snapdragon picture

this was taken about 3 weeks ago when I started building the frames...I switched over to 11/2 pvc pipes but even that wouldn't protect the width I had planted them in...thanks

Your lucky to live in Texas. It is so cold here in The Peoples Republic of Massachusetts.

I just posted the good news under the Beginner's gardening site. Yes, I could never survive in cold weather. I tried it once in zone 6 in the mountains of New Mexico, got so depressed with the weather that I literally installed gro lights all over the house...the kids laughed as i had at least 50 gro lights going with plants and seeds..

Bettygail, that is lot of snapdragons, can I be so nosy and ask what do you do with all them there snaps? Are they the rocket series that grows tall for cuts?

I am growing them for a weekend retreat for a prison ministry called Kairos Outside....for women who have loved ones in prison....an offshoot of the prison minstry called Kairos which is very active among churches in south Texas and involves many churches working together.... I purposely planted the Rocket for a longer cut and the Liberty's grow about 18 to 20 inches tall. About 1/4 of the crop got some damage when I built tents for the frost cloth to cover them....that darn wind whipped around them so hard............won't ever cover them again in our zone...they could have taken the freezing weather for a few hours.

Today is our first day of sun in weeks and weeks of cold and rain......I even have some snapdragons starting to bloom finally....

The Libertys survived and are starting to bloom...although the frost cloth beat some down....

one last pic of all the Rocket series trying to bloom with our first day of sun in a long long time

Bettygail, did you sow your seed directly outdoors? I want to grow a bunch for a niece's wedding this late August but I could direct seed till probably beginning of June. Our growing season is so much shorter because we are wet so late in the year.

I started mine by seed....they really hate the heat and I don't know how hot it gets in your area....I suppose you are like Austin, Texas....these plants will take hard freezes and bounce back...I plant mine in October or November so that I have time to cut them back to 4" once a month with Dec. 15 being the last cut back. How cool are you summers or how hot? If you tell me what you summers are like I may be able to help by choosing what would grow well at that time. Do you get warm enough to grow zinnias galore and Celosia 'Bombay' and the new Celosia 'Cramers'......cutting flowers are my favorite flowers...know we could find something for you that is pretty to bloom in august. My last daughter to get married was 6 years ago today....she used the brightest flowers in her bridesmaids' bouquets and hers, too....no traditional white

Thanks, Bettygail, here in my part of Oregon we stay mostly in the 80's or low 90's. Not to say we haven't had 100 plus but it is rare. Our humidity is low too. Yes, I am planning lots of zinnias and I have done snaps before from seed earlier in the greenhouse and then transplanted but it would be nice to avoid that step if possible. I am planting Bells of Ireland too. I raise lots of dahlias too and roses but I find roses aren't the greatest cuts. I will do the China aster too. I am considering larkspur too especially if I can sow them directly outside. My hubby will do some glads. Here in the Willamette Valley where I am is nursery paradise. On our farm we raise marionberries, Christmas trees(firs), and hazelnuts.

I would think that if you can grow Bells of Ireland (which we can't in the summer).you would do great with snaps....Larkspur comes up easily for me when sown outside in the winter and then blooms in april for us. Don't you have a friend in the nursery business who would be nice and order the 72 cell flats of snaps for wholesale??? You would have lots of time to cut them back a time or two before you let them bloom. A friend offered to do that for me knowing that it was for a prison ministry. You niece's wedding is a very special occasion. Johnny's Selected Seed has the best offering of the Sublime series of larkspur in every color in the world. Park Seed offers the prettiest Echinacea in both seeds and plants...some brand new plants pretty for cutting. Do the rudbeckias grow well during your summer...The old standard Goldsturm cuts real well...I should have dmailed you but forgot i could...right click on my name and we can correspond without being on the internet.

