Tangled Branches: Cultivated

happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia

Friday, March 28, 2008

Too Cute To Be a Weed

Just yesterday I planted some HUGE pansies, and then I find these blooming in the vegetable garden. I'm going to let them stay (for now) because I think they're adorable.
Viola arvensis

The flowers are tiny, smaller than my fingernails and I have small hands.

A couple of small patches of Bluets are now in bloom, but no sign of Spring Beauties yet.
Bluets (Houstonia sp.)

Yesterday turned out to be a good day for gardening, but we could use some rain. The basil post I had planned will have to wait, but here's a preview - I sowed seeds of a dozen or so different varieties this week.

Labels: bluets, violas, wildflowers

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Late March Flowers and Mysteries

March is turning out to be a busy month here. I've written blog posts in my head, but as far as I know there's no way to upload those. Speech-to-text maybe? Until I get that figured out, how about some pictures?

It's the beginning of daffodil-and-little-blue-flower season here. I have mystery plants of both kinds - products of long ago planting and ~~sloppy~~ no recordkeeping.

Chionodoxa sardensis. Looks like a huge plant here, but really isn't.

Mystery Chionodoxa. Flowers are one to a stem.

Scilla siberica and Sedum rupestre 'Angelina'.
This was a happy accident.
I forgot all about the Scillas when I planted the Sedum last summer.

The violets seem especially floriferous this year.

Narcissus 'Lemon Glow'.
Still don't know if I like this one.
The flowers are huge and the stems seem way too short for them.

Mystery Narcissus.
One of my favorites.
It came from Costco in a bag of mixed bulbs, many years ago.

Narcissus 'Ice Follies' and associates.
They were all supposed to be Ice Follies.

Mystery seed pod.
Found while working in the vegetable garden a couple weeks ago.
It's large - about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.

If it rains today, look for a post about basil and tomato soup tomorrow. If no rain, I'll be composing in my head again while in the garden. Which reminds me - does anybody else remember Herman's Head, the TV show? I always liked that show...