I heard a wonderful story today. Every year about this time I gather all sorts of sweet pea seeds...hundreds, I'm sure....pots, dirt and lay them out in the greenhouse ready to be seeded. Not yet, of course, it's not warm enough, but in a few weeks. I found out today where sweet peas got their start. Turns out they startetd in Sicily in 1695 being first recorded by Francisco Cupani. The seeds were sent to England, where a Dr. Uvedale (Middlesex, England) cultivated the sweet pea.Sweet peas continued to be introduced, until by 1911 there were 135 new species.
In 1901 a new type of Sweet pea was found in England. It was found in the gardens of the Earl of Spencer at Althorp, Princess Diana's ancestral home. Their particular sweet pea is hardy, long stemmed with slightly ruffle-edged blooms with a moderate scent.
Couldn't resist after reading all about the sweet peas. wsent out to get a few things. Came back with 160 orange and hot pink seed geraniums. For the greenhouse of course. Unitl it's warm enough to plant. By then there should be tons of sweet peas started.....Can hardly wait.
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