Thursday, August 11, 2011

Shall I show you my favorite Sweet Peas?




I love all Sweet Peas, especially the old fashioned odoratus type.
The kind that make you swoon.



Their fragrance is intoxicating, the name is 'Mollie Rilestone'. 
In a group or by itself, my favorite Sweet Pea of them all.




'Wiltshire Ripples' is a must have.
Martha Stewart made a special trip to England every year so she could have 'Ripples' growing in her garden.





Of all odoratus Sweet Peas, 'Chatsworth  Blue'  has the most intense perfume.






You will find all of the above and many more at Thompson & Morgan Seeds







Gina





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40 comments:

  1. Lana Kim White AustinAugust 11, 2011 at 6:29 AM

    Your Sweet Peas look stunning...I wish I could smell them through the computer screen!

    And your tiles that you must now share with a client are beautiful!!

    The bike story, though...wow!!! I was an orphan until miraculously adopted at age 6 & I have nothing as a child.

    It's certainly changed how I see the world/want to help others.

    I took tons of painted pottery photos for you at the Arezzo Antique Market. I'll put them up soon.

    When are you coming in September? I can't believe that I'm going to miss you being here by so little....Tom's parents are coming the first few days of Sept for a week & we're moving back on base and then fly home mid Sept.

    I went to the Museo di Mediavale in Arezzo *(you can get a great combo ticket price there & w/ San Francesco & see the gorgeous frescoes) & I wish they would've let me take photos...they had one of the most extensive pottery collections in all of Italy, if not hte world.
    The plates with the mythological scenes were amazing! I highly recommend it.

    ALSO: Are you spending the night in Arezzo? We stayed at the most fabulous apartment a mere 10 steps from Piazza Grande that I highly recommend.

    I also have a truly great restaurant recommendation if you're looking for one!!!

    Thanks so much for your kind words on my blog!

    Hugs/blessings,
    Lana

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  2. GinaAugust 11, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    Dear Lana, We arrive in Paris on the 20th of September and make our way down to Italy by the end of September. Will most likely only spend one night in Arezzo on our way to Deruta to see my friends at the Scuola d' Arte.
    Yes, I would like your recommendations, please. So glad you told me about the Museum. Did not realize that they had such a large collection of pottery. Hope they have a few books for sale.
    I'm so excited about the pictures you have taken at the Arezzo market. Can't wait to see them.
    Sorry that we will miss you...would have been fun. Cheers, Gina

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  3. Barbara F.August 11, 2011 at 7:59 AM

    Oh Gina, I am not "eavesdropping" but I am so happy you are going to Italia!!! I cannot wait to hear about your trip (which will be quite fabulous, I am positive) and to see your fabulous photos (which need to be put in a book). xo,

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  4. GinaAugust 11, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Hi Barbara, That's what blogging is all about. Comments are just as interesting as blogs. We go to Europe every year...that is our reward for working so hard during the rest of the year.
    Your Ram tile is cooling, keeping my fingers crossed...may be in the mail to you today.
    Cheers, Gina

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  5. MaryAugust 11, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I've been to Deruta - I planned our Italy trip around my desire to see it!
    I have been searching the internet for the lathyrus odoratus in Chatsworth Blue - but I only come up with Chatsworth and the description is only a pale lavendar... Are you absolutely sure your gorgeous blue sweet peas have blue in their name? Even your recommeded site didn't have it.
    Perhaps you have photoshopped the color???
    Mary in Oregon

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  6. GinaAugust 11, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Hi Mary, Thompson and Morgan used to call it Chatsworth Blue. The color you see is identical to what I see growing outside in the sun. The tops are a little lighter but the remaining flowers are a wonderful darker blue. It is the scent of this wonderful blue that I love. Thank you for your visit.

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  7. hopflowerAugust 11, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    No, I am afraid Martha Stewart did not make a trip to England each year for the Ripples. She first saw them there, and then bought them through Thompson and Morgan Seeds Catalogue.

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  8. GinaAugust 11, 2011 at 5:29 PM

    Hi Hopflower, Her daughter told this story many years ago. Her daughter mentioned that it was funny that Martha would use "Ripples" as an excuse to make a trip overseas. No doubt Martha now has someone order seeds from Thompson and Morgan just as I do. The seed company now has a representative here in the United States. Something they did not have when I first ordered seeds from them.

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  9. rosekraftAugust 11, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    Hi Gina:
    Your sweet pea photos are so exquisite.
    Unfortunately we do not get enough summer heat here in San Francisco for sweet peas to really thrive - they tend to mildew because of the fog.
    We both did fragrant flower posts this week (I'm the butter yellow lily three rows above you in Show and Tell).
    Best,
    Rose

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  10. a quiet lifeAugust 12, 2011 at 7:56 AM

    my very favorite flower...

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  11. MaryAugust 12, 2011 at 9:42 AM

    Well, Gina, thanks you so much for clearing up my concerns about buying those sexy blue and obviously very fragrant chatsworth blue odoratus!
    I will make a note to myself to buy those seeds to plant next year! My Mother always had a mix of sweet peas growing in our backyard during my childhood; they will be a reminder of those halycon days!

