Illustration by Sir John Tenniel
"Would you tell me," said Alice, a little timidly, "why you are painting those roses?"
Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a low voice, "Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to have been a red rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake."
--Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Me too. I ought to have planted a pink Buddleia in my pink border and I put a white one in by mistake. Buddleia davidii 'White Profusion' is going into witness relocation on the other side of the house (as part of the federal Crimes Against Aesthetics Program).
I'm searching for a splendid pink replacement. Any suggestions on varieties?
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18 comments:
Oh too funny! We ended up digging white profusion and tossing it on the wildlife habitat brush pile. It was just too profuse. We grow Pink Delight, not one of the new improved budds but quite hardy and floriferous. Our favorite is Potter's Purple however. :-)
Frances
The only Buddleia I have planted is Adois Blue. I say follow the Hearts, paint it! I love Alice!
Frances, I looked up 'Pink Delight' and love the color, thanks! Over in the blue border I have 'Ellen's Blue' which is a luminous lavender. I'll keep PP in mind as well.
Janet, Hmm, painting instead of deadheading? Then I could say it was an art installation? But really, 'Adonis Blue' looks like a must for the blue--thank you!
The thing is, 5, 7 and 2 are a little behind the times, using a brush to paint the roses. Spray paint works infinitely better. I've considered using "forest green" to cover the tawny spots on my lawn! :]
Buddleia has officially been banned in Oregon but I'd really love to get my hands on one of the new dwarf 'Peacock' series.
Grace, In the bad old days (before we decided to let the back lawn die) many's the time my fingers itched to press the button on the green spray paint can! I see that brilliant gardeners think alike.
I had no idea I was putting my foot into an invasive plant controversy. Believe me, none of my Buddleias would live through the summer without watering, so I don't see them marching off the property and fighting it out with the Manzanitas.
Your 'Peacock' Buddleia choice is charming--a small and manageable version of a big thing, like those tiny watermelons they sell now. Maybe someday the OR legislature will lighten up?
Witness relocation. Ha! I love it.
Katie, And the relo is only because of color--it's a terrific plant.
Thanks for visiting my blog, The Illustrated Garden. After your kind comment, I couldn't wait to get over here and visit YOUR blog. What a delight! I'll be a regular visitor.
Val, Come back soon! I tried to add The Illustrated Garden to my Southern blogroll but it failed twice. Email me, please, if you have some insight on that.
I wish things were so easy as to paint a rose and have it all match. I just keep moving my plant and it is a real pain. The plants I move sure wish to go into the witness relocation program-to hide from me!
Tina, That's so funny!
I HATE when that happens and the wrong color goes in because of a mislabeling at the nursery. I have a pink rose in my front garden (too big to move) where a purple one was supposed to be.
Cindy, I'm glad that it's an easy-to-dig Buddleia instead of a rose bush!
I guess you didn't get the memo: Western Washington is the officially designated haven for witness-relocated Buddleias - at least that's the only way I can explain the droves of immigrants blooming away in confusion along our freeways and ditches.
Maranta, I'll be they're confused--they were probably told they were being taken to a nice farm in the country, or that they'd be running a Baskin-Robbins in a medium-sized town.
I wish I could make a suggestion but I can't grow it here in this area. It is marginally hardy but the Japanese beetles destroy the blooms so it's pointless to even have it. Every year it makes me a little sad to see it doing so well in blogger's gardens and covered in butterflies. Oh well, none of us can have everything we want. Maybe I should move to Maranta's neighborhood;)
Marnie
Marnie, You raise a good point--we can't all grow what we want. I don't have Japanese beetles, but I do have deer that limit my plant choices. Maranta makes Seattle sound alternately wonderful and awful, and I'm wondering which prevails?
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