flowers

Six On Saturday: Winning and losing

/ n20gardener / 17 Comments

I shouldn’t be so competitive with nature. But isn’t that the essence of gardening, trying to cultivate our little spaces into our dream places. My dream space is filled with fresh spring flowers, scented roses, glorious summer abundance gently fading into the warm hues of autumn, leading to the bare trees and swaying grasses of winter. Aah, perfection, which of course, we all know, is not possible.

This week I have laughed at the ‘disasters’ that have befallen my garden. I realised that my asparagus was being nibbled by the slimey ones as it broke through the soil. It is now sheltered by plastic bottles, not attractive but it seems to be effective and fulfils the three Rs. Elsewhere a self-seeded euphorbia wulfenii has curled up and died, no doubt the endless rain was just too much for it. Last week Fred mentioned that he had an ailing hebe. I have a daphne going the same way. I read that slugs and snails do not trouble with foxgloves, the hairy leaves being not quite to their taste. Here they have munched them with evident enjoyment, leaving only the the coarser ribs of the leaves for show. But these are small set backs when compared with the lush greeness that is emerging. Nature takes it’s course, but I rise to the challenge and find ways around these troubles. Here’s my six successes for the week.

One

It always difficult to decide when the camassias are at their best but I have chosen the first flowers, which opened last week, as a definite high point of the gardening week.

Two

‘Queen of Night’ tulip has opened up and joined the tulip festival. One of my favourites and reasonable as a returning flower.

Three

I have a habit of losing euphorbia wulfenii, and so I tried out a more damp loving variety – euphorbia palustris. It’s not as mighty a plant but so far it seems to be happier in my garden conditions. It should reach about 90cms. You can see the struggling wulfenii version in the background.

Four

I am celebrating this one flower of iris germanica. I have others in bud but the slimey ones seem to be winning here. They are puncturing the leaves with what I am positively going to describe as lacey holes and then biting through the stems just below the buds. But I am celebrating.

Five

The sun persuaded this pink tulip to fully open and take in the warmth. I empathised wholeheartedly.

Six

Apple blossom. Glorious, what more could you ask for?

I declare the result a win! Ignore those irritations and love the beautiful new growth. The weather is improving and like that pink tulip we can embrace it. Last week’s mystery was answered. It was a cherry laurel seedling kindly donated by a neighbouring garden. I have left one in place to see how it does.

I’m ready to plant out my red onions from their modules and I’ve sown a few more flower seeds. I bought a new plant which will either replace the daphne or the euphorbia. It’s a low growing weigela. I’m struggling now to resist buying another rose. My default purchase when I have space. I am challenging myself to be more imaginative so any suggestions for shrubs would be much appreciated. Have a great gardening weekend and do join Jim for his ruminations with the other SOSers.

Six On Saturday: Slugastrous

/ n20gardener / 27 Comments

I have been able to spend more time in the garden, two days of dry weather was a long weekend bonus that was much appreciated. The chance to get close up to the borders was revelatory. I have reported tête-à-tête losses, followed by thalia. Now I add the buds of iris germanica, new shoots of delphiniums, holes in hellebores and anemone leaves, and, foolishly, freshly planted rocket seedlings. It’s enough to make you weep. I can say that the weeding that was accomplished revealed several of the culprits but I fear they are lurking everywhere. There have been one or two nibbles of tulips but it is these delights that feature this week. There’s also a bonus photo at the end, I need some help with identification and wonder if anyone or our esteemed host Jim can help out?

One

The bulb lasagne pots are just coming through. First to flower are ‘Finola’, a double pink and ‘Graceland’, a pinky white. There are two more varieties to follow.

Two

The yellow ‘World Friendship’ is just being joined by a creamy yellow triumph tulip ‘Nicholas Heyek’ and ‘White Triumphator’, a lily flowered tulip.

Three

The early flowering ‘Purissima’ have reached their going over point, speeded up no doubt by heavy rain and gusty winds. Definitely a sprawl of tulips now.

