This flower currently holds the title of Most Exquisite in my garden. It's the lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) 'Echo Champagne'. I grew it from seed started in the heart of winter. Lisianthus is said to be difficult to raise from seed, which makes me want to think of myself as a Seed Startin' Rock Star, if it weren't for the fact that (a) I used special pelleted seed with an excellent germination rate (yielding enough to be able to share some seedlings with my lovely neighbor who shared her lovely lisianthus with me last year), and (b) I've actually had trouble growing morning glories and nasturtiums (nasturtiums!) from seed this year.
Lisianthus can be found in lush armfuls at the Farmer's Market nowabouts (Frank! I was there yesterday too!), and they are a cut-flower florist's dream, with long-lasting rose-like blooms, elegant glaucous foliage, and long thornless stems, but mine will be left where they look best, in the "white" bed next to the silver artemisia.
Newly blooming: Eupatorium maculatum 'Gateway' (Joe-Pye Weed).
Chan, my nasturtiums did wonderfully this year, but~alas! No morning glories! I thought any idiot could grow them and I have in the past but not this year. Here is the link to the site with chocolate zucchini cupcakes; scroll down to the July 27 entry: http://www.101cookbooks.com/
Posted by: avril | August 01, 2005 at 05:30 PM
Bless your heart, you grew this beauty from seed?!! Wow. I once grew geraniums from seed and ornamental grass and such but those are pretty common compared to what you have there. How beautiful. Glad I got to see this.
Posted by: Maggie Ann | August 01, 2005 at 06:22 PM
Beautiful!
I'm relieved ... I didn't have luck with nasturtiums this year, either, and thought I'd have to go back to remedial plant-starting 101.
Posted by: A. Noël | August 04, 2005 at 09:21 AM
Thanks, everyone!
Posted by: Chan S. | August 06, 2005 at 10:31 PM
The lisianthus flower is beautiful. I am interesting to buy the seed of lisianthus flower and other colour which are pure white and green as double flowers. please send me the information of the seed, growing skills and contect number in New Zealnad.
Posted by: Sook -Young , Park | April 25, 2006 at 07:39 AM