Our Six on Saturday this week comprises of newbies and surprises. Hopefully all will become clear, although this is not a certainty. Of course I must first of all introduce our Meme Master, The Propagator, who guides his ever-expanding troupe of SoSer towards oblivion. Or something like that, you had better take a look at his blog to find out the truth of the matter.
Let us begin with a newbie, one of two little bargain bidens I bought last week. They are both Beedance hybrids, but as that is as far as the pot description goes, it is therefore the limit of my knowledge. Except that they are gorgeous, but I think you could work that one out for yourself. Now planted up in terracotta pots they are brightening up the back door step until the osteos recover from their harsh cut back. It might even inspire them to get a move on.
I grew the above plant from seed, believing it to be a moraea of some persuasion. Last year it eventually sent up a flower spike and consequently I became very excited. When I saw the bloom I was less so. Say hello to my first surprise, Libertia grandiflora. Although a lovely plant in its own right, I cannot help but feel a tinge of disappointment whenever I see it. For this reason it might be relocated to a client’s garden. Sorry Old Chap. Not a good surprise.
Last weekend I went to the Post Office and came home with three new alpines for my diddy little clay planter. On Ilfracombe High Street there is an antique/collectables shop that from time to time has a small table of plants at the front. As I walked on the other side of the street I could hear them calling my name “Gill, Gill” they whispered, “cross the road, come and see how beautiful we are”. So I did, and four came home with me. The three planted here are Phlox sublata ‘McDaniel’s Cushion’, Iris setosa (Dwarf Form) and Veronica prostrata ‘Carrapit White’. The fourth was planted elsewhere and will have to wait for another day.
This dark veined geranium was a sport on a plain pink plant in a client’s garden. With permission I brought it home to nurture. It seems to be healthy and upright and has lots of flower buds. A nice surprise.
For a change this year I have bought some nemesia to join the “out the front in Windy City, Shady Land” gang. Not their recommended planting position, I would agree. However, they are strong plants, grown locally, and I liked them. And I wanted them so I got them. So far so good.
Lastly another newbie I couldn’t resist. In fact it would have been wrong to even attempt to. This little darling is Salvia ‘Joy’.
Right, a quick tot up and it seems I have the requisite amount of contenders. Haven’t heard anything from Mr K yet, hope he has a note. Thanks again for your omnipresence Mr P, happy Six on Saturday to you all!
Off The Edge Gardening 
Poor unloved, unwanted plant. Being an Iris who keeps getting told he’s a tulip, no wonder he decided to pop up as a Libertia. I’m not sure even plants can call in a whisper; I guess the OH never thinks of sending you out to get fish and chips in case you come home with half a dozen Medusagyne oppositifolia. I hope the client who lost his Geranium isn’t the one to end up with a plant suffering an identity crisis.
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Now I really really really want a Jellyfish tree! ps Do you want the libertia, or part of?
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:~))) Willpower, huh? Who needs it…
Lovely plants! Those shrubby salvias are entirely irresistible (well, unless it’s Hot Lips, which is a bit, um, bitty for me). I was surprised that both my Peter Vidgeon and Silas Dyson had shrugged off the Beast from the East, but not yet in flower like yours. And those bidens will definitely brighten anything up!
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Not keen on Hot Lips either, will just look up Peter Vidgeon …… oh lovely! I am a massive salvia fan, looks like I am in good company. 🙂
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Oh that Salvia Joy is a Joy! Nice photo’s
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🙂
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Oh, I like Libertia, it was all over Chelsea this week. But I agree with the mantra that if you don’t love it it needs to leave the garden.
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You are right, otherwise it chafes!
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Your Salvia ‘Joy’ is just that. Quite understand the call of the alpines – they look very jolly in their new home.
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I was trying, very uneloquently, to “big up” alpines the other day. Perhaps they should just speak for themselves.
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As my old headmaster used to say ‘a diamond is better than a brick’.
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Oh that Beedance bidens! It certainly has wow factor. Now, where can I get one of those……?
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You may have to wait til you visit 😊
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Lovely six. I had some moraeas once. They were beautiful, but they never returned. I recognized the siren call you describe – “cross the road, come on over and see how beautiful we are.”😄
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I can seldom resist, especially if I am on my own 🙂
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Thumbs up for the salvia joy from me too. Looks great.
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Glad you agree, she is a beauty!
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#2 looks better than a morea. I know it is related, but does not look so cheap. I think it would be a nice surprise; but I dislike morea.
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You are a man of strong opinions! Expect a libertia in the post some day soon. 😉
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What?! I would not know what to do with it!
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🙂
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I don’t know what you have against Libertia grandiflora, it has lovely snow white flowers and seeds around so you have nice clumps. It’s the same unreasonable contempt with which you treat Cotoneaster horizontalis. But that geranium is gorgeous what are you going to call it? I love your little alpines, how amazing to find them at the post office.
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I may well call it Frolick :))
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That would be fun. With an optional ‘k’?
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Thought it looked a little odd. 😀 I quite like the k!
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Yes, let’s keep it.
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