Hello and welcome to this weeks six.
Anybody got any idea what week of Lockdown this is. Week 8? Ones thing for sure the virus seems to be still with us and seems to be hanging around a bit longer compared to other countries. I had chosen to be not very political during this crisis but at times but with the crisis in the care homes getting worse my social media driven anger is starting to show itself again. What a time we are living in at the moment. I got really exited today (Friday) when it leaked out that it looks like garden centres could be opening and this was tempered when the government announced another 626 deaths todayS. Will I be going to garden centres of course I will as we need to get the economy moving but I will not be rushing there like the January sales.
In other news we actually had proper rain last weekend. It was most welcome and it made the garden sparkle. After that the weather was warm as sunny for the rest of the week so I had to finally get the hose out on Wednesday and give the garden a good soak in Wednesday.
Here is my six.
1. Rambo Plant
I call this plant Rambo because it is actually a Kalanchoe house plant that I actually planted in the garden 9 years ago and it still survives. It has lasted severe frosts and even the Beast from the East 2 years ago. Last year it did not flower but certainly has bounced back this year. It will flower for the whole of May then do back to sleep.
2. Geum Queen of Orange
This is a small form Geum that produces a wonderful bright orange flower. I now have this one on a few parts of the garden and it makes a change to have a plant with such a vibrant orange colour in the garden as they are not that may perennial plants with this dense tone of orange.
3. Brunnera Jack Frost leaf
I featured this plant last week but this plant caught my eye again and not because of the rather electric blue flowers on tallish spikes trying to reach the sun from a shaded place but because of the leaves. They have to be one of the prettiest leaves I have in my garden and in most gardens and somehow get overlooked at times. As most of you know this is also called Siberian Bugloss. I found out for the first time this week that they are also called heartleaf and you can see why with this photo. Bugloss also means ox tongue in Greece and this is because some of the leaves have the shape and roughness to touch of an Ox tongue. To me they leaves seem to have have the same features of some houseplant begonias but after some research I don’t think they are closely related and Brunnera is part of the Boriaganiles family which of course includes borage and forget me nots.
4. Aquilegia Salmon Rose
Another one I have featured recently but I had to restore this again because the flowers have opened and they look fantastic. Strangely for a aquilegia the flowers are clematis shaped. I grew these from seed and as I have mentioned before I never realised you got such a buzz with growing something from seed. When growing perennials from seed you have to be patient and these were 18 months in the growing. When I first started gardening I always wanted instant results but you soon realise gardening isn’t about quick results it is about waiting patiently to see the results.
5. Erysium Wenlock Beauty
I bought this plant at Lilburn Towers open day for the NGS last year. I have a bit love hate relationship with perennial wallflowers as they are mostly short lived perennials and to me just act like biennials hopefully this one will last a bit longer.
6. Sempervivum Jungle Fire
I bought some new Sempervivums from Farmyard Nurseries last week to feed my addiction during the Lockdown. I bought 10 in total and was surprised by how big the plants were and this threw the plans I had for them somewhat off kilter and had to use extra pots. The only criticism I have got is that when I type in the names of the varieties into google the only records I can find is for Farmhouse Nurseries and I can’t trace the breeder of the plant. The problem with Sempervivums is there are literally thousands of varieties and most look the same. That is why it is always important to label them. It could be that Farmyard Nurseries have bred these themselves. I did send an E mail asking them if they need them but have not received an E mail.
That is my six for this week.
I have just realised I have not featured the Tulip I said I would feature next week doh! I’ll try and feature it next week.
If you want to write a SOS blog it is not that difficult. As always to find out how six on Saturday works please follow the following link The Propagator. The don of Six on Saturday
Until next week goodbye.
Sedums, Dahlias and Hayfever 
Stunning aquilegia. Different form of flower but lovely. I love bugloss. I keep meaning to get some to add to my foliage mix but I need to clear a big enough space for one of the love big leaved types.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, what an aquilegia, could it be a form of A. clematiflora? Whatever it is gorgeous. I love a plant that has wonderful flowers and wonderful foliage, the brunnera ticks both boxes. Enjoy your week 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All six of your plants are top drawer Paul and I agree that the Brunnera is an all round great plant. A friend gave me some in the autumn and they’re looking mighty fine in the shade of my woodland garden. The white patterning on the leaves is so intricate isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shelter in place started at different times in different regions. For us, it was not much more than a month. We returned to work yesterday. We were not required to avoid work, but could not continue working without revenue, which depends on crowds, who were not allowed to come here.
