Lush vs. Out of Control

I remarked earlier about how I’ve had some success with the Cosmos and Balsam self seeding. This has been wonderful because I have spread some of the sprouts to areas that did not have anything going on. However, I have to admit that perhaps things have crossed the line in the areas where most of the seeds sprouted.

The poor mail carrier can hardly get through without being swiped by some pollen! Somewhere in there are some other flowers! I think I see a Mum.

Oh look, some Threadleaf Coreopsis and some Iris.

The Zinnias are being towered over by the Cosmos.

Somewhere in here are some Snapdragons and some annual Salvia.

I know what I should (must!) do - cut some back. But, I don't wanna!

On a different note, my Grama Grass ('Blond Ambition') looks pretty perky.

That's Russian Sage behind the little flags on the Grass. They are quite cute and lasted all winter last year.

Fun with Seeds

 I’ve had some interesting bits of success with starting things from seed this year. I do not consider myself “good with seeds”. Generally, things just don’t sprout for me. But, I try something almost every year. I found some seed pods (husks? balls?) in the garage in a dish that I had saved from 2 years ago. I remember that the plant was an ornamental that I bought on a whim. It didn’t grow as tall as I was expecting, but it did get seed pods and I saved them. Trouble was, I couldn’t remember what the plant was.

I thought I would give the seeds a try – why not! I soaked the pods in a dish of water for several days. Eventually, the pod sort of broke apart and there were several individual seeds, about the size of a bean seed, inside. I planted several in a few small containers of potting mix outside on my patio. Surprise! They sprouted! But, I still couldn’t tell what the plant was. I gave a few of the seedlings to my mom-in-law, and I planted 4 of them in my yard – 2 near the Plum tree stump, and 2 in the back bed.

All the seedlings survived, and have grown bigger. I now know they are Castor Bean plants. Look, they already have seed pods!

The ones in the back area are almost 4 feet tall at this point. I’m hoping for more height as summer goes on.

At a nursery in my area, there is an enormous Wisteria vine covering an 8 sided gazebo. I was admiring it one day when I saw some bean-like seeds on the ground (lots of them). I picked up a handful and took them home. Again I soaked these seeds in a dish of water for several days. I planted a few in small containers, and 2 sprouted! I don’t know what to do with these yet since I really don’t have a spot for Wisteria.

Last year, in my annual flower pots in the front of the house, I had some Balsam. The flowers eventually went to seed, and dropped their seeds all over the front area where they got washed into the nearby beds. I didn’t think much about it. This spring, I got a flurry of Balsam seedlings right near the front stoop. Enough that I was able to spread the seedlings throughout the front beds and many are blooming!