Here we are again, happy as can be, all good friends and jolly good company. That’s right, it is Six on Saturday time again. For anyone who has spent the last year lost in The Empty Quarter, or perhaps has been undertaking a silent vigil in a monastery somewhere deep in the Himalayas, and have missed this phenomenon, then I will explain what it is all about. A certain gentleman called The Propagator has cast a spell over an increasing number of us innocent mortals. It is not confined to the UK, his power extends across the globe and I have an inkling, even further. This enchantment compels us to share six things that we find in our gardens every Saturday. The only way to escape is if you have a note from your mum, a consultant surgeon or Gandalf. As I haven’t managed to get any of these folk to co-operate this week, here are my SoS. By the way, pop over to Mr P’s blog where you can not only read his contribution, but also those from his other captives.
First we have a hydrangea. In the summer this shrub is a cheerful cherry red, small in stature but perfectly formed. In early autumn it darkens to a deep maroon and now, as the gales have battered and desiccated, it has begun to turn the colour and texture of cornflakes (pre-milk).
Last week I planted some garlic in this trug. It was a little later than I had planned to, but that is the way it goes in my world. To some this container, with its invitingly soft compost, might look like a litter tray. Yes, Fat Ol I’m looking at you! Hence the sticks.
A genera that has (not literally) grown on me is the pittosporums. We have one in the front garden, it was in place when we arrived. Luckily it is the diminutive Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ and has barely grown in the ten years we have been here. Its glossy burgundy leaves, frill edged, are especially welcome in the winter months.
This variegated oleander rarely flowers. It produces buds which just sit there waiting for some appropriate Mediterranean weather to open. Which is extremely optimistic. However it does over-winter outside with no extra protection. Perhaps I should I say “so far”, I am a demon for tempting fate.
Last Christmas I gave this little bug hotel to my OH, in reality is it more bijou B&B than Hilton. Every so often I have a peer into it to see if anyone is in residence. Other than a few spiders, I haven’t seen anyone yet. Perhaps the leering human is putting them off.
Last of all is the wonderful Vinca ‘Jenny Pym’. The moment I set my eyes on this periwinkle, on a garden visit a couple of years ago, I was smitten. Once I found a specimen and planted it out, I duly forgot all about her. This is my fickle nature. That is until this morning. I see that she has done very nicely without my continuing doting.
Thanks again Mr P, for keeping us in order. Now how about a letter from The Pope? Does that count?
Off The Edge Gardening 
Hydrangea and snail. It looks a bit like potpourri. Seriously, what a remarkable photograph.
Gorgeous!
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The snail is out of focus 😦 But thanks 🙂
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Much too perfectionist!
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‘French’ potpourri . . . served with escargot
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Ha ha!
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🙂
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I thought for a moment your planted garlic with a pentangle of sticks was an attempt to break Mr P’s spell. Vincas are under-rated methinks.
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That crossed my mind too when I looked at it! It didn’t work. 🙂
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Mwah ha hah. Mwah hahaha. Mwaaaahh hahaha. You are under my power. The pope can’t save you. I’m expecting a Six post from his holiness next week. Mwah haha hah.
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Now that wouldn’t surprise me at all!
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Nice attempt at cat deterrence there. If FO?B is anything like Resident Cat, he will soon work out that he can balance on those sticks and aim dead centre without getting his paws dirty. Or he will complain that, thanks to the protection you have offered, he can no longer dispose of the mice that want to dig up your garlic.
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Yes, I did have a balancing image too! We will see how desperate he is. 🙂
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That variegated oleander seems to be popular in places where I would not expect to see oleander.
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I think that is the problem! Always over ambitious. 😉
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It is just as well with the oleander though. It was too common here for too long (although I still really like it), but now it is succumbing to scorch.
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It is unlikely to suffer from that here!
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It moved this far from Southern California, and then stopped.
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Lost all my hyrangea in the drought and probably won’t replace them. Love the bug hotel. What do you feed them?
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The bug hotel is self-catering. 🙂 Sorry about your hydrangeas, they don’t like dry at all do they? Even here they droop if planted in a dry area.
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I saw ‘Jenny Pym’ in a Cornish garden while on holiday, fortunately they had some for sale😀
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Just planted my garlic and barricaded the raised bed with sticks and, I’m afraid to say, rose and bramble prunings. They are not even my cats!
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