Around this time last year, I removed a wedge of lawn near the sidewalk to make room for some flowers. That nifty little triangle of dirt proved to be a lot of fun. Through spring, summer and early fall, an assortment of flowers bloomed. By late November, most of it had gone to seed. All that remained was the Statice, relocated from the curb garden earlier in the year.
My reward for letting the plants go to seed: a host of spring ‘volunteers.’
Here is a photo from February 25th:
Here it is today:
The Statice really filled out. It’s also about to bloom. The purple and yellow pansies are blooming for the second time and the seedlings have doubled or tripled in size. Now that the growing pattern is taking shape, I transplanted a few volunteer seedlings heavily concentrated at the curb. Spade in hand, I held my breath and took the plunge. They drooped for half a day, then bounced right back. Now I’ll have a nice mix throughout the triangle.
I collected a lot of seeds last year, including Cosmos, Bachelor Buttons, Four O’clock’s and Zinnias. Between the collected seeds, the volunteers and the bag of wildflowers (intended for last year but lost, then found) the garden should bloom all season.
Do you have a favorite spring flower? Is there something you’ve always wanted to grow? Let me know in the comments below.
I love Sweet Peas, but never seem to get them started early enough, and this year is no exception! Little Johnny-Jump-Ups delight me too and the cornflower blue of Bachelor Buttons pleases my eyes. Life is hard right now and I keep thinking that I should treat myself to a few posies in pots by the front door. My grandmother would have done so.
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Mary Elizabeth, I’m sorry to hear life is hard right now. You are such a lovely, caring person. Life can be so unkind.
Thanks for your comments here. I appreciate them always. xox
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I love all the old-fashioned flowers; it’s so nice to see yours doing so well. Nothing like even a small patch of flowers to brighten one’s heart, is there? ~ Linne
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That is so true, Linne. Nature soothes the soul like nothing else.
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I had no idea statice would bounce back after winter – a nice surprise! Could that be a Californian poppy seedling? I’m going to try growing Zinnias for the first time this year, as I saw so many pictures of butterflies on them last year on other blogs. 😀
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Cathy, they don’t always come back. I’ve had a few die over the years after a frost, but this plant seems immune.
Those could be poppies. I planted some unusual pink ones last year and not a single one came up. Maybe they decided to skip a year. Stay tuned.
I bought a six-pack of zinnias last year, then nearly killed them after a freakishly early heat wave. I moved them from pots to the garden and they thrived there. They also attracted butterflies, always such a treat. Can’t wait to see what you do.
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mmmmm, those leaves look all feathery like Cosmos. Do you think? The ones on the curb look like Dianthus or Carnation maybe? Or perhaps you know those ones. How fun to have a mystery garden and get to see what’s popping up. Loving the Pansies, they are the cheeriest! I always had such a hard time deciding what colour to get at the garden. Dot (the lady I worked for) had soooooo many varieties. I liked the antiqued ones but also mauve and Blue because they matched our awnings on the house. I’m gobsmacked by that static! It’s full grown, wow! When we were in Virginia, we went to Monticello. The garden there is planted with heritage seeds, lot’s of unusual varieties that aren’t sold commercially any long. There was a Static there that was like a gathered ribbon and two shades of coral/peach/pink…..stunning. When I finally unpack albums from storage, I’ll have so many photo’s to scan and share 😀 What a great idea, a curb garden 😀
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Cosmos are a distinct possibility. It that’s what they are, then wow will I have a nice assortment. It’s fun not knowing exactly what’s coming up.
Pansies are cheery, aren’t they? I love that you bought a variety to match your awning. You’re so clever.
I’ve grown statice before and had it die over the winter. This one is three years old now, and doing better and better each year. Perhaps its more hardy than some of the ones from the past. Clearly it likes it’s current spot so hurray for that.
I would love to go to Monticello. It sounds wonderful.
Hurray for unpacking albums from storage. If you still have negatives for all your prints, I have an idea for you. I took twenty years of negatives to target and had them all transferred to CDs. I think it was under $200, not bad for digitizing a lifetime of photos.
