Flower Patch

As part of our continuing experiments with plants, we created a 50-foot strip of flowers this year. We started our flowers from seed, both indoors and direct-sowed. Everything was planted in May.

It has been a steep learning curve. The Gomphrena did not germinate well, and I mislabeled the Calendula as Marigolds. Early summer brought a mix of torrential rain and weeks of heat and drought-like conditions. But, we have ended up will lots of flowers. The snapdragons and feverfew are probably done for the season, but the Cosmos and Sunflowers have taken their place. Zinnias and Marigolds are still going strong. It looks a little weedy, but the flowers have largely won the battle.

As a bonus, we have seen lots of butterflies in the flowers, including Monarchs and Tiger Swallowtails. Of course, we have fresh bouquets in the house very day.

We have been adding some of our perennial plants like Lavender stems, grasses, and Hosta to bring a little green into our arrangements. But, it is also nice just to have a vase of just brightly colored flowers.