My very favorite

Sherry_AK · March 19, 2007

NCTIM · March 19, 2007

It just became mine too. Absolutely beautiful. Carolina blue flowers - WOW

What is it?

Tim

Sherry_AK · March 20, 2007

Meconopsis.

If I could grow only one kind of flower, that would be it.

There are white ones too.

And this is what they look like when they first pop up in the Spring.

ddsack · March 20, 2007

Those blues are gorgeous! Are these perennials that manage to grow in Alaska, or do you overwinter them in your greenhouse?

Sherry_AK · March 20, 2007

They are perennials and Alaska is one of the few places in the U.S. where they will grow. They also do well in the Pacific Northwest. They cannot tolerate hot, dry conditions.

(I love your avatar!!!)

ddsack · March 20, 2007

Well, I am disappointed! I guess there is no hope of them growing here with our current hot, dry summers. Do they need full sun? I could try some on the north side of the house where it is cooler/shadier. They would get some morning sun.

(Avatar is a big ol' Ernesto with Serrano eyeballs, I love to play with my food.)

Sherry_AK · March 20, 2007

They actually prefer a bit of shade. Also they like an acid soil. If you want to give it a try, and you want to try starting them from seed, let me know and I'll send you some. It's a bit late to get them started for this year, but I could send you some fresh seed in the fall.

Sherry

ddsack · March 21, 2007

Seeds from yours, would be great! I will put it on my gardening calendar to remind myself to ask you again this fall. Thanks for the offer!

Dee

flowerpower · March 21, 2007

Wow, that blue is just beautiful.

Sherry_AK · March 21, 2007

Thanks!

(Once again I run into the "message too short" problem, so here are more words!)

akgardengirl · March 22, 2007

Sherry,
Your photography is stunning! I will let you know if mine come up this year. Managed to get a few going last spring. What do you put in your soil to make it acid?
Thanks,
Sue B.

PS. The Native Sun tomato did not germinate as of one month.
I have some interesting dwarve seedlings to share with you if you are interested.

Sherry_AK · March 24, 2007

Hey, Sue! Thanks for your kind words about the photos. Who can resist taking pix of those beauties?!? Maybe you'll be posting pictures of your own this summer!

Of course our native soil is fairly acid already, but I do use Miracid Soil Acidifier/Plant Food. They are heavy feeders, so I also apply liberal amounts of compost around them each year as well as compost tea.

I've sent you a PM re the dwarves.

Sherry

remy · March 24, 2007

Sherry,
Great photos! I love blue flowers. You are so lucky to be able to grow those poppies easily.
Remy

Sherry_AK · March 24, 2007

Thanks, Remy. I do consider myself very lucky that I can grow them.

Sherry

DavidinCT · March 28, 2007

Sherry AK...Appreciate the information!

Ordered seeds from Parks Monday. Have three or four spots where I suspect they might grow. Soil pH is 5.7 which seems OK. Very deficient in phosphorus and low in calcium and potassium. Think decomposed cow manure mixed with peat moss might help? Mountain Laurel (which likes acid and thrives in wet, rocky shady hollows in CT) does well in these areas.

Do you know if light is needed for germination? Day time outside temps are right (40-60) but they can drop into the 30s at night. My basement is 54-57 year round and that would be safer but don't have a light set-up down there.

March 19, 2007	#1
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	My very favorite

March 19, 2007	#2
NCTIM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: zone 8 NC Posts: 286	It just became mine too. Absolutely beautiful. Carolina blue flowers - WOW What is it? Tim __________________ "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra

March 22, 2007	#11
akgardengirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anchorage, AK zone 3/4 Posts: 1,410	Blue poppy Sherry, Your photography is stunning! I will let you know if mine come up this year. Managed to get a few going last spring. What do you put in your soil to make it acid? Thanks, Sue B. PS. The Native Sun tomato did not germinate as of one month. I have some interesting dwarve seedlings to share with you if you are interested.

March 24, 2007	#13
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	Sherry, Great photos! I love blue flowers. You are so lucky to be able to grow those poppies easily. Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

March 20, 2007	#3
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Meconopsis. If I could grow only one kind of flower, that would be it. There are white ones too. And this is what they look like when they first pop up in the Spring.

March 20, 2007	#4
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Those blues are gorgeous! Are these perennials that manage to grow in Alaska, or do you overwinter them in your greenhouse?

March 21, 2007	#8
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Seeds from yours, would be great! I will put it on my gardening calendar to remind myself to ask you again this fall. Thanks for the offer! Dee

March 21, 2007	#9
flowerpower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY Z5 Posts: 94	Wow, that blue is just beautiful.

March 28, 2007	#15
DavidinCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Connecticut Zone 6B Posts: 88	Sherry AK...Appreciate the information! Ordered seeds from Parks Monday. Have three or four spots where I suspect they might grow. Soil pH is 5.7 which seems OK. Very deficient in phosphorus and low in calcium and potassium. Think decomposed cow manure mixed with peat moss might help? Mountain Laurel (which likes acid and thrives in wet, rocky shady hollows in CT) does well in these areas. Do you know if light is needed for germination? Day time outside temps are right (40-60) but they can drop into the 30s at night. My basement is 54-57 year round and that would be safer but don't have a light set-up down there.