One of the favorite self-seeding flowers in my garden are certainly Cosmoses. It’s been over six years now that they are every year in my garden. First started as a sown plant and now they grow freely wherever they want.
Over the years I bought many varieties such as Picotee, Fizzy, chocolate, double, and many different color tones. Then three years ago I finally noticed that they have started growing freely. First-year there were only a couple of plants, last year they started growing in large groups and this year they took over almost one-quarter of the garden. The two beds where I left them to grow are completely covered and give a great jungle vibe when you enter the path between them. 

2019

2020

All my varieties have mixed together so now I have fizzy cosmoses with the color of picotee, white cosmoses with the pink middle, dark purple cosmoses which I’ve never sown. All the colors and types of petals are present, except the double ones which were probably a hybrid and they reverted to the parent plant. They are all wonderful and it’s even difficult to find a favorite color.

I don’t like to harvest flowers, I rarely have cut flowers in the house. The only time when I harvest my flowers is when there is a storm or frost approaching and cutting them means they will live a bit longer. So when I want to enjoy my flowers I go to the garden. And take lots of photos. 

The bugs and beetles also love my cosmoses. Bees, bumblebees, and other little creatures are regular guests, and butterflies love to add some contrast with their colorful wings.

The only small problem with my jungle is that I have to plan my next year’s beds very carefully. I can’t just sow any plant next to them. Last year they shared a bed with peppers, this year with carrots and next year I think I will plant cabbages here. The plan was to place tomatoes here but there’s no way to have both cosmoses and tomatoes on one bed, cabbages should be a good choice. The cosmoses will give them some shade and they won’t be in the way.

 Who knows maybe next year the jungle will spread and I’ll have even more cosmos beds in the garden.