Sunflowers In Honor of My Gramma And The Newest Herb Addition: Mint
Dwarf Sunflower
Keep in mind, I planted these in late, the first of June. And I have been watching every day for them to start opening up and this morning, they FINALLY DID!
I know, I know, kind of silly to get so excited about them starting to bloom and open up, but I am just GIDDY with excitement! So much, that I texted a picture to my mom and husband. (It takes so little to excite me and make me happy)
My maternal grandmother LOVED sunflowers. In 1986, she had a massive stroke that left her paralyzed on one side and she would always tell me in her own post-stroke language, "that if you planted the sunflowers when the kids got out of school, they would be open and beautiful for the kids when they went back to school in the early fall". Her words stuck with me and in her honor, I planted sunflowers this year. It has been 17 years since her passing and this was my way of remembering her.
Onto the mint dilemma I have faced this year...
I have tried and tried again, but to no avail, have NOT been able to grow spearmint or mint this year. I wanted to have this herb to add to my medicinal herbal tea blends, but for some reason could never get the seeds to sprout. So yesterday after harvesting, washing and dehydrating other herbs, I broke down and went to the nursery to buy a mint plant. It saddens me, because I wanted my entire garden this year to be seeds and seedlings that I grew with my own know-how and hands.
Organic Mint
Of course before transplanting into my front yard herb garden, I snipped off a few sprigs (well more than a few) to dehydrate next and add to my selection for herbal tea.
Ah what a lovely memory of your Gran :) I have never grown sunflowers but I think I would be just as excited lol, well done Golde. Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)
Thank you! Every time I see them I think of her
A really nice tribute to your grandmother. All those smiling sunflower faces turned toward the sun. I grew sunflowers in my garden in Canada and tried here in the tropics but no go. Too hot perhaps. They grew short and spindly. The ones I grew in the north were very tall (over 9 feet) and head blooms like dinner plates.
As for the mint. Perhaps it didn't like the soil or the position in the garden. Silly I know, but moving to another local might help. Do you start the seedlings indoors? I was off to a slow start on the mint this year. I had tried something different. Organic compost in n old tire. They have now come into their own and are spreading like wildfire. I hope you can find a solution to your problem. Nothing like fresh mint tea!
Yes I love seeing them out my office window. I smile every time I see them now
Mint! It's my Achilles heal!