We might break a record high temperature for today. I don’t think that’s good–we need snow!–but I’m trying to be optimistic and enjoy the warm weather. It does allow me to get things done outside that I wouldn’t be able to do in a snowstorm. One of those things is planting seeds of hardy annuals in the garden . From now until late spring is prime time for sowing seeds of California poppies, bachelor buttons, and larkspur directly into your flower garden or prairie wildflower area. These are plants that like a cool moist soil for germination, and that can take hot dry summers without wilting.
I love California poppies. If you can get them started in a part of your yard where you don’t irrigate, you can have flowers all summer without dragging a hose to them. Getting them started is a little tricky, though. They germinate in California after the winter rainy season. You’ve probably noticed that Colorado doesn’t have a winter rainy season….
In years past I’ve tried to plant them before a spring snowstorm, but the last few winters that hasn’t worked. I think we’ve had too many dry days in between snows. So this year I’m planting them earlier and covering the seeds with a light layer of gravel. Here’s a picture of a California poppies in our no-water garden a few years back. They bloomed from June to October!
That picture was taken in June. The one below is from October.
If you allow them, they’ll reseed and come back year after year. One summer I decided I had too many of them and ripped them all out. I’ll never do that again! I’ve been trying ever since to get them to colonize this area. There is no annual flower more drought tolerant once established. They come in other colors, too, a creamy white, many shades of pink, and an orange red that is really vibrant.
We may grow some in four-packs to sell in the nursery this spring. Most poppies are persnickety about being transplanted, and California poppies are, too. Still, if you’re careful you can transplant them and then let them seed themselves into your garden for next year. You’ll notice that the direct seeded ones are more drought tolerant than those that are transplanted. Whether you plant seeds or young plants, include some of these rewarding annuals in your garden this year. You’ll be happy you did.
