We have now entered August, and boy does it feel like it. Hot, humid and dry. Dry as a bone in the outback. The good news, we had .85″ of rain today. Not nearly enough, but I won’t have to water the garden tonight. I am trying to get myself into the difficult mindset of running the irrigation in the evening, hoping that the flowers will have a longer time to take up the water before the sun hits them. I have been watering at six in the morning but I am going to try to remember to do it after evening chores at six at night. One wouldn’t think that this would be difficult but apparently it is for me. I am hoping that it will make a difference with the flowers.
I am not really sure what all the fuss is for flower growers to grow cosmos. Yes, they are a lovely pink, red, seashell form, doubles etc, but the vase life is short, or the flower life is short and they get tangled up in everything. One could say the same about the flowers of the sweet pea, but at least with the sweet peas you are wooed with the intoxicating aroma. Cosmos, bah. Next year they will be relegated to the verges for the bees, but not in the flower garden per se. If I need a quick filler for something I will have them on hand but for my mixed bouquets, bah. I am in love with the nicotiana that I am growing now and might try a few different colors to round things out.
You know how I say that flowers have their season? Well, the sweet peas are out, the perennial scabiosia that I love, love, love is about down, but the zinnias are doing well, the rudbeckia is out of this world. In fact, next year maybe I will plant only half of the sunflowers. I love the rudbeckia so much more, and I get about the same color schemes. I mean, look at this Rudbeckia.
The fillers are coming into their own. I don’t know why they take half the summer to be able to pick, but they are so worth the wait. If I can make a bouquet smell as delicious as it looks I am a happy flower farmer. The foliage of the Hibiscus mahogany, the basils, the mints, the various amaranths, are all good in my book. Like I have said before, if you want unusual, I will grow it.
Another flower I am having fun with this year, and I can’t believe I am saying this, is the cleome, or spider flower. Yes, it is thorny, and yes, it doesn’t not have a pleasant aroma, but it holds up well and gives a bouquet some…what is the word I am looking for?…Look at these florets? unfolding…
So, What else is happening? The dahlias are coming into bloom. Slowly, but I should have a few stems to offer this week, with more on the way.
This is very exciting and I have the old standbys as well as a bunch of new varieties this year. But also, besides the dahlias coming in, the first of the annual asters are starting to flower. Soon, there will be buckets of asters.
So. I leave you with this thought. Am I growing too many flowers? Nah. I hope. It is just high summer and everyone just wants to stay cool and not think about flowers. Sigh.
Until next week. Your flower girl. Allie