First Columbine
The first columbine of 2007 has bloomed. Like last year, it is the Wild Columbine.
I don't understand why it is always the smallest plant that blooms first. When these big ones bloom, it should be quite a sight.
These were all grown from old seed that I (finally) planted two years ago. It germinated and started blooming last year. This year the plants are huge. I'm hoping they will reseed themselves freely.
posted by OldRoses @ 7:49 PM
7 Comments:
I love that colombine. Is that a wild one? I haven't seen one before. Beautiful color!
I'm still waiting to see what my first columbine color will be. Last year it was all foliage and this year is the first time it's looking to bloom. I keep going out daily to see the progress.
Nice to know that you have had some luck planting older seeds, that's what I intend on doing today.
Jean, you're right. They're wild columbines. I'm trying to create a wildflower garden.
Mr. Brown Thumb, columbines are one of those plants that have to be a certain size before they bloom. Depending on how fast they grow, they will bloom the second, third or even fourth year.
Anne, I was surprised that they germinated. Normally flower seeds don't stay viable for more than a year or two. Veggie seeds stay viable much longer.
I love your columbine, too. It's such a wonderful old timey flower. I must get one for my new garden. I had a beautiful lavendar and purple one at my old house.
Chris, I recommend growing them from seed. It takes a little longer but is much less expensive than buying plants. Springhill is selling "mixed columbine" 3 for $11.99. That's $4 per plant. Outrageous! They are just as easy to grow from seed as annuals like zinnias and marigolds. And you can get wonderful varieties from catalogs like Select Seeds.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox.
Oldroses, that was the right soapbox you were on. Recently I went to a garden center and there were some columbines for sale. They were big and dropdead gorgeous but they were 18 euro's for just 1 plant, that's about 20 dollars a piece! Highway robbery, that is what that is!
I grow them from seed myself and have found that after the first year of flowering I never had to grow them from seed again, as they selfseed all over the place! Which is a good thing because I love them to bits.
Very pretty that wild columbine!
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