There is seldom need to sow nasturtium more than once. Not in my world anyway. In this garden we dance a horticultural dance, sometimes I am leading, more often not. At this time of year they are ever marching like a marauding army. Tumbling through and over and round, charming constrictors in opal fruit hues. Rarely do I have the inclination to pull them aside. It could be that I am aware that their days are naturally numbered. The caterpillars are munching and before long a wayward frost will turn them to mush. I am confident that next year they will return as strong as ever, just a few months hiatus in their domination. And yet again I will let them run wild.
Six on Saturday – Still Waiting
Once more unto the Six on Saturday, the global meme hosted by superhero The Propagator. Following last week’s “Nearly’s” I am sorry to report that out of the six potential stars we only have one performer, and that is rather a half-hearted attempt.
So we will start with something that is at least trying, a honeysuckle, holding its flower head high above the griselinia hedge below. No idea where it starts, or indeed where it ends, but I claim it as our own.
Next we have Pelargonium ‘Pink Capricorn’ and friend. I featured this little beauty a couple of years ago in Pastel Power. This means it has survived the onslaught of two wet and windy North Devon winters. Fingers crossed for the next one! And of course for the for the spider.
Here we have the sole member of last week’s bud group that could be bothered to flower in time for today. Salvia corrugata is making a feeble effort to bloom. Don’t you realise that people are waiting!?
Having just tallied them up for the first time, I can report that we have five Japanese maples in pots. They are various unnamed Acer palmatum cultivars, bought as tiny sticks many years ago. Several were from Woolworths, ah the wonder of woolies, we miss you.
Another anonymous osteospermum, I love this copper colour, and like its golden counterpart included a couple of weeks ago, it has enjoyed a summer snuggled on a sunny step outside the kitchen door.
Lastly we have another ginger lily, unfortunately not the one I was hoping for. Hedychium greenii has not moved one iota. Still this first reserve hedychium has a stunning flower, a worthy understudy. It was gift from Steve and Dawn at Devon Subtropical Garden. To my great shame I have lost the label and don’t know which ginger it is. I thought it was Devon Cream, but looking at it now I don’t think so. Rubbish gardener. Steve and Dawn’s garden is open for the National Garden Scheme tomorrow, if you are in the area I highly recommend a visit.
That’s the lot, thanks Mr P! I have a note from my mum for next week, so hopefully in a fortnight, like Arnie, I’ll be back.
Generous
I might not have a large garden, or access to an allotment, but I do have wonderful and generous clients. Thanks Mr and Mrs Fish, they were delicious!
Fashionably Late
As a girl in the 1970’s my mum bought me a moss-green corduroy trouser suit, and I looked like the bee’s knees. Or rather I imaged that I did. It was rather avant garde for St Ives CP Junior School. There were “looks”. Since then I have allowed the latest trends to get lukewarm before I decide whether to adopt them or not. Never at the cutting edge, somewhere just behind, at a safe distance.
Fashion in horticulture I have tried to avoid altogether. Of course none of us are immune to the great marketing machine. We get sucked into the current wave and are carried along unintentionally. Generally I manage to stay out of trouble. A visit to Hampton Court Flower Show sealed the contract. What seemed like dozens of people staggered back and forth, parading their new purchase, the standard shrimp willow, Salix integra. It was a rather disturbing sight, watching these bizarre trees bobbing past at regular intervals. My reaction was “Why on earth would you want to buy the same plant as everyone else?”.
In May 2011 Anemone ‘White Swan’ won Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year. In August 2017 I liberated one from the bargain bin of a garden centre. I call it fashionably late.
The Journey
My daily commutes range from a scant 10 minutes to a country half an hour. Both have their advantages. An extra few minutes in bed is always a joy, especially as winter gallops towards us, but I also enjoy the longer journeys. My music is invariably playing, problems are solved, plans are made. And early in the morning, the views are all mine.
Lantana
A t-shirt and refreshing (non-alcoholic) cold drink day. Felt full of vim even though I have got a code in my dose. Love my job. Love this lantana too.
Still Going Strong
Today’s gardening duties were straight out of The Book of Horticultural Cliches, chapter three Autumn. Collecting seed, moving perennials, tidying, planning for next year. Hesperantha were flowering, a cerise cyclamen popped and we swept the first of the leaves that had fallen in the recent gales.
This rich-red pelargonium however was having none of it. Summer was reigning its corner, its luminescence keeping the changing season at bay. Still going strong. Long may it continue.
Six on Saturday – The Nearlys
Saturday again and here is my contribution to The Honourable Mr P‘s Six on Saturday. There is a thread running through this post, all my featured plants have something in common. They are all Nearlys. Not quite flowering. Bearing in mind the recent weather, I can quite understand their reticence. In the hope that by next week at least some of them may be in bloom, I will keep my words sparse. It might help build the drama.
Our first plant is Salvia corrugata which is a little way off blooming, but with a sun-filled week it might be performing by next time. So it is likely to be the week after.
Next we have a white cupid’s dart, Catananche caerulea ‘Alba’. It was grown from seed so we will see if it comes true. Soon.
On to the delightfully diddy, dwarf Tibouchina urvilleana. I will try and find out its cultivar name for next time. Looking hopeful for an imminent flowering.
Now for a salvia, Salvia atrocyanea, which is not only looking like flowering for the first time this year but for the first time ever. Maybe a couple of weeks, fingers crossed.
What next, oh yes, Bulbinella frutescens, grown from seed this year. Just beginning to show off its starry yellow blooms. Perhaps by next week it will look a little more impressive.
And finally Hedychium greenii, perhaps my favourite ginger lily. That I have met so far. You never know what is around the corner waiting to tempt you. Also a little way off flowering, you may have to wait a few weeks to see this little beauty.
Which makes six (I did check). Thanks Mr P. Same time, same place?
Favourite
Perhaps my favourite watsonia seedling. Until the next one flowers, at least.
Strange Fruit
This strange fruit caught my eye today at The Farm.
On closer inspection all became clear.
In the past year I have created a new tradition. When harvesting tomatoes I throw any that have split or been munched by one of the non-human inhabitants of the greenhouse, out of the door and over the scrubby hedge towards the new orchard. Here, I imagine, the local wildlife will gorge on this sweet feast. Perhaps the ponies, wandering in their summer pasture will enjoy a few. Maybe a forest of new plants will appear next spring.
What I didn’t consider, in my greenhouse musings, was that one of my lobs would land square on the spine of a hawthorn tree forming part of the hedge. I wonder what any passing birds will think of this bizarre creation? Hopefully that it is very tasty!
When I wasn’t playing Spear the Tomato I was collecting seed. Most especially from a wonderful scabious of which I have gathered a fair amount. I featured this marvellous plant earlier in the year, here is a reminder Scabiosa ‘Plum Pudding’ . Anyone (within reason) who would like some seed, please let me know.
Off The Edge Gardening 