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Anticipation!

1/30/2019

10 Comments

 
“One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.”
                                                         ​                                       ~Henry David Thoreau
It has been a while since I gave an update on my little winter window garden. The highlight of the winter has been watching the growth of my Japanese morning glory plants! Ipomoea nil won't bloom outdoors for me because of the short season. I had pretty much accepted the fact that I would never get to see one of these beautiful flowers in person, at least so long as I lived in Maine! But then someone told me that they could be grown inside, so I decided to try it. I had just 4 Ipomoea nil 'Chocolate' seeds left from the packet I'd bought when I tried to grow them in my garden. All 4 of them germinated and have been brightening my snowy days ever since! 😁 
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These plants are sensitive to day length, so the short days of winter only make them bloom more quickly! I was actually planning to wait a while longer and then surprise everybody with a big beautiful flower, but I can't keep a secret that long. 😊 So, here are a couple of the most promising buds!
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Also, a friend recently sent me seeds for over 20 different kinds of rare Japanese morning glories! I don't have the space to grow them all at once (much as I'd like to!) but I have 3 seedlings each of 'Purple Reverse Tube', which will also have beautiful lime green leaves...
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And 'Sazanami', which has huge, purple/pink and white speckled blooms!. I love the pinkish coloring on these seedlings too! 
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In the meantime, one of my Heartsease plants has opened its first flower, just in time to hold me over! Today, as I look out on the falling snow, this little one brings to mind these lines from Emily Dickinson...
"I'm the little 'Heart's-Ease'!
​I don't care for pouting skies!"
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There is nothing like having a few little plants growing on a windowsill during the winter months. The bitter cold and barrenness outside only makes them all the more precious! 😊
10 Comments
Eliza link
1/30/2019 06:28:36 pm

These morning glories look very promising - can't wait to see them in bloom. I didn't know there were such varieties. And seeing your hearts-ease was quite cheering on this cold, winter's day.
Stay safe and warm!

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Joanna
2/4/2019 02:35:59 pm

I didn't know there were so many different varieties either! I just learned about them last fall. Many of them are unbelievably beautiful. I can't understand why they aren't offered by more seed companies!

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JanetLee
1/30/2019 09:13:58 pm

Joanne, beautiful, just beautiful!

I need to take some pictures of my lily garden. Those silly flowers are already coming up! And the onions that have wintered over are growing again. The mint is going bananas and putting out dozens of new starts.

Love it when you combine beauty and poetry. Lovely combination.

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Joanna link
1/31/2019 08:27:32 am

Oh my, it sounds like you have an early spring! That's wonderful! 😊
We have so much snow right now...I was just joking a little while ago that when it comes time to carry trays of seedlings back and forth from the greenhouse, it will be like climbing the Himalayas! LOL
I'm glad you enjoy the flower/poetry combinations. I love reading poetry and am always happy to meet someone else who appreciates it too. 😊

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Veleria
1/30/2019 11:03:33 pm

Well, I tried checking the box first and it worked. Now it has jumped inside this box but the check is still inside and the submit has the line thru it. I will try to send this and see what happens and if I get a notice. Thanks. V

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Joanna link
1/31/2019 08:32:02 am

Wow, that is very odd! Sounds to me like the computer is having a problem with the page. Once in a while ours does something crazy if it is just having a slow day. But again, I'm no expert on these matters. 😊 Hope you get this...testing, 1,2,3! 😁

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Jason link
1/31/2019 09:28:31 pm

Very cool. I remember when we visited Japan the many container gardens growing morning glory up the sides of buildings, but I didn't realize there was a Japanese morning glory.

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Joanna link
2/1/2019 08:26:21 pm

I remember you posting pictures of the morning glories in Japan...that was neat! There is even a Morning Glory festival each year in Tokyo! http://old-tokyo.info/iriya-asagao-matsuri-morning-flowers-festival/

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Veleria
2/3/2019 03:17:31 pm

I used to grow beautiful morning glories, then one day these beautiful, completely gold, beetles showed up and they stripped all the leaves. So I waited several years and tried again and back they came, ate them all. I was so sad, for I love morning glories so much.

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Joanna link
2/3/2019 08:59:46 pm

Oh no! It is always very sad and disappointing when we cannot grow a flower that we love so much. I just did a quick google search about morning glory pests and one of the first things that came up was the Tortoise Beetle, which might match your description. Have you tried growing them inside? It is so easy and they do very well in a sunny south or west facing windowsill!

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    ​I am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. ​
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