I'm on a mission to keep my new Hardy Mums alive. If you have any tips, I'm all ears.
I had to work all weekend. ALL weekend. As in 12 solid hours on Sunday but only half that on Saturday. Because Sandy suggested I knock off early to do wine and appetizers. (I'm only human.)
This is me working:
Well, actually this is me, behind the camera, killing time instead of working. But, yes! That's a real Sunflower.
Sometimes, when I receive a bouquet of flowers, I pull out the most favorite one and let it shine all by it's lonesome next to my computer.
That Sunflower replaced the previous Pom Pom Dahlia. Gone but not forgotten. An astonishingly perfect white Dahlia that kept getting more and more interesting as it slowly faded into oblivion.
Got the Dahlias for writing KC's press releases. (She grows them.) Got the Sunflowers for sending Jamie on my New Mexico horse ride 'cause I no longer wanted to go plus they wouldn't give me my money back.
Dearly Departed Dahlia
Which makes me think I should be very forthcoming on flower compliments from here on out. You just never know when a gardener might be in the mood to gift you with something...
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* After Googling Mums until my little fingers are all worn out, I'm beginning to wonder if the term 'Hardy Mum' is a conspiracy theory. Did you know Mums need to be planted in the Springtime in order to have half a chance at surviving the cold, cold winter? I didn't either.~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Mish Mash Monday is the brainchild of Monica, resident gardener to the fairies.
16 comments:
Beautiful, Kate. Don't worry if they check out! Since they are garden hogs throughout spring/summer and take up way too much room to suit my fancy, I treat mums like annuals. Hello/goodbye :)
Hmm.....that is why my mums always die. Now I know why. Thanks for the information!
Hi Kate. Ewww your mums are so pretty. Can't help you on the mums because I drag mine to the basement in the winter. I have a couple of hardy ones planted out doors that I leave but they die back and get smaller every year.
I so live the picture of the horse in the snow behind your computer on the wall. Such a pretty shot.
Hopefully, I will have more dahlias next week and will bring you some just for fun. Our show went well, sorry you had to work.
the mums are gorgeous! I live in the south so I have no problems planting them in the fall and having them come back in the spring. But they never come back to the full hothouse glory. Bring them in and baby them, plant them in the spring. Good luck.
I love that you work with a fresh flower. I may have to borrow that.
I think you're onto something Joey -- I doubt I could ever get them to look as pretty, with a re-bloom, as they do right now...
Hi, Rosey -- Isn't that silly? Why don't they sell them in the springtime? Maybe they just can't compete with all the other pretties.
Hi, Lona;
Maybe that's what I'll do. It's such a big pot of them ~ can't stand the idea of just letting them croak.
Hi, KC;
Did you win? Did you win? I hope you won. I'm sorry I didn't make it to the flower show but I thought your Dahlias were spectacular.
Hi, Lifeshighway;
It's nice having a little flower on the desk. Especially if it's one that has a fragrance. My absolute favorite is a vase of lilacs... :)
It is absolutely wonderful, so full of colour. If I plant 5 in the ground only 1 plant will survive the winter and it will be so spindlely, I just treat them as a fall annual and put them in the compost when they are finished.
Hi, Garden of Threads;
Okay... majority rules. We shall enjoy them as annuals and populate the compost pile with their beauty later on! :D
Hey Kate,
I haven't visited in quite a while. With moving to Redmond from Portland, I haven't had much time on the computer (high desert gardener now :). I love the 'new to me' look of your blog! Very nice! As for mums- or anything else that looks so good in the fall in the stores- they just won't make it- yes, planting in spring is best- why they offer them is beyond me (for colder climates anyway). I was just thinking that today as I passed some beauties in the store.
Hi, Tessa!!
So thrilled to hear that we're both high desert gardeners, now. I'll scoot over to your place and see what's what. :)
Mystery solved. I had always wondered about that myself. Your flowers are gorgeous. I've got a bunch of honeysuckle and buddleia by my nose. Flowers make everything a little bit nicer.
I love, love, love that orange sunflower in the blue bottle! I could stare at that all day.
Although the dying mum is strangely compelling.
I totally agree, Grace;
And, lucky you ~ honeysuckle is always a keeper.
Hi, Melospiza;
It definitely improves the mood. Especially when I'm 'working' on a particularly dull project.
What a gorgeous mum! Some years I have luck with them returning, and other years not. Carol of May Dreams Gardens said to plant them in the ground before they fully bloom, so I'm trying that with a couple this year. Otherwise, I'm like Joey--if they don't survive till next year, I'll just buy new ones next fall!
I'm glad you got flowers for reasons and for no reason at all! What a great week!
Love that you got a photo of your deteriorating dahlia, too, because you're right, it is really interesting at that stage!
Pretty flowers! I love sunflowers! I have a mac too! Well, actually a macbook. Love macs!
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