Saturday 24 October 2009

Pineapple Sage

Pineapple sage is a half hardy member of the sage family. Last winter we had some severe frosts and I thought I had lost it totally. However in the spring I noticed a couple of tiny green shoots so didn’t dig it up and ditch it. Slowly the green shoots became six inch stems and they remained like that for most of the miserable wet summer we had. Then in August it suddenly put on a spurt and started to grow until by September it was a 2ft high bush.DSCF0023 Now in October it is flowering and has the most interesting red flowers. DSCF0028 They are long like catkins DSCF0027 and as the flowers develop they are a bit like monbretia petals. There is only one in full bloom but lots coming on the plant. If they all flower it will be an amazing sight. Sage makes a very good herbal tea for sore throats. And a sandwich of brown bread and butter with sage leaves between will aid digestion and clean out the system!

Also I noticed I have one late roseDSCF0033 and a couple of non stop begonias blooming. DSCF0034 They are determined to show their colours on these grey days we’ve been having. And the blueberry has the most amazing red leaves. DSCF0035 For all it is nearly November the garden is very colourful.

10 comments:

  1. Do hope you don't mind that I keep getting in first on picks for you Val, but just always seem to be there when you're finished posting - really glad to see you back on Blotanical! More posts please!!

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  2. Sorry to hear you still seem to be having bad weather Val... Things certainly still look nice and colourful in your garden :)

    It has been unusually warm today, very strange... No doubt the very reason I've seen lots of Ladybirds around??

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  3. ...a very good herbal tea for sore throats? This is what I need! Now, I'll certainly will put it on my list!

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  4. Have just bought Pineapple sage (but, whisper it softly, here it whines the sun is too hot, so I am looking for some semi-shade for it)

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  5. I grew some pineapple sage in a pot, and it was just starting to put on blooms when the cold weather came through and killed it. I cut a few stems to try to root them, but I don't know if it was too late. I enjoyed cutting the stems this summer and adding them to a couple tea bags to make gallon jars of tea to drink cold.

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  6. Val,you must be so pleased that last year's cold winter did not see off your lovely sage. I bought a honeydew melon sage earlier this year which I planted at the allotment. It has really flourished in the last couple of months and is now smothered with flowers. I am hoping that it will come through the winter - fingers crossed :)

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  7. Lovely Pineapple Sage - so glad that the winter did not kill it off - I hope this winter is not as bad as last!
    K

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  8. I hope your Pinapple Sage makes it through this winter again. Aren't the leaves on the blueberries a gorgeous colour? My blueberry plants have now dropped all their leaves, that's the difference between Cornwall and Yorkshire.

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  9. Red leaves are most amazing and attractive. I also have red leaves in my garden. please check it on my site.small garden design

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  10. nice garden!!! Termite is really an issue to deal with complexity because termite damage our sweet and beautiful garden. This is certainly concerned to have some specialists to get the sweet home cleaned out.


    termite inspection los angeles

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