“Nasturtiums, who colored you, you wonderful, glowing things? You must have been fashioned out of summer sunsets.” ~Lucy Maud Montgomery

I started quite a few Nasturtium seeds over the winter. They sprouted quickly on heat mats and then grew steadily, though they remained a bit gangly, and the stems were not very strong. Planted into pots of enriched soil in mid-spring, they quickly became monstrously vigorous with some leaves nearly as large as my palm. I wondered if they would bloom since the rich soil promoted so much foliage growth. My question has been answered in the last few weeks as buds have formed and new flowers have opened. I am ecstatic about the colors.

My favorites are the near-white and creamy-yellow varieties. I love the way the foliage highlights the yellow of the petals. Some of the foliage is also variegated; this type is a vining Nasturtium, and the colors are richly jeweled, ranging from deep gold to maroon.

Even better is the ease with which the very large seeds sprout by just pushing with a forefinger into loose soil. This flowering plant is almost the best choice for young children to plant.

This post is part of Le Monde de Kitchi. Thanks to the host for the challenge.