Purple, White and a Splash of Orange

Published on by Catherine

This will be my last Six on Saturday for a few weeks. Next week I’ll be busy doing final preparations and starting to pack for a trip to the US to visit one of our daughters and her family.

The biggest job will be in the garden – trying to get the remaining plants into the ground, moving potted plants from their sunny areas into more shady areas, and leaving loads of instructions for various family members on how to look after everything.

Here’s my Six for this week.

Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’

I’ve been taking this same photo for several years now, though each year it changes according to how the geums decide to arrange themselves. This old pot was originally indoors, and I only decided to put it outside after a decorating spree. I didn’t think it would cope with the weather and always brought it inside for the winter. But last winter, and the previous one, it stayed outside. Yes, I forgot about it. Other than a glued-on piece to the rim (I dropped it) it’s still in one piece which is more than I can say about some of the far more expensive, supposedly frost-proof containers.

Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’
Geum ‘Scarlet Tempest’

Syringa

Since last week, the Lilacs have been busy changing from buds to flowers. I often think that lilac flowers are so large in proportion to the trees & shrubs, but I expect, as they grow older, they’ll look more in proportion to their eventual height and spread.

S. ‘Louis Spaeth’ and ‘Belle de Nancy’ have both grown so fast. Belle is starting to fade and I’ll probably have to deadhead her next week. S. ‘Red Pixie’ is in a more shady spot and is slower at filling out, but it’s getting there.

There hasn’t been much perfume from any of them, I think the temperatures have just been too low recently to bring out the scent.

Syringa ‘Louis Spaeth’
Syringa ‘Belle de Nancy’
Syringa ‘Red Pixie’

Wisteria sinensis

The Wisteria tree is now coming into bloom. Visually, the tree doesn’t have anywhere near the impact a wisteria grown along a wall has, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in perfume! No matter what the weather or the temperature, this plant fills the garden with its beautiful perfume without fail.

Wisteria sinensis tree

Allium ‘Purple Sensation’

I planted a fair number of Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ bulbs several years ago, they flowered for one season and they didn’t return. Last week Jude of https://cornwallincolours.blog mentioned on Graeme’s blog “… as for Purple Sensation I once read that to have a constant flow of them you need to plant bulbs each year for three years, then in year four, year one bulbs will flower again etc.”

That certainly appears to be the case here. I was surprised and very happy to see them back in the garden. I have Allium sphaerocephalon growing in the borders and they have reappeared each year without any issues. I’ll add more ‘Purple Sensation’ in Autumn and look forward to a good display next year. Those in the photo below haven’t fully opened yet but I didn’t want to miss adding them to this week’s post.

I didn’t notice the attachment on the bottom of the Allium bud until I uploaded the images to my computer. 😁

Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ with accessory
Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ just opening

Aquilegia ‘Kristall’

Aquilegia ‘Kristall’ also known as ‘White Star’ is pretty, but although the blooms are lovely, I’ve got to admit, that I absolutely love seeing them from the back. On their slender stems, they look like they’re floating, or swimming in the air, reaching upwards like tiny otherworldly creatures.

Aquilegia ‘Kristall’
Aquilegia, almost floating

Geranium

I don’t know what this geranium is, or where it came from. It’s large, it’s vibrant and I should have divided it this year. It’s the first of the geraniums to flower and also the first to die off. The flowers are large. In the first photo, there is a little aquilegia peeking out at the bottom left. Perhaps that gives an idea of scale.

Geranium, variety unknown
Hardy geranium

That’s all from me for the moment. I’ll be back towards the end of June, by which time your lovely gardens will be filled with beautiful blooms and the weather will (should) really be hotting up.

Take care, and don’t forget to apply sunscreen when you’re out there deadheading, watering and feeding your plants! 😎

Jim at Garden Ruminations is currently hosting Six on Saturday, and if you pop over to his blog you will see what others have been sharing. Perhaps you would like to join in. 

