This is why I mail order annuals

Yes, I know I can be tedious about this, but it is remarkable that whenever I am particularly impressd by a certain plants—you know, that moment when you say Oh my god, look at that thing!—they are usually annuals that I have mail ordered.


Case in point, these red nicotiana and accompanying strobilanthes (Persian Shield). I think this is a very handsome combo and both came from Select Seeds. Both are also available in local nurseries, but the mail order stuff always seems to do better; the plants are smaller but they thrive. These "red bedder" nicotiana didn't really excite me much at first, but I have actually cut them back twive already this summer and they keep on going crazy. They're a bit big for containers, but their presense in this otherwise quietly green side space adds some much-needed pizazz. The purple in the Shield is more iridescent than you can see here.

With a few exceptions, the mail order stuff is doing well: the climbing petunia, the other species nics, and, especially, the torenia. This is another plant that you'll see ordinary examples of locally, but the version I sent away for has large, ruffled flowers: quite spectacular for a normally not-so-special shade plant. I'll get some images of it up soon.

Posting will resume after a week or so.