This weekend will be curtailed from a gardening perspective. There’s an away football match to ferry/endure this morning, plus tomorrow I get to return #1 child to Nottingham for the start of his second year university studies, or drinking and sleeping as it is also known. I have quite a lot to fit in this afternoon then. For now though, it is time for Six on Saturday. Six things, in the garden, on a Saturday. Could be anything – a flower, a bug, a harvest, an unknown plant, a job to do, anything at all. Join in!
Here are my Six for this week…
1 – Geranium ‘Bloomtime’. I have a few of these, the result of some enthusiastic dividing of a couple of bargain plants bought this time last year. As you can see, they are still flowering. They should make a nice clump next year. They are like a pink version of the ubiquitous but lovely ‘Rosanne’.
2 – Penstemon ‘King George’. I think this particular plant was grown from cuttings of one plant that I bought and immediately divided. Propagation squared. I think I have just caught this one as it is in its final flush. It is redder than the other penstemon I have, ‘Patio Wine’.
3 – Cosmos something-or-other. So pleased was I with my first batch of cosmos this year, I sowed a second batch of these, the only seeds I had left. They are a plain, ruffled pink. I don’t like them as much as the other batch, but given my prior difficulties with cosmos, not to be sniffed at.
4 – Verbena bananarama. Persistently failing to self-sow itself round the garden, this one is from a cutting taken last year. I have several more in pots waiting to be planted out, grown from bought seeds so next year I should be able to have the wavy massed ranks I was so jealous of in a neighbours garden.
5 – Tithonia ‘Red Torch’. Well these have been a disappointment compared to last year. This time last year I had several plants about 7′ tall, covered in a continuous supply of cheerily orange flowers. This year I struggled to get them to germinate, only succeeding on the 3rd attempt. They were late getting going and are only about 3′-4′ tall and flowering sparsely in comparison. I suppose I should give them a feed.
6 – Primula vialli. Football fans of a certain age will understand my irresistible urge to call these (Gian)Luca Vialli. I grew these from seed this year. They were slow to germinate, and even slower to grow on to garden ready size. They are still in their pots, one of them is flowering, just a single flower spike. I must plant them all out. Hopefully next year they will flower more enthusiastically and at the normal time on May to July. It’s a strange looking flower, is Luca.
Those are my Six, what are yours? If you’d like to join in, just publish your post and pop a link to it below in the comments. If you also mention my blog in yours that would be splendid.
Thought I’d better get this posted while it is still Saturday. I had to get a photo of a hummingbird at the feeder which wasn’t easy!
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Hello again! Wow a hummingbird. Look forward to reading.
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Fun post from you, as always – thanks Jon! I have been garden visiting: https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-here-and-there/
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Evening Cathy, jolly good, look forward to reading.
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Geranium ‘Bloomtime’ is lovely I shall be keeping an eye out for it. I have never come across Tithonia, the colour is vibrant another of your gems. Here are my SOS https://flowerswalksnature.home.blog/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14-9-19/
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Yes they’re both good plants, well worth finding.
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Beautiful Verbena. The geranium looks so cute! I am new to this so any suggestions or advice is welcomed. Here are my six https://rumpa13.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14-09-2019/
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Brill, welcome to the gang. Look forward to reading.
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Thank you!
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Lovely blooms, as usual. I am coveting them as I am missing flowers in the new garden – it’s very shrubby. I am especially missing verbena bonariensis (I never thought I’d say that after I had that total garden full last year). Oh for a cosmos or two… Anyhow, here is mine for this week. https://theoptimisticgardener.wordpress.com
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Sounds like you have plenty of “opportunity”. I’m sure you’ll soon get to grips with it.
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Wow, you are popular. I am still puzzling over that last one. I am also jealous of Verbena bonarensis and must try some again. If it is poor soil they like, I have the perfect spot. My six.http://theshrubqueen.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-breezy/
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Puzzling over the last one?
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The Primula, I have never seen one like that. Intriguing.
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Ah I see. Yes it is a strange looking plant.
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This is first year I have grown Verbena successfully. I have a couple kept inside as I think it is probably too damp and cold here for it to self seed. Great collection of flowers.still in your garden. More six here –
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Yes plenty if colour yet. Asters are just coming out.
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My week is similar. I absolutely Love that Geranium ! Verbena bananas. Don’t dead head or tidy it until the spring. This will endure seedlings get spread about. Mine
https://digwithdorris.wordpress.com
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They seem to germinate hest in poor soil, from what others have said.
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My soil is heavy clay
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Love your geranium! My geraniums have disappeared. Thanks to an extremely hot, dry month I only have butterflies and a compost pile to show this week. https://stoneyknob.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-compost/
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Might be too hot for hardy geraniums. One of the Aussies was saying the same thing
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I like the geranium – but then I particularly like geraniums! – but everything looks good! Hope you enjoy my offering this week: https://enthusiasticgardener.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-2/
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Yes it’s a good one. Expecting bigger and better things next year.
