Salvias, Salvias, Salvias!

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You might have guessed from the heading of this blog that I decided to write about…my Salvias! My love for these plants began during our first year here, while I was waiting to see what would appear in our ‘new’ garden – and a beautiful clump of purple salvias came up. What a nice surprise! Even better, they have a habit of seeding themselves into the grass, so I have nurtured my babies and planted them all over the garden as well as sharing them with friends.

Later in the year, another plant arrived – I found out that it was another variety of Salvia with a lovely name – ‘Purple Rain’. I’ve bought two more of those since then!

Over at the other side of the garden a very large plant was growing – and unfolding – into a Salvia which is supposed to be a biennial – Salvia sclarea turkestanica – but it has reappeared each year as well as seeding into the grass.

And at the end of that first summer, several spikes grew up which bloomed a bright blue. Yet another variety of Salvia had shown itself! It’s a Salvia uliginosa.

I have really fallen for the deep purple varieties, like ‘Ostfriesland’ and ‘Mainacht’.

As you know, I really like pink flowers, so I thought I’d try a pink Salvia for a change, but it doesn’t really do it for me like the purple ones. This one is called ‘Merleau Rose’
However, like the others, if you keep on top of the deadheading, it will keep on and on flowering for months on end!

I’ve seen some beautiful Salvias in the local Nursery, red shrubby ones – I wonder if I could find a space for ‘just one more’?

• 23 Aug, 2007
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