    Mary in Oregon

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  12. andrea@townandprairieAugust 12, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    Those flowers are very exotic looking and drop dead GORGEOUS! Andrea @ townandprairie

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  13. GinaAugust 13, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    Hello Rose, Your photos of your butter yellow lilies are beautiful. Nature has a lot to say about what flowers we can grow. I love roses but need to replace them every year because of our cold winters. So we learn that we can't have everything.

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  14. GinaAugust 13, 2011 at 7:08 AM

    Hi Blue Moon, I don't blame you, Sweet Peas are very special.

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  15. GinaAugust 13, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    Hi Mary, If nothing else you will be very impressed with the perfume of Chatsworth. Give them a try next year, you won't be disappointed.

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  16. GinaAugust 13, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    Hi Andrea, I love the 'drop dead GORGEOUS' part...and you are right. Thanks for your visit. Please stop by again.

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  17. Twyla and LindseyAugust 13, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Your sweet pea's are so pretty! Lovely photos! Happy Pink Saturday! Twyla

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  18. Chubskulit RoseAugust 13, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Such a pretty pink!

    My Pink Saturday post, have a great weekend!

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  19. LVAugust 13, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    A beautiful sweet pea of a post. All your photos are very stunning. Great job.

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  20. GinaAugust 14, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    Hi Twyla, Thank you for your visit and thank you for noticing my Sweet Peas.

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  21. GinaAugust 14, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    Hi chubskulit, Molly Rilestone is a most perfect Sweet Pea. I'm glad you also like it.

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  22. GinaAugust 14, 2011 at 8:48 AM

    Hello LV, How sweet of you to give me such a wonderful compliment. Thank you for your visit.

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  23. NancyAugust 14, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    I love sweet peas, too. But often my seeds don't come up. This year I had two plants come up and then one bloom. You must have a secret. Nancy

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  24. PondsideAugust 14, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    I love sweet peas, but didn't grow any this year. A friend brought me a bouquet that filled the kitchen with the most wonderful perfume. Thank you for the names of the special Sweet Peas you showed.

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  25. eileeninmdAugust 15, 2011 at 3:03 AM

    WOW, they are all beautiful. The colors so pretty and way too hard to pick a favorite. I love them all. Your photos and mosaic are beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful week.

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  26. black eyed susans kitchenAugust 15, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Stunning sweetpea photos...I don't think I have ever seen so many colors...just beautiful!

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  27. BeverlyAugust 15, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    These are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the contact location.

    Thank you for participating in this very special Pink Saturday. I hope your visitors will come over to comment and help us to raise more money for the next Miracle Makeover. The good news is that you can leave a comment each day through the 18th, and each comment earns $1.00. So, please come comment again and again.

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  28. GinaAugust 16, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Hi Nanacy, A good friend (Steven) taught me this trick. Place your Sweet Pea seeds in a plastic baggy, in between wet paper towels. Keep inside house, somewhere by a window. Your seeds will soon sprout. THEN and only then plant them into the ground. Do this very early in the Spring, about the end of March or early April in our climate (Zone 3-4).

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  29. GinaAugust 16, 2011 at 6:24 AM

    Hi Pondside, There is always next year. Try my trick of sprouting the seeds inside, in a plastic baggy. You will have a 100% success rate.

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  30. GinaAugust 16, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Hello Eileen, I do have favorites but I love them all...even those mixed Sweet Pea packages from regular garden and convenient stores produce some prety amazing colors. Give them a try. And, thank you for your visit.

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  31. GinaAugust 16, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Hello Susan, Sweet Peas belong to a family of flowers that have the most amazing range of colors. I try to stick with those varieties that have the most wonderful and powerful fragrance.

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  32. GinaAugust 16, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    Hi Beverly, A worthwhile cause you are featuring on your blog. Wish you a lot of success.

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  33. The Charm of HomeAugust 17, 2011 at 7:25 AM

    Beautiful! I have planted the seed many times and this year they came up but they didn't bloom. Yours are so pretty I can smell them from here! Thanks for linking it up to Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  34. GinaAugust 17, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    Hi Sherri, Try starting your Sweet Peas earlier. In our climate they can be planted in late March, early April. When they are planted later than that (at least in our area, zone 3-4) they will grow but will not bloom.

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  35. debAugust 17, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    I adore Sweet peas also. One of the flowers from my childhood.
    *hugs*deb

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  36. Fishtail CottageAugust 18, 2011 at 11:25 PM

    You have some gorgeous and unique sweetpeas - thanks for sharing over at Cottage Flora Thursday's! xoxo, tracie

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  37. Leckeres für Mensch und Katze - Goodies for a pleasant lifeAugust 19, 2011 at 5:12 AM

    Very beautiful! So nice flowers well captured :)

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  38. GinaAugust 20, 2011 at 6:40 AM

    Hi Deb, Not surprised that you also love Sweet Peas. Thank you so much for your visit. Gina

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  39. GinaAugust 20, 2011 at 6:42 AM

    Hi Tracie, Thank you Tracie. And thank you for letting me join. Gina

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  40. GinaAugust 20, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    Vielen Dank Leckeres fuer deinen besuch. Ich hoffe das du bald wieder vorbei kommst.

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