Six on Saturday (4 November 2023)

It’s usually around now I cover up the swing seat. Alas, an unusually keen refuse collector apparently came all the way up the drive yesterday, retrieved the black wheelie bin which has been used for the storage of this and that for the last 10 years (including the swing seat cover) and emptied its contents into the back of the bin lorry. When I looked out the front window on Friday to check that the bin bag had been collected and saw a wheelie bin on the pavement I’d assumed we’d acquired someone else’s by mistake. But no, t’was ours. A new swing seat cover will be ordered this weekend and a less risky place to store it will need to be found. Ah well, time for Six on Saturday.

1-3. Up first we have Mahonia ‘Soft Caress,’ the standard Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ in all its Autumnal splendor and ‘Miss Belgium,’ a Hydrangea of reasonably short stature. Planted back in 2018 (no. 6), the ‘Kojo-no-mai’ has only ever grown about an inch or two each year. It’s gone a little mad this summer, putting on a foot or so of new growth – perhaps it will help provide a bit of privacy after all.

4-6. For the second batch we have a self-seeded Calendula, Fuchsia ‘Delta’s Sarah’ and the winter flowering Clematis ‘Freckles.’ The Fuchsia will have to get chopped back come the spring as it’s become a bit tricky getting to a water butt and bird feeder. ‘Freckles’ could also do with a bit of tidy up next year to keep it within the confines of the garden arch.

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 the current Six on Saturday host, Jim.

Six on Saturday (23 September 2023)

Astronomical autumn has arrived and there can be no pretending otherwise. Fallen leaves have made their way from the green out the front into the back garden, there are spiders’ webs everywhere, and it’s been rather chilly some mornings. Weatherwise there have been torrential downpours, blue skies and sun (briefly), and strong winds and drizzle, and tomorrow looks like it could be rather interesting. Anyway, let’s get on with Six on Saturday.

1-3. Some of the Strawflowers are looking a little sorry for themselves now after all the rain, although these in a slightly shady spot near the back door are still looking pretty good, having been later to bloom. The red standard rose known as Rosa Flower Carpet Ruby ‘Noafeuer’ (but nicknamed ‘Nerf-herder’ by me) is having a second flush of vibrant, lightly scented flowers and, rather confusingly, all of the Coronillas are in bloom. The deep yellow variety by the front door, that barely flowered last winter, has been sporting whorls of fragrant pea-like flowers for weeks now, and this paler variety, a replacement for one that didn’t survive being dug up for the new fence last November, is also covered. They don’t usually start flowering until November/December, continuing on into April. Not that I’m complaining.

4-6. Trying to find an orange Thunbergia proved tricky back in the summer and I had to make do with this rather lovely red variety. It’s decided to ignore the canes and grow through the phlox and other perennials in the border at the back of the patio. Nearby is something of a surprise – a self sown Sunflower. My track record with growing Sunflowers is really poor – they just get polished off by the slugs and snails. I didn’t hold out much hope for this one, which must have come from the bird feeder, but it’s made it to flowerhood and I even found myself rushing out with a cane to support it when the wind got up the other morning. And finally… the Sedums that featured a few weeks ago are becoming ever pinker and still proving popular with the insects.

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 the current Six on Saturday host, Jim.

Six on Saturday (5 November 2022)

A briskish Six on Saturday today. After thinking I had weeks to prepare for a new fence it turns out the fencing chap is starting work on Thursday. The next few days will be spent emptying and moving the shed a few feet and digging up those plants that are most at risk of tramplage. Naturally, the weather is set to be decidedly damp over the next few days, but luckily I was able to take Friday afternoon off, making the most of a brief dry spell. The Pyracantha, Coronilla and various climbers that were growing up the trellis fence have been chopped right back to the ground and the lean-to mini-greenhouse has been detached from the shed. Note to self – don’t plant anything near fence posts in future. Anyway…

1. We start with something else I’m going to have to move before Thursday. Pots. This is one of those not-so-hardy Cyclamens that has spent the past year or two outdoors and is still going strong.

2. While brown and crispy is usually a bad thing during the spring and summer, in the autumn it can be rather lovely, especially when it comes to Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise.’

3. Next up, a Cosmos out the front. It looked rather splendid when the sun shone yesterday afternoon.

4. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai,’ waiting for it to reach peak autumnal fiery foliage perfection before taking a photo. However, you don’t want to leave it too long as you may end up with a shrub that is bare of leaf instead. This was taken just before the Coronilla got the chop and I wonder if I may have jumped the gun ever so slightly. I might try again next week.

5. Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ doing its strangely artificial looking, purple-berry thing. I didn’t used to be a fan. I am now.

6. And finally… Remember the Delphinium requienii that was on the cusp of flowerhood last Saturday? Well, this isn’t that one. However, it dawned on me that I planted another seedling in the south facing front garden. I went in search of it one morning before work, hoping that it might be further ahead than those out the back. It was. More will be grown next year.

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 the current Six on Saturday host, Jim. Right, I suppose I’d better make a start on the shed. If you hear a manly shriek, don’t be too alarmed, it’ll probably false widow spider related; there seem to be a few that have set up home near the shed and greenhouse.

Six on Saturday (22 October 2022)

Last Saturday evening my wife and I booked a very last-minute break in Bath. Just the one night, heading up by train on Sunday morning and returning the following afternoon. Now when I first encountered Bath, many moons ago, I must admit I wasn’t that impressed, finding it all a bit yellow (something Mrs OMAHGT never fails to mention whenever we visit). Yet as I’ve grown older (and marginally wiser) I’ve come to embrace the whole Bath Stone thing and we tend to make a couple of daytrips to the city every year. However, this time we decided to make the most of the extra time a sleepover afforded, hopping onto a bus to explore a nearby garden gem. And that leads me to my first Six on Saturday…

1. The American Museum and Gardens in Claverton. One of the first collections I listed as a keen young archivist in Somerset over **coughs** years ago related to the Skrine family of Warleigh, Bathford. It included correspondence concerning the sale of Claverton Manor to Dr Dallas Pratt who established an American Museum there (you can read more about it here). However, it wasn’t until I happened to catch a programme following Pam Ayres around the Cotswolds last year that I became aware of the gardens. It was our first visit and definitely not our last.

2. Back to one’s more modest estate next. While the past few days have been pretty miserable weather-wise, we enjoyed the odd misty morn earlier in the week. The car was festooned with bedewed cobwebs, but they weren’t quite as photogenic as those on this Verbena bonariensis.

3. Fashionably late after a scorching summer, this Japanese Anemone ‘Whirlwind’ has been flowering for a few weeks now.

4. Oxalis somethingorotherus has begun blooming again. Fantastic flowers up close, although I’m less keen on the foliage during the summer as it tends to go rather sickly looking.

5. Now I’ve been meaning to feature this beauty for a while. Geum ‘Lemon Delight’ has been flowering off and on for months but seems to reach the peak of petalled perfection in the autumn (funnily enough it featured as an SoS this time last year). All my other Geums tend to flower just the once, early in the summer, but not this variety.

6. And finally… some more views of the gardens at the American Museum, just because it was such a perfect, sunny autumnal 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 the current Six on Saturday caretaker, Jim.

Six on Saturday (8 October 2022)

The garden appears to be giving a final floral encore, looking far more colourful now than it did during the second half of summer. Despite the odd day of blustery winds and heavy downpours, the annuals aren’t looking too shabby. Thick carpets of Foxglove seedlings have sprung up in the borders and gravel path, and the lawns have pretty much recovered from the drought, requiring regular mowing once more. However, there can be no escaping the signs of autumn and that leads me to my first Six on Saturday…

1. The Pyracantha may need to get pruned back hard in the not-so-distant future in preparation for a new fence. Hopefully the birds will get a chance to polish off the berries before that happens.

2. Up next, Garlic Chives. I think they may be my most favourite Allium. Always the last to flower, they’re pretty things with multi-coloured stamens. They’re rather tasty too. I just wish I had more luck with the regular variety of chives.

3. The rampant climbing Rose ‘Compassion’ is having a second flush of flowers. Growing it up the corner of the blue shed has proved a mixed blessing. It’s the perfect location to appreciate the fragrant flowers but it can get a little over enthusiastic, its thorny stems making it tricky to open the shed door without risking injury at times. I pruned it right back to the ground in the spring and it’s as big now as it was this time last autumn.

4. Another week, another Calendula. What was that? Only a few weeks ago you were muttering how you’d not had much success with Calendula? I know, Apparently they’ve been hiding, just biding their time. I’ve no idea what variety this is but the petals have a pinkish tinge.

5. Last year a few of my established Sedums/Hylotelphiums went all floppy at the flowering stage. Now apparently this is just one of those things every Sedum will experience at some point in its life, especially as it gets older. However, I read that the ‘Chelsea chop’ could help prevent this issue and so decided to give it a go (although by the time I got around to it the Hampton Court Flower Show was looming, making it more of a ‘Hampton hack.’) I was slightly worried I’d left it too late, but they’ve finally flowered.

6. And to conclude… Clematis ‘Freckles.’ Back in August I feared the worst as its leaves and stems had been burnt to a crisp. But look! Buds! Masses of buds on the brink of bloomage. A pleasant surprise and something of a relief.

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.

Six on Saturday (6 November 2021)

All of a sudden it’s gotten cold. So cold that a heavier tog duvet was deployed a few days ago. And a duvet of the several-sacks-of-manure kind has been acquired ready for the garden beds later in the month. In the meantime some more of the ‘delicates’ have been dug up and brought indoors (although I very nearly forgot about the Chocolate Cosmos) and while we’ve not had a frost I suspect it won’t be too long now. Bulb planting has yet to commence but I’m hoping to make a start this weekend. Possibly, once I’ve emptied a few pots of this and that, moved the odd perennial here and there and biggerfied the wildlife pond. I just need to remember that I don’t need to do it all this weekend. There’s plenty of time yet. Anyway, let’s get on with Six on Saturday.

1. And we start with the Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ which has gone full-on autumn. Planted back in 2018, this top-grafted half standard was supposed to grow upwards and help hide the tops of vans above the fence behind the garden. That was the plan, but it’s turned out to be a very slow grower. I had been entertaining thoughts of replacing it with something else but after looking back at old photos it’s definitely wider and perhaps a little taller than it once was. It is also rather splendid in the spring and autumn. I will stick to the plan and try to be patient.

2. I’ve moaned about the Cosmos quite a bit this summer. ‘Gazebo White’ is another one that did really well last year but has struggled this time around. However, a few are still flowering.

3. While some plants appear to have good and bad years, the Verbena bonariensis has just gone and done its spready-abouty thing without any fuss ever since it was first introduced to the garden back in 2013. True, it can topple over sometimes and pop up in rather daft places (getting to the patio has proved tricky at times this summer) but the butterflies and bees love it.

4. Another week, another Viburnum. This one (Viburnum carlesii ‘Compactum’) has always been a spring flowerer. This year it’s making a halfhearted attempt at blooming for a second time.

5. Next up we have Penstemon ‘Garnet.’ For reasons unknown I’ve neglected to take any cuttings of it this autumn. Hopefully there are enough scattered around the garden to guarantee at least one survives the winter should it prove to be a harsh one.

6. And finally… The flowers of the Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ have opened and proved to be something of a hit with a few wasps and an ant the other day. I can’t detect any fragrance though which is ever so slightly disappointing.

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.

Six on Saturday (23 October 2021)

Well, we’re fast heading towards the end of October and I still haven’t done much of anything in the garden. In my defense the big online order of bulbs hasn’t arrived yet and quite a few plants are still flowering away. But I should probably make a bit of an effort soon, starting with the relocation of a few perennials and digging up the Ostespermums so that they can be overwintered in the mini greenhouse. I also need to decide what to do about my two Ceratotheca triloba (or South African Foxgloves). This is my third attempt at growing them. The first year I managed to raise two from seed only for them to be struck by frost before they could flower. The second year they all snuffed it at the seedling stage. And this year? I have two plants that have once again failed to flower. They seem to be described as an annual or biennial (I’m beginning to suspect the latter). So do I give up on the troublesome things (now and forever) or do I dig them up and plonk them in the mini greenhouse in the hope they might survive and flower next year? Answers on a postcard please (or in the comments section below). Anyhow, time for Six on Saturday.

1. And we start with a plant that was first featured back in May. Geum ‘Lemon Delight’ is having a second flush and I’d forgotten just how lovely the pale yellow flowers are.

2. A mere frog’s jump away is a new addition to the garden. My mother-in-law has a thing for Salvias and ordered several more from Hayloft the other month, including this Salvia ulignosa ‘African Sky’ (although it looks more purple than blue in this photo). Apparently it’s too similar to another variety she has and so a new home has been found for it. Fingers crossed it survives the winter in our North facing garden.

3. The first of the fragrant winter flowering shrubs has started to bloom, and a lot earlier than in previous years. Grown from a cutting taken by my wife from the tiny garden of our first rented home over 10 years ago, Viburnum farreri (I think) has taken a while to get established and has never been particularly floriferous. Admittedly, moving it on a regular basis hasn’t helped. However, it’s been three years since the great shrub shuffle so here’s hoping there’ll be flowers aplenty over the coming months.

4. Up next, the Pyracantha. I have a feeling I may have planted it too close to the fence as it appears to suffer from a lack of water occasionally, resulting in a loss of leaves, flowers and ultimately berries. Alas, it’s far too established and thorny to consider moving now. It’s only a matter of time before the birds start on the these.

5. Altogether now… another week, another Zinnia. Possibly ‘Purple Prince.’

6. And finally… After something of a Dahlia disaster this year, this old faithful has finally got its act together. Grown from seed around five years ago, it spends its life in a pot and is overwintered under the swing seat cover. I really must try and take some cuttings from it next summer.

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.

Six on Saturday (24 October 2020)

The clocks go back tonight and I’ve been drawing up a mental list of all the gardening tasks that I need to tackle to prepare the garden for the winter. Bulbs require planting, the Jasmine chopping. There are annuals to pull up, a swing seat to cover and a garden bench to put away. A standard rose needs moving, a penstemon splitting and a new small tree unpotting. And there are weeds that need… err… weeding, borders to mulch and roses to peruse online and order. I’m hoping to make a start later today, weather permitting. What was that? Which chore will I tackle first? Rose perusal and ordering, naturally. One has to pace oneself. Anyway, time for Six on Saturday.

1. First up, Snap Dragons. Last year I had an Antirrhinum disaster as most succumbed to ‘rust.’ 2020’s batch have been infection free but most have taken forever to get going. Hopefully they’ll survive the winter and become more robust plants next year.

2. With the exception of the Monster Montana, most clematis tend to die in my garden. However, an evergreen ‘Freckles’ that was planted to grow up the arch a few months ago is sporting a surprisingly long new shoot.

3. This fragrant Nemesia was planted in a pot last summer and has flowered pretty much continuously ever since. If it survives another winter outdoors I’ll make an effort and change the compost.

4. Another week, another Wilko bulb purchase. Narcissus Jonquilla ‘Marinette’ looks rather similar to ‘Falconet.’

5. The leaves of the Prunus ‘Kojo-no-mai’ have gone full on Autumnal, adding a vivid splash of red in the back border. I suspect it will soon be bare of leaf.

6. And finally… This was something of a surprise; a self seeded ‘Party Dress’ Morning Glory from last year has grown up a bare stem of the Sambucus ‘Golden Tower.’ The upper section of the poor Elder never recovered from the soapy garlic spray that I applied a little too liberally to the aphid infested leaves way back in early summer.

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. Stay safe.

