This season, inspired by a 1947 article written by Vita Sackville-West, I'm growing a few blue-blooming annuals from seed.
It's been fun growing new plants. In this week's newsletter, we'll take a look at how the seeds are growing.
Growing Blue Annuals from Seed
After diving into In Your Garden, a collection of Vita Sackville-West’s articles for The Observer, I became obsessed with trying her plant recommendations that thrive in our Midwest gardens.
The first group of plants I'm growing are blue-flowering annuals. You can read her list from an April 6, 1947 article below.
"A combination of Phacelia, Nigella (love-in-the-mist), Nemophila, Asperula azurea, would give a brilliant blue effect, especially if massed in front of delphiniums."
Seedling Update
Nigella damascena
Every year, Nigella self-seeds in my garden. I grow the variety 'Miss Jeykll Blue' with an incredible baby-blue bloom.
I purchased my seeds from Select Seeds. I sowed the original plants directly into the garden in early Spring.
Nigella damascena 'Miss Jekyll Blue' in my pollinator garden
Phacelia campanularia
I was shocked when the Phacelia campanularia seedlings started blooming under the grow lights last week. I can see why Vita Sackville-West loved this plant.
She considered Phacelia campanularia one of her favorites as we read from an excerpt from a November 9, 1952 article discussing lobelia.
"Not that I have anything against lobelia in itself. Properly used, in large pools, especially the sort called Cambridge blue, it can be regarded as a beautiful annual, rivalling my favorite Phacelia campanularia, blue as a genetian or the Mediterranean sea."
Phacelia campanularia might become one of my favorite annuals too. It's easy to grow from seed and look at that color!
Phacelia campanularia blooming under my grow lights
Another view of Phacelia campanularia seedlings under grow lights
Asperula orientalis
The other plant that started blooming this week is Asperula orientalis'Cloud Nine'. A white-blooming variety of Asperula orientalis (blue woodruff). I'm still waiting for the blue-blooming variety to open.
There are big changes planned for Garden Moxie. I'll be posting an announcement next week on my YouTube channel as well as covering more details in our next newsletter.
I inspire Midwest gardeners to transform their ordinary yards into charming retreats. Through practical advice, creative ideas, and historical garden wisdom, I share ideas to inspire you to create a garden to enjoy year round.
