My mother saw these flowers in Quebec city and would like to know the name of them, she wants to use them in her flower boxes this year. If it's possible, please name all of them, if not, then just name the ones you know! Thanks a bunch..
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Hey, Suzie.. You've crossed my mind and I'd hoped things were well on your side of the world.
You've got plenty of time before it's safe to plant most annuals. To make plant picks easier it's a good idea to pick a color palette first. Two or three main colors to be repeated in all the boxes. The plants can vary if there are any light exposure differences.
The fun thing about annuals in windowboxes and hanging baskets is that you can completely change your color scheme every year. You can also usually make changes easily if you change your mind mid-stream.
Peruse old gardening magazines to find images to inspire you. Enjoy your hunt and I look forward to helping you out and making your house look "plantastic" [ Did I really say that? :-} ]
would you believe that I'm still in the process of choosing the flowers for the boxes. I seriously think I'll need your help again. I'm all mixed up. I like them all. I'll keep in touch!
Yes, we are in Beautiful British Columbia. Chilliwack is at the upper end of the Fraser Valley, surrounded on three sides by mountains. There is the mighty Fraser on one side and Chilliwack and Cultus Lakes and the Chilliwack/Vedder River on the other. Our valley floor used to be lake-bed thousands of years ago. Our soil is just delicious - we're the Green Heart of BC. Crops include corn, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, apples, brocolli, brussel sprouts, grapes, hops, hazelnuts, Christmas trees, hedging cedars, ornamental trees, cut flowers and a whole menagerie of domesticated animals. Looking back on that list, I'm amazed myself.
There are ALOT of greenhouses in the area. I hope the one your sister works for is here. She'll love the "growing" community. Houses are still reasonable out here too.
Please tell your sister to look me up. I'll be at the Downtown Chilliwack Farmers' Market on Mill St. - Sat 9am-2pm [May-Oct]. We'll get to play "Small World" and chat plants.
I noticed at the bottom of your posting that you're from Chilliwack. Is that in BC? My sister used to work for ProGrow, a flower co. and was laid off due to a closure. She was hired by Rainbow from BC and it seems to me she said she was going to Chilliwack??? Am I right? She's left today to meet and visit the new company. She is a representative. She resides in Calgary. With all the information you sent me, I have been doing some homework?? I'll still need your help though....
Thank you so much.
I'm overwhelmed with all the information you sent me. I have to go to my daughter's basketball game. I'll be back later to go over everything you suggested. Thank you so much!!
I'll also look up the flowers in my gardening book. I'll get back to you soon.
Thanks for the modifications. I am relegated to using the "old" computer. My genius son has this one networked with his fancy one and I'm only "allowed" to use it when he's not home or watching his "shows" [Tech TV]. Good thing I plan on utilizing him as my RRSP.
The color and contrast was great. So many possibilities still. Callibrachoa [Million-bells] has small petunia shaped flowers. Bidden [the dwarf variety] has small bright yellow flowers too. The fuschia color is beautiful. It could be a centradina [another shade-lover I forgot to mention in "yay! shady containers"]
When I worked at the garden center, we did plant ID often. It's easiest with a detail of just a flower and a leaf. I'll keep trying to help as much as I'm able.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I truly love all things gardening, it's brought me to where I am today...alive and happy!
Your house sounds lovely...Lets see if we can make it even more of a standout.
Shade gardening - even with annuals - is my favorite! Plants don't dry out and look limp by mid-season.
I'm going to give you a bunch of plant selections, you check out what they look like and then get back to me with the ones you like best and I'll suggest a planting plan.
Tender perennials [used like annuals but can be wintered-over in a warm spot indoors and re-used next year]:
*Heliotrope [MUST have] vanilla-scented blue flowers
*Ivy Geranium [pelagorium] lots of different colors and leaf shapes to choose from. I like to use the bolder colors - the paler flowers don't last as well. These also tolerate more cold.
*Scaveola [fan flower] great draper with usually blue flowers, new white ones too.
*Lamium, Vinca or Hedera [Ivy] for "green danglys" - Different foliage varigation [flowers unimportant] Special Note: DO NOT allow you ivy to escape into the wild. At least out here on the Coast, it can get into the forests and strangle trees and native species. Many beautiful varieties are worth the extra trouble.
*Fuschia - look for trailing varieties. Again, the darker ones do better. Keep dead-headed to promote bloom, the seeds [grape-like] can create quite the mess.
*Bacopa - very floriferous with white or pale pink
*Ferns - I love to use the smaller, lacy varieties. Check out you garden center's tropical section. They're little and cheap. Many go dormant over the winter but perk up again in spring.
Some Annual Suggestions:
*Impatiens [of course] tons of color choice. single or double flowers.
*Begonias - Fibrous [green or burgundy leaves - 'Whisky','Gin' in cellpacks] very good filler. These work well in the side planting holes of moss baskets. Tuberous [non-stop and countless varities] Almost every color imaginable [except blue, I think] with all sorts of different growing habits. "Dragon-Wing" performed well. Tubers can be started early in a warm greenhouse. I prefer to buy them from a reputable garden center. That way you can see the flower color and pick out vigorous specimens. These can grow quite large. Powdery mildew can become a problem later in the season. Ensuring proper air circulation can help.
*Nasturtium - grows well from seed. 'Alaska' is my fav with green/white mottled foliage. Cool season lover. Can be a magnet for aphids. Check frequently and wash off with a strong jet of water. Some gardeners use them as a "trap" and discard the plants when they become infested.
*Pansy/Viola - Large or small flowered [the smaller violas last longer]. Cool season lovers. Will last the season in your shady spot. They die out in the hot sun.
*Matthiola [Evening-scented stock] - If planted near an open window. Smell wonderful in the evening but look non-descript. Mix with others. Best if grown from seed in their intended spot.
*Coleus - Foliage only, keep pinching out flowers. Check out the newer varieties. Different foliage shapes and color combos.
*Lobelia - If it dries out, pull it up - it never recovers. The Riviera and Regatta series are more tolerant. Pick out trailing varieties. ['Splash' is nice with blue/white flowers]
** that's all I can think of at the moment [as soon as I post this I'll think of more]. Keep me updated and let me know if there's more I can help with.
I don't know if this will help, The original pic was quite clear on my screen, I adjusted the brightness and contrast levels, it's now really bright on my screen, but hopefully it will be better for you.
Hi Wendyrecycler:
You seem to know alot about gardening!! I hope you can help me. My daughter posted a picture of what I would like to have in my boxes this year, but I surely can use some advise. The front of my house faces East and only has morning sun. By noon the front is shaded. I have an old Tudor Revival home. I would like my flower boxes to have an impact and also compliment the style of the house. I'll try to find a picture of the house with the boxes so you can have a better idea. Thank you!!
Would love to help but my computer brought up too dark an image to identify properly. If you can't find a clearer one with more contrast [and haven't been helped by the many talented garedeners here], post your mom's favorite colors, light conditions and any allergies. I'll check in and give you some suggestions. I've used alot of unusual plant varieties - as well as some old favorites - and won a few awards along the way. You can have something planted up by Mothers' Day.