Six on Saturday - 23 April 2022

 The Propagator Jon would most probably approve of some of my propagation this week.  I have no doubt he and other linking into this weekly group of home gardeners will have some interesting views of the past week in their gardens.  The link to Jon's post where everyone links into is included in this preface'.

1. Two pots of Persicaria runcinata Needham's Form ready and labelled to place on the HPS stall in Somerset this morning.  I received the seed  from Jim, who collected the plant/seed from Edward Needham's garden.  There is some question about the name, but I am going with Jim's.  Here in the garden it is hardy but dies down during the winter.  It has to be one of my favourite ground hugging beautiful leaved plants in the shady border. Grow wild name it as Persicaria sinuata EN. Is anyone able to tell me what the EN stands for? This is what it looked like last Summer, for me it is deciduous and winter dormant and has already started to show new growth with the delightful leaf shape.

2. I love the way the light catches the blooms on the Tiarella, which is flowering a couple of weeks earlier compared to last year.

3. Getting down to catch the morning light on flowers and foliage shows up the wonderful details on small plants.  The details has fascinated me, and if only I had the botanic words to describe them.  If all fails take a picture!

Polemonium reptans Lambroke Mauve

In early January as I was clearing some leaves blown to that area , a piece dropped off.  The side rosettes are quite brittle, I felt quite sad.  It also happened again a second time.  I am very pleased to say both bits took well, meaning I have three nice plants, and the new smaller ones are in flower and forming new side growths of their own.

4. Further up the same bed is a little plant I acquired at the HPS stall at Yeo Valley Gardens  just a few weeks ago. It is already forming the characteristic seed heads of that group of plants,  I know that dead heading really does promote more flowers, but  I have been watching the candelabra arrangement of the seed pods form over the last few days: green topped with red at the tips are the 'Storks' bills'. 

Erodium trifolium Sweetheart

I grew this in a previous garden but lost it the first winter.  Hopefully hear with less harsh winters and much better drainage it will come through to next year.

5.  Other attractive seedheads are forming and it is only April! Rich purple petals are no longer needed, now that the flowers have been fertilised.

6. When recently acquired plants flower for the first time, it can be either a pleasant thing or one in which one's sense of what is beautiful may be tested.  These two together could be termed a 'gothic' combination, and for now all I can say is that of the taller of the dwarf bearded Irises is behind the shorter one.  I would love to know your candid opinions on the DB Iris Gingerbread at the back.  DB stands for Dwarf Bearded. If I was to try and sell it I may tamper with the picture and  describe it a a mix of gorgeous browns. If it was in flower at the time of  perusing the plants would I have bought it?  Would you? Would you or I even want one?  The jury's votes are awaited.

I shall be spending the morning helping out on the HPS stall at our groups sale, and maybe I shall come back with plants surplus to a full garden! As for the weather update, another frost free week, but sadly no rain.  Have a good week everyone.