Have a lovely day, whatever you’re doing and wherever you are. 😊

Catherine xx

27 thoughts on “Purple, White and a Splash of Orange”

  2. A lovely Six. Aquilegia ‘Kristall’ is a beauty. I’m also going to plant some more Purple Sensation over the next few years – they’ve been such a show this spring. I hope the temporary garden caretakers do a good job! Enjoy your trip and safe journeying.

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    1. Thanks, Graeme. I have a lot of allium sphaerocephalon in the borders, and although they’re great-looking plants, here, they’re more likely to get pushed over by the wind in swathes. The same doesn’t happen with A. ‘Purple Sensation’ so I’ll be doing the same and we can compare notes. 😁

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  3. You take such beautiful photographs, I bet you could make an old tin can look attractive! I am a big geum fan, so this has to be my favourite, if I must choose. All lovely though. Have a wonderful trip to the US, I wish you a safe and trouble free journey.

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    1. Aww, thank you. I’m not sure about the old tin can though! Thanks also re the trip. I have to admit, I’m not looking forward to the journey. It will be ok if there are no delays, but we’ve been doing this route for well over 20 years and if there’s a delay it’s a really long delay!

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  4. You always manage to take great photos! My favourite this week is the second photo of the white aquilegias which gives lightness and elegance to the flowers ( as they really are )

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    1. Thank you, Rosie. Can you believe I’ve forgotten to remove that snail! I was busy today picking them off my heleniums and didn’t even think about the alliums (there’s probably a wee family there now!)

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  7. I’m another one who admires your photos. And that Geum, though it looks more orange to me than scarlet. If I come across one I might add it to my collection. The geranium looks like G. magnificum which has a big flower but doesn’t flower for long. Mine are just coming into flower. Enjoy the trip, always good to meet up with family, hopefully my Aussies are coming over here this year, it’s been far too long.

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    1. The buds of the Geum are red and the flower opens to a deeper shade, but then fades to an orangey colour, with hints of red still on the petals. It’s described by the grower as ‘pale scarlet flushed peachy-orange’. Visualise that if you can! 😁

      I think you’re right about the Geranium magnificum. I definitely didn’t plant it so either the winds or the birds have brought it along. It’s grown really large now.

      Oh, you have Aussies in the family too! Mine are talking about coming over next year, and hopefully, they will, as we’re finding that journey is getting too tough for us! I hope you get to see yours this year.

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  8. Another beautiful selection this week, love the Geum but my favourite is the beautiful white aquilegia, so pretty! I hope you have a hassle free trip and a wonderful holiday!

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    1. Thank you, Pauline. The white aquilegia is a very graceful one, and I do love its elegance. Thank you also re the holiday – I’m hoping too that it will be a smooth trip – it’ll be lovely to be with my daughter, her husband and our two fast-growing grandsons.

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  10. Beautiful photos and beautiful samples…oh my! All are beautiful plants, and I can’t pick a favorite among the ones that you’ve shared. Things are really gearing up here in the Midwest, too. I need to do one of these posts again, too. Have a great trip!

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  11. Oh my, so much to love there! You take such lushous photos! The geum is so pretty and the delicious lilac and geraniums! Have a happy trip!

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  12. Too many gorgeous pictures to pick a favourite. As others have said, the quality of your pictures is superb – I’d love it if you could do a blog post some day on some top tips for photographing the garden. Pretty please:-)
    In the meantime have a wonderful time with your daughter. I hope that, this time, any delays are short.

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  13. Fabulous photos, and like Helen I’m going to find it too difficult to pick a favourite. I don’t know how you do it!
    I have a trip coming up and I see I’ve been making the same plans – move them into the shade/plant out what you can etc. I hope you have a wonderful time.

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    1. Ah, you’re heading off as well! The past few days have been frantic here, trying to get plants into the ground! I hope you’re feeling a lot more organised about your trip than I am. 😁 Wherever you’re heading off to, have a lovely time!

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