Ta Dah! Here is my Balloon Flower ...

Wonderful Freebie Jan its Gorgeous :)

Thanks Jacque, I'm delighted with it! Such a beautiful, vibrant colour.

Yes Jan its Colour is Super :) Its a Perennial 2 isnt it ? so itl be back again next year :)

Yes, I believe so, Jacque. I'd never heard of them before until I eventually identified my mystery plant that had appeared in this pot (first we thought it was a euphorbia, then a hydrangea, until these unusual buds appeared and I stumbled across an identical plant at B&Q and finally managed to give it a name!) So a double freebie, really, one that will come again and again, hopefully!

:)

Well done. Lovely pics :o)

oooh this really is pretty

well done on your new baby hehehe

x x x

I'm really really jealous. I bought one a month ago, it didn't like me and died. Bit of a drastic reaction I thought!

Oh Lily - has it really died or will it come again next year do you think? I was wondering whether to rescue some casualties from the B&Q bargain corner, in the hope of some new plants next year ... a lost cause maybe?

Absolutely a winner, keep it going it will spread all over your garden & be a joy. lovely for cut flowers as well. This is the only plant I let have a free will with me. Lol!!!!!

Well Jan, either way it's not coming back to life now as it's gone to the compost heap R.I.P :~((
I had one a long time ago and it didn't survive the winter but probably would if you brought it under cover. Worth the effort, they are so beautiful

its gorgeous

Thanks Dawnsaunt. Just been looking at your photos - wow, you have a big and gorgeous garden! Me and my humble little balloon flower just can't compete!

Lily - thanks for the advice about bringing in my balloon flower over winter, aw I'm getting quite protective of her, hope she appreciates it.

Aww Jan, thanks but ..... I dont have a balloon flower, lol. I've just posted a question about container planting, maybe you could help me :-))

Lovely colour...mine come up without fail even though I forget whcih pot they're in & neglect them!

Oh dear, not sure about that! I've seen your question but don't feel experienced enough to answer it! And my balloon flower was a complete but happy fluke - it must have seeded itself in an old pot. I nearly threw it away as a weed and only the fact that it was right in the middle made me stop to think it must have been something I'd planted last year! It isn't though!

Fluff, just seen your comment and it has given me hope that maybe I could rescue some of those from the bargain bin at B&Q if they haven't already gone! Things that thrive on neglect seem like the perfect plant to me!

Jan, you do make me laugh ... your balloon flower is lucky to be with us then.

It's a beauty and such a lovely colour.

thats stunning.i need one of these....lol

I've got one, Sandra but its not as big or nice as this one.
Lily, I've been crying (with laughter) at your comment, You'd have thought it would have given you some warning or filed a complaint at least?
Great blog Jan, Thanks :~))

Lovely flower Jan. Such a beautiful colour.

Now I'm feeling really inadequate! Everyone else can grow a balloon flower without even trying while mine turns up it's roots before I even have a chance to get it out of the pot. :~((. To make it even worse, even Ian the Veggie King/Flower Hater can do it. Now I'm really in a sulk!!!

lol. Don't give up Lily2. Have another go!

It really is beautiful Jan. The only freebies I get coming up from nowhere are Beech trees from the green in front of the house! Not very practical lol.

Now now Lily, perhaps you could try carrots?

Tink is right Lily...don't give up...some plants just give up the ghosy...(the ghosy? wot's that then?sorry, I've been at the gin again!)...the ghost despite our best efforts but most balloon flowers I've seen are pretty hardy.

Jan...I'm just going to put a photo on my pics of my 2 different colour ones...purely to show off you understand!!

Beautiful flower - I love the buds too. How about trying some more from seed next year, Jan? You could end up with all the different colours.

Well Ian,...hhmmm..... carrots certainly do have pretty foliage.....you never know!
Hope you enjoyed the gin Tink! I wasn't too unhappy about the balloon flower really, it was still in the pot because I had nowhere at all to put it - you know, one of those things that just jump in your trolley in the garden centre! LOL

As far as I know Lily, they don't like to be overly wet. I've killed them by overwatering before. Maybe that is what happened to yours???

I think you are right Gilli. It has been very wet and I am sometimes over concientious about watering. For this reason, I don't have much success with geraniums either. I have a friend who neglects her plants but grows fantastic geraniums! Death by kindness LOL

Well my balloon flower seems to be popular! Wagger - how do I collect seeds and what do I do with them? I've never grown anything from seed before (what a wuss I am) and am a bit nervous, but would love to give it a go!

To get the different colours you would have to buy a packet of seed - your own would come blue again - unless a friendly bee has found a different colour nearby. For collecting your own there's a lovely site at http://theseedsite.co.uk/

Hi again, I just thought I would let Lily2 know I've just put a photo of MY balloon flower up in my photos Lol

Well what can I say Ian, can't blame you for rubbing it in after your veggie disaster, maybe your veg are not so 'BIG and STRONG' after all ? Sorry couldn't resist that!! Seriously though, I do realise it was a disaster but your balloon flower is the most perfect wonderful specimen I have ever seen :~)))
A whole row of carrots though ????........now that's maybe taking it a carrot or few too far! Just the odd one or two dotted amongst the flowers just to look pretty.

Lol Lily, theres no hope for you really, Carrots arn't there to look 'pretty' they are there to EAT. Tut tut tut.
Well fairs fair, if I can rub it in that a total novice can grow Balloon flowers while yours turn to expensive compost, then I can afford to take a little bit of stick over my big, strong, softer than sh** veggies turning brown, mushy and smelly. 15 all I think ! :~))

It's a truce Ian but you still haven't told me how poor little Poppy is. You haven't killed her too have you! I think they are susceptible to mildew (well mine were anyway) :~((

Sorry Lily, I forgot. She's doing fine she is just opening a new bud as we speak but this one looks a lot darker almost purple.