Mailbox chicory revisited

last year

I began a thread asking about chicory coffee not long ago and posting my chicory patch growing under my mailbox. I mentioned the Goldfinches and how they enjoyed the spent blossoms (seed heads). Since then I've tried to snap a pic, finally this morning I got some half-decent ones. Hopefully you can make out the yellow/black bird.

He's in the lower right corner in above pic.

Featured Answer

murraysmom Zone 6a OH

last year

I love that!! I get the goldfinches on my coneflower but never considered chicory. I always see it along roadsides and I do like it very much. Something to add to the garden. Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
last year
He’s a happy little fellow!
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
Related Discussions
Ideas for a unifying bed
Q
Comments (9)
Guys, thanks for the responses. It's obvious I'm a newbie at this. From reading some of the other threads, I was obviously initially thinking in terms of "gardens" instead of "overall design". As far as the photos, would it be helpful if I (well, actually the hubby; he's the photographer) stood in the middle of the lawn and got a medium shot of the whole house? Or should I take a shot from the neighbor's driveway to get more of a wide angle? Obviously, everything will be less distinct, but from reading the threads, I'm beginning to see that's what it's about. Not necessarily individual plants but overall impression. (Am I right about this?) Brent to answer your questions - I'd like a bed along the driveway for a few reasons. First, I think flowers are nicer than lawn. And there will still be a lot of lawn left. Once I put up a better wide shot, you'll see that it easily extends another 40 feet or so to the right of the driveway. Second reason is that I take care of the beds, so they look good. DH takes care of the grass so they tend to look like crap. (And don't suggest a lawn service, my oldest is off to college in the fall. I'm broke, lol.) Third reason is I thought it would be nice to soften the look of the driveway. What your seeing in picture 5, Brent, is the middle of my house from the street. The flower bed in the foreground is the same cottage garden shown in pictures 3 & 4. In the background is the garden that's shown in pictures 1 & 2. The picture was taken around 5:30 - 6PM, so everything looks a bit washed out. Saypoint, you are absolutely right that the foundation plantings are overgrown, they are in the provess of being cut back. However, your comment makes me wonder if some of them shouldn't be removed and replaced? When I post more pics, you'll be able to see better, but the previous owners planted a lot of items that I don't think belong in a foundation planting. For example, to the right of the door (which you can't currently see), they planted a hemlock. It's a gorgeous tree, but I believe it's mature height is 30 feet which means every few years I have to pay for my tree person to come and bring it back within bounds. Anyway, enough rambling. I guess my main question at this juncture is what types of pictures would be most helpful? Way back, wide angle shots? Or something different? Thanks in advice for helping the clueless woman.
...See More
Wildflowers for postage!
Q
Comments (32)
Considering that a couple of you who sent me envies where overcharged at the PO,I decided to include a link on this thread that will give you the information you need to prove that you were overcharged! Angie, Originally I had asked that you make a copy of the envies that were overcharged. Would you mind maybe supplying an envie for the seeds going out to the members, and then later mailing me all the actual envies...to be included in the mass mailing to the Post Master General. I could include a note with them, that when they were originally mailed they had contained a piece of paper and postage stamps...nothing else. off to email you now...just remembered a goodie. Sue
...See More
Seeds packets on shelves
Q
Comments (7)
Yep, even in WI the seeds are out everywhere, and a lot of the on-line sources have been having sales all month. I started some about a week and a half ago. It is the earliest that I have ever started anything, but I am trying for Geraniums , Picotee Begonias and Lisianthus, all of which take a long time. I'm also trying some Onions and Asparagus from seed for the first time. Plus I have a couple of trays of basil/arugula/cilantro/lettuces, which I plan on harvesting right out of the trays. Its the best way for me to deal with the winter blues.
...See More
Summer Greens?
Q
Comments (64)
Just checked to make sure I have some seeds! Email me your mailing address and I'll send some your way. The plants would even look better, but I keep them low on the nitrogen, because they store nitrates in the leaves, so watch out with that, because it can lead to oxalic acid in the greens and then it'll be like biting on a sand particle one in a while. It's harmless in that concentration, but I still don't like it. Best for me is that in my nematode infested soil, which almost every veggie gets killed sooner or later, this isn't affected. And personally I like the taste better than spinach, it doesn't have that funny aftertaste. The pic is how I cut it then then it regrows right away multiple times. If I see bugs I spray pyrethrin or Pt, but not on a regular basis, just don't have the time....
...See More
roxanna
last year
Wish I had chicory growing somewhere on my acreage. I swear that the next time I see some along the highway I will stop and gather seeds... So far, I have not found a supplier who sells them. Darn it.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked roxanna
rob333 (zone 7b)
last year
That is one of the two reasons I grow Chicory. I love gold finches. I also adore any blue flower. True blue. Don't get me started on how growers call purple flowers blue :/ But Chicory has the dreamiest blue flowers ever.

