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.

flower, gardening

Easter

Daffodils Time 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.

flower, gardening

Pleione

It 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.

flower, gardening

Hyacinth

Past 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.

gardening

Terrarium

I 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.

gardening

Nano Pink

The first snow arrived few days ago and it is dark and cold outside. It is a perfect time to start planning for the next spring. I want my geraniums to bloom early in the summer and this is a right time to start growing them.

There are so many varieties which makes it hard to choose. This time I ended up buying three different colors. The ones I ended up with were Maverick White, Maverick Scarlet and Nano Pink.

I have never grown these varieties before so I am excited to see what I end up having. At least the start has gone well. Germination was supposed to take two to three weeks but it only took three days which took me by surprise.

Geraniums are so easy and thankful flowers. The bloom all the time and tolerate heat and cold. It is the end of November and I still have one blooming in my balcony. It has survived the heat of the summer and first frost.

PS. I bought my seeds from Swallowtail Gardens and each seed germinated and have been happy with my purchase.

gardening

Crocuses

There are still many things to do before the winter arrives. One of the matters is to find suitable spring flowers for the next year. Options are many and it is hard not to buy everything possible.

I wondered around in a shop and saw what I was looking for. Shelves after shelves of bulbs waiting for planting. I knew what I wanted. I went directly to the crocuses. I wanted something that blooms early right after the snow is gone. Something colorful to wipe away all the whiteness.

Crocuses are reliable. You can always count on them. Usually the blooms only last few days but on those days you appreciate all the bright colors. After few weeks you forget your early friends as other plants conquer the garden hiding the tiny crocus leaves. But you remember your forgotten friends again next year when they are there delighting your spring.

I admit that when I returned home and went online I bought few other bulbs. Just to be sure that I have enough things to wait for.

PS. I bought my crocuses from Stockmann. They usually have good offers for their regular customers.

Gardening in the North

This blog is about gardening in the north.

Tag Archives: north

Ice Poppy

Primrose

Tete-a-Tete

Violet

Easter

Pleione

Hyacinth

Terrarium

Nano Pink

Crocuses