Hi Everyone!

I recently moved to Idaho, and now have 12 1/2 acres. Our place is in a river canyon, and part of it is a very steep hillside. My dream is to cover the hillside in wildflowers. I've flung countless seeds, but nothing has started growing yet, and it's making me crazy. I spread the first several hundred thousand seeds back in March when we were here the first time, and I can't find anything growing. So, I flung about a million more seeds a few days ago. I know it's too early to see blooms, but I'm not patient when it comes to blooms!

On another thread, we were discussing a plant that some people got rid of, or decided not to plant, because it reseeded too much, which made me think that I need to get some plants that do that. I guess it doesn't have to be a wildflower, but it needs to be able to survive with mostly mother nature providing the needed moisture, since I can't really water the area where I want to grow these plants. Our area supposedly gets about 25 inches of annual rainfall, but I think we are in a bit of a drought this year. We're supposedly in zone 7b, but I think our house is more likely in 7a, since we're 800 feet higher than town is.

I'm looking for plants that will grow in my zone that reseed bad, and can survive without any pampering. If they are deer resistant, even better, but I'm probably hoping for too much there! I do have Lupine growing all over, which is great, but I need more than just Lupine. Also, the taller the better. Anyone have any suggestions?

Hello Natalie,
I would like to help you but I live and garden in Texas and I know that my climate and soil are very different from yours.
It could be that you have been planting the wrong kind of wildflowers as well as maybe planting them at the wrong time of year.
Here is a link to the Wildflower Center showing the plants they recommend for Idaho, maybe you will find something is there that is available to you, and also how to handle the planting.

http://wildflower.org/collecti...

I hope the link helps you, you could also try contacting a native plant society in your area they might be able to advise you.
Also check with the neighbors they probably know what works best around there.

Good luck and let me know how it works out.
Josephine

Thanks for the link Josephine! I'll check it out in a bit. I was actually searching for a native plant society yesterday, but I couldn't find one online that was anywhere close to me. We're out in the middle of nowhere, but I'm willing to drive if it doesn't take hours to get there. I'm sure that the flower seeds I planted will grow here, but it just doesn't look like they have either started growing, or they are too small to notice. I don't want to climb back down the hill to have a better look, and can't find the good binoculars that are in a box somewhere. I know that I tossed the first batch at the wrong time of year, but I was here, so I did what I could. We then left for two months. Other seeds though were ones that needed a cold spell to start, and there was a cold spell while we were gone.

About the only thing the people around here grow are cattle, alfalfa, and weeds. I've got weeds, but no cattle or alfalfa at this point! It's amazing how steep the terrain is here, but there is lots of alfalfa growing. That is another reason I want my hillside covered in flowers. It will be so different!

Well, I thin Lupines are very pretty, and you already have those, so if you can get some yellow and pink started it will look marvelous

I was wondering instead of throwing just seeds maybe make the seed balls I have read about ? They look like mud balls and the rain wash them into areas and the dirt helps hold the seeds till the right time.

Just an idea I will think on the flowers a bit . Here we have an oxeye daisy that grows naturally and reseeds well but don't know your climate
I would think there has to be a poppy that grows naturally I can not think of a place that dose not have some kind of wild poppy.

Here along the roadways the state plants cosmos and cornflowers that get no care.
What about sunflowers?

Josephine, I will try to get some other colors of Lupine growing. I've had the worst luck with them in the past. Don't know why, but they have never come back for me. My Dad planted a few at his place, which was much colder than our place, and he's been overrun with them. He's going to bring me seeds and plants in August, which I'll wait to plant until it cools down a bit.

Cinda, I tossed thousands of Cosmo and cornflower seeds. So far, none have grown, but I've always been able to grow them from seed. I'm just hoping that they are taking their time because they do reseed well. I'm not all that thrilled about sunflowers, and I have a huge amount of yellow already, but I know they will grow anywhere without any care. If all else fails, I'll get some seed for those. Haven't heard of seed balls, so I'll look into that. Sounds like fun at least!

California poppy is growing in a few places in our area, but it's not my favorite. I grew up in California, and think I got burned out on it. It's a pretty flower, but I want to try something else first. But, it does reseed well, and that's what I need! I'm sure I can gather some seeds from an area a few miles down the road from us. Actually, I'm almost over my dislike of it.

I really appreciate the suggestions!

Ann, I love that picture of Pearlie girlie!

We need to find some wildflowers for your area too! If anyone can suggest anything that holds up to temps that are unbearable, and sun that never seems to go down, please let us know!

Here is the area that I want the wildflowers to grow. I took this from my deck. For some reason, it looks very brown, but it is very green in person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Well Natalie, that looks spectacular, why on earth would you want to change it?

Great view

That is beautiful!
I envy you having such a nice spot.
I don't think it needs much added.

Thanks Josephine. I just want to improve it. The first time I saw this place, it was in January. Cold and snowy and rainy January. All I could picture was wildflowers growing on the hill, and it's been a little bit of an obsession since then. Back in January, almost nothing was actually growing there, since it was winter. Now there are lots of weeds growing. I just want some pretty flowers. I also like the idea of it being wild, and not something that I have to take care of.

Thanks Cinda and Caroline. I really can't believe that I get to look at that view every day! I really love it here!

Yes, you are one lucky Lady

Thanks Josephine. I truly feel lucky. Every morning I wake up and shout out my window "I love it here"! I am so happy here. However, all this farm work is taking some getting used to! Our house in Utah was only 1/5 of an acre, and now I have 12 1/2 acres. No close neighbors, no noise, gorgeous views, and life is perfect except for the hillside not being covered in wildflowers! I plan on fixing that one little problem though!

That is one beautiful view, Natalie!

I'll suggest one of my all time favorite wildflowers, one that is loved by butterflies and birds, Common Black-eyed-Susan, Rudbeckia hirta.
http://wildflower.org/plants/r...

Thanks Christine! The view will be ever better when there is some color!

Thanks also for the suggestion on Common Black-eyed Susan. I brought a couple of those plants with me, and some seed. I love it too!

I saw on the link above in the wildflowers of your area the brown eye susan is native to your area too.
It is a very nice plant with smaller flowers
wish I could up load a photo but my net is acting poorly

Cinda, I brought a brown eyed susan with me, and have some seed for that one as well. I had a lot of it in my yard in Utah and got frustrated by how fast it spread by runners. Here, it will be perfect! I just hope that I can get the seed to grow. It never really reseeded in my yard, but I know it's a problem plant for many people, coming up all over.

You must have Rudbeckia fulgida it is the perennial one.
http://wildflower.org/plants/r...