Six on Saturday – Pale but Interesting

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inSix on Saturday, Welsh WalesTags:, , , , ,

It has been a challenging week to be a gardener. Mornings have been fine, a pleasure even, but by early afternoon it has been hard going. Still, I should not complain, our unseasonably warm temperatures are small beer compared to the climate crisis others are facing. There is lot more to lose than a couple of bedding plants.

Several weeks ago, a visiting friend of a client enquired about the theme of her garden. I looked askance. “The same as every garden: plants, wildlife and beauty”. No one told me about themes. Inclinations are more my thing. Generally, I am drawn to rich, spicy colours, but I have always been an advocate of a little subdued to set things off, to cleanse the palate. If you are not totally convinced by this terribly grown up attitude, you of course would be correct. It is not always by design. Often these “pale but interestings” are gifts or perhaps didn’t turn out the colour I was promised or maybe I was feeling contrary at the time of purchase. The truth is they have a valued place in my garden and perform an important role.

Let’s get on with the task in hand. Which of course, is Six on Saturday. Other, less waffling, folk can be found with our firm but fair leader, Jim at Garden Ruminations. It is probably a good idea to seek them out.

At this point in the season I can’t always remember if I have mentioned a loved one or not. Weeks when there is an abundance of riches, I hope more generous souls will hang on for another Saturday when other, more ephemeral princesses have swooned to seedpods. Then the moment has passed and the glory shot for another year. Hisbiscus trionum may have slipped under the radar. I may have rescued it from the jaws of obscurity. Too dramatic?

The flower heads of Pennisetum villosum have battled their way through the chaos to add softness and texture to the tapestry of floral ambition. I was laughing when I typed that.

When I went out into the garden, intent on taking photos for this piece, I thought “I’ll show the SoSers another view of things, something other than anarchy”. My eyes swept like a horti-lighthouse, searching for order and precision, and came away wanting. At least I tried. As my lovely friend, Torrington Tina, would say “It is what it is”. This is the Under The Tree Area (working title), AKA Bird Poop Land. I am a big fan of New Guinea Impatiens but by the time I worked out they would be perfect for this shady, dry spot, all that was left in the shop was Barbie pink. Topical but not first choice. Still they have done well and I rather like their jolly insistence. Note: What might appear to be an old baking tray in the centre of the photo is in fact Lido de Sparrow, a popular tourist destination Chez Nous.

Donated by my sponsor, the one that feeds me cake and lager, this is the first of my gladdies to flower. As pure as I would like to be.

In keeping with other roses in the garden, Rosa ‘John Ystumllyn’ is having an another crack at flowering. Have I told you the story about this rose? That I heard about the 18th century black gardener, who lived and worked in North Wales. That I heard about a rose dedicated to him. That I then found the very same rose on a pity bench for £1 and nursed it back health. I had? Oh, OK, sorry to repeat myself. It is bound to happen again.

Finally, Salvia ‘Waverly’ a rather lovely Salvia leucantha hybrid that I was introduced to by Welsh John. Today it dawned on me that I’ve forgotten to taken any cuttings. Oh dear, I may have missed the bus. Prepare to be wrenched from the ground, young plant!

All done, another six, I wonder if it will be autumn next week.

35 thoughts on “Six on Saturday – Pale but Interesting”

  1. but white ‘is’ a bright color! That white gladiolus is not actually a pale color. Although I have no problem with pale colors, I do know the difference between white and pale white, and if I want real white, I do not bother with white flowers that are supposed to be white but are not. (Oh my, I just confused myself.) I mean, for example, white Canna are NOT really white! They are very pale yellow. I have no problem with very pale yellow, but I do have a problem with Canna that are not white being described as such. The same applies to very pale yellow nasturtium that are supposed to be white.

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  5. I had tried to germinate the hibiscus trionum, but the seeds were not good (unfortunately because it’s a very pretty flower). This gladiolus is …wow! I also like the Salvia “Waverly”.
    Can you tell me what is the plant in the background of the pink impatiens ? (the one with a very pretty silver foliage)

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  6. No, I hadn’t heard the story about your white Welsh rose, so glad you repeated it! Love your hibiscus, so elegant, and your pennisetum is just waiting to be stroked!

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  9. I haven’t heard your story about John Ystumllyn, but as you brought it up, I had to go looking, and indeed the story of this man’s life (as far as it is known) is interesting. It’s nice to know that he had that lovely rose dedicated to him. Your Salvia ‘Waverly’ is gorgeous!

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  12. No-one has ever asked me what the theme of my garden is and now I desperately want someone to so that I can give an answer that weaves “tapestry of floral ambition” in somehow. I’m deeply suspicious of all such notions; themes, styles. The moment you put a label like that on someone will be telling you what you shouldn’t have in the garden.

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  13. Oh how I enjoy reading your posts regardless of theme or not. I don’t appear to do pale, but interesting exceptions being a white rose and white Cosmos. Unless pink counts? No? Thought not.

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  14. Lovely six. I was just pondering this week that I am in danger of repeating myself and writing the same thing about the same plants each year (and perhaps it was time to hang up my keyboard), but then I read about your lovely rose and I was so glad of the reminder because I had forgotten all about him.

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  15. That salvia is lovely! I definitely lean more towards picking pale yellows and creams over whites, but that’s mostly because pure white can sometimes feel a bit too overbearing to my eyes. Also, lots of white whites tend to be evening flowers, and given we hardly have any evening during most of the growing season, we barely get to see them!

    Also, what is this “theme” you speak of? I’m glad to have never been confronted with such a question, because a blank stare and “umm… plants?” might be my best answer 😂

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