A Kansas City Spring (2009)

I've been a bit indisposed for a couple of weeks as I wrangled with some health issues but I'm back and looking forward to an early spring---apprehensively. I'm well aware that all these lovely warm temperatures and balmy days, which have tricked all my perennials to emerge from the ground, could disappear in a matter of minutes. Let's hope its just the beginning of a perfect early spring.

So what's happening? I spent most of the morning transplanting eggplant seedlings. I started them in the one inch peat trays first and now they are in three inch peat pots. The next transplanting will be from the indoors to the garden beds. I have some lovely tomato plants in various stages of growth. This year, besides the pink girls that are my old stand by and favorite tomato, I've got pink oxheart, yellow jubliee, and amana orange growing. I'm anxious to see how these do. My grandmother used to grow a gorgeous yellow tomato the size of a beefsteak but unfortunately, I didn't get the name. If anyone knows what a tomato of that description might be called, please email me!

The star magnolia are in full bloom around the city. The top picture is of the star magnolia I have in my own yard. It's just a baby, no more than two feet tall but it bloomed so lovely this spring. Of course the forsythia add their sunshine yellow flowers to the mix. Here in the Midwest, it's the forsythia and the daffodils that tell us spring has sprung! Down in our orchard, the nanking cherries and the nectarines have blossomed. It won't be long before the other magnolia---Susan, Jane, etc., will be popping. Both my Susan and Jane are unfurling from soft gray buds into deep purple/pink blossoms. The peonies are beginning to show now as well.

But, its also a time when we'd love to start planting those tender annuals. To quell that urge until I'm a bit more positive the weather will stay warm, I indulge in shopping for new gardening paraphernalia. Last weekend, David and I spent some time in our local garden stores. It's a blast to see what new and innovative things are on the market each spring. I found a lovely hummingbird feeder and a couple of urns for my front porch.

Interesting enough, at one place I found allium bulbs that had not sold last fall. I'm not certain if these bulbs experienced any real cold so as to be overwintered but they were starting to grow and I just couldn't leave them to rot. I planted 25 bulbs in among my boxwoods around the front sidewalk. If they grow, they'll be a spectacular sight.

And last but not least, my ornamental sweet potato vines are starting to take off. They can be very slow so be patient. Mine have been planted for three weeks and yet every day a new start emerges. So far I have seven Marguerite, six Ace of spades, and one Blackie. Another plant that has done very well is the oxalis I brought in last fall. Wow is it growing! I can hardly wait to drag out all the hanging baskets and the planters.

Easy, Full Sun Annuals: Dependable Color for an Entire Growing Season

(pictured from left to right: orange cosmos, thunbergia, zinna)

The seed kiosks are popping up rampantly in all the usual places and although we are to have up to 2 inches of snow on Saturday morning, by Wednesday of next week, the temps are to be in the upper 60's again. Since the weather was so nice yesterday, my son, Nick, and I went on an outing which included stopping by a local nursery. Nick is as enthusiatic about gardening as I am so it was no wonder we found ourselves standing in front of a seed kiosk discussing the virtues of this year's selections. Earlier that morning, I'd received an email from a beginning gardener asking for a list of my favorite, easy-to-grow annuals. Needless to say, almost all the seed packets one finds at their local nursery are well suited for growing in one's own area. (Keep in mind that's not always the case with the big box or discount stores because they've no real choice over what seeds are sent to them.)

Giving it some real thought, I came up with a list of my favorite annuals. I've divided them into two categories: seed sown and already grown.

By seed sown, I mean annuals that are extremely quick to germinate in the flower bed and develop into nice plants early on in the season. These include:


cosmos

zinnia

marigolds

sunflowers

cox comb

thunbergia

moonflower

morning glory

hyacinth bean

alyssum

four o'clocks

bachelor buttons


All do well from sowing directly into the bed once the soil warms and stays above 50 degrees at night.


The second category, already grown, are the annuals I think do better if they are bought as seedlings and transplanted into your beds:

(picture from left to right: blackie sweet potato vine, raspberry blast supertunia, Victoria blue salvia)

Victoria blue salvia

supertunia

vinca

million bells

angelonia

snap dragons

dianthus

geraniums

ornamental sweet potato vine

Of the list above, the Victoria blue salvia can grow like a perennial in zone 5 if certain conditions are met. It must be planted on the south side of the house along the foundation where it is protected from the worst of our winters. For three years, mine have regenerated there whereas the same salvia planted in beds away from the protection of the house have perished.

I love how annuals add a constant splash of color to any flower bed. I purposely save room in all my perennial beds just so that I can add them into the mix each spring.