sunflower house #2 - 2014
Well, I'm back with the Second Edition of the Sunflower House. I built it in the same location, using the framework from before, but with the added benefit of some of last year's stalks to strengthen the structure.
I also moved the doorway around to face south, since my observation was that the sunflower faces pretty much didn't turn much further than this during the day. Certainly they never made it all the way around to the west side allowing me to get a truly decent pic of the entry.
Last week I was a little worried because everything I planted had sprouted - except the sunflowers! So I planted some more. And watered like crazy since we've been having non-stop sun and 80+ degree days. Yesterday and today I see all the little sunflower seeds coming up. Whew! The other things planted are some blue flax, poppies, calendula, catchfly, scarlet runner beans, morning glories and some tithonia (Mexican sunflower, by it's common name). I'll have to thin some things out to make sure the sunflowers have the space they need, but this year I should have a full lower planting, to complement the tall stuff.
Oh, I should have added that the bigger plants you see in the pic are things which seeded themselves there: St. John's wort and wild black-eyed Susan - I thought they'd be a lovely addition, so I left them!
This post was edited by samhain10 on Sun, Jun 1, 14 at 23:16
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12 years ago- 12 years ago
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So - here we are as of June 19th. Even though the sunflowers got a later start this year than last, I see they are pretty close to the same size now - judging by the pics posted before. We have had excellent growing weather, with some wonderful rainstorms, the most recent being yesterday and last night. The volunteer St. John's wort and fleabane are opening buds now; should start seeing some of the smaller stuff blooming soon - flax, poppies, calendula, etc. Will post again...
- 12 years ago
Here's the progress on the Sunflower House. The St John's wort, scarlet runner beans, evening stock and blue flax are in full bloom. And you can see some of the sunflowers putting on some height now.
- 12 years ago
As of July 9th. It will be fine, as long as the cats don't knock everything down while they have their playtime. :)
- 12 years ago
Progress as of 7-20-14. Catchfly is blooming - that's the pink stuff. Sunflowers still have a ways to go.
- 12 years ago
1st sunflower is blooming now. Actually there are two - the other is a Lemon Queen which is around the right side, not showing in this pic. The yellow St John's wort has finished blooming, so I've sheared the tops - could possibly have another flush of flower in the fall. Also the annual blue flax is done, but I won't shear it as I plan to save as much seed as possible. Some of the morning glories are blooming now, but don't think there will be any of the Heavenly Blues. Will have to purchase new seed if I want to grow them next year. Should be seeing more sunflowers soon.
- 12 years ago
Still waiting for many of the Sunflowers, though it's clear that there won't be as many tall ones as last year. This may be because of the heavy under-planting I did of other wildflowers, though I did try to thin them as they were sprouting. The sunflowers say: "Not enough!" :)
The white mass flowering in front of the Sunflower House is a cover crop of buckwheat which was sowed after the garlic was harvested.
- 11 years ago
Pic from yesterday. There will still be more sunflowers to open, but this is probably the height of the bloom cycle. If I were to critique this 2nd year project, I'd have to say I could have neatened the appearance by mulching with straw heavily around the perimeter so that the "house" shows more clearly. Also, I didn't plant a second batch of scarlet runner beans as I had planned, and now that the first batch has set beans, it's stopped flowering. Might have to do this again next year, just to get it right...:)
- 9 years ago
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