Our sub-tropical Summer can be a harsh season. Temperatures can soar, heatwaves can last for days on end, high humidity can leave one drenched in perspiration from just thinking about gardening (or any other active outside pursuit). It may be too dry with little to no rain, leaving the grass crunchy underfoot and everything gasping for a good drink, or storms will roll through in the afternoons bringing rain and cooling relief from the heat and humidity of the earlier day.
Summer's light here can be harsh too; bright, strong light that makes one squint and reach for sunglasses when just looking out the window! In the garden, that kind of light can seem to leach the colour from delicate, softly-hued flowers. So I find that it is the bold and bright colours, of blooms like these Zinnias, that seem to reflect Summer's light rather than being turned drab and lacklustre by it.
Bright pink.
Deep yellow.
Bold orange.
Milky cream.
Deep pink.
Sweet salmon.
Ruffled red.
Started as tiny seeds, and thinned out as they grew, these colourful and cheerful flowers are such a delight. I can see them from my kitchen window as I'm doing the washing up which makes me smile (the Zinnias, not the washing up;) It is amazing to me that such tiny seeds have all that vibrant colour within. Just add soil and water and sunshine!
A little bud hints at the colour within.
In bloom and so colourful!
Up close ... a native bee in the centre of a Zinnia bloom.
I love these bold and bright flowers. My tiny native bees and visiting honey bees love them and I'm sure you would love them too if you have room for some Zinnias in your Summer.
I hope you have a bright and happy weekend.
Meg
I love love love love Zinnia's! They make great cut flowers too!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! A bunch of zinnias is a beautiful thing:) Meg
DeleteAlthough we don't get much humidity in South Australia, on the days that we do, I find it to be a real energy sapper. Love zinnias too, I should try growing them, I think they would cope well with the heat here.
ReplyDeleteI just bought a packet of Zinnia seeds and sowed them as per the instructions on the seed packet. They germinated quite quickly and I had to thin them out as they grew. They have been blooming for many, many weeks now nd are a joy in a hot Summer garden. So many lovely colours! I hope you will give them a try, Pip. Meg:)
DeleteI have a few zinnias in my garden this year, but I think I need to do a mass planting, yours look lovely.
ReplyDeleteThey do look lovely in mass planting, Jan. I mixed them in with cosmos this year. Meg:)
DeleteLoving all your zinnias, I grew them last summer and just adored the amount of picking flowers I got. This summer I have grown cosmos - maybe next year I'll combine them.
ReplyDeleteThey are really great cut flowers:) I love bringing little bunches of them inside as they are so colourful and cheerful. Meg:)
DeleteI love your photos of the zinnias, Meg. They are such a cheerful flower with those vibrant colours. I haven't grown them for a while as powdery mildew was becoming a problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the colours are just glorious, Maria. I love seeing them in flower during the hottest part of the year. Meg:)
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