In my 2nd garden, I sowed a flower-meadow mixture. I knew there were calendula seeds in there, but I didn't know there were so many different ones! They range from small to large, single to double, and colours ranging from pale yellow to dark rusty orange. Can't wait to collect their seeds, so I can sow them more 'targeted' next year. Double yellow Calendula, 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden ) Yellow double Calendula, dark heart, 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden ) Orange Calendula, 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden ) Orange/brown Calendula, 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden )
Very nice. I will have to look and see if mine have variety also. I don't pay much attention to them since they come up everywhere and are a wonderful filler.
Gosh those have certainly show stopping. What a nice surprise having so many varieties and such lovely blooms.
Never knew collecting seed from these beauties was so easy: a few of the spent flowers I'd cut off had fallen in the border, and just now I found them, all ripened, dried and ready for me to pick up and store away! :-D Shame I have to wait until next year to sow them ....
Lovely Calendulas! They are also known as "pot marigolds" and have culinary, medicinal, and dying uses. Bees love them, too!
My Grandma had millions of them when I was a kid. I loved the weird fragrance I think she just crumpled the seeds back in the flower bed. Guess that depends on your area and climate
Stratsmom, now you mention it, I do have some dried flowers (shop-bought), and they do indeed smell a bit odd. The ones in garden have no particular fragrance as far as I've noticed, but maybe that's because they are in amongst other meadow flowers. Unfortunately I must now be careful how I deadhead them, because since I've started "rummaging around" in that border, I keep coming up in a rash on my arms and face. No idea which of the flowers is causing this, I hope it's not the Calendula. (I've read that, although used for medical and cosmetic purposes, it can cause an allergic reaction) These pictures give you an idea how many other flowers there are in my border besides the Calendula's. Mini wildflower-meadow in back garden. 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden ) Detail of mini-meadow, 05 July 2011 ( photo / image / picture from gardenelf's Garden )
