The gold envelope awaits, with the name of the winner hidden deep within, but which name is written there ?
Who deserves to be my star performer, my Prom Queen, my A* pupil, my 'First Past the Post '...
There are lots of shooting stars, fizzing up into the firmament, then fizzling out all too quickly. Fantastic for that brief moment in time, but then they leave a great big hole in the border when they've gone. Some of those shooting stars are amongst my favourites - the delphiniums, lupins, Dicentra Spectabilis and peonies, for example - but I hate trying to fill that gaping hole, hate the pruned stems, hate that feeling of loss so early in the season, when they've done their thing and vanished. So my star performer wouldn't be from this group of flighty thoroughbreds.
The opposite to the shooting stars are the dependable, sensible ones, bumbling through the whole season, without any major changes, and without any major surprises. The beige cardigans of the plant world - the geums, astrantias and (sorry!) some of the geraniums. Nothing earth shattering, but good doers, plodding along through the season in an even-tempered way. The work horses of the plant world. Although I need them in the garden, and use them extensively, I wouldn't pick my prom queen from this group.
Can foliage plants take the crown ? Plants like Hostas are fantastic, bringing texture and colour for months, and they do have the bonus of flowers too. I love them, I use them, I enjoy them, but to me they are scene fillers, extras, and not the star in the spotlight.
So the name I would draw out of that golden envelope has to be very special, and has to have outperformed everything else this season. What has given the most pleasure for the longest time ? For me, it is all about colour, so the winner must be flower rather than foliage.
The blooms which have given me the most pleasure are those of the David Austin rose 'Woolerton Old Hall'. Gorgeous incurving bowls of petals with a rich myrrh like scent and a subtle, creamy apricot colour. I savoured each bloom ... but there weren't many of them and they were easily damaged by rain or sun. Gorgeous, but not worthy of my 'Best performer' prize. Third prize. I think, witha proviso of 'could do better'.
In second place the hardy fuschia 'Lady Boothby' as she has been flowering her big heart out for months now. Large, luscious flowers which don't heed drought or flood, and all on a shrub which is as tough as old boots. The shrub itself is a pleasant presence throughout the growing season, and does not shrivel away to nothing after flowering, as perennials do. It is vigorous, easily propagated and very floriferous right up until the first frosts.
And in first place .... the plant which has been the best performer in the season of 2013 is ... (drumroll please) ...
Cosmos
Who wouldn't want to grow it every year:
- Cheap, easy and reliable from seed.
- Dwarf / double/ taller forms in a range from purest white through pinks to deep mauves
- Lovely ferny, delicate foliage. on bushy plants (as long as you remember to nip out growing tips)
- Can be grown in pots and containers, or used to fill gaps in beds and borders
- Flowers continuously and profusely, every year without fail, from June to the first frosts
- Lasts well as a cut flower and the foliage is great for arrangements
- Fits well into cottage gardens or more formal or contemporary gardens
Isn't that enough ??
They are still flowering in the garden now, and it is now November. All they ask is for regular deadheading to keep them flowering.
They are one of the only plants I grow from seed every year without fail, and, they grow beautifully ... every year without fail !
Cosmos! I just love this plant, and admire it often in other people's gardens. Can you believe I've never grown it? I don't know why I haven't. Obviously, I need to! Yours are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi and thanks for comments HG . Go on ... grow it, you won't regret it !!
DeleteMy cosmos was actually a dud for me this year but it's my fault because I accidentally fertilized them so they stopped blooming. But I have plans to grow a tall reddish-gold variety next year and have kept a giant pot empty just for them. I love your astrantia, lupins, and delphiniums. They don't grow here. :(
ReplyDeleteReddish-gold sounds lovely.Will look forward to photos ! Is it too hot for the delphiniums and lupins , where you live ?
DeleteAh, yes--I totally agree! Cosmos were No. 1 for me, too. No, wait, they were tied with Lantanas! Love them both--beautiful, carefree blooms from May through October. Good choice! (Oh, and I also love Fuchsias!)
ReplyDeleteLantana ... there's a thought ! I've never tried it, but if it is right up there with Cosmos, then I should be giving it a whirl!
DeleteYour shooting stars are very attractive! Love the sight of pointy flowers appearing in the garden. Yours is marvellous and the colours are so pretty. I don't think I can find similar shrubs here. You are right, once the flower stalks faded, there will be no more colours. Anyway, thank goodness you have those very lovely cosmos!! You picked the right winner :-D
ReplyDeleteAh, thankyou Stephanie, the Autumn colour is late this year, and it is always so fleeting !
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your tease. I read your pontifications and rationalising without peeking at the pictures. The winner actually surprised me but I can understand why, as I am biased towards robust plants with all these positive attributes. No primadonna for me too.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Stiletto, Zero tolerance for primadonnas ! I like the plants that really earn their place in the garden!
DeleteYour Lupine are beautiful. I fail miserably at growing them!
ReplyDeleteHi Flower Freak and thankyou for your comments. Whereabouts are you ? Is it a climate thing which makes lupin growing difficult ? I must admit I do little actual 'gardening' where they are concerned , just watch them grow really !
DeleteI love cosmos so your choice will get no argument from me. I thought that it was interesting that you noted that it is a flower that suits a contemporary garden as well as it does a traditional cottage one-not many flowers can claim to do the same. Your lupins, rose, fuchsia and delphinium are all beautiful runners up.
ReplyDeleteThanks for comments Jennifer, much appreciated. True, not many flowers can have roots n both the contemporary and the traditional camps . It is very versatile and sooo pretty !
DeleteI was shocked to see Astrantia get passed by (I LOVE these plants) but I just cannot argue with a Cosmos. Love those beautiful reliable blooms.
ReplyDeleteHi Marguerite. I have a confession - I can't abide Astrantia ! There, I've said it! I know all its good qualities and I grow lots of it, but it self seeds everywhere and there is something a bit stiff and spiky about it. Maybe it's just me ...
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