Garden Source

The Thyme Common, ‘Thymus vulgaris’, is a herb for cooks who don’t know which herb to use. Thyme will go with almost anything. Thyme is a very elegant, small garden shrub. Plant a hedge of thyme around your herb or vegetable garden. The small plant with 1/4 inch leaves and delicate, edible flowers, appearing in early summer, is also a lovely 12 inch landscape plant. This excellent ornamental is great in rock gardens, edging, small borders and small hedges. The use of Thyme in culinary pursuits is extensive. Thyme plays a part in many French dishes and is great with fish, poultry, vegetables, mushrooms, omelets, soups, bean and lentil casseroles, rice, and seafood chowders. Thyme is easy to grow from seed. Plant Thyme in warm, light, loose, and well drained soil. Thyme should be planted in the spring, 2 weeks after the last average frost date.

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The Bachelor Button Tall Blend, ‘Centaurea cyanus’, is a carefree annual that adds vertical interest and an array of colors to your garden. The Bachelor Button, also known as Cornflower, is drought tolerant and needs little pampering. The seed the plant drops quite readily comes back the next year to produce another crop of beautiful flowers. The Tall Blend Bachelor Button produces 1/2 to 1 inch wide flowers in colors of purple, light blue, pink, and white. They will bloom 10 to 12 weeks after seeding. The normal bloom period is 3 to 4 weeks. Bachelor Buttons prefer full sun but will withstand some shade. Average to poor dry soils will produce great flowers. Remove spent flowers to extend bloom season and flower size. Plant in early spring 1 to 2 weeks before last frost. In warm climates plant in in summer to early fall. The Bachelor Button is great for cut or dried flowers.

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The Lupine Russell Blend, ‘Lupinus ‘Russell Hybrids’, has tall flower spikes with a large range of colors that makes Lupine when planted in groups a dramatic sight. The scents of the blossoms is like honey and it is a North America native flower. It is grown as an annual in southern states. The flowers are multiple 1/2 inch wide blossoms on spikes. They come in colors of white, yellow, pink, orange, red, salmon, lavender, blue, purple, and bicolors. Lupines bloom for 2 to 4 weeks in late spring. The Russel Blend prefers full sun and relatively cool conditions so do not plant in a hot spot. They prefer well drained and slightly acidic soil. Plant in the spring after average last frost date or in late summer in warmer climates. The Russell Blend is used for cut flowers, planted in mass, or backyard plants.

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The Viola King Henry, ‘Viola cornuta’, is an old, very popular Viola that can’t be out performed by the new Viola varieties. The edible, deep violet-blue velvety flowers (with a bright yellow eye) are striking when planted with spring bulbs. In cold climates, fall planting produces fall, early winter, and spring color. Viola King Henrys bloom fall through spring in warm climates. The King Henry will overwinter in climates as cold as zone 4. Summer Viola plants tend to get ragged and stretched out and become slow blooming. Plant new King Henry Violas then and replace the old ones. Plant the King Henry Viola in normal garden soil and keep them well watered but not soggy. Place them in full sun or very light shade, because too much shade will cause the Violas to get leggy. Plant the King Henry Viola in early spring about 2 weeks before last average frost date. In warm climates plant in late summer for fall and winter blooms. They look great planted in mass as a ground cover and with bulbs. The edible flowers can be used for salads and other dishes.

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