The chilli is made, the guest room is ready, the shopping done, the fridge well stocked and the washing is on the line. That leaves me a small window of opportunity to contribute to this week’s Six on Saturday before my nephew and his girlfriend arrive to stay for a couple of days. Take a look at The Propagator’s blog and all will be revealed although it really is quite simple. The concept, wait for it, is Six …… on ……. Saturday. So here are mine.
The white lobelia in the front planters have eventually begun to flower. As an added bonus this particular shade of white appears to be white and blue, which I am not complaining about, in fact I am really quite pleased.
Next we have a dark leaved geranium that I grew from seed. It is in its second year and this is the first time it has flowered. Again I am not disappointed by the ethereal blue, especially set against the moody foliage. Looks like the molluscs have enjoyed it as well.
Another seed grown lovely is this california poppy, Eschscholzia californica ‘Red Chief’, won in the same seed war as the nasturtium in last week’s Six on Saturday – Raindrops keep falling on my flowers.
Now we have the deep dark Potentilla ‘Volcan’, with Festuca glauca ‘Intense Blue’ in the background. The grass is looking surprising healthy, considering it is frequently used as a cushion by Fat Ol, the ginger not-tom-anymore, from next door.
A new purchase this week is this Primula capitata ‘Noverna Deep Blue’. An impulse purchase. But then they generally are.
Lastly a fluke photo. Leucocoryne ‘Andes’ and friend. Sometimes luck is on your side.
Bit of a rush through, but needs must. Thanks again to Mr Propenstein, has he invented a monster? It certainly is growing and growing and growing and growing …..
Off The Edge Gardening 
Quick, but lovely, Six. Isn’t it funny how cats find their favourite spots in the garden? A place to snooze, a place to wait for something easy to catch, a warm place, a cool place.
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Thank you! Cat are not daft when it comes to comfort. Fact.
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Enjoy your family. Sounds fun.
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It was, all calm now *and breathe*
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Nice unusual Eschscholzia, I prefer it almost to the orange one. I also liked the Leucocoryne that I didn’t know ans the blue geranium. Thanks for sharing
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Glad you like them Fred, I love the burnt orange/red of the poppy too, I wouldn’t like to have to choose between the two.
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A bright and breezy six, Gill. That fluke photo is a champion. I’m not familiar with Leucocoryne: it looks rather desirable.
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In truth the Leucocoryne is rather lax and lolling with little if any foliage, I wonder if it is how I am growing it or that is the way it is?! Thanks 🙂
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hmmmm . . . I still can not get used to these fancy California poppies. I know it is pretty, but the real straight orange – plain and simple – is SO perfect! When I was a kid, we used to look for the very rare ‘purple’ and ‘white’ poppies. The purple ones were small and sort of lavender. The white ones were sort of creamy tan and likewise small. Neither were particular pretty, but they were rare, sort of like four- leaf clovers might be to Irish kids. Anyway, the common California poppies were SO excellent where they covered large areas so efficiently that from a short distance, the ground seemed to be orange. On closer inspection, and while looking down from above, the dry and gravely soil below was quite visible. Those things are tough!
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I did think of you when I put that one in. I love the plain ones too. Never seen a purple or a white, sounds intriguing!
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They are intriguing, but not very flashy. As much as I hate to admit it, the variably colored varieties are actually prettier than the white or purple ones that we used to look for in the wild. The purple is a cleaner version of lavender, with slightly larger flowers. The white one is more creamy colored rather than creamy tan, also with slightly larger flowers. The brightly colored varieties like yours are best, although not as good as the wild ones. California poppy really should be bright. When I see the varieties, I just think of them as different flowers.
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I think that is a good way to think of them. The pure wild flowers look best in the wild, the cultivated best in the garden. Possibly.
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hmmmm . . . I still like the wild in the garden. I think that the new varieties appeal to those who are not Californian.
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Now …. did you give us the chilli recipe? Love your fluke photo.
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Thanks Maggie, I was going to do lasagne but our oven broke at the last minute so I had to do a menu shuffle, it was a bit risky doing chilli as you never know quite how hot people think is hot, if you know what I mean. Think it worked out OK, there was no gulping water or adding extra hot sauce! 🙂
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Thank you Igor. Good to see your seed grown geranium flowering. I’ve grown some dark leaved gers this year. I need to get on and build the planter in which they will reside.
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You are Mr Handyman as well as Mr Prop! Not all of my seedling turned out dark leaved, have yours?
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Yes, seem to. Strictly speaking, mine were described as “red leaved” rather than dark.
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Were they HPS?
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Yes that’s right.
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Nice hover fly fluke and, as ever, great plantwomanship.
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Thanks Tim, I didn’t even see it until I looked at the photo later! 🙂
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Lovely close up photos and I love your fluke photo…or perhaps the hover fly photobombed the shot? 😉
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Definitely a photobomb!
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My envy of blue geraniums continues apace with your lovely specimen – do you know the name to add to my wish list? I just have pink everywhere. Those alpines would have called to me too. In fact I can almost hear them from here. And what a great ‘in flight’ shot of your hover fly friend.
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It was seed from Hardy Plant Society and just said (I think) “dark leaved geranium”. We have loads of blue out the front of our house, you are welcome to a piece. I will email you.
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Thanks Gill that would be marvellous!
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