Winter Grow-From-Seed Experiment Results

At long last!  

 

The results of this winter's grown-from-seed experiments:  Centaurea cyanus ("Cornflower", "Bachelor Buttons"), Matthiola incana ("Stock"), Consolida ajacis "Larkspur", and Lathyrus odoratus 'Zinfandel' (Sweet Peas).  

 

The Centaurea's true-blue flowers are spellbinding:

However, the flower-to-plant ratio is unsatisfactory: 

 A lot of green plant for those little blue breath-takers.  I can only laugh.   To do differently: buy seeds of dwarf-sized plants. 

 

Matthiola incana:  I chose full-sized selection seeds instead of the dwarfs commonly available as cell six-packs.  Opposite to the Centaurea, the right choice.  The plants were mostly flower, and enchanting.  

 Never before have seeds, tiny dried specks that transform themselves via ground and rain, seemed so miraculous.  

Like Froggie, I'm gobsmacked!

To do differently:  plant them earlier than October 30th, say October 1st.  And plant more! 

 

Consolida (Larkspur)  I already know I planted the Larkspur seeds far too late.   Looks like there's still a chance for some flowers, though--the plants seem to be preparing for it.  The foliage is pretty, at least.

Sweet peas:  'Zinfandel' was the color I chose.  A beautiful rich color, but rather gloomy for a sweet pea--which should be, you know, sweet.

A garden buddy gave me some seeds from her last-winter's plants.  I like them better:

 So much for this winter's seed experiments.  For this summer it will be an attempt to get better Zinnias than last year. 

 

As April 2023 ends, the in-ground Dahlias awaken:

 The roses get going:

And the Itoh Peony:

       And the Hippeastrum hybrids:

The one plant that really suffered though our relatively chilly winter was the Mexican (Key) Lime tree which is sensitive to cold weather.  It lost nearly all its foliage.  Up until now, it never seemed to be set back by winter.  Perhaps it was the extent of the relative chill that did it.  

Foliage now growing back rapidly--hooray!

To-Do List:  

 

#1 Star marks the spot for the new 'Valencia' orange tree.  Waiting until next week because the weekend is forecast to be in the 80's (28 C+).  I'll also add some temporary plants around it.  The recovering Key Lime is on the right:

#2 Path rehab:  after 23 years the path on the south side of the pond area needs a refresh.  

 I'll move some flagstones currently on the north side of the house to basically duplicate what currently branches off the gravel path to the patio:

That should work.  I can get replacement flagstones for the back--or pavers, or--whatever.  That can be project #3.