Oh for more than one dry day in a row. The pretty much relentless rain is becoming rather tiresome now. It makes taking photos for Six on Saturday particularly tricky when you have to do the old 9 to 5 what-a-way-to-make-a-living thing, although the evenings are getting noticeably lighter of late. We SoSers don’t let the weather defeat us though. Oh no! We wait for a brief respite from the wet, rush out there with our cameras, snap away and hope that at least a few of our photos turn out to be non-blurry.
1-3. First up, a sweet smelling Narcissus that might be ‘Martinette’ (returning for another year). The flowers of Hellebore ‘Sugar Plum’ are aging rather gracefully (that’s a metal mushroom lurking at the back) and I succumbed to the allure of a new Hyacinth as I was passing the Country Market shop on Friday – this is ‘Purple Sensation.’
4-6. Up next, another Hyacinth – a yellow one this time, and growing nearby is a Cyclamen coum (with a rather keen Tulipa sylvestris in bud behind it). And to end, the beautiful flowers of a Japanese Quince that I admired when walking into town yesterday. Around this time every year I ponder getting one for my own garden… although I never do. May be one day.
They were my Six on Saturday, a meme originally started by The Propagator. For more Sixes on Saturday, from all around the world, head over to the blog of our Six on Saturday host, Jim. Before I go, a shameless plug for a short story in the latest edition of the ‘new-look’ People’s Friend, vaguely inspired by a trip to the theatre to see a Neil Diamond tribute act back in September.
One Man And His Garden Trowel 
Sweet scent and pretty colours: a good summary of what you showed us this week, but the Japanese Quince remains my favourite because I love this tree
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It is a beauty and always stops my in my tracks when I pass it.
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Lovely spring flowers and don’t these quinces look great. Your concert tickets are now expenses and tax deductable.
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I hadn’t thought of that – research!
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I used to be a tax specialist amongst other things! Best to check current regulations, but you could have expenses greater than the earnings from your additional job and offset them against all your income. Must be lots out there on the internet, happy searching.
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He he, my first reading of Narcissus ‘Martinette’, was marmite, what an odd name for a flower variety, I thought! I must slow down and not race through my reading!
Well done on another short story feature.
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Thanks. It’s interesting seeing what gets altered for the published version. Marmite! I wonder if there’s a dark brown/black flowered plant that would suit that name?
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Congratulations on another published story.
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Thank you. I’ve got two more coming out at some point. I’m out of ideas at the moment though and waiting for inspiration to strike.
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I have hyacinth envy, they’re one of those things that can’t grow fast enough to overtake my slugs.
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Ah, they’re going for my daffs instead here!
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The Japenese Quince is really pretty.
and I’ve ado+ted your slogan: There’s always room for one more plant.
As for the weather we are having rain here at the moment and we are doing a happy dance. But then … it is a novelty.
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I’ll probably be wishing for rain come the summer!
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Hellebore ‘Sugar Plum’ is another I haven’t heard of. There are so many lovely varieties now. I’ll be that purple Hyacinth smells delicious! That’s a very bright & cheery Narcissus – hope your garden is soon full of them.
PS – I’ll have a look out for The People’s Friend next week. Congratulations on getting another published!
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Thanks. This is the first year ‘Sugar Plum’ has flowered since it was planted 3 years ago but it was worth the wait.
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Six lovely pics this week, all beautiful so I don’t know which one to choose as the best! I think spring has arrived in your garden.
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Plants do seem to be waking up and the birds seem very busy and more chirpy at the moment.
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You have a lovely scented garden! Hyacinths here get eaten and/or fall over in the ground, but they come back year after year! You would think they’d learn. Your hellebore is so pretty. I have some Martinette too and they have the most delicious scent. Everyone should grow them. I am wondering whether you remembered to buy some Thalia? And my Tulipa sylvestris are also showing signs of flowering.
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Hmm, I can’t remember if I did buy more Thalia or not. I did get some Winston Churchill thanks to your reminder and some more Narcissus ‘Geranium’ – another deliciously scented variety. A few of the pink Hyacinths have toppled over in the rain!
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Well those are excellent narcissi. Mine were all dug up when I revamped the herb garden. They were planted in one of the new raised beds, but very randomly! It will be interesting to see what comes up.
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Your garden is very beautiful despite the “9 to 5” duties.
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Thanks. Luckily things are just getting on with it without any help from me yet.
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Well done on getting a magazine article published! Your writing is very entertaining, so I bet there will be more to come! 🙂👍 We can purchase People’s Friends in our local country supermarket believe it or not! The world is a small place! Love your impulse hyacinth and I also fancy a Japanese Quince in my garden! 🌸
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Thank you. Yes, I need to find space for a Japanese Quince… somewhere!
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Great plants, but even greater congratulations on your published short story. I didn’t know you were a writer. Do you write anywhere else? A blog maybe? I write on Substack here https://junegirvin.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=substack_profile
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Thanks. I started writing short stories last year when I reduced my hours at work and luckily have had a few accepted for publication (all with the People’s Friend). It’s something I always wanted to try & it’s been good fun and practice. I follow you on Substack – I’ve been enjoying reading about your career with the NHS.
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