Blooming blues – Sharing floral hues and flower symbolism while waiting for spring

Centaurea cyanus

Veronica spicata

A blue flower, according to Wikipedia, “is a central symbol of inspiration“, standing for desire, love, and the metaphysical striving for the infinite and unreachable. It also symbolizes “hope and the beauty of things.”

Borage

That’s quite a mouthful. Obviously, the colour blue has much historical significance, and reverence!

Admittedly that’s easy to relate to right now, and this post has come about due to an infinite hope for spring’s seemingly unreachable arrival. You see, we had snow fall overnight here in cottage country, and it’s chilly outside to say the least. Like many of you, I am itching to get in the garden.

Myosotis

Feeling starved for colour, with a monochromatic landscape looming outside, I took to viewing some flower photos on my Flickr site.

In doing so, it dawned on me just how many blue flowers are in my garden.

Baptisia australis – False indigo

Of course, they don’t all bloom at the same time, (a bit of a shame considering the show they’d offer!), but on the other hand, it’s nice to have constant flow of colour throughout the season. In any case, Wikipedia’s description seems quite fitting, indeed. So, in honor of spring’s imminent arrival, I’d like to offer up some visual hope right here.

Feel free to share your favourite blue flower here with me. Happy Spring!

Omphalodes

Scilla siberica

Not quite blue, but I do love lavender.

Echinops

Blue cardinal flower

Morning glory

A unique and unusual native woodland plant: Jack-in-the-pulpit

Arisaema triphyllum - Wall Flower Studio The unusual and unique Jack-in-the-pulpit is an excellent perennial woodland garden plant.

The Latin name is Arisaema triphyllum. This plant is easy to recognize, even when not in bloom, due to the foliage combination of 3 leaves.

These lovelies are easy to cultivate under the right conditions. They require no care at all once established. Jack will thrive in most soils, moist to dry, as long as it’s shady. They will happily accept seasonally wet locations.

The good news is that deer will not eat this plant. Having said that, neither should you or anybody else! It is poisonous.

Jack blooms for a long time; May through June in my neck of the woods, (which is considered a ‘zone 3’ USDA), ‘zone 4 A’ in Canada.

Jack in the Pulpit - Arisaema triphyllum This exquisite native woodland perennial is a treat to see every spring! For more information on this lovely fellow, I’d recommend a visit to:

Ontario Wildflowers
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center

Happy Gardening!

Classic garden elements – Adding unique structures to your landscape

This is a just a sampling of some of the garden structures we create in-house here in Minden Ontario, at Wall Flower Studio – Garden obelisks, vertical gardens, and bee hotels.

Garden obelisk trellis

Planting peas and runner beans on the trellis

Obelisk in the garden, early spring.

Obelisks are perfect for vertical gardening which adds height and an added growing dimension to any garden. We especially love them for the winter interest that they add. Our garden structures are constructed of high quality timber and we offer a variety of paint colours to choose from. One can grow almost any herbaceous climbing plant on these sturdy, simple, classic and elegant structures.

Square succulent wall garden for indoors or out

Our rustic vertical wall gardens are very popular, with good reason! Presently, we have 3 sizes available but we are working on creating different shapes, as well. These space-saving, artistic plant containers are a work of living art. They can be planted with succulents, herbs and more. The only limit is one’s imagination!

We are thrilled to offer solitary bee hotels. 1795607_10153309127676488_1229602207476800234_n

Each one is unique and one of a kind, but they all offer a habitat for our native bees and other beneficial insects. They can be mounted on a fence, a tree or anywhere you like.

Bees are vital for cross pollination of flowers, vegetables crops and fruit trees not only for suburban gardens but also for farms,
parklands, plant nurseries and community gardens.
One way we can all help is to re-introduce these often unknown little pollinators back into our environment and our gardens.

Sharing some of our basil seedlings grown in eggshells

April 2014 Wall Flower Studio growing Basil - seeds in eggshells - Karen Sloan Here’s a handy hint for anyone starting seeds but doesn’t have any wee containers. Simply save your eggshells and start your seeds in them!

I’ve started my large leaf basil, and the beautiful thing is that the whole thing can be planted, including the egg carton! Or, plant the eggshells, rip up the carton, and feed it to the vermicomposter. Worms will love it!

This way the seedling’s roots remain undisturbed, and that summer pesto is closer than ever to becoming a reality. 😉 Happy Gardening!

13862346694_961900bd24_o Basil herbs seeds sprouting in eggshell - seedlings at Wall Flower Studio - Copyright Karen Sloan

Amaryllis blooms from seed to stalk – #FloweringFriday

Amaryllis vittatum - Wall Flower Studio 2016

Amaryllis ‘vittata’

Amaryllis vittata – I pollinate these flowers by hand, lightly dusting the pollen from the anther of one flower on to the stigma of another. I look forward to harvesting the seeds every year and growing new plants!

Seed pod pops open by itself.

floating Amaryllis seeds for viability - Wall Flower Studio

Floating amaryllis seeds in water can help to tell which ones are viable. I’ve found it easy to tell, just by how plump each one is.

It was 6 years before seeds I planted actually flowered. Admittedly, there is nothing more thrilling than to see that stalk emerge from a bulb you’ve grown from seed. Patience is likely the biggest ingredient!

Happy Flowering Friday!