Zinnias offer a rich variety of pastels to brighten your garden. I started my zinnias from seed this year. A friend from Toastmasters gave me some Giant Zinnia seed and some Lilliput (small) Zinnias. These were seeds that she grew from heirloom plants; the varieties that produce true seed. Many hybrid seeds will not produce seeds that mimic the original flower. So it was a treat to be able to germinate these seeds.
The beauty of Zinnias is that you can cut your best blooms and create a gorgeous bouquet for your loved ones. The blooms last a long time, and they look just as attractive in an artistic vase (an expensive cut glass variety) or in a more plain vase that you would be willing to give away when you share a bouquet with a neighbor or friend. My wife Nancy keeps the bouquets at their peak by removing blooms that have lost their pizazz and by adding new ones, periodically.
The bouquet shown below highlight the wonderful variety of colors
and illustrate the interesting geometry of the bloom itself. The
symmetry in the concentric circles creates a unique artistic flair. When
you place the vase on an interesting table cloth a composition is
created which adds to the simple enjoyment you can experience, day after
day while the bloom holds up. The height of your zinnia flowers will depend greatly on the nutrients in
your soil. If you have a composted soil you can get blooms up to five feet tall. If your soil is average or
below average expect zinnias about two feet tall. Zinnias are perfect for the back row in your garden, and serve as a perfect backdrop for smaller flowers such as impatiens or snap dragons.
Zinnias will continue to bloom in the garden all summer, until the weather changes. I watered mine regularly during the dry and hot weather we had this summer. They droop easily in the heat of the day, but a little droopiness is better than over watering. They recover from 'heat stroke' quickly, so don't panic at the site of wilting leaves.
Finally, zinnias are very photogenic if you have a knack for taking pictures. They are a great subject for an 8 x 10 enlargement that you can place in a rustic frame. Add a professional touch by placing a border around the photo. If you are really creative zinnias make a great front cover on a hand-crafted greeting card. Make your own picture card by going to my web site: www.sendoutcards.com/achieveandgrow to send up to three free greeting cards. Do the walk through to learn how to create and send a real card by using this online system. It is user friendly and fairly intuitive. If you like the service let me know.
The bouquets shown above and to the left produce a wonderful festival of color. Also notice the interesting geometry of the bloom itself. The
symmetry in the concentric circles is artistic and aesthetic in its own right. When
you place the vase on an interesting table cloth a composition is
created which adds to the simple enjoyment you can experience, day after
day after day while the blooms hold up. If you have not yet grown zinnias in your garden give them a try next year. They are sure to add a new excitement to your gardening experience. See you in the Garden!
