#phlomis

Six On Saturday: Busy times

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It feels as though the garden is hurtling through it’s highlights this year. The white camassias, newly planted over the winter, were here one week and gone the next. I’ve managed to plant out strong seedlings of cosmos, cornflower, marigolds and poppies in the new new flowerbed but the phlox seedlings had barely any root system on them and have flopped and twisted. I should have added ‘not labelling’ plants to my list of careless gardening last week. These are a collection of self-seeders and candidates for relocation that I accumulated over the winter. Yes, it’s a Japanese anemone but is it the white or pink one? Thalictrum, yes but which variety? Geranium psilostemon or ‘Brookside’. Time will tell and spaces will be found. Here’s six for this week.

One

It has been a little wet this week, which has been a good thing. Here’s the rose ‘Souvenir du Docteur Jamain’ after a shower. It struggled as a climber on a shady fence. Now it is wrapped around a wigwam of canes in a sunnier spot and this year has finally agreed to get on with growing well. I should have invested in a fancy obelisk for it. I apologise.

Two

The common astrantia major with its lovely pink tinges. Does self-seed and I welcome it.

Three

I said I would come back to phlomis once it was in flower. Here it is. We call it the Martian plant because it is a little weird. There is some blue geranium ‘Brookside’ coming through between the phlomis and the red rose which sort of eases the colour clash.

Four

The penstemons are in flower now, I remember buying this white one last year from a pity bench. It’s done well. I can’t remember the name and it is not on my fallible plant list.

Five

Another generous self-seeder. Lychnis coronaria. Silver leaf and magenta flowers.

Six

I’ll finish on a rose – ‘Natasha Richardson’, seems to be a healthy rose that just flowers and flowers. Scented too.

I managed to plant out some of the tomatoes last weekend but there’s more to do. I’m moving perennials from a holding bed into the new flowerbed and then the tomatoes and cucumbers will have a home. Thunderstorms and rain are forecast for today and I only have the morning free tomorrow. Time rushes on. I hope you find enough time for a moment or two in the garden this weekend. I’m sure Jim will as he has NGS open days coming up. All the SOS links can be found on Jim’s Garden Ruminations.

Six On Saturday: Roses

/ n20gardener / 19 Comments

It’s not all roses this week but the garden is full of them. They seem to have enjoyed the conditions even as I was fretting at the lack of rain. Last night rain arrived and the water butts are filling up again. They are not all full but there’s a good quantity and more rain is forecast. Here’s the six for this week.

One

Almost open and not damaged by the rain, the beautiful ‘Lady of Shalott’.

Two

‘Darcy Bussell’, a lovely colour, susceptible to black spot but I persevere.

Three

‘James Galway’, a climbing rose so intricately petalled.

Four

‘This Scepter’d Isle’, a lovely shape, delicate shade and wonderful scent.

Five

Now I divert, here’s ‘Johnson’s Blue’ and absolute doer of a hardy geranium. Mid height, so useful for filling holes!

Six

The phlomis russeliana has absolutely forged ahead this year, borderline thuggish! Described as vigorous and spreading and tolerant of drought it has clearly got its feet into the ground. I will have to watch this one but for the moment it is doing a great job of filling out what was a difficult spot in the border. It’s just about to flower so it will be sure to feature again soon.

My garden will have loved the rain, I fear that in my daughter’s garden the bindweed will be greedily sucking up the moisture ready for another surge. But we are getting there. I took a tray of seedlings over yesterday. Today I fear they may have been flattened by the rain. The next project is to get the lawn back in to better shape. Bare patches to be seeded and some of the tougher grasses to be dug out. Last week my daughter dug up a collection of iron bars – the purpose of which is far from clear. Gardening eh!

Jim’s page Garden Ruminations is the place to go for more gardening news and all the links. There’s also the Participants’ Guide if you want to share your favourite garden goodies. Happy Gardening all.

Six On Saturday: Confusion in the garden

/ n20gardener / 14 Comments

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

/ n20gardener / 18 Comments

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: Through the gloom

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

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: Things that go wrong

/ n20gardener / 17 Comments

I was sympathising with fellow SOSer Jude in Cornwall about disappearing plants. We mainly blame slugs and snails of course and definitely not our gardening skills. But gardening, in my case, is a bit hit and miss. I veer from having very sensible plans to organise heights, colours and textures, as I am encouraged to do by the gardening press, to responding haphazardly to the situation on the ground – or not responding! So things can go a little awry. Here’s six slightly wrong things.

