Six On Saturday: It’s the small things that count

/ n20gardener

It has been a cold week here, down to -4.3 in the unheated greenhouse and frosts for several days. I didn’t see any magical sparkling photo opportunities which caused me to be a little despondent about what I could find in the garden this week. But so many small things caught my eye that I find I am able present another Six On Saturday.

One

The roses are putting out new growth, an encouraging reminder that the cycle continues even through the coldest moments.

Two

Euphorbia oblongata is looking as perky now as is does in Spring and Summer. I’ve had this for several years now even though it is often said be best grown as annual. Whisper that, I wouldn’t want to frighten it away!

Three

More buds are appearing on the hellebores. These ones self-seed themselves quite freely so I have quite a cluster developing.

Four

The viburnums are just beginning to come into flower, not quite covering the whole shrub yet, but it’s a start.

Five

The melica grass is ready for cutting back, new shoots are coming through. Here it is mixed with hydrangea ‘Limelight’ and self-seeded iris foetidissima all in the shelter of the rhododendron.

Six

Elsewhere other hydrangeas offer their brown winter colouring, the flower heads protecting the new buds of the next season’s growth and I have just spotted the first pairs, green gems in amongst the brown.

What a contrast next week will be. The warmer weather should encourage me to get out and cut back the autumn fruiting raspberries and make a start on the grasses. There’s a new storm coming in so it won’t be smooth all the way but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I hope you can enjoy your gardening too. Jim’s around as usual, hosting this little band. Take a look.

19 thoughts on “Six On Saturday: It’s the small things that count”

  1. -4.5° in the greenhouse! I would have a heart attack because I have so many fragile plants in it… Luckily I have a heater and a thermostat in mine. If you want to cut down the raspberries, do it today or later because the storm is coming. Indeed we are also on alert for Sunday evening and Monday with strong gusts

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  3. Oh, that’s cold in the greenhouse! Mine is unheated too. It gets the morning sun during winter – but it’s on its own overnight. I only have a fuchsia in a pot in there, but with a wrap of fleece to protect it.

    It’s always exciting to see those hellebore buds forming on the plant. You’re garden’s doing well with the euphoria, the rose and the viburnums all showing signs of new life. There’s plenty to celebrate in your garden!

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  9. Are modern cultivars of hydrangea easier to prune than old fashioned sorts? In the shade, some of ours do not produce enough unbloomed new canes for me to prune out all of the old bloomed canes. Yet, after I prune off faded blooms from the older canes, the buds immediately below grow into canes that bloom. Even if I cut the tips off of new canes that get too tall, they bloom from the side shoots regardless.

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