Thursday 1 October 2009

Cosmos

This year was my first of having Cosmos, previously I had never really been interested in trying it, mainly because it’s an annual and I’m a perennial person. However, in my desperation to fill space in my garden quickly and easily I picked some seeds up and had a go…

They seemed to take a long time to get going, not helped by me taking too long to get them in the ground… Next year I’ll endeavour to plant them early on rather than wait for them to grow larger in their pots…

Soon enough they grew into huge ‘trees’! But made me wait weeks before they finally opened, teasing me with their many, many flower buds…



I don’t think I’ll be without them for a long time. Anyone wishing to fill a space quickly before waiting for a perennial to mature this is your plant.



Mine grew so huge this year, they literally are trees! They offer a great screen to stop people looking straight up my garden from the road – I had bought an elder to do this, of which hasn’t grown AT ALL since I bought it very early on in the year. So this Cosmos as been a blessing in disguise and has done the job of an elder… Can you believe it?! I do hope the Elder does something next year, they’re supposed to put in feet of growth in one season… Hmmmm, not too sure about that one!



They are adding a much needed splash of colour at this time of year, and should flower until frosts kill it off so I hope for another few weeks yet.


A wonderful summery, magical flower that you can sit and watch swaying in the breeze... Plus, the insects love it too!



16 comments:

Unknown said...

I just adore these pictures...they are so beautiful.Im going to branch out into pink cosmos next year...This year has been the year of the white cosmos. Such good value plants, don't you think?

Liz said...

:) and I'd like to have the white ones this year! As far as I'm aware I had a mixed seed packet and should've had some of the whites... I guess it's the luck of the draw that I didn't get any though...

Next year perhaps!

Excellent value plants, need very little help other than staking if you're in a windy area and just watch them grow... And grow... And then a little more... :D

Karen - An Artist's Garden said...

I adore cosmos too - although this year I neglected to sow my favorite - cosmos purity,
Lovely images
K

Nutty Gnome said...

Hi Liz - I've always been a perennials girl on account of being a bit lazy over annuals ....but having seen your fantastic cosmos, I may have to reconsider!

I wandered into here from Happy Mouffetarde's blog and I've really enjoyed reading your posts. I'm a Rotherham girl transplanted to Chesterfield who used to work in Sheffield!

Have a great weekend :)

Yoke, said...

Great pics, Liz. Wonderful idea to use them as a colourful screen, even if that was not planned as such.

Used to have Elder screening us from the road in riverside. It was already there when we moved in, so don't know how long it took to fill into proper screen from the road across the river.

Liz said...

Hi Karen,

It would seem everyone was onto the secret of Cosmos long before I was!

:D

Liz said...

Hi Liz,

Thanks for visiting my blog it's much appreciated - I've commented on yours too :)

Liz said...

Hi Yoke,

I had never expected them to get quite so large, but I certainly won't be complaining :)

We have the white Elder on the back and in the neighbour's, but this one I bought in... Oh well, I'm sure it'll put on plenty of growth for me next year...

Joanne said...

Cosmos are a fun plant to grew and like many annuals harvesting the seed allows us to have some year after year.

HappyMouffetard said...

Lovely photos. I tend to let them suffer too long in seed trays before planting them out, which means that min have only just started flowering and are rather stunted. Yours, on the other hand, are divine.

Liz said...

Hi Jo - Indeed, I do still have some seeds left from this year but no doubt I will attempt to harvest some too :)

Liz said...

Hi Mouffetard, thanks for visiting my blog :)

I think our gardening habits are very similar... Intentions are good but I tend to get confused and take too long with planting things out...

I'm shocked how large mine eventually grew, especially as they were planted in a new border where we'd dug grass up, so no doubt the soil was very compacted... Either way they seem to have loved it and some of the flowers are huge, almost like dinner plates! :)

John - Digging Earth said...

Liz,

First thinks for coming by my blog and checking it out.

Also, I understand that Cosmos attract butterflies. Did you find this to be the case? Your picture are wonderful and the flower beautiful.

John

KDilley said...

Your holga pictures are so beautiful! So perfectly 70s dreamy. I love cosmos as well. Around here if you are patient and leave them to seed the yellow finches will come around to feast, an added bonus.

ShySongbird said...

Oh dear! How did I miss commenting on this, I definitely read it on the day you posted it and have only just found I didn't comment!

Your Cosmos are beautiful. I have always loved them and my sister-in-law grows mine from seed in her greenhouse. They went in at pretty well the usual time this year but I have never known them to take so long to flower, I began to think they would remain in bud for ever.
They have never been so huge either, some are taller than me!

Anonymous said...

Wow - great photos!! Rach x