Four

These are the remains of a long border of tulips planted several years ago. Originally a mix of ‘Shirley’. ‘Queen of Night’, ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Violet Beauty’, only the first two remain, and the quantities are much diminished.

Five

A random collection of unknown tulips, a mix that came free with a bulb order some years ago. These are regular returners.

Six

This mix lines one of the veg beds. The first to come through and my favourite is the deep red which I believe is ‘Sarah Raven’.

I have more weeding to do and weeding of wet clay soil is no easy task. The onion sets I planted out in modules have sprung to life, as have seeds of echium ‘Blue Bedder’ (free with a magazine), basil, lettuce and my very late planted tomatoes. I did plant out the potatoes and they had a good watering in soon after. Storm Kathleen arrives later today but I hope to sow more seeds before that event. Wishing you a good gardening weekend, slugs and all!

Bonus Photo: If anyone can id this seedling I would be very grateful – Fred has suggested Camellia, What do you think Jim? I have several popping up in the garden.

Six On Saturday: Missed oportunities

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

Hallelujah! It’s a dry day here, or at least forecast to be. But can I make the most of it? No. There are other things to do today and I must hope that tomorrow stays dry too. The great dilemma is whether or not to plant the potatoes. The long range forecast is for more rain so I feel I might as well get on with it while it is dry. That’s tomorrow’s job. For today, here are six things from the garden.

One

The plum blossom quietly opened last weekend. It seemed to appear just after the photos for last week’s SOS were chosen. It looks like being a bumper crop this year.

Two

The relentless rain has had an amazing effect on these ‘Negrita’ tulips. I have never seen them so tall and strong. They have been in the ground for several years and have a done a good job of returning.

Three

The same cannot be said for narcissus poeticus ‘Actaea’. Undeniably beautiful but so few of the many I planted have shown up this year. Perhaps they will surprise me next year. I can be patient.

Four

Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’. This was another disappearing plant, succumbing to slugs in it’s first year but fighting back the next year. This started out in the garden as a one litre pot in 2021 and hasn’t really bulked up at all. But I am pleased that it seems to have dug in and hopefully it will become stronger over the next couple of years.

Five

A few weeks back I showed the bronzed foliage of the old leaves of an epimedium, promising that I would be cutting them back to reveal the new growth. No, wasn’t done, too much rain, didn’t have the time and so here it is again with flowers – epimedium x versicolor Sulphureum. As you can see, this week I have been checking my notes in order to bring you the full names.

Six

This is another of those plants I intended to have more of. Erythronium ‘White Beauty’, just opening. I decided to share this before the slugs get to it. Even with this downside I will put it on the ‘Do not forget to buy more of’ list.

Some gardening jobs were started last weekend, the pruning of the hydrangeas has begun, red onions were planted in sets and the greenhouse was swept out in preparation for seed sowing. The grass has been mown again, the lawn is definitely enjoying the warmth and rain. I am beginning to feel like a gardener again and a great feeling it is too! Join the other SOSers at Jim’s place and don’t hesitate to join in, everyone welcome.

Six On Saturday: Nearly there

/ n20gardener / 15 Comments

I’m just back from a few days in Italy and even that short break gave me the opportunity to see the garden with fresh eyes. The tulips are opening up and the green shoots seem to have doubled in size. There is much promise of things to come, but for the moment a cold wind blows. Here’s six from a chilly walk around the garden today.

One

Last week’s tulip buds have moved on a stage, ‘World Friendship’ seems to be a reliable returner and is a lovely warmer yellow colour.

Two

The muscari have also opened up that little bit more and this year have increased in quantity to give a good sized drift along the path.

Three

These are tulip ‘Purissima’ before they get to their overblown state. I planted them to complement the hellebores and this year they have just about coincided.

Four

Isn’t there always one thing that you said you would have more of next season and then you don’t buy any? Here’s mine: Leucojum aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’. I think I am going to pick up some pots of flowering bulbs and drop them in where needed. More expensive, but I am sure I will forget again if I leave it until bulb buying season.

