I have been a little slack on the blogging front recently. There are reasons of course, none of which I will bore you with at the moment. Rest assured, nothing bad. Hopefully anyway. I felt I should make a special effort this week. In missing a couple of Six on Saturdays, I’ve discovered that there is only so far you can push the patience of Akela. I had a note from my Mum (and it wasn’t even forged) and even Mr K said it would be OK ( on reflection it was a mistake to give him that money in recompense) but still there were repercussions. Believe me, a Propagator tantrum is something to behold. I would suggest that no one attempts to have even one week off, let alone two, it just isn’t worth it. There are sighs, there are mega-sighs and there are Propo-sighs. Less of the excuses, let us get on with it, Sunday is chomping at the bit.
First, we have Ageratum corymbosum, looking a little like a soggy muppet after our storms. Still I love it; the colour, the form, the everything.
Next is Tomato ‘Harzfeuer’; my first but hopefully not my last. I haven’t done well with my toms this year; I was late to the party. There is time enough to regain a little ground. A miracle however would be handy.
Now a potted cutting of Fuchsia procumbens ‘Variegata’, the mother plant is playing hard to get on the flowering front. I cannot get over the other-worldliness of these little psychedelic blooms.
Like many, I thought I would try my hand at a few more vegetables this year. My report card would say “easily distracted”. Here are some mixed oriental salad leaves that I sowed and forgot.
Now another fuchsia, I didn’t realise I was such a fuchsia fan. Perhaps it is time to stand up and be counted. This is F. ‘Thalia’. Lovely.
A self-inflicted rule is “you must always save the bee shot for the finale”. Here is our star, supping on a weather-ravaged Salvia involucrata ‘Hadspen’, a bit worn around the edges but still full of the good stuff. A lesson for us all perhaps.
That is your lot my friends. I hope all is well on your planets. Keep safe, happy and full of fun.
Your report card for this week: Great effort! I’ve upgraded you from good effort because of the bee and the inclusion of multiple fuchsias.
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You have a ripe tomato – that’s far more successful than me. I finally have a few green ones but time is running out for them. The soggy muppet description made me smile. The flower of the Fuchsia procumbens ‘Variegata’ (I had to copy and paste that) is wonderfully weird and pretty.
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I imagined everyone else dripping with fruit, glad I am not alone. I picked it and brought it in so a slug didn’t get it. In a couple of days we will have a tomato eating ceremony. 🙂
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Lovely bumble bee! Have you noticed what sort of insect pollinates the Fuchsia procumbens? With the petals bent back like that its reproductive parts are so exposed – it must have evolved like that for some specific reason. Unless, of course, it was just human genetic tinkering…
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I don’t know Chris, as soon as I see someone interested I will let you know.
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Hooray, you’re back! That bee photo is amazing – thank you for sharing it!
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My pleasure, although I can’t really take any credit, it just popped into view as I was lining up my shot!
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I love the ‘soggy muppet’ 🙂 Jealous of your ripe tomato. I’ve picked several green ones this morning and put them in the conservatory on plates to see if they will ripen in warmer conditions.
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That is the thing, it is so cold and miserable there is little hope for the poor things! Good luck with yours.
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I find that tomatoes will ripen off the vine if there is at least a hint of ripening when you pick them.
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I like that Ageratum, as you say, like a muppet. 😄 An unusual couple of fuchsias. Interesting Six-on-Saturday.
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Thanks Granny 🙂
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I am also a (new) fan of fuchsia and every year, I take cuttings from a new one to add to my collection. ‘Thalia’ for example is elegant and would do well for a future addition here … Stunning picture of this bumblebee on salvia…
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Thalia would definitely look good in your garden, put it on the list!
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I hope your tomato tastes as good as it looks. There should be time to get a few more ripe ones, and then there’s always green tomato chutney to make. The oriental salad leaves look yummy too. I did the classic of having more lettuce than I could eat in June and then got nothing much at all from the later batch.
I think the fushia Thalia has an elegance about it that some of the bi-colours don’t have.
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As soon as it stops raining the bees are it, great pictures. What a lovely unusual ageratum.
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Think the geranium I featured a while ago that you liked, has rooted, if you would like a piece.
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Yes please Sis, should I get the lettuce going to plant alongside? Is there anything I have featured recently that I could propagate for you?
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Yes! No you are fine at the moment. Can you DM me your address? x
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There are times for all of us when blogging has to take a back seat for a little while. You’re back this week, and that’s nice – I enjoy reading your posts.
The Ageratum corymbosum is very unusual and reminds a bit of the feathery hats that ladies used to wear many moons ago. A little bit of sunshine and your tomatoes will ripen, perhaps we’ll have a beautiful autumn. I’m not a fuchsia fan, but that’s because I’ve never had one – maybe it’s time. Thalia is lovely.
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We’ve missed you! I’m envious of those fuchsia. Another plant family that won’t make it through our long bleak winters.
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Thalia and procumbens are just the thing to get people who don’t really like Fuchsias to maybe think again. They’re a much more diverse group than most people seem to realise and the “different” ones aren’t so easy to find. I’m another fan of the soggy muppet!
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I also love, but fear Ageratum. My German tomatoes are being shy about sprouting, Riesenstreben or something. A final bee is better than my final grasshopper today..
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I never get a bee shot. I can only rarely get Rhody to fill in.
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Ah, we are all so pleased to see you back. What is it with tomatoes this year, ours don’t seem keen to ripen despite being in the greenhouse. The few that have are delicious!
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Fingers crossed for an Indian Summer!
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Sharing the tomato woes. The outside ones are ripening but barely a hint of red on the gh ones. I fear they will never make it onto the table. The first photo looked like a feather boa – thought you’d been out partying instead of blogging!
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We ate the tomato (half each) today. Extremely underwhelmed!
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Soggy Muppet is still beautiful and what a weird fuschia, hope the flower is equally so. x
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