Naturalizing Seasonals
These are plants that self-sow every year and return without you having to replant. I make a
habit of adding some new plants or seeds every three years or so just to keep them strong. I like,
very much the natural look that they create by their random growth. Mother Nature knows just
how to place them to make them flow together.
habit of adding some new plants or seeds every three years or so just to keep them strong. I like,
very much the natural look that they create by their random growth. Mother Nature knows just
how to place them to make them flow together.
Pansies, I just heard someone say/ Not Pansies?Yes, they do come back every year as do their
cousins the Violas. You just must be sure that you do not bury their seeds. Also, you must let
them stay after they stop blooming until the seeds mature. Most people pull them up as soon as
they stop blooming. The seeds are as fine as dust so you must not kill them by working the soil
too much. Pine straw is a great mulch for such beds and it slowly turns to enriched soil.
cousins the Violas. You just must be sure that you do not bury their seeds. Also, you must let
them stay after they stop blooming until the seeds mature. Most people pull them up as soon as
they stop blooming. The seeds are as fine as dust so you must not kill them by working the soil
too much. Pine straw is a great mulch for such beds and it slowly turns to enriched soil.
Impatient is another plant that reseeds itself. I love them because they come in so many colors.
They do like sun and do not like too much water. They are easy to root. One just snips off a
stem and places it immediately in damp soil. Place the pot in a shady spot until it roots. When
you see the new plant looking "pert" you will know that roots are growing. You may also place it
a jar with water only, about a couple of inches deep to root. However, watch the roots and when
they get to be a couple of inches long, place them in damp soil. If left too long in the water, they
will rot and die. I keep a few in pots to put into the ground as soon as the cold weather is gone.
When it freezes, the plants just melt. You will see that they are a plant that has a great deal of
water in the stems. They are so nice because they start to bloom very small and bloom all
year..They do well in poor, sandy soil and do not respond well to fertilizer. They are very tender
and burn, then die. A small amount of liquid fertilizer after watering well, will help them.
Periwinkles, they are such a joy. They love our sandy, Florida soil and even will grow close to the
beaches. The salt spray does not bother them at all. Only a little water, and not too often is what
they want. You must be careful not to water too often. They reseed and you can transplant them
but must be careful to get the long tap root. Toward the end of summer, when they start to make
the small, pea-type seed pods, I place pots with soil, below the pods and let them stay until I see
the pods have opened and the seeds are gone. The next summer, they grow and I have them in
pots. Some I leave in the pots, place them around my yard or I put them into the ground . They
come also in white.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |