Tivon
planted Tithonia seeds last November (2015)! (Tivon has a strong sense of humour and planting seeds at the "wrong" time appealed to his 10 year old self, of course there isn't really a "wrong" time if you are prepared to look after them. It was flowering by March 24th
and for several weeks Tivon carried his Tithonia out to the tunnel
during the day so the bees could pollinate the flowers and back to the house every evening, to protect it from the frost. (Although the bees turned out to be busy with other flowers in March/April). Then in late May it was planted in his flower bed with all the other plants he grew from seed in spring.
In January Tivon rooted through my tins of seeds and chose 10 different flowers that were noted as being good for pollinators, including more Tithonia.
Transplanting the seedlings on February 16th.
In winter/spring the kitchen counter top doubles as a potting bench and the living room doubles as a nursery!
Tivon also collected conkers last autumn, we put them in the fridge for a few months and he planted them in pots on February 16th, I've no more photos but we have several little trees in pots looking for somewhere to be planted now.
When Tivon was away orienteering I made a bamboo fence for his planting area to keep the hens from scratching up the little plants that he had raised. Here it is half made, April 29th.
Some of the plants were slightly pot bound so Tivon is teasing out the roots.
The area had been covered in long grass before being mulched with cardboard overwinter to prepare it for planting, May 24th.
A relaxed planting style!
Tivons plants, August 2nd.
The whole project, including deadheading, has all been on Tivon's own initiative, and it happened to be photographed as it's beside my planted area that I like to photograph!
(Tivon has plenty of other interests and projects that have not been recorded).
Tivon also sowed some seed direct in the gaps between his little plants, this borage was one, here being enjoyed by a honeybee.
We left undisturbed a little teasel seedling when the area was prepared, 3 bumble bees on one of its flowers. (Teasels are biennial).
Tivon's photo of one of his Tithonias with bumble bee August 2nd.
Tivon has taken a lot of "bees-on-his-flowers photos"
I wonder where he gets that from?
August 6th.
Tivon's flowers included sunflowers, malope vulcans, yellow poppy, Rudbeckia, Echium, Teasel, cornflower, cosmos and others ... but Tithonia stole the show! Sometimes one could see more than a dozen bumble bees foraging on his Tithonia flowers, so a real success.
August 18th.
The cycle continues, Saving seeds of the yellow poppy, October 7th.
Tivon also collected Foxglove seeds from plants around the garden and sowed them directly for flowering next year.
It's not all planting in the garden! This is trampoline yoga! October 10th.