Five

Well, lookey here! Some thalia that the slugs haven’t found yet. Last week I said ‘no more’. Unfortunately fickle is my middle name. These are so lovely that I think I am going to be tempted again. Somebody save me from myself, please!

Six

I have been picking up stray primrose seedlings from around the garden and planting them in a corner to see what colour they are when in flower. I now have a Persian carpet of them. The plan was to move them into the appropriate spot in the garden according to their colours. I think I can be persuaded to leave them as they are.

The fig tree had a prune just before the departure for Italy. This annual task is to keep the height down and this year one of the lower branches was removed. It will make it harder to pick fruit but there will be less ducking when the lawn is mowed. This weekend I will try to give the roses a feed with some fish, bone and blood and then I will dither about whether it is time to cut back the hydrangeas. Two degrees overnight on Sunday may persuade me to leave it for one more week. I will also start to think about seed sowing. There’ll be many a relieved SOSer this week as it becomes easier to find six delights in the garden. Stop by Jim’s place to see the show. Happy gardening everyone.

Six On Saturday: Moody hues

/ n20gardener / 14 Comments

My gardening week has been one of great inactivity. When I had the time it rained, when I needed to be elsewhere the sun shone. It was warm sun which was a positive. My SOS walk around the garden was an equal mixture of good and bad. Here we go with six for this week.

One

The front garden magnolia is in flower. It was pruned, rather beautifully, last September. Not by me, by someone who knew what they were doing. I applaud his vision. The flowers have survived two torrential downpours. Today they enjoy a little sunshine.

Two

In the back garden the unpruned clematis montana ‘Apple Blossom’ is in full spate – as are many of the local brooks. Beautiful flowers and scent to enjoy.

Three

There has been much publicity this week which aims to encourage us gardeners to develop an understanding of slugs. I try my best, I really do. Do I accept that it is me who has to adapt? I certainly can’t persuade the munchers to leave my thalia daffs alone! I have not even seen these in flower. Decision made, I won’t be planting any more of these. What can I find to take their place I wonder.

Four

Also subject to the slime attack are these snake’s head fritillaries. At least I have had a moment to enjoy them!

Five

The simple and delightful white anemone blanda. Quite joyful in the sun.

Six

In the week fellow SOSer Graham, shared a photo of tulip ‘World Friendship’. Here are mine, at least a week behind but with so much promise that my moody hues are lifting.

Last weekend I did start the weeding, this weekend I begin the annual task of pulling out tree seedlings. Those I didn’t fully pull out last year have a more established stem which helps me despatch them more efficiently. While I do these hum drum tasks I will be close enough to the action to see the exciting new growth coming through. The Spring equinox approaches and all will be well! Jim ruminates and hosts our merry band as usual. Many thanks Jim and happy gardening to you all.

Six On Saturday: Old friends

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

There’s a window now for some editing of the garden. One or two things need dividing. Plants that were divided in autumn and potted on now need to be dropped into spaces and perennial old friends are re-appearing to welcome the newcomers into the borders. The usual suspects have self-seeded. Here they are primroses, verbena bonariensis, alchemillia mollis and euphorbia mellifera. This is all very encouraging, and encouraging me out in the garden again. Here’s six old friends for this week.

One

A few weeks back the clematis ‘Étoile Violette’ was cut back and as usual I took some cuttings from the new growth that had already come through. Usually these go into the greenhouse were the overwintering slugs or snails lock lasers on them and munch them to the ground. Finally, I have learnt my lesson and this year the cuttings were brought into the house and were nurtured on a windowsill. They have taken and I will be taking extra care of them until they are strong enough to go out into the big bad garden environment.

Two

Last Autumn a seedling of tellima grandiflora was teased out of the edge of the lawn and potted on. This is already looking ready to go out into the wide open spaces and, hoping I don’t jinx things, I would say these are slug resistant.

Three

The hylotelephium are putting out beautiful rosettes of new growth, this one is in the border and I have a small division taken in the autumn that is nearly ready to be planted on. I’m waiting for the roots to develop a little more.

