Month: February 2023

Six On Saturday: New shoots and dead things

/ n20gardener / 18 Comments

I am still putting my faith in the March surge but a few more things have been added to the ‘possibly dead’ list this week. Fortunately there are some signs of life so the balance is being just about being maintained. It’s been cold overnight with frosts forecast but not materialising. The end could be in sight. I’m upping my cutting back programme and can report that my conscience is a little clearer as the gooseberries have now been pruned. Here’s my six for this week.

One

I have been inwardly wailing about the lack of crocuses, being somewhat of an impatient gardener. But this week they have put in an appearance. I’m pretty sure these are ‘Ruby Giant’. Of course my camera skills have given perfectly in focus leaves and rather soft focus flowers. Artistic I think!

Two

Oh, the poor pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’ is looking very sad. Losing leaves and so far showing no signs of new life. It will be a blow if these go. There are three of them fronting the Japanese anemones (autumn flowering) astrantia (summer flowering) and the melica altissima ‘Alba’ (late Spring to Summer) which as you can see is in need of a tidy up. The pittosporum is a H3 group for hardiness. It’s definitely not enjoyed this winter.

Three

Combining new life with another possible loss. The first of the tête-à-tête daffodils have opened. Behind are the remains of salvia nachtvlinder, which may or not spring back to life later in the year. I won’t cut this back until I see signs of new growth. But it may be another loss.

Four

The reliable new shoots of phlox. Long lived and indestructible. Thank goodness for this one. The brown stems from last year can easily be snapped off. On my ‘to do’ list over the next few weeks.

Five

Some more new shoots to enjoy. These are delphiniums, grown from seed last year. I decided to keep them in pots over winter to grow them on into stronger plants before subjecting them to the challenge of hungry slugs in the border. Three are doing very well, the other two are a little behind. The charming bittercress weed is also putting on a good show.

Six

This luzula nivea is a new one for me. I planted out about six of them last year and they seem to have toughed out the winter conditions rather well. They are part of a new border at the back of the garden. Quite shady, quite dry. The luzulas seem to be quite happy.

I’ve been looking at my seed collection and wondering if I need to make new purchases. After having shunned cosmos for a year I think I will go back to them. My thin border is in a need of a rethink so this year I will probably fill it with annuals while I dither about what to do with it. I won’t be sowing anything just yet but it is definitely approaching itchy finger time! Enjoy your gardening this week. Those weeds need watching. Jim is hosting the SOS links as usual. Take a look at what’s going on.

Six on Saturday: On the edge

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

Two things are are conspiring to challenge this week’s six post. The first is that last night I was at the weird spectacle that is Abba Voyage. My head is now full of Abba songs and they do write a good chorus at least. So in an effort to clear my mind let me just say this: Gardening is never easy we know, but we have to grow. Sowing peas, sowing cues, ah ha! There. I hope that’s done it. The other challenge is that it is only mid February and the garden here is not being very forthcoming. There were several frosts last week but also some really mild days. There has also been talk of another cold spell at the end of February or early March so I am trying to reign in the eagerness to get going. I’m on the edge and so is the garden. Here’s this week’s six and I promise no more Abba songs will sneak their way in.

One

I made my first visit of the year to the garden centre to buy supplies. A large tub Fish, Bone and Blood, which is my go to general fertilizer, some Rose fertilizer, a packet of Parsnip seeds and then I gave in and bought three dahlia tubers. I planted ‘David Thomas’ in the garden last year. I am not a dahlia fan, but I do appreciate that they offer a rousing splash of colour, rather like Abba really, so I always give in and grow a few. I don’t lift dahlias overwinter but I fear that this winter may have done for those in garden so these are a security purchase.

Two

The tête-à-tête daffodils are not quite open yet, one or two are in bud and these later purchases planted in pots have a few more weeks to go. It has been a dry few weeks so these had a watering can full to help them along.

Three

I fear there are more gardening casualties. The fuchsia looks dead but may yet spring into life. The rock rose also looks pretty grim. I was happy to see signs of life at the base of the penstemons. But first prize goes to the osteospermum. Entirely unaffected by the winter onslaught.

Four

I have to revisit the snowdrops, it is a February requirement. So here’s a drift of them in the north facing edge of the garden.

Five

The anemone blanda are just braving it into flower, one more sign of the garden about to tip over the edge.

Six

Last year I took a deep breath and cut back one or two branches on an old rhododendron. It is a tough one so I’m not sure why I was so apprehensive, but I was. I’m very happy to see these new shoots. Some gradual reshaping will be done again this year after flowering.

