A large pink furry caterpillar has been following me about the garden this afternoon. It came back home with me yesterday from the Southport Flower Show, where I spent a most enjoyable day in the company of a fellow plant addict. I was particularly looking for late flowering colour which at the risk of boring myself the garden needs an injection of.
It is a sanguisorba without a label but my guess is that it maybe sanguisorba hakusanensis. It's a most tactile creature which has been swaying gently back and forth in today's breeze. I was pleased to read that it is relatively easy to grow and apparently suffers from little in the way of pests and diseases although vine weevils can be attracted to the roots. It prefers a moisture retentive soil and will grow either in sun or light shade. I think that it would look good in the company of a grass but am not sure whether the above grass is the right bedfellow. I'm still mulling over it's resting place so suggestions would be welcome.
I made one or two other purchases which I will no doubt mention sooner or later. Meanwhile I'm off notebook and pen at hand to gaze upon and no doubt covet other August blooms, courtesy of Carol at May Dreams Gardens, the home of Garden Blogger's Bloom Day.
I love Sanguisorbas, that is a real beauty. How nice going to Southport Flower Show and with a fellow enthusiast. I bet you had fun.
ReplyDeleteWe did have fun, it was a brilliant day and we both came home with treasures. Already looking forward to the 2015 Southport show
DeleteWe did indeed Chloris as vouchsafed by the above comment from my friend 'Fellow Plant Addict'. Plans to attend the next show are already in the pipeline :) Thanks for your comment PFA - lovely to see you here.
DeleteSaunguisorbas are my must have plant of this year, although so far I have managed to buy 2. Yours is a real beauty. I hope you find a grass to go with it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and welcome. I'm still looking for the grass but no doubt I will stumble across a suitable contact in the fullness of time :)
DeleteMy name is Lynne and I too am a Sanguisorba addict. Try S. Canadensis instead of Verbena bonariensis.
ReplyDeleteHi Lynne - good to see you again. I have made a note of your recommendation and am off to investigate forthwith. I don't think that I would want to give up verbena bonariensis but I could certainly be tempted to add an alternative elsewhere in the garden :)
DeleteNow that is beautiful. So far I only have S. tanna. I think that may be about to change.
ReplyDeleteGo for it Jessica! I like the look of 'Tanna' too.
DeleteThat's a pretty Sanguisorba! We have one that's gone past the prime of its blooms but the foliage is fab, looking like a smaller version of Melianthus major.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to think what the foliage reminded me of. You've hit the nail on the head guys. Thanks :)
DeleteThat is beautiful, so tactile! I loved visiting Southport Flowers Show when we lived there, we always came home with lots of lovely plants.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a most touchy feely plant Pauline :)
DeleteOh Anna - I need one of this too then, for the same reason! Glad you had a good day out and look forward to hearing about your other purchases.
ReplyDeleteHope your come across one on your travels Cathy. New purchases will no doubt be revealed at some stage in the future.
DeleteI don't have the right soil for them which is a shame. If you've got a spot for one, then lucky you Anna. I'd grow it amongst a grass which likes similar conditions.
ReplyDeleteOh but then you have the right soil for so many other wonderful plants Rob :)
DeleteI wondered what on earth I was going to read when I saw your title, Anna! haha, love it! I'm new to sanguisorbas having seen them at Bury Court Barn in Surrey last month where they've been used extensively by Piet Oudolf in the back - and, yes, with grasses! I had to get a fellow student to id them for me and am now hooked. (I really must get round to posting about my visit there!) It's definitely one for the garden next year, so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh do post about your visit to Bury Court soon Caro. Yet another place that I would like to visit.
DeleteThey look so tactile, they make you want to reach out and stroke them. Glad you had a good time at the flower show, looking forward to hearing about your other purchases.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo. Yes they are too inviting. There's a danger that the flower might be completely stroked away.
DeleteNow that is unusual looks perfect for a flower meadow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Elaine. I think it could be at home in a meadow.
DeleteThank you, Anna! I saw one of these in a garden last summer and was so taken by it, but I promptly forgot its name. Now I will remember so I can hunt for one! Such an interesting accent plant, though I was expecting to see what we call "woolly worms":)
ReplyDeleteA good accent plant indeed Rose. I love the phrase 'wooly worms' :)
DeleteI love your furry caterpillar, Anna! I've quite a few different Sanguisorba in my old garden which I should dig up and move as they're so adorable and last for quite a long time too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to learn that they are long lasters Annette.
DeleteI love sanguisorbas. Would love to get to Southport one day. Maybe I should put it on my to do list for next year.
ReplyDeleteIt's much smaller than Chelsea, Hampton Court etc. but it's a very friendly relaxed atmosphere, never gets too crowded and attracts some of the smaller growers as well as some of the more well known ones. Lots of plants to buy WW :)
DeleteA lovely plant indeed, just begging to be stroked!
ReplyDelete