beautiful dahlias!

PS. Bought the last tubers from a local grocery store. Sometimes you just get lucky.

flower, gardening

Sweet Rosy

Sweet Rosy is my first double lily. Never tried to grow them before.

I planted two bulbs to a pot in my balcony early April and finally they are starting to bloom. Just love the structure and complexity of the bloom itself.

My plan is to move the bulbs to the summer cottage in the autumn and see if they are able to make it through the winter. I bought the bulbs from Amsterdam so do not know if they survive the cold season up here in the north.

PS. I bought my bulbs from the Amsterdam Tulip Museum http://www.amsterdamtulipmuseum.com. They mentioned that these bulbs are also available in http://www.fluwel.eu in Europe and in http://www.colorblends.com in the US.

flower, gardening

Lollypop

This year the Lollypop lilies were the first ones to bloom. I planted them in the spring and they seem to enjoy the cool summer weather.

Lilies are easy and do not need much attention. Perfect flowers for summer cottage where you cannot be all the time. They tolerate the cold winters and are reliable bloomers.

This year I planted many new varieties and all of them seem to do well.

Now I am just waiting the others to start their show. Unfortunately it will be another three weeks before I can visit the cottage again.

PS. Bought the Lollypops from http://www.viherpeukalot.fi.

flower, gardening

Geranium

My Nano Pink pelargoniums finally stated to bloom!

I planted the seeds in November. I was so sure that blooming would start early in the summer. But was I wrong.

The summer here in the north has been coolest one during this century and this has delayed the plants. My geraniums have grown slowly like everything else this summer.

Pelargoniums tolerate cold well and that is why I moved the seedlings to the balcony in May which was too early. Cold slowed their growth.

But everything is now well and I can enjoy the bright pink blooms.

Nano is a very small geranium variety. My plants are only 6 inches tall which makes them perfect for my balcony.

PS. I bought the seeds from http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com and each one of them germinated.

flower, gardening

Baby Blue Eyes

Each year it is fun try something new. You never know how the new comers will do and how they will turn out to be.

This year I sowed some Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila Menziesii) seeds. I just saw them on a web site and decided to give them a try. Originally my idea was to grow them in a terrarium but ended up planting them outside.

I got lucky. My babies started to bloom in the beginning of July. The summer has been cool but they did not seem to mind.

The flowers themselves are small but the color is so beautiful and blooms many.

I guess I need to buy these seeds for the next summer as well.

PS. Bought the seeds from http://www.seedaholic.com. Just love the name of the site.

flower, gardening

McKana

My wait was rewarded this July. Last year I planted aquilegia McKana seeds and now they have started to bloom.

I was not sure if they make through the winter but everything went well and nearly all plants started to grow in the spring.

The flowers are a bit bigger than in any of the other columbines I have. The package I bought was a mix of different colors but this far only one of the colors has bloomed.
In other words I still am waiting for the others to start their show and reveal their true colors.

PS. Bought the seeds from a local store. McKana variety is usually widely available.

flower, gardening

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.

flower, gardening

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.

flower, gardening

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.

flower, gardening

Violet

Finally 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.

Gardening in the North

This blog is about gardening in the north.

Tag Archives: flower

Dahlia

Sweet Rosy

Lollypop

Geranium

Baby Blue Eyes

McKana

Ice Poppy

Primrose

Tete-a-Tete

Violet