Sweet Pea Planting

I love tucking Sweet Pea stems into my mixed bouquets. In my quest to become a home florist (not really), I must have access to more flowers! So here come the Sweet Peas...

I planted Blue Celeste, Cheri Amour, Spencer Ruffled, Garden Orchids, Fire & Ice, Spencer Ruffled and Perfume Delight (wink).  

Every little pot has seed starter mix in it and will be home to a few seedlings until they are ready to transplant. I know when you read about growing Sweet Peas they talk about huge trellis or a long length of staked netting. I want you to know that if you love Sweet Peas, you can grow just a few in a dedicated pot with a few tall sticks with a twine garland to grab. It's easy and so: easy, beautiful, rewarding, prolific, fragrant, fun. Please don't be put off by the grand instructions elsewhere. If you just want some blooms for yourself, this is all you have to do.

I am growing just a few of each variety and I'll transplant them into pots all over my property. Some will have a tuteur, most will grow up a 3-bamboo tripod in a pot on the deck and some will be in the full sun in front yard by the roses. 

It has been a damp and cold Spring here east of Seattle but that means Spring and I know these Sweet Peas seeds will like it outside and sprout in no time.

 

I can't wait for this!

#sweetpeas #containergarden #delightineverydaylife

Heirloom Electric Blue Sweet Pea arrangement

As a Garden Writer, I was given the opportunity to try some of Renee's Garden seeds and I chose Heirloom Electric Blue sweet peas. Wow, am I glad that I did! I know that I love blue in dishes and fabric, but this is a whole other category!

I have deep blue hydrangeas, but these tiny wisps of blue have a lot of impact on their own.

I'm including a juice can bouquet that I posted on Instagram (@FindDelight). I like to echo the colors of the can's packaging in the flower arrangement. I call it a floral story. This one now has a touch of blue to complement the can. A match made in heaven. I hope it makes you feel, "Oh my gosh, I need to show someone."

And then go find a pretty juice or sparkling water can and make your own floral bouquet.
 

Sweet Peas in a Container Garden

This is my tuteur, exploding will Sweet Pea vines planted in a single pot on my deck. I strategically placed it near my kitchen window so I can be washing dishes and enjoying this. Even the hummingbirds can't believe it. Did you realize that you can grow Sweet Peas this way? Get to it! 

This year I planted 2 kinds of seeds, Renee's Garden "Spencer Ruffled" and Botanical Interests "Perfume Delight." They grew together and it was wonderful. Sometimes I would cut only the lavender and pink blooms for arrangements like this (below). You know how I am with unusual vases and the ability to gift someone some visual vitamins. I gave this arrangement to a friend back in July and she swooned upon receipt.

#sweetpeas #beautyofeverydaylife #gardenofdelight#flowerpower #visualvitamins bouquetaday #floralglory

Hay Bales and Sweet Peas

Today is the first day of school for those in Michigan. Though we love pumpkins, cider and fall color, its hard to believe are beautiful Summer days are behind us.  I thought I'd share this lovely photo I took of perfect round hay bales on a field edged in Sweet Peas near Harbor Springs.  On this particular day, August stretched ahead of us. Where has the time gone?

Portland: Sweet Pea Central

I am spoiled! We were invited to tour a garden in Seattle (pictures to come in a blog post soon) and I was sent home with this spectacular bouquet of Sweet Peas, fresh cut from the garden just for me.

I have only grown Sweet Peas in my garden once (why? I ask myself, why?) and the starter plant was so small I only had one vine of blooms, certainly not enough to cut. Do you remember when I wrote about it?

I have always loved Sweet Peas and I even had a Laura Ashley comforter that was covered in vines of these cherry red and lavender blue blossoms.  I distinctly remember making my bed in college and a sorority sister helped me by teaching me that "the blooms grow up the bed" as a secret to knowing which direction the pattern should be going on the bed spread. The lessons you never forget. 

I've had this bouquet blooming in our hotel room all week and it still looks beautiful!

Growing Sweet Peas

When I was in college, I had a Laura Ashley bedspread in a pattern called "Sweet Pea." 

The background was white and it had red, pink and periwinkle blossoms growing up it. My bed was so fresh and pretty - I have loved sweet peas ever since.

So this year, I bought a tiny sweet pea vine and planted it in a pot on the patio. I thought a little vertical interest would be pretty and I was hoping to enjoy some of my favorite blooms from long ago. It worked! The vine has been blooming steadily for weeks.

What took me completely by surprise? After the bloom fades, an actual pea grows! Who knew?