Saturday, August 6, 2016

A Surprise In The Sweet Pea Patch

Chronica Domus
Photo: Chronica Domus


I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the sweet peas in the garden this year.  I planted them at the beginning of May, which is rather late in the season as far as these things go.  I'll admit, I was entirely bowled over by the charmingly old-fashioned illustration on the seed packet when I made my selection at The Seed Bank.  Here it is:

Chronica Domus
Photo: Chronica Domus


How exciting it would be, I thought, to grow a variety of colors from a single seed packet, and an heirloom variety at that.

As you can see, the results thus far have been rather surprising.  Pink, it seems, is the only color in sight, but what a glorious pink it is.

Chronica Domus
Early morning dew clings to a fragrant bloom
Photo: Chronica Domus


Yesterday morning I snipped all the blooms I could find to bring indoors.  I arranged them in an Anglo-Irish cut glass water jug which I placed in the drawing room, perched upon the edge of the secretary bookcase. I adore the delicate sugared almond pink hue of the blooms and, of course, their heavenly fragrance.  Nothing smells more like summer to me than sweet peas.

Chronica Domus
Photo: Chronica Domus


Perhaps the other colors which are illustrated on the seed package will rear their heads in the weeks to come but for now, I plan on enjoying these delicately hued and scrumptiously scented blooms for as long as I'm able to.  For that, I am most grateful.


Nota bene: I am neither paid nor do I receive recompense in exchange for applauding products or services within my blog.  I do so because I enjoy them.  If you are a kindred spirit, you too enjoy recommending nice things to fellow good eggs.

14 comments:

  1. Good Gracious!

    And Gracious is just the word I'd attach to such a pink, supply curved flower with the scent of Summer and the aura of weddings.

    I don't think I've ever had a bouquet of sweet-peas, though we've had them in gardens time into time---they just ARE, out there, dancing in the wind and spreading their charm around the lawn to entice bee and butterfly. A clutch-wilted bouquet presented from a child's hand and plunked into a Welch's glass is a fond memory of the sweet peas of the past, more than any regal rose or corsage.

    Simply lovely. The photo alone could serve as centerpiece.

    r

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Somehow, sweet peas and glass jars go together like bread and butter, whether it be Welch's or the milk bottles I recall from my youth.

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  2. I once went to a florist, looking to send flowers to a friend recovering from cancer surgery. By chance, I saw they had a bucket of pink sweet peas and I knew at once that a vase full of them would be perfect. My friend was so surprised and so happy with them. I love sweet peas!

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    Replies
    1. Hello slf,

      How very thoughtful of you to have sent sweet peas to your dear friend. I'm sure she not only appreciated the thought, but also their sublime beauty and their intoxicating aroma.

      Sweet peas are an essential component of my summer garden and I hope to grow them for as long as I'm able. They bring me such joy.

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  3. It's sweet pea on the brain bc I planted sweet peas too but really late - early June but I thought let's just wing it. No flowers yet but they are nearly 2 foot and as I don't have the sticks I put the pot on a ledge and letting my verandah rail do the lifting. Fingers crossed. But yours are gorgeous. Last night on gardener's world there was a sweet pea grower and you should have seen her vines! Do you have tunnel bear? you must watch on bbc for her planting method alone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fist prize to you dearest Naomi for dabbling in the cultivation of sweet peas on your veranda. I've never attempted to grow these beautiful flowers in pots but I understand there is a variety that grows into a bush as opposed to vines.

      Would so enjoy watching Gardener's World and see some episodes available on YouTube - what would we do without it?

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  4. Such a beautiful pink. I planted mine in February, which is late for my area, and the plants were large and healthy, but they didn't bloom with any sort of abundance. I think I will buy the simple seeds sold at Home Depot instead of the fancy ones I purchased at the premium nursery in our area. I always have good luck with the common kind. :-(
    xo,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Karen,

      I would imagine in your hotter climate that planting early would increase the number of blooms. I know from experience that once the heat of summer sets in, those stubborn plants just refuse to go skyward.

      I think heirloom sweet peas are not as prolific as the modern variety (not as large either) so your success with the HD seeds doesn't surprise me.

      Delete
  5. Hello CD, I guess that gardeners must become spoiled. If I planted those seeds, I would be grateful if even on color showed up. ANd such fragile-looking and perfect ones!
    --Jim

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Jim, you gave me a good chuckle, thank you.

      The most enjoyable aspect of gardening for me is one never quite knows what will pop up from the earth, no matter what efforts are made to sow this or that.

      I'm already on my second vase of these gorgeous sweet peas with no sign of any other color in sight, but I'm enjoying every last one of them.

      Delete
  6. Sweet peas remind me of my grandfather's garden. They are one of my favourite flowers. Yours are beautiful.

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    Replies
    1. What a lovely way to remember your grandfather. His garden must have been quite special.

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  7. I've never planted sweet peas but I've always wanted to, such a pretty flower. The pink is gorgeous and the smell must be so wonderful. Our garden is wilting with the incessant heat and lack of rain, these days I'm just trying to keep everything alive!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our problem is not the heat, which we see little of here during the summer, but lack of rain.

      Perhaps you should locate the bushing variety of sweet pea to grow in planters for your first attempt, and do so before the heat sets in. Far less watering required.

      Delete

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