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Here are my six from dry, dry, dry Maryland. https://doesthisfontmakemelookfat.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-september-14-2019-wildlife-among-the-flowers/
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One extreme to the other for you this year!
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Here is mine today! https://thecadyluckleedy.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-the-unexpecteds/
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Lovely primula was considering a few different form for next year than my usual vulgaris.
This week’s six https://wp.me/p7AXpE-2rf
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Hello, it’s a weird looking flower.
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I’m a bit late to the party today – thunderstorms kept me up much of the night and, as I look out now with the sun just coming up, I can see the high winds have broken almost all the tall volunteer sunflowers. Oh well. Here is a sunflower-less Six from Ontario:
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That’s annoying. Poor sunflowers.
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That geranium is now on my wish list. My six this week are a mix of flowers and veg, the garden going strong into the middle of September. http://www.balmerino.info/geekygarden/
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Yes it’s a good one.
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Thanks for introducing me to that geranium. A pink version of Rosanne sounds like a very useful plant to have. Dahlias and tomatoes feature in my six this week, together with a very disappointing yellow pepper.
https://www.hortusbaileyana.co.uk/2019/09/the-garden-in-september-six-on-saturday.html
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Yes it’s a good one.
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I’m not really sure what English football translates into, as I don’t think it’s the same as American. Here, Saturdays are for college football, America’s favorite sport. I personally like it even better than the NFL, which I think is still visiting London occasionally. As pretty as fall is, football is the only thing that helps me make the transition to winter without crying. Our winters are much more harsh than yours, so it is like going into the deep freeze.
As a side note, your flowers are looking lovely. I’ve never seen that flower, Luca before, and I don’t get the resemblance to football, but that’s probably because we don’t share the same idea of football. I work for a gigantic college, so I totally get that drinking and sleeping thing. Although at my getting to elderly age, the students are always a source of entertainment. Thanks for always having such entertaining commentary, and enjoy your weekend.
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Football = Soccer here.
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Bit late today. I was marshalling at the local parkrun thinking how I would have beaten at least half the field, they were running so slowly! Then I looked at my watch and realised that they were finishing at least 10 minutes better than my own PB! Back to the garden. Lots of work to do before autumn really settles in.
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Excellent. I had a nice 9 miler this morning, along the river and back.
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I’ve missed the tithonia this year, just didn’t get round to them. But I agree with Fred better short tithonia then none. The vbs are self seeding everywhere here, verging on weeds but I do love them. I threw a whole bunch on the compost heap last year and now they are popping up wherever I have spread compost! Here’s my link https://wp.me/p97pee-r5
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It’s not a terrible problem to have, I suppose.
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Another lovely six from you Prop. You do grow some fancy plants. Does bonariensis not overwinter then? Do I need to take cuttings? First year I have grown any (from a small plant) so I have no idea. I would like to keep it though. And lovely Luca! My youngest grandson is Luca, he’s rather more fiery than your delicate looking plant! Have a good day. 😁
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It’ll be fine down there in the southwest.
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Phew!
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https://thepotter973907073.wordpress.com/
Hello All, hope you’ve all had a good week. Here are mine for today!
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Hello, look forward to reading.
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What a lovely Geranium. My Rozanne didn’t make it through the Summer and I’ve finally come to the realisation geraniums are not for me. Well, not until I get some reasonable shade, at least. And perhaps some rain. We can always hope. Here are my http://janesmudgeegarden.com/the-rush-to-flower-september-14-2019/six:
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Life without geraniums! Waagh. You need to move.
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Having 3′ or 4′ tall tithonias is better than nothing! As I said to Gill, mine didn’t take off 20cm in height and the snails finished the job …
Nice “Luca” Vialli Primula !
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Propagating again Mr P…and a show of some lovely autumn performers, thanks again. Here is my contribution…with a little propagating too! https://noellemace.blogspot.com/2019/09/six-on-saturday-14-september-2019.html
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Hello, yes, always propagating…
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Ah, I have Cosmos something or other and Verbena bananarama in my Six this week too – it’s clearly that time of year. Sorry to hear your Tithonia hasn’t performed as well as hoped – I have always fancied growing these. It’s nice to be back after a few weeks off. Good luck with your ferrying duties. Here are my six:
https://carrotsandcalendula.co.uk/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-september-sunshine/
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Hiya, yes I’ll have to try the tithonia again next year.
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I love that bananarama verbena, and the bloomtime geranium is lush. My collection this week… https://doingtheplan.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-lawn-success-and-september-strawberries/
Have a great weekend everyone!
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You too!
