Attached is picture of 3 week old seedlings. All show signs of damage by something, but what? It is not a large insect, as seedlings are covered with 3/16" wire mesh cage. Sierra foothill, California area.
Not a large insect - but, perhaps, small ones. They kinda look like they have been damaged by thrips. Here is a photo of thrip damage similar to yours: https://bit.ly/1OYKnVz
Here is an article on how to deal with thrips:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-thrips.htm
Just planted lupines from garden center and original bloom was tall and straight. Now more flower heads are coming but they are all bent.
Your Lupines may have been a bit stressed from the bloom forcing in the greenhouse.
Continue to water well.
Keep an eye out for signs of insects or disease.
If your plants continue to decline they could be suffering from Fusarium Fungus.
Here are a few links with more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/kumquat/growing-kumquat-trees.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/controlling-fusarium-wilt.htm
I have aphids on my lupines. Is there a homemade spray that I can use to eliminate them? If not, what do you recommend? I have a full sun garden with a big variety of plants and because of our warm and abundance of rain this year, my plants have multiplied and grown huge. Does this contribute to aphids when plants become crowded?
This article has a few recipes you can try:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/natural-home-pesticides-organic-garden-pest-control.htm
We are currently in Nova Scotia where they grow wild. We would like to get seeds but unsure how long it takes before they die off enough to provide the seeds.
Here is a link that will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lupine/growing-lupines.htm
I have very healthy lupines. However, I have set pink yellow and blue/white dwarf. They all thrive but all change to pink after a few years. What do I do for new plants to sustain their color? This year I have loads of pink lupines and 1 yellow and one pale blue left. Why? Do I have to add something to the soil?
Color change in mature lupines is normal. Oftentimes, lupine flowers change color when they have been pollinated. In addition, existing soil conditions and cross-pollination can cause colors to fade and change from the original over time, with hybrid types even reverting back to the original color from which the plant initially derived.
I recently planted a lupine in the correct soil and light conditions so I thought maybe it was the lilies. It never recovered from be transplanted.
There should be no reason Lupines couldn't be in a garden bed with lilies. They are cold hardy to zone 4.
Lupines would be difficult to overwinter in your zone 3 garden. You can grow them as an annual, and if they were to seed that would be great.
If you place new plants in the garden water them well.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lupine/growing-lupines.htm
My sister gave me these flower seeds from someone she did not know. She said they were big white flowers. She couldn't remember what the name was. Do you by chance know the flower it comes from? The seeds are inside the pod and there are lots of tiny black ones. Thanks for your help.
Lupine:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lupine/growing-lupines.htm
Cleome:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/cleome/growing-cleomes.htm
Wildflower trillium:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/trillium/growing-trillium.htm