Even a Flower Can Tell a Story.

 Last year I bought two plants called Cosmos Atrosanguineus  commonly known as Chocolate Cosmos. This is a tuberous perennial which has dark red almost brown flowers. It also tends to be on the tender side. The first came from my visit to Highgrove House and the second from the local green grocer. Unfortunately I omitted to realise that they needed protection over the winter. The first became completely lost whilst the second looked decidedly miserable! Meanwhile my mum had one also from Highgrove  which she had in a pot on her balcony and then her gardener sensibly over wintered in the greenhouse.

Roll on to the Spring. Mum’s came out of the greenhouse looking vigorous. Mine looked liked twigs! I kept a beady eye on it and then one afternoon when Farmer Husband was tidying up the border I noticed it was missing. There it was discarded in his wheelbarrow...... On fishing it out I was quick to point out that although it looked dead if he had put his glasses on he would have seen two tiny shoots. He has not been allowed to forget this. I potted the saved plant and kept my eye on it as it gradually recovered and then replanted it. I removed at this stage a shoot and brought it on in a pot.

By now it was Summer. Mum’s was flowering profusely. Mine were growing leaves...... Constant mutterings aimed at Farmer Husband....

Mid September comes and we finally have some buds on the potted one. 

There is hope at last!

The end of September and finally a flower. Early October and flower number two.

Farmer Husband would probably say that throwing it out was the best move. I would say that patience is always rewarded. There is one certainty. I shall be putting them somewhere in pots that is safe from frosts this winter and also away from somebody’s wheelbarrow.