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I think my garden needs some verbena, I keep forgetting about those gorgeous purple heads. I have never been able to grow cosmos and I think these are fantastic. Well done. My six is all about what happens when you do nothing so prepare for weeds weeds weeds lol
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sigh the link would help wouldn’t it: http://www.cottagenotebook.ie/six-on-saturday-nature-takes-its-course/
more coffee needed.
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Hello Nadia, a bit of weeding is good for the soul.
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I saw on Twitter (Shouty Hour) there were folk whose verbena didn’t self seed & I thought, Lucky you. Didn’t realise you were among the afflicted. Is this your first year w/primula vialli? I love the little guys, but can’t seem to get them past 1-2 seasons, so’d be interested in how they fare w/you. Didn’t realise tithonia got to 7′ & am very glad mine didn’t, altho also a bit envious. The colour of yours is great, tho. Let us know if some food sets it going. One of these years I’m going to give in & get geranium. They took over in other gardens, so I’ve been glad to be rid of them, but perhaps that was hasty thinking. Anyhoo, enjoy your busy wkend. https://lorahughes.blogspot.com/2019/09/late-summer.html
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Hi Lora, yes first year with Luca. I’ve heard they are short lived, so we’ll see how they get on.
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My ‘Rozanne’ had pink flowers on one shoot this year and I was considering how to prop it, sounds like someone beat me to it. Bananarama seemingly knows no happy medium, it seeds invasively or not at all. With me it’s the former and it’s been banished. Plenty of Brownie points for getting Prim vialli in flower from seed, now there’s a plant with a death wish. Here’s mine: https://wp.me/p6bCCa-1Z7
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Oh dear, is it tricky? I gather it prefers wet feet.
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My last few weekends have been a bit like yours but for the first time in ages I am planning a whole day in the garden today, adding to my growing bonfire pile. I find that verbena tends to self seed much better on the gravel paths than it does in the border and occasionally come across seedlings from time to time. I find Tithonia is definitely a late bloomer. Often doesn’t look at its best until September up here. Here is my six for the week which is oddly completely inert and plant free…
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Yes I probably shouldn’t complain, if I was digging them up like weeds I wouldt be happy
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Busy, busy, busy! Mostly I shall be lying elegantly on a velveteen day bed whilst being fed peeled (and seedless) grapes. First I have to pop down town and buy some spuds. We have snapped on a couple this week, fine taste obviously. Love bananarama 🙂 Here is my contribution https://offtheedgegardening.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-wet-and-dry/
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Oh the glamour.
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Hi! This week, a pinch of flowers, leaves and fruit ( as usually) I will comment on yours later ….https://fredgardenerblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14-09-19/
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Bonjour Fred!
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How (plant) fortunes differ. My Tithonia are monsters, Cosmos very mixed, Ricinus a huge disappointment but I do have Verbena b. seedlings everywhere (sorry to brag about that one). My six includes a different King George but I like the red of your Penstemon very much for this time of year.
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Hello, yes funny how things go. It’s a topsy turvy world.
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Taking cuttings if Verbena were featured by Monty on Gardeners World last night. That is a great looking Geranium. So good when. You get several plants from a bargain one. Here is my six. I have found a wonderful trailing succulent. https://sedumsdahliasandhayfever.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14th-september-2019/
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Excellent, glad monty listened to my tips, he has the makings of a good gardener. Just takes practice.
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Here are mine. I tried to keep it brief, and sort of kept the captions short, but got a bit carried away with the rest of it. They are six pictures of the same project, which is going quite well (even if the pictures are not impressive).
Your primula is weird. know I have seen it before, but it still does not look like a primula to me. You know, it reminds me of grape hyacinth!
Was it difficult to grow that verbena from cutting?
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No the verbena took quite easily. Side shoots better than main stem as that’s usually hollow.
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I suppose I shouldn’t have bothered asking. You grow so many things from cutting that I would not try.
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Has it really been a year since #1 child first headed off to uni? Crikey. That first geranium is a stunner. I’ve been on the lookout for a red penstemon to replace an unknown variety that didn’t make it through the winter. I’ll have to keep an eye out for King George https://onemanandhisgardentrowel.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14-september-2019/
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Yes, time flies. #2 will be off too next year.
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That is a really beautiful geranium. It has been raining here today so I had no chance to do a proper outside tour but here are my six anyway https://basia329.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/six-on-saturday-14-09-19/
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Rain! Send some our way please.
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Like you I have a busy day ahead – our annual pilgrimage to the Goodwood Revival Vintage car festival to indulge my husband’s passion for cars. I’ve spent the last hour back-combing my hair for a sixties look! In the garden though, this week is all about exotics as tara-tara-ta-da – my Angels Trumpets flowered – cause for celebration.
https://www.teabreakgardener.co.uk/exotics-in-the-garden/
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Sounds like fun. Poop poop! Will you overwinter the brugmansia?
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