The showers are only lightly falling now so I went outside and inspected the garden. I wish I hadn’t. As I took steps across the grass, I could feel myself sinking into the sodden ground. That’s enough, I thought, go back inside and focus on pretty things.
So, I’m going to write about polyanthus instead. They have the most cheerful flowers (second to only violas, in my opinion) and bloom from July for three-four months. And the colours!
Polyanthus are perennials in my part of the world. After the air and soil warm up after winter, they die back and I forget they are in the garden until they start sprouting their crinkled leaves again the following winter. It’s a happy time, knowing they will bloom once again.
A couple of weeks ago, I planted two punnets of seedlings and they have settled into the garden beds. They do like regular watering (no problems with that here at present) otherwise they will wilt. I’ll give them some liquid fertiliser soon and, once the flowering starts, I’ll regularly deadhead the spent flowers and leaves.
Polyanthus are great as potted plants, too. I’ve even kept one indoors in a pot on my desk for a while so I can admire its blooms closeup. Isn’t it pretty?
Polyanthus are often sold in garden centres as ‘bloomers’ and treated like annuals. I’ll be treating myself to a few more of these well-developed plants to enjoy while I wait for my seedlings to flower. That will be after the rain stops, of course, and I can escape to my favourite local nursery.