Sunday, April 11, 2010

Maiden Pinks



Maiden Pink
Dianthus deltoides
(dy-AN-thus) (del-TOY-deez)
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These won’t be blooming in our area for a couple of months but I really want to learn to grow them reliably which means researching what they want for optimal growth habits. It can be frustrating when you try a plant several times and it cops out every time. To me that usually means we are not providing the right cultural conditions. From everything I have read on Dianthus culture the following two points have stuck out at me. One that it actually like a little bit of shade and two, that I have probably overwatered it in the past. I have a feeling I may be loving them to death if you what I mean.

So I will be optimistically be out there planting some again this year with high hopes of the beautiful carpet of color this flower can provide. After all if you are gardener and don’t have some optimism you might as well hang up your trowel and rake. With the new varieties of Maiden Pinks they are coming out with like this ‘Arctic Fire’ there is now more reason to try and get them to grow.

'Arctic Fire' Dianthus

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18 comments:

Ramosforest.Environment said...

No pictures just Poetry.
Luiz Ramos

Gill - That British Woman said...

I am a fan of pinks as well, remind me so much of living in Britain.

Gill in Canada

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

I love the clove fragrance of the Dianthus. I bought a new one (and have it in a container to take with me to SC) the variety is 'Rachel'. As my oldest daughter's name is Rachel, I had to buy it. Hasn't bloomed yet, but it is getting close.

DeniseinVA said...

Lovely photos of your Maiden Pinks. I think I have also loved a lot of my flowers to extinction! Your post has inspired me to keep on trying :)
Thank you for sharing and have a great week.

Pat said...

What pretty little flowers they are--great shots. I've had trouble growing them, too.

Carletta's Captures said...

I love their little ruffled edges.
I have one small mound of them that comes up in three years. I think I should learn more too. :)
Lovely images!

Kathy said...

What a lovely photo! We also called them pinks when I was growing up. I'm glad to see that name is making a comeback for this lovely little flower. I'm under the impression they do well almost anyplace where they get good water and not too terribly much heat. They even grow here in Arizona if they have a little shade.

eileeninmd said...

The maiden pinks are gorgeous, I would love to have a garden full of them.

EG CameraGirl said...

MMM. Maiden pinks have such a wonderful aroma. My problem growing them is the local rabbits think they are delicious.

Randi said...

Gorgeous shots of a favorite of mine. I have put some seeds in the soil today for the first time.

Naturegirl said...

Thank you for the hints on successful growing of Dianthus as I want to plant along my borders the light pink ones! I love the color of pinks blues and whites in a garden! Happy today!

Carolyn Ford said...

They are so pretty planted in beds. I hope you have the best garden ever with these delightful little flowers!

vincibene said...

Lovely flowers!

Anonymous said...

those are fabulous, interested the way the pistols seem to be rotating in that photo...i don't know if that's common. i really like the artic fire...gorgeous.

Judy said...

These are beautiful! The first photo, the centres of the flowers look like they have been stitched, or laced! The Arctic Fire variety really looks lovely! Hope you have better luck with them this year!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Pretty Pinks, they grow well for me, my soil is sandy and light, so they must like that.

Kala said...

Very pretty ground cover. They bloom in the summer here as well.

Digital Flower Pictures said...

Thanks for the comments. You have inspired me to try a little extra to get these babies t grow.