Chatties

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Who doesn't love Delphinium?

Or should that be Delphinii? school I loved Latin but it sure makes me a nerd today. I am a self-admitted word nerd.

But back to botanicals.

Have you grown delphs? I have. One year I even got three sets of bloom from them by deadheading immediately after each previous set of flowers was finished. And I was vigilant about making sure there were no hollow stems in the crown for water to collect and then freeze. Oh, well.

Now I grow Verbascum. You must see the varieties that are out there now. These aren't your grandma's old screaming yellow wands.

VERBASCUM phoeniceum 'Violetta'Check out this violet one. VERBASCUM phoeniceum 'Violetta'



Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’ mixAnd they come in so many colours that complement the other perennials in the garden.

Heritage Perennials mentions the distinction between these improved cultivars and the roadside mulleins.

My friend Marg insists on calling Hemerocallis "ditch lilies". And would probably call Violetta a roadside mullein.

Verbascum 'Helen Johnson'About Verbascum p. 'Southern Charm' Heritage says:
"This hybrid strain of Mullein is an outstanding selection for summer colour. Plants form a low, ground-hugging rosette of crinkly green leaves, bearing upright stems or spikes of flowers in a range of soft pastel colours, including apricot, pink, cream and lavender. Stems are tall and excellent for cutting. Although not a long-lived perennial, these usually self-sow. Seedlings are easily moved while small. Most effective when planted in groups towards the middle of the border. Also interesting in tubs or mixed containers

BaptisiaAnother way to achieve that spiky habit is to use Baptisia.

I'm growing 'Twilite Prairieblues' with sundrops. Not long enough to have envisioned a vignette, yet. These only come when the muse puts it all together. My part of the relationship is to be ready to hear her.

Baptisia can flop if the canopy is casting too much shade, so I like to give it a prop of a tall sedum. 'Purple Emperor' looks great, then a sedum siebodii in front of that.