I’m sure Peggy would write a note for me if needed, but I am equally confident you will believe that I missed last week’s SoS because my back was being a diva. It had started to grumble the previous weekend, possibly due to pent up fencer rage. Things did not improve even though I imposed a strict regime of totally ignoring the problem, downing analgesics, growling and wallowing in denial. Odd. Perversely, sitting at my computer was the most painful exercise, bending to take photos equally so. Which is why there was no SoS action. This week I have pushed on through, using the same holistic healing methods, during one of the soggiest, windiest most miserable weeks for months. I’m feeling much better now, my system obviously works. Please feel free to duplicate my modus operandi, copyright pending. I can especially recommend the grumpy bit. Enough of my troubles, pop over to Jim at Garden Ruminations to show you the Six on Saturday way. Shall we get on?
First we have Digitalis lutea, the straw foxglove, which is just coming into flower. Understated, delicate, slightly out of focus; remind you of anyone?
It’s rhodohypoxis time, always a joy. A little/lot of rain has really helped these come into their own.
The B side of Elvis Costello’s better known hit is, It’s Been a Good Year for the Peonies. Shirley Temple would definitely agree.
The impatiens are on the march, this Impatiens stenantha has formed a sturdy group. It is always the first of the gang to flower, doesn’t seed itself everywhere and even after a drought sulk, pops back up to shine again.
Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is having her moment. This bloom is squooshed between bud and bud.
Lastly we have Geranium ‘Splish Splash’. Perhaps a little more splish than splash or is it the other way round?
That is your lot, next time it will be summer!
Off The Edge Gardening 
The rhodohypoxis is very pretty.
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A lovely little plant, it is in a pot, I bet it would do well with you.
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Oh what a good idea!
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For those who can’t translate the language of the Heavens, I’d point out that “analgesics” means “red wine”.
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Don’t forget the whiskey macs!
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Oh poor you. A sore back really deserves to be moaned about. Perhaps you did the right thing by trying to work through it. Lovely photos this week – I adore roses, and Gertrude is up there at the top of the list. My Gertie is just about to open, and will probably make an appearance on next week’s Six. That’s an oh-so-pretty little geranium. Not one I’ve heard of but those lavender markings are gorgeous.
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It is a difficult balance, to keep moving but not to overdo it. Hopefully we are on the way up now. Splish Splash is lovely, but not very faithful.
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Sorry to hear of your back woes – really does put a dampener on everything, doesn’t it (my hips are currently protesting something – not sure what but they are protesting – must be all the rain).
I love that straw foxglove – I’ve never heard of that – must investigate!
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All this protesting is very annoying, hope they feel better soon. The foxglove is easy from seed, worth a go.
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Splish Splash is just perfect. Tempted, me? Yes. Love the peony too. My luteas have yet to open, I hope they look as good as yours! Your garden must be really filling up now. So lovely to see things coming on so well.
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It is filling up, but there is always room for another, or that is what I tell myself!
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Ooh, I can sympathise with the back! My ‘cure’ is sitting in the conservatory reading or cross-stitching with my husband keeping me well supplied with hot/cold drinks (depending on the season) and biscuits or cake. Maybe I should try your ‘analgesic’ method 🙂
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I like the sound of your treatment!
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Lovely Peony, we didn’t get enough of the wet stuff here in the south central.
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Perhaps some more for you this week?
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Glad your back is letting you function again! One never knows how much we need all those muscles, bones and ligaments until they are unhappy! So many great pictures! The straw foxglove, I am not familiar with, but it is nice. I also like the impatiens. We have a local native impatiens that I love. Bright orange or yellow flowers, and the best part: When you touch a ripe seed pod, the seed explode out of the pod. Very satisfying! The geranium is nice too. Delicate.
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You are quite right, we do take our health for granted. I love impatiens, your native one sound beautiful, is it a bit of a thug though?
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They say it is, if in the preferred conditions. Likes moisture, so often found in moist wooded areas or along a lakeshore. It will never invade my water stingy garden. If I can’t eat it, it will not get much water.
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Rhodopoxis and geranium Splish Slapsh are my favourite this week. John was right, the red wine solution can calm your pain for a while. Analgesics are more effective though. Good luck.
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Spoken like a true Frenchman! And thank you.
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Glad you are back at it – pun intended. May my Gertrudes be inspired by yours. At least they’re loaded with buds. Her blooms are great, but her thorns are scary!
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Thank you, not the best time of year to be suffering. The only way is up! I’m sure your Gertie will be on form soon, just keep your distance. 😀
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Oh, I am sorry that your therapy regime was slow to help. Perhaps more garden therapy is in order.
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Gardening does help, if I don’t get carried away, which is the problem!
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Well, yes, that is easy to do also.
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Glad you are recovering, so frustrating when backs misbehave! Gertrude and Shirley are the ones for me this week, so beautiful.
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Thank you and yes it is! They are beauties, even after the battering they have had over the last week.
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I’m glad you’re feeling better. A bad back can be miserable. That Peony is a beauty as is Gerty. ‘Splish Splash’ was the one of the rare times Wilko let me down – it turned out to be some purple variety instead!
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I bought 3 bare root Splish Splashes, one is blue, this one true, the other yet to flower. I think “variable” is the word!
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Ouch! I can relate all too well with back problems. I have to be ultra careful and yet I do need to get the mattock out and try and dig out the roots of the climber I mistakenly grew. Geranium ‘Splish Splash’ is very tempting. Now where can I find room for her?
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It is easier said than done to take the less back breaking route. We won’t change now, just grumble a little and get on with it. And, of course, there is always room for one more geranium!
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I’m glad you are feeling better. I sympathise, my back is fine, but I have been plagued by a knee problem for months. I have patellar tendonitis or jumper’s knee which is ironic as I have never jumped, or even run in my life. I might try your remedy, nothing else seems to work. Anyway, lovely six. Do you leave your rhodohyoxis outside in winter?
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Yes, in random terracotta pots and they don’t seem to worry at all. And thank you. Such a bore being broken.
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I thought they didn’t like frost. I left mine in the greenhouse where they got dried out. They didn’t like that. They would probably have preferred frost.
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These have come back year on year outside, admittedly tucked in a corner somewhere but no problems. Definitely worth a go in Cornwall.
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Seems it falls to me to concur with your take on Impatiens stenantha. I wouldn’t mind the odd seedling but get none; didn’t even get collected seed to germinate. It’s easy from cuttings but with seed there’s always the outside chance of something novel turning up.
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Nothing here, whilst the others are very prolific, which is the polite version.
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Wise advice! I stole my husbands lower back exercises and had a miraculous recovery! Rhodohypoxis is fabulous, it sounds like a disease. Maybe that is what happened to my back.
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I’m planning on cat/cows when I can get back on the floor without fear. I need to improve my core in the hope it doesn’t happen again for a while. Must work harder!
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The Digitalis lutea is a great example of the numerous foxglove species that are very much overlooked and underrated.
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I totally agree!
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Hey, I hope your back continues to improve. IT’s easy to get carried away in the garden when the ‘rage’ sets in and a task has to be completed.
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Oh, sorry about your back, but it sounds like you’re feeling better…good! All the blooms are stunning…wow, that ‘Gertrude Jekyll’!
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Thank you, getting a bit better day by day. Yes, Gertie is doing well this year, she is a real beauty.
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