By pure chance

Isn't it funny how sometimes you learn things or discover things just by pure chance.

Someone asks about gardening books, next thing, I've ordered a book that I didn't know existed. Then I happen to notice in the google search results when looking for that book a nice picture of a flower. Apparently a Penstemon. Another plant I've never grown before, but it catches my eye so I google it further. From what I've read, it sounds ideal for my planned scheme for the front garden. Here's some pics on google images:

penstemon - Google Search

Fabulous eh?

 

Yep....... and then you end up spending a load of money...:.....

 

I love penstemons, I've got lots of them in a circular bed with small geraniums frothing around the edges - looks great in summer.

 

I wish you could combine postage on Amazon for the marketplace retailers ... I stumble over plenty of books at £0.01 ... but all with £2.80 postage ...

For gardening books I usually buy 2nd hand - its going to be well thumbed when I'm done with it anyway - and often they are cheap as chips.

 

I get almost all my books from the charity shops - thumb through them and if they're any good hand over a quid or two! I did pay a fiver for a mint copy of the RHS Encyclopedia of Plants And Flowers.

Penstemons are often regarded as old fashioned which is totally unfair! Most are very easy from seed.
My favourites;
Penstemon digitalis "Huskers Red". The flowers are borne on stems that emerge from the basal growth and reach a metre in height. It's the maroon foliage and stems that set the almost white flowers off so well that makes this special. Fully hardy.


P. heterophylus "Heavenly Blue". Low growing and fully hardy, although it only seems to have a lifespan of about five years with me.


P.barbatus. Has a similar growth habit to P.digitalis, but is only half hardy. Grows to about a metre.


P.pinifolius is a great little rockery specimen. Hardy.

 

I've had books off Amazon Marketplace from Oxfam - so there are charity opportunities to be made via that route too