Happy first day of spring! I know this is a crazy time of life for most of us, full of uncertainties and fears, but I personally believe there’s nothing like spending time in nature to regain a sense of calm and remind yourself that there is still beauty and wonder to behold even in the dark times. And if we want to get really deep, I’ve also always loved the comparison of seeds needing the darkness to reveal the strength they have to claw their way up to the light and bloom anew.
SO if you’re looking for a way to get your hands in the dirt and meditate on some goodness, below I’m sharing three hardy annuals that can be directly put into the ground today* and will start growing quickly, giving you something to cheer about and look forward to!
All three can be purchased via my favorite Virginia seed company Southern Exposure Seed Exchange : their seeds have always been top quality that I can rely on germinating well AND they mail them so adorably packaged that opening the box will give you an endorphin boost before even planting the seeds.
I’ll also add that these flowers are kid friendly to plant meaning that you can’t really mess them up (aside from forgetting to water) AND extracting seeds from them to use in the future is really easy, so they’ll be witnessing and experiencing the cycle of a plant life first hand!
Alrighty, starting with my favorite…
Nigella
Nigella damascena, also known as Love in a Mist, is a flower I knew nothing about a year ago and is now a forever favorite. It has a delicate and wispy appearance that gives it an almost etherial presence when in bloom, and if left in the field, the blooms fall away to reveal unique pods that resemble a beautiful sea creature. The meaning of the Nigella flower is equally as beautiful, as it’s said to represent harmony + love and is a symbol of the love that bonds people together.
Planting Nigella couldn’t be easier because it resents transplanting and therefore requires no indoor or greenhouse germination. All you have to do is plant the tiny seeds by covering them very lightly (they do need light to germinate but some dirt keeps them from being washed away or eaten). Keep the area moist and do attempt to weed regularly as they grow. (Side story: Trust me on this one, as last year I thought my Nigella seeds hadn’t germinated and almost just haphazardly pulled up the entire row that I thought were weeds. But thankfully before I destroyed everything, I happened to notice a unique looking leaf popping up through the overgrowth and then discovered that there were seedlings there trying to grow but were being smothered by the faster growing weeds. So I quickly pulled up the weeds and within 5 days the plants took off and my love affair with the plant began. )
Please note that Nigella isn’t a cut and come again flower like zinnias and cosmos, so if you want a continual harvest, be sure to save seeds to plant again a couple more times between now and June.
Bachelor Buttons
Another hardy annual that can be preserved through drying is Centaurea, also known as Bachelor Button or cornflower. It really is as cute as a button and equally easy to grow as Nigella. Symbolically Bachelor Buttons are known to represent purity and feelings of good fortune.
The seeds should be sown directly in the garden in as early spring as possible (or can also be successfully overwintered). Once they emerge, be sure to thin out the seedlings to give them adequate space to grow. They become quite bushy at the base before revealing the delicate stems of the flowers! I’ve also learned that deer do find them to be tasty, so if you don’t have a fence, tucking them amidst some marigolds or using an all natural deer repellent around the space should help keep them safe.
Also note that these are also not cut and come again, but I’ve found that Bachelor Buttons don’t prefer extreme heat, so you may only want to do one planting of these.
Dill
I’ve loved dill as a spice my entire life, but sadly had never seen it in bloom until last year when I decided to grow it. Its firework appearance and tiny little dots of yellow left me in awe, and the fun part about this herb is that it works just as well as a cut flower as it does a garnish. Just as with Nigella and Bachelor Buttons, dill dries beautifully, so I’d recommend saving a few for fall arrangements or do gather seeds for next year’s harvest!
Hope these three suggestions give you an excuse to get your hands dirty, and I’d love for you to share progress pics if you do decide to plant! Just tag me via Instagram @liliharpflowers so I can re-share the joy of all the growing that’s happening around us!
*please note that I’m in central Virginia and am offering suggestions based on my zone, so please be sure to check the recommendations for when to plant these in your area if you’re not close by!