Mini Garden Tour 1

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I’m filling up the pond today, so it’s bound to rain! As the garden’s 170 ft long, it involves a hose pipe borrowed from my son and several other bits, juggling connectors and a water butt! The pond has a water soldier in flower and buds on the new water lily, both given by friends.
Penstemons are among my favourites. My mother grew the frist one about 40 years ago. It may be “Garnet”. It’s thrived via cuttings and various house moves.
I grew some from seed last year, and most haven’t flowered yet, so it’s fun wondering what’s going to appear. The next two are from this packet of seeds, a dark red and a flamboyant bright red with white throat.
The next one was dying in a garden centre, and after some TLC turned out to be a tiny delicate pink one.
The last one I bought in a plant sale on the canal, again not in flower. It has a small flower almost snapdragon in shape.

Penstemons will flower from now until November. They should not be cut down until the spring. They are easily increased from cuttings and also obligingly layer themselves from branches touching the ground. I’ve found them to be hardy down to -15 degrees! What more could you ask for in a plant?
ttp://media.growsonyou.com/photos/blog_photo/image/45959/main/DSC01171.jpg!

• 29 Jun, 2010
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