It has been a rather discombobulating week, with midweek shenanigans and not much work. The little work I did proved to be rather beneficial, it seems that I am no longer in denial about the onset of autumn. It appears that I have caught up with everyone else, just in time for winter to rear its, potentially, ugly head. This week I have enjoyed being wrapped up against the elements, the drizzle didn’t bother me, the urge to tidy was strong and truly enjoyable. So much so, I worked in my own garden yesterday, before the “weather” arrived and I was reluctant to come in when it did. Today I will be celebrating the autumn garden. Well my autumn garden anyway. Six things in fact, which is just as well as this is Six on Saturday time again. Swan on over to The Propagator’s site to discover what it is all about Alfie, where to send your blank cheques and read contributions from other mugs like myself SoSers.
First we have more from the Bed of Anarchy, which on reflection does sound like a death metal band. The late flowering cerise cosmos are supporting themselves on the now monstrous Lycianthes rantonnetii. This Paraguayan nightshade is also commonly known as the blue potato bush, neither of which are particularly decorative names, and has grown to its predicted 2m in one bizarre growing season. Whether or not it will be allowed to stay is the subject of heated debate (with myself and therefore could run for weeks). It may be located to someone with a more appropriately sized garden.
Next we have some pyracantha fruit, admittedly looking quite beautiful. I may have mentioned it before (perhaps one hundred times) but I am not a fan of prickly plants. And they know it. This one, purchased by OH, is in a pot and has viciously stabbed me on numerous occasions. Intentionally. It knows it is quite safe.
Now for a newbie to the Heavenly Horti Family. This is Salvia ‘Phyllis’ Fancy’ gifted to me by my old friend Hero. I have long loved this salvia; hardy and long flowering and of course dreamily delicious with its violet calyx and tinged white flowers. It was necessary to prop her up against the scaffolding for a spot of industrial chic and the fact that she is rather floppy. At present she is banished to the naughty corner, as she brought a cargo of unwelcome whitefly with her. All the same, a lovely present.
Onto more fruit, this time of the honeysuckle. These strawberry jelly orbs are tasty morsels for hungry birds, fresh flowers are opening on a daily basis and it is quite thornless. Am I making myself clear?
Now we have a slightly battered flower of the osteospermum that never sleeps. A slight exaggeration perhaps (moi?). The Beasts stopped it in its tracks, but after a rather harsh chop back earlier in the year and some encouraging words it has come back fighting. Always a joy.
Lastly we have Salvia leucantha, doing a fine impersonation of a purple wet dog. It has been featured before, but realistically this is going to happen more often as the year progresses. I am hoping that rather like myself, your memories are more patchy than photographic.
That’s it! Another SoS completed! Thanks Mr P for your leadership. Same time, same place?
Off The Edge Gardening 
Lovely 6 Gill. My honeysuckle has been stripped bare by the birds this week so it must be the best time for the fruit,
Salvia leucantha -haven’t seen this salvia before I don’t think -very delicate and pretty colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a lovely salvia, worth finding out, but a little (lot) tender. Worth the trouble though! Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Nice Six! You told me about some of my photos that were nice, but yours too are smashing! Compared to some of us, you seem to still have flowers and especially colors. Enjoy!
LikeLike
Lovely first picture, but what’s all this ‘lycianthes’ milarkey? It will always be solanum to me. Do you find Salvia leucantha very late coming into bloom? Mine didn’t start until October which is cutting it a bit fine. The osteospermum is a fabulous colour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, I was trying to be a swot, shame on me. This is the first flower on the salvia! 🙂
LikeLike
Another lovely SoS.
If that Pyracantha needs a new forever home I will put up with its prickles. The colour of the fruit is just stunning. I am glad that you put ‘fruit’ in your blog or I would have called them ‘berries’. I obviously need some educating.
I love the Osteospermum, too, I must be having an orange mood today!
Excellent effort again, A*.
LikeLike
Funny you should mention fruit/berries because I thought about what to call them. Figured they are all fruit and that was the easy option. The osteo will be propagated in the morning. Thanks for the top marks x
LikeLike
I guess you will be letting OH keep his prickles.
LikeLike
He likes to share 😦
LikeLike
Six lovely colourful photos! What a gorgeous Osteospermum. I am guessing this must be a tender one? Name? I lost my so-called hardy ones with the ‘beast’ so I am keeping a beady eye on the new ones I bought. And thank you for naming the Salvia ‘Phyllis’ Fancy’ – I saw this in the Trengwainton gardens a week or so ago and wondered what variety it was. It is a beauty grown en masse.
PS Love the raindrops on the photos
LikeLike
The osteo has no name, bought it a couple of years ago from I can’t remember as just an osteo. Bit late but I will try and get a cutting for you.
LikeLike
No worries. I’ll search around for one next year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like wot others have said, lovely photos Gill, and that osteo is a right looker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pure class Mr P 🙂
LikeLike
Famous for it, me.
LikeLike
Lovely Oeteospermum. I had one very similar which I featured in a Six some time ago. I was rather proud of it, but then it up and died for no good reason. Why do Osteospermums (sperma?) do that sometimes, I wonder? Your two Salvias are lovely.
LikeLike
Still looking great at your place!
LikeLike
Just in case I did not already ask, are orange pyrcanthas more popular there than red ones are? I have not seen an orange one in a nursery in many years, and I have not seen a yellow one since I was a kid. I think I prefer the red ones, but an orange one would add a bit of variety.
That honeysuckle is pretty close up. It sort of makes me wonder what the rest of it looks like. Is it grown for fragrant flowers? I keep finding the native honeysuckle at work. I used to be protective of them, and prune them up nicely, only because those who like natives seem to like the native honeysuckle. I am not so protective of them now. I will clean up one if it happens to be in the right place. Otherwise, I am not too impressed by them.
LikeLike
Well now that you have educated us on the fact that Pyracantha produces fruits (which are, of course, different from berries (except when they’re not)), can we look forward next week to your recipe for Pyracantha jelly? Or maybe you’ll make OH a Pyracantha tart? Because, as we all know, Pyracantha berries (which are technically fruits according to high and mighty types) are edible. Tho I didn’t know that Honeysuckles produce strawberry (an ‘aggregate fruit’ in a class of its own) jelly! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Que?
LikeLike
You started it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
Beautiful Six. I’ve acquired a few new Salvias this year and Phylis’ Fancy has been added to the list for next year
LikeLike
Thank you, I don’t think you will be disappointed with Phyllis, she is a worthy list member.
LikeLike
You started it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deja vu
LikeLike
That salvia is gorgeous. Like one that’d survive the winter, & that one’s really something else in the good looks dept. Much better so if it’s STD gets taken care of.
LikeLike
It is a beauty isn’t it, fingers crossed for the winter!
LikeLike