Sunday, September 11, 2016

Tidal Wave 'Red Velour' follow-up


 In answer to some of the questions about my petunia fetish, here's another post about the 'Red Velour' Tidal Waves.  They do have the ability to transform landscaping; the picture above was taken in early May this year, Carl and I had just added a few more rocks to the driveway bed.

Same area in August: what happened to the rocks?   

 I buy almost all of my seeds from the Park Seed company, though I'm sure many are available from others such as Stokes, Burpee's, etc.  The seeds come ten to a packet for $4.50 as of 2016; I bought two packets of 'Red Velour' and two packets of 'Tidal Wave' Silver.   

The link below takes you to the catalog description:

Red Velour Tidal Wave


We put the greenhouse up the second week in April this year which was probably the latest ever, but luckily, it didn't seem to matter.  The Tidal Waves come as pelleted seed making them much easier to handle.  Regular petunia seed is exceptionally small.

  As soon as I see the microscopic leaves emerge, I'm so happy, they are absolutely miniscule at first.  

 My plants were probably a little younger than they could have been, but they grew well even with our rather dry growing season this year.
 I thought I had some pictures of the tiny petunia seedlings, but a frantic search of my epic picture stash wasn't able to turn anything up at midnight tonight. 

 I didn't get the petunia seedlings in the ground until the second week in June and anxiously waited for signs of flower buds.  I was on my way out to the mailbox two weeks later when I saw the first bud had opened.  I almost forgot about the mail in my excitement.  I know that sounds corny, but it's the truth.  

Later that same day a family stopped in for a visit and one of the five year olds wanted to 'pick some flowers' from my garden and headed straight for the lone red petunia.  

Her father scolded her and told her this wasn't a flower-picking garden.  She wanted to know (and rightly so) what kind of garden it was then?  He told her it was a flower-looking garden. At his answer, the disdain on her little face made me feel guilty, I mean, really, I could spare a few flowers for little girls, but secretly I was happy she didn't pick my lone red petunia bloom that day.  I was being selfish!

Below, it's late June and even in the harsh light, the flowers show up fairly well.  By now I had more than one bloom and the little girl could have picked quite a few if she wished.  (Just as long as she didn't pull the plant out of the ground.  Sheesh, I have so many rules, don't I?)

 By mid-July the petunias were off and running, and climbing and billowing.




 I have to admit, I'd love a red flowering miscanthus.  



Guess where I sit when I get the mail in the afternoon?  

I planted five of the 'Silver' Tidal Waves in with the 'Red Velours' for color contrast, and the other fifteen on the Pachyberm where they are also putting on a show.  


However, I admit I did plant another color this year, too...

Yes, I still have the Supertunia 'Bubblegum' in abundance too.  I know red and pink clash, but that's ok.  (Unlike 'Tidal Wave' petunias, 'Bubblegum Supertunias' are propagated vegetatively and patented, so you have to buy them as plants.) 

The Bubblegums were on the other side of the driveway. 







 


Joel took this picture of the Riverbed in June right after the Bubblegums started to grow.  The cannas were starting to emerge then, too.


Another few weeks and things are starting to change.

The last pictures were taken September 9.  (Which, incidentally, was our 38th wedding anniversary!)
 There's an urn (and a tree) in those petunias somewhere.


 The cannas turned into towering trees this year, too.

 The hyacinth bean (dolichos lablab) hasn't had any blooms this year, which is highly unusual.  I'm assuming I planted them a little too late.


 These pictures are taken with a slightly heavy heart.  In a few weeks, this entire area will be torn up to put our new septic system in.  Oh well, the pictures will give me something to remember the Way It Was.  Stay tuned for what the back garden will look like next year.  (We have NO idea.)


I also had Bubblegums in front of the house in the rocks.

And in the Formal Garden.


The days are getting shorter, the shadows are getting longer, but the petunias will continue to flower until we get our first killing frost.  They can withstand light frosts quite well.

I'll miss them when they're gone.  

But there's always next year.  :-)

13 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

WOW!!! No wonder you love these petunias, and all from just a few seeds.

Belated 38th anniversary. Lots of love and hugs and best wishes for you and Carl, FlowerLady

Karen said...

Thank you, Rainey! Love and hugs to you, too!

El Gaucho said...

I totally forgot about your big upcoming septic project, what a bummer. The blog post where you were detailing the troubles with the septic system seems like so long ago (was that last year?). It will be sad to see that lovely flower bed all torn up, but I can't wait to see what you and Carl create - it will surely be even better!

Carol said...

Love the petunias ♥ I plant them every year but mine never do as well as yours :( I think this fall I need to lay a heavy layer of compost to all of my flower beds... they aren't performing as they used too . Happy belated!!! It's sad to see summer coming to an end but I do admit to being a bit worn out from all of the work .

Karen said...

Yes, I know, it was a year ago Christmas Eve that we discovered the problem. The drain field is working perfectly, but the tank is failing, so yes, out it goes. I still don't have a definitive time table from the contractors involved, so we're playing a guessing game of when I will need to dig those big cannas out. I can see me having the excavator lift them, it would be easier, but a tad expensive.

Karen said...

Thank you, Carol! Petunias seem to love the sandy soil here, I think that's my secret. Yes, I feel the same way about summer ending; sad, but relieved, too. I don't know if I could keep going in a climate that allowed year-round gardening!

Alison said...

I've only ever grown one kind of Petunia from seed, and grew it in a pot. I like them, but it's not my favorite annual. They do look good in your garden. I love the shot of the red flower growing up into the Miscanthus. That gave me an idea for maybe growing a vine at the feet of a large clump of grass. I grow a few Clematis up into shrubs, but I like the idea of growing it so it vines up into a sturdy grass.

Garden Fancy said...

Lovely petunias! This really is the time for annuals to shine, isn't it? But always a bit bittersweet; frost gets them, and in your case, the new septic project will probably get them first. Beautiful to enjoy when we have them, like everything in Life.... Good luck with the project! -Beth

Donna@GWGT said...

My gosh is that a beautiful display of petunias. I like both the red and the pinks displays. I am amazed you got all of that by seed. I find petunia seed that self sows blooms really late here. I doubt I could plant it and get much of a showing. But If I plant a six pack, they get really large by the end of the season.

Pam's English Garden said...

I learned so much from this Karen, I actually took notes! Your petunia display is amazing. I only use them in window boxes and other containers, but am now rethinking for next year. P. x

Indie said...

It looks like a whole river of petunias! So beautiful! That is too bad that the area will have to be torn up. Thanks for all the info about growing them. I definitely think I want some petunias for the garden next summer!

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

Wow, Gorgeous! Someday...you may find me on that bench drooling over your flowers, but, don't mind me just go about your mail opening!

africanaussie said...

I started to read that post, thinking oh no! She doesnt grow the bubblegum petunias anymore.... haha I see you still do - in vast flourishes - gosh I love your garden in full bloom.