Four

One of my regular old friends is the magenta phlox that came with the garden. The new growth is strong and it’s time to take down the old stems. I have divisions of white phlox in pots that need a home. There’s some colour scheme thought to be done.

Five

This is a relatively new friend, helleborus argutifolius or Corsican hellebore. I’m hoping they stay around as I really like them. I am thinking of dropping the white phlox in amongst them.

Six

The flowers on the rosemary are opening up and I have seen one or two bees in the garden on warmer days. These flowers will be a welcome attraction for them.

The lawn is having its first cut of the year today, blades on high. That always sharpens up the garden and will further encourage me to finish the cut back and tackle the weeds – bittercress and woodland geum are my top targets. For more gardening news I happily send you round to Jim’s place and I wish you all a pleasurable time in your garden spaces.

Six On Saturday: Garden happenings

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

I’m not getting excited about Spring just yet. Meteorological Spring it may be but I’m going with astronomical Spring, when the sun moves up from the South, crosses the equator and shines some light on the North. And boy do we need it. I have potatoes chitting but I am waiting a few more weeks before the red onions go in, the soil is wet and cold. Yet, in spite of the continual rain, the garden creeps forward. Here’s six from the garden this week.

One

From the front garden, the best ever display of buds on the mahonia. I really must to pay attention to it when the buds open up.

Two

Last week Rosie Amber, fellow sixer, alerted me to the fact that forsythia was opening up and so too here.

Three

Bowed down by endless rain but having a go, a few cowslips have managed to not succumb to slugs.

Four

Also escaping for the moment are these white primulas, I like these and would love to see more of them.

Five

The area of the garden that was devastated by honey fungus will be interesting this year. Before I realised I had a honey fungus problem I replaced a large dying choisya with a viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum Mariesii. I hold my breath and wait to see if the fungus will insinuate itself around the viburnum. Such a shame if it does but for the moment these green leaves and early signs of flowers are treasured.

Six

Back to the front garden to finish on, the magnolia is in bud. I really hope the weather has turned a little drier by the time these buds open.

I have sown rocket seeds and taken the dahlias out of storage and potted them up. There are only a few tubers and they are quite small. Once again I state that I am not that mad about dahlias so this is my last throw of the dice with them. No more will be bought – I promise. Happy gardening and if it rains there is always Jim’s place to visit. A SOS haven.

Six On Saturday: February ends with a frost

/ n20gardener / 22 Comments

Cutting back in the borders continues when the weather allows and the heavy rain of this week did not allow for anything. This morning there was a crisp frost which the sun is now sending on its way. The perennials are pushing their way through and it will be interesting to see what has survived, at the moment I am a little nervous for the gaura lindheimeri. Maybe I should be growing these from seed as annuals. One to think about. Here’s six from this morning’s frosty survey of the garden.

One

The bronze foliage of last year’s epimedium leaves looking glossy after the frost. The green leaves of the new growth are coming through so the time is fast approaching for a cut back of the old growth before the flowers arrive.

Two

The first flowers on the clematis armandii have opened, the stems along the wall are packed with buds which will soon provide a wonderful display.

Three

There are no concerns for this penstemon, moved to this position last year and clearly flourishing. It seems hard to believe that all this growth will be cut back in April. I checked the RHS advice and see that they recommend a half way cut in the autumn, something I might consider for next year.

Four

The viburnum tree is underplanted with primulas and anemones which brighten up this corner of the garden. There is new growth on the aquilegias too.

Five

Tulips are popping up everywhere which presents a challenge when cutting back some of the perennials in the borders. These in pots, are protected by the wire cage from the squirrels who like to bury acorns here. There are three layers of tulips in the pot, the first time I have tried this method. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Six

I was too late too capture a frosted gem but here’s a euphorbia wulfenii to end on, gently warming up in some sunshine.

The seed potatoes should have arrived at my local allotment shop this weekend. I’ve been collecting egg boxes to chit them in so I’m raring to go. Sunday morning looks like being dry and I hope to be out in the garden doing one or two jobs but the borders are so wet that I will be limited to working from the paths. The grass could do with a cut but it is unlikely to be dry enough for that task. Jim poses an interesting question this week – how do we double or even triple up our growing spaces? Stop by Garden Ruminations for all the answers. Happy gardening SOSers.

