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Winter color that flourishes in bright shade or full morning
sun are: cineraria, cyclamen, English primroses, fairy primroses and
obconica primroses.
These are some of my favorites:
Iceland poppies
– It’s better to buy these small, like in pony packs,
rather than in larger 4-inch pots, which is also less expensive. Buy lots
and amass them in groups among your other winter flowers or do
an entire section of your yard with just these poppies. ‘Champagne
Bubbles’ is one of the most common varieties that you’ll find for sale
and the mix includes shades of orange, pink, scarlet, apricot, yellow and
creamy white poppy blooms atop 15-inch stems.
‘Wonderland’ is usually available, too, which is a dwarf variety and
has 10-inch-tall flowers.
Ranunculus –
Although the name sounds like something the
doctor has to remove, ranunculuses or ranunculi (I looked it up) are
actually a very prolific winter flower. Planted from tubers or starts,
these are best planted in November rather than early fall. Although
susceptible to overwatering – especially when first planted out from
tubers – these are the Cadillac or rather the Lexus of winter flowers
and are well worth the extra attention they initially require. ey’re
long lasting when cut, come in fashion colors and the name is fun to
say and will impress your friends.
Pansies and Violas –
Something about the “cat faces” on those pansy
flowers remind me of being a little kid, which I like. But, it seems to me
that many of the new pansy flowers are so big these days that when they
get wet either from the rain or from being watered, those big ol’ flowers
fall over and you don’t really see them.
Violas, on the other hand, have all the charm of pansies, but since
they’re smaller and you get more of them, you get more charm. And,
they don’t tip over when wet. I love it too, that sometimes they’ll reseed
and occasionally you’ll find one in an unlikely place like in the dry, hot
crack in your driveway.
Snapdragons –
Snaps come in every color and size: little short
ones that are ideal for the front of your flowerbed and really tall
ones that you should probably stake when planted toward the back
of your garden. Get them in early and you’ll get a very long season.
In fact, if you deadhead and feed regularly, you’ll probably find that
they last long into the time that you want to start your summer
garden.
Primroses –
e three types that are grown in the winter are English
primroses, fairy primroses and obconicas. I’ve never had much luck with
Winter Color
Hopefully by now you’ve gotten your cool-season flowers
planted and may even be enjoying the beginning of your bloom.
Of course, the nurseries still have color packs, four-inch and
gallon-size color plants, but for a longer blooming season, it’s best
to have them starting in the beginning of September. Seeds can be
started in flats or containers weeks earlier and planted out in the
garden at the time you’d have planted the starts.
Some examples of cool season color that can be planted in
the fall and enjoyed through the winter and into the spring are:
calendula, candytuft, foxglove, Iceland poppies, nemesia, pansies,
snapdragons, stock, sweet alyssum, sweet peas, sweet William
and violas. ese color plants do best when grown in full sun.
Caul iflower
Not a collie. Not a flower.
What can this thing be?
It’s “brocklee’s” second cousin.
That’s how it seems to me.
It always gets the aphid
And needs a lot of rain.
And no one can deny it.
It looks just like a brain.
But it’s loaded up with fiber
And vitamins B and C.
And unlike that sneaky ‘sparagus
Won’t wreak havoc with your pee.
Use it in a medley
Of carrots, squash and kale.
But stay away from okra
‘cause it’s slimy as a snail.
Looks healthy at the market.
You want some, there’s no doubt.
And, it’s really good for you
But you always throw it out.
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