Looking for the bluest blue flowers, still

OK Katie. I'm going to package things up this evening and mail early in the morning the fastest way I can. Hope it works. If the hostas made it to Pakistan, these should be okay.

Brodiaea, West Coast native bulb>

Tradescantia (Spiderwort)

Delphinium

Yummy Brodiaea! Thanks.I did a google search and there are some good true blues. West Coast native? I'll have to get some.
great photo:
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/almaden/environs/wildflowers/elegnt.html

Seems like Brodiaea Corrina, Elegans, and Fabiola are some good bets!

You have very nice gardens! The spiderwort, delphiniums et al are moving too much towards purple for me. I am looking for the color of the water in Hawaii, azure, cerulean. . .





This message was edited May 4, 2009 10:28 AM

Viola

Brodiaea cheap> http://www.johnscheepers.com/catview.cgi?_fn=Product&_category=Best:Brodiaea

Trailing Torenia>

This message was edited May 4, 2009 6:02 PM

Lupin

Salvia farinacea

Lobelia is worth mentioning again

I don't know why, but I have a terrible time growing lobelia. I buy it every year before my mother visits because she loves it but cannot grow it in the South. I have put it in baskets, in planters, in the ground. I have planted it in shade, part shade, full sun. Watered it not enough, watered it to much. Fed it too much, fed it too little. I just never get a good show like I see in the hanging baskets on the streets in Seattle.

Has anyone used diotenacous earth underneath the plant? The texture is supposed to prevent them from pursuit. We don't have slugs here in Montana. I solved it just by a simple move from PNW to here.

The trouble I had with DE is that if it is raining the slugs can crawl away and re-hydrate.

Oh I forgot that it rains in the PNW. Another idea that I saw was to elevate a large flat rock about 1" and place a beer can in the middle under it. The slugs will go there after the suns warming and take a dip in the open can. You can just lift it every week and dump the contents.

Steve - that's a lot of beer cans i will need around my property.
Oh i forgot: kegs would work.

I am trying to figure out how to put a can under a rock that is only one inch off the ground. Do you sink the can in the dirt? And how do they get in if the rock is on top of the can? I tried the beer-in-a-dish thing with no luck.

Another dutch iris

Denise has some killer blue iris on her website.

irisloverdee http://www.snowpeakiris.com

We are going to swap JMaples and Iris.
The following iris are on her website, but don't buy them all, save some for me!

BeaHive, Was looking at the pretty iris you just posted. That blue color in the background is what I am looking for. But it is probably a recyling bin, not a flower! ha!





This message was edited May 5, 2009 8:04 PM

here's another

another

but wait

there's more!

Beautiful! Beautiful BI's!!

Nice Iris Neo. Yes the can is burried in the soil and the slugs cannot do without the beer. It also is a safe way to put slug bait under the rock if it is heavy enough to keep the dogs from moving it. Looks good too.

Now I get it! I am going to do that tomorrow. I'll try the beer first and if that doesn't work I'll try Sluggo under the rock. Thanks!

Oh those iris pics are so beautiful!

Beautiful blue iris . . .

meconopsis sheldonii 'Lingholm': my blue sky today...

Ahhhhhh.

Sigh.

Wow....where do you guys find some of these things? Wow.....

One of today's articles is about snails and slugs. Very interesting, but don't think I could ever eat one.

Beautiful colors on those iris.

Wow Kayte spectacular!

Hey you guys, those iris are from Denise's Website! Not mine!
you gotta read the words, AND look at the purty pictures. :)

"Denise has some killer blue iris on her website.

irisloverdee http://www.snowpeakiris.com

The following iris are on her website, but don't buy them all, save some for me!"

Yep, I know, I visited her website. She has some spectacular ones!

Katye, you just gave me a warm fuzzy this morning. That blue is truly intoxicating! I could look at it for hours! It seems to be slightly different from mine. I did not realize that there where several blue meconopsis. Oh, no, another plant quest. :)

gotcha Neo - it's a piece of info that is best not to know...
If you're looking for more of these - let me know. I am continuing on this quest.

I also found M. spicatum, which has a melon-coloured blossom. Then there is M. nepaulensis - almost ready to burst.

I bought a couple of different ones from Heidi at Dragonfly last year, can't remember what color the blooms are supposed to be. One didn't make it, the other is growing but won't bloom for another year or so.

I am completely addicted to these lovelies, so yes please, tell me what you learn.

I finally found the seeds I collected last year from the blue one posted at the top of this thread, so will head out to the green house and get them into the seed starting soil.

Anyone ever started these from seed? Any tips?

I have: not easy to germinate.
I think it's like this: surface sow; 55-65°, transparent cover to keep moist; 2-4 wks. Lots of patience. Some are harder to deal with than others.

http://earthnotes.tripod.com/seeds.htm

Just found this site with nice seed care and planting charts.

Yep, I heard you. Beautiful blue iris - from her website. :-)