A quick pick and plonk from me this week with just a couple of cuttings. In my vase are :
- Some stems of the late flowering hardy tuberous begonia grandis subsp. evansiana. Despite its delicate appearance this is a toughie flowering from late summer until the early frosts. The stems are attractively suffused with red. Not only do the plants produce small bulbils they also self-seed but never enough to be a nuisance. The seedlings are easily recognised and in my experience fall close to the parent. There is also a white flowering version which is my favourite of the two. These plants appears extremely late in the day and I have often fretted in the spring that I've lost them so patience is absolutely essential.
- Some leaves from my bushy salvia officinalis or sage plant which looked most bedraggled and sad in the spring but has grown with vigour despite the wet summer. I like the texture of the silvery gray leaves but I don't think that I've ever used it in a vase before now.
I picked and photographed yesterday when the weather was obliging but left the vase in the greenhouse overnight. On going into the greenhouse this morning I noticed gleams of either snail or slug slime on the sage leaves! I either bought a mollusc in with me or there is already one at lose in the greenhouse which must have been drawn to the aroma of the sage. An inspection revealed zilch but I think it calls for a torchlight patrol this evening as there were trays of seedlings in the vicinity.
The vase is another of a recent purchase of three ribbed bud vases. Cathy asked me last week if the vases were different and yes they are both in size and shape. This is taller then the one I used last week with a narrower neck. I daresay that the third vase will feature at some point in the future.
Many thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden', who this week has a dramatic display of beautiful white flowers to share with us. Here the sun has made an appearance and after a diversion filled tour around rural Cheshire, I'm more than ready for a breath of fresh air in the garden but will be vase visiting later today.
What a curious begonia, Anna, and most attractive too. How tall does the plant grow? It's not something I have ever come across. The soft green of the sage leaves with the soft pink of the begonia is a brilliant pairing. Where else did you get to on your visits, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeless with heights Cathy but they are not too tall - maybe about 18 inches 🤔 I might be able to send you some bulbils if you're interested. We were headed for the nursery at Arley Hall - by the time we got there there we ran out of time to walk round the garden. I bought some peat free compost and somehow also came home with two plants 😂
DeleteI've heard of that Begonia but hadn't seen it before this. It's lovely, Anna, and the Salvia plays it up well.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kris 😀
DeleteI never thought of using sage in a vase. It was the perfect compliment to the pink blooms.
ReplyDeleteIt was a first for me Donna and I'm wondering why 😂
DeleteVery elegant, Anna! Eliza
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit and comment Eliza 😀
DeleteWow, that hardy begonia makes a statement and I like the foliage choice. The vase is lovely also. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Susie 😀
DeleteI did not know that there are hardy begonias and this is very pretty Anna. I like this vase too. Your photos always look so atmospheric!
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely thing to say about my photos Cathy 😂 I'm never happy with them as I use my phone these days and keep meaning to get my camera out of the cupboard as I'm sure it takes superior photos.
DeleteThat is indeed a very pretty combination! Maybe the sage will even start rooting. I first read your beginning sentence as pink and plonk, and now cannot see it any other way lol
ReplyDeleteI will have to check for signs of root growth Angela. It would be a bonus! The second part of your comment made me chuckle 😀
ReplyDeleteThose pesky molluscs soon home in on a potential meal.
ReplyDelete