Dozen for Diana 9 – Blue Sage

If you have been following Dozen for Diana, 

then return to my imaginary smallish, townhouse/courtyard garden.
 We see a focal point/informal hedge (Dusty Miller), 

a small tree (Trimeria), 

a variegated groundcover (Plectranthus madagascariensis), 
colourful groundcover daisies (Dimorhpotheca jucunda), 

white arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica), 

a scented pelargonium (name unknown, from my mother’s garden),
 one of our restios (Thamnochortus sp.), 

and a flowering, succulent groundcover (Bulbine). 

These plants are happy with the long hot summer 

and wet winter of a Mediterranean climate. 

Double points if they are from South Africa.

Dozen for Diana,
first nine have been repeated,
and there are three still to be chosen
one each week till March

Third, got to have something special –

beautiful foliage,

flowers to pick,

fragrance,

wildlife friendly,

edible,

pioneer.

One of my favourite plants, is this tall wild sage. Salvia chamelaeagnea. The flowers are a soft, gentle, sky blue. A warm day, slightly hazy. But not the metallic, brutal heat which is lurking in the wings. You can see flowers, stems and leaves are covered with tiny hairs. As I brush against it in the rose garden, I come away in a cloud of fragrance (OK it is a herby, medicinal smell, but quite pleasant) . If I handle the plant to prune, or pick, my hands are sticky with fragrant oils. I see seedlings coming up, which makes it a welcome volunteer. And this shrubby plant is happily attempting to be my focal point in the Winter Chill, ‘white’ rose bed.

From plantZafrica

In southern Africa 22 Salvia species occur naturally, with most of them distributed through the south western Cape. Between 800 and 900 species of Salvia are found in the temperate and tropical regions of the world. Members of the sage family are known worldwide as excellent herbs and beautiful garden plants. Salvia chamelaeagnea, which grows wild in the south western Cape, is no exception. Flowering bright blue during the long hot summers, these plants are easy to find in the dry landscape where they grow along seepage areas, riverbeds and in sandy soil among rocks. Salvia chamelaeagnea is well adapted to survive fires, which regularly sweep though the fynbos vegetation, by resprouting from its woody rootstock. Salvia chamelaeagnea forms a dense shrub, growing almost 2 metres high, with many strong, upright stems. The stems are square- shaped, a typical feature of the family Lamiaceae. The flowers are formed in whorls along the top third of the stems, any time between November and May. Individual plants flower for a month or two.  It varies in colour from blue, mauve, pink to pure white. Flowers with a dark blue top lip and white lower lip are the most common.

What is your choice – an easy shrub with flowers 

– which would always be in your garden?

It is the second Sunday in Advent, and this evening we have our Carol Service. 
The bells will herald the approach of Christmas, 
before half our town disappears off to the sea for the summer school holidays.
 This post was first published on 6th December ... 

Photos and written by Diana of  Elephant's Eye