Anyway, Rambo is cool. I can not keep those alive even here, not because of the weather, but because of the snails. Wasn’t Rambo a movie from the late 1970s or so, with Sylvester Stallone? He lived in Leimert Park for a while.
I don’t know what to think of that columbine. It certainly is pretty, but it does not look like columbine.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lockdown still going strong here Tony and may be going on for a few more months for me as no signs of bars and restaurants opening soon. Government is giving me 80% of May wages. Lockdown is not necessarily the right way to describe it as I am not confined to barracks and we are allowed to go out for exercise.
Yes that’s why I called the plant Rambo because it is tough as old boots.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Protesters in Orange County and other places should be confined to barracks to keep the rest of us safe. Most of us are pretty good sports about it, but those who are not will drag this out longer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the Brunera leaf! Very beautiful photo !
Otherwise the (double?) aquilegias are also very pretty with that clematis shape. Never seen before.
About the “Rambo plant” , did you plant it in the ground or in a pot outside?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah I had to post that picture of the Brunera leaf. You know yourself that if you take a phot like that you just have to show it off. Rambo plant is planted directly into the garden. Very dry soil right at the front beside a brick edge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Each one is so special. That aquilegia is a real star – and the idea that you have a kalanchoe that persists outside opens the mind to possibilities a little. I do so enjoy your your pics of succulents. Such a collection you have!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. The Kalanchoe is planted in very dry soil and is exposed so the wind dries it out over the winter.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a beautiful Six-on-Saturday. Number 6 made a nice finish, too. 😃 That aquilegia is an unusual colour and form….very nice. I see Cathy likes the succulents as well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks yes the aquilegia is a strange one not what I am used to.
LikeLike
I will concert everyone to succulents of your give me time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice geum – I am thinking of branching out from Totally Tangerine and this could make the list!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lots of great plants there. The leaf of the Brunnera Jack Frost is stunning and that aquilegia is beautiful. Glad you got some rain!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another beautiful Geum! So strange for me to see colanchoe (sp…) growing outside…it’s definitely a house plant here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should be a house plant here can get down to all of -6 degrees😅. Not as cold as you probably
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a plain-leaf Brunnera that I grow for the little blue forget-me-not flowers. Clearly I should be looking for Jack Frost. Gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I have been looking for more brunneras on the internet and have found a cream leafed one. It was out of stock however?
LikeLiked by 1 person
As usual I couldn’t decide which plant I liked the best! It was between Rambo, Jack Frost and Jungle Fire! I wish they were in my garden! I am with you I have had about enough of COVID 19. Our lockdowns and (releases ) are getting quite out of hand here. The Natives are restless! We have been in lockdown since March 1st with only 340 reported deaths in our entire state. NONE in our area! And last night we were allowed to start Phase I of release.!!!!!! The folks are way over it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve got such a nice spectrum of colour going right now in your garden. Your Jack Frost’s big leaves are ahead of mine, & as you’re further north, that’s pretty interesting to me. Also interesting that it’s related to forget-me-nots, but not surprising. Folk who walk by often ask if my Jack has forget-me-nots growing underneath it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great selection this week. Like the others I’ve not seen an Aquilegia with that flower form. I think that those of us who rely on social groups for our jobs are going to be home for (quite) a while longer
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks one of my workmates is having tough time of it because his granny died of it. I just want to have a chat with him face to face but he lives 80 miles awayz
LikeLike
The Brunneria leaf is spectacular and seeing it has convinced me to I will try and get some for my garden. Rambo is very colourful indeed. What a pity it doesn’t flower more often. Having admired your Sempervivum collection, when one of our online nurseries featured them as ‘new’ to their range of plants, I quickly placed an order for a selection of four. I’m really looking forward to receiving them!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great six – the orange of your geum is gorgeous, but my favourite is the brunnera leaf – surreal!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks when I saw that brunnera leaf I just had to take a photo. It was calling me.
LikeLike
A lovely six this week Paul. Brunnera is gorgeous and the leaves just get bigger as the flowers die down. Your Aquilegia is a beauty, I try not to buy double flowers as they aren’t so good for pollinators, but some are just too good not to grow. I am in no hurry to get to the garden centre, but if my local one opens then I might pop in to see if they have any tomato seedlings. Stay safe and happy gardening 😃
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautiful 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
some crackers there Paul, i particularly like the brunnera. i used to have some of that but it disappeared, I should get some more. a group of that would look ace in the shady border. fan of the aquilegia too. stay safe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Yeah I just glimpsed it and I said wow. I went for my phone (tend to not carry it on the garden which is good) and took the photo. I think I am aiming for a leaf special this weekend. That many shapes and colours they get overlooked.
LikeLike