For those who love gold finches, they eat seeds from: Brazilian Verbena, Zinnias, Sunflowers, Black-eyed Susans, Coneflower, and thistle. They prefer my smaller seeded sunflowers, such as 'Italian White'.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
Kathsgrdn
last year
Love the color of that flower! I have some blue Tweedia growing out in my front garden and Heavenly Blue morning glories in my garden arch (but they haven't bloomed yet). I may look for the chicory seeds for next year. I'm going to move some of my overgrown Black eyed Susan into the backyard and they would be pretty with a blue flower next to them.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked Kathsgrdn
Fun2BHere
last year
I love your pictures. I had some sort of small birds nipping at the buds on my species-unknown-to-me trees this weekend. The limbs were shaking as the birds darted in and out. I wish I could have taken a picture.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked Fun2BHere
woodrose77
last year
Chicory has always been one of my favorite wildflowers since I was a little girl. It's nice to see it being appreciated by others.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked woodrose77
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
I find it hard to believe there are no US suppliers of chicory seed. Have you looked at vegetable seeds rather than flowers? Franchi (Seeds of Italy) sells Cicoria selvetica.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
lat62
last year
I too remember loving the chicory flowers as a little girl in Michigan, biking around the neighborhood and the fields/empty lots so beautifully blue! Thanks for sharing the photo

I've been confused about chicory varieties - one year my radicchio (treviso?) gave me those same beautiful blue flowers... My summers here in Anchorage, AK are too short to get that blue bloom except for that one year... Maybe I'll make an extra effort in 2025 and start seeds very early indoors
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked lat62
pudgeder
last year
So lovely!! Now I'm on the hunt for chicory!
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked pudgeder
OutsidePlaying
last year
last modified: last year
I have not looked, but there are several wildflower seed suppliers in the US and I would think some of them would have chicory seeds.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked OutsidePlaying
rob333 (zone 7b)
last year
last modified: last year
I haven't used this company before, but it's just about the only place I found?

https://www.seedstore.com/catalog/chicory-seeds/chicory-seeds-258.html

Maybe I'm just tired.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked rob333 (zone 7b)
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
last modified: last year
"I've been confused about chicory varieties - one year my radicchio (treviso?) gave me those same beautiful blue flowers.."

All the different chicory varieties are derived from the wild species and they all have the same flowers. But best for blooming would be the original unimproved wild species, Cicoria intybus.
schoolhouse_gwagain thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
rob333 (zone 7b)
last year
last modified: last year
Prairie Moon had the answer as to why we don't see the seeds often.

https://www.prairiemoon.com/search-results.html?Search=chicory#/?resultsPerPage=24

"Chicory is in the Dandelion family and a summer stand out due to the striking blue flowers. It can be found growing on roadsides and in disturbed, dry sites. Chicory is not native to North America so we do not carry it... "

While I am in deep love with the sky blue aster (I grow several varieties, including that one), it aint the same. But I am having second thoughts about growing chicory now :(

Mailbox chicory revisited

murraysmom Zone 6a OH

Comments (14)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

Related Discussions

roxanna

rob333 (zone 7b)

Kathsgrdn

Fun2BHere

woodrose77

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

lat62

pudgeder

OutsidePlaying

rob333 (zone 7b)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

rob333 (zone 7b)

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US