flowers

Six On Saturday: Inspired again

/ n20gardener / 21 Comments

I always compile my six on a Saturday morning and this morning I had a heavy heart. What would there be? It seemed to have rained all night and was still raining. This was going to be hard. But small things lift the spirit and so it is with Six On Saturday, small things were found and here they are.

One

This is the one that did it. I have always envied my neighbours spread of cyclamens that sprinkle themselves around like jewels at this time of the year. The flowers are tiny but stunning. While searching for six lovelies for this week I found this small clump in my garden. Self seeded from over the fence. Do I thank the birds or the wind? I don’t know how long they will take to spread out in this garden but I can be patient.

Two

In contrast earlier in the week I had bought a pot of the larger variety. I knew the pot would fit into the top of an old chimney pot and that is my only excuse. How blousy they seem in contrast to the self-seeders above.

Three

The weather has been warm and wet this week, and many of the hardy geraniums are flourishing. Here is ‘Brookside’ having another go.

Four

I have managed to move a few more things around. This libertia was dug out from under the shade of the fig tree and moved to a spot with more sun. This meant relocating some sanguisorba and a colony of phaeums. The sanguisorba is a great home for slugs and digging them up revealed a quantity of eggs. The phaeums have been relocated or potted on for another time. The sanguisorba may be on its way out…

Five

I upended the summer bedding a few weeks back but the pelargoniums looked as if they could take a few more weeks so I potted them on and they have dutifully put out another round of flowers.

Six

Jobs to be done: I have been buying bulbs and a few packets of seeds. I didn’t manage to plant the camassias last weekend, prepping the ground took me up to the point when the rain came down again. So my last six for this week was going to be the bulbs, but I’ve lost them! In the shed? I hope so. In their place I offer you my seed choice, still unsown. I really was going to sow, at least, the Orlaya last week. Where does the time go?

The new greenhouse project has been joined by the new shed project. They are in the same corner of the garden and as the shed has developed a noticeable tilt I am going to replace both at the same time. A local company is making a site visit next week. This and those self-seeded cyclamens have got me planning again. One of the Darcey Bussell roses has been moved and if the ground wasn’t so saturated I’d be trying to move a hydrangea into the space. If I find the camassias I may be able to finish that job! Wishing you good weather for your gardening jobs and hoping that there is time to stop by Jim’s place for look at what’s going elsewhere.

Six On Saturday: Autumn arrives

/ n20gardener / 19 Comments

Undeniably the weather has changed. There’s still plenty of rain but now the temperatures have dropped and the first frost arrived. My ‘to do’ list is still quite long but it was not a gardening week for me. I am feeling the pressure as the leaves on the trees turn colour but generally October is a genial month here and I hope I can fit it all in. Here’s six for the week.

One

A new job was added to the list last week. The second greenhouse has a wooden frame and age and a deluge of rain have taken their toll. Two panes have slipped and now hang on periously, held by grime and moss. The wooden frame has rotted away and there is nothing left to support them. Now I have a trip to the greenhouse supplier planned. I decided not to replace the greenhouse damaged by a storm but this one I do need.

Two

This is an interesting one, even though it is only a hebe. I moved this a couple of years ago to the back garden. It settled in but lost its dark leaf and then flowered white. It has now re-appeared in its original location with the dark leaves and the original purple flower. I’m leaving it where it is. Nature knows best.

Three

I have been moving things around in the garden this year and the trouble is there are always weeds that tend to go with the plants. Here, I would love to divide these hesperantha coccinea but this patch is riddled with cinquefoil. The RHS site encourages me to love this weed. I’m not sure that I can but I am stuck with it.

Four

This one moves around without my doing anything. The Mexican daisy has self sown itself into the patio cracks very successfully and now I even I concede there is a little too much of it. It is allowed to colonise steps and edges, the rest is strimmed back regularly.

Five

My fig tree. What can I say about it. It is pruned every year. It is quite large. One party would like to take it down completely. I feel it gives privacy to the garden. This year the first crop of figs was very poor. Now the second crop looks amazing but in all probability will not ripen enough. There is more muttering in the N20 household!

Six

Lastly a pretty little geranium is having another showing. Geranium sanguineum var. striatum. Long lasting, simple and slug proof!

