2020 has been an unusual year. Rather than get my annual flowers from the local Garden Center this Spring, I ordered seeds by mail from a reputable seed company. However, based on my experience, I would NOT recommend anyone buy seeds from them. Because of the pandemic, the company had a huge increase in orders. I get the feeling that - rather than turn down an order - they substituted some seed varieties.

The Zinnias I bought were supposed to be a compact 6 to 8 inches tall and heavy blooming.

Well, at Summer’s end, I can say that although the seeds did grow into Zinnias, they are not what I thought I was buying. Being quite tall and rangy and sparse flowering, they are obviously not the same variety as the name & description on the seed packet. These Zinnias grew to be over 5 feet (62 inches) tall, produced a grand total of only 12 flowers all Summer, and definitely weren’t compact; as you can see in the photo above. There are 8 rangy plants in the above pot. Most of the seeds did not even germinate back in April when I planted them.

Here’s what they were supposed to be: https://ferrymorse.com/products/zinnia-thumbelina-mixed-colors

Because the pandemic probably still won’t be totally over, I plan to plant flower seeds again in 2021. However, I have no idea of where to buy seed that will actually produce what they claim. Back in the days of old when I always started my Summer plants from seed, I never had this problem before. As I said, 2020 has been a strange year. Hopefully 2021 will bring better things.

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Tuesday US COVID News

“White House Embraces ‘Herd Immunity’ Declaration.” NY Times

“White House receptive to herd immunity approach branded unethical by the WHO… US pushing to allow the coronavirus to circulate freely until herd immunity is reached” Washington Post

“Biden says Trump thinks seniors are 'expendable,' slams Covid response” NBC News

“As predicted, the US is now grappling with a new Covid-19 surge -- one that could overwhelm hospitals, kill thousands of Americans a day by January and leave even young survivors with long-term complications. This is the fall/winter surge that everyone was worried about. And now it's happening” CNN Health

“Kansas City doctors say COVID-19 hospitalizations at pandemic peak”. KSHB News

“Maps created by public health and crisis experts that track each state’s COVID-19 response show that Kansas and Missouri are experiencing an uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus.” Kansas City Star