Blooming Flowers

[harp1]

Just got back from the Flower show beauties in Atlanta. Ball gowns made of flowers, bonsai, flower and seashelll arrangements, WOW Susan

ps what are your favorite flowers Sillies?

[ravenwoodglass]

I am sooo jealous. That must have been a fantastic sight.

My favorite flowers are the real 'smelly' ones. Lily of the Valley, strong scented roses (I hate that roses from a florist never smell pretty, what's the point) and of course Lilacs. I want spring to get here so badly.

[flourgirl]

I love just about any kind of flower! I worked in a large retail greenhouse for years. My yard was full of flower beds....many different kinds of flowers...

Since we moved here I'm building new beds from scratch. I'm happiest playing in the dirt I save seeds when I can to save money. I don't think there's such a thing as too many. I just wish I lived in a warmer climate with an even longer growing season. If I had to pick favorites....some of the Daturas, roses, dahlias (dinner plate variety) and hibiscus. I could go on and on!

[Darn210]

Daisies!!! . . . They make me smile . . .

[jerseyangel]

I love daisies--and wildflowers, too

I don't think I've ever met a flower I didn't like!

[Mother of Jibril]

I like to grow edible flowers in my container garden (which is the only place they're safe from the deer)... violas, rose geraniums, marigolds, and my favorite... starflowers (borage). I love how the leaves and stems are all fuzzy and then when the star-shaped flowers appear they're such a striking blue color My daughter thinks it's fun to pick flowers (ONLY from that area... never the yard) and pop them in her mouth

[harp1]

At the Southeastern Flower Show -theme "Passion - How do you Bloom" there were individual camillias in cups, white, pink, cranberry, red.

[ang1e0251]

I love all kinds of flowers. That's why I opened my flower shop. I'm not as good growing them but the ones I had the most fun growing were zinnias and sunflowers. When we live in AZ, my daughter and I would each pick a snapdragon for our bed each year. That was fun.

[missy'smom]

The old fashioned roses that smell so sweet and fragrant. Roses in pale shades of pink yellow, ivory and yellow especially the two-toned ones.

[oceangirl]

My favorite flower is any one not spelled "F-L-O-U-R".

Okay, sunflowers...

lisa

[ravenwoodglass]

My favorite flower is any one not spelled "F-L-O-U-R".

lisa

Hey all, I got one of my flower and seed catalogs today. I will spend many hours deciding which of my favorites I want to plant this year.

Spring is on it's way. Not soon enough though.

[harp1]

I'm getting ready to paint an arrangement I saw at the flower show. Dark purple calla lillies in a martini glass with iridescent sea shells in the glass and white sand below the flowers in the bottom of the martini glass. Susan

ps kind of trendy

[oceangirl]

Ravenwoodglass,

May I ask what seed catalogs you use? I typically wait and buy my perennials in pots in the spring so I don't have any experience with catalogs. But I'd love to drool over one.

In Maine we can't plant 'til Memorial Day.

lisa

[ravenwoodglass]

I'm getting ready to paint an arrangement I saw at the flower show. Dark purple calla lillies in a martini glass with iridescent sea shells in the glass and white sand below the flowers in the bottom of the martini glass. Susan

ps kind of trendy

That sounds so beautiful. Are you a realist? I lean toward more abstract and impressionism and have always been jealous of those who can paint something and have someone say that it looks like a photo.

Are you going from memory or did you take some pics?

[ravenwoodglass]

Ravenwoodglass,

May I ask what seed catalogs you use? I typically wait and buy my perennials in pots in the spring so I don't have any experience with catalogs. But I'd love to drool over one.

In Maine we can't plant 'til Memorial Day.

lisa

The catalog that came was from Springhill. Burpee makes some great catalogs that have mostly seeds and I expect that one to arrive in my mailbox soon. One thing about Springhill, they are great for perennial plants but pick things like your lilacs or small trees up at a local nursery. I spent a lot on a yellow lilac to complement the yellow and orange flowers in my front yard and after waiting 3 years to see a flower (the shrubs are really small when they come) it was purple.

[oceangirl]

Thank you!

lisa

[flourgirl]

Hi all. Lisa, you do have to be careful shopping from catalogues or on line. I've had some pretty bad experiences with some of them....you aren't getting what you think you're getting (size-wise...even plant wise). You often get a lot more for your money buying plants locally if for no other reason that you know what you are getting. Often you get a LOT more plant for your money.

I like to start plants from seeds, especially perennials. You don't get flowers until the second year most of the time....but it cost a lot less that way. I also save seed from plants to start the next year, great money saver!

If you still want to try catalogues...go on line. Once you access a site, many offer catalogues. Guaranteed that as soon as you order from one company, you'll get bombarded with catalogues from many other companies!

Have fun

[oceangirl]

Thank you for that advice, Theresa- "Flourgirl/Flowergirl"! I think I instinctively knew that, but, here in the dead of winter I think I just wanted to gaze longingly at summer!

Take care,

lisa

[DakotaRN]

Red Roses but have never had any luck growing roses up here in northern ND.

[ravenwoodglass]

Thank you for that advice, Theresa- "Flourgirl/Flowergirl"! I think I instinctively knew that, but, here in the dead of winter I think I just wanted to gaze longingly at summer!

Take care,

lisa

I feel the same way. All this cold and snow just seem to get to me after a while. I need flowers to feel my best. Around here this time of year you can get bulbs like daffodils, hyacinths, tulips etc that have been forced. I have even gotten miniature roses. We have them all over the markets especially as it gets closer to Easter. Florists sometimes have them also. A bonus is that if you plant them in the yard in spring you may actually be able to get them to grow there. We get pretty harsh weather here but I have had really good luck with the miniature roses. We'll see this spring though as the winter has been particuarly hard here this year.

[DingoGirl]

oh, FLOWERS!!!!!

I used to do a lot of botanical illustration, many from my own specimens.

favorites - for smell:

daphne odoura (smells like lemon-y heaven!)

peony ♥ (not as easy to grow here as east coast, but can be done, and I have root stock that was in fact brought to CA from Massachusetts 60 yeras ago)

lily of the valley (they don't do well here )

tuberose

white ginger (they are growing like mad in my back yard! just two or three stocks will scent your home)

gardenia

Armandii Clematis - one of only two evergreen clematis - the blooms and scent are absolute HEAVEN!!!!!! thriving in my back yard

other faves:

hydrangea - esp. white or green

tulips - rembrandt or double

miniature callas

digitalis (foxglove)

delphinium

white cyclamen in pots

magnolia grandiflora (have painted many of these, sucks the life out of me )

white roses

snowball viburnum

grape hyacinth

hostas (they don't really do well here either )

lisianthus

rananculas

hellebore (lenten rose) - stunning shade flower which I cannot get to thrive here

hypericum - a darling filler

gosh, I could go on and on!!!!!!!!!! I am obsessed with flowers, candles, and scents/scent composition.....

the flower show sounds so cool, that would have made me nuts!

[ravenwoodglass]

Dingo Girl I just love that pic.

[DingoGirl]

Dingo Girl I just love that pic.

thank you, Ravenwood, I almost lost my new kitten (we've had him four weeks) last week and Annie and I were both sick with grief. He ( little Peanut) made it through, and they are constant wrestling and snuggling companions now. We are overjoyed.

[eeyore]

I love tulips and morning glories...as well as almost any flower that blooms at night and smells good!

[Puddy]

I love lilacs....MMMMMMMMM!