Friday, May 28, 2010

Delphiniums

May 2010 332 Delphiniums are currently my favorite flower. While I must nurse many of our plants through our extreme seasons, delphiniums seem to thrive on our long cold winters. And they don’t mind our hot summers, as long as I give them a little water each day.

I have really become fond of these hardy, low maintenance perennials!

May 2010 336 They emerge in March and steadily grow throughout the spring and begin flowering in late spring. After the flowers are spent, I cut the stem right below the flowers. It doesn’t take them long to recover and flower again and again.

To view gardens from around the world, visit Flaunt Your Flowers Friday at Tootsie Time.

13 comments:

Darla said...

Haven't had much luck with these, think I over water them. Very pretty.

Larry said...

Delphiniums are definitely great... particularly if I don't have to stake them! I took out a number of them that reached 6'... too much hassle. I have 250 seeds to try to germinate to rebuild my stock of 'magic fountains' series.I tried earlier and no seeds germinated. I found the following on the internet which may well explain my problem..."The common failures in germinating delphinium's seed are these. 1) Keeping the soil too wet. 2) Sowing the seed too deeply. Seeds should only be covered with approximately 1/8" of soil. 3) Trying to germinate old seed. Delphinium seed loses its vitality after one year. 4) Freeze the seed in the freezer for two days prior to seeding" I recently purchased a plant of a series that is supposedly much longer lived than others... forgot the name so I need to get back to the grower on it... good luck with the delphiniums! Larry

Vonlipi said...

Delphiniums are my fave too! Yours have a beautiful color.But I do love lupins as well. :)

Sylvia said...

I love delphiniums but have no luck with them here...yours are beautiful!

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I bought a delphinium last year at a plant/yard sale. It's growing but hasn't bloomed yet. I'm thinking that perhaps I should move it closer to the foundation of the house (for warmth) because I so often see them planted around that area. What do you think?

Alea Milham said...

Sandy it takes a while for delphiniums to bloom (I almost included pictures of my older delphiniums that are just starting to form buds,it will be several weeks before I see flowers on them). The delphiniums that are already blooming are the ones I pulled up last year to divide. They were kept in an unheated greehouse, so they did reach freezing tempts, but it started warming up in there sooner than outside.

I don't think you need to move them closer to the house, I only plant mine there so that the wall offers the tall spikes support.

Paula said...

These are quite amazing. They remind me of my grandmother. Thanks for sharing these wondeful photo's. Paula from Idaho

Lemon Lane Studio said...

Your delphiniums are beautiful. I have to plant them as annuals here because they never come back for me the next year. But they are staple in my cottage garden.

Erin said...

I'm still learning how to garden in a region with hard winters...your delphiniums look gorgeous.

Miss Debbie said...

lovely blue color!

Beth said...

I love delphiniums too! Yours are very pretty - love that blue/purple!

Tracy said...

I garden in New England and also have delphiniums - and LOVE them! Mine aren't blooming yet, so it's great to see yours! I've lost a few, but mostly they are low maintenance for me. I ordered all of mine from www.GracefulGardens.com about 3 years ago. Great selection & the owner(Amanda)is so nice.

The Book Lady Online said...

Oh, they are absolutely beautiful. I am not familiar with this flower. I wonder if it grows well in our region. So pretty.