Six on Saturday - 29 June 2019

I'm going The Propagator again this week....It is very hot here, too hot to go outside, it is 31 C in the shade at 4 p.m.!  When the sun is setting,  I may go and sit out with my feet in a tub of cold water, but then I may retire inside away from the sound of the G Festival.  We are several miles away, I wonder what festival goer's hearing will be like after this weekend? 

Even if you are away for just one week...I bet one of the first things you do is to have a little look at what has happened in the garden.  The short carpeting thyme is out, and producing lots of nectar for the bees.  It is fitting therefore that I offer this picture as my first item for SOS this week.

Round by the circle

Anaphalis margaritacea

For each of us plant lovers there are things that attract us to particular plants or groups of plants.  I love plants with interesting foliage, and shape.  I had grown this in previous gardens, and this year I felt it was time I planted it again.  

Bought this year from Totworth Plants at the Spring Bishop's Palace Rare Plant Fair: Anaphalis margaritacea  caught my eye on our return.  Of course it is yet to flower, however, its lance shaped leaves with silver stems  contrasts well with the various shapes around.  

Back in May, I shared this tub on SOS which held the Clematis Viennetta. And on our return this is what greeted me.....

Clematis Viennetta

The stems are soft and pliable so as the lengthen I bend them back down and round.  At the base to give shade I have some ferns and a white bedding fibrous begonia that is in its third season, which just keeps on going.  

Blocking my path, a few fallen annuals.  I usually love Love in the Mist, but these thugs were poorly placed, and far too tall for their position by the edge of the path.  They were a long time in bud, and only opened in the last week.  They were autumn sown so I think much stronger that the plant from which I had saved seed last year. I think they are Nigella Hispanica African Bride origin.

On the other side of the Circle towards Acer Corner, I am far happier with the shorter plants by the edge. Achillea × lewisii 'King Edward' again planted this year is one that I have grown many times before.  In my opinion this is a really good plant for the front of the border, isn't it looking just right against the tiny Sedum hispanicum glacum and sedum spathulifolium purpureum?

For my sixth SOS I am posting a picture of a little plant I saw growing at Marwood Hill Gardens, in the hope that someone may know its name.  I asked in the nursery, but they were unable to help.  Its leaves are wide and soft and almost like a grass.  There were some paler creamy flowered types further along, as   well.  Mr S was a little gardened out by the end of the holiday....however this garden was more to our taste compared to RHS Rosemoor....

Here is the 'creamy' coloured one...I think maybe more white with a hint of pink.  I've put this up after Jim suggested it was Freesia Laxa,