Six On Saturday: Frost on frost

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This blog is about six things in the garden every week throughout the year and at this time of year it becomes difficult to show variety. The garden is dormant, not much is changing except the weather and this week it has been a story of consecutive low temperatures giving frost forming on frost. Some plants are not going to like it. Here’s my six for the week.

One

Here’s the view of the main border, the libertia gives it some winter structure and greenery. Taller plants are left standing to give some height. With a sprinkle of frost it can look quite pretty.

Coming down to the detail.

Two

Frosted libertia.

Three

Frosted rose .

Four

Frosted verbena bonariensis.

Five

Frosted phlox

Six

Frosted agapanthus.

The decision to take down the large fig tree has been followed through and this week it happened. The garden feels lighter. The persimmon and a neighbouring apple tree have more room but I think there is enough space to fit in a new tree and I’ve decided to go with a rowan. I’m shopping around now with the aim of planting up in March. In other news the daffodils in pots are beginning to show through. I’m hosting a collection that will go to my daughter’s new garden once we can see what comes through there.

Don’t forget that Jim shares his SOS and the links to other posts on his site Garden Ruminations.

Six On Saturday: Confusion in the garden

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Happy New Year to all. Here it is a very frosty morning, the second in a row. Proper Winter weather but the garden up to this point seemed a little confused. Here’s six things I found in the garden this week.

One

I pulled out the ‘Romanesco’ cauliflowers in October as they had come to naught. This one, for some reason long forgotten, was left in the ground. I know they grow well in cool temperatures and clearly the mild winter was working well for it. I’m not sure how it will cope over the next few months but maybe I’ll be harvesting it in April!

Two

This salvia ‘Amistad’ had overwintered through last year and came into leaf very late in the season. I was very surprised to see it flower at the end of December.

Three

I have a flower bud on the libertia grandiflora. This is supposed to do its thing in May/June/July.

Four

The primroses are popping up everywhere. I’m quite used to these being in flower from early November.

Five

I’m showing the seed heads of the phlomis again because, at last, I have been able to capture them frosted. If I’d been up earlier it might have been more impressive.

Six

For the final show and tell, I have the new buds on the hellebore ‘Pretty Ellen’ red. These I grow around the corner of the shed and it does look like I have lost some during the dismantling and re-building process. Perhaps they will struggle through a little later.

I did manage to garden a little after Christmas and can finally announce that I have planted up tulips. Not all, only some. I managed two pots worth in a three layer lasagne. I only have a few left to plant. These are ones that previously lined on of the veg beds. I’m planning to move them to line another veg bed. Why, I ask, did I lift them in the first place? The garden is well and truly in Winter mode and it is easy to see how much pruning the roses need. I completed two bushes and have about ten shrub roses and three climbers to do. The climbers have really gotten away from me and I shall have to be very firm with myself to get them back in control. Happy gardening or garden planning to everyone. The days are getting longer and that itch will soon have to be scratched!

Don’t forget that Jim shares his SOS and the links to other posts on his site Garden Ruminations.

Six On Saturday: At the Winter solstice

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The turning point has arrived. I’m ready to welcome in the ever-lengthening days and the garden is with me. There are new buds on the magnolia, the climbing hydrangea and there are flower buds forming on the mahonia. It is the time to celebrate seed heads and berries and the garden here does offer up some goodies – just a few. Here’s my six for this week.

One

I have been meaning to share the cotoneaster horizontalis for some weeks now and as you can see I should have done it sooner. The positive thing is that the birds have been enjoying the berries.

Two

Of course there must be holly at Christmas time. No berries here!

Three

For seed heads, I can offer the lovely whorls of the phlomis.

Four

And here the remains of the flower heads on the hibiscus syriacus ‘Red Heart’.

Five

The flowers on the viburnum are just beginning to open.

Six

Lastly, the lime green flowers of some hellebores. These are meant to be ‘Pretty Ellen’ but I have very strong doubts.

This is my last post until the New Year. I wish everyone peace and joy, a good gardening year to come and I look forward to catching up with you all in 2025. Many thanks to Jim at Garden Ruminations for continuing to host our SOS gatherings.

