It is incredible that I can manage to write anything at the moment. The reason for my distraction is that seed from the Hardy Plant Society has arrived and I am very excited. Possibly unnaturally so. More of that tomorrow, today I must try to stay focused because it is of course Six on Saturday. I missed last week and I am afraid I will be named and shamed or even worse, no one notices, if I don’t contribute. For those of you who wish to join this not-so-secret sect pop over to the blog of our guru The Propagator and you will find out all about it. Don’t send him any money though, he has all mine already.
Firstly we have some hydrangea flowers, well the battered husks anyway. There are a few remnants left and I have begun thinking about pruning them. Don’t cry out in fear my friends, the “thinking” is only stage one, the “actually doing” could be a few weeks down the line, by then hopefully the cold winds will have abated and the buds will be safe.
Next is a crocosmia shoot. Anyone who has been listening will know that I am often cursing this sneaky cormous individual. Many hours have been spent digging up montbretia, only for them to return the next year, if not sooner. This one is however a little different. It is Crocosmia ‘Coleton Fishacre’, syn. C. ‘Gerbe d’Or’, a wonderful (and well behaved) creature. Rich olive green leaves set off the warmest of apricot flowers perfectly. A gift from the lovely Hero, I am very happy to grow it again.
Number three is a new garden resident, he is standing guard at the base of a Japanese acer, hopefully scaring away predators.
Now onto Rosmarinus officinalis, just a bog standard Rosemary. But it is very special to us. Our beautiful Charlie cat, who features in the header of this blog, is buried beneath it. She loved to sit underneath the large, gnarled and woody, specimen we have in the garden. I often wondered if the fragrant oils soothed her as she slept, as now her place is taken by other visiting felines. Charlie was left behind when our neighbours moved house and we took her in. Before coming to us she lived outside for years, ever since they bored of her and got a puppy instead and the two could not live in tandem. I like to think her final years with us were happy. She soon became accustomed to laps and fires and cuddles and sofas. Bless her.
Outside the back door I have a huddle of plants, that in a perfect world would be in a greenhouse, but as we all know it is far from that. So I have herded them together for warmth. One of these is Pelargonium cordifolium var. rubrocinctum (apologies). It is statuesque, standing proudly in spite of its circumstances, and so far has not faltered in the winter weather.
Finally a horseshoe. We bought this, and a couple of others, from a cardboard box of assorted sizes at National Trust property Arlington Court. Here they have an amazing carriage collection and some magnificent horses to pull them. Some say the shoes should be displayed prongs up in order to catch the luck, some say the prongs should be pointing downward to stop luck escaping. Who knows? Perhaps I will try turning them around and wait for the lottery win. Or perhaps this life I have is considered lucky enough to be counted as lucky and I will be doomed if I move them. I think I will leave well alone.
That, is that, my Six on Saturday. Thanks Mr P. Hopefully, if the horseshoes allow, I will be back same time next week. If not, the puzzle may well have been solved.
Off The Edge Gardening 
Such a lovely story of Charlie cat. So glad you came along in her last years. Thank you for sharing
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Thanks Chicu, she gave us as much as we gave her.
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Aaaaaw, Charlie. How can someone get bored of a pet? Glad she had a lovely home in the end.
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What is that creature in Number 3? Some sort of beetle? Not enough legs for a tarantula. And what is that sticking out the front? A multi-pronged beetle proboscis?
Our beloved cat, Murgatroyd, is buried in our garden. He was with us for 14 years, in 4 different houses/gardens. I know how you feel.
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Not sure, it was the proboscis that sold it to me!
What a fabulous name, Murgatroyd. I try to ask new clients if they have anyone buried in the garden, it makes them laugh but at the same time ensure I don’t inadvertently dig up any loved pet (or husband).
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Husband? Surely that would require accomplices. You know what they say about secrets.
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😀
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Indeed, hard to focus on anything else with too many seeds are around!
But you did well 🙂
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How do you ever get anything done that is not seed related? A mystery to me!
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What strange eggs that green creature lays. 😉 I will make no comment about the proboscis! As you have more than one horseshoe, you are able to hedge your bets.
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Yes, that is indeed what those cork shaped objects are. As for the proboscis, Mr K, this is a family show. 🙂
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What a great Six! And what a beautiful picture the 3rd with this beautiful insect. Otherwise, I heard that the horseshoe must be hidden and sunk into the ground to catch the chance. I found out some of them in my backyard … but luck never came to me…
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Thanks Fred and thanks for following. Oh blimey, now I am totally horseshoe confused!
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Oh, your kitty picture is my favorite. I have a going on ancient greyhound named Charles who started out Charlie, black and white spotted like an English hunting painting, he was deemed Charles. What is the giant bug? I found a horseshoe here and it rusted into a folded mass, not sure which way it was facing….or if my luck was influenced.
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Your Charles sound gorgeous, greyhounds are such gentle souls, unless you are a rabbit I suppose!
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He is, the squeaky toys fear Charles.
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This Six on Saturday can be addictive.
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That Pelargonium has just gone on the list of things to plant in the garden. We had it in a pot and it grew monstrous. Lovely thing though.
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Monstrous in a good way of course 🙂
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I quite like your hydrangea flowers. Lovely story about Charlie. Some folk say cats belong to places more than people & while I’m not sure I agree, I’ve lived in a couple of places where I’ve inherited a cat or two that’ve been left behind. And dug up previous owner’s pets as well, now that I think of it. Because work has us rather nomadic still, our late & great are in large planters that travel w/us. My OH who’s Irish says horseshoe turned up, but I like Fred’s notion as well. Great Six, as always. Now go finger your seeds.
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Thanks Lora 🙂 I have heard that about cats too, I think they are more territorial than dogs who have more of a pack instinct. As my OH said “no more pets” I was very pleased that she was left behind, we had no choice but to adopt her. Sometimes things work out for the best. Now I am waiting for another stray to wander past …..
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Charming story about Charlie cat. I seem to remember her: maybe? Lovely to think of her resting beneath the rosemary.
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You probably do remember her, you are also an animal lover and we tend to remember.
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