So sweet! I think your plant just has a darker bloom than the one I had and that your plant is also a form of D. gratianopolitanus, a very hardy species. https://www.outsidepride.com/seed/flower-seed/dianthus/dianthus-cheddar-pink.html https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=4590 With the grassy foliage of this species, which is much more evergreen than any of the dozen-or-so kinds of "grass" in our yard, (in our location/zone anyway,) I'd love to find a HUGE bag of Dianthus seeds & have a mowed area full of that instead of just weedy, worthless grasses.
https://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/bulk/dianthus.html You can get bulk packets of 1000 or 2000 seeds depending on which species you want. But the prices range from $14 to almost $70. I have considered it but I already don't have any grassy/weedy area that has to be mowed.
Good call @waretrop on that Strawberry Begonia. I have not grown one since college! (And that was a l-o-n-g time ago!). I wonder Ronni if it is growing in a microclimate zone there, nestled up against the bricks like it is. I just checked the Missouri Botanical site & it says Strawberry Begonia is hardy from zone 6-9, but zone 6 is iffy. What zone are you?
Toni, you are so lucky (or have worked really hard!) We're working on eliminating our mowed areas, not worthy of being called "lawn," but I don't know if we can ever get rid of all of it. And TY for the link.
Purple, I started in the center of the back yard in 2003 and by 2014 there was no lawn front, back or north side. The south side is still a problem, poison ivy that I will not get around so hubby sprays it.
That's awesome! Well done! If I was able to gather all of the spaces I've reclaimed from mowed areas to make into gardens over the years, and plop them where I live now, the mowed area would be gone, but moving at least once per decade has forced me to start over several times, lastly in 2014. Where I am now is the worst "dirt" I've ever seen or had. It's like concrete, and with zero fertility. I'm composting and adding as much organic matter as I can find, but it's just not very much compared to the areas that need help. I could really use about 5 dump truck loads of leaves.
Thanks!! Much appreciated. When I got home today, there were birds getting a drink & taking a bath in the elephant ear leaf bird bath that my husband made. A husband/wife cardinal couple, a bluejay & a few wrens. Moments like that make it all seem worthwhile. I totally forgot I was sweating & I think I could feel my blood pressure dropping. I waited until they were finished to get out of the car.
