Barbara’s Favorite Flowers: Cyclamen
Barbara’s list of favorite winter blooming flowers for Willow Creek Farm & Winery and Southern Mansion gardens includes Cyclamen. Here’s what Barbara has to say:
Several years ago, I became all atwitter about winter gardening; having flowers blooming year round even in November through February. For several seasons in a row, we had been blessed with mild winters, and I was feeling rather pleased with my gardening prowess. Having overwintered Gloriosa Rothschildiana, and numerous Dahlias, I was confident that I was up to the task. Unfortunately my sin of superbia was about to become all too apparent when Outer Coastal Cape May was thwacked with a couple seasons of bitter, windy, wet, and cold weather. Oh well, this seasoned plantswoman is used to getting her comeuppance on occasion, and being perennially optimistic I started planting something new, and questionably hardy, as soon as I had the chance. But as brainy, is of course the new sexy, it’s really just as well, and at the very least not boring.
Many of you are familiar with the florist cyclamen (frost tender), with their brilliant hot pink, fuchsia and white reverse lipstick colored flowers, wonderful lovely dark green often heart shaped leaves delicious with white marbling. Easily attainable at the local market, we purchase and place these Cyclamen in pots as decorations inside our homes.
Each flower is on a stem coming from a growing point on the circular flat tuber of the Cyclamen. In all species, the stem is bent 150-180° at the tip, so that the nose of the flower faces downward. Flowers have five petals, are bent outwards or up, can sometimes be twisted, are connected at the base into a cup, and have five sepals behind the cup.
What I focus on here is the hardy winter bloomers such as c.coum. Cyclamen are a genus of twenty species within the family Primulaceae, which originates in the Mediterranean areas (Turkey, North Africa etc.). I had received my first hardy cyclamens from Sunshine Nurseries’ Barry Glick. There is something really fabulous about seeing a brilliant hot pink flower poking out of the dull brown ground when the skies are despondently cold and gray. I find it a tremendous pick me up in the short days of late fall and winter, especially in those deepest days right before the winter solstice. Also, it really does give you a sense of accomplishment to summon forth such a burst of happy color this time of year, whilst in the spring and summer it’s rather a tad redundant.
Covet, plant, and enjoy the Cyclamen in all their frivolous forms!
in advance as this is an event not to miss!
wine or sangria prior to taking a seat and ordering some of our delicious tapas while listening to incredible local performers. When you’re finished, grab a seat outside by the fire pit, and take in the vineyard sky above with all those that you love. 
since early childhood, she had the special opportunity to study under nationally known artist, Frieda Richter from age ten to sixteen. She received training in fine art fundamentals, composition, charcoal life drawing, oil painting, in both outdoor – plein air style – and studio painting environments. After attending college, she held several positions as an Illustrator and Graphic Artist, while continuing to develop her fine arts style. While raising her four children, she also worked as a freelance artist and personally created a line of greeting cards which she has continued to develop and expand. Many of her paintings, prints and cards can now be seen on her website, www.carolkinghood.net.
These benefits might have you saying, “I do” to a Thursday wedding!