I get so excited when the seeds start arriving in the mail, like a six-year-old in the days leading up to Christmas. All of those packages waiting to be opened, knowing that it's just not time yet! As something of a "temporary fix," Patti planted spinach and a couple of different lettuces in the cool corner of the greenhouse the other day, so we'll be seeing signs of green any day now.
The package that arrived this morning is from Select Seeds, one of my favorite companies for annual flowers. Here's the list, which will start to get planted soon in the greenhouse:
"Royal Ensign" Dwarf Morning Glory. It only grows to 12 inches tall, so we're going to use it to border the cutting beds at the Big House. I adore all of the geraniums as they wander through the other plants, but they fry in the summer heat here, so I'm hoping this flower will fill in some gaps in July and August.
Garden Heliotope (Valeriana officinalis). This is not the little purple plant, but a huge towering plant that looks a little like Queen Anne's lace. Doesn't do particularly well in Atlanta heat, but at the beginning of the season, nothing beats that vanilla scent.
Lavatera "Pink Blush". Another one that might not do so well in Atlanta heat and humidity, but we'll see. A close look to Hollyhocks, which start to melt from rust the moment they break ground here.
Amaranth "Oeschberg." Amaranth is another of those that will one day take over the South, but such a fabulous and dramatic plant in the back of the beds!
Mina lobata ("Spanish Flag"). An awesome vine that we'll put into a couple of containers, let climb up and over some other vines that don't flower in summer, and some on trellises. This is one that Christopher Lloyd had climbing over Eucalyptus at Great Dixter
Nicotiana "Woodland." This is one of my favorite plants, that does really well in the southeast. Very tall (about 5 feet here), with that overwhelming night time fragrance.
Cleome "White Queen." Cleome is like a weed here, but I love the white, and want to add it to the White Border. It's such a distinctive plant when it sprouts, it's easy to pull up all of the volunteers one inevitably finds in the beds.
The box from Johnny's Seeds is waiting for me at the Big House! Can't wait to see what's in that box!
