Thursday, February 18, 2010

Self Seeders: a laid back gardener's first love

Come Spring and I have surprises springing up everywhere. The self seeding beauties of my garden have started to show up and the thrill of finding these nature’s surprises cannot be compared with the planned landscaping we indulge in. Verbenas, Larkspur, Poppies, and Nasturtiums are the no fuss variety which crop up from time to time in my garden. Nasturtiums and Poppies show the most prolific growth. I read in some blogs about the use of Nasturtiums in salads; haven’t really tried it, but if my taste buds like it then I have a colorful salad component ready every year. Poppies also keep springing up here there and everywhere. Things sometimes reach epidemic proportions when I am forced to cull some of the plants. Larkspur or Delphinium is another one, less prolific, but very appealing. Its lovely violet color is a treat to the eyes and that it grows without putting in any effort is an icing on the cake. Verbenas, white and purple, started growing since a couple of weeks. It was around 3 years back that I got this plant from a friends’ house. Since then I never had to bother again about storing the seeds or keeping the cuttings, they have been growing year after year The most prolific of all these self seeders are Marguerite Daisies which reward me with beautiful white and yellow flowers every spring and that too with minimal effort. We select, sow, nurture and grow so many plants; trying to include the most remarkable ones in our collection, yet it is the natural landscapes which appeal the most to the eye, and these self seeding plants have a huge role in creating these vast expanses of natural wonders.

24 comments:

Julie said...

What a beautiful post, GT!!! I take it even a step further...often enjoying the blooms on my actual weeds!!! LOL! Your self seeders are so sweet and a true gift from God.

Victoria said...

Beautiful sweet post! I like the same flowers too..and when they reseed it is just pure magic..like all these extra gifts from nature! Beautiful pictures..and color combso...gorgeous! I feel uplifted now..ahhh!
Kiki~

Darla said...

Gotta love them free plants....isn't it wonderful when nature plants them in the perfect spot?

Tira said...

Wow, you are so lucky to have all these lovely self sowers. I certianly wish I did. Yes, nasturtium leaves are great in salads, spread with cream cheese and rolled as an appetizer etc.

Sunita Mohan said...

That's simply gorgeous! What a splendid tropical blend of colours! I love the self-seeders too; they really flesh out the garden. You're lucky that you have such pretty ones in yours.

merinz said...

Lovely pics. Your garden grows a similar mix to our, possibly the climate is similar.

I am just getting a wildflower garden going this year, under some trees so it has had to be a mix of shade lover.

lotusleaf said...

Your poppies are so pretty. I have never been able to grow them in this place.

Muhammad khabbab said...

What a lovely collection of blooms. I love the way poppies look, just fabulous. Here, spring has arrived and new shoots are emerging.

Jan said...

So simple, yet so elegant in it's own way. When we're lucky enough to find plants that thrive in our environments, adding color (& maybe a salad or two as well!) we need to share! So thank you for sharing what does so well, so naturally, for you. I haven't had success with poppies but I am still trying. Maybe this will be the year;-)

Jan said...

Green Thumb,
Looks like you are being spammed by anonymous commenters...you probably need to add verification to your commenters:-( I had to do it, it has gotten really out of hand! Jan

Anonymous said...

Wow !! Nice self seeders. They make a gardener work so cool...

Regards
Raj

Jess said...

Great post! We have similar weather I think, and this year I'm definitely trying nasturtiums. I hope they look as good as yours do!

w said...

You have such a beautiful garden!!!!
And the pictures are so pretty!!!! :D

Tankar från Trädgårdsmästarn; Hillevi said...

I just tumbled over your blog. How exciting to see the smae species in your garden that I have in my:-)

I just started my blog a month ago, and tonight I googled for a gardenblog in India, for the joy of seeing what my fellow garden friends do in another part of the world...
So nice to encounter your garden here:-)
Hope to see you again,

Cheers from Hillevissan, who also started quite another career before giving in and changing to gardendesign instead. A change that I never regret!!

Dirty Girl Gardening said...

Gotta love those annual seeds! They come up so fast... great pics!

Antigonum Cajan said...

In Puerko Rico, USA, not
many gardeners are into
self seeding plants...
They are not part
of the scenery..Except in my
garden. Nice post, congratulations....

Green thumb said...

Julie – Thanks for the lovely words dear, my self seeders are going to be very very happy:-)

Kiki – Gee… thanks! I feel even more uplifted by your wonderful words.

Darla – Free plants…true and growing effortlessly too. See, nature cares for its lazy gardening enthusiasts too.

Nicole – thanks a ton for mentioning those heavenly sounding combinations for nasturtium salad, something which my taste buds have unfortunately not yet savored.

Sunita – I do feel lucky, but only after getting these lovely compliments from you…thanks dear.

Merinz – Welcome to Indiagarden dear. Hope your wildflower garden comes about as planned, it sounds like a wonderful idea.

Lotusleaf – A little change in geography can make such a difference; here, I have to struggle to keep poppies at bay. Thanks for dropping by.

Muhammad khabbab – Happy spring! And, many congrats for having been nominated for national blog awards.

Jan (Thanks For Today) – Thanks Jan (for every time you think of me or my blog). I hope this will be the year when you will have a lush crop of poppies growing in your garden. Beautiful words dear, after all life is all about fun filled sharing.

Raj – Hi dear Raj! It is so cool to see these plants grow year after year without me even remembering that they ever existed in my garden.

Jess – You are embarrassing me. I am sure your nasturtiums are going to turn out even better.

Cendrella - Thanks dear for such kind words. To my eyes, the garden looks even more beautiful because it has enabled me to interact with lovely people like you.

Trädgårdsmakaren – Welcome to Indiagarden, and thanks a lot to Google to have brought such a cherished visitor to my blog. It is heartening to know that you are doing something you are passionate about. I could not really make the career switch to gardening, which I always wanted to, but by God’s grace can find enough time to indulge in this cathartic activity.

Dirty Girl Gardening – They do come up really fast, and without the gardener having to as much, move a finger.

Urban Green said...

Hello Green thumb! Feels great to connect back to my fellow bloggers. Thanks for those encouraging words you left on my blog.

Your garden is doing well, and all 'basant' colors in full bloom. I missed out on poppies this season...glad to see you got them doing well...see you around.

kate smudges said...

Self-seeding plants are among my favourites. I love the idea that Delphiniums self-seed there as they do here. I have only planted a few and yet I have many. Your photographs are lovely ~ colourful flowers that are wonderful to see on this cold, winter morning. I hope you are doing well ~

Matron said...

Yes! those all seem to be the self seeders that come up in my garden too! I am OK with that in my vegetable garden because it attracts the pollinating insects and provides ground cover instead of weeds!

Sue Swift said...

How lovely to see your spring garden. We're still on the cusp between winter and spring here things are strirring but nothing much has happened yet ....

Carol said...

I love your nasturtiums and poppies GT! All your self seeders are lovely. Nasturtiums are great in salads for a bit of spicy flavor... and they add a beautiful touch. Speaking of touch or touching ... I am always so touched by your comments on my blog. Thank you! ;>)

wanderer said...

Excellent ! i tried growing poppies but they just did not !!

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Love self seeders as they are so easy and they always surprise you with the most tasteful colour combinations. ;-)

Nasturtiums are fun in salads, just a few flowers and leaves (tastes slightly peppery) jazz up any salad you might care to toss.

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