ROMANTIC COSMOS

[Daddieo]

 

 

 

In Focus: Romantic Cosmos

 

When you think of Cosmos, you may be reminded of grandmotherly gardens from yesteryear~warm and sunny retreats with bees happily bumbling, butterflies dancing, brooks
gurgling and birds singing. Kind of like a perfect Anne of Green Gables
afternoon in the garden. In Greek, Cosmos means beauty and harmony,
which isn’t surprising,
since most Cosmos memories conjure up just those feelings.

Native to Mexico and South America, this cottage garden heirloom may often be found toward the back of a garden, where its height, bright flowers and thick tapestry of delicate, feathery fronds
can provide a desirable screen for a garden sanctuary. But Cosmos are equally at home along wooden fences, in front of old stone walls, in
vast wildflower meadows or in prized summer cutting gardens.

Direct-sow Cosmos are easy to grow

Cosmos prefers to be direct-sown in the garden after the last frost date. Plant ½” deep in well-draining soil with full sun (although it can
tolerate a bit of partial shade.) Keep them uniformly moist until the
seedlings emerge, about ten days after sowing. Once 3” tall,
transplant seedlings 9” to
24” apart in the garden. Forgiving and undemanding, mature Cosmos will
thrive in infertile or dry soil with little special attention although
they do appreciate a drink of water now and again during a dry spell.
Adored by butterflies for their sweet nectar and by wild songbirds for
their abundant seeds in the fall, Cosmos flowers profusely until the
first fall frost and may even self-seed for the future. What more could
you ask of a little flower seed?

(If you feel you must start Cosmos indoors, plant ½” deep in a good sterile seed-starting soil mixture about six to eight weeks prior to the last
frost date. Provide even moisture, strong light and good ventilation.
Be sure to harden off your plants by gradually acclimating them to
outside conditions over 10 to 14 days.)

An heirloom Early Sensation Cosmos Mixture was developed in the 1930s and bears profuse 4” to 6” flowers in bright white, pink and rose-magenta, with yellow centers and fine feathery
foliage. It grows from 3’ to 5’ tall and makes a great cut flower with
strong, long stems with good vase life. Our charming,
tubular-petaled Seashells Cosmos Mixture yields freely flowering 3” to 4” daisy-like blooms in white, pink and deep mauve, also growing 3’ to 5’ tall. A Sunshine Cosmos Mixture bestows 2 ½” semi-double daisy-like flowers in red, yellow, orange
and gold on shorter 12” to 15” stems.

Or, you may select from two new varieties. Growing from 3’ to 5’ tall, Purity Sensation Cosmos has lovely 4” to 6” pure snow-white flowers with yellow centers and thread-like foliage. A bit shorter, White Psyche Cosmos has 4” semi-double and single glistening white flowers with yellow
centers and fern-like foliage. Imagine them sparkling in abundant banks
cloaking your terrace on a moonlit summer night. They are
irresistible. After the winter we’ve had, we deserve to squeeze every
moment of warm delight out of the coming summer.