I really hope I can finish off one or two jobs next week. I am having a dither about the hydrangeas that were recently purchased. They are going into a space backed by a climbing hydrangea. Is that going to be like double denim? Am I about to commit another gardening crime? In the meantime Jim, who claims he is struggling to find six things, does in fact deliver another six delights! Happy gardening everyone.

Six On Saturday: New things, old things

/ n20gardener / 26 Comments

How quickly things change. Last week I was gardening in dry soil and this week the garden had a good soaking. Yes, we have had heavy rain but thankfully we do not get flooding. Today there are glorious blue skies and it feels like a perfect gardening day. Hopefully the soil won’t be too wet. Here’s my six for the week.

One

Let’s start with some goodies. I’ve ordered a few things for different parts of the garden. Three hydrangeas to replace the sarcococca confusa that have been eaten (box moth caterpillars?). The sarcococca replaced the pittosporum nanum that was lost last winter. Let’s hope the hydrangeas will be more resilient. Then there are three ostrich ferns aka shuttlecock ferns, to fill out a shady corner, and then veronicastrum ‘Alba’ to give some height to the borders – these were chosen because the slugs did not munch those I already have this year. Finally there is a new calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’. I’m having another go at symmetry. This one will replace one that failed on the other side of the steps. All good solutions, I hope, to gardening challenges. Hardy, slug proof and in the case of the ferns space fillers!

Two

More goodies, just a handful of crocus bulbs that were purchased from a market stall. They always tempt me. These are white Jeanne D’Arc. Isn’t it always the way, you identify the perfect spot to squeeze in a few more bulbs and lo and behold there are already bulbs there. I was luckier on my second attempt.

Three

A few years back this pot suffered in a very cold winter. I tried to repair it but things got worse. This year I concede. It was home to lily bulbs which are always attacked by lily beetles. I’ll do away with the bulbs, I thought, and find a corner of the garden where the pot can look ornamental while empty. I unearthed far more lily bulbs than expected and will almost certainly be trying to find a place to replant them. The hunt for suitable home for a wrecked pot starts this weekend.

Four

Blue skies and roses are perfect. This one is the climbing rose ‘James Galway’ which intertwines with the clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’. The clematis is winning.

Five

Speaking of clematis, here is the wonderful seed head of an unknown variety. So intricately beautiful.

Six

Lastly the astrantia are in flower again. Quietly getting on with things, always enjoyable.

I’ll be splitting overcrowded plants, re-arranging and re-planting. As the veg plot empties out I move any un-homed plants into empty spaces while I work things out. There are more bulbs to plant and I must decide whether to plant more tulips this year. Here’s hoping your plans are going well. Jim is also embarking on new projects, specifically on his allotment. Amazingly he also finds time to host the SOS links. For which many thanks.

Six On Saturday: Celebrations

/ n20gardener / 17 Comments

It has been a busy week here. First a lunch for a family Golden Wedding anniversary and then a day of celebrations for our daughter’s wedding. The weather was beautiful for both occasions. On top of that we collected a record 67 bottles of apple juice from this year’s crop. The garden also seems to have been celebrating with second time round bursts of flowers. Happy days indeed. Here’s six from the garden this week.

One

The apples have done so well this year and as always it will be a pleasure to enjoy the crop during the dark months of winter as a refreshing drink. My apple pruning man was at the apple pressing farm and reports slow but steady progress in his recovery. It’s still a struggle but all is heading in the right direction. More to celebrate!

Two

I’ve made a start on the re-arranging. The garden is still incredibly dry and I am watering in the holes for the plants and then again once they have been moved. This is a rescue plant from a very weedy corner. The plant is gillenia trifoliata which never reached it’s potential in the old corner. Here’s hoping it will romp away here.

Three

I was admiring the wonderful leaf shapes on the Corsican hellebores and was given the added bonus of spotting these just unfurling flowers. Thank you.

Four

Beautiful, beautiful fuchsia flowers, ‘Hawkshead’. So lovely but completely in the shadow of some self-seeded verbena bonariensis. The vbs will be moved on. There are plenty more self-seeding in other spots.

Five

I lost the euphorbia mellifera over the winter but I celebrate the arrival of another one, self-seeded again, looking good after a shower of rain.