OK friends....someone sympathize with me. The retreat I was growing these for is this weekend and I didn't make it with the flowers in time. I believe it was those last two 27 degree nights at the very end of February that didn't help. Oh well, cheer up gail, someone will enjoy the flowers when they peak....going to post a few pictures if you can stand it!! Think of me when i pick up all the flowers needed at the florists in the morning...LOL
This is called learning to grow in a new zone and being grateful that they are going to at least bloom some.....

Betty, you can always do cut bouquets and bring them to nursing homes to brighten up the places for the seniors. I guarantee they will enjoy the beauty and they will love you for it.

I had already made up my mind that if they weren't ready, the local nursing home was exactly where i would go....you read my mind!!!

Great minds...

Or... There is this little patch of soil in Windsor Ontario...

my friend I have heard about pipes they undertaken to grand and as you need to water your vegetables you open water in them and they sweat
have good gardening ~hadi

Good to hear from you in Iran.............thanks

Gail,
Even though I know better,I would swear you are a very energetic 16 year old!! I cannot believe how much you you do!! Wonderful.

Lynn

I wonder where people found this old thread......................from the winter of 2007.........I still love cutting flowers the best!!!

I am new to the Austin area and this web site. I was wondering if you could help me get a couple of containers started and give me the names of some flowers that will do good planted in a bed that the deer will not like. Looking forward to hearing from you. D

I know Austin well, but don't know which plants deer won't eat. Let me check with my kids in Austin and be back to you!

Thanks

I have a friend who lives in New Braunfels and they really have to watch what they plant as deer just roam freely about their yard! Give me a couple of days to find out......

D_AustinTX,
I have a gardening friend that lives in Bastrop.I will drop her a line and get some advice for you.Their names are Daniel and Patricia,but darned if I can remember their last name right now.
Lynn

This is funny reading Lynn's post as I just remembered I have good friends in Bastrop. They have a wonderful cottage garden. He is listed in the Austin phone book as Artisan's Concrete (probably listed in Bastrop , too)

Tell Steve that Jackson' s mother told you to call Stacy, his wife and go see her beautiful yard...........and that she would know about gardening.

Gail,
I think Daniel and Patty have a company called jpleather.The live on a big acreage and she has tons of flowers.
Lynn

Lynn......I only know that one couple in Bastrop (LOL)

Me,too....LOL

Lynn

Lynn and Gail, I also live in Bastrop. Have been here only a couple of months. Will not be staying here much during the summer months and thought I could have some type of flowers while away...maybe in a couple of containers in frt. We have a sprinkler system and I hope this will provide the water needed. I will probably be here mostly during the winter months. I love the cottage gardens. I have a home in WV where I have been trying my hand at flower gardening.

Be happy you won't be in Austin or Bastrop during the summer (LOL)...........Go ahead and call Steve at Artisan Concrete........tell him Jackson's mom said you needed to see his adorable cottage garden that he and Stacy have done. It is one of those wonderful homes with a covered front porch..............

By the way, my deceased stepfather came from Huntington and his aunt was a federal judge (first federal female judge in the state) in Charleston. I went to visit his parents, etc many times.

I feel so stupid, never noticed that Bastrop was under my name until now. I bet your friends garden is lovely. I'll think about calling. I am on the shy side. Thanks for all your help.

Aren't Snapdragons perennials?

Not in the North.I am in zone 5 and they are annual here.

Lynn

Bloom.. they should over-winter in calif. In fact they are perenn for me in z5. My favs are red rockets at 36".

I'm planning to seed some tall varieties to put in vases. Any suggested varieties?

Bloom..Do you mean as cut flowers? If so my favs are the rockets because they have long stem and I love doing large country bouquets with my flowers. Think thats why I love tall flowers so much, lol. I love the red rockets the best, T&MSeeds(.com), has a white rocket called bride something or other that is fragrant, will have to try one of these springs. "Spose it's whatever color you happen to like or even a mix. Also like the butterfly series (24"), which is shorter and the flowers are open (hence no snapping). Kathy.

Thanks, and yes I mean cut flowers. I think a mix of red and white rockets would look wonderful.