Foxglove Seedlings
I love, love, love foxgloves. They are one of the classic, top ten cottage flowers, in my book. I've had them in all of my gardens, including the entry garden at Valentine Cottage.
Naturally I brought some with me to Pear Tree Cottage. They didn't bloom well, probably the transplanting, and I didn't think about them again until the other day when I was outside and noticed a green haze around each plant.
Guess what I found?
Seedlings!
Hundreds upon hundreds of foxglove seedlings.
I am SO happy! I'm sure I won't have room for them all, but I certainly won't be lacking in foxgloves. I've never had such good luck with anything self-sowing before. I'm so excited! I hope some of them come up purple like the ones I had before.
What about you? What are your best self-sowers?
Comments (21)
I love foxgloves too. I have grown some white ones this year which should flower next year - Alba and also some called Elsie Kelsey which look like they are going to be a pale mauve with dark mauve spots.
Posted by Helen - patientgardener | November 9, 2008 1:12 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 01:12
I love foxgloves but seem unable to grow them. What's your secret? I particularly like those lavendar colored ones of yours. The ones I planted year before last were very similar. I am going to try again next spring!
Linda
Posted by Linda | November 9, 2008 2:57 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 02:57
Marigolds, vinca, basil, and a vine I can't for the life of me recall the name of at this moment, but it is beautiful, are all good self-sowers in my gardens. But I would love to have foxgloves! Please tell me when to plant and where - seeds or transplants? Thanks for the great pictures!
Posted by Kaye | November 9, 2008 3:14 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 03:14
Living in Northern Virginia, I think the winters are cold enough that I don't have a lot of success with plants self seeding. Occasionally, a Cut and Come Again zinnia will come back, and this year a cleome re-seeded itself. One year a few cosmos plants came back, and that's about it for the annuals.
I would be doing the HAPPY DANCE if I ever saw that many seedlings in my garden! Congrats.
Posted by Gigi | November 9, 2008 7:03 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 07:03
Those are one of my favorite flowers too! I love most of the old fashioned cottage flowers. I have one floxglove that re-seeded itself into a container! It comes back every year now for the past 3 years, but only in this pot!! Isn't that odd? I usually have to buy one a year and just treat it as an annual in my cottage garden. So I'm so envious of all your little seedlings!
Manuela
Posted by The pleasures of homemaking | November 9, 2008 7:22 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 07:22
I've found that daisies are excellent self-seeders--sometimes too excellent. I also have luck with coreopsis and dill. I've never tried growing foxgloves but they are certainly beautiful.
Posted by Ruby Louise | November 9, 2008 7:27 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 07:27
Foxgloves are part of my garden, too. For self-seeding, my best luck has been with cosmos. I planted one package 7 summers ago when we moved into this house and haven't had to purchase any since! They sprout up everywhere and I just transplant them to where I want them, and pull out the ones I don't want. Easy and beautiful.
Lorrie
Posted by Lorrie | November 9, 2008 7:42 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 07:42
I have the best luck with Daisies, Cosmos, and Gypsophelia.
Posted by Jeanette | November 9, 2008 8:38 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 08:38
Foxgloves are fave of mine too! Around here they are our winter flower and they do best in January. I always get excited when I find new volunteers coming up.
I've got a photo over at Flickr that I think you'll like.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosehavencottage/3010185876/
If you want a digital copy for your desktop just let me know and I'll send it to you.
Posted by Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage | November 9, 2008 3:55 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 15:55
My garden is only a few years old, and I haven't had any self-sowers yet. I garden a lot in containers too. But I bought a foxglove plant a few months ago. And I just adore it. Have to keep it up in a pot away from the dogs. But the deep purple blooms are just spectacular!
Brenda
Posted by Brenda Kula | November 9, 2008 4:34 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 16:34
I don't know why, but I subscribed to your feed forever ago. But for some reason, haven't been getting any. I just saw you on someone's twitter and came on over. Lo and behold, I have been missing out on some great posts.
I am re-subscribing to your blog feed and following you on twitter now:) Love your tips and inspiration!
Posted by Melissa Lewis - Off The Wall | November 9, 2008 5:57 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 17:57
Angela,
Congratulations on the foxgloves. I love self-sowers too, and foxglover are some of my best. I find that self-seeders often take a little while to get established, but once they are, you'll have them forever. Here's a post about many of the self-seeders throughout my garden:
http://heirloomgardener.blogspot.com/2008/02/volunteers-hardy-annual-and-biennial.html
-Heirloom Gardener
Posted by Heirloom Gardener | November 9, 2008 8:57 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 20:57
I get several self-seeded foxgloves each year, and most of them survive the winter, but I've never gotten as many as you have! I get one or two hollyhocks each year, from seeds that came from my grandmother's house at least 20 years ago. My best self-sower is rose campion. They're everywhere. Everywhere!
Posted by Thirkellgirl | November 10, 2008 5:16 AM
Posted on November 10, 2008 05:16
Foxgloves always look like something out of a fairy tale to me. They're so pretty. I've never tried to grow them myself, though.
Posted by Julia @ Hooked on Houses | November 10, 2008 6:35 AM
Posted on November 10, 2008 06:35
Wishing you lots of flowers, Angela!
Posted by Anonymous | November 10, 2008 4:34 PM
Posted on November 10, 2008 16:34
Congrats on your success! We just moved to Berlin, and while I have always dreamed of a garden, we only have a few little herb pots in the window. I will have to live through your beautiful garden. I found you through Hooked on H. So glad I did. Your work is beautiful!
Katie
Posted by Katie | November 11, 2008 1:21 AM
Posted on November 11, 2008 01:21
I love foxgloves too...the bad thing is that they are biennials so you won't get blooms this coming season, it takes 2 years for those little rascals to bloom!
I don't have any luck with them at all but I try every year!LOL
Posted by cindy~my romantic home | November 11, 2008 4:32 PM
Posted on November 11, 2008 16:32
I love foxgloves too...in Sweden Digitalis or Thimblesflowers. I adore the white ones...and they grow allover my garden. I also love hollyhocks...and they are goood self-sowers too...like aqvilegia...and like a lots of the old granny flowers... It´s difficult to translate the names. I wish me a flowerstranslater... :)
I wish you a nice and lovely weekend - love Annie
Posted by Annie ~ Annalunda | November 14, 2008 11:58 AM
Posted on November 14, 2008 11:58
I wish Foxgloves were easier to sow & grow here. They only work in partial shade in my garden due to the heat, and I've never had luck with seeds. However, you make me want to go buy a packet. BTW, the remodeling looks grand.~~Dee
Posted by Dee/reddirtramblings | November 17, 2008 12:18 PM
Posted on November 17, 2008 12:18
I love foxgloves too but my best self seeders are forget me nots,hundreds of them-pretty in bloom but then I pull them all out.You have a nice blog.
Take care,
Carolyn
Posted by Anonymous | November 18, 2008 6:31 PM
Posted on November 18, 2008 18:31
Angela,
That's neat! I also adore foxgloves but haven't planted them because I'm worried about the toxicity. I have three little boys. Maybe I should look it up.
Karen
Posted by Karen | November 23, 2008 9:16 PM
Posted on November 23, 2008 21:16