Scanning works, too, but it sure takes time.
Love you. xox
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My bad, I was telling you all about this beautiful ruffled static when in fact I think I was remembering this
http://www.gardenrant.com/.a/6a00d83451bd5e69e201539156e937970b-pi
Which the caption says is cockscomb…this ones all pink. It has a similar stem and foliage as static and may be in the same family? Do you think?
When we’re on the Island in August, we must get to Buchard
https://www.google.ca/search?q=g&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=kKQ2U8eDB8uwqwGlsIHYBg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1071&bih=686#q=butchart+gardens+canada&rls=en&tbm=isch
You will love it. Also a very, very nice garden was at the Royal Roads University. There’s a stunning garden there and the beautiful Hatley Castle. My girlfriends dad fought there and there’s a tree planted there in his honour. Sadly, Mr Duke has passed away but it’d be fun to visit his tree. I got a photo of him sitting beside it it when we were there.
https://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&authuser=0&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1071&bih=686&q=royal+roads+university+canada&oq=royal+roads&gs_l=img.1.5.0l10.1370.3716.0.8744.11.10.0.1.1.0.218.1021.4j5j1.10.0….0…1ac.1.38.img..3.8.557.ITHmlCxKsUw#authuser=0&hl=en&q=royal+roads+university+gardens&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
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Thanks so much for all the links. I went to Butchart Gardens in 1980. Can you believe it? I had a few snapshots at the time, but they were discolored 110 shots so I finally tossed them. Now I’ll have new ones! Can’t wait. I am so darn excited.
The Royal Roads University is stunning in those photos. What a sweet story about the tree. Definitely a visit and an photo are in order. Is it August yet???
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I would love to go again ! I know we’re going to have so much fun 😀 I can’t wait xo
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I’m sneaking in here late, late late. But when you go to Butchart, you will both love the High tea they have inside the solarium. It was wonderful ever so many years ago. The gardens surrounding made everything taste extra special. I think they still have it.
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Oh that does sound like fun. Can you pop over, too, Marlene? That would be so special. You don’t live far, do you? Just imagine the three of us having tea and a good catch up. Mmmmmm.
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OH, thank you for letting me know about the photo’s to CD, that’s an awesome idea xoxo Love you back
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Welcome. ♥
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Re you mystery plant – hard to tell but it reminds me of something I get which looks like carrot. I don’t think it is carrot, though, but my sister said she has the same.
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Funny you should mention carrots, SB. One year I thought I had volunteer carrots and it turned out to be poppies. They have a similar lacy leaf. I’ll know soon enough. Stay tuned and thanks for commenting.
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I love poppies – maybe if I hadn’t pulled the ‘weeds’ up I might have discovered I actually had some of these!
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I know exactly what you mean. I’ve learned that lesson over the years. Its that fine line between getting a head start on the weeds, and tearing out what might be beautiful spring flowers.
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Same with vegetables 😉
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beautiful! I want to start just a little fresh mound for the same sort of thing. It seems easier than trying to work some of those flowers from seed in among mature plants. Can’t wait to see the end result this year compared to last!
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Thank you! I agree. This way they get full sun and nice amended soil without any competition. I can’t wait to see what you do.
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Got your lovely card the other day. What a cheery pick me up!! so nice of you to do that! It’s really cute. Thanks so much Alys, I’ve got it here beside my computer.
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Awww. You’re the best. Thanks for letting me know it arrived safely. I’m enjoying my calendar and the pretty pin. It’s so nice to be connected.
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I think your mystery flower might be a Cosmos.
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Oh, I do hope you are right. They’re spectacular in bloom and last for months.
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I’m going to keep watching. Love pansies and used lots of statice in my dried arrangements years ago. I love to watch nature having her way with the garden. It will be wonderful. I’ll catch up soon.
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Thank you! You always have something interesting to share. I appreciate that and I appreciate your presence here.
Nature: the greatest gift of all.
xox
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