In some small way we are united by our gardens and in them, the very common geranium: red, pink, white, and versions in-between. So, when you are watering this lowest common denominator in the flower world, remember greats from Julius Caesar to Eleanor Roosevelt did the same.
AT reader and former house tour participant Kevin Beer sent us this thoughtful ode to his favourite springtime flower with a peek at what's blooming in his own backyard:
Who says geraniums are for old ladies? Everywhere you go in the world you see geraniums. That's why I like them, they're common. They're hardy and easy to grow - the leggier the better. Scraggy and tall in clay pots, this is the universal look.
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Red Geraniums make me happy.
Geraniums are the best!
I seriously had no clue that anyone even had anything against geraniums. I adore them, and "collect" them wherever I go-- if I see one I like, I snap a bit off, stick it in my purse, and then usually remember it at some point in the evening! A day or two in a glass of water, then stick it in some dirt and soon I have a new geranium (as a consequence we have like 20 varieties on our balcony..oops).
Anyway, I don't think I could ever find them old ladyish after seeing the incredibly exuberant windowboxes of red geraniums all over Italy. Dreamy.
If I had that patio I would never leave it! The lipstick-pink ones are my favorite.
The fact that these are the favorites of old ladies is exactly what I love about them. My grandmother always had pots of geraniums on her porch and she was one awesome lady.
If you're really a fan of the red geranium, try to make a trip to The Grand Hotel sometime. http://www.grandhotel.com/
White wood porches festooned with huge red geraniums all over the grounds. It's a fresh and romantic as it could possibly be.
I just planted some on my balcony railing containers! A gorgeous watermelon colour... so vibrant and lovely! And a perennial in my neck of the woods (SW BC)
When I was a kid, I hated these because they stink. When you cut them or brush up against them, it reminds me of skunk. I can admire them from a distance now.
How I remember the Italian geraniums on the terrace -- beautiful and unusual ones, too, in my step relatives' collection! They spill out of all the windows and terraces, making other flowers practically unneccessary.
The Goethe house Weimar has a circular wooden stand (in two parts) with a splendid collection in pots.
The fragrant leaved ones are to die for.
The slightly fishy smell of the common kind repels predators.
They love the moist cool air by the sea and the coastal breeze, and they don't like too much heat or moisture. I find that mine do slightly better when not allowed to get too dry, on the other hand. Especially during our torrid summers.
I love them. I planted a number of plants last summer and the sole geranium I planted is the only plant that lived. It's huge now. It just makes me happy. I think both the leaves and the flowers are beautiful. I have attempted gardening again this year and among some hardy roses, I also planted around 10 or so geraniums in hot pink, light pink, red, and a purplish shade. I never thought of them as "old lady." I don't particularly like their scent, but its not overpowering at least.
I love my geraniums! They're the only plant that I've managed to keep alive!
i *love* geraniums, and they're usually the first flower of the spring that i buy in abundance.
there are few happier sights to me than a clay pot full of red geraniums.
I cant do geraniums because they bother my allergies, but I love that bright blue wall with all of your plants. Really nice!
Growing up, I had the same bias against geraniums as noted by chusmabilly because of their less than pleasant fragrance. My mom planted them all over our front and backyard, but I'm slowly thawing out to their beauty....from afar.
i am growing white and red ones at the moment. they're beautiful and so easy to grow.
i think the white ones are particularly stunning.
With a large garden, children and trting to work from home, geraniums and Bizzie Lizzies are easy to look after and are pest resistant.
Not my first choice but for ease and cheerfulness, they are winners !
I love it 5 de Mayo everyday!