It is Six on Saturday time again, which is serving as a welcome compass point. Although hard to believe, the days this week have seemed more confused than ever. Cancellations, rearrangements and future plans, when the future was previously barely credible, have all served to muddy my already murky waters. For that reason it is nice to know that this is Saturday and only Saturday, for that is all it could be. If you wish to discover further benefits to SoS participation, then pop over to The Propagator to find out more, or perhaps even less, my compadres are also often muddled. Let us get on or I will be getting in trouble with the Strict Task Master across the Channel, no Fred, not you, the other Channel.
First, a leaf of Brugmansia ‘Grand Marnier’ and friend. You must forgive for the blurry photograph, it was early morning, before my 100% proof flagon of coffee. During my garden meanderings I spotted this critter and ran (wobbled) back to the house to get my camera. All that exertion was too much for me, hence shake. And no, it was nothing to do with gin. This brugmansia has not thrived, possibly due to being in too small a pot. Last weekend this was rectified, so now has absolutely no excuse not to do something fabulous.
Next, a dear little erodium, nestled in an alpine planter bought lock, stock and barrel from a bargain bin, far, far away. It has subsequently been ignored. Everyone loves a trouper.
Now the absolutely gorgeous Diascia personata, a gift from my friend Chloris. She is not only generous, she also has impeccable taste. Its common name is masked twinspur. After absolutely no research on this matter at all, I can only surmise this is due to its twin spurs which are masked. I wouldn’t quote me on it.
On to a teasel water reservoir. This is son of, son of, son of etc the teasel that hitched a ride from our previous home in Bristol. We love teasels in our house. Although none of the current generations have reached the dizzying heights of their predecessor, all are loved. Next door has a new bird feeder which has attracted a family of goldfinches, hopefully they will still be about to enjoy our offering. Yesterday I was watching a fledgling on the telephone wire outside our bedroom window, gloriously twittering for some grub. A joy.
Now for Impatiens puberala, just coming into flower. A great favourite of mine, although I am sure it would be happier in the ground or living with someone with a better watering ethic.
Lastly Dichelostemma ida-maia, which I featured as a mere shoot in an earlier SoS. It has suffered badly from the onslaught of molluscs. The attack has been relentless. Although the flower is not fully out, I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to share. It might be in the belly of a snail tomorrow.
That’s it, all done for another week. Take care my friends.
Off The Edge Gardening 
I’ve not spotted any crickets yet, although the grasshoppers have been around for a while in the front. I’d never seen one until I moved down to the South West. Hurrah for the dear little erodium.
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This one had the most amazing antennae and didn’t bother about me poking a camera at it. Not that I could tell anyway!
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My best regards to you. Despite the muddied waters you’ve succeeded in bringing a sense of unique humour to your article once again!
My selection from your selection is the unresearched Diascia. Lovely choice!
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Thank you and thank you!
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All very lovely esp. the Erodium.
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Thank you, yes I have a soft spot for erodium, if my garden were only bigger ……
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Whatever happened to Diascia rigescens? For a while it was everywhere, now it’s all D. personata, which is lovely. I think we have two forms but Diascias are in Sue’s bailiwick, if there is such a thing.
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I blame fashion, which of course I am always at the blunt end of! I am getting a picture – Sue is diascias, salvias and cacti – am I correct? Or is there more …….
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I let fashion come to me. It does to a degree about every 30 years. Sue is also all succulents, pelargoniums and Fuchsias. With the Fuchsias we share it, they’re her Fuchsias but I get to do the potting, propagation, feeding, spraying, keeping track of and pruning.
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Sounds fair to me! 😉
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Flowers and wildlife…..what more could we ask for? Lovely Six-on-Saturday.
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Thanks Granny 🙂
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These diascia are gorgeous you’re right. Petals look like velvet in your picture.
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It isn’t a plant I know very well. I am very pleased with it!
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The wall is breached! And I see you’ve migrated to vodka. 😏 Like some others, I’m drawn to your Diascia. I’ve got the “r” one here though I have to treat that as an annual. I think I may do better if I have a P.
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How did you do it? Have you got onto The Prop’s as well? If this diascia continues to do well, I’ll send you a bit. Pass it on!
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Snap again this time as you said: crickets. Is yours a boy? My little female one is still on the same clump of roses..feeling kind of lonely. The erodium is something I tried up in the Midlands, maybe I ought to try it down here, as I find the form and flowers enchanting. PS My Pittosporum is in the picture, just forward of the second hydrangea…go and have a peep!
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Nice choices. You had me off learning about teasel with your post! Stunning plant, but referred to as “invasive” in the US. I read that number of years to bolting depends on the size of the rosette. That’s an odd fact! Now that I know it’s everywhere, I’ll be looking for it.
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Six things I don’t have, though I do have S&S in abundance – snails are the major problem right now. Haven’t seen a grasshopper (that is a grasshopper isn’t it?) in years. Nor crickets. Actually I’m not keen on crickets. Parktown prawns in Jo’burg put me off for life…
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Ugh!!!! I remember those Parktown Prawns!!
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Love your little grasshopper and I’m glad he stuck around to have his photo taken. We had a green woodpecker on our terrace this week pecking around in the cracks, but he flew off. Camera shy I think!
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The Diascia is a beautiful flower, how wonderful to have a generous friend with impeccable taste, The little grasshopper was well spotted – you did well to photograph it, even without your morning coffee.
Sorry your plants are under attack. Mine are too, but that’s no consolation. I picked 16 snails off the top of my obelisk this morning, plus another two that I dropped into the foliage below and couldn’t find. I’ll guarantee that if I go back out tomorrow they’ll be back at the top again, perhaps with a few extra friends to replace those now in the brown bin that’ll be heading off to the council compost place – providing the bin lorry doesn’t forget about us again next week.
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We have found that diascia the most wonderful plant for propagation – a cut and stick in the soil approach is all that is needed to get more plants.
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Top tip, thanks Paddy!
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I am glad you are enjoying Diascia personata. It is similar to Diascia rigescens but it is taller and bushier, Diascia rigescens rarely survives the winter here in Suffolk but Diascia personata is much hardier.
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Wishing you great things for the brugmansia. I’m sure a repot will do the trick. This year I’ve planted mine out in the soil (in the new exotic border featured in my SoS) and the leaves already look perkier and a second flush of flowers in imminent. I’ll have to dig it up and pot it in the greenhouse for winter though!
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The little hopper is cute, and I noticed it has a spotty back leg! I have not seen a spotted one before. The Diascia flower is really beautiful. I’m fascinated by the Teasel water reserves! Your number 6 has such lovely little flowers…. I will have to read up about this plant as I don’t k now it at all. Lovely Six!!
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I thought your title said ‘Compost point’ and got all excited but glad that Saturday works as a compass point as well. Nice flowers too.
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