I'm envious of the garden I used to have, lovely clumps of small anemones, pasqueflowers, special irises. Where are they now? Disappeared because of all the "improvements", changes of plan, fits of boredom and ambition. I'm really regretful that garden centres seem to be getting worse and worse. It's useless visiting them with any hopes of a purchase of something particular. They will have hundreds of pots of what they want to sell, and of course endless scented candles, tea towels, dog baskets....... Book shops can get you books you want. Ask for something you want in a garden centre, and they seem to resent it and think you are showing off or something.
Artjack, good luck is all I can say. Dad and I always got them so far, and then they dampened off. We did get some information from the RHS - we understood that they wanted cold and light, but not heat, but if you get them going in a heated propagator I would be interested to hear - maybe that is where we went wrong all that time. Verdun, I think the thing about blue, is not a problem with the colour per se, but the nature of the blue. Most blue in the garden is purplish. Mecanopsis is probably nearer to green on the colour wheel, so it clashes with the other blues and purples. I think it can look unnatural, which means placing it needs careful thought. But hey, I can't even raise it, so I don't even have to think about it!! (Sour grapes!)
There you go Tracey.... I'm no expert just an avid grower and as you can tell by the section still covered on the left where all bar one have not yet germinated but this is cause I know the conditions weren't right!!!!
They are all lovely, but definitely closer to purple than mecanopsis is. Which is not to say they are not true blue, but that mecanopsis is slightly turquoisy.
Hopefully the images above will demonstrate what I mean about the colours clashing a bit!!
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I'm envious of the garden I used to have, lovely clumps of small anemones, pasqueflowers, special irises. Where are they now? Disappeared because of all the "improvements", changes of plan, fits of boredom and ambition. I'm really regretful that garden centres seem to be getting worse and worse. It's useless visiting them with any hopes of a purchase of something particular. They will have hundreds of pots of what they want to sell, and of course endless scented candles, tea towels, dog baskets....... Book shops can get you books you want. Ask for something you want in a garden centre, and they seem to resent it and think you are showing off or something.
I am envious of anyone who got to play in their garden yesterday.
Another big envy: All wonderful open/public/trust gardens you in the UK can visit!
busybee, I have some mecanopsis seeds germinating; so far they are about 8mm high
they are in a heated propagator.
But have envy of your toms being so far ahead, mine have only just been sown.
Artjack, good luck is all I can say. Dad and I always got them so far, and then they dampened off. We did get some information from the RHS - we understood that they wanted cold and light, but not heat, but if you get them going in a heated propagator I would be interested to hear - maybe that is where we went wrong all that time. Verdun, I think the thing about blue, is not a problem with the colour per se, but the nature of the blue. Most blue in the garden is purplish. Mecanopsis is probably nearer to green on the colour wheel, so it clashes with the other blues and purples. I think it can look unnatural, which means placing it needs careful thought. But hey, I can't even raise it, so I don't even have to think about it!! (Sour grapes!)
Now there's a song for the other thread Verdun, another favourite of mine
Anyway, I'm here to discuss my envy of Stacey's chilli seedlings........no show for mine yet
(Although what can I expect when Stacey is the expert 
)
There you go Tracey.... I'm no expert just an avid grower and as you can tell by the section still covered on the left where all bar one have not yet germinated but this is cause I know the conditions weren't right!!!!
They are all lovely, but definitely closer to purple than mecanopsis is. Which is not to say they are not true blue, but that mecanopsis is slightly turquoisy.
Hopefully the images above will demonstrate what I mean about the colours clashing a bit!!
I reckon put some yellow and orange with those blues and it will look fab!!!! I like clash