Six lovely things for a rainy Saturday, starting with Alstroemeria ‘Princess Sophia’, of which I am a Plant Guardian for Plant Heritage. This means that, for some reason, known only to the Nursery trade, this cultivar has gone out of favour and is no longer being sold. It is in danger of becoming obsolete, so we try to stop that happening by propagating and passing plants to others to look after and do the same. Worth keeping I think.
Sweet Peas are one of my favourites and there is simply nothing better than the scent of a bunch on the kitchen window cill. This one is ‘Betty Maiden’ which I trialled for Which? Gardening magazine in 2019 and have grown every year since from saved seed. Like most members of the pea family, it is self pollinating so you won’t find the bees swarming all over it like most open pollinated plants. Fortunately though, this means they will come true from seed, keeping the cultivar going forever.
I sowed seed of Phlomis russeliana many years ago which did well and have gradually self-seeded in various parts of the garden, mostly in places I don’t mind. They seem to like the company of other plants and squeeze themselves into tight spaces. For what is supposed to be a Mediterranean sun lover, they certainly like my clay!
There is a lot of Ammi majus around at the moment which, to me, is just posh cow parsley. But this is different. Orlaya grandiflora, the White Lace Flower, is exquisite in it’s delicate design and composition. Like mini lace handkerchiefs on a creamy white flat umbellifer flowerhead. Nature at her beautiful best.
There are hundreds of shrubby salvias available and they are all good, but some are better than others. Personally, I think this is one of the best, Salvia greggii ‘Icing Sugar’ which is a double pink variety emerging from dark, almost black buds. Given to me last year by a friend, it is thriving in a pot at the moment while I try to find a space for it!
The rose garden is looking good so far this year. The rain has certainly helped, and I am using Uncle Tom’s Rose Tonic this year to try to ward off the dreaded blackspot. Only two sprayings so far, but they do look healthier than last year. I don’t use insecticides in the garden as the Blue Tits do a wonderful job of clearing the early aphids and caterpillars in May to feed their youngsters. And the Robins are already on to their second brood!
Have a great weekend
David
Davids Garden Diary 
It’s great that there are gardeners like you to keep rare plants going.
Thank you Rosie. I have to add that some of the plants the Nursery trade have given up on is for good reasons. I have had some shockers! Even in my own Tradescantia National Collection there are 20 or so I would happily allow to drift into oblivion as they are simply not garden worthy plants.
I have Phlomis fruticosa which thrives in the heat of Central Alabama and is drought tolerant. It has abundant yellow blooms in the spring.
I have an unusual variegated version of Phlomis fruticosa called ‘Rougemont’ which is struggling to get going. We don’t get the same heat as you and we do get far too much rain!
It’s very much part of running a specialist nursery that you aim to have some varieties that no-one else has. The customer then comes to you for the variety they can’t get anywhere else and buys a whole lot of other stuff while they’re about it. Then you get old and pack it in and a raft of plants suddenly become unobtainable.
I’ve got an Alstroemeria outside that has just opened a few flowers which look remarkably similar to your ‘Princess Sophia’, but I’ve lost the label. I’d thought maybe it was ‘Sweet Laura’ but the flowers seem too big. I don’t remember ever having ‘Princess Sophia’ though.
Very true Jim. I have too friends who are giving up their nurseries in the next year or two and the same will happen to their rare and unusual plants I am sure.
I agree that A. ‘Princess Sophia’ does resemble ‘Sweet Laura’ but it is a totally different plant. Shorter and less floriferous, and doesn’t run like Laura. I believe it is part of a ‘Princess’ series. I got rid of ‘Sweet Laura’ after it became a weed!
That’s a wonderful photo of Alstroemeria – makes me want to hunt one (any variety, really) down up here although I imagine their hardiness would be questionable.
They certainly don’t suffer frozen ground well and need a thick mulch even in mild winters. Worth it though!