Six On Saturday: These ever shorter days

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I’m feeling the gloom of a dull December. The garden is so wet that nothing can be done. Mild weather continues but with it comes the rain and so the lawn is still squelchy and the borders cannot be cleared of weeds. Finding six things is always interesting at this time of year but there were some pleasant surprises.

One

There was a brief respite from the rain and the ivy to decorate the house was quickly collected and brought inside. It’s used to hang elegantly around pictures and to wrap around the stairs. There’s plenty to choose from!

Two

The ferns are dying back, at this stage they provide a rusty brown contrast to the remaining greens in the garden. I inherited these but I think they are dryopteris filix mas.

Three

This is possibly my new favourite rose, so I share it with you again. It still looks spindly and I am hoping that this summer will see it really settle in. In the meantime it does put out the most beautifully coloured flowers. ‘Lady of Shallot’.

Four

I lost a euphorbia mellifera over the last winter but miraculously another one self seeded. It’s looking so full of optimism at the moment. Harsh weather may change that.

Five

There is another new flower bud on the climbing rose that I moved this year. This is ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’.

Six

Appropriately for this time of year the helleborus argutifolius is opening up its flower buds. Also known as the holly leaved hellebore it makes a good companion to the ivy.

I’m still confessing to not having planted tulip bulbs. Perhaps next week. I’ll be here for a last SOS before Christmas. Until then, join us over at Jim’s place for the weekly get together and have a good time enjoying some green spaces in this dull December. Better still, take a look at the SOSs from the Southern Hemisphere!

Six On Saturday: The Winter garden

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First, apologies for going AWOL last week, there was just too much going on! This week I can report that the concrete base for the new greenhouse has finally been completed. It has been carelessly decorated by the soft impressions of some creature’s feet. Poor thing, hampered somewhat by soggy concrete on it’s nightly prowl. Now I await the greenhouse delivery, due sometime in January. Thankfully I do not have to worry about it being damaged by this weekend’s storm. The garden though is battered by blustery winds and regular downpours of rain. The lawn was in squelch mode as I looked for six from the garden this week. It’s a challenge but here they are.

One

Fresh green leaves caught my eye. There has been frost here but the temperatures are on the benign side and this pulmonaria thought it was worth putting out some new growth.

Two

The libertia holds it’s shape well through winter. I have four of them, possible an error as I did not fully appreciate how much space they take up. I forgive them when they are in flower.

Three

I’m sure the euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii doesn’t know if it’s coming or going. The wet winters are not what it expects and then occasionally it gets the perfect hot dry summer. Somehow they soldier on. If I lose one I gain at least one from it’s ability to self seed quite generously.

Four

There’s not much in the way of flowers at the moment but here’s an early primula that the slugs haven’t found.

Five

The leaves of a new heuchera are doing some interesting things at the moment. These have turned out better than expected.

Six

On a dry sunny day the hakonechloa macra looks splendid and really worthy of a spot in the garden for some winter colour. Today it has been flattened by the wind and drenched by rain and so it’s a somewhat muted look I share with you.

I think the wind is easing off now but rain continues. There’s not too much gardening to be done but I confess to having unplanted tulips, pellies still outside and blackened dahlias to but cut back. On the plus side the hellebores have had last years leaves taken off and another batch of fallen figs were collected. Unfortunately there are plenty more to come down. Don’t forget to stop by at Jim’s place for his ruminations and the links to other SOS posts. Keep safe and happy gardening everyone.

Six On Saturday: Storm preparations

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It’s been a busy week here with the shed base frame work being completed on Monday. It was too cold to lay a concrete base for the greenhouse so the project continues into next week. We had snow that didn’t linger on Tuesday. On Wednesday the new shed arrived and the move back in began. But many things were too wet and that continues to be the case. Today Storm Bert arrives and I was out making safe the greenhouse contents and moving the pots in sheltered positions. Here’s a sad looking six from the garden this week.

One

Let’s start with the new shed with four windows which do give a little more light. The skip came in very handy and plenty of stuff was got rid off. I held on to most of my collection of bricks and old roof tiles, pleading that they always came in handy.

Two

And today they were put to good use, weighing down the builder’s bags that hold the collection of plastic pots, netting and seed trays that came out of the greenhouse.

Three

The water butts have all been emptied of their contents now and are huddled together in a corner. I’d hate to see these rolling across the garden.

