I think he may have a point.
These past couple of weeks they really took off, in a Jack and the Beanstalk-type way. I had to dig all sorts of spare plumbing parts and corner molding wood out of the basement to make little (big, really) stakes for them. The photo above was taken this past weekend, and the photo below was July 26 -- really only three weeks prior. Look at how wee they were:
This one looks to be the biggest of this year's crop. I should have measured it, but it's about eight feet tall.
And here's a bit of a horticultural oddity...I believe I've grown some sort of Siamese Sunflower Twin:
They've blocked out the rest of the garden, which is sadly showing some of its last blooms of the season. These yellow flowers, from the garden of fellow Jersey Girl Black Eyed Susan, really grew nicely from a handful of shoots I was gifted with early in the summer. Now that I know what they look like (tall and gorgeous, with a mum-like flower. Any idea what they are?), I will move them to a better patch of the garden next year.
And speaking of Black Eyed Susan, those are blooming as well:
I had a small bunch of roots last year given to me by a coworker. In one short year they've grown to be lush and shrub-like. I love how they've filled in.
Given all this yellow, I've made a note to find some flowers of different colors that are late bloomers that I can add to the mix last year. I think I'm off to a good start, thanks to these gifts of seeds including gorgeous purple Lupine, cultivated from the garden of another fabulous Jersey Girl Maureen.
Maureen and I met through the world of blogging (she should totally have a blog. No pressure. :-), and met for real last week. Along with the seeds she brought me a fabulous piece of Ocean Grove tent memorabilia (more on that coming soon) and this sachet she made using lavender from her garden. I wish these here internets had smell-o-vision, because this little lovely smells divine.
"L" for "lucky to have so many great people and in my world." And in my garden, which is just about 100% grown from seeds, shoots and bulbs gifted to me by others. A true community garden!
22 comments:
I don't think that there is a soul in the world who could walk by your garden and not smile! The bees and the birds are also thanking you. Just beautiful!
♥, Susan
I'm just stopping in to say hello! Seems like I've been missing you for a while now - - - you know, just this and that and the other getting in the way of my blogging.
Just wanted to stop by with a "hi" and a "missed you."
I am so jealous because I never planted sunflowers this year...I won't make that mistake again. The garden looks great.
Your sunflowers are amazing...,
I once grew one single sunflower from a seed as a kid, and was so proud.
Beautiful flowers! We have sunflowers too. I just love them and so do the little birds. It's so much fun to watch them!
How sweet~a community garden!! It put a lump in my throat! No one ever gives me seeds or shoots...sniff sniff!
Okay. Your sunflowers are incredible, Laura!! Was there a big change in your weather during those three weeks?? I've never grown them. I remember when you grew corn! lol! You like the tall stuff. What are you doing back there in that garden?? ;-)
xoxo
Jane
Sunflowers fascinate me--they get so big, so fast! Our neighbors have a bunch of them that face our yard, and there's no way to walk past them without smiling.
They're awesome! We planted some last year and they grew to be huge until a big storm knocked them down. I was so sad... maybe next year.
You know, technically, I think I might be a "Jersey Girl" I was born there, does that count? (in Trenton, not the most glamorous place in NJ)
We have a couple of groupings of those TALL yellow flowers - I don't know the Latin name, but we have always called them GOLDEN GLOW (http://www.backyardgardener.com/pren/pg98.html)
One bit of advice - they are best planted against a wall or something else that they can be tied up against! First good rain and they are a flat-on-the-ground mess!
Love your sunflowers--you can never have too many!
How I remember those sunflowers from last year. You've got a nice bunch this year.
T
Hi Laura :)
I think your garden looks beautiful, horticultural oddity and all ;)
The sachet is darling too!
xo,
rue
I just love sunflowers. They are happiness on a long stick. :)
that sunflower is weird! surprised u didn't send it to me for my weird fruit, flower & vegetation file...
You're inspiring me to put some actual flowers in the yard next year, not just blooming shrubs and hostas.
I say you are for sure having a golden day! Love all the yellow and fun flowers. xoxo
Your sunflowers are amazing...wish I had big blooms like that....and the black eyed susans--lovely, and nothin looks better with yellow than purple, so plant away.....
The flowers are gorgeous. Are you going to try and harvest the seeds?
isn't the end of the summer the best? everything in the garden just gives it their all! i think your mystery flower is a either a dahlia, or a summer flowering mum...how tall is it?
That looks so lovely - no one would have trouble finding your house - maybe the door - but not the house.
Your garden looks to be so bright and cheery! I love sunflowers and saw so many of them as we drove through South Dakota last week.
Your flowers are awesome! I think you have a talent! :) Diane
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