Hello my name is Debi DeFreitas and I love beautiful flowers. I especially enjoy growing my garden from seeds -- giving them their start, nurturing them along and watching them bloom into splendid color and beauty. At the end of each season, I collect the seeds from my plants for the following spring -- hoping someday, that my own daughters will carry on the tradition into future generations.
I enjoy meeting new friends and exchanging seeds with others across the country and around the world. And what better place to do this, than the World Wide Web!
If you are interested in any seeds from the flowers that you see on my page, please Email me below with a request. If you have any seeds that you would like to trade for some of mine, please mention what varieties you have to offer.
If you do not have any seeds to trade, but would like to have some of mine, I would be happy to send you a packet of your choice for $1.00 and a stamp. This is nice if you're just getting started -- next year, you're sure to have plenty of seeds to trade of your own!
Before seeing my flowers, please read one of my all-time favorite poems by Helen Steiner Rice.
Finding Faith in a Flower
Sometimes when faith is running low
And I cannot fathom why things are so . . .
I walk alone among the flowers I grow
And learn the "answers" to all I would know!
For among my flowers I have come to see
Life's miracle and it's mystery . . .
And standing in silence and reverie
My faith comes flooding back to me!
1. BALLOON FLOWER -- platycodon grandiflorus -- A one-species genus, balloon flowers are so named because the unopened flowers look like small and rounded hot-air balloons. They are originally from Japan.
Height: Between 1.5 and 3 feet tall
Blooms: Most of summer months, star-shaped flowers, 5 points, 2 to 3 inches wide
Ease of Care: Easy
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
2. GAZANIA -- gazania ringens -- Famous for wild color combinations, this marvelous Gazania will accent your garden with splashes of color. From South Africa. Decorative foilage of shades of green on top with silver underneath.
Height: Compact 6-inch plant
Blooms: Daisy-like flowers 4-inches in diamter rise 8 to 12 inches on short stems.
Ease of Care: Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
3. PORTULACA -- portulaca grandiflora -- Portulaca's porfusion of sunny flower colors is a native of Brazil. It's toughness make it a natural for difficult garden sites.
Height: Grows as mat of fleshy leaves with stems topped by flowers.
Blooms: A myriad of jewel-like colors -- up to 2 inches in diameter. Open in day, closed at night.
Ease of Care: Full sun, good drainage. Watch-out for frost.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
4. PANSY (white) -- Viola x wittrockiana -- I love this pure-white pansy! This is a sprawling plant that produces flowers continuously as it grows. This is a sprite-hybrid.
Height: Stays a very neat 4-5 inches, but spreads an incredible 18-24 inches!
Blooms: Profuse, pure-white flowers with a small yellow center.
Ease of Care: Full sun, cool, moist soil.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
5. PETUNIA -- Petunia x hybrida -- A selection of petunia's available: purple, pink, red and white. The purple is so deep and vivid that it appears almost completely black when first opening -- a real eye-opener for any garden!
Height: 8 to 12 inches, spreads.
Blooms: Flowers 2 - 3 inches in diameter and bloom continuously throughout season.
Ease of Care: Well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead to increase blooming.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
6. SALVIA -- Salvia splendens -- Spiky color that is dependable in any climate. A native of Brazil, this is a brilliant red variety that does not fade with age of flower.
Blooms: 8 - 12 inches (dwarf), bright bracts with flower in center of each.
Ease of Care: Adaptable to full sun or partial shade.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
7. ZINNIA -- Zinnia elegans -- This is a tall variety. Once it starts blooming in the summer, there is a continuous flood of flowers until frost.
Blooms: 2.5-inch flowers (variety of colors), continuous to first frost!
Ease of Care: They're best in hot, dry climates. Air circulation a plus.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
8. FOXGLOVE -- Digitalis purpurea -- This variety is called "Foxy". It is the only foxglove that can be grown as both an annual and biennial. Native of western Europe. Grows for months as a rosette of gray-green leaves -- then a tall spike surrounded by buds quickly arises.
Blooms: Tall 3-foot spike completely covered with lavender flowers with attractive spotted markings!
Ease of Care: Will grow in average soil if kept moist.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
9. IMPATIENS -- Impatiens wallerana -- Great low-mainenance plant, impatiens were stowaways on trading ships from Africa. I have Pink and Salmon -- very unique!
Blooms: Grows 12 - 15 inches high with flowers borne above the foilage.
Ease of Care: Any average soil. These are not fussy.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
10. LISIANTHUS -- Eustoma grandiflorum -- This is a Heidi Hybrid variety. THE best variety for cut flowers. Bears profuse clusters of blooms.
Blooms: Resemble roses at first, open to tulip form and at maturity look like poppies (ABSOULTELY BEAUTIFUL) Variety of colors, pastels and some multi. Plant grows 16- 18 inches in height -- much like long-stemmed roses. Last up to TWO WEEKS(!) in water once cut.
Ease of Care: In any sunny location, long-blooming all summer, no pests bother it.
LARGER PICTURE CLICK HERE
Columbine // 4 'oclocks // Cosmos // Morning Glory // Sunflowers
Zinnias // Primrose // Sweetpea // Love-in-a-Mist
Email me for more information on the above plants if you're interested!
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