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.

gardening

Rosemary

Usually I have few herbs growing among the flowers. Just to have something that can be used in the kitchen during the summer.

This year I only ended up having a rosemary growing in my balcony. Usually I have more but the spring and start of the summer have been quite cold.

I live too far up in the north to have it surviving the winter. In other words I end up buying a new plant each year. One option would be storing it inside during the coldest months but unfortunately my flat is simply too warm for it because of the central heating.

But at least for few months I can enjoy the wonderful aromatic smell and taste of the rosemary.

PS. This year I got my rosemary from a friend as a gift. A perfect choice for a present.

gardening

Spruce

It was a fine spruce when my great grandparents lived here. I never met them but they were the ones who build the small house and made this place their modest home.

It was not much but it was a home. Like the spruce the house is still there. Existing even they are long gone.

It would have been nice to know them. I have only heard some stories of them. Mainly stories about what happened during the civil war which was the great tragedy of their time and changed their world permanently.

My grandmother and her husband continued to live in the same house. The spruce continued its growth and became larger and larger.

The World Wars went by but the place stayed about the same. Originally the spruce was on governments land but after the war was lost there were many people that needed to be relocated. We got our new neighbors and the spruce got new owners. Nice people who build their own house and made it their new home. They all are now long gone.

My parents worked in the city but when it came the time to retire they build a new house next to the old and moved back to the farm. The spruce was still there and it had grown to be the biggest one I have seen.

Now my parents enjoy their life in a peaceful country side. Growing their own vegetables and potatoes. The spruce continues to grow and has now gotten a new owner once again. The tree has been there before us and probably will be there long after we are gone.

The spruce has inspired me to plant trees. Something that with some luck will be there several generations.

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: gardening

Lollypop

Geranium

Baby Blue Eyes

McKana

Rosemary

Spruce

Ice Poppy

Primrose

Tete-a-Tete

Violet