Four

I still haven’t had time to take the scented leaf pelargoniums inside so they have been huddled together against the winds. Next week is mild so they will good for another week outside.

Five

The pellies are still pushing out the odd flower here and there.

Six

And still looking quite green, these ferns are in the shelter of the larger rhododendron. Dryopteris filix-mas possibly. I inherited them so I’m really not sure.

I have abject apologies to send to our lovely group of SOS bloggers I have not been able to do much reading over the last two weeks. I’m hoping life settles down a little and I will be able to get up to speed again. Jim hosts the SOS group so drop in and have a good ready anytime. In the meantime I wish you all a safe weekend from any storm and happy gardening if you can get out there!

Six On Saturday: Decay and renewal

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Having spent several hours over many days clearing out the old shed and greenhouse, the subject of decay is much on my mind. The exteriors of both buildings were clearly decaying and inside many of the contents were also in a state of decline. Plastic sacks that held netting crumbled as they were moved and piles of old black plastic pots were consigned to the dump. It’s a clean slate for the moment, the renewal begins on Monday when the site is cleared. The garden too takes another step towards seasonal decay and the cold weather forecast for next week will surely be the end for the dahlias. Here’s six from a garden in change this week.

One

I commented last week on how often the fox had startled me in the garden and sure enough it happened again. I went down to the back corner of the garden to investigate and there was a tell-tale depression in the leaf mould heap. The fox had found a very comfortable and dry place to curl up and rest. There’s not much I can do about that for now but after some rain it will become a little too soggy for comfort.

Two

Here is the fox, roaming the garden with not a care in the world, searching around for fallen fruit. Picking up the fallen figs and mowing up the leaves is a weekly task.

Three

The weigela is beginning to turn colour and the leaves will soon drop.

Four

There are still some surprising flowers in the garden. This is clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’, a viticella variety.

Five

The hellebores are beginning to flower, I think it’s a little early for this variety but I’m pleased to see it has fought back from a slug attack in the Spring.

Six

There are still flowers on the hebe, the hardy geraniums and the hydrangeas are putting out new panicles too. This one is ‘Limelight’.

The garden is full of bits and pieces from the greenhouse and shed. Those items that can stand the weather for a day or two are piled in every spare corner. Terracotta pots have been de-spidered and moved to the garage. The new shed arrives on Wednesday and then the process will begin again in reverse. The new greenhouse is not expected until January, just in time for the next year’s cycle of renewal.

This weekly post on the state of my garden is part of the SOS meme hosted by Jim of Garden Ruminations. Please take a look at the SOS Participants’ Guide if you would like to take part. Happy gardening to you all.

Six On Saturday: Through the gloom

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Anticyclonic murk is the order of the day yet again. Gloomy yes, a chill creeping in but still quite mild. As I peered into the garden this morning I caught sight of the first parakeet of the year on the persimmons. They are not quite ripe yet but the parakeet didn’t seem to mind. There have been squadrons of them swooping through the garden on a daily basis. Occasionally the menacing shape of a red kite circles above, coming closer in to the urban areas. Twice this week I have headed down to the back of the garden only to be startled by the sound of a fox scrabbling over the fence. It’s busy out there! Here’s six other things from the garden this week.

One

Work continues on emptying shed and greenhouse. I show this pile because it is all propped up against a water storage unit. I read Jim’s blog on storing rain water this week and recognised many dilemmas. I have emptied most of the water butts for the winter, keeping just one for the moment as I need the odd can here and there as I water in moved plants. But that one will be emptied out soon to give a clear path for the delivery of the shed.

Two

The seed heads are beginning to give some structure to the garden. I planted phlomis russeliana specifically for its seed heads and it does not disappoint. It also clumps up very tightly and gives good ground cover.

Three

I’ve not cut back the agapanthus yet as it’s starry seed heads are also looking good.

Four

The hakonechloa macra is turning colour. I have three lots in pots and three in the border. I count this as a successful foray into adding grasses to the garden.

Five

This heuchera is still doing well. I tried for a long time to find a couple more of this variety, ‘Grape Timeless’, as the flower and leaf colour are so good together but as yet no success.

Six

And of course, lastly a rose. Natasha Richardson, which does so well all the year round.

