|
Author: Valerie Garner Article source: http://www.kabish.com/. Used with author's permission.
I have a love for funky, fun and unique garden plants. Here's one to try. It's called Sea Holly, and it's actually in the thistle family.
Sea Holly is a perennial garden plant, which means you plant it once and it comes up year after year, somewhat depending on your climate.
This plant never did fail to bring attention and comments from people seeing my garden. It grows about 3-4 feet high, very branchy and the branches are a brilliant electric blue color. It's stunning!
The only drawback to this lovely plant, in the fall you must cut it to the ground and burn or compost the plant. Do not let it go longer than that, casting it seeds or you'll soon discover it's family trait of being in the thistle family, if you know what I mean. The following spring, it'll come back again to it's beauty.
It is an easy plant to grow and does best with full sun, or as much sun as is available to you. I live in the Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. so we get a lot of rain and fairly mild summers and yet it seems to be enough for this plant.
You can search for Sea Holly seeds in seed catalogs or sometimes you can find it in some nurserys. An internet search would surely find you a source for this lovely plant.
I thought I'd let you know about one of the coolest, funky plants for outdoors I've ever run across. It's called Evening Scented Stock, it is NOT the common stock, however.
This is an annual plant, that needs to be sown early spring, directly into the soil where it is to bloom and grow. I recommend planting it nearby windows and doors, porches, etc. This plant really doesn't look like much in and of itself, it's not a pretty plant per se..but when about 5:00 PM rolls around watch it do its stuff! This plant has a VERY powerful fragrance similar to hyacynths or lilacs. At the gentlest breeze it sends a waft of fragrance to die for. This is why it's so excellent to plant near a window, door or pathway. When you open up your screen in the evening, this will scent your entire house.
One place that I have found the seeds for this rare plant is at Fragrant Path, PO Box 328, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023 They were about $1. a packet but the price may have gone up. Please write and ask them. Enjoy!
Here's another one to try. This one is called Autumn Crocus.
In this case you can tell a lot by it's name. You generally purchase it as a bulb, which are usually quite large. It does return year after year without needing to re-plant it.
In the spring it shoots up a lot of foliage, this is preparing the plant for it's autumn blooms, be sure to just leave this alone. Come about June or so, this foliage starts looking like it's dying, again just leave it be.
In late August/early September, when most of the flowers are past their prime and the garden is starting to look sparse, out comes the Autumn Crocus, with their beautiful lilac colored blooms. They bloom for quite a long time when few things are blooming. A fun plant, give it a try!
This one is an annual (only lives 1 growing season) plant called Love Lies Bleeding. It's as strange as it's name.
It is very easy to grow. You just simply direct seed it in the soil (full sun preferably) where it is to grow in the spring. It's height seems to vary greatly. I've seen it be as small as about 2 feet high, and reach up to 6 or 7 feet high. It's "flowers" are long, burgandy colored ropes that hang. It is simply stunning. Always gets attention! It will usually re-seed itself so you'll get new plants the following year without doing anything.
It's best to try to find this seed in an unusual type seed catalog. It is in the amaranth family.
Here's the last one. Ever tried the hellebore family? There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year. These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in the winter, like under leafed trees or something of that nature.
What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few plants that do that! One variety is called a Christmas Rose. It's quite striking to see flowers in the midst sometimes of snow.
These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery. Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family of plants. About The Author
Valerie Garner - Get a series of no cost traffic builders that work to get traffic to your website, plus a few ideas for earning income too. Many unique resources you'll love! Mailto:Moredetails@quicktell.com
Secrets of Getting Free Advertising
The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or services are limited only by your own imagination and energies. There are so many proven ways...
EASTER: The Bunny and The Egg
Ever wonder why there's an "Easter Bunny"? Ever
wonder why he brings eggs? And dyed ones at that!
Here's why?
Acne Treatments that Work
Two of the best-known treatments for acne include phototherapy and the Zen Med Derma Cleanse System.
Never Wing a Wedding Speech!
The one thing you don't want to do on the day of the wedding is stand up to make your speech and try to "wing" it. Trying to make a speech up off the top of y...
Super Affiliate Strategies Part 3
In our previous Super Affiliate Strategies articles, we went over ways to increase your web site's click through ratio. Today we are going to take an entirely d...
New Uniforms Could be the Gold Charm for the Golden Arches
With their new and hip "I'm lovin' it" campaign, McDonald's needed their fast-food restaurants to match this new vibe. New and fashionable uniforms could be the...
Precor Treadmill
Precor treadmills are manufactured by Precor, a company that specializes in fitness equipment for the home and commercial environment. Precor has been manufactu...
How Much Do You Love Me?
How much is "this much"? There were two fathers, both who
loved their sons so much they were willing to sacrifice them
for a greater love. What kind of love c...
The Synchronicity of Success
It's empowering to think that every person, every animal, every plant, every particle of matter... it's all working in grand unison.
First Contact: The Source of Customer Loyalty
With a click of the finger or walking a few steps to that next business, customers have greater opportunities to spend their dollars elsewhere. Today's business...
Discount Promotional Items – How to Save Money
It takes money to make money is an adage we hear everyday in the business world. So, when it comes to getting promotional items, you've got to budget for it. ...
What Our Investment Advisor Wont Say Off The Bat
There is a little known fact about the financial community that they will not discuss if you do not bring it up. And it may cost you money.
Get Out of Your Way!
We hear a lot these days about accepting responsibility for our actions and it is about time we did. Time is out for casting blame and pointing righteous finger...
Common Scents For Emotional Well Being
Aromatics which include essential oils, perfume, centred candles and incense, have been used for centuries to affect the mind (and also, ultimately, the body) i...
Roulette System: Illegal Tactics Casino Use Against You
This article is going to show you an
evil tactic the casino and Las Vegas employs
so you lose more and win less. Let's face it,
you go to have some fun and win...
Indoor Dogfishing — Fun Way To Exercise A Small Or Medium Size Dog
This is excellent exercise for indoor dogs, as well as being great for their mental health. As it gives them a fun activity to look forward to each day, etc. Th...
Health and Happiness - Self Test
First of all, examine yourself outwardly. Look at your fingernails. Are they glossy? Do they appear nice and strong? How about your hair. It should be shiny an...
Logo Design - Corporate Identity Branding - Brand Identity Guru
How to develop a proper brand identity
The Blank Mind
What to do when the words will not come.
What is a Business Loan?
A business loan is designed for a wide range of small, medium and start-up business needs including the purchase, refinance and expansion of a business.
Are You Controlled by the Urge to Splurge
How do you control these urges that pull you away from your
diet plan and down the temporary joy of self-indulgence?
I researched on the topic to give you wha...
A Lasting Leadership Lesson: How One Leadership Talk By George Washington Saved The Revolution
The most important victory of the Revolutionary War was not achieved at Saratoga or Yorktown, but in a log hut in 1783 when George Washington put an end to a re...
Why Should We Get Kittens as Pets?
Kittens are and have always been adorable creatures. Of course, these youngsters are also playful, naughty and mischievous as well. Perhaps that's the reason wh...
Alternative Treatments For Arthritis Pain Relief
Natural, herbal remedies can help arthritis sufferers who have tried traditional pain medications without success. Many natural remedies and supplements have be...
|
Print this page