Well, that has been an interesting week. I’ve worked in waterproofs and t-shirts. I’ve fretted about kamikaze mothers. I’ve relished the sun on my back and cursed the relentless drizzle. I’ve planted bulbs, bulbs, bulbs. I’ve collected seeds, seeds, seeds. I’ve got through, which some weeks is enough. And I hope you all have too. There is still plenty of life in the garden, looking a little bedraggled perhaps, but if you’d seen me after a day at The Prof’s you would think they got off lightly. I’ve tried to pick the best for this Six on Saturday; the stalwarts, the late comers and the hanger-ons. If you would like to follow other SoSers or even join in, it comes highly recommended, all will be revealed on Jim’s site Garden Ruminations. Let’s leap into the fray!
Every year I plant marigolds with my tomatoes, one in each pot, in attempt to protect them from aphid. It seems to work. The toms are finished but the tagetes persist, having self seeded themselves further giving some welcome autumn sunshine.
This French lavender, Lavandula stoechas, was rescued from the Pity Bench a couple of weeks ago, along with another similar. In PB terms they were in rather good condition and I will keep them safe over this winter before letting them out into the semi-wild. Which has got me thinking …. what does Fred call French lavender.
The Woolies acers are colouring up nicely. In fact, I think it is best I’ve seen them, which is odd as I thought it was connected with summer sun, and we certainly didn’t have a lot of that.
A new salvia, Salvia fulgens, is waiting in line to enter the Tardis greenhouse. I have grown this one before and I know that once it gets going it is quite tough. We will see, but not until next year when I’ve got strong cuttings going.
This is a late sown cosmos, which only started flowering a couple of weeks ago. It has been blown and buffeted and still stands. A round of applause for effort. And it is rather pretty, which surely deserves a cheer.
Yes, another salvia, after this there is only one more to go and I am not sure if it will make it to flower. We will have to wait and see. Let us remain in the present and think of this dark beauty, Salvia x jamensis ‘Nachtvlinder’. Nachtvlinder means moth in Dutch, literally ‘night-butterfly’. An appropriate name and a fabulous flower.
That’s us all done for another week. Soon be Christmas.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Lovely colour on that Acer this week. It is clear and sunny here this morning….Hope we have a good week for all your bulb planting.
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Thanks Sis, I think fair to middling is the forecast.
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What a fabulous selection. You wouldn’t happen to remember what variety the acer is? I’m thinking of adding one here and all the garden centres seem to focus on ‘Bloodgood’. I have to say the name is putting me off! I also plant marigolds with tomatoes but this year the slugs won and not one survived. Have a great weekend.
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It’s just a random Woolworths acer, no name, I’m afraid. It was just a stick when we bought it.
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How cute is this salvia fulgens; it looks like velvet and bravo for the photo of the Japanese acer leaves, what colour!
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I love a furry flower!
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I admire your spirit getting out in all weathers. I’d be calling in sick. That last salvia ‘Nachtvlinder’ is such a fabulous colour, but is it hardy? I have succumbed to buying three small Amistads and dared to put two into the garden with fingers firmly crossed, but the other one remains in a pot – do I leave it outside under a bench for protection? Or bring it into the conservatory? My success rate with salvias is very very low…
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It takes a lot of effort, but the fact that I don’t get paid if I don’t work is an incentive! I am hoping that Nacht (don’t make me spell it again) is pretty hardy. Watch this space, or tears. Amistad is much less tough, I would bring your back up inside and water sparingly.
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Plenty of lovely colour this week, I think you saved the best till last with “Nachtvlinder” though, it’s lovely.
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It is my favourite too (today) 😊
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Oooo! The night butterfly! So pretty! I also love cosmos, but the wind is quite brisk from the north along the side yard. The native plants in front of my veg beds protect the vegetables from the worst of it, but I don’t have a great place for cosmos. I have never seen that lavender but read that we call it spanish lavender. Apparently we call L. dentata French lavender.
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These cosmos have done very well in the wind, maybe worth a shot especially if you grow them from seed.
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Gorgeous color on Nachtvlinder! I laughed at “pity bench” what a great name for it.
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I wish it was my name, but I copied it from elsewhere. ☺️
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They’re all pretty, but that last salvia is a stunner.
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Cutting? ✂️
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That Woolies acer is a stunner. I still miss Woolworths. Standing ovation for the Cosmos.
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Me too, Woolies will go down in history and us less-than-young will nod and tut and remember the good times. Which is how it should be.
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You can’t beat an acer at this time of the year. S. Nachtvlinder is one of the stayers in the garden. S. Water Melon is another. Do you have it?
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I don’t, which I think might be remiss!
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ooohhhh, fantastic salvia. so is the Acer, I thought rain made the good fall color.
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That would make sense!
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Spanish lavender; that is what we know Lavandula stoechas as. French lavender, as we know it, is Lavandula dentata. You are much closer to both Spain and France, though. Lavandula stoechas self sows nicely here, without becoming invasive.
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I’m confused 😕
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Lavandula stoechas = Spanish lavender (here)
Lavandula dentata = French lavender (here)
However, because you are closer to France and Spain, you likely know more about what is French and Spanish. Spanish lavender sometimes self sows here.
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The marigolds provide a vibrant splash of colour.
I love your photographs. Each flower or subject photographed with care … unlike mine which are point and shoot
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Thank you, I do try, but I’m sure you do too x
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’Nachtvlinder’ is one of my favourite Salvias – such a rich colour and so reliable. I like the tardis greenhouse idea, I definitely need one of those.
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I am seriously concerned that my greenhouse is not going to be big enough for everything allocated!
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