Six

I’m also celebrating the recovery of salvia nachtvlinder. A winter survivor but much reduced. I did cut back the dead stems but I think I could have been more ruthless and probably could have cut it to the ground. I moved it to a more spacious spot and here it chimes well with the Japanese anemones.

I am hoping to be back again reading the the SOS links that can be found at Jim’s place. Jim has covid, but hosts again. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jim. There’s a mix of sun and rain in the forecast. The autumn equinox has passed and it may be that the last tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes are picked this weekend. I hope to get a few more plants relocated too. Wishing you all something to celebrate in your gardens this weekend.

Six On Saturday: Welcome home

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

We’re back from a short break in Cornwall. It’s a long way to go for a short break but we were seeing friends which made it worthwhile. The garden looked after itself quite well. It’s still very dry but the flowers made a special welcome home effort. Here’s six things from the garden this week.

One

Most pleasing were the seed heads on the hakonechloa macra. It’s a great plant but I did laugh when I looked it up to check the spelling – ‘lends a Japanese air to planting groups’ – I must be getting my planting groups wrong.

Two

I also liked the just unfurling bud of an unknown climbing rose. The picture does not do it justice but it looked so bright amongst the verbena bonariensis. The yellow leaves are probably a result of the dry conditions against the wall. Looks like watering will be on the agenda for the weekend.

Three

Darcey Bussell had also turned out to greet me. Which is a little bit of shame as I have pretty much decided to give her up in favour of a group of white roses that are not so prone to blackspot. Poor Darcey is very defoliated at this time of year.

Four

I think this is a first for me, the first time the geums have put on a decent second half of the year show. With a little more watering they would probably look sumptuous.

Five

I don’t think I’ve shared the osteospermum this year. Doggedly getting on with things and always popping out a new flower. They can be a little riotous here though.

Six

The unknown clematis which managed one bud a little while ago seems to have flourished in the last week and there are several flowers now, enough to call it a good display.

It’s all a bit scruffy here at the moment. Some decent rainfall might lift a few things and the hedges are ready for a good cut back. The grass needs mowing and the ivy needs a trim. I’d better get going and do some jobs. Jim is hosting as usual and once again has plenty to share with the SOS crowd. Envious, me? Not at all. Happy gardening to everyone.

Six On Saturday: Cutting back

/ n20gardener / 21 Comments

I had a mad gardening day yesterday. I was suddenly enthused and set about cutting back the shabbiness of summer. I had to get a hold of the alchemilla mollis before it seeded everywhere. I was probably a little late there! I also tackled some of the apple trees. In past years I have had a visit from a delightful man who is an apple tree pruning wizard, using battery operated secateurs he whizzes through the branches bringing lightness and freshness everywhere. Unfortunately he is having a difficult time health wise at the moment and cannot work. I really wish him well. I went back to the RHS apple pruning advice and took out my trusty Felcos. But directions to main stems, laterals and sub-laterals, take back to three leaves, take back to one leaf left my head spinning and all I did was reduce any length over 20cms to a promising leaf. I hope I haven’t ruined the work of years. Here’s my six for this last week of August.

One

Well, lookey here. I thought the slimey ones had munched all my rudbeckia earlier in the season but a couple managed to survive and flower. To think I was admonishing these last year for running all over the place. Now I say ‘All power to you!’

Two

I am also grateful to the roses for putting on another flush. First up: Gertrude Jekyll, which had sent up two long suckers. These were quickly nipped out with the Felcos once again.

Three

This one is Madame Isaac Péreire. Described by the RHS as ‘almost continually in flower all summer’ and I can back that up. It does get to 2m but so far I have kept it lower growing. I’m thinking I might let it loose for next year.

Four

The last of the roses, is ‘Scepter’d Isle’. This is one I have let grow tall, reaching to about 1.2m. It makes me realise how tall Mdme IP will be if it really does reach 2m.

Five

There’s some seed collecting to be done. This lychnis coronaria doesn’t get dead-headed very often but is still putting out new flowers. Maybe those Felcos will be out again for a little tidying up here too.

Six

Lastly, and as I am on the topic of seeds. Here’s some nicotiana ‘Lime Green’. They come to me courtesy of the compost heap contents that were spread over the veg patch earlier in the year. The heap is three years old. I never know what surprises it will deliver but this was quite a good one, mixing in with the tomatoes.

