Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Learning Plant Names

One thing I have learned this year is that it is very important to label the things you plant and learn their names.  I thought if you wanted to plant squash, you go buy some squash seeds and that was it.  I felt pretty dumb going into the co-op and asking for squash seeds and being asked what kind?  Uh, the yellow squash.  Well there is summer squash, crook neck....not to mention all the other kinds that are NOT yellow.  Oh I have so much to learn! 

I got some herb packets and in a little spot right next to my house we planted some chives.  At least I think I remember it was chives ha!  They have grown and taken over.

But for some reason I was expecting them to look like the long skinny green onions you buy out of the grocery store.  I kept thinking weeds were taking over and I needed to pull them.
I have done an internet search and can't find any chives that look like this.  Maybe they are weeds?
Maybe I just got it mixed up, maybe I really didn't plant chives, but I'm pretty sure we planted the chives packet here.  Maybe they put the wrong seeds in the packet?
This makes me feel really dumb, but you can guarantee next year, I am going to be relentless with labeling and checking things twice.

Now I'm off to find out the correct name for this plant.  I bought it at the nursery this summer.  It was small and pitiful and I really thought it was going to die at one point.  It has taken off and it even produced a tiny little purple flower.  It is so pretty with its green and pink speckled leaves.

This post is linked to the Homestead Revival Barn Hop

3 comments:

  1. Hmmm. I'm afraid I don't know what it is either, but you're right; it doesn't look at all like chives! At least it's pretty and healthy looking ;-)

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  2. The pink one looks like it could be a polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya). I grew these in between my hostas and out around our little garden pond. I had to pinch them back because they can tend to get leggy.

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  3. Thanks for the comment Jacinda! They are still growing! LOL Kathy-I looked that up and you are exactly right, thank you!

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