Mindful Abstraction?

Stumbling across this beautiful delicate flower in bed No.3 (left) I had to send photos of it to various people to find out its identity. Sadly, this is common behaviour - I seem to have a propensity to introduce lots of plants and seedlings and then immediately forget what they are.  As Paul and I do our regular 'surveying the grounds' wanderings the conversation goes like this:

Paul:  "So, what's that yellow bushy flower?
Me:  "Hmmm...no idea. Could be a Gerbera... I know that Paul L gave me some..."
Paul:  "And what about that big purple one?"
Me:  "oh yes - I know this one... it's Echinancea.  Yep, definitely. [pause].  Well, actually it might be scabiosa, or possibly an aster, or cosmos..."
Paul:  "Oh OK.  What about the pink-and-cream delicate looking one?"
Me:  "Absolutely no idea.  Let's move on now...."

It also seems that despite writing up labels for seedlings, something completely different appears.  Currently in greenhouse No.2 there are a few plants that are identified as 'hot habanero peppers' but they all look completely different to each other!  So, I will just have to wait and see.what happens.

Why is it that I continually seem to think that I will also remember that, for example, all those pink pots contain ... zinnia... or are they Rudbeckia? or maybe Salvia...? Absolutely useless - and I never learn!!

I managed to reduce my 72 tomato plants to approximately 25, but there are now 20 red Marconi peppers enthusiastically guzzling water by the can-load.  It seems that it is best to keep them well-watered but not to let the roots get too wet, or to sit in damp conditions. Really - how can you tell -  I can't see through soil!? It's a minefield out there!

However, I can reassure you that my home-grown-and-from-my-own-seed delphiniums , hollyhocks and lupins are (or have been) bloomin' marvellous! AND I can identify these very easily!!

Oh - I have just realised I need to identify the mysterious bloom:  this is an Aquilegia.  It is an herbaceous perennial and also known as common columbine or Granny's Bonnets.  

According to the RHS:  

"Aquilegia vulgaris, the wild species, is usually blue, with nodding "bonnets", but many purple, mauve, pink and white colour variants have developed in gardens during its long history in cultivation".  

And breathe....