The Verbena Monologues

With due deference to that well known show that has inspired this post's title.

So you know how it is, you are walking around the garden one day, musing on how the borders are looking and thinking they are looking ok, when suddenly you decide you do not have enough Verbena bonariensis.  I had planted quite a few plants a few years ago, all grown from seed, but as I looked around only one or two appeared to be still living.
Now there are some plants I refuse, absolutely refuse, to buy as a plant.  They are just too easy to grow from seed and, quite frankly, too expensive to buy as a plant.  Verbena  bonariensis is on this list, it is so easy to grow from seed that in my situation I would be plain daft to buy it already growing, especially as I would want several (correct that, many) and I would not be able to afford the amount I need.  I fully accept that I am lucky that I have a greenhouse and therefore have the space to grow them and I have previously lived in a house with virtually no windowsills so I know how annoying it is when someone says 'well just grow them on the windowsill'.
So I purchased some seed and very quickly I had many seedlings.  More seedlings than I needed really, so I formed plan B.  I could have just planted them as I intended mainly in the Conservatory Border, but I decided they would also go into the Prairie Borders.  I do limit the plants in the Prairie Borders deliberately.  I do not want it to be become a jumble of plants I have my other borders to do that with.  The Rudbeckia this year has not faired well in the Prairie Borders and this has disappointed me, so I am hoping that by adding these Verbenas next year will look a bit better.
We will see.....

Postcript - there has been an unintended consequence of writing this post, because I amused myself with the title, I now have trouble thinking what the name of the plant is and now think I am growing v........s.  I leave you with that thought as a problem shared is just more fun than keeping it to myself.

Comments

  1. Love the title! But struggling with the Verbena bonariensis ~ known as purple top here, and a weed! But then again, a weed is just a plant in a place you don't want it ~ well something like that, so I have thoroughly enjoyed being here :)

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    1. thanks :) I think it is quite shortlived and sometimes just pops up where you don't expect it. Plants don't like being predictable at times.

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  2. Fun reading the Verbena monologues. I grow them too from seed. After many years I lost them too, but sowed them again. Now I have already 4 years after another everywhere verbena bonariensis.
    Nice blog, I am going to follow you.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments and for your follow - you are very welcome

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  3. Verbena bonariensis is not really grown much as a garden plant here because it is very weedy in this climate, but I did have one come up on its own last summer and let it grow and flower, although I cut off the seed heads. It was lovely, but I'm too nervous to grow them on purpose!

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    1. Here it self-seeds where you don't want it to and people sell it for a fortune in garden-centres. I always find it interesting where must-have plants in one part of the world are another part of the world's weeds.

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  4. I've had to add to my V.... Bonariensis earlier in the year, I got some free seeds from a magazine. It hangs around for a few years then just gets whacked by the winter. I don't think you can every have too much of it.

    Incidentally, now i'm thinking of it with the same female part label that you are.! Thanks a bunch.!

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  5. Weeds ! We are growing weeds in our gardens ...I love it !

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