Oh, honey, let me tell you about these flowers, ranunculus and anemones. They’re somethin’ else, I tell ya. Like, they got all these layers, like them fancy cakes, but they’re flowers! And the colors! Lord have mercy, all kinds of colors on them ranunculus. Pink ones, peachy ones, even them dark red ones, kinda like the color of that old barn door ‘fore we painted it. Anemones is pretty too, all them purples and pinks. And they got that dark middle part, like a little button in the center.
Now, I heard tell that if it gets too hot, these ranunculus, they just give up. Like me in the summer when it’s hotter than a furnace out there. They just stop doin’ their thing. Like 70 degrees. So, you gotta plant ’em when it’s cooler. Folks ’round here say fall is the best time. Plant ranunculus in the fall, unless you is way up north. If you in a colder place, then you plant ranunculus in the spring. But down here, fall’s the time for plantin’ ranunculus, I reckon.
And them anemones, they might look like they’re dead after they bloom, but don’t you fret none. They just takin’ a nap, like an old dog in the sun. They’ll come back next year, good as new. But if they don’t come up at all, well, somethin’ mighta gone wrong there.
Now, these little things you plant, they call ’em corms, but they look like dried up little nubs to me. But you gotta wake ’em up, like you gotta wake up old Bessie in the mornin’. And that will get the growing. And the flowers come up pretty fast after.
I seen folks put a whole bunch of these ranunculus in a vase. Prettiest thing you ever did see. They look so soft, like a baby’s blanket, but they real strong.
So, when you plant these ranunculus, you gotta do it just right. You need to plant the ranunculus at the right time, and you need good dirt. Don’t just throw ’em in any old place. And you gotta give ’em room to grow, like kids need room to run around and play. If you in a warmer place, plant ranunculus in the fall. Zone 7 to 10, I think they said. Plant ranunculus in them zones in the fall.
I ain’t never seen no flowers like these. They is fancy, like them city folks’ flowers, but they grow right here in the dirt, same as taters and beans. You can grow ’em too, if you follow along with what the folks is saying. They got lots of tips and secrets to gettin’ ’em to grow just right.
Some folks was talkin’ ’bout other flowers, like them gladiolus. I ain’t never grown them, but they say they’re easy as pie to take care of. Maybe I’ll try ’em next year, if I get a mind to.
But these ranunculus, they just somethin’ special. You see ’em, and you just gotta smile. They’re like a little bit of sunshine, even on a cloudy day.
Now, here’s how you get ’em goin’, I reckon:
- First, you gotta find a good spot. Not too sunny, not too shady.
- Then, you gotta get that dirt ready. Make sure it ain’t all hard and clumpy.
- Put them little corms in the ground, pointy side down, I think.
- Water ’em good, but don’t drown ’em.
- And then you wait. And you wait. And you hope.
Ranunculus and anemones, they is good flowers. They is pretty and easy to grow. If you want a pretty flower, you should try to grow some. Planting ranunculus is not hard, just remeber to plant ranunculus in the fall if you are in a warm place. Anemones is also pretty and easy to grow.
If you follow them steps to plant ranunculus, then you is doing good. Then you wait and see the pretty flowers. And you’ll be happy, just like I was when I seen them for the first time. These ranunculus is somethin’ else, they really is.
I reckon that’s about all I know about them ranunculus and anemones. Just remember what I told ya, and you’ll be growin’ ’em like a pro in no time. And if you see me around, you can show me your flowers, and we can sit and talk about ’em all day long. Maybe I’ll even bring you some of my homemade pie, if you’re lucky.