September is arriving, Northern and Southern hemispheres move in different directions. Here autumn begins to settle in. It’s far too dry to do anything useful in the garden yet but I have itchy fingers. Seeds, bulbs, new plants are all encouraging me to get going again. I can’t wait. Jim, as always, hosts our SOS meme so do stop by, take a look, join in and enjoy your gardening week.

Six On Saturday: Scrappy

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

I’m being a harsh judge this week. I don’t have dahlias, the slugs ate the cosmos and the zinnias and so the late summer garden is looking, well, scrappy. The hedge needs a cut and once that is done things will sharpen up a little. I fully intended to take my six photos yesterday when the sun shining, but as the sun was shining, other gardening jobs were done. Let’s cut to chase, here’s my six for this week.

One

Friday was sunny but also very blustery thanks to us being on the edge of Storm Lillian. The apples were dropping off one of the trees and investigation into the other apple trees showed that the pips were still white. A dilemma. We usually manage to pick all our apples at the same time and take them off for juicing. The apples from the duo tree needed to be picked or they would all end up as windfalls. I set to work. The apples are ‘Golden Delicious’ and I think ‘Elstar’. These have been stored and will be checked over regularly. There are still more to be picked but the main harvest may be two weeks away.

Two

I was also picking tomatoes. The first of the year, it seems so late to me but at least they have begun to turn and maybe next week’s sunshine will encourage a few more.

Three

The elderberries on my neighbour’s tree overhang our garden and the dark berries are gleaming, so very tempting for the pigeons!

Four

I think this is a first appearance: potentilla ‘Abbotswood’. I planted it in the front garden about five or six years ago and it has quietly got on doing its thing. It’s in a dry, part shade corner and really hasn’t complained. I can imagine in a more favourable spot it would have romped away but it’s filling up the corner quite nicely now.

Five

A little while back, I planted up a container with a mixture of ferns and an epimedium. This year they were turned out as they had become overcrowded. I moved them to the front garden and they seem to have settled in. This is polystichum setiferum plumosodivislobum. I made a note of that one.

Six

And this is epimedium x versicolor Sulphurerum, as the name suggests the flowers are yellow. I managed to divide the epimedium into two large clumps and I look forward to them stretching out, if they are happy in their new home.

Rain for today, which is most welcome, will prevent gardening but will no doubt encourage growing. I should really take a leaf out of Jim’s gardening book, he has so much going on his garden right now. Very admirable! I should also be thinking about bulb orders. Even when it rains there is so much to do. Take a look here if you’d like to join the SOS gardeners, it’s a great explanation of how the whole thing works. Wishing you all a great gardening week.

Six On Saturday: Drying out

/ n20gardener / 26 Comments

It is lovely to have a period of sunny settled weather but of course gardeners are muttering about the lack of rain. I’m hoping that the sun will ripen the outdoor tomatoes, they are only just beginning to turn. I’ve used up all the water from the butts and have had the hose out a couple of times now. The garden is a little scrappy due to my meaness with the watering but that’s the way it is. All the potatoes on the veg plot have now been dug up. I grew ‘Charlotte’ and very lovely they are too. The green beans continue producing and are the best variety I have grown – Franchi ‘La Victoire’, I will definitely sow these again. Cucumbers and courgettes are steadily producing. I just need those tomatoes to catch up and all will be well. Here’s six from the garden this week.

One

The apples are beginning to fall and I will have soon have to set aside time to pick them all ready for taking them to the juicing joint. It’s hard work but one of the highlights of the year.

Two

This is a relatively new rose to the garden and is, therefore, treated to some watering. It’s ‘Lady of Shalott’. A really beautiful colour.

Three

Down in a shadier corner the eurybia divaricata has begun to flower. It’s a low growing sprawler and spills its way around the hellebores and astrantia.

Four

When I first arrived in this garden eight years ago I spent a great deal of time digging out ground elder and also this goldenrod – it wasn’t on my favourites list. The goldenrod has made a come back, snuggling up to the miscanthus. They work together really well and my mind has been changed.

Five

The japanese anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ always gets a mention at this time of year. I really like it, but I have struggled to get more of them established. Even these ones that are very settled have not spread out much beyond their original space. Too well behaved!

