I omitted to mention Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ as one of my purchases yesterday, as it was hiding behind other plants in the box they came hone in. This is a plant that took my fancy last time I went to Barnsdale, but I resisted a purchase; this time tiny hostas were on my wish list but this is the only variety they stocked. For those asking, the hemerocallis I bought were H. ‘Mini Pearl’, H. ‘Longfield’s Glory’ (not pink but lavender) and H. ‘Janice Brown’; although looking for pinkish varieties it was an exceedingly difficult choice, partly because there were so many (100+ probably) but also because they were no longer in flower so it meant reading all the labels and making informed colour choices. I was hoping to buy a true red one but decided not to risk buying them with flowers unseen in case the red wasn’t as ‘true’ as I would like.
The new purchases were all planted out in an unusually timely manner today, benefiting from the thorough soaking the garden got yesterday morning – and my! how it needed it! – although the one wet day in August had done a grand job in providing temporary respite. All the borders are looking refreshed and perky and those residents contemplating second flushes of flowers were producing buds with a noticeably greater degree of optimism, as were the asters as they prepared for their first outing of the year. I now also have a shorter walk with watering cans when the tomatoes get their daily dose.
A jiffy bag containing aquilegia seeds arrived today from Touchwood, the product of hours spent hunched over a laptop making choices. I am grateful to Sarah at Hillwards for alerting me to Touchwood Aquilegias in a recent and wonderfully descriptive post as I had fully intended to source seeds this year after being enraptured by various aquilegias but had not yet got round to it. BE WARNED if you visit Touchwood’s site as you will soon find yourselves submerged in a sea of seriously sensational blooms! I am currently debating whether to grab this last opportunity to sow them now or wait until early next year- believing I might JUST squeeze some flowers from them next year if I start them now will no doubt sway me!
Rambling in the Garden 
I love aquilegia and hope you have luck with your seeds. Here is Texas we have a native one that’s called Texas Gold. They have spread all over my yard via the abundant seeds, and they are the first thing other than some bulbs to bloom here in the spring. They are golden yellow as the name implies and Neil Sperry calls them the wing’s of spring. Again good luck with your seeds. Blessings, Natalie
Texas Gold sound lovely – I have some A. Oranges and Lemons which have begun to seed themselves a little, but the flowers are quite small so they don’t make much of an impact
Hostas are one of the plants which don’t know that they’re seaside plants, so I’m a fan and am captivated by the idea of mini varieties.
Aquilegas are real toughies and should flower from seed in first year, but this may only apply to Granny’s Bonnets and not the more refined varieties.
Yes, the specials take a bit longer to get established – the ‘Green Apples’ I sowed in Feb are still only 3 or 4″ tall. I would like a shallow pot of a few different mini hostas, so I shall have to begin searching. Glad hostas do well for you – they do for my Mum too although hers are on the less exposed side of a wall
Always waited for these mice to arrive, haha…unfortunately we have proper ones around. The snakes don’t seem to be able to keep up. Hostas would be very happy here in winter but come spring and summer, they’d probably die. On my last trip to my mountain garden I collected seeds of Aquilegia Black Barlow and a very special white one. They both stand isolated and should come true to type.
Ooh, I hope your aquilegia establish nicely 😉
Oh no! I visited Touchwood’s website! They have some really unusual aquilegias! I do love them, I had some gorgeous ones this year. I’d be tempted to sow as early as possible but then you also want to play it safe too.. hmm decisions! My mum gave me some seeds a few years back and advised me to just sow any time since that’s what they would do in the wild and then they will come up when they’re naturally ready – maybe?!
Ha ha, warned you!!! I agree with you on seed sowing time, and they take their time germinating anyway so I am sure they will do so when they are ready
Oh what a sweet little mouse Cathy – I have seen it at shows. I believe that it’s the parent of other mice hostas including one called ‘Church Mouse’ 🙂 Sounds as if you were spoilt for choice as far as the day lilies were concerned.
Ahah – I shall look out for more mice – there must be a hosta specialist out there…. I need to go back to Barnsdale again when the day lilies are flowering, don’t you think?!
As fall has started to arrive, I too am finding myself drawn back to the nursery for that one or two more plants. I like your choices they are very interesting.
Not always planned choices, I have to say!
Ah bounty! Fantastic! 🙂 Look forward to seeing how your aquilegias turn out.
Thanks = me too 😉