One

This looks quite good. It is my one surviving delphinium and a peony. I didn’t plant the peony, it may be a remnant from the previous owners’ garden and it has only just flowered. Both are jammed right up against the rose bush behind which causes both plants to take desperate avoidance measures. In reality they are twisting and flopping and needed to be propped up with supports. But they survive.

Two

My collection of hostas. It’s clear what has gone wrong here. Despite layers of gravel and coffee grounds the slugs munch away. It’s interesting that the hosta ‘Francee’ behind which has thicker, darker leaves is fairing much better. I think the ‘Thomas Hogg’ in front are acting as sacrificial plants.

Three

This is an interesting one. Two things ‘going wrong’ here. First the classic example of digging out seedlings and wanting to keep them somewhere ‘just in case’. This is meant to be a symphony in white and green with some late purple. Instead ‘Johnson’s Blue’ and psilostemon steal the show. Behind is persicaria polymorpha, planted to hide the fence, which is doesn’t quite do and worse, it smells awful! But it is ideal for semi shade and is long flowering. Perhaps I will get used to the ‘perfume’.

Four

Phlomis russeliana, whorls of pale yellow flowers is what I was promised. I find these rather strident, especially as the aforementioned Jude did suggest, delicately, that I could have chosen the more subtle tuberosa pink version. Worse, when the rose arch collapsed I had to move ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’ to a new location and the only possibility was the wall behind the phlomis. The dark red of ‘Tess’ and the yellow phlomis is far from ideal. There will have to be a rethink here.

Five

This is a case of re-appearing plants. It isn’t in flower yet, but this is a globe thistle, echinops ritro if I remember rightly, I planted them in my quest to find blue flowers that the slugs didn’t eat. Several years ago I dug them out because they were mildewy, covered in blackfly and, well, thistly. I still don’t want them but as you can see the slugs don’t eat them and they are determined.

Six

If I Ieft the garden to its own devices it would be a forest of verbena bonariensis. It’s hard to take a photo that really captures their character. I like them and this year they are incredibly tall. Not a problem really but this group are in front of a new hibiscus that is about half their size. A clear case of wrong heights and quite probably overcrowding. At least the hibiscus can be seen through the verbena. The path is becoming a little less visible though.

Gardens eh? We love them even though they challenge us every day. I’ll be out there again this weekend, weeding, feeding, watering and enjoying it all. I hope you will too. Jim, our host, almost certainly will. Do have a read and join in.

Six On Saturday: Help!

/ n20gardener / 16 Comments

Mid May madness has arrived. The combination of sun and rain has led to lush growth and the stronger plants are crowding out their neighbours. The slugs continue their onslaught, nothing is safe this year. A white form of the hardy geranium phaeum has been been munched. The potatoes need earthing up and the roses need deadheading. I’ve bought plants for the summer pots on the terrace. The weeds are thriving. I don’t know which way to turn first. The garden is calling out to me but other events are on the cards for this weekend. Here’s my six for this week.

One

Libertia grandiflora. A few years back I added four of these to the garden, confidently planting them in entirely the wrong place. Realising the error – not enough sun – I moved them two years ago, not really having the space elsewhere in the garden for four of them. They were squeezed in and fingers were crossed. They all settled into their new spots but this group is by far the most effective. I think there are two of them here. I realise now that I need to balance these up on the other side of the border and so, after flowering, one of the others is very likely to be on the move again.

Two

This is the rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’. One of the first roses to be planted in the garden. It is a favourite but to honest until this year it wasn’t really packing a punch. This year it seems so much more floriferous, benefiting from the rain perhaps.

Three

Elsewhere the climbing rose ‘Blush Noisette’ has truly gotten away from me. My pruning has not been severe enough and it is falling away from the wall over into the border. It will look wonderful when all the buds open but I know it needs taking in hand. Here it is along side the rose Madame Isaac Péreire’, which has a fabulous scent.

Four

Here’s one of those plants that is crowding out its neighbours. Phlomis russeliana. I have already moved a hylotelephium and a dianthus carthusianorum. I think the geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ can hold its own.

Five

This is the third year of my asparagus planting and so it is time to start picking them. If only I can get to them before the slugs! There is a blurry half eaten stem just alongside this one which has miraculously escaped. It’s not a bountiful crop and I seem to be only able to pick one spear at a time. Two of the plants are barely productive. Let’s hope for more next year.

Six

I have a very large and very old rhododendron in the garden and way back at the beginning of Six On Saturday it was identified for me as a Ponticum, a common variety. This year it is having a wonderful time. But it still suffers from a poorer performing top half. I share with you the best bit of course!

I’m rushing off to the garden now to try to make an impact in the two hours I have available today. Earthing up I think is top of the list. I hope you find time to spend in your garden and to enjoy everything there (except the slugs). Happy gardening.

For more SOS links pop over to Jim’s Garden Ruminations. All the links are there.

Six On Saturday: Cold!

/ n20gardener / 13 Comments

It’s cold and next week will be colder. I have a cold. The garden meanwhile is growing. It’s always worth wrapping up and taking a quick tour round. Here’s my six for the week.

One

It never ceases to amaze me how early the buds on the clematis armandii form. So cheering to think that in about six weeks the first flowers might just be opening.

Two

The roses have put out new flowers through December and January but the wet weather has foiled their efforts to shine. Now these will be nipped by the cold. There is much new growth to be seen here too and the quick December prune back needs to be followed up by a thorough going over to take out thin and inward growing shoots. That’s a job for warmer days.

Three

I planted out phlomis this summer particularly for the structure of their seed heads in winter. There are one or two on display but I was surprised by how easily they can be knocked off. There’s been no real frost so far, perhaps next week’s cold spell with give them a chance to sparkle.

Four

The arum italicum has just begun to spread! After seven years of immaculate behaviour I spotted three more little outcrops of it. It grows in an inhospitable corner and so I will allow it a bit more room whilst heading the RHS advice ‘has the potential to become a nuisance if not managed well.’ I have been warned.

Five

The first flowers on the bergenia have appeared, they are nestling quietly in the folds of the giant leaves. A wise precaution I think.

Six

I spotted the goldfinches earlier this week having a snack on the verbena bonariensis seed heads, a sight to behold. Here, the late self-seeders are putting on new growth and I wonder if this hopeful spurt will survive the -4 degrees overnight that is forecast. 

I’m putting off my gardening jobs for another week, hoping that a warmer spell is coming. Don’t forget to stop by at Jim’s place for the SOS clan gathering. Happy gardening to those in the Southern hemisphere and keep warm to those in the North!

Six On Saturday: Recalibrating Spring

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That heading sounds a bit technical but rest assured I am not dipping into mechanics or perhaps I am. The mechanics of growing things. The first of March was eagerly greeted by me as Spring arriving, Winter restlessness and impatience was about to be set free. The weather had other ideas and what a week this one was here. Cold winds, overnight snow, sleety showers and down to minus in the greenhouse again. I chided myself for being so eager and resolved to take 21 March as the Spring starting point. This week new plants arrived for the garden so at least I have something to share. I walked the garden this morning and although there wasn’t much else to feature I could see that nature is really pushing on bringing out new buds on so many of the shrubs and more and more perennials are breaking through the winter mulch. That made me re-think and appreciate that dates are only a guideline and one should always be guided by what’s happening in the garden. Here’s my six for the week.

One

The first of the new plants. Helleborus argutifolius, or the Corsican hellebore. I saw these last week in a courtyard garden combined with euphorbia. The hellebores were so striking with their serrated edge leaves and pale green flowers, they proved irresistible and I jumped in and ordered three. They are evergreen perennials and grow to a good size so I am hoping they will give some structure to a rather featureless part of the garden.

Two

Having taking the plunge to order plants, gulping a little at the expense, I forged on and ordered three phlomis russeliana . These have been on my wish list for ever. I love their winter look but have always been deterred by the pale yellow flowers in summer. What would I combine them with? I’ve decided that they can have a stretch of the thin border to themselves. The verbena bonariensis self seeds in this area and I think they will work well together.

Three

The tête-à-tête daffodils are a good indicator of how the garden works here. Over on the South facing border, against the wall, they have been open for a couple of weeks. On the opposite, in a slightly West facing border they seem to be on hold. Just waiting for a few more degrees of warmth to make its way to their space.

Four

The euphorbia wulfenii, the last of four that I planted in the garden about five years ago, is looking splendid. The garden was clear about not wanting to accommodate the other three. I lost and replanted them from self seedlings several times over the last three years. Each time they died off. Perhaps the sole survivor is in an area of better drainage. I am quietly trying again with a self-seeder that made itself at home further up the border. It’s sunnier at the end it has chosen and perhaps less susceptible to holding the winter rain.

Five

Chilli seeds have germinated. They broke through about a week ago. They are on a windowsill above a radiator and will stay there for some time to come. I’m not planning to sow anything more for a few weeks.

Six

Finally, here’s a question for you. The Non Gardener has been muttering that the terrace looks like an industrial wasteland. Moss and weeds are flourishing he says. Weeds, I say. No, that’s my self seeded Mexican daisy, with one or two weeds sneaking in. I am offering a half way house and suggesting that the daisy is banished from the central areas and restricted to the corners and edges. Moss, I say, gives a sense of age to what is some kind of concrete imitation of flagstones and it too should stay. Any thoughts?

The SOS gardeners congregate weekly at Jim’s place for chat. Don’t hesitate to join in, it’s a friendly bunch of folk ready to offer advice and share struggles. Happy gardening.

Six on Saturday: A winter garden

/ n20gardener / 8 Comments

This is another one of those ‘Not my garden posts’. Sorry to disappoint, the above photo is definitely not my garden. This week we were in Cambridge for a few days and spent a cold but sunny hour or two at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. It was a diversion on the way back to the station and I offer apologies to anyone out there who was disturbed by the trundling of our suitcase, a noise not compatible with the peaceful surroundings. Before departure the home garden was wrapped up for the cold spell, agapanthus under fleece for the winter and as there wasn’t time to transport the lemon tree to the greenhouse that too had a temporary double layer of fleece. This weekend I hope to get the lemon tree inside and it will be re-fleeced for extra protection when the cold weather settles in. Here’s four from the Winter Garden, Cambridge with its focus on ‘coloured stems, bark and foliage texture with winter flowers and fragrance until mid spring’. This garden begs to visited again in February when the snowdrops and winter aconites appear. The last two are from the Fountain planting.

One

The Mahonia, Oregon Grape ‘Winter Sun’ in the background draws the visitor down the path. The boundary hedges have been used to frame the colours and to trap the winter scents in the garden. The birch tree behind the bench is betula ermanii ‘Grayswood Hill’.

Two

The colour of the red holly berries and the variegated leaf exploded in the sunshine, botanical details: ilex aquifolium, ‘Argentea Marginata’. Or Silver Margined Holly, in translation. My only holly is the result of a donation form the birds and doesn’t look half as exuberant as this, but then it’s a freebie so I won’t complain.

Three

Scent was much in evidence from this Viburnum farreri, its leaves just turning a coppery red giving a double winter whammy. That’s not a very botanical description, but you get the picture.

Four

It wouldn’t be a winter garden without that trusted favourite, cornus. This one is Cornus alba ‘Siberica’, which seems to be regarded as too vigorous for most gardens, but there are many others to choose from. The bergenia provides a good foil at the base.

Five

Coming out of the Winter Garden now, I couldn’t resist including the planting around the fountains. Here the seed heads of Phlomis russeliana, Turkish Sage, provide strong winter interest. I’d love to take this idea for the garden here, but I don’t think I have the right conditions. But it is something I am contemplating.

Six

The phlomis around the fountain is mixed with a planting of Stipa gigantea, which glowed in the sunshine. There is no doubting why it is called ‘Golden Oats’.

There was much to take in at the Botanic Garden and the website is very helpful, providing planting lists and good descriptions of the garden highlights. It’s well worth a visit, either in person or virtually. Back in my garden I will be continuing to mulch and may even make a start on tulip bulb planting. The compost heap needs a turn and one bin is ready to spread on the veg plot. The dahlias, zinnias, cosmos and roses continue to defy the season and as the temperatures seem to be picking up again for next week I will leave them as they are for a little while longer. The Propagator hosts the SOS meme and all are welcome to take part or simply to read and enjoy.