re: staking / delphiniums

Hi Gale,

I didn't grow delphiniums when I, too, lived in zone 6, (SE Pennsylvania)
but I've always loved them.  Up here in northern NY they are sold in pots
at the nursery, the same as veronicas, achilleas, etc.  I don't know if
they are down there now or not.  They seem to like it here and I give them
no extra attention except to protect them from rain once they are in full
bloom -- that requires staking.  I had a tall white 'Galahad' in full bloom
that was unstaked and was snapped off by the leash of a visiting puppy.
>From this I learned something new:  the beauty of delphiniums in a vase in
the house are worth the loss of a few in the garden.  To go with the broken
white bloom, I cut a few of the blue and white dels, plus another white,
added lady's mantle, baby's breath, coral bells, and foxglove (all of which
I have much more of!).  I gave that arrangement away, but since then I've
brought in a couple of the Dark Knight; their deep purple is even more
amazing inside the house, especially on a window sill, with the light
shining through.  Before this year I wouldn't have dreamed of cutting my
delphiniums.  

Those you saw in Sweden -- if they were not yet in full bloom, I suppose
they hadn't been staked?  I have relatives in Sweden and they've sent
photos of their garden; not a del in sight.

As for mine doing well (I guess,) it's certainly not my gardening skills.
They just like the cooler summers, like me.  I don't envy you that 90
degrees, but of course in your zone you can grow things that I can't.  I do
hope somebody on the list is growing delphiniums -- eventually I'm going to
have to learn more about what they like.  I understand they need
fertilizing; something I've not yet done for any plant, till this year when
we got some climbing roses.

Enjoy choosing plants for under your black walnut.  All I grew under mine
(Pennsylvania) was daffodils.  If you use astilbes, don't forget Astilbe
'Ostrich Plume' for a taller note plus beautiful form.  (That, and little
Astilbe 'Sprite' are my favorites.)

Alyce
northern NY zone 4

 -- >Wow, Alyce, I'm so jealous, writing from my zone 6, 90 degree garden.
Wish I 
>could see your delphiniums because I've never had any that good down here.  
>Royal blue with a white bee would be perfect in my garden!  (to go with the 
>orange zinnias and purple verbena)  We saw such great delphiniums in
Sweden - 
>they were as tall as me before the flower spikes came out, and about that
wide 
>with too many stems to count.  Somebody invent some like that that will grow 
>here!
>Gale Link
>TN z6

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