Today in the garden...

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Author Message   Gardenbug  Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 05:48 pm:    This is a photo of a 5 foot tall delphinium in my garden today. It is a many stemmed plant with blue and violet coloured blooms. I have about 10 delphiniums growing in this bed, but this is the biggest this year. Sometimes I find seedlings here and there too. I use 6-8 foot tall bamboo stakes next to each plant and tie them up as needed. Rainstorms can destroy them, so the stakes go in early in the season. Some of my plants last for years, others are short lived. Last year the bed looked like this: Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b   Nibbs  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Time Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 07:02 pm:    Don't you just love delphiniums! Yours are gorgeous, Marie. I have some new ones in the back garden but it will be a while before they bloom. Meanwhile, these are by the wood shed. Diane British Columbia Zone 7b   Marciam  My Favorite Photo Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 09:55 pm:    You have some huge, beautiful ones, Marie. I have only 3 or four plants. Mine seem to last only two years, then peter out. One of mine, light blue and white flowered, was knocked over and broken during a heavy thunderstorm. I brought the spike into the house and it lasted a couple of days in water. I bought a pink flowering one this year, but it stayed short and didn't flower long because of nasty weather. Maybe next year, and then again, maybe not! Marcia, Pennsylvania Zone 5   Lulubelle  My Weather Posted on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 10:19 pm:    I love delphiniums! Unfortunately, each one I plant dies! What am I doing wrong? Lulubelle, zone 5, Quebec, Canada   Greg  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 12:08 am:    Wow, those are great. My first blue delphinium died after one year, but my white one has been coming back every year. It' reaches at least 6 feet tall with 7 or 8 stalks usually. Every year the winds knock it down. This year I used the biggest tomato cage I could find for it to grow in. I think it will do better this year against the wind. It should bloom in a week or so so I can show you. Greg, ND Zone 4   Nibbs  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Time Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 06:31 am:    I'm looking forward to the photo, Greg. Tall white delphiniums can make quite a statement in the garden. I love the pink, Marcia! Lucy, I don't know why you can't grow them. I've only plunked mine in the garden, tied them to the fence, watered them, and enjoyed. Perhaps someone else has an idea about how you could grow them. Diane British Columbia Zone 7b   Gardenbug  Posted on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 07:31 am:    Lucy, mine are in full sun...if that helps you. Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b   Susanq  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 01:09 am:    Marie, your photo from last year is gorgeous! Mine are going to be in full bloom soon. Marcia, your pink one is lovely. Keep trying, Lucy. It is probably lighting or soil. Try a different spot. SusanQ - Zone 4b-5b Wisconsin   Kniceone  My Garden Journal My Weather Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 08:41 pm:    I have had some beauties but alas - they died. So this year I am growing my own and will every year from now on. That way I'll be sure to have them in my garden. Yours look lovely everyone. Jodi, ONT, Z4, Great White North   Greg  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 09:33 pm:    Here's a picture from last year . There is a stake in the middle, but even that didn't keep them from breaking in the wind a couple days after I shot this. Greg, ND Zone 4   Gardenbug  Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 09:49 pm:    Gorgeous Greg! I always fall for whites...but I'm learning to expand my preferences. Now I assume you attached the stems to the stake using string or velcro or florist's tape... Sometimes you can use a peony ring at the base and later on add the tape as they get taller. Also you can use several stakes and put string around them in a big circle. This way the wind can't bend them too much. Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b   Monique  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 10:37 pm:    Si jolis vos Pieds d'Alouettes! Monique Quebec Zone 5   Gardenbug  Posted on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 10:47 pm:    (That's a different thread Monique...the one on feet!) Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b   Greg  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:37 am:    Here it is this year. This 5 foot tomato cage should hold it!! Greg, ND Zone 4   Addict  Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:40 am:    Lovely white Greg! Lulubelle - don't know what you're doing wrong. Only general advice I can give is: They like deep well cultivated soil that is very rich in humus and well fertilised (ideally organically with well rotted horse or cow compost). Keep soil moist in summer (mulch well) and not too wet in winter. They like full sun and good ventilation as they are prone to mildew if too closely packed and the humidity is high but soil is dry. Hope this helps. addict suffolk zone 8 UK   Periwinkle  My Favorite Photo My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 11:29 am:    Oh Marie---they are just fabulous! I remember last year's post by you also. I, too, stake mine w. bamboo--'ya have to, they're the kings and queens of the garden! Denise--Northern Wisconsin, Z3b   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 06:50 pm:    All of you have such beautiful delphiniums! I - and most people I know - have pretty well given up growing them because most years they don't stand a cat's chance of surviving slugs. I don't use poisons in the garden. But I did plant two this year, one of which, still small and weak, is flowering. It's called Ouverture. I think it's a Foerster cultivar (anyway I bought it there) Now this is a much nicer delphinium: OK, so it's not a delphinium. It's a pink Veronica longifolia. But it's less of a problem to grow, and I like it a lot. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "6-7"   Gardenbug  Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:10 pm:    Ouverture is a lovely colour...but I do like Veronica longifolia very much. Never saw it before either. Have you seen one called Eveline? Gardenbug Ontario zone 4b/5b   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 02:36 pm:    I hadn't heard of Eveline but have just seen some picture thanks to Google. It looks very spectacular, the colour darker and more purple than my 'Pink Damask'. Very pretty, I'll have to look out for it. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "6-7"

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