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Carol J. Michel

Award winner author of gardening humor books

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May Dreams Gardens

The Best Zinnias I’ve Ever Grown

August 22, 2020 By Carol Michel 12 Comments

I rescued the zinnias from the evil clutches of the weeds and for now, peace reigns in the garden.

And it is lovely.

Honestly, these are the best zinnias I’ve ever grown. 

There are zinnias in all colors, except blue and purple. I don’t think zinnias come in purple and they definitely aren’t any blue zinnias.

Some of the zinnias are over four feet tall!

And from where I’m looking, there doesn’t seem to be much powderly mildew on them.

zinnia

While I was admiring the zinnias, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail showed up and said, “Excuse me while I eat some nectar here.”

Of course I replied that I would not stand in his way of feasting a bit.

Though I did take advantage of his presence to make a video of him flitting from one zinnia to another. 

I think watching this video is a relaxing way to spend a minute and 40 seconds. Tell me I’m wrong! You can’t because you know it is relaxing to watch butterflies.

Update:  I buy lots of zinnia seeds from Renee’s Garden Seeds, Botanical Interests Seeds, and Burpee. Look for the tallest varieties which are best started from seed sown directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed in the spring. 

********

This week’s episode of The Gardenangelists offers a little Shakespeare for your garden. Just a little. We do not talk about zinnias in this episode but we do in other episodes. If you listen to one of them, you will find that I pronounce zinnias as “zeen-yahs.” I don’t know why. Just how I learned it as a kid, I guess. I’m trying to do better and say “zin-e-ahs” but I have to think about it before I say it.

********

Over on my author website, I have a separate blog where I occasionally post about writing or something non-gardeny. It has a separate RSS feed, if you are interested (sign up is at the bottom of the home page). This week, I posted about my absence from social media.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: annuals

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ginny says

    August 22, 2020 at 12:54 pm

    You say potatoes, I say potahtoes! Zeen-yahs is the way I learned to say it, too. And yours are splendid, complete with butterflies. I hope you are picking bouquets to enjoy inside!

    Reply
  2. MissPat says

    August 22, 2020 at 2:38 pm

    What variety of zinnias do you grow? I've gotten zinnia plants from the boy scouts the last two years, but they are a dwarf variety. They are pretty when they fill out, but useless for cutting because of the short stems. I guess I'll need to plant seeds (I buy lots of seeds that never seem to make it into the ground) next spring.

    Reply
    • Carol Michel says

      August 22, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      I added some info on the blog post about where I buy my zinnia seeds. Look for varieties that say they grow three to four feet or have extra long stems for cutting.

      Reply
  3. Covegirl says

    August 22, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    I learned to say zeenyahs, just like Ginny. Mine are beautiful, too!

    Reply
  4. Basil Becky says

    August 23, 2020 at 1:26 pm

    I finally have some zinnias in Brown County as well. Lots of swallowtails also but boy has it been a struggle. Becky Kirts

    Reply
  5. Frencm12 says

    August 24, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    Zinnias do come in purple. They are called purple prince zinnias.

    Reply
  6. CanadianGardenJoy says

    August 24, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    I loved thee video ! and you are so right .. RELAXING !
    My luck with zinnias is very bad .. earwigs ate them up like candy … I became very reluctant to try them again .. but you are pushing me towards the zinnia light ! LOL
    Beautiful !!

    Reply
  7. Unknown says

    August 26, 2020 at 11:30 am

    This too was my first year of enjoying beautiful zinnias! Mine too are 4 feet tall and no powdery mildew. Swallowtails are bountiful as well as the blooms!!!

    Reply
  8. Hoover Boo says

    August 28, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    Have not been able to grow impressive Zinnias–yours look great!

    Reply
  9. RobinL says

    August 30, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    Every year I find myself trying different varieties of tall zinnias. Some are loved, some are NOT. But I am enamored with Oklahoma Salmon zinnias, they make me swoon!

    Reply
  10. Arun Goyal says

    September 1, 2020 at 8:42 am

    How pretty shades of Zinnia .It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to Gardening where you can post about plants and flowers here at http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/08/garden-affair-love-for-caladiums.html

    Reply
  11. Unknown says

    September 5, 2020 at 1:58 am

    Grew the most beautiful zinnias this summer in my community garden. I had more fun filling every room in my home with these mixed beauties and sharing them with family and friends!

    Reply

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