(Courtesy of the internet)The bloom looks similar to an Allium but it has a bushy growth habit. It can grow up to 36" T and grows in full sun/partial shade. When I went by to pick up my seed he gave me two other plants that I haven't grown before. He started these by seed recently.
The one on the left is Armenian Basket Flower(Centaurea macrocephala). It grows up to 4' T, prefers full sun, and blooms in June/July. This is what it looks like(courtesy of the internet)....
Then the plant on the above right is Borage(Borago officinalis). It is considered an herb. It has many uses, actually too many to list but one I did find interesting. If planted near tomatoes it can improved their flavor. That's a great asset. It grows best in full sun and gets to 18" T and 12" W. Hopefully this is what it will grow up to look like.
Wish me luck with growing these since I have no experience with any of them. If any of you have grown them before I would love some input. Thanks!
28 comments:
I'm SO not a plant person, but you sound EXACTLY like my sister, Suzanne!!
We grew borage when I was a child - I wish I remembered particulars, but when you're a child you don't think to ask how it's grown - you just know it is! The globe thistle is lovely - I think I need to find Melissa some of those seeds! :)
Jacquie-Tell Suzanne she needs to start a blog. I would love to converse with her.
Terri-Good luck finding some of those globe thistle seeds. If mine come up and the plant does well(that could be a big "if") I'll be glad to send you some.
Lucky, lucky you!! Can't wait to see how they grow in your garden. Love all of these plants, they are new to me!!
I'm excited to find another gardening site. I've done quite a few posts on this subject myself, but living in Northern Ohio, I'm restricted to the warmer months. I have a neighbor who grows Borage, I'll have to tell her about placing her plant closer to the tomatoes. - Elise from Pigeonhaspants.com
Best wishes with all of these. I'm only familiar with the globe thistle. Let us know how it goes!
Darla-So these are new to you too!?!? I guess we'll just learn together. I was so happy to get these plants and lucky too!
Elise-I'm so glad you came for a visit. Hope you come back again. As the weather warms up you will see lots more posts on gardening and less on other things.
Mildred-I'll definitely post on them. I'm looking forward to seeing how they perform in the garden.
Good Luck, Susie, with your new plants. It was nice that you published a picture of what each will look like. Keep us posted.
Is the thistle the type that finches enjoy?????
Hugs,
Betsy
Good luck with the plants you will be starting from seed. Years ago, when I could have a garden in the yard, I started all my vegetables from seed. It felt as if I could jump-start spring.
Good luck with your new plants Susie! I bought small transplants of the Globe Thistle last fall. Can't wait to see how they do this summer. :)
I'm not familiar with globe thistle but it is beautiful. That would look good in my flower beds, how does it do up north?
I can't help you, but I really like that globe thistle! I'm going to check that out. I hope that's a perennial.
Hi Sweet Susie,
The plants look wonderful. How special to get seeds for new plants. Speaking of new plants, today I spied tiny green sprigs of Jonquils poking their heads out of the dirt AND a whole flock of robins were thrashing about in the leaves! Spring will be here soon! Have fun digging in the dirt with those new seeds!
I haven't grown any of these, Susie, so I'm no help. I have seen the globe thistle in catalogs before and thought it looked interesting. I've heard of borage but never knew it helped in growing better-tasting tomatoes...interesting. How nice of your co-worker to share with you! Can't wait to see how these plants look in your garden.
I've never grown any of these, but I bet you'll do fine. Hope to see pictures in the future!
what fun to play with new plants, they look like they will all compliment each other. glad to see what they will look like.
Susie, all 3 look really interesting. You will have some lovely colors in your garden. And maybe if they do well-lots of seed to share(hint, hint) :)
Betsy-I don't know if that is the type of thistle birds enjoy. I'll have to research it and let you know.
Thanks George-I'm very hopeful to start more plants from seed this year. It's always fun to put a grown plant in the ground but when you started it from seed there is something more satisfying about that.
Racquel-So your growing globe thistle too. How fun! I hope yours does well.
Milah-It looks like it is hardy to zone 3. So that sounds good for you.
Jen-Isn't it pretty? It is a perennial and hardy up to zone 3.
Sandy-Sounds like spring is just around the corner at The Quill. I enjoy walking around in my beds and finding little surprises like that.
Rose-It was really sweet for Jonathan to give me these plants. They were a wonderful surprise. I just hope I can keep them alive until planting time.
Thanks Linda! I will definitely be taking photos of them as we go along.
Marmee-I think those plants do compliment each other. I will probably try to plant the basket flower and globe thistle in the same vicinity. The borage doesn't get as big and plus I think I will plant it close to my tomatoes.
Beckie-Girl, I'll be glad to share any seed if I'm successful with them!
Great set of plants, Susie. Wow, borage and tomato! Maybe I could try something like this with a local herb. See how you've germinated the seed of a wonderful idea?! I'm glad.
Thanks Kanak I'm glad I was able to help germinate the idea!
Isn't it great to have co-workers like that!!!
I've had borage nearly as long as I have gardened. I have had some folks say mine is the bluest they have every seen. I don't know, it doesn't strike me as overly blue. It is good for sending melancholy packing. The flowers are beautiful floating in water jugs or glasses of lemonade. The plant itself is not all that attractive and the flower is not big and showy but I could not think of not having it sprinkled throughout my garden where ever it can fit. (it is rather largish) I especially enjoy the cucumber fragrance when it is bruised. (it makes it easy to identify when still little first thing in the spring. I really have it coming up every where.)
flydragon-Yes, Jonathan is real thoughtful like that.
Lanny-So it's a perennial for you? The blooms do look pretty. I can imagine how pretty they would look floating in lemonade. Thanks for that idea!
Hi Susie,
Thanks for coming by my blog. I too could spend all day there, but am trying to make myself not do that. What part of MS are you in? I am in North Mississippi, right out from Memphis. We love to garden also, and have two acres that we are going to do alot with this summer, hubby is getting tired of mowing, so we're going to plant some of it. I'm not sure he knows that yet, so it's sort of a secret. He loves to garaden too, but has a horse that we board away from home so he likes spending time there. It was great to "meet" you. I'm just really getting the blog going so I'm sure I'll be "seeing" more of you!
Vicki
Hi Vicki, Thanks for visiting my blog. I can't imagine having 2 acres. I bet you will come up with all kinds of idea for that much land.
I haven't planted any of these so I have no advice for you. I do wish you good luck though. :) They look like they will be beautiful additions to your garden.
Thanks Daisy-evidently lots of people haven't heard of these before. It should be interesting to see what happens.
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