Full-blown Strawflower

Day 338: In prior years, I have grown Helichrysum (Strawflower) for drying, a process which requires picking them while they are still in the early phase of bud development. While hanging upside-down in a dry area away from bright light, the flowers continue to mature but stop before they are fully developed. The petals become crisp and papery, and can retain their colour for years. I had intended to grow enough for a dried arrangement this year, but very few of the seeds germinated, and of those, most of the seedlings died off during a spell of hot weather. This one survived, but without others to dry, I decided to let it come to maturity in the garden. I don't recall having ever seen a full-blown Helichrysum before. The disk flowers have become quite prominent as a golden-yellow mound.

Ruminating On Germinating

Day 200: Spring usually finds me digging out the seed-starting trays in mid-March, ready to plant those "8-10 weeks before last frost" species, but this year, I had decided to grow flowers for drying again, and both packets suggested planting dates merely a month in advance of when I planned to set them out. I was surprised when three or four days later, all the Strawflowers had sprouted. As soon as their first true leaves have formed, I'll be pinching out all but one or two in each cell. Soon, I'll be moving the tray outside when morning temps allow, bringing it back in at night until at least mid-May. Then I'll leave the seedlings out for a few nights to harden off before planting them in the garden where they'll be joined by the Chinese Lanterns which have yet to germinate.