First of all I must thank our glorious Six on Saturday leader, The Propagator of Lurve, for arranging this beautiful sunny day. Take a look at his blog and all will be made clear about the SoS sect. You may well come away more puzzled than before. One or the other. Anyway, this clement weather, subsection 3b “on a Saturday”, has been a long time coming. I suppose our guru needed a little practice before he got it right. There is no need for me to whine on about the depressing rain or snow or gales or drizzle or anything actually. People might begin to believe I am a happy, carefree kind of gal. Here I was, proud recipient of the double whammy, inclination and opportunity, what could possibly go wrong? But I had forgotten about external influences. More specifically, a neighbour firing a nail gun intermittently all day, irregularly enough to make you jump a meter in the air at each shot. In between times he was hammering, or shouting at his son, or they were both hammering or shouting, all on top of an enormous shed/store for artillery at the bottom of his garden. Cheers mate. Happy sunny day to you too. Due to said suspect weapon stash I decided not to complain. Not to him anyway. Thanks for being a shoulder.
Let us get on with the job in hand, or it will be Sunday before we know it and I will be on the naughty step again and that Mr K will be pointing and giggling. First of all we have a Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum, one of several we have in the garden. All in pots. Mainly brought from the greatly missed Woolworth’s for three shillings and thrupence. The new foliage is a joy.
Secondly is a little alpine sink, which I replanted his last week with Sisyrinchium ‘E K Balls’, Scabiosa ‘Blue Jeans’ and Polygala chamaebuxus. It had become overgrown and rebellious. Now it is tamed and under my control. I almost believed that when I typed it. We all know different.
Next is Viburnum x burkwoodii, an inherited shrub which battles on in the front garden, abused by weather and ignored by gardeners. Until today. Earlier in the week I visited some friends at The Round House in Ilfracombe. One friend told me that, along with Daphne ‘Jaqueline Postil’, this hybrid was their favourite winter into spring scent. Today, working in the front garden, the fragrance was incredible, both near and far. How did I miss this?
On to the obligatory tulip, this time Tulipa ‘Blue Diamond’. Not blue, no diamonds. Pretty though.
Now for a trio of white fritillaries, Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba’. This is a strange time of year, my gaze is intent on summer and I sometimes forget to appreciate the spring flowers that have struggled through such horrendous weather. Although not as dramatic as its checkerboard brother, this albino sibling, with just a little blush on the shoulders, is a lovely light in the border.
And finally we have Fat Ol posing by a primrose. Such a handsome lad and a great “help” to me in the garden. Cat Help, that is. This entails throwing himself in front of my feet causing me to do a cha cha cha in order to avoid standing on him, scratching posts in a virile manner, meowing at a pitch just above high C, insisting on attention when he wants it but ignoring me when I want it. The usual.
Thanks to El Prop for another week of Six on Saturday and of course the good weather. Same time, same place?
What a pretty cat you have Gill! … Since I tweeted, I’ve noticed that gardeners and cats are good friends. A good team to eliminate mice
About plants, I have a ‘Blue Parrot’ tulip that will bloom soon. I’ll tell you if it’s blue or not!
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Unfortunately Big Ol is next door’s cat, as much as anyone can have a cat. He thinks our garden is his too. Looking forward to seeing your “Blue”. 🙂
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It’s that he likes your garden…
I will soon post on these tulips( maybe next SoS)
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love the cat with the primrose – perfectly posed and perfectly caught on camera
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Cats are such posers!
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You are lucky. A neighbour’s cat who thinks your garden is his (poop protection as mine delivers) but you don’t need to feed him or pay the vet bills! You are luckier. I’m worrying that my Acer …. garnet may have snuffed it in whole or part. A little branch or two has building buds but a lot looks dodoish. I may have struck lucky with some cheapo tulip bulbs. But that will be a surprise for a future six. I may let resident cat write next week’s selection. He’s missing his blog.
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And I am missing him! Such a charming chap. Fingers crossed for your acer x
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Did you follow his blog too? Anne Wareham did. And discussed things with him via emew! He still has his web site, though.
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Please send me a link to his website!
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When I first moved here there were four “visitor” cats whom I promptly named and even wrote a blog post about. Sadly, only one of them still visits occasionally, a white and grey bicolor I call (with staggering non-originality) Kitty. John, I had to put an dwarf Acer out of its misery just this weekend.. too many major limbs broken off by one too many heavy snowstorms last month.
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Kitty is a great name – so unoriginal it has become original again!
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Fat Ol is getting all the comments!
That viburnum can not be ‘that’ good. It is a viburnum! Right?
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It is, and it does smell delicious. Most of the time I plan how I am going to get rid of it. Now I am thinking differently.
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Beautiful – I envy you for, mostly for the sunshine 😉
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Your sun will come, very soon and then you will have more of it than us, promise!
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I like those white fritillaria, and the cat, of course. Our fierce black used to keep me company in the garden and I still miss him.
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I like the sound of “fierce black”, they are amazing creatures aren’t they? 🙂
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It really is fritillary season and the white ones are special, with their oh so subtle checks. As you know, the orange tabbies have a special place in my heart.
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They are lovely, although (don’t tell Ol) I have a big soft spot for tabbies.
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EK balls is my favourite flower. So small and dainty but it keeps hlowering and flowering.
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Which adds up to perfection! Hope it likes its new home. We will see.
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Your replanted alpine sink looks a treat, I spotted my alpine trough has a few dead plants that have not survived winter. Replant alpine trough is now added to my to do list 🙂
Angela – Garden Tea Cakes and Me
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It didn’t take long and gave top reward points! I had the plants hanging about in the waiting room, so just a little shuffle about and all was done. 🙂
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When I opened your blog page & saw that acer, an instant intake of breath that stopped me for several moments. I’m such a pushover for an acer & there’s so many gorgeous ones to choose from.
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They are wonderful, and so easy in a pot (so far anyway). These unnamed varieties are dirt cheap, seedlings I suppose, and often just as worthy.
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I want an Ed Balls! Where did you get it? Also, is the Viburnham burkwoodii nice the rest of the year/ only average/ boring as? More of a dog man myself.
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I love them both, dogs and cats, so different! Don’t want to be Viburnumist but I would say pretty average to dull. 🙂
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What a gorgeous cat! He looks like orange sherbet swirled into vanilla ice cream. 🙂
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And he is a sweet as that! Lovely description. 🙂
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I’ve always wanted a nail gun…
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*sigh*
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It would make a nice percussive counterpoint to my noisy bench saw.
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I laughed in spite of myself then 😀
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Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba’ seems to be chequered a bit as well, if you look carefully! I love these spring blooms!
Enjoy the gardener’s pet as well.
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Yes, ghostly!
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