Skip to main content

Sunflowers for Ukraine

Harris Seeds sent this email:

‘Sunflowers have become Ukraine’s unofficial national flower because of their prolific presence across the Ukrainian countryside.
Throughout the country’s history, the sunflower has been a symbol of peace, resilience, and warmth. However, in the last several weeks, the flower has become a symbol of unity and support for Ukrainian people worldwide.
Plant sunflowers as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people.’
Harris Seeds is offering “Sunflowers for Ukraine”, 100% of online sales will be donated to aid refugee support. 

Give this thought. Sunflowers do well here, at least they bloom, but don’t always make a harvest. They have germinated at the base of bird feeders but I suggest you give them a head start. My neighbor has a black house and she planted sunflowers on the east side, the effect was stunning. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rosemary Fitzpatrick, the Kachemak Gardener

Having arrived in Alaska May, 1972 I have had much to contend with on the gardening front.   The impetus to start gardening can be traced directly to empty grocery store shelves in 1973 due to a Teamsters strike. That was a wake up call.  The first garden was on a gravel pad in Eagle River, the second in Wasilla. That one was rounded out with two goats, a flock of chickens and our two children. The third in Homer, where we settled in 1978, is the spot where much was learned.  Starting in 1990 I have written the Kachemak Gardener in an attempt to encourage new gardeners and those of you who have tried and failed.  Stick with me, let’s get you gardening.

The Well Watered Garden

I’m thinking about bringing in the potatoes. There are only a few plants out there and the two that I’ve already pulled had truly huge tubers. The ongoing problem is storage but we will consume them ‘tout de suite’. Nothing like new potatoes.  The carrots, Bolero, are once again excelling. But they will need to be pulled sooner rather than later. The weather needs to cool off so our innovative storage solution can be implemented (please read that with your tongue firmly in your cheek). I don’t like to move plants around in the fall, I think they need more time to settle in so that task is usually carried out in the spring. But here we are ~ moving dwarf red twigged dogwoods that appeared in the perennial garden from roots that were left over from the last time we moved the original plants. There’s always something. We added them to the established three nestled in below the larch, the more the merrier.  This will be the year that more bulbs are planted under the shrubs. ...

Going to Seed

Here is something I’ve been thinking about: seed saving. I hardly ever save seeds. To me the plants are throwing their seed here and there and don’t need any help from me. But, if I were to be a little more in control, a little more selective, and a little more organized it would be a boon.   So, the thalictrum (meadow rue) is in full seed and I have been deadheading, if I don’t there will be millions of these lovelies come spring and we all know about too much of a good thing. Thalictrum seed heads are beautiful. The cutting down of them is actually painful, the loss of all that beauty at a time of year when we are savoring every single second of available loveliness seems like a crime. There have been years that I didn’t cut them, thinking the warblers would make use of the seeds. Mistake. So this year I am diligent.  But there are those of you who save seeds. Well, sure.  But when a plant sends out seeds it means that is the perfect time to get them on/in the gr...