My question is: Are Delphenium seeds true to the color of the plant that you get them from? And the same goes for Columbine. I collect all my seeds. I have another question I am going to post.

I don't grow either of those here in FL but I used to grow them in Utah, and my daughter still has them in her garden. We did used to have the columbines re-seed themselves, and no, they did not come true.

Pretty sure any collected seeds may come from plants that have been cross-pollinated. That is, if a bee went from a purple delphinium to a white one, carrying pollen, then the seeds from the flower he flew to would be a cross between the purple one and the white one.

If you have a large garden with only one color of each type of flower, you have a better chance of getting seeds that will come true, but still no guarantees that a bee from across the street didn't arrive.

The way to be sure of getting the same varieties is to propagate by divisions.

I grow both of those and do save seeds, but because I have several varieties of each---
they do not come true.

That is what I was thinking would be the way it was. I do not know that much about propagating so I guess I will just leave it up to Mother Nature. I love them both no matter what color they are. I have a road bank that I would like to get growing in flowers instead of weeds so I think I will through all my seeds out on that bank and just let Mother Nature do her job. Do you think I will win over the weeds? What can I treat weeds with that will not hurt my flowers that may be growing with them????

Depends upon the weeds. If you can get ahead of them before you broadcast your flower seeds, you have a fighting chance of keeping them at bay so the flowers can establish.

Cover the area with clear plastic and 'cook' it with sunlight for a few weeks before you plant? Start the seeds indoors so the flowers you want to grow will have a head start on the weeds. It's not exactly Mother Nature's way, but at least it's not weed killer and bedding plants from the store . . Once you plant the flowers, your hands are the only way to keep the weeds in control without risking the flowers.

gardenglassgems said: I have a road bank that I would like to get growing in flowers instead of weeds so I think I will through all my seeds out on that bank and just let Mother Nature do her job.
Do you think I will win over the weeds?
What can I treat weeds with that will not hurt my flowers that may be growing with them????

Weeds is such a general term that I'd like to see it retired.

If you are planning to spread seeds over turf type running grasses, forget it.
Those invasive grasses people use as lawns are allelopathic. Won't much grow in them.

If you are talking about typical wildflower type "weeds", Chances are that you'll have some limited success... but you'd be better off digging beds, and pulling out the grasses and other undesired plants from the beds, while the seedlings are small.

It's always best to learn what the desirable naturals look like before pulling out or poisoning something irreplaceable.

The big question... is how you are planning to stop the road crews who have a habit of cutting down the wonderful wild flowers when they start blooming?

I grow a few varieties of Columbine, and a percentage come true, but there are always a few strays from bees doing some crossing.

all. I have been wanting to get flowers established on this road bank for quite a few years now but all my other projects came first. We burn the tall weeds every spring. This spring after we burn, I think I will try the clear plastic method. I want to winter sow seeds in milk jugs to plant there. I also have some Iris, hostas, and other large plants to divide and will plant them there. I have a small part of it done. I will try to find pictures.

This is the short road bank as you come to our place. This was taken in July of 2013
2.


Here is a picture of the short road back finished and picture taken Sept of 2012. It no longer looks this nice so I will have to do some touch up to it this spring/summer.


I can't seem to locate pictures of the long road bank that I am talking about so I will look for it later.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and help.