This week my Six on Saturday is going to feature New Kids on the Block. I hope you won’t too disappointed to discover I am not talking about the 1980’s boy band but newbies in my garden. Some are very recent acquisitions, fresh out of their wrappings, some have been in town a little longer but are just getting around to flowering. All are giving me great joy at the moment. Sorry? You don’t know what Six on Saturday is all about? Well you better pop straight on over to our leader The Propagator’s site and all will be revealed. If you can’t be bothered, just try to keep up. Mind you, I would recommend a visit to El Prop, you can see what others are up to and the rules of the game and other such frippery. I will leave it up to you and your conscience. Shall we proceed.
First Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ rescued from a bargain bin during a convenient garden centre stop off on the way to visit my Mum last week. He did not come alone. It was a bumper harvest, and although some of my crammed car of rescuees were destined for clients this was always going to be mine, mine, mine. It is indeed blue and marvellous.
Now for the beautiful Dahlia ‘Bishop of York’. This was purchased earlier in the season in a “grab all you can bulb and tuber sale”. Well that is how I read it anyway. Initially destined for another garden, it didn’t quite make it, clinging on here by its roots crying “please keep me, I will flower well for you and you will grow to love me”. How could I resist. Although there are full blooms, I rather liked the way this one is partially open. And I do love it.
Next my garlic harvest, much better than I thought it would be, laid out totally randomly to dry on our courtyard bench. The breed is Dario, which I haven’t tried before, and I’m very happy with it. Mine you, the proof is in the eating/vampire repelling.
I have had Dierama ‘Kilmurry White’ in the garden since sometime last year and I can’t even remember buying it. All I do know is that again it was a bargain. It is a wonderful pure white, and backed by the deep purple penstemon, looks a picture.
This Begonia fuchsioides was a travelling companion with the blue salvia and, considering how brittle it is, came home remarkably unscathed. It is a plant I have read about, and might even be on one of my many Lust Lists dotted around the kingdom. The only downside is that it is another Tender Trevor when I should really be buying Robust Roberts. Hey ho!
Lastly, and off the scale of loveliness, is Roscoea purpurea ‘Wisley Amethyst’. Grown in a pot, safe from the rough and tumble of the border, it is just as beautiful as I was hoping it would be. Long may it live.
That is it, all done. Until next time ….
Like you I do like this dahlia not quite open … it gives it a kind of charm !
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in good company then! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your garlic looks much better than mine. It also has a nice pinkish tinge to it. I’ll have to look out for that variety come the autumn… which is a long way off yet!
LikeLike
That garlic is huge – much bigger than mine (maybe I dug them out too early). Will make a note of your variety.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get the bulbs from a lady on the Isle of Wight, always good. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dierama ‘Kilmurry White’ is rather lovely and as you say perfect with the penstemon. Nice to see your newbies 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think there are a few whites out there, and as this one chose me I can’t complain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful dahlia and well done on your bumper garlic harvest!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not bad for a pot I suppose, thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seen any vampires recently? So it must be working perfectly – we’ve not seen any either. Lovely photos. I assume you use a real camera, not just the mobile phone?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not a single vampire, not that I’d recognise as one anyway. Must be working. Thanks, it is a real camera, I do take pics on my phone, but usually just at work. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flowers are wonderful, but the garlic looks great! Hope it succeeds in its twofold mission!
LikeLike
Thanks Chris!
LikeLike
Would definitely keep that salvia myself, but the Bishop, well he’s very elegant w/his cow lick hair. Your garlic looks very yummy. Do you use it to season or do you eat roast garlic all on its own?
LikeLike
Congrats on your garlic, mine was a mixed bag, with some bulbs refusing to clove up. Still, an easy crop and one of the few things that will stand up to 2nd fiddle conditions and husbandry in my garden.
LikeLike
Are you saying that I have a good crop of garlic because it is easy to grow …….
LikeLike
Are you accusing me of casting nasturtiums?
LikeLike
Yes, and aquilegias!
LikeLike
Both! I do a lovely braised garlic chicken with whole heads that you can squeeze the gooey loveliness out of. Dribble, dribble. 🙂
LikeLike
You certainly get some interesting ones. This week, I recognize only the garlic and dahlia. The salvia and begonia do not even look like a salvia or begonia. They really are unusual.
LikeLike
Congrats on your garlic, mine was a mixed bag, with some bulbs refusing to clove up. Still, an easy crop and one of the few things that will stand up to 2nd fiddle conditions and husbandry in my garden.
LikeLike
The Wisley Amethyst looks so delicate that I am not surprised you are growing in a pot.
LikeLike
Hope I can get it over wintered, maybe two flowers next year!
LikeLike