Six on Saturday (28 May 2022)

Apparently I’ve been participating in this Six on Saturdaying thing (a meme created by the Propagator) for 4 years. My, how the time has flown. I thought I’d struggle to find six garden related things to write about each Saturday but, to my surprise, it’s turned out that there’s more going on than I thought, even in the depths of winter. It has proved to be a great garden diary, allowing me to look back at what things were doing this time yesteryear. It’s also rather useful for looking up the names of plants that I’ve long since forgotten…

1. Like this Ixia. Back in the spring of 2020 I planted a packet of Ixia bulbs out in the south facing front garden. None of them made an appearance that first year and I’d presumed that was that. Then, last spring, one solitary specimen popped up. This year? We have two. They’ve grown on me and I may have to seek out some more bulbs when they’re back in season.

2. I also had to flick through some posts from around this time last year to remind myself what variety of Dutch Iris this is. It’s ‘Metallic Mixture’ and I think every single one of them has returned for a second spring.

3. Alas, my next plant may not feature in 2023. The Pyracantha has been trained to grow up against the trellis fence in an attempt to provide a bit of privacy between us and the neighbours. It’s taken 8 years or so, but it’s almost doing just that. However, the aging trellis fence may be getting replaced in the autumn with wonderfully anti-social, non-trellis panels, and I fear the Pyracantha may have to go, or at least get a very severe prune. One of its spiny branches nearly took an eye out the other day when I was pottering around the nearby mini-greenhouse and I sometimes wonder whether I planted it too close to the base of the fence, as it often requires watering during dry spells to prevent the leaves from turning brown and falling off. We shall see. The birds will miss the berries if it is got shot of.

4. Do you remember the rather shoddily grafted mini-standard ‘Friesia’ rose I purchased online during the first lockdown? Well, despite the dubious graft, it survived and is continuing to do well. I’ve not yet succeeded in taking a cutting from it but I’ll keep trying. The fragrance is wonderful.

5. More white up next. A perennial cornflower, Centaurea montana ‘Alba.’ I have a feeling this was originally from my mum who nabbed some from my sister’s garden.

6. And finally… An Aquilegia. There are a few starting to come into flower, but this one is probably the most striking colour-wise. It’s also prone to getting sat on as it grows near a rock that I often perch on to peer into the pond. It may need to get moved – or I may need to find another spot from which to pond watch.

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.

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