Thursday, 16 July 2015

16 July : Of Gazanias


I am not sure that Gazania is the sort of plant that respectable gardeners grow but this little firework is at the front of my late summer gold and blue border trying to look understated next to the Montbretia. I am crushing on Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter at the moment and he loved Gazanias describing them as 'the very essence of summer'. Somebody has generously donated an entire library of Christopher Lloyd books in pristine condition to our local hospice shop and they have all come home with me. In 'The Well-Tempered Garden' he yanks out an apricot-orange primula seedling which clashes unpleasantly with pinky-mauve osteospermums. That's my sort of gardening, I thought, and immediately felt less guilty about my secateur attack on the pale pink hardy geranium which was flowering uncomfortably close to the Gazania making my eyes itch. It should have got its act together in June when the early summer pink and blue border was at its height.

Advised by Kind Reader that the photo is Not a Gazania. Collapse of Stout Party.
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8 comments:

  1. Anonymous17 July 2015 at 10:25

    I'm growing snapdragons in all sorts of garish colours because they remind me of my grandma, and they're definitely not de rigueur. 'The Well Tempered Garden' is indeed a very fine read and I totally agree with Christopher Lloyd's approach to gardening.

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    Replies
    1. alice c19 July 2015 at 22:49

      I adore his witty, irreverent and non-conventional approach to gardening. I am rather terrified by the serious, hard working horticulturalists so it is a relief to know that it is permissible to be frivolous.

      (see below...the shame of it!!)

      Delete
    2. Diana Studer20 July 2015 at 20:53

      PS my garden isn't serious, hard work, or horticultural ...

      Delete
  2. Diana Studer18 July 2015 at 23:36

    your picture, is a blanket flower.
    http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/blanket-flower/

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    Replies
    1. alice c19 July 2015 at 22:44

      Oh dear! I am mortified. I will go and do an hours weeding as a penance.

      Delete
    2. Diana Studer20 July 2015 at 20:40

      aww,
      Blanket flower is a beauty in its own right. I know it from American garden bloggers who cherish it!

      Delete
  3. Anonymous22 July 2015 at 17:59

    It is still a pretty flower, don't beat yourself up about it!

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    Replies
    1. alice c22 July 2015 at 18:02

      There is so much that I don't know I try to be humble in the presence of proper Gardeners.

      Delete

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