Vintage Bachelor's Button Seed Packets

Bachelor's Button, also known as cornflowers, were often worn by young men in love and was the favorite flower of John F. Kennedy.  In fact, John F. Kennedy, Jr. wore one at his wedding in honor of his father.

Bachelor's button used to grow wild in the crop fields in the United Kingdom but are now endangered mostly because of the over use of herbicides.  Fifty years ago there were 268 sites where they grew wild and that number has dwindled down to just three sites.  The conservation charity, Plantlife, has named it as one of the 101 plant species it will work on to bring "back from the brink".

Because the cornflower was introduced to the rest of the world in seed form it thrives in gardens all over the world.  Thank goodness, because it is such a lovely little flower!

Here is a vintage seed packet of the pink variety

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And the red variety

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Bachelor's button are very easy to grow and come in a gorgeous blue color as well.  It flowers from June until August.

Bachelor's Button is edible and often used to add color to salads.  It is also an ingredient in Twinings Lady Grey blend tea.

Enjoy!

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Vintage Pumpkin Seed Packet

Have I ever mentioned how much I love pumpkins?  I love their color, I love them in food and I love to grow them.  I also love that they signify the change in seasons and represent the harvest.

Native to North America the United States produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins each year.  The states producing the most pumpkins are Illinois, California, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Nestle produces 85% of the processed pumpkin and the state of Illinois produces 95% of pumpkins intended for processing.

I have grown pumpkins for many years but the last two years I got large, gorgeous blooms that just fell off of the vine, never producing pumpkins.  After some research I discovered that pumpkins produce both male and female blooms that have to be cross pollinated by bees in order for the bloom to produce a pumpkin.  Because of the decline in the bee population farmers now have to hand pollinate their pumpkins.  

Last year I assumed that because I bought pumpkin plants from a nursery that maybe I only got male or female plants.  So this year I started my pumpkins from seed with the same result.  Could the decline in the bee population have caused this problem?  Makes me wonder.

Has anyone else out there had a similar problem?

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Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Tomato Seed Packet

As my tomato plants flourish and the fruit ripens on the vines I thought a tomato seed packet would be appropriate today.

Tomatoes originated in South America and were spread around the world during the Spanish colonization of the Americas, now grown worldwide and in greenhouses in cooler climates.  Christopher Columbus may have been the first to bring the tomato back to Europe.  The earliest written reference to the tomato was in 1544 in European literature.  While the tomato is botanically a fruit it is widely considered a vegetable.  The tomato is a member of the nightshade family and there are more than 7500 varieties.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant, and is considered a heart healthy food.  Lycopene has also been shown to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.  Tomatoes also contain high levels of vitamins A and C.  Tomato consumption has also been associated with a decreased risk of breast, head and neck cancers.

Like many other nightshade plants the leaves and stems of the tomato plant are toxic.  The fruit and plant parts are especially toxic to dogs if they ingest large quantities.

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Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Verbena Seed Packet

Vintage Verbena Seed Packet

Verbena plants are usually started from seeds, are drought resistant, do well in partial or full sun and spread out for wonderful ground cover.  They are native from Canada to Chili and some species are used in the garden to attract butterflies.  It can be either a perennial or annual plant.

Legend says that verbena was used to treat Jesus' wounds after he was removed from the cross and is therefore often called "holy herb" and "devil's bane".  This is probably the origin of the belief of the plant's mystical properties and folklore, usually as an herbal tea.  Verbena is used to protect humans from vampires in the series of novels The Vampire Diaries.  

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Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Watermelon Seed Packets

Vintage Watermelon Seed Packets

I love watermelon!  It's my favorite fruit.  

Did you know?

Watermelons are originally from southern Africa

Historians have evidence of its cultivation in the Nile Valley as far back as the second millennium BC

Watermelon seeds were found in the tomb of King Tut

By the 10th century AD China was cultivating watermelons

Today, China is the largest grower of watermelons

The word watermelon made its first appearance in an English dictionary in 1615

A watermelon contains 6% sugar and 94% water by weight and is a source of Vitamin C 

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Oh my gosh I cannot wait to have me some fresh watermelon!

Enjoy!

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage Hibiscus Seed Packet

Vintage Hibiscus Seed Packet

What a lovely image

Known for their large, trumpet shaped flowers, hibiscus are often used as landscape shrubs.  Some species are used in paper making, as well as herb teas and jams.

Hibiscus is consumed all over the world, both hot and cold.  Dried hibiscus can be eaten and is considered a delicacy in certain places.  A red hibiscus flower tucked behind the ear of a Taihitian woman indicated for availability for marriage.

A USDA study conducted in 2008 showed that drinking 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily lowered systolic blood pressure by more than 8 points.

The hibiscus is the national symbol of both South Korea and Malaysia.

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Enjoy! 

Free Vintage Clip Art - Vintage French Seed Packet

Vintage French Pansy Seed Packet

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I love pansies and here in the Pacific Northwest we actually have pansies all year round.  They have such happy little faces that I can't help but smile when I see them.

Enjoy!