Dozens and dozens of blooms this pandemic year

     

At top, see some big impatiens and a Rieger Begonia.
Below are huge coleus plants.


    This year of COVID-19 put the Bakers at home, mostly, along with other Americans. In the case of this blogger, it meant WAY more annual flowers were planted. Lots and lots and lots of blooms helped to raise the spirits. 

    It has been a colorful mass. In no particular order, here's what went in the ground for the most recent growing season:

    Dinnerplate Dahlia, "Vancouver;" Lobelia; fountain grass "Fireworks;" Verbena "Quartz Purple" (four plants); Begonia "Senator IQ Mix" (three plants); purple fountain grass; succulent Creations (a perennial); Rio Dipladenia (two plants, one came indoors in an experiment to see how it goes over the winter); Silver-Nerved Fittonia and Coleus, "Royale Alligator Tears" (multiple plants).

    Also: Sunset Sedona; red Salvia (two plants); Coleus "Pink Chaos;" Caladium, three plants; Calibrachoa in red, purple and orange colors; Dahlia "Hypnotica Tequila Sunrise;" Superbena "Royale Peachy Keen;" annual grass "Prince Tut," or Cyperus Papyrus; Begonia "Solenia Velvet Red;" Wave Petunias "Bouquet Gold;" wire vine "Muehlenbeckia;" and Lamium "White Nancy" (a perennial ground cover).

    In addition: Rex Begonia "Salsa;" mounding petunia "Blueberry Muffin;" Begonia "Solenia Velvet Red;" Sun Coleus "Kingswood Torch;" Crazytunia "Spider Girl;" Aster "Days Blue;" Ornamental pepper "Chilly Chili;" Ruellia "Ragin' Cajun;" Zinnia "Lilliput Mix;" Salvia "Black and Blue;" Celosia "Amigo Mix;" Sedona Sunset; Heuchera "Spellbound," a perennial; Tuberous begonia "Rose Petticoat," also brought indoors for the winter; Tuberous begonia "Mocca Pink Shades;" Lantana "Bandana Cherry" and  Argyranthemum "Golden Butterfly."

    Not to mention: Sun Coleus "Finger Paint;" Osteospermum "White Voltage;" Coleus "Heartbreaker;" Hibiscus "Hawaiian Punch;" Rieger Begonia and Coleus "Black Dragon." I did have four impatiens, but must have forgotten to save the labels. There are also additional mum plants and I'll get some poinsettias for the holidays.

    The choice of many annuals is partly dictated by what was attacked by Japanese beetles the previous season.  That's why there are several begonia varieties, and more than a dozen plants that have colorful leaves. I love hibiscus plants but so do the darn beetles.

    This list is why I so dread pulling out all the plants in October. Yet it is being methodically done as the weather cools. 


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