Monday, December 1, 2008

What are these???


In late October I bought a basket at Lowe's of mixed fall plants. It included a mum, a dianthus, a croton, a very small purple fountain grass--and this hot pink plant. What IS this??

I tried to get a close up of the foliage. It's a grayish green- you know like lavender. It's still in the basket although everything else but the dianthus is gone.



The flowers are really pretty, but I was very surprised to find that they also have a wonderful fragrance! The tag in the basket was lots of help--it said "mixed fall." What ARE these beautiful flowers that smell so good--and what do I do with them now?

On a planting note: between baking pies and cooking a turkey on Wednesday I managed to plant tulips, daffodils and a few hyacinths. So far the squirrels have only
dug up 3!

Happy December everyone!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It might be Stock which is an annual in my zone 7b garden.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I've seen the squirrels lately. But hopefully they don't dig up my bulbs. It's not like I've planted a lot. Just narcissus. But I got them from a fellow blogger, and they're rather special to me!
Brenda

Susie said...

I'm with Racquel, it's stock! It's an annual in my zone 8 as well. It does well here in spring and fall. I love it's wonderful fragrance.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Raquel and Susie--so if it's an annual there is no need for me to plant it somewhere? Right now it is still in the basket. Should I try and overwinter it? Thanks for the help! :)

Brenda--oh these pesky squirrels! I need to put out more red pepper and see if that will help. And..now I have a raccoon getting into everything (including trying his luck (not!) in the pond) I want my birds back! :)

Susie said...

Meadowview I don't have a lot of experience with this plant. I know it does tolerate the cold pretty good but at some temperature(sorry I don't know what temp)the cold will kill it. I couldn't advise you on over-wintering it. I think it would be up to you if you want to take the time to plant it. Looks like it is doing good in the basket.

tina said...

No idea what it is so I am glad the other commenters could ID it for you! And great it has a fragrance!

Nola said...

I love tulips but never have any luck with them. What variety did you plant? I love red tulips and yellow daffs together!

marmee said...

it looks like stock to me, too! well enjoy it , it sure looks great.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Thanks Susie--I may just leave it and see what happens.


Tina, I've heard of stock-but I have never seen it and had no idea it smelled so good. It's so fun to come across a new plant!


Nola-I think tulips are hard to grow here-that's why I do not plant them very often. I put them in the frig to chill for about 6-8 weeks. I planted red, yellow and a package of mixed colors along the flagstone path. Mixed in yellow daffodils and 8 purple hyacinths. IF they all bloom, it should be pretty. IF!!! :)


Marmee--hi! Hope you had a good Thanksgiving! Stock it is--I knew you all would know! :) I think I will put the basket out back and just see if it survives.

Anonymous said...

You could try saving seed from it and I would let it go to seed as well. The fragrance is a wonderful spicy scent that I just love!

Cindy, MCOK said...

Linda, it's definitely Stock, one of my favorite cool season annuals. The fragrance is just wonderful, I agree. I don't know how hardy it is. I'm thinking the nurseries here usually offer it as more in late winter, early spring.

Meadowview Thymes said...

Thanks for the information Racquel and Cindy. I moved it to the back, but instead of worrying about keeping it through winter, I think I will just look for more in spring--plus try and harvest some seeds!