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 English
Delphinium,
"Taplin's
Treasure" Close-Up
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Growing English Delphiniums,
Alaskan Style
“And
all day
long he’d a wonderful view of
geraniums(red) and delphiniums(blue).”... “How lovely he thought to be back in a bed of delphiniums(blue) and geraniums(red).” The
Doctor and the Dormouse
from When We Were Young by A.A. Milne  English
delphinium, Lucia
Sahin
Is the English delphinium, Lucia
Sahin growing
in your
garden? How about Mighty Atom, Min, or Sandpiper? At
this time of year many Alaskan gardens feature delphiniums. While these
Queens of the perennial border bring height and color they often look
leggy, have loosely arranged flower spikes flowers and are the favorite
prey of those pesky winds.
 Can delphiniums be grown that are less leggy, more
floweriferous, and
overall better plants, you betcha. Any
Alaskan who has seen the Royal Horticultural Society’s English
delphinium trial
beds at Wisley Southern England, may ask why are my delphiniums not
like that, and what about the colors? There are not just the
traditional blues and purples, there are dusky pinks with exotic names
like Lucia Sahin, delicious creams
like Sunkissed,
Sungleam, and Celebration. Even the blues look better and then there
are those rich, velvety purples with names like Summerfield
Oberon, Sentinel, and
Chelsea
Star.
  English delphinium, Lucia
Sahin English delphinium, Franjo Sahin
Admittedly the
Wisley English delphiniums trial gardens will knock any
enthusiastic
gardeners
socks
off because they are such stunning plants: Each plant has many stocky
canes that are a few inches in diameter, and unlike the sparse flower
heads seen in most Alaskan gardens, the pyramidal flower spikes are
densely covered in flowers or florets as delphinium growers call them.
 English delphinium, Lucia Sahin English delphinium, Atholl Well you don’t have to go as far as England to see drop dead gorgeous English delphiniums, but you will have to take a short drive to Girdwood, Alaska, or maybe a long flight. Alaska has many plant growing experts: There is of course the the King of the Mecanopsis, Stan the blue poppy man, the lady of the lilies, Annie Nevaldine, the Princess of the peonies, Judith Wilmarth, and now Alaska has its very own bona fide Duchess of the English delphinium, Master Gardener, Catherine Renfro. Catherine is a walking talking English delphinium promotion all by herself with delphiniums that speak volumes for growing this distinguished plant properly. Catherine’s English delphiniums are so impressive they earned a mention in the English Delphinium Society’s 2002 Yearbook entitled, ”Jewels Among the Glaciers.” Catherine’s English delphiniums are formidable plants that will bring oohs and ahs, from even the mostly seasoned Alaskan gardener. Each mature plant is about 5 feet in diameter, stocky and densely covered with flowers. What is even more impressive is that the flower spikes on Catherine’s English delphiniums are more than half the plant. The colors range from a white delphinium with a dark brown eye or ”bee” as they are sometimes called, to light blues with light or dark bees, and a brilliant cobalt blue that is just about to open.  Seeds, Space, Sun, and Soil. English Delphiniums, Page 2 © David Goodgame. Any part of this document may be reproduced or utilized in any given form or by means provided proper citation and credit are given for the work and no cost dissemination is intended. Page layout updated 1/22/06. If you are looking for a savage garden, gundam seed, or flower tattoos, you won't find them here. |