Springtime Windowsill: 2016

Monday, June 13, 2016

Bloom 2016 - Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

Life Cycle: Annual

Uses: Beds, Borders, Cut Flowers

Sun: Full Sun

Soil: Slightly Acidic or Alkaline

Water: Moderately

Spread: 72- 96 Inches

Bloom Duration: 12 Weeks

Height: 8 - 12 Feet

This year, I'm growing both blue morning glory and moon-flower vines. I'm growing both in the same container in order to have day long blooms. Unfortunately, I accidentally nipped one of the vines near the bottom while I was pruning and didn't think to propagate some of the cuttings. The moonflower looked great, but now I need to regrow Heavenly blue MG's all over again which is not a problem being that MG's are one of my faves

Proxy Image of Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

My first bloom 2016 - Red and Yellow Zinnias

Life Cycle: Annual

Uses: Beds, Borders, Cut Flowers

Sun: Full Sun

Soil: Acidic

Water: Moderately

Height: 6-10 Inches

Spread: 12-14 Inches

Bloom Duration: 12 Weeks

Spring has come and gone, but the blooms are just starting to appear on my springtime windowsill. This year I've planted an assortment of Zinnias and the first to bloom are the red and yellow varieties. I'm using plastic cups in order to save space on the windowsill and plant more variety this year. There are five zinnia plants inside this one small plastic cup and the growth of other three seem to be stunted because they're so crowded. I plan to snip any color duplicates overtime to make the most out of the container space.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Common Flower Gems - Classification # 12 - White Campion/Bladder Campion/Grave Flower/Flower of the Dead (Silene latifolia)

I spotted this white 5 petal flower during my daily walk in the park. I noticed the inflated calyx which quickly helped me identify it afterwards. Apparently in England these flowers are often seen at grave sites hence its other name Grave Flower.

Check out this Wiki link to learn more about the Bladder Campion

Common Flower Gems - Classification # 11 - Asiatic Dayflower/Mouse Ears/Dew Herb (Commelina communis)

This one was a great find. A very different flower find I'd have to say due to this plants characteristics. It has two large blue mouse shaped petals hence mouse ears and some bright yellow anthers that look like sun rays in a blue sky.

Check out this Wiki link to learn more about the Asiatic Dayflower

Bloom 2015 - Blue Bachelors Button/Cornflower (Centaurea Montana)

Life Cycle: Annual

Uses: Ornamental, Borders, Cut Flowers

Sun: Full Sun

Soil: Neutral-Alkaline

Water: Lightly

Spread: 10-12 Inches

Bloom Duration: 8 Weeks

Height: 30 Inches

This vibrant blue really broke up the fiery color theme I had with my golden Marigolds, yellow Zinnia, and Crimson Rambler.

Photo of some wild mixed white and purple cornflowers I came across

I saw a wild mixed white and pink cornflower variation while strolling through my local park the other day. Leaf shape does looks a bit different compared to the one I'm growing so it might a different plant altogether. Very similar characteristics so I'll call it a bachelor's button find.