It’s the last push on emptying the greenhouse for me this weekend. At least the weather is dry. Wishing you all good gardening this weekend. I notice that I now have to option to add AI generated images. I can assure you that I have not been tempted so far but who knows what I will stoop to in the depths of winter! Please take a look at the SOS Participants’ Guide if you would like to take part.

Six On Saturday: Careful what you throw away

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

It was a drizzly start to the day here. The skies grey but once again the temperatures were mild. The garden is slowly winding down which seems entirely fitting for November. I was doubtful I would be able to find anything for six today but this is a record of the garden over the year and this is what I found this week.

One

I have pushed the button on the new greenhouse and shed. Both bases will need some repairs and work to level them. The clearance of the site means we get to have a skip. This is always pleasing to me as there are endless bits and pieces that I keep just in case and once in a while it is good to take stock. There is also an accumulation of things put away in the shed that haven’t seen the light of day for years. Clearing out is the job for this weekend.

Two

Although the weather has been mild I decided to wrap the evergreen agapanthus. I still have to turf out the pellies from their summer pots in preparation for some tulip planting.

Three

In the borders, the deciduous agapanthus leaves are turning colour and I need to cut these back before the go slimy. Another job on the ‘to do’ list.

Four

These are the berries of iris foetidissima. The plant is prolific here, distributed about the garden by the birds. I let them grow in difficult corners but dig them out from the main borders. It seems that I missed this one.

Five

Last week I mentioned that the hebes were flowering again, and they still are.

Six

There’s always one more rose having a go at flowering again. This week it is ‘Jaqueline du Pré. Lovely.

The plan for today was to mow up the fallen leaves, but the drizzle has soaked everything. That job moves to tomorrow. I’ve made a start on clearing the north facing border of the weed cinquefoil. I guess every garden has its difficult corner and this is definitely mine. I know it is a thankless task but unless I try to contain it the cinquefoil will run riot. I need the border to dry out a little more though.

Here’s hoping that your gardening jobs are more inviting. I have to say thank you to SOS host Jim for keeping this meme going. It makes me look at the garden every Saturday and this week I noticed that the pots of daffodil bulbs I had planted up had been disturbed by the wildlife – foxes, squirrels? They are now under the protection of an old freezer drawer. Things do come in useful. I need to careful I don’t throw too much out!

Six On Saturday: Bizarre

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The garden has a topsy turvy feel to it. There have been swarms of ladybirds this week. The clematis is in flower again as is the hebe that I had carefully deadheaded for the winter. There have also been misty mornings and the leaves are turning. Here’s six things from the garden this week.

One

The leaves on the persimmon tree are turning beautifully shades of red. They don’t last long before they fall to the ground. This is the cue for starting up this season’s leaf mould heap.

Two

Last season’s leaf mould did not go very far. I decided to cardboard over one bed in the veg patch and use the leaf mould to cover the top. Since achieving this neat finish the foxes have had fun and have dug down to find the cardboard and have shredded it. I reburied it all again. I can see this could go on!

Three

The hydrangeas are really putting on a great autumn display, the colour deepens every week and this week the re-flowering geranium psilostemon clashes rather well.

Four

The heavy dew has left delicate edges on the scented pelargoniums. A visit from the greenhouse retailer confirmed that I will be without a greenhouse until January. Now what am I going to do with eight pots of tender pellies? I’ll be squeezing some into the shed and hoping.

Five

The climbing hydrangea on the north facing fence is putting on a show of yellow leaves. This is the border that is severely infested with cinquefoil. It is my last job to start, one I have been putting off I admit. It’s a thankless task but I will try to dig through the border and remove as much as I can.

Six

There always seems to be a rose having a go at bringing back summer. This one is ‘Lady of Shalott’. It hasn’t really settled into this spot but it is doing well enough that I will leave well alone.

I moved an hydrangea into the spot vacated by r. ‘Darcey Bussell’ and that confirmed that another one of the Darceys will have to go too. That might tip me into removing the last one as well. I have some veronicastrum waiting for a new home and this could be the space. A few leucojum bulbs have been bought and the camassias were found and planted out. the leucojums have gone into pots until I can see where the gaps are in the borders. I’m beginning to feel on top of things again. The clocks go back this weekend, time to start thinking of tulips pots.

Enjoy the autumn season, there’s still plenty to see in Jim’s Garden and of course he has all the links to other SOS posts. Happy Gardening.