Six

I was hankering after some white hesperis to add in between the oak leaf hydrangeas but was completely distracted by finding the more common purple hesperis at a local garden centre. I’ve added to into this patch of magenta phlox with the hope that they will self seed. The white version is still on the wish list.

More from the SOS crowd can be found on Jim’s Garden Ruminations, drop by any time and take a look. There’s yet more weed pulling to do and those courgettes need to be watched very carefully. Happy gardening.

Six On Saturday: Harvesting

/ n20gardener / 14 Comments

I’ve been enjoying produce from the garden over the last few weeks. Early battles with slugs were fought and my use of home-made compost as a mulch resulted in a generous supply of verbena bonariensis and alchemilla mollis seedlings. So many that I now classify these as weeds at this end of the garden. The hose was out even though we had a few showers of rain and there is a forecast for scorchio temperatures for Sunday and Monday. In other news, I decided to leave twitter and I have migrated to Bluesky. I will keep the weekly post here going. Here’s my six for this week.

One

Here’s my lovely haul of beans, cucumbers and courgettes. I should also have added in the red onions and some lovely Charlotte potatoes. The cucumbers are grown outside and are delivering regularly. The red onions were a little better than other years but there where still some that did not achieve a good size.

Two

Blackberry picking has commenced, a kilo picked last week and shared with friends. This week’s pickings will also be shared as family are staying.

Three

This low growing mallow happily seeds itself around the garden and is left to do it’s thing.

Four

The hibiscus ‘Red Heart’ came to the garden in August last year and is doing well. I’m hoping it will reach the top of the garden wall by next year when it will, I hope, look magnificent!

Five

Last year I moved the white phlox out from under the apple tree. It was not getting enough moisture there. I now have several dotted around the garden and they have flowered well with the benefit of a little more light and space.

Six

Lastly, a new plant for this year. Helichrysum italicum, or the curry plant. The silvery grey leaves are very curry scented. I’ve always liked the little yellow flower heads and when the opportunity arose to give one a new home I jumped at it. I’m not sure if I can get it through the winter but we shall see. It’s in a pot so I can shelter it.

I’ll definitely be watering again this weekend. I’ll be hoping that the sunshine helps to ripen my outdoor tomatoes and I’ll be having another go at the weeds. I hope to get over to Jim’s to read some more SOS posts. Happy gardening to all.

Six On Saturday: Olympian efforts

/ n20gardener / 14 Comments

Gardening has been hard work this week. The temperatures have been high at a time when the hardy geraniums needed their summer cutback. Once they were cleared a forest of willowherb seedlings were revealed. On the upside, the veg plot has been delivering cucumbers, courgettes, red onions and potatoes and, when I can get to them first, a second crop of strawberries from a later flowering variety. Blackberries have been picked and the autumn raspberries are beginning to flower. Today’s six was interrupted by rain. Not a satisfying downpour but fine, mizzley rain that will barely dampen the soil. Here’s a hasty six for the week.

One

An orange burst of a cactus dahlia. The only one I grow and I really don’t have much involvement with it. There was a slug attack as the new shoots came through but once it became established it just powered away. This year I pinched it out to keep the height lower to avoid having to stake. It shares a raised bed with the asparagus and so it is allowed to sprawl a little. Bronze medal.

Two

I cleared back some rampant verbena bonariensis to give space to other plants and this penstemon was a happy beneficiary. I think it is ‘White Bedder’.

Three

The hollyhocks seed themselves in all sorts of places. Here a pink one has combined with the pink rose ‘Wisley’.

Four

Another hollyhock, the darker ones are my favourites and I will collect seed and try to propagate this one. Silver medal.

Five

The magenta phlox could do with a heavy downpour and I have my fingers crossed for that this afternoon. If not I may have to resort to the hose. That will be the first use of the hose for the flower garden this year.

Six

Last week’s single bud on the clematis has opened. It’s gorgeous. Definitely worthy of gold.

I’m narrowing in on some plans for Autumn. New roses, hydrangeas and another miscanthus will be ordered. I’ve lost salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, all of them. But I’m going to try again in a different location. I am at that impatient stage when I want to get on with the new plans but I’ll have to settle and enjoy the new month first. Jim our host, has some wonderful plants to share this week, a never ending supply of colour and inspiration. Happy gardening to you all.