Six on Saturday – Small but Pefectly Formed, Mainly

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inChez Nous, Six on SaturdayTags:, , , , , ,

We are fair motoring through May.  I have an inkling we may be surpassing the speed limit.  It is hard to believe that already this is the last Six on Saturday for the month.  Whoever is in charge of time monitoring could they please slow it down a little?  There is an awful lot to do before summer begins.   Someone who is never to busy to herd us SoSers into some kind of order is The Propmiester, pop over to his site and you will find out what, where and how from across the known universe.

Shall we begin with a newcomer to the fold, Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’.  She arrived at Chez Nous with last week’s osteospermum and argyranthemum.  My plan was to trickle in these purchases so you wouldn’t judge me as someone with a minusule garden who keeps sowing seeds and taking cuttings and can’t be trusted to leave the house for a loaf of bread without coming home with a new plant.  This viola is an irresistible wonder.  A black hole of a flower, with a smidgeon of indigo ringed yellow at the epi-centre, drawing you ever inwards to your doom.  Perhaps not doom, more likely some delicious nectar and a truck load of pollen, if that is your tipple.

Unlike its hirsute cousins (and to be honest who doesn’t have one lurking somewhere in the family) this Iris sibirica is tall and elegant and understated.  The Salvia gesneriiflora photobombing the shot hasn’t stopped flowering since February and is getting bigger and flowerier (yes that is a word) by the day.  We won’t let its exuberance overshadow the restrained beauty of the iris.  Keep your eyes central everyone!

It is rhodohypoxis time again.  This might sound a little like an embarrassing medical condition but in reality refers to these alpine iced gems.  Somehow three varieties got mixed up and the garden demons stole their labels.  Therefore they are known as an assortment of loveliness.  It is my party.

On to Viola sororia ‘Freckles’ which found its way into my shopping bag last year.  It is the first time it has flowered for me and although very attractive I have a feeling it has yet to get into its stride.   Perhaps the dry weather is upsetting it (I am loathe to say drought just yet).

I grew this adorable Aquilegia canadensis from seed and the first flower is just beginning to unfurl.  Compared to the other self-seeding thugs that dominate our garden, albeit beautifully, at the moment, it is a breath of delicately fresh air.

Unlike Aquilegia ‘Egg’ which was also grown from seed.  This brassy number is bold and brash and shouts a whole lot louder than any other columbines in the vicinity.  I expect you can hear it from where you are.  It is called Egg because the seed was harvested at the farm where we get our eggs.  I suppose it was lucky it wasn’t called Chicken.

There we have it, another six done and dusted.  Next stop June!

30 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Small but Pefectly Formed, Mainly”

  1. Your Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’ even if they are black, catch the light: impressive!
    I like the aquilegia ‘Egg’ too. Makes me think of getting seeds of red aquilegias because I only have purple, pink, white, yellow ones…

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  2. Your red columbines are striking. They also make me envious that you can photograph red flowers. And black! Wow, what a viola. I love Freckles as well. All your smalls are very delectable!

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      1. I wondered if anyone still used the word in that way. Should’ve known if anyone caught the pun, it’d be you!

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  6. Love Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’. I bought a few named violas this year and they are very pretty, but delicate colours, now I wish I’d gone darker. You have some enviable plants in your plot.

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  9. With the prop on liking the rhodohypoxis but I will be more polite! I like your party and will have to see if I can start one of my own. Always reassuring to know that others can’t be trusted to shop for a loaf of bread.😊

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  12. Were you surprised to find Molly in your trolley? Your hope is fulfilled – she is an evergreen perennial. Deadhead like mad and when the first flush of flowers ends, a light haircut will help to promote further flowering through to autumn. If you want to multiply your stock, take some of the young growth that emerges after aforementioned haircut to use as cuttings (don’t try to propagate from seed). Your aubergine (get it?) also looks like a canadensis (I assume the foliage is of another plant) save that the stamens are too short. Maybe it’s a “new” hybrid.

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  13. Ah, the black pansy! Back in the early nineties, my ‘ethnic’ colleague Brent made a point of growing many of these at his parents’ home near Los Angeles. Of course, I had to plant almost as many white ones in my garden. They did not last more than one season (autumn to spring). Black was not a good color for his garden; and as much as I like white, pansies were not a good choice for my garden.

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  14. Freckles self seeded like crazy in France where it had a weekly soak of well water but her in my garden I sadly lost it so hope you have more success, it’s very cute dare I say that for a plant!!

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