It is cold and miserable. Yet again I did not want to go outside to take photographs for Six on Saturday. Yes, I know I am a gardener and should be hardened to these things, but there is only so much dreariness a gal can take. Then I had a little word in my own ear “Whoa now Neddy! Less of that negative nonsense, slip off your marabou kitten heels, pop on your sparkling wellies and get your petite little rear out into the gloom. Most importantly stop your incessant wingeing about the weather”. And it worked! I might try that again. So just for you and our own Easter Bunny, The Propagator, (who will be handing out chocolate eggs to his favourite SoSers this holiday time) here is my Six on Saturday. Yet again sharp focus has been forsaken in pursuit of the perfect art form (it was bloomin’ cold and I was therefore in a hurry).
Shall we proceed? Some might have heard on the bloggy grapevine that last week I was hobbing with the nobs at the Hardy Plant Society AGM (unfortunately no oaty biscuits were involved). Here I was honoured to meet the real life, not a robot after all, and champion blogger JK. As reported by said supergrass, I may have purchased a couple of plants, but in my defence all but two were for my Esteemeds. The best two of course. I am a sucker for a salvia. When I spotted this tall and handsome Mexican, Salvia gesneriiflora, our eyes met across the crowded room, my elbows went out and he was mine all mine.
My next purchase was a fern. Now I generally have a problem with ferns. I love them but find it tricky to distinguish one from the other. Mostly. There are some exceptions. But not enough. This little lovely is labelled Pteris umbrosa, the Jungle Brake Fern, from Eastern Australia. However, it doesn’t look like any of the corresponding pictures on-line and isn’t mentioned in my new HPS Ferns book. Perhaps it is because it is a youngster. Any ideas anybody? Nice to see it has made a new friend. And that friend seems to have left a little gift. How kind.
Now we have a rescued Hylotelephium spectabile, found in the front garden being stifled under a carpet of ivy. At the “do” last weekend Julian Sutton spoke at great length about plant names and how they have changed over the years and whys and wherefores and ifs and buts. From both a scientific and a horticultural viewpoint. This is a case in point, up until very recently it was known as Sedum spectabile. I am unable to comment on this change as after JS’s talk I was left feeling a little sorry for the botanists. They need love too apparently. And I have a blogging friend, the wonderful Diversifolius, who is one. She also sells seeds!!!
The blueberry seems intent on flowering. This is a good thing of course, flowers mean fruit, but only if they are pollinated. There are not many pollinators about at the moment, and can you blame them? I’d be snuggled up somewhere warm and dry too. So I may have to help things along. You never know the sun might come out and the insects with it. I sincerely hope so. It will be a squeeze getting into that bee costume after all my Easter eggs.
Last Sunday I potted up all my new bulbs, received earlier that week. I’ve stored them underneath the bench, which might offer a smidgen of protection. I know, going soft in my old age. Nerine, leucocoryne, zephranthes and bessera, all putting down roots. I am going to plant the chasmanthe direct into the garden, once the soil warms a little. That will be August then.
And finally, a couple of goose eggs, a gift from the Head Gardener at Marwood. Apparently each one is the equivalent of four hens eggs. That is some egg. And I’ve got two!
Don’t forget to pop over to The Prop’s to check out all the other Six on Saturdays, and perhaps even be tempted to join in yourself!
Happy Easter to you all. Anyone fancy an omelette ?!
Off The Edge Gardening 
If someone could win the Easter chocolate egg for the most beautiful photo, it would be you … this red of the Salvia is so intense …
About goose eggs, I ate a boiled egg a few years ago and only one was enough to plunge a piece of French bread (“baguette”)😂 … Good appetite and happy Easter!
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Thanks Fred, I will take an imaginary chocolate egg from you! Happy Easter 🙂
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Can I just say how much I love your style ( your “swag” as my daughter’s dance teacher used to say, before she left to go to NYC). Very well done you. I also have much love for the HPS, as you will see if you visit my post this week. Such good value, n’est pa?
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Oui! I like “swag” and thank you, much appreciated. 🙂
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Lovely 6 and weldone on getting those plants 👍hope the elbows weren’t too sore afterwards, enjoy the eggs, personally only rate them in cakes 🍰
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Mr Marwood said they were good in cakes, rubbish for boiled or fried. Thought I would try scrambled. Will report back 🙂
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*Sucks Haribo* You were too busy elbowing people out of the way at the free seed table (and me everywhere else). I found a large display of free oaty biccies. And some chocolate Hobnobs. Two of my HPS group members are big cheeses in the British Pterodactyl Society (or something like that) and they know their spores from their fronds. I’ll show them your ferny photo at our next meeting (in a few weeks) and see if they can advise. I got a refund for my bulbs. Nice. No quibble. They said if I have space, to plant them and see. You have also educated me – until now, for some reason, I always thought Diversifolius was a “he”!
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As far as I am concerned, a biscuit is not a biscuit unless it has chocolate covering it. Therefore I am most annoyed that I missed a trick. Would I forsake them for free seed? Unlikely. Thanks for fern info, if you need anymore photos let me know. Good to hear about your duff bulbs, fingers crossed they make a miraculous recovery. And yes Diversifolius is a lovely she!
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There are geese at Marwood? Another reason to go again (as if I needed one). I love geese.
I know nothing about ferns. Only that from my limited but delicious experience of Eastern Australia its climate is nothing at all like North Devon.. not even slightly.
That Salvia is just divine though. Apparently they strike well from cuttings.. 😉
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I will do one especially for you 🙂 I am astonished that Eastern Australia is nothing like North Devon. Afraid geese are not at Marwood, they are a Joe’s house. Sure that won’t put you off. Maybe a joint visit?
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A joint visit would be fab! Actually now I come to think of it, I do remember Canada geese on the lake.
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Jolly good, nice Six despite the shitty weather. I have been out in it all day, getting nice and muddy in the process. Planters don’t fill themselves you know. Btw,chocolate eggs!? You’re having a Turkish!
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It was worth a try 🙂
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Well, despite the bad weather you have quite a few plants! (you know that ‘bad weather’ has a different significance for me 😉 but I totally sympathize with you.
I need to note that I only get frisky about plant names when using the ‘wrong’ ones leads to confusions; otherwise in today’s botanical world who’s to say what’s right and what’s wrong?!
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Yes I know we are pretty wimpish here (very wimpish actually). I also love the understated word “frisky”. 🙂
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I’m trying my best to learn the Botanical names for plants -belatedly- so it’s quite annoying that sedum spectabile should now have a new and more complicated moniker. I’m with Fred on the salvia. I do love them for their resilience.
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It can be frustrating, especially when, as you say, the new names are difficult. Let us hope they leave salvias well alone!
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Hylotelephium? Was that formerly known as Sedum?
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Yes, it was Tony. 😦
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Well, it certainly sounds more interesting now.
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That salvia . . . think I’d be tempted to commit a little plant adultery myself, there.
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You would not be accused 🙂
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My mother use to say goose eggs make the best cakes.
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I have heard that too, but am I going to make a cake ….. ?
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