Seed Order

Early this morning (5:00 a.m.) I was reading Sue's blog post about ordering seeds. She mentioned a site that had free postage and  just for kicks and grins, I copy and pasted it into my URL bar.
The site is http://www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/annualsA-Z.html.


I was thrilled to find these exciting seeds (not enough to get free shipping, but the prices were quite reasonable even with shipping).

You all know how I love the unusual in flowers and how I have been trying for years (with no luck) to find something that would grow up my arbors.  When I saw this vine, I immediately added it to my cart.

JUNGLE QUEEN
Firecracker Vine Seeds (aka Spanish Flag)

Ipomoea lobata (aka Mina lobata)

This member of the morning glory family produces masses of dazzling 1.5 inch tubular flowers that mature from soft lemon yellow, through orange and deep rusty red. A plant in full bloom will never be forgotten! Incredibly showy, it deserves to be the focal point of your flower garden. Grows to 10 feet or more tall. Annual

I thought this vine was interesting. The flowers turn into beans, which I find almost as interesting as the lilacl-like flowers.

VN00031 RUBY MOON
Hyacinth Vine Seeds

Dolichos lablab

A showy climber with green and wine-colored foliage, lilac-rose blooms and shiny magenta 2-3 inch pods. Blooms and pods can used for cutting. Twining growth to 10-20 feet tall. Perfect for trellises, arbors, walls or fences. Perennial in zones 9 and 10, it can be grown as an annual everywhere.

Years ago I grew Love-lies-bleeding (red) and ever since I have been trying to find more seeds of this amazing flower. I have never seen them again in the local stores so I was thrilled to find a variety of amaranthus seeds!

All I can say about this one is GORGEOUS!

AN00006 HOT BISCUITS
Amaranthus Seeds

Amaranthus cruentus

Fast-growing, 4-5 foot tall plants produce gorgeous, 2 foot cinnamon-orange. plumes over a long summer and fall season. An outstanding cut flower, Hot Biscuits adds spice to autumn bouquets. Easy to grow.




I love the dark foliage on this one:

AN00022 OPOPEO
Amaranthus Seeds

Amaranthus hybridus

Showy spikes of rich red flowers for cutting or garden color. Dramatic bronze foliage on tall, 6-6.5 foot plants. Packet is 1/4 gram, about 325 seeds.




I only ordered the chartreuse color on this variety.  I find it weirdly interesting.

AN00378 TOWER GREEN
Amaranthus Seeds

Amaranthus cruentus

Bright chartreuse, this color is delightfully easy to blend into the garden, or flower arrangements.

I googled and found this:

The seeds are eaten as a cereal grain. They are black in the wild plant, and white in the domesticated form. They are ground into flour, popped like popcorn, cooked into a porridge, and made into a confectionery called alegría. The leaves can be cooked like spinach, and the seeds can be germinated into nutritious sprouts. While A. cruentus is no longer a staple food, it is still grown and sold as a health food.

Who knew you could eat this stuff?  I don't think I will be eating any of it, but I am eager to use them in flower arrangements. 

AN05652 GREEN TAILS
Amaranthus Seeds

Amaranthus caudatus 'Viridis'

Very similar to Love-Lies-Bleeding, but with drooping lime-green tassels which are superb cut or dried. Grows 3-5 feet tall.


I now need to find a sunny spot to grow the amaranthus. When I grew them before, I planted them against the back of the house. It was sunny against white siding and they did well. I think I may try that same spot again.
Thanks, Sue for your post that led me to finally find these seeds!

 I am now excited for my 2012 garden.  If you have had any experience with these flowers, please comment and let me know how they grew for you.