Six On Saturday: Wilful nature

/ n20gardener / 18 Comments

I’ve been reading some Thomas Hardy of late and I was very much in sympathy with his portrayal of nature always throwing something unexpected at us poor humans. His wilful nature was solely the weather, mine is the weather, although rain is not so unexpected these days, weeds and slugs. It’s a gardener’s lot I suppose and as such acceptance must be learnt. Here’s my six for this week.

One

Now is the time for tête-à-tête daffodils, much loved here by me and the slugs. No sooner do they flower then out come the munchers. I am in despair!

Two

Crocuses – tommasinianus I think and possibly ‘Ruby Giant’. Did I make a note? Not that I can find and will they too be eaten, probably.

Three

The viburnum is flowering giving me some encouragement.

Four

A few weeks back I confessed that the bellis daisies bought as winter bedding had not been planted out. That job has been done now and bless them, the daisies have responded well to being released into a more generous growing space and have thrived after a few balmy days.

Five

Way back when we arrived at this house, coming up to eight years ago, I planted out symmetrically four euphorbia wulfenii. Each year one of them took a turn to die off. Only one of the original four survived but generously it seeds itself everywhere. I now have self seeded versions in six other corners of the garden. This one is doing superbly well in the path edge. What can I say?

Six

And sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and nature’s designs on the garden. For a few weeks now I have been admiring, from the kitchen window, new growth in the pot of mint on the terrace. I’ve been out and about in the garden a few times lately but only today did I stop by the pot and look more closely. Yes, I have a flourishing crop of bittercress that is now flowering. I will have to be out there asap to rid myself of those beauties!

Nature is sending more rain this weekend but temperatures are rising and there have been some good gardening days so jobs must be done. I’m down to my last few grasses to cut back and ever the optimist I am dropping pot grown tête-à-têtes in to gaps in the borders. Raspberry canes have been cut back and blackcurrants pruned. My seed potatoes are not available until end of February but I do have sort out my seeds for the year. Jim, our host, shares his garden ruminations and hosts the links to other SOS posts. Enjoy the chat and the gardening!

Six On Saturday: Scraping the barrel

/ n20gardener / 23 Comments

I feel as though the garden is at its lowest, there is so little to show this week. Yet there is the sense of a turning point. New shoots are emerging and although patience is required before the results appear there is something happening out there. Those winter gardening jobs need to be progressed. Two storms came through this week and it seems that this is winter weather we must get used. Here’s six that survived the winds.

One

The snowdrops have emerged only to eaten by something – pigeons, slugs and snails? And so it begins again.

Two

Encouraging signs elsewhere improved the moment. Camassia shoots are coming through, but this only reminds me that I will have to step carefully when taking down the collapsing rose arch. I know I should have done it weeks ago!

Three

We had a very large tree taken down about a year ago and having had so many storms since I am very glad we did remove it. I have seen two trees in local front gardens that have collapsed in the high winds. One landing on a car and one just missing. Half the trunk of our tree was ground out and euphorbia robbiae seemed a good option for a dry inhospitable place. It’s doing well, of course.

Four

The primroses seem to have been in flower for several months now, happily supplying food to the chomping hordes!

Five

The cold weather has taken its toll on the lemon tree once again. Storm Jocelyn whipped of the protective fleece revealing a very sad picture. The lemon tree recovered from last winter and probably will do again but its not going to be a great addition to the garden and I think I can find something more suitable to conditions. Time to say farewell.

Six

The sarcococca confusa that was planted to replace three lost pittosporums have made a good deal of flowers in its first winter. There is a way to go before they fill the spaces but a start has been made.

I feel I have been a little harsh. There’s plenty of promise and plenty of work to be done. I can see Sunday will be a busy day – sunny intervals and a gently breeze sounds quite inviting. Happy gardening to you all and as always there is the invitation to Jim’s for his garden view and all the SOS links.