There have been no frosts in this last week but the wind has kept the temperatures down. It is time to do some seasonal gardening jobs. The grasses and the clematis were cut down last weekend. It always feels mean to take down last year’s clematis growth when it is already shooting for this year, but down it came. There is much to be cut back and as I see new shoots from hardy perennials I am persuaded to choose a few candidates and get on with job. Here’s this week’s six.
One
A pink primrose is just about surviving the slugs which are clearly enjoying this year as much as they enjoyed last year.
Two
I’m being a bit of a hellebore bore! But they never fail to cheer me up when I am looking for something to share. Pretty Ellen White is on display again.
Three
The flower heads on euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii are forming. This is another garden marker for me, lovely when fully open and a reminder to get the border cut back started.
Four
The tiny flowers of sarcococca confusa are easy to overlook. This was added to the garden last year to replace some euphorbia mellifera that were lost to frost. I’m just hoping the sweet box doesn’t go the way of my other box shrubs. In the meantime the euphorbia has self seeded in two other places and so far is surviving the winter.
Five
More mundane gardening jobs include recovering the veg plot paths from the moss that colonises them over the winter. That’s a job that will keep me warm.
Six
Lastly, my local allotment shop has its stock of seed potatoes and onion sets in stock. These are second early Charlotte, sitting in egg boxes to chit. I was also tempted by some Red Baron Onions which I will start off in modules in the greenhouse in March. My veg patch is slow to warm up and I have finally realised that starting things too early is a waste of time.
I’m encouraged to see buds on Thalia and more and more tulips pushing through. I also spotted the first shoots of the camassia ‘Alba’ that were newly planted last autumn. I’m hoping these will be in flower with the tulips. I’ve put down the markers for stealing some of the lawn for a new flower bed. Eventually the space will be shaded out by the new Rowan but in the meantime I’m going to sow a few annuals where the old fig tree grew. Jim, hosts the Six On Saturday blogs at Garden Ruminations. Always worth a visit to see what everyone is up to and what a stunning header shot Jim has this week! Happy gardening to everyone of you.
n20gardener 
No one’s a hellebore bore. You can show hellebores all week and I won’t tire of them! Pretty Ellen White is a beauty. Your euphorbias are way ahead of mine, which are rather sad-looking right now. Your tulips are well ahead of mind too – nothing at all showing so far. It’s still bitterly cold here, we have sleet falling at the moment, so no gardening today!
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I noticed that I also have a lot of moss on the borders and on the low walls. What do you do: do you spray something anti-moss or do you scrape the moss off? It’s still cold this morning, it froze here with -2°, but the first sign of spring seems to arrive in the middle of next week, I can’t wait!
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I would let the moss grow, because I love moss. I suppose you don’t want it covering the soil where you want to plant though.
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On low walls, it is not a problem, it’s rather pretty but on terrace it’s slippery, which is why they often have to be removed at the end of winter ( at home )
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Yes. Mine is on the paths so it has to go.
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That’s the path it’s growing over! It has to go for safety’s sake but I leave it where I can.
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I have never grown potatoes…I hear it is easy, maybe I should give this a try this year! The moss is lovely, if growing in the wrong place. I check on my tiny moss patch through the winter and am always surprised that it stays green . I do not have trouble with moss going crazy in my beds, but in the front bed there is a piece of rotten wood poking out of the ground and it is nicely colonized by a velvety green moss.
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Yes moss is lovely in certain places but here it is covering a path. I’d recommend growing potatoes. Here people have a lot of success growing them in potato bags. Easy to tip them out when they are ready!
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Good idea adding a new flower bed, much more pleasing to the eye than grass. And the insects might thank you for it too!
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I think they will.
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Your hellebores are doing well. Most of mine haven’t even formed buds yet!
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That’s interesting. I always think of Cornwall being ahead. I do have others just in bud waiting for some sunshine!
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It has been unusually cold this month. My poor Crinodendron tree has suffered, blackened leaves and dropped flower buds, I don’t think there will be many flowers this year, and my Fuchsia microphylla has lost all its leaves and flowers, the first time since planting it in 2018!
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I’m a little nervous about my fuchsia. It looks another week of cold nights to come. I hope your Crinodendron tree doesn’t suffer more
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There’s a few shoots on the fuchsia, but a lot of dead stems. I think I might have to be brave and cut it right back. 🤔
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I’ll be looking closely at mine today!
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After repeated attempts, I’ve had zero success with sarcococca and am quite envious of yours. Does it smell wonderful?
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If I’m really up close. It’s still young. Once established and much larger it does smell good.
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Is Sarcococca confusa popular there? I have never met it. Only Sarcococca ruscifolia is available here, and only rarely. I do not mind that the flowers are just as easily overlooked, since their fragrance is even better. Besides, their glossy foliage is always handsome.
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Yes I’d say it is. Liked for being hardy and evergreen and the flowers are nicely scented.
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Splendidly so if it is anything like Sarcococca ruscifolia!
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Love the moss! It looks familiar: We have quite a bit of moss in our back garden. But I understand it probably needs to go if you want to grow veggies in that spot. The potatoes look delish, and your blooms and plants are so happy and healthy.
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I like the moss, too. But I get it – it must go! It’s encouraging reading people’s to do – we’re all desperate to work outside again. And a reminder I need to buy some sluggo for the snails- who are also desperate to work in the garden again!
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I’m going to braving the cold today and maybe the moss!
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