I am still snipping away the climbing roses. The major cut back has been done but there are always one or two lengths that can be better tied in or some forward growth that needs to be taken back. The green manure has been dug in and I have sown some chilli seeds in pots on a sunny (?) window sill. Slowly, slowly moves are being made. A bit like me on the dance floor!

For more gardening news stop by Jim’s garden, beautiful camellias, snowdrops and some seed sowing too. Plus all the links to the other SOS blogs. Mamma Mia, here we go again! (Sorry).

Six On Saturday: Keeping faith

/ n20gardener / 8 Comments

I was staring moodily out of the kitchen window this morning, wondering what on earth there was to write about this week and why weren’t there any interesting birds at the feeder? It had been another cold week, with heavy frosts and minus temperatures overnight. Then, unexpectedly and majestically, a heron flew across the sky. I was able to watch it cross three gardens and fly onwards into the distance. Purpose returned, six things would be found and here they are.

One

The new buds on the clematis are coming through now, reminding me that it is time to cut this one back. It’s a viticella, ‘Madame Julia Correvon’.

Two

The rosemary is in flower. Ready for the bees to arrive.

Three

More herbs. Although looking a little scruffy I am pleased with this coriander. I never seem to keep a regular supply going, but last year I tried again with some seeds in a new pot against a wall. They grew, went to seed, and I pushed those seeds back under the soil. They germinated and we had a second picking. I was happy enough. I am more than happy to see that they have come through a tough winter. Maybe I have finally found the right place.

Four

Above these straw coloured stems are the feather heads of ‘Karl Foerster’. These are a definite winner in my book, providing interest all through winter. But the time has come to cut them back. Probably should have done it a few weeks ago but never mind!

Five

In the front garden, the sarcococca, which flowered a while back, has had a second go. This plant is about two years old, and in spite of inhospitable conditions (dry and shaded) it does seem to be making a go of it.

Six

And finally, I’ve started the potato chitting. My local allotment shop had quite a good range in stock and I was able to buy ‘Charlotte’ and some ‘Pink Fir Apple’.

It has felt like a long, long winter but gradually the days are lengthening and before we know it the garden will be rushing on ahead of us. Sunday is earmarked for gardening. The green manure will be cut back and dug in, that last rose climbing rose will be pruned and the gooseberries must be tackled. Over in Jim’s garden, he’s also cutting back grasses, and signs of Spring are evident. Take a look, and don’t hesitate to join in too.

Six On Saturday: Progress is being made

/ n20gardener / 10 Comments

Yes, amazingly I have made a dent in the ‘to do’ list. All the shrub roses have been pruned, the autumn fruiting raspberries have been cut back and, just in time, the vine has been also been pruned. There is much to be said for pruning the roses in December. At this time of year I find myself tiptoeing around the newly emerging Spring bulbs. It can be very challenging. I have made a start on the ‘Blush Noisette’ climbing rose, several times in fact. There are two of them growing against a wall and much ruthlessness is needed. I find I need several goes before I achieve the optimum level of devil may care attitude! There is another cold spell due next week with the possibility of an overnight frost, but there is no denying the garden is on the move. This is very positive but it also means the losses over winter are becoming clearer. Here’s my six for this week.

One

Skimmia ‘Lime Green’ suffered from die-back of several of the branches and I have no idea why. I cut all the dead back before winter and although it looks rather thin at the moment, it is showing signs of life. I hope it manages to grow back from the base.

Two

The cordyline, liberated from a pot in the summer, really does look like a gonna. As with all the dead looking plants, I will leave this in the ground until I am really sure it is beyond hope.

Three

Dead but appropriately so. These are the seed heads of rudbeckia. They are a source of food for the goldfinches and so are always left standing over winter. Phlox is another plant that doesn’t get cut back, no seeds but good for winter cover for the foraging birds.

Four

More and more hellebores are coming through, this is another ‘Pretty Ellen’. I have my eye on the space where two others were newly planted out in September but there are no signs of them yet.

Five

More signs of life in the greenhouse. I bought some gaura in September and wisely decided not to plant them out but to keep them in the greenhouse over winter. It wasn’t looking too good a week or so ago but as the temperature creeps up so the new growth has come through.

Six

A definite sign of Spring, the very first crocus has appeared. I think I bought these bulbs in an end of season sale at the garden centre so they were planted quite late. Miscellaneous white is all I can say about them. Oh, and very lovely to see.

This weekend I am off to buy my seed potatoes from a local allotment shop. It may be a limited range but I am hoping they will have that reliable doer ‘Charlotte’. Jim, our charming Six On Saturday host, has a colourful post this week. The first daffodil and more of his wonderful collection of camellias. Happy gardening.