Every year it is always a surprise seeing what the bees have cross-pollinated for my viewing pleasure. Of course I leave some plants where they are, but I pull-up quite a few as well. I did not want to photograph and post all of the varieties, but I couldn't let a season go by without featuring a few. The pink and white one is perhaps the most common. One of the most impressive ones to me is this pure white one (double). It really does stand out when you see it in person--somehow photographing it gives a somewhat subdued impression to me. These solid purple ones are not that common anymore for some reason. One form of the purple and white one looks sort of nice with its mottled colour pattern. This hard purple with white internal petals is a known sort, I believe and is not the result of cross-pollination in my garden. What is of interest to me is one with similar colours, but in a double presentation. Finally a variation of that last one--notice that the gradient pattern of the inner petals are of a more purple colour than the preceding one which I find to have a somewhat reddish quality to them. A directly frontal foto demonstrates the difference in the colour pattern from this angle too. Well, I have the sort of messy habit of letting these plants stay and grow for at least one season wherever they pop up. It's just that surprise factor that I was talking about, plus...I just simply like the plant.
I don't have as many colours as you have but I do sooo love aquilegias!! I have the deep blue and white one which I've totally fallen in love with. :-D
You've got a wide variety of them. I'm like you, leave them to see which colours I get. I frequently remove them after blooming if they're similar to ones we've already got.
EILEEN--Yes, they are lovely things, aren't they. You may not have many different colours now, but just wait--the birds will help you out there. NETTY--Thanks so much. You are welcome, FRANK--I like the delicateness of them too. DROOPY--I remove the extras and ones that I don't like too. I have to tie a little bow of string around the stems of some of them as there have been folks coming by that wanted seeds.
Pretty Pretty Pretty :-D I like them too. I have several this year that have just popped up (I love it when that happens) I didn't plant a single one A few years ago PianoLady Julie sent me some of her wild red columbine seeds. I finally have those this year :-D I don't know if I can pull out the ugly ones :-? I mean, they chose to live with me and we all need somebody....
Hi Sjoerd, a lovely display of Aquilegia,..i particularly fancy the doubles,..so far none in my garden,..you also have some coloured ones i don't have,..but as mine have gone through colour changes in two seasons anything can happen.
Why, thanks very much, CHERYL--I wish you could too, they honestly do look even better in person. They are such delicately formed little things. Thanks Mrs. D--Yes, that really IS nice when they just pop up, whether from bird or wind. I know what you mean about it being a bit difficult to pull them out. I really have to be strong to do that...or if they appear in the veggie plots, then I don't thik twice about it. Thank you PHILIP--I like those doubles too. They are just so fancy-looking. You are too right when you say that anything can happen...it's what I like most about this plant.
Of all the flowers to have in your garden that will surprise you,..its got to be Aquilegia!,..for example,..last year i had a white Aquilegia,..and a pink Aquilegia,..this year through cross pollination up pops a pink petal and white Aquilegia,..what will nature surprise me with next year,..or later this summer??.
Glad that you liked seeing those, JERRY and STRATSMOM--Those purple ones are quite nice to see ands as time goes by, I am hoping that they will cross with some of the others as well....and, I sometimes get "blow-ins"...then one REALLY doesn't know what what to expect. Continued good luck with your Aki's--You are right, they really are the most surprizing, with the exception of the hollyhock. My hollyhocks cross-breed too and I get a nice surprize with them as well. The hollyhocks are now in bud and I expect flowers the last of juni or july. I'm looking forward to those now.
Well, I'm inspired. I went and bought a packet of "MCKANNA'S giants mixed colors" for a bed with only a hemlock in it. so maybe I'll see some flowers in it next summer. I also saw a neighbors foxglove in her flower bed so I bought a packet of those for the bed also.
