Usually I take my photos and write some of my Six on Saturday the day before, tweaking and posting on Saturday morning. No great scandal there. This week is different. I am not here. I am somewhere else with OH and Lady Mantle. Also no scandal. Actually, the day is young, so no promises. It would be sensible to have the week off. The problem lies in the fact that I have things that I really, really, really, really want to show you and they might not be here next week. Who knows, none of us might be. Now that would be a scandal. Although much was constructed earlier in the week, here I am, attempting to blog from my phone in a far away country called Cheltenham. Wish me luck. A man not unknown to the tabloids, Jim at Garden Ruminations, will reveal much more. Let’s shake a leg, there’s fun to be had!
Rhododendron ‘Graziella’ is beginning to flower. We bought this a couple of years ago when, on the way to a family holiday in Cornwall, we stopped off for refreshments at a Somerset garden centre. It would have been rude not to have purchased a little momento and I am a very polite individual.
One for Tony. Eschscholtizia californica, California Poppy, in all its perfectly pure glory.
My first tomato flowers of the year. I may have been a little ambitious with my variety choices. And the amount of plants. Clients will be taking some, even those not keen, and friends and family will be strongarmed. There is little hope for me. I’m just a gal who can’t say no. This is Orange Banana.
Each year I get a little fonder of geums. This is Mai Tai. The delicate peach flowers are most suitable for soft focus. That is my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
I first saw Jovellana punctana in the walled garden shop of Marwood Hill Gardens. There are many things to relish in that statement. One of my favourite gardens, where I have met some wonderful people and bought some amazing plants.
I grew this Iochroma australe (possibly called other things which in this moment of time do not concern me) from seed last year. They are extremely variable in colour. Apparently white is quite rare. I am ecstatic and slightly indigo bereft at the same time.
There we have it, Six on (nearly) Saturday. Have a great weekend. We certainly plan to!
Off The Edge Gardening 
Already tomato flowers! All this is well ahead of mine, but so much the better you will be able to enjoy them. About the jovellana, I have one plant in the garden for several years. I had flowers the first 2 years and I have fewer now because the plant suffers every winter despite the protection. But it starts again from the ground.
The little bells are really pretty.
Finally, about the iochroma, I had several sowing failures because the seeds once germinated are very slow to grow and have rotted. I must not have the right method.
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This is the only iochroma that made it through. I will definitely save seeds to try and get a blue one. And to share with friends, of course. The jovellana is in a pot and out all winter. It didn’t flower last year but has a lot this year – a milder winter perhaps? My other tomatoes are further behind, these seem very vigorous. Hope the bees find them!
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Ah! Splendid!
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😀
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Marwood Hill Gardens, the shop, the plant you bought, and the view from ‘the lounge’ through that big picture window….transport me there instantly! Enjoy Cheltenham.
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Oh yes, the best seat in the house!
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Don’t get too boastful. It’s well-known that bananas typically flower before tomatoes. It’s less-well-known that Orange Bananas is, or was, the name of a pop group. More immediately, I can confirm that you are most definitely not here, which isn’t something you could ever say (think carefully!).
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You know I don’t do thinking.
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Supplementary…. I had several Mai Tai here. Today, I can’t find them. Uh?????????
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You had one Mai Tai, it is still there.
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Ah, so I am not the only one taking liberties this week. You have a few unusual plants. I have seen jovellana down here, but not tried to grow it myself. It is pretty.
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Jovellana should be perfect with you, it is so pretty in flower.
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The scandal is forgiven since you have posted such delightful photos. The ‘Mai Tai’ is making my taste buds tingle for some reason..
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Phew! Mai Tai is lovely, I moved it last year as it was struggling in its former position, seems much happier now.
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Enjoy your trip out and about. Lovely flowers, a couple quite new to me. Flowers on tomatoes already? Oh my!
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Thanks Rosie x
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And can you actually keep Jovellana? It quickly turns up its toes in my garden. Mai tai is such a lovely colour but geums are another plant that doesn’t stay around long for me.
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I think I must have a super specimen, it seems particularly happy this year. Not to gloat, of course. 😀
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A beautiful selection. I love the Geum. Cheltenham is a great place – me and my OH go boating in a park there sometimes!
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Thanks Graeme, we had a lovely time, lots and lots of people though, not used to that!
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I’m slightly relieved not to be the only one with Jovellana on their deceased list. Then again, it’s a very very long list.
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It has struggled on ocassion but so far pulled through. It really needs repotting, perhaps that will kill it.
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I now have about 8 geums, Mai Tai isn’t one of them although I did buy another one in the cocktail range recently.
Enjoy Cheltenham!
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They are such good plants, I love them, I want more! And thanks, it was wonderful, still recovering though 😀
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I have similar tomato issues, orange banana? I can’t wait to hear about this one. Everybody else looks great.
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Apart from being orange (hopefully) we will both have to wait and see. I will definitely report back.
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Good, my Brad’s Atomic tomatoes were weird.
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Oh, I like the sound of them!
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Yellow pear and sweet 100 are better.. trying sungold now.
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Sungold is yummy, did you think so?
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This is my first time growing them. The plants are 3 inches tall! I hope to find out.
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A beautiful selection and happy memories of Marwood Hill gardens. Enjoy Cheltenham and say ‘Hello’ to OH and Lady Mantle 💕
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Happy days indeed, one day we will revisit. We planned to last autumn but it didn’t work out. I’ll definitely let you know if we are in the area. x
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Oh do please! It will be lovely to see you 🥰
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My tomato plants are just inches tall, I doubt they’ll ever catch up with yours. The little bells on the Jovellana punctana are so pretty. But now that you mention Geum ‘Mai Tai’ I was given one last year by my sister, and I haven’t seen it appear yet. Perhaps I’m looking in the wrong place, I need to go and look!
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Isn’t it funny how we do that, forget a plant until prompted. I do, and I’ve got the tiniest garden!
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