On my sunday day out walk noticed some flowers growing out of a garden onto the pavement.
photos by Saphire Black
Really like them and they reminded me of some dried flowers I am trying to purchase.
Not sure what the tree is called or if these flowers can be dried, but they inspired this project anyway. Maybe I will find their name now I have a photo of them.
Have decided to purchase some seeds and try growing my own dried flowers.
I was a bit of an unusual child as I had a greenhouse. Learnt about growing plants from my grandad. My mum enjoyed learning about growing plants as well. A lot of our childhood garden flowers were from cuttings. My mum has green fingers as well as being good at making clothes.
We used to go on walks especially to collect flowers my mum could dry and make into arrangements. My dad was really anti this as he believed the country code rule of not picking wild flowers. My mum and sister would ignore him and annoyingly pick bull rushes, and so forth. Have so say I agreed with my dad on this subject.
Architectural and dramatic producing spiky, cone-shaped flower heads loved by butterflies and bees on tall spiny stems in the second year or can be left to feed the birds, especially finches.
Sow indoors, January-April, 0.5cm (¼”) deep, in a tray of compost. Water well and place in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or on a warm kitchen windowsill. Keep moist. Germination may be erratic, so prick out seedlings individually as they develop. Further germination may be prompted by covering with plastic and leaving outside to chill for 2-3 weeks, after which you should bring into the warmth at approx. 15?C (60?F). Transplant individually, when large enough to handle, to 7.5cm (3″) pots. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions, before planting out into well-drained soil, August-October, 45cm (18″) apart.Once established, they can self-seed. Flowers: July-September, the following year.
Bring wildlife into your garden: Constantly visited by pollinating and predatory insects. The attractive seed heads that remain are especially appreciated by birds, such as finches, in the autumn.
Easy, fast growing with huge heads on giant stems. A favourite with children – who can grow the tallest sunflower? Sunflowers are very easy to grow, they come in all sizes for borders, beds, pots and containers, adding warmth and vibrancy to any outdoor living space – large or small. They look dramatic combined with other easy annuals such as Cosmos, Coreopsis or Cornflower. Sunflowers are long-lasting whether used in the garden or as cut flowers, and attract a wealth of beneficial insects. Their spent heads can also be left to feed birds throughout winter.
Sunflower Giant Single Seeds
Giant Sunflower Seeds. Easy and fast growing Giant Single is the ideal variety for children to grow.
Drying the echinacea plant could not be simpler. As I already mentioned, the whole plant is edible, including the roots. So far, I have only used the petals and the leaves, leaving the roots intact not to disturb the plant.9 Aug 2022
Truly superb with gorgeous cerise pink flowers on neat and sturdy plants. These must have plants are ideal for the mixed summer border. These fully hardy perennials are specially raised as young plants to flower in the summer of their first year. Simply pot up on receipt, keep frost free and then plant out from late May. (Please note: flowering times may vary in subsequent years and occasionally adverse weather or growing conditions may mean there are limited or no flowers until the second year).
chinacea PowWow Wild Berry Flower Plants
Echinacea PowWow Wild Berry Flower Plants are truly superb with gorgeous cerise pink flowers on neat and sturdy plants. These must have plants are ideal for the mixed summer border.
The first coloured mixture that can be raised from seed. These beautiful blooms have a raised central cone surrounded by rays of coloured petals. The combination of colours is an instant head turner.
Sow thinly, indoors, February-April, 1.5cm (½”) deep, in a tray of compost. Water well and place in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or on a warm kitchen windowsill. Keep moist. Seedlings usually appear in 14-28 days. Transplant individually, when large enough to handle, to 7.5cm (3″) pots. Always hold seedlings by a leaf, never by the stem. Gradually accustom young plants to outside conditions (avoid frosts), before planting out into well-drained soil, May-July, spacing 40cm (16″) apart. Flowers: June-September.
Mature plants may be divided in spring or autumn, while they are dormant, to increase your stock of this beautiful perennial. Tolerates dry conditions.
Echinops leaves are typically thistle shaped and prickly. Because of the strong stems and robust flowers echinops is very popular for drying. To dry, simply hang upside down in a warm, dark and dry place. On the wholesale flower markets echinops is available as a cut flower and sold in wraps of 10/20 stems.
Steely blue flowers above silvery-green foliage during summer. The bees and butterflies can’t resist this plant and the flowers are great for cutting. Grow in well-drained soil in sun or part shade.
The petals (which are in fact actually bracts) are stiff and paper-like and rustle when you touch them. They make excellent dried flowers. To dry them, pick when the foliage is dry and the flowers are open. Tie in small bunches and hang upside down in a dry, well-ventilated place.
One of the best of the ‘everlasting flowers’, these easy to grow plants produce blooms on tall stems in a wide range of bright, bold colours. Creating an extremely fun display, plants flower the same year as sown. They make wonderful cut and dried flower displays.
Helichrysum Strawflower Seeds
Helichrysum Strawflowers are one of the best of the ‘everlasting flowers’, these easy to grow plants produce blooms on tall stems in a wide range of bright, bold colours. Creating an extremely fun display, plants flower the same year as sown. They make wonderful cut and dried flower displays.
This is a start want some roses as well along with some I couldnt find.
It would be a great idea to go to a garden centre.
Hope this inspires you, took my mind off winter as well. Need to plan how they will all match together, whether bedding, border, patio and container and so forth.
Sketching the garden layout
As I’m new to gardening, guessing it would be a good idea to sketch the garden layout first. Bought a selection of art supplies below:
STAEDTLER
Design Journey
Double Ended Fibre-Tip Colouring Pens (Pack of 72)
Once you have designed and grown your garden, you could paint it and make your own art.
Really enjoyed this Sunday shop.
All inspired by an overgrown garden!!!
Quite a lot of them at the moment owing to post covid work restrictions. (no gardeners).
Not tried drawing with felt tips before, well not since I was a toddler. Will enjoy this, just same technique really. Bought some coloured pencils the other week so can use these also.
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