Garden Balsam

Old Fashioned Garden Balsam

Garden Balsam (Impatiens balsamina) is a native of India and is known for it's quick growth from seed to bloom. The annual blooms are slightly hidden by the dark green foliage, but both are pretty and charming. If given plenty of sun, rich soil and water it will spread out about 12 inches wide and it will grow to two foot tall. Double Camellia Mix, which is easy to locate in seed catalogs, grows to about 10 inches tall and has a double bloom which is very pretty. The stems are thick and sturdy, so they won't need support.
You will find varieties in white, pink, rose, red, orange, lavender, purple as well as combinations of colors. Start your seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost if you'd like early blooms, but they can also be direct seeded in the soil when frost has passed. Balsam transplants well, even when in bloom, which is a definite plus if you tend to plant too many and need to make room, as I have been known to do on occasion!
Though balsam has very short stemmed blooms that can't be used as traditional cut flowers, they can be cut and floated in glass bowls for a pretty summer accent. The blooms are similar to small open roses or camellias. Though the bedding impatients, available in garden centers are far more popular, I think Garden Balsam is a lovely old fashioned plant that should be added to everyone's garden.
Garden Balsam (Impatiens balsamina) is a native of India and is known for it's quick growth from seed to bloom. The annual blooms are slightly hidden by the dark green foliage, but both are pretty and charming. If given plenty of sun, rich soil and water it will spread out about 12 inches wide and it will grow to two foot tall. Double Camellia Mix, which is easy to locate in seed catalogs, grows to about 10 inches tall and has a double bloom which is very pretty. The stems are thick and sturdy, so they won't need support.
You will find varieties in white, pink, rose, red, orange, lavender, purple as well as combinations of colors. Start your seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost if you'd like early blooms, but they can also be direct seeded in the soil when frost has passed. Balsam transplants well, even when in bloom, which is a definite plus if you tend to plant too many and need to make room, as I have been known to do on occasion!
Though balsam has very short stemmed blooms that can't be used as traditional cut flowers, they can be cut and floated in glass bowls for a pretty summer accent. The blooms are similar to small open roses or camellias. Though the bedding impatients, available in garden centers are far more popular, I think Garden Balsam is a lovely old fashioned plant that should be added to everyone's garden.

You can usually find the seed in the heirloom section in the garden center or on on-line

Flower Seed Resources:-Thompson&Morgan Seeds--Nature Hills Nursery -Park Seed-Monticello Garden Shop

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/week337.shtml

Wind, Rain, and a little cold!

The nearly week of regular rains have been welcomed. Unfortunately, the cold has damaged some blooming plants such as my Asian magnolia. The winds help in clearing dead limbs and such. If you have a limb grinder you could add them to you compost for you garden.

Remember, in planning for you garden this year its important to remember the drought and don't plant too much that needs regular watering. This will save you money on wasted plants that die (like I did) or on plants that are not going to thrive.

Make your own seed starter pots!!

http://underwoodgardens.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/836
Paper PotMaker
Ingenious, environmentally friendly way to recycle newspaper into 2 1/4 in. seedling pots which hold water remarkably well and can be planted directly into the garden. Economical and easy - even a child can do it. Made of solid maple to last for years and even become an heirloom.

Wow! An early spring.

It just keeps getting warmer. The daffodils have just about bloomed out. Cherry trees are in full bloom and its only March 1st.

Wow, Is spring here?

Will all the warm weather and rain it feels like Spring.

I have already decided to not plant anything next year since Raleigh is now in stage 2 water restrictions and you cannot water anything. Not sure how I am going to handle that??

Super Warm!

Its been so warm lately that even the bananas are growing again! I suspect that by the second week of February we will have temps back in the low 20s that would even cause the Acubas to wilt!

Water Wise gardening

http://www.thewaterwisegarden.com

The above link is a great resource of information for waterwise gardening. It is an Australian website but still is a great resouce for information my plants