Hardy Annuals from Higgeldy Garden

Way back in August last year, Ben from Higgeldy Garden very kindly did a Guest Post for us:

Higgeldy Garden Cornflowers

Time To Plant Hardy Annuals

I'm ashamed to say that we failed to do any sowing that early.

Furthermore, none of our Seeds have had so much as a whiff of compost yet.

I've never been great with Hardy Annuals, but I do aspire to having a Cut Flower Patch.

Last year my Asters were too short, bless 'em!

This year, I have availed myself of Ben's Hardy Annuals. Early Sowing collection at £10 with free p&p.  Ben tells me that if I let these self-seed my flower patch could last until I'm "old and wrinkly"  - I have a head start in that direction :)

They arrived yesterday and I am tickled pink with the packaging.

Some people want to see pictures and instructions on seed packets but, to be fair, these are bought online and there is (possibly more than) all you need to know on the Higgeldy site.

Besides, I know these flowers. My Grandad grew them. My Mum grew them. It seems only right that I should at least have a go.

I won't go through the whole list, I shall save that for future posts when I let you know how I'm doing with them.
Actually, whilst I'm on that subject, Ben is growing everything he sells and you can follow his progress through his Blog. I think it's a great idea... unless he makes a Pig's Ear of it all :) That said, if his sowings go wrong, what better way to advise you what not to do?
I digress...

I've said before that I find Higgeldy a "bloomin' good read" and here are some of the nuggets I have gleaned about some of the seeds I have purchased:

Larkspur -  "just the jolly job" for a cut flower.

Nigella  - "Be without this at your peril."

Gysophila - "the old wrinklies love it".

Candytuft - Ben's "Aunty Flip Flop goes loopy for it"

Ben also popped some Dahlia "Coltness" in with my order, which I eyed with mixed feelings.

My Grandad grew Dahlias for showing and I still use one of the tin baths he used to use - not for bathing in, I hasten to add!
My abiding memory of them is earwigs.
Of course, my Grandad traumatised me with tales of them going in one ear and eating their way through my brain to get out of the other ear - I wouldn't be the woman I am today if he hadn't.
I don't have a phobia, or anything drastic, I'm just not keen on them - earwigs that is, not Dahlias.
The BBC tells me that they are harmless and interesting. Harmless I will accept.

Still, Thank You Ben... and if I have nightmares I shall know who to blame :)