Several months ago, with much aplomb, Lavinia* announced that she would not be buying any more plants. It is true to say that neither of her audience quite believed her, although we nodded in appreciation of her intent. She has long been an addict, it was a tough call. Over the intervening weeks, new arrivals appeared; a lily (a gift, it would be rude not to accept), some pansies (rescued from the jaws of a skip), pelargoniums (an irresistible bargain), to mention just a few. Sometimes they have been secreted around the garden, tucked into nooks and hidden behind planters, but I have always sniffed them out. Today I planted out a Dicentra spectabilis “Alba”**, a couple of dozen gladioli and some white liatris whilst Lav potted up some pink gypsophila. Earlier I admired some golden osteospermum and a window box full of mauve ageratum, neither of which I have seen before. How can this have happened? Must be that Plant Fairy again!
* This is not her real name.
** Yes I know it is now called Lamprocapnos spectabilis but I’m not playing nicely today.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis! However is one supposed to keep up with these changes? Does everyone else subscribe to a periodical that lists the name changes of the month? It’s very pretty, whatever it’s called, and I can understand Lavinia’s (er, the Plant Fairy’s) weakness for acquisitions of this kind.
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Well not sure if there is such a periodical, I just hear rumours here and there …..
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The name has changed quite a while ago (and doesn’t apply to all Dicentras) but anyway,
I am still call it Dicentra too 🙂
And yesterday I bought a red one :))) Now, maybe I’ll see a white one somewhere….
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You know that you are my favourite botanist and I think of you when I am writing about name changes 🙂
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You are a special lady with a warped sense of humor. Much appreciated. Thanks for a laugh.
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Thank you (I think) and you are most welcome 🙂
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Such a beautiful Lamprocapnos (the name sticks in the craw somehow)! So glad it found a good home… 😉
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It is lovely and Lavinia will love it and so will I when I visit!
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definitely the plant fairy, there is no other explanation 🙂
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🙂
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Lavinia is a lovely pseudonym. If Mr TT had a pound for every occasion I had ever declared I would not be buying any more plants he would be rich. A quick trip to Bideford last week resulted in an accidental swerve in to the BJ’s car park. Unfortunately they had just taken delivery of a large selection of bedding plants, some of which have found their way in to my already well-stocked greenhouse. Oh dear.
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Oh dear, what a disaster (happy event) 😉
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I have thoroughly enjoyed potting on so I will have nice big plants when the risk of frost is finally over.
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Brilliant, and think of all the money you will save that way! 🙂
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