Beware, I am in a ruthless mood today. Inhabitants of the garden that have not been performing to my exacting standards have been extradited to the green bin. Oleander that has never flowered, promised once but was only joking – Out! Dead stick thing that has been in extensive care for so long the label has rubbed clean – Out! Scrubby grass with no aesthetic merit whatsoever but for some perverse reason I have always felt sorry for – Out! OH has been hiding.
I feel cleansed and ready to write my Six on Saturday. We are semi-anarchic group led by Prop Guevara, take a look at his manifesto and all will become clear. You will also meet others in this band of merry folk.
My first offering is Bidens ‘Firelight’. I am fond of bidens. They seem to like me too.
Next we have Impatiens puberula, which earlier this year I transferred from its pot in the back garden into a large barrel in the front garden. After an initial period of homesickness, it has settled in very well, spreading dramatically and beginning to flower well. It is not surprising that it is a little ragged around the edges. The very un-British weather we are enjoying hasn’t really suited this native of cool moist forests in Nepal.
You can have too much of a good thing. This Verbascum chaixii, the nettle leaved mullein, has done too well. After it has flowered, in the autumn I suppose, it will be lifted and divided and shared to all and sundry. In the meantime it is providing a feeding station for bees, no caterpillars spotted yet.
Catanache caerulea ‘Alba’, or the white cupid’s dart, is next. I grew this from seed last year. The joy of seeing a flower bloom that you have propagated never diminishes.
Now a watsonia seedling, a bit of a tender Terry, it was one of the many I was worried about earlier in the year. It is not flowering as prolifically as it did last year, but I can forgive it for the harsh treatment it withstood. The colour is wonderful.
Sat on the steps earlier, worn out by my tyranny, I felt that I was being watched. Glancing sideways at the pot of begonias to my right, I saw this little chap, who kindly stayed in position whilst I dashed inside to get my camera. As for the rest of the plants, you can all relax now. For the moment anyway.
That is that. All done. Thanks for your leadership Propman. Next week perhaps …..
Off The Edge Gardening 
Rather like your verbascum even if it is a thug – this summer is making me rethink my planting plans with droughts in mind.
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And then next year …… who knows?! Tricky one
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Yes will probably pour all summer!
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I am painting the watsonia. lovely. Your photo, not my painting!
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I have no doubt that your painting will be wonderful! Please share 🙂 x
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I never could have identified those first three. The bidens looks like cosmos. The impatiens looks like solanum. (Just look at it as if you don’t know what it is.) The verbascum looks like . . . something completely unfamiliar because I have never worked with it before. So . . . who is Ruth and where did she go?
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Glad to keep you guessing Tony, as for Ruth, she is long gone!
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Rarely seen bidens in recent weeks. Thanks. And your last picture is breathtaking!
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Thanks Fred, he was a bit of a poser I think, waiting for the right angle!
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Great grasshopper capture! I’ve got that Verbascum. It throws off lots of seeds and I’m sure I’ll have lots more plants next year, unless I can steel myself to follow your virtuous example.
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It is good for a large space but it is squashing everything else, poor little kniphofia behind it somewhere! Thanks 🙂
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I’m being ruthless too. Manic cutting back to the ground. Finding dead sticks that had been hiding. Out! Now I’ve got hardly anything herbaceous left standing. So much for high summer. Roll on October.
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It has been a tough one that is for sure, seriously cold, then seriously hot, our poor plants don’t know what has hit them!
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What a pretty flower the Watsonia has. I had one, but pulled it out because of thuggish behaviour. Sorry now! Love the photo of your little companion.
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Another one of those “doubt it could ever get thuggish here” plants. It is a fine line indeed.
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I like your Watsonia too. And the grasshopper. I cannot remember the last time I saw one. Nice that he waited for you to get the camera!
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A very amenable/lazy grasshopper 🙂
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Impatiens puberula is a classic example of what is known to a small coterie of people (with a shared history) as a “Ben plant”. I grow quite a few “Ben plants” but not that one. I tried, failed and gave up.
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Co-incidentally this is also a “Ben Plant”. I wonder if it is the same Ben.
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Years ago as I was ooo-ing over a holly seedling in my rose bed, a more experienced gardener told me I had to be ruthless if I were going to one. I’ve never earned my badge in the ruthlessness, & am slightly trembling in fear at your prowess. Really love that watsonia, btw.
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In the end it is making less work/stress for yourself. I would have had that holly out in a jiffy, you turn your head for a moment and wham they are a tree! Thanks 🙂
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So agree about the need to be ruthless. It comes to me in waves. Also enjoying the pleasure of growing from seeds. What a stunner that grasshopper is. A six that sums up being a gardener!
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And me, some days I am a real pushover, lots of “last chances” given. On others, I can be quite mean!
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I have learned so much in one post. I’m hooked.
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So pleased about that!
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