Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Monkey Shines

I have no idea why they call this a Monkey Flower. I can see no resemblance to a monkey no matter which way I look at it. Backwards, forward, sideways, upside-down, or inside-out (yes, I tried that).....nope, no monkey. I have to admit when I first bought these seeds, I did it mainly to say, "I have monkey flowers and you don't, nah nah" Also because I love the way they look.

Every year I start these from seed and put them in hanging baskets for the shady part of my garden. And every year they make me smile until the weather gets really hot, and they get leggy and ugly. But.....cut them back and they will start all over again.

Now in October all hanging baskets are finished, kaput, brown and ugly. All except one little plant with 2 little monkey blooms.
Earlier in the year, I cut some for a little vase on my windowsill.
See any monkeys in there?
I don't. The only monkey I see is the one on the other side of the camera. I beat you to it, nah, nah.

22 comments:

Susie said...

Your wit just kills me girl!!! I think you should write a column for your local newspaper. I think you would have a big following. Keep it up girlie!

These blooms are really pretty. Never heard of it before. Next time you buy a seed packet see if the botanical name is on it. I would love to know what it is.

flydragon said...

Susie,
Well thanks. Not that many people appreciate my weird sense of humor. Usually only other weirdos. Not saying you're one of course....:)
The plants' botanical name is Mimulus, but I much prefer Monkey Flower, don't you?

Dog_geek said...

I'm not familiar with monkey flowers, but they are pretty! Perhaps they attract monkeys...?

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Flydragon, I have to admit, I don't see any monkeys;) I really like them. They look something like a cross between a petunia and a snapdragon. Very pretty, especially all together in the vase.

RURAL said...

Very lovely, funny I did not know that they could be grown from seed. Usually by the time the spring rush is over, all the seedlings are long gone.
Jen

flydragon said...

DG,
Hummmm, trying to say something here?

Marnie,
All different colors with different blotches. They look that way in the hanging basket too, if you cram a bunch of them in there.

Jen,
One of the easiest to grow from seed. The first ones to start flowering too, in just 30 days.

TC said...

I think pansies have more of a monkey face than your monkey face...er...I mean the face on your monkey faces. ;~P

Your Mimulus are very colorful and pretty (and I just know your face is too).

flydragon said...

TC,
Oh,I'm pretty sure I know exactly what you meant.

And yes, my face can be rather colorful at times, and has...what's the word I'm looking for...character, that's it.

beckie said...

Monkey looking or not-these are really interesting flowers. I will have to look for them for next year. Another wish list plant!

flydragon said...

beckie,
I really love them, except for the legginess later in the season. But as I said if they're cut back they rebloom.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Cute Blog, and yes they don't like the heat, but cutting them back rejuvenates them..they will bloom their heart out. A great color palate too. It is a Mimulus, and somewhere deep in my brain is the story..maybe it will come to me. Any how I just tagged you ..you are it. Check out my blog:)

Susie said...

Mimulus? You won't believe this but a customer came into the nursery one day looking for this. He described it as purple though. He said his grandmother always had it in her yard. Unfortunately, we didn't have any. Wasn't long after that he brought some in. It was beautiful and purple. Interesting, huh?

Anonymous said...

I don't see any monkeys either! But they do look a lot like snapdragons. I've never seen or grown these before. Very pretty!

Shady Gardener said...

Very pretty. Do they like a little shade? ;-)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Me again..I can't come up with anything other than some weirdo saw a monkeys face in this flower.
They need some shade, very much like Impatiens. The leaves lose some of their gloss just before they wilt from dehydration, but will revive very nicely. Typically they come in clear colors..cream, white, yellow, rose and red. There may be some color varieation in the splotched colors. And of course there are other varieties that I may not be familiar with. It is really easy to grow from seed, it is a fast grower, and when in bloom it sells like hotcakes. Most of my ladies like them for the yellow color..in the shade:)

flydragon said...

farside,
The only problem with cutting them back is that for a while you have a basket with no flowers, but it's worth it in the end.

Susie,
If you look at my last picture, the flower on the left of the yellow blotched is a dark burgandy-ish color. Would that be your purple? They never have them in my garden center either, that's why I always have to grow my own.

msrobin,
I love the color variations.

shady,
They would love your gardens because they like a lot of shade but they're thirsty little fellas too.

farside,
That weirdo must have been looking through blurry eyes, because I can't see a monkey face anywhere. Maybe he had a few cocktails at the time. When I buy the seed, I always buy the mixed packet because I love the splotchy look.

Anonymous said...

They look a little like the Tamarin (spelling) monkey. I've seen them at the zoo in the rain forest. They're real small and some are golden color. But what do I know? Kind of look like the flower I was showing you the other day. Middle sis

flydragon said...

betty,
I just googled tamarin monkey. Are you sure you haven't had a few cocktails yourself this morning? But the splotches do resemble the toad lily markings. Speaking about funny names, I don't see anything that looks like a toad on them either.

Anonymous said...

I liked the title when I first read this. Why did you change it?
Fla Brat

flydragon said...

fla brat,
because I can never leave well enough alone.

Anonymous said...

So funny! I think I saw a monkey though... no, it was just a pettle. :o)
Very pretty flowers.

flydragon said...

Hi Daffy,
Thanks for stopping by. I sometimes think I can see a monkey face in there if I really squint my eyes, but then I get a very big headache, so I don't do it very often:)