Austerity?
Seeds in a time of austerity? Perhaps this is the year to commit to these lovely -- and no fail -- flowers.
- Zinnia madness, especially "Purple Prince" and "Violet Queen" foiled by the knave "Green with Envy"
- Mix of fluted Cosmos in madder, magenta, pink, and blush tones
- Marvel of Peru featuring sweet wafting flutes of many colors, truly Mirabilis jalapa
- Cleome, aka spider-piant, in purple, cerise, and cool, cool white
To James Fenton's Website -- Poetry, too!- Shall we have a quote?
- Shall we be recommended a flower packet or two? Yes, let us
First, here is Ian McEwan on Fenton: There is a strong case to be made that James Fenton is the finest poet writing in English. His technical virtuosity is beyond doubt; his long experience as war correspondent, journalist and traveller has given him an unmatched range of subject matter - war and revolution, the dementia of collective passions, reflections on fate, and love - he has written some of the most beautiful love poems of our times. He is a poet of great emotional depth and wisdom. Increasingly, his work has a strong connection with song. He also has a taste for light verse of exquisite charm and humour. He is a modern master.
Now, Fenton on the sudden and startling beauty of the lowly snap dragon: Beneath the topiary shapes, the flowerbeds were planted with bedding plants, and I was there - it seemed to me - on just the right day of the year, since the single-colour plantings were creating plain geometrical shapes of purple, mauve and lemon-yellow. The pale yellow antirrhinums (a variety called Liberty Classic Yellow) were all at exactly the same height, which gave an unearthly effect. (From The Guardian, 9/10/2006, "Flower Power.")
Renee's Seeds (images)
MinxterBloom
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Response: this contact formGood Webpage, Preserve the wonderful work. Regards!
Reader Comments (3)
Lowly snapdragon! Never!, I plant mostly perennials but always include some snapdragons - just love them - different varieties every year. This year included Gazanias in a difficult to grow spot and will add them to my mix every year, withstood the dog anything that can do that earns a place in my garden, plus they flowered for months.
Do you have the tall ones? I covet the tall ones, too. Glad we love the lowly!
I do not have enough sun at this house, (except for a small area in the pool area) for the tall ones. I might try them but fear they would be trampled by the dog. Had some surprise ones this year - plants that reappeared from last year, with all the snow last winter a few of the plants survived. One of the reasons I like them so much they are a tender perennial in our climate. I also really like the open face snaps, one year a grew quite a number so I always had some to bring indoors to enjoy their sweet fragrance.