All of a sudden the garden is waking up. After many weeks of struggling to find at least one pleasingly picturesque ‘featured image’ for these Six on Saturdays that wasn’t a Viola, I found myself spoilt for choice today. Have I gone for the correct one? Hmm, I don’t know…
1. I very nearly went for this Iris, reticulata ‘Alida.’ Many of the feathery pale blue beauties started their lives in pots back in 2020 and 2021 before being moved to the borders. They’re one of my favourites but, alas, also popular with the slimy plant assassins of the night.
2. While spring flowering bulbs usually do pretty well, I don’t tend to have much success with the summer flowering lot. Undeterred, I’m having another go, this time with these Gladioli.
3. I have a feeling this Narcissus may also have been a Wilko purchase. Possibly ‘Martinette,’ like the ‘Tête-à-tête’ that featured last week it seems a tad early.
4. Planted back in the autumn of 2020, the lollipop Bay hasn’t required any cosseting this winter so far. The leaves have yet to be sampled for culinary purposes but I’m going to give them a go this year.
5. Another Iris of short stature from, yes, you’ve guessed it, Wilko. I’m hoping there might be the odd yellow one lurking in this pot.
6. And finally, the ‘featured image’ plant: a white Crocus. Quite a few have popped up in the lawn, surviving another soggy winter and miraculously surviving tramplage by a big-footed gardener. What was that? Another Wilko purchase? Err… yes, yes it was.
They were my Six on Saturday. For more Sixes on Saturday, from all around the world, take a look at the site of the chap who started it all over at https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com.
One Man And His Garden Trowel 
Lovely pics
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Thank you!
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You can just pick one leaf at a time as needed from the bay. I much prefer them fresh compared to dried, and a spring or two on the kitchen window sill is quite decorative too. Nice lot of blooms.
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That’s good to know. Someone on Twitter put me off a little suggesting such ornamental bays were sprayed with who knows what. I’m hoping after more than a year any chemical nasties would have gone. Some leaves have certainly been enjoyed by something over the winter.
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Your iris ‘Alida’ are a little more pale blue than mine (‘Cantab’) but very pretty too
I’m waiting for my ‘Tete à Tete’ , in the next few days I think they will be open.
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There are a bewildering variety of the little iris. Cantab is rather lovely.
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I’m not quite at the ‘spoilt for choice’ stage in the year, lucky you! I do love the iris reticulata, you’ve got different varieties to me, and mine are just emerging (the slimy assassins found their way into the mini greenhouse and did nibble some newly emerging flowers, so annoying). Your Bay is brimming with health – I use a bay leaf in almost every meal!
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I think I should have saved some of the flowers for next week as I’m not sure I’m going to be quite so spoilt next Saturday!
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You should get a sponsorship deal with Wilco! You have just reminded me to take a look next time I am in town. Lovely little iris and the crocus is a beauty too.
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The purple iris is really pretty! I only have blue ones, and having seen this one of yours I am now tempted to look for a similar one. I love the daffodils, and I’m pleased to hear that your garden is slowly awakening!
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I wish I knew what variety the purple iris is. It came as part of a mixed pack.
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Love the purple iris.
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It’s even more purpley than the camera suggests.
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Lovely irises. May they be protected from the slimy villains of the night.
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Thank you for that iris blessing!
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You are lucky with your irises in the ground, I planted dozens in my raised bed a few years ago, but after flowering the first year they never came back. I now use containers – and yes they are being eaten this year which I haven’t seen before. Too mild an autumn and winter I suppose. Time to order the nematodes I think.
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I was half tempted to try nematodes again. The last time I tried them it turned too cold and dry for them to do their thing I think. It’s been far too mild a winter for the garden so far – although good for the heating bills.
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I, too, would like to grow a Bay. Lovely spring blossoms – the center of the white crocus looks almost tan. Is that a trick of the light? I love that you are perservering with the summer bulbs despite setbacks. I find myself similarly incapable of giving up on some of my (admittedly ill advised) gardening projects.
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It’s a sort of sandy yellow in reality. Yes, we gardeners are a determined lot!
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Good old Wilkos! Those iris are beautiful. I’m hoping for some, but still only have leaves.
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Fingers crossed they flower soon. Toes crossed they don’t get nibbled on when they do.
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Lovely signs of spring!
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Thank you.
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You have convinced me…..yes, I must get back to Wilko. What vibrant colours you have this week. I have a couple of bay trees which I am very pleased with. I bought a pot of bay seedlings for £4 about 6 years ago. There must have been at least a dozen some of which I gave to Mr Propagator and some to my daughter-in-law. I’m not sure how theirs are progressing though. Yours looks much greener than mine. Do you feed it?
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No – I think it was just surprisingly sunny when I took the photo making it seem more vibrant than it really is. Your bay trees were a bargain.
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