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Is it all over for the Cosmos?
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Anitra
Just Arrived
Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA (Zone 8) (Map)
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:28 am Post subject: Is it all over for the Cosmos? |
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One of the first plants we put in in the garden was a nice big (for a dwarf) Cosmos. It has bloomed prolifically for four months, but seems to be dwindling away now. Not only are there few blooms left, there aren't even many leaves left. At what point do I thank it for all its contributions and retire it to the compost bin?
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5
Posts: 4468
PlantStew: 4327 |
| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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I had to trim a few of my Cosmos back too, but they are perking up again. Maybe you could try trimming yours back too Anitra.
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Anitra
Just Arrived
Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA (Zone 8) (Map)
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:47 pm Post subject: Not much to trim, but I'll try it |
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I'll try that, Netty. There's not much left of the little lady, but we'll see...
When our two chrysanthemums stopped blooming, I transplanted them up to the far end of the garden. I've noticed that one of them has tripled in size since. Is it going to keep all that growth over winter? Will it bloom again this year, or do we have to wait until next spring?
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Sherry8
I Love Birds!
Joined: 06 Nov 2007
Location: Wisconsin...zone 4 (Map)
Posts: 931
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| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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I see we are in different areas. Here I scatter seeds from the previous year in the spring that I saved from the cosmos. I consider myself a seed scatterer, I do not bend down to plant, I just toss seeds all over my flower beds.
After they are grown and when they turn brown here, I pull them out. I do deadhead a lot but I did not see that mentioned. It is hard to do especially when they get so big and full but I try to get off as many of the seed heads as I can. This is always one of the highlights in my fall garden...colors of white, pink and purple cosmos. White is a favorite here, they seem to get larger than the others, I am speaking flower size mostly.I do like the smaller orange ones I have just started growing the last couple years.
I love these flowers because it was a favorite of my Grandmother and when I look at them, I think of her.
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Anitra
Just Arrived
Joined: 15 Aug 2007
Location: Seattle WA (Zone 8) (Map)
Posts: 38
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| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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That's what I'll end up doing then, Sherry. I did cut back the Cosmos. It just dried up dead, and I finally pulled ithe dead twigs up to feed my comoposting mania. I didn't save any seeds, unless there are some lying dormant in the ground, waiting for spring. I'm going to get some seeds, though, in the varied colors. I did like that plant.
The plants that most remind me of my own gardening grandparent (my grandfather) are the flowering weeds, like the Oxeye Daisy. Grandpa used to say that a weed was just a flower growing where it wasn;t wanted -- and if you decided that you wanted it, it instantly was not a weed. He used to pick Scotch Broom and stick it in an old mason jar, for indoot flowers. He preferred to let the flowers in the garden just grow.
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