Top of the morning to you! Welcome to another Six on Saturday post. It’s been a bit wet and wild at times this week; a bit of a contrast to the sweaty heat of the previous week. As usual, The Propagator is providing a home for all Six on Saturday lovers, so head over there to take a look around. Without further ado, here are my Six:
1. Dierama pulcherrimum
This plant, or group of plants, came from some seed I collected in a garden I used to work at. The garden was absolutely colossal, but I only looked after about half of it (if that). The second half of it had been a nursery and cut flower garden, which the owner’s now deceased husband had run to supply her floristry business. This second half was a complete wilderness by the time I worked there: brambles dominated and Silver birch and Sycamore saplings were starting to establish themselves. In amongst all of this were a few things that remained from it’s former days. One of those was a magnificent clump of Dierama from which I collected some seeds. The whole second half of the garden was bought out by HS2 and the lady moved away so I no longer work there, but the seed I took germinated really well.
With that little story out of the way, back to the reason I’m featuring this; namely, colour variation. The clump consists of several different seedlings planted together, which is now becoming apparent. The plant pictured on the left has the deepest colour, and is my favourite. To the right is a paler coloured flower. The clump as a whole is a mix of shades of pink between these two extremes.
2. Fuschia ‘Hawkshead’
I hadn’t realised until I uploaded the photo, but this was grown from a cutting taken in the very same garden. The shrub as a whole is just starting to come into it’s own, but I love the delicate charm of the individual flowers.
3. Thalictrum delavayi
You can just about see the Fuschia in the bottom right of the photo, but the star of this picture is the Thalictrum catching the evening light. This year it’s done better than ever: more flowers and more height. I’m perpetually surprised by it’s appearance as I keep forgetting it’s there until it’s loose, breezy flowers appear in the summer.
4. Dactylicapnos torulosa
I did a blog post earlier this week about this fun little annual Climbing Dicentra, but here are a couple of photos anyway. Firstly, it’s tangled tendrils: so fine and delicate. Secondly, it’s twisted red seed pods: positively diabolical.
5. Corydalis linstowiana
I’ve featured Corydalis linstowiana before, but while we’re on the subject of unusual seed pods I thought I’d feature it again. The two sides of the pod are spring-loaded, ready to curl back and catapult the seeds away at the slightest touch. If you grab the end of the seed pod, you can usually keep a hold of it while the other end springs open and reveals the seeds. In and around the plant you can find the curly-wurly remains scattered on the ground.
6. Salvia. Bee.
Not quite as clear as I originally thought, but you get the idea. It’s a shame it’s not quite in focus because the colours and positioning are pretty spot on. There’s always next time!
That’s all for today’s Six on Saturday. In all probability I won’t be posting next weekend as we’re off on our holibobs, but I’ll see you soon. Thanks for reading and have a good weekend!
A friend at work is growing a cutting of their fuchsia ‘Hawkshead’ for me. It’s nice to have a reminder of what the flowers will look like. Wow to the twisted red seed pods!
The seed pods are great – such an unusual feature!
Hawkshead is also super. It makes a pretty substantial shrub (I’m sure you’re aware) and is pretty much bullet-proof!
I saw for the first ( true) time a Dierama (‘Blackbird’) in a botanical garden during my vacation ( Except in books and internet ) . And I was able to collect some seeds. On the other hand I read that it was rather delicate to grow from the seeds… According to you: I start now or I will start later?
Thalictrum is always a safe bet in a garden !
I sowed the seed fresh (ie. now/over the summer). I think it’s considered delicate because the seedlings are grass-like and easy to damage. I’ve found it pretty robust on the whole!
Neither salvias nor bees are straightforward to photograph in my limited experience (as the salvia flower is quite small, background becomes important) so I think you did pretty well there, and it’s a nice vibrant pink. Love those diabolical seed pods, I presume they’re not edible?
Always sad to hear about a patch of land that had to go to HS2, at least you saved a few things from there.
I don’t think the seed pods would be edible, but I couldn’t say for certain. Probably best not to experiment!
HS2 is beginning to get pretty farcical – I can’t see the project finishing any time soon, which makes the destruction all the more galling.
Dierrama is one of those on my wishlist – maybe next year. That #4 is weird – not on my wishlist, but fascinating none the less.
Yes, Dierama are great plants. The Dactylicapnos is an acquired taste!
I would love to grow Dierama but my heavy clay soil, even though it has been improved, is still too wet for them. Would they work in a large container? Have a good holiday!
Thanks!
I’m not sure about a container – mine are pretty big plants, so I think they’d struggle. If you could get hold of dwarf/small Dierama, they might be more suitable for a pot. If you go for it, let me know how you get on!
It is sad to think that great gardens and the effort put into them, can be quite ephemeral but your description serves to remind us that we garden for ourselves and but for a short time given how long large shrubs and trees last. Yes Hawkshead is a lovely fuchsia. I moved quite a large plant last autumn, and it is growing away now quite nicely at the back of the border.
You are absolutely right!
It’s surprising how well big Fuchsias move. They’re quite resilient really.
I grew some Dactylicapnos torulosa in pots and by the time I thought about planting them out they were snaring half the plants in the greenhouse. Now they’re covered with seed pods like yours and still in the greenhouse. Direct sowing is presumably the way to grow them, if I can catch the seeds. I also have a pot of Dierama seedlings that probably should have been potted up quite a while ago. Tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow.
Ah, tomorrow! There are so many things I’m doing tomorrow, most of them rescheduled from today and yesterday!
I did start my D. torulosa in modules, but didn’t keep them there for long and planted them out as soon as I could.
It was interesting to read your story about the origins of your Dierama too and the Fushia Hawkshead, which makes such a lovely change from all the rich pinks and purples of the other fushias. Those Dactylicapnos seed capsules are really unusual.
I do very much like the Fuschia, it’s a pretty vigorous grower, but the flowers are fairly subtle.
I bought ‘Hawkshead’ ealier this year – actually it came free with an order as the stock had suffered from the cold spring and the grower wasn’t sure it would come to anything. I’ve nurtured it through the summer and did have two tiny flowers which, like yours, were beautiful. I hope I can get it into the ground before long and then to a decent sized plant. I’m encouraged by Andrew’s comment! Your thalictrum are fabulous and encourage me again. I grew some from seed last year and they have flowered but are still quite short. I sincerely hope they will eventually do as well as yours. Lovely six.
Thanks for your kind comments! I’m sure Hawkshead will come on a treat once it’s settled. Do keep us updated on it’s progress! Thalictrum are lovely plants – I hope yours do well.
Thalictrum is breathtaking. Your skills are remarkable!
Thanks. It takes care of itself really – I can’t take all the credit!