Six on Saturday (10 October 2020)

Well that was a rather wet and gloomy week. Last weekend was a complete washout and now that the nights are drawing in there’s not much time to potter in the garden after work. There’s still plenty to enjoy out there though and that leads me to my first Six on Saturday.

1. When the red leaves of this Morrisons Acer emerged in the spring I assumed they would turn green as the year went on as they were green when it was received as a gift last summer. They didn’t. The Acer is situated in a fairly shady spot and I wonder whether this might have something to do with it. Now that Autumn has arrived the foliage has turned a deeper flaming red.

2. This Aster of short stature was acquired in bud at the end of August. I smugly went to the shed to retrieve the label that I was so sure I’d placed in the ‘label pot.’ Could I find it? Could I heck as like. For some reason I wasn’t expecting purple flowers and I’m sure the label promised something else. I’m not wowed.

3. When I was rooting through the label pot I found the labels for the two Osteospermums that are planted in the front garden. I took some cuttings from the plants last month and, despite looking rather ropey initially, they’re now showing signs of new growth. I originally labelled them ‘dark red’ and ‘pink’ but now that I’ve found the original labels I’ll have to alter them to ‘Serenity Red‘ and ‘In The Pink.’

4. Next up we have Hesperantha. They were acquired at the end of July 2019 from my 80 something, whisky loving great aunt up in North Wales.

5. Ah, Violas. One of my favourite plants for adding some cheer during the winter months. I bought a few trays from The Plant Man in town the other weekend, one of which included this purple splotched beauty. As soon as I’ve emptied the summer pots and planted my tulip bulbs these will go on top. I may need to purchase some more soon.

6. And finally… another Zinnia. Despite my Zinnia seedling woes earlier in the year several have made it to flowerhood. Will I bother again next year? Of course I will.

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.

Six on Saturday (26 September 2020)

The weather seemed to mirror the astronomical seasons last week. Monday, the final day of astronomical summer, was all blues skies and warm sunshine. The next day things turned cooler and rather gloomy, and by Wednesday we had rain, something we’ve not had for a while here. The garden is still just about holding onto it’s summer colour, although my first Six on Saturday is decidedly autumnal…

1. The Pyracantha struggled last year for some reason. Leaves fell off, flowers turned black and berries were few and far between. This year it has fared much better and is covered in orange berries. The wood pigeons and house sparrows have already started on them.

2. The Graham Thomas honeysuckle has been flowering for many months. Just when you think this climber has finished blooming more buds appear. Alas these flowers are a little too high for me to appreciate their fragrance.

3. Ah, good old Coreopsis ‘Early Sunrise.’ A ‘doer’ that flowers for months on end with regular deadheading. I grew some from seed several years ago but I can’t remember if this is from the original batch or one grown from a cutting. It seems to be easy to propagate; we’re talking Penstemon-shove-a-broken-peice-into-a-pot-and-hey-presto-a-new-plant easy.

4. I have a decision to make, and soon. Back in August I fixed a wire from the fence to the blue shed and pointed a few stems of the Clematis montana towards it. The ‘mile a minute’ monster has almost reached the other end and I’m not sure whether I should direct it around the corner of the roof (just under the guttering) or send the thing back towards the fence. It’s still having the odd mini flush of nutmeg scented flowers.

5. The lesser spotted front garden up next. South facing and prone to frazzling in the summer, I decided to add a few grasses, another Sedum and lots of sun loving annuals earlier in the year to mingle with the self seeded Verbena, Californian Poppies, Lavender and Rock Roses. It’s not looking too bad, although a cat has taken to using the foliage of a Rock Rose and the edge of the lawn as a litter tray; highly annoying as there’s bare soil in the neighbour’s border, surely a far more desirable spot for a feline to do it’s business? I’ve acquired one of those sonic cat scaring devices. Fingers crossed it works.

6. And finally… Grown in pots, Cosmos ‘Gazebo White’ has taken rather a long time to flower but it